A/N: OK, before anyone says anything, I know it's been like three months since I last updated. Feel free to flame me for that. I cite exams and general tiredness as my excuses, but really, it's all my own fault. Fortunately, I'm starting to get back on track. I swear, I promise, cross my heart and hope to die, that Be'lal will not take this long. P.S. The word 'very' in this chapter is sponsored by my sister (don't ask).

BALTHAMEL

Though quite strong in the Power, he Balthamel was unable to distinguish himself enough to earn the coveted third name…More than once he supposedly came very close to being bound with the Power against doing violence.

- excerpt from 'The Forsaken'

Eval Ramman liked this sort of place. The ale may not have been the best, the company less than friendly most of the time, but he far preferred it to the places most of his colleagues frequented. Most of them had no idea how normal people lived, nor did they want to know. They thought themselves better. But Eval had never deluded himself as to his own desires.

He was relaxing after a long day's arguing. That was what he spent most of his time doing these days, arguing with the people ranked over him. Fighting. He was surrounded by cowards and idiots, people who were afraid of him. Saidin was the only true weapon, that and swords, but the people he faced fought not with weapons, but with paper and titles and bureaucracy. But they couldn't fight him. They didn't even know where to begin.

He'd always been angry, of course; it had been one of the things he'd been most noted for by his fellow researchers. Before, it had been buried under intelligence, talent and curiosity, but soon it rose to master them. He slowly changed, although what caused it he couldn't quite say. He started seeing the world around him more clearly, visiting other parts of M'Jinn, rather than ignoring the so-called lower elements of society that his associates had such disdain for. And he saw what was immediately around him more clearly also, the foolish decisions made by the government, the stupidity that always somehow managed to rise to power. He knew that the power they wielded could never match the power at his disposal, yet he also knew that he could never defeat them without help. And that made him angry.

His temper had become infamous wherever he went, liable to snap at a moment's notice. But what could they do about it? None of them was brave enough to face him. No matter what he did, they'd never punish him too severely, and he knew it. They valued his power too much to restrict it, or bind him against violence, although they had tried. They were too afraid to deny him anything except one thing; more power.

If they gave him titles, a third name, then he would be able to fight those in charge who thought they controlled him. He'd made the decision on the very day he had felt power being taken from him that he was going to stand up to the people above him, and challenge them on the decisions they made, and take them on if that's what he had to do to get what he wanted. But as it was, they could safely ignore him, since he was 'just' a researcher. By far the strongest in the Power of anyone in the whole town, but still just a researcher, whose opinions could be safely ignored.

Fortunately for him, his lack of power against people above him was countered by his tremendous power over those alongside him. Because no one who met him face to face was willing to deny him what he wanted, he could do anything he wanted. Oh, they made their threats about binding him against doing violence, but everyone knew they would never go through with it, his skills and strength were too valuable in these dangerous days, when war seemed ready to break out any day. More than once he had heard others say to each other, "We don't want to get Eval angry, do we?" So Eval got whatever he liked, because they wouldn't stand up to him. Because they were afraid. Eval didn't know whether he should laugh or cry.

Really, all it did was confirm what he had thought the whole time, that the people who truly controlled his life were fools, too cowardly to face the monster they had created. Well if it was a monster they had created, it was a monster Eval would be too happy to give them. Perhaps they thought that by giving in to his demands, they could sate him and eventually he would stop, but he planned the exact opposite. Now he knew that he faced no restrictions, could expect no punishment or retribution of any kind against his actions, he was going to fight even harder than ever. He couldn't lose. In fact, he had already won, the day they decided they weren't going to fight back. Because they knew, deep in their hearts, that they were responsible for his anger, and they deserved everything he would give them.

Now all he needed was an opportunity. Eval would be the first to admit that he had no idea what he planned to do, but he could sense that the time to act was coming soon. Something in the air… Everyone could feel it, even if no one was certain what it was. Things were changing. An observer wouldn't notice anything different from, say, twenty years ago, but it was there, whatever it was, and Eval knew only one thing about it; when it surfaced, that would be his chance. He was keeping his eyes and ears open, watching. And waiting. Even if it took eternity to accomplish, he would have his victory.

Finishing his drink, he paid the barman and stood up. Turning, he spotted a pretty girl heading towards him. Well, at least he'd never had any trouble on that front. Smiling to himself, he walked towards her, thinking idly of tonight's dreams.

Balthamel was drawn to the Shadow by the promise of immortality. To live forever and never age; as simple as that. He made his journey to Shayol Ghul to pledge his soul somewhere in the middle years of the Collapse.

- excerpt from 'The Forsaken'