Note: The character Dirk's real name is Kye. So either appellation refers to him.
I apologise for the amount of K names in this chapter.
Kea: - Damane turned Accepted, wanting to be Aes Sedai.
Kye: - Ex-Warder now a Warder again to Kea. Also known as Dirk.
Kera: - Aes Sedai of the Green Ajah also appears in Chapters 10-12.
Disclaimer: All profits to RJ, the man, the Legend.
Chapter 24: Oaths under the Shadow
Revoir was sat before them trembling. Six Aes Sedai, well five and one Accepted. But it was the Accepted Revoir most feared. She had taken no Oaths about the Power and she had been brought up as a enslaved weapon. Plus she was backed by Kye. Revoir knew Kye. She remembered him better than any for it had been she who had been the crux of the plot to remove his memories and ensure that no further attention was paid to Nevir Sedai's 'mad schemes'.
As she saw him stood behind Kea it was clear he was her Warder in reality in not in actual bond. He looked back at her, he hated her and he would gladly kill her. Not for taking or restoring his memories, either of which one could see as a reason for wanting to kill her. It was that he knew she had been loyal to the Dark One and that he must suspect that she had at least acquiesced if not directly assisted in the murder of Nevir Sedai. One minute of the two of them alone and one of them would be dead. She wanted to keep her full attention on him but her captors, her unwanted masters were demanding her attention.
"So then Accepted," said Saerin, her voice emphasising the last word. "Show us this ter'angreal, you will not let out of your hands. I have a good mind to take it from you if you do not hurry."
"That would be unwise as I am most able in its use and I am not weak in the Power," replied Kea a little curtly. She was treading a fine line. She was not in a good mood, she needed the power of the shawl but her test seemed to be something you could not force the Aes Sedai to rush. But her disappointment with Kye and the way she was being treated as a child after having done all the work and having such great success was grating on her finally. They all proclaimed themselves aghast at the way the Seanchan enslaved their channellers but it seemed that was exactly what the Tower wanted to do to her. She was under no illusion that she would be her own master even after her raising to the shawl. But at least she would be able to look any Aes S3edai in the Eye. She was as strong as the Amyrlin Seat and once she wore the Shawl others would not be able to speak to her and ignore her as they wished to now. Saying she was not weak in the Power was as close as she dared come to hinting that she was the strongest in the Power in that room and that all assembled felt and knew it. She had channelled for as many years as most of them as well.
Without further discussion she retrieved the Eye of Loyalty from within her clothes. She channelled the weaves of Spirit into it to activate it and found there was still a residue from the time she had used it before. Seeing an opportunity she channelled a little more. When she wished weaves to stand for a longer duration she usually added some Earth and so she added just a sliver of Earth to the weave. It worked perfectly the visor retained the flows and she stopped channelling but the blue quartz continued to contain a slight glow deep within.
"Kye look through the Eye!" she commanded. He stepped forward and placing it over his eyes he looked at Revoir.
"Do you see her oaths?" asked Kea. "Her loyalties?"
"Yes, I think that is what they are. She has a black line that is severed and ragged. It seems tinged with fear and loathing. She has four clear bright bands around her chest over her heart. I imagine those do be her oaths on the oath rod yes? She has others but I do not be knowing what they all do mean. Those I said are the most clear by far."
"You see this ter'angreal isn't something only useable by Aes Sedai, nor does it detect only oaths and promises made with the Power but all loyalties. This is another reason I am reluctant to take it to the Hall untested, or simply to pass it round."
"But it must be tested of course," broke in Seaine. The White looked possativly delighted. "Don't you understand what you have done Kea. You have solved our greatest problem. We were set to our task by Elaida, or so we thought."
"So you thought?" asked Kea confused.
"Yes the Amyrlin Seat asked me to root out treachery and I thought she was asking me to look for and expose and finally extinguish the Black Ajah. It is a long story but first Pevara and then the other three Sisters you see before you became involved in that hunt. We used the Oath rod and discovered not only Black Ajah but on the way, spies sent by the rebels. Indeed we discovered enough that we thought to approach Elaida with our findings as one of the few Sisters we knew was not Black Ajah. However that changed when we discovered that she had meant to set me to discovering treachery from Alviarin. The story between the two of them is still unclear. But Alviarin seemed to have power over Elaida and then that suddenly went during an absence from the Tower. She was removed as Keeper and another put in her place. Now she is nothing in the Tower. So then we were back to the beginning. Elaida had not set me to the hunt for the Black Ajah, so she could indeed be one herself."
Seaine sighed, "We had so looked forward to having this out in the open. But if this truly works…" she held out a hand. Into it, after receiving a nod from Kea, Kye placed the Eye of Loyalty.
Without channelling she raised it to her eyes and looked through it at all of them. She stared unspeaking for several minutes. When she lowered it her eyes were surprisingly wet with tears.
"This is the most amazing thing I have ever seen or felt done with the Power. I can see your loyalty to me and to the Light. Your oaths shine off you. It's amazing, you must all see."
After that there was nothing for it but for each to try. Even Revoir, though she didn't have the gall to dare ask, also looked longingly at the ter'angreal.
"A test then on someone who has not yet broken her oaths to the Dark One to make sure we know what they look like. Then we can finally act!" said Pevara. Her face was alight not with sentimental emotion as had been Searine but with determination and the flush of anticipated victory.
It was swiftly decided. Revoir was forbidden to even use the words Eye of Loyalty and to discuss anything that might be about or include anything to do with it. It was decided that for her efforts and partly due to her vehemence that Kea could use the visor to locate the next victim.
"As an Accepted less people watch me," she added, wanting to strengthen her cause and make the others feel like they had made this decision as they had all the others. They agreed but not with words. She received gruff nods and accepting blinks, no more.
"Come Kye," she ordered the moment the Eye was in her hands. "Let's go hunting. Sadly, I do not think this will take long."
Sadly that prediction proved to be all too true. They were no sooner out of the lower levels than they saw several Aes Sedai travelling in a group. That was not unusual. Amid the suspicion and disarray of the White Tower the Sisters often travelled in groups and only with Sisters of their own Ajah. This group were Greens the Ajah Kea hoped to join herself. Almost involuntarily she raised the Visor to her Eyes.
It was different, looking at an entire group of Aes Sedai, with their long histories and twisted loyalties, to looking only at Kye or helpless Revoir. The loyalties of all those women, to men, countries, each other, Ajah, friends, Warders and more were truly blinding. However it was remarkably easy to see their Power-bound Oaths. They were settled into their very skin, their being. Round each one, centred on her heart were three white-gold rings. The Oaths of the Aes Sedai, to tell no word that is not true, never to use the Power to make a weapon for one man to kill another and not to use the Power as a weapon, save against Shadowspawn and in the last defence of her life or that of her Warder. They were the first and easiest thing to see and understand. So much so that even Kye had not been able to mistake them for anything else. But one of the group, lacked them, or rather they were horribly altered.
She had far less oaths Kea saw as she continued to study her, far less loyalties. Her loyalties seemed close to her and indeed focused on her one true loyalty. She was extremely loyal to herself. Still round her heart were three Black rings of utter darkness. They were shadows so thick they covered and destroyed any other oaths she had made. Even the lines that showed her Warder's bonds were over taken and cast in shadow by these bands of blackness. Kea felt sick looking at them. Under them she imagined she could see the tatters of their former oaths and loyalties to the Tower and the Light. These new ones stood like a victorious murderer dancing on the tombs of the fallen.
What was worse or perhaps fortunate was that she knew the Sister. Kera Sedai. One of the first two Aes Sedai she had ever met. The one, who had lost a Warder and spoke to her so passionately about it, indeed had convinced her she wanted a Warder herself. It had been her Warder that had died to save them from the Greyman, a servant of the Dark One. It made no sense that she be Black Ajah. How could she be so kind and Black Ajah? How could she be Black Ajah and yet lose a Warder to shadowspawn? But the visor was clear. This was after all why it needed testing, so that if Aes Sedai like Kera were not guilty.
She curtseyed as the Aes Sedai passed and then with a heavy heart went straight back to find the others. She could not do this alone.
This was by far the craziest thing she had ever done. Kea was walking between two green-shawled Aes Sedai. That might not have been too crazy but it got worse once you realised that both of them were 'ferrets' spies sent by the rebels to infiltrate the Tower Aes Sedai and spread dissent against Elaida making ready for a reunion under victorious rebels. They had been betrayed by one of their own, as the Hunters had thought her suspicious activity made her a prime candidate for the Black Ajah. Each had been brought in and made to swear loyalty, to the five Sisters Kea was working with. There had been two in each Ajah and these were the two Greens. The plan was simple. She, Kea, in preparation for being raised to the shawl wanted to practise with full Aes Sedai. It was well known that an Illianer man followed her around like a Warder already, so many saw her as headed for the Green. Indeed she had even said as much, to some Aes Sedai, who had hinted she might want to join one Ajah or another.
It was a very popular choice with the Green as she was very strong and was good at toeing the line and keeping the rules. It was clear she would go very far and she would be the first of her people to become Aes Sedai. Using this special liking for herself, the fact she had two Aes Sedai in the Ajah who had to help her and the Ajahs' suspicions of each other she had been given admittance, late at night, into the corridors that housed the sleeping rooms of the Green Ajah.
They were going to abduct an Aes Sedai, and one they believed was Black Ajah, but they were still not sure. What if they were wrong? Half of her was still hoping they would be. After all this was only a test. Oh but it would be awful if they were wrong, how would they ever explain it? But at the same time how wonderful to know Kera Sedai walked in the Light! Kye bumped into her back as she stopped walking. He moved so quietly sometimes she forgot he was there. Having him accompany her had not been challenged. In any other quarters it may well have been, but a Warder was as much a part of the Green's way of life as planting or animals were to the farmer's. He had passed almost without comment.
They arrived at her door and Kea pretended she had to adjust her shoe as they were still other women in the corridor. She could not make out their faces but no one could be allowed to see what would take place here in but a single moment. Once the way was clear she looked at both the others.
"Remember this is not about the split, or about me forcing you to do something. This woman is almost certainly Black Ajah." Oh but she hoped not, yet she knew her tone must be clear firm, she must leave no doubt.
"Rebels or not, I met your Amyrlin Egwene and she was not buckle here. What we are going to do might sound crazy but we have to. We are saving the Tower and only with the Tower pure can we save the rest of the world. Are you with me?"
They nodded, "Then form a circle, I will be leading." She had been taught about forming circles by Pevara and Saerin deciding she would need the information almost as soon as they had joined her to them. It was a little like what she had done in her damane days so after a moment of initial confusion she had found herself quite adapt at it. She weaved a Ward around the room which would block all sound motioned to the door and went.
The door was unlocked but it had apparently been Warded because their immediately began a whining sound and their was a burst of bright energy. Kea fell to the floor but held the circle together with gritted teeth.
Kera Sedai was stumbling from her bed her legs still tangled in her bed clothes. Her hands hit the ground first as she wriggled free slithering across the floor and loose. Pulling herself up swearing loudly she reached for the One Source. "Block her!" shouted one of the others.
If Kera had not known she was under attack she knew it now. Rather than trying to cut them off from the source she simply tried to attack them. A shaft of baleful green-red fire shot from her hands and slammed into one of Kea companions, it was the one who had not shouted. She must have believed she had been leading the circle. The Accepted dress fooling her into believing it could not be the strongest that held the reigns.
Kea inhibitions dropped. She must be Black; that had been a killing weave. So thinking, she slammed the united strength of the circle into a sharp block. But Kera was awake and full of the Power. She was screaming at them, all her usual kind demeanour, her effortless charm and strength of body and character, were simply erased. She swore darkly and cursed them as she tried to summon up more killing weaves. Desperately Kea tried to cut her off from the source but without success. "Drop!" she yelled, grateful they had thought to Ward the room against sound. They would have had the whole Tower, if not the entire world in here by now, if they had not. Kye then calmly sliced through Kera's hamstring. With a shocked gasp she fell to the floor. She seemed in such pain and shock as to be unable to articulate it. So the room went from ringing with screams to utter silence in an instant. The block slammed into place. Then using another weave Kea put out the last of the fire on the hapless Green Sister. She was burnt badly, most of the right-hand side of her face was scorched black and her whole body seemed tinged red as if sore. Kea knew how bad she was at healing and passed the flows to the other Sister to administer to their fallen ally. Meanwhile she and Dirk moved over to inspect their fallen enemy.
Kera Sedai looked as if she had never experienced such pain before she held her leg at the wound, as if afraid it might tear loose of her body. She gasped quietly now. Tears were stinging her eyes, her movements had become as ragged as her breathing.
"Kera Sedai we are arresting you. If you are innocent you have nothing to fear but you will have to answer for what you have already done."
Kera spat in Kea's face in reply for which Kye struck her soundly once across the head. Her eyes rolled in her head but she remained conscious. "Aes Sedai, if indeed you are Aes Sedai," he said quietly, his voice sinister and deadly. "If you show disrespect to my Aes Sedai I will do all I can short of killing you to make you cease. Is that clear enough for you?"
"She is no Aes Sedai!" croaked the fallen Green-Black Sister.
Kye shrugged and before Kea could stop him he stabbed his dirk, that had appeared in his hand as if it had grown there, into the same wound his sword had made.
"You were warned," he reminded her acidly.
"Kye stop that!" snapped Kea shocked. "Watch the door instead."
"To Hear is to obey," he murmured. But even as he rose to do her biding he gave a dangerous glance to Kera which neither of the two women missed.
Kea two supporters came and stood either side of her. "Well Accepted we need you out of that dress if we are going to switch you two for the way out."
Kea nodded, it had been her own idea: Two Aes Sedai and an Accepted come in, two Aes Sedai and an Accepted leave. She would stay till morning and then leave in a servants dress. Kera looked as if she would cause some fuss, but when your hamstring is in pieces and the only people who can heal you have you cut off from all power and friends, your options are limited. In short she stripped and dressed as she was told to.
During this operation Kye without a word stepped from directly in front of the door to one side. An instant later the door burst open and Jerome burst into the room. Kera immediately shouted her commands. "Kill the one who is half dressed!"
Kea could not weave the flows but she had not yet received control back anyway. The other Aes Sedai hesitated which was almost fatal as Jerome did not hesitate at all, his blade went straight for Kea. It never landed. The uninjured Aes Sedai who had accompanied her threw herself bodily at the Warder. He shrugged her off and brought his sword around belatedly to slash down at Kea's head rather than run her through as he had first intended.
Steel that had held at Soremaine still held. Kye's sword slammed into the opposing Warder's blade. Kera shoved Kea to the floor and attacked the block with everything she had. The final Aes Sedai holding all of the power of the circle, stopped doing anything but maintaining that block.
Kye flung his shoulder into his swing and wrenched his sword up two handed. The swords went up and came apart Jerome immediately righted his stance but now Kye was between him and the Aes Sedai.
"Interesting that you didn't bring any help Gaidin," commented Kye. "Interesting that you do not shout for support from the surrounding rooms? Could it be you know what she is better than we do?"
As Kye wondered aloud Jerome attacked. He had fought Kye before and won and he believed he knew how to go about a sequel. He was wrong. Kye had had a chance during his time at the Tower to re-find his forms and his ability. His sword had never felt so at home in his hand. He remembered all his old fights and the wars duels and desperate battles he had fought in often against all odds. More than that he remembered what it was to be bonded again. He fought with the increased strength and stamina of a Warder. He was fighting to defend his Aes Sedai and that gave extra bite to every attack. Last time they had met it had been two on one and he had been sure the people he was fighting were not evil and did not deserve to be slain by him. Now he had no such belief no such qualm. A danger to his Aes Sedai died, no questions asked, none were needed. Jerome did not know what had hit him. A lot it seemed had changed since their last encounter.
Kye was blisteringly fast, his sword swung with savagery and his thrusts were more accurate than a needle and thread. His feet danced him out of trouble and charged him into his foe when he moved to the attack. "You think Hammar would be proud of training you for this? For the Dark One's work? You think me made oaths as you have?" Kye was not even aware that the scuffling behind him had stopped and that the three had succeeded against the one. Nor that Kea had donned the Eye of Loyalty. "He has sworn oaths to the Dark, Kye" she confirmed.
He was oddly irritated by this. After all he had just said as much and he had not needed a ter'angreal to know it. Some things were just instinct. Spinning he deliberately showed Jerome his back a target he knew he would not be able to give up. Then increasing the speed of his own spin he brought his blade back around quicker than his opponent could anticipate. Ramming his sword into his enemies he forced both blades up high into the air. Too late Jerome saw that Kye had only one hand on his blade's hilt and had used momentum rather than the strength of both arms to complete the manoeuvre. Looking down as he felt the wetness spreading he saw the dirk still grasped tightly in Kye's left hand, buried in his chest. "Go to your Master," mocked Kye mercilessly, "As you swore to do." He died.