I don't own Wheel of time

Chapter 3. There's a dragon in my head.

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Nicole awoke from her slumber in the place she had not passed out. "Where am I?" She whispered. She heard footsteps and spun her head to find no one. Then she realized she was in a room. Shaking herself free of foolishness Nicole nearly bolted out the door.

Lincoln and Raas turned to see a young woman hurry down the stairs and rush out the front door of the makeshift inn. Sighing, Lincoln ordered another drink to their table and eyed Raas. Nodding in unspoken agreement Raas rose from his seat and walked after her. Tam followed quickly behind him.

"She doesn't know where she is." Tam said as he caught up with Raas.

"Neither do I remember." Raas countered and quickly scanned the landscape to find Nicole. "Maybe you should tell us stuff sometimes. Even if Lincoln is your primary attraction you wouldn't want any of us getting to Aes Sedai."

Tam did not move his face, he barely breathed before answering, "I told you. You're two friends did not pass out and were quickly discovered by a group of traveling merchants. Hence the little village we now find ourselves in."

"We don't even know its name." Raas muttered. The two continued to walk in silence for a few seconds more. The village was overcrowded, not that there were many people, it was just that it could not hold more than fifty people anyway. Raas had a hard time keeping track of Nicole's erratic movements. She was scared he knew that at least. But then again so was he when he woke up.

"It's too small to have one. There are barely forty people here." Tam muttered, "Damn Shenairans, I can't channel here without a mob coming down on our heads."

Raas yelled at the top of his lungs, "Warren!" Warren's head spun in the direction of his name and firmly ignored the peddler. He looked about and saw Raas and Tam, both pointing in a single direction. He followed their fingers and saw Nicole, obviously awake from her slumber.

"I just wanted some time alone," he grumbled as he began running at an easy pace. For a man of his size Warren was nimble on his feet, but still he bumped toes and muttered apology after apology. "Nicole!" He yelled, so loud his voice cracked under the strain and he did not try again for a few seconds. On the third time Nicole stopped, whether or not Warren had gotten her attention or something else stopped her.

Warren saw three women in shawls and got very nervous. He discontinued his pursuit and ducked into an alley, peering out the side to get a view. "This will not end well."

Raas and Tam saw Nicole stop, and did not care why. They pushed their legs on harder than before and caught up with her in moments. Then they noticed the Aes Sedai.

Raas did not know what was going on with Tam but his face was scrunched up and his brows furrowed. Raas himself was not too happy looking either. His left hand immediately went to his sword, which was situated on his right hip, and narrowed his eyes. "Nicole, come here." Raas whispered and Nicole backed up a little, but did not stand beside him.

The Aes Sedai watched in coolness and with ageless faces regarded the three people in front of them. One, the one in the middle spoke, "I did not think Asha'men ran." Her voice was silky, and she looked not a year past twenty-five or so. How old she actually was not something Raas could answer, nor did he really want to know. She was a small woman, but whenever Raas looked down at her he felt as though he were looking up.

Raas' eyes widened as colors swirled about Tam and the Aes Sedai. He did not know what they meant, and he wanted them to go away. He heard people playing dice near them and stretched his neck, hoping to make himself seem indifferent. He had not dealt with Aes Sedai before.

"We were not running Veria." Tam lied, "An attack by Shadowspawn must immediately be reported to the Tower. That is all." That bit, at least, was true.

The women seemed entirely comfortable in uncomfortable silence but Tam looked like he could be sweating, if Asha'man actually sweat. Veria seemed entirely composed, like all Aes Sedai she believed in what she was doing, whether it was right or wrong didn't really matter. "This girl can channel. She is the White tower's property. Not the Black's."

Tam nodded. If he did not hand Nicole over to them and the White Tower caught wind of it, a civil war would be on his hands. And he could not allow that to happen. But there was a loophole. He just hoped Nicole would take it. It was in her hands now. "I'll hand her over to you. And the other girls if you can determine they can channel but only if they wish to go. Even the White Tower cannot force women to learn."

Nicole didn't say anything for a moment and then, "I… I can channel? And Gillian and Mary?"

The women all nodded. "You can we know for sure, as can… Mary. We presume you three are not together by chance and the other can as well. I understand you're apprehension right now but without training you will die. You need to come with us, so that you're training may commence. I promise you this. I will personally help you to channel. An… apprentice might be the correct term."

Nicole gasped a little, "Raas…" she began and Raas jumped forward, leaving Tam entirely bewildered at what the young man was planning.

Raas snickered at the Aes Sedai. They should not fall into traps such as this so easily. Or was it the other way around, did she really think he would… Light now he didn't know what to do. "Nicole." Raas began; not exactly sure where he was going until the words came out, "Veria Sedai. As you have promised to train Nicole, and hopefully the others as well. I presume I should tell you we're staying at the only inn in this little village. Tam don't look at me like that, I know what I'm doing. Now I'm telling you this because we leave, Nicole, Myself, Tam here and everyone else in our little band so that you know where to go to join us."

Veria did not seem concerned at all. In fact, Rass almost thought she looked pleased, if anything at all. Raas decided to continue, knowing full well he was probably digging himself into a hole, "You other sister's can leave, go back to Tar Valon for all I care. But only Veria will come with us. Now. Get lost."

The Aes Sedai did appear annoyed, the first emotion Raas had seen in any of them really. One muttered, "One should teach you to respect Aes Sedai." But nothing else was said for a time.

Tam was shaking his head in his hands. But Raas appeared defiant as ever, just for show of course. Then Veria spoke, somberly, "I will accompany you. To see to these girls, but Lan must come as well."

Raas looked around briefly, "Lan?" As if he'd heard the name before.

Tam responded, "Her warder. She's green Raas." Raas shrugged and grabbed Nicole by the arm, since she wouldn't move on her own. Neither would Tam and even when he started to he didn't turn full around till they were round the corner once more.

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Lincoln stood by himself in the stables outside the inn. Their horses were there and he felt nothing more calming than feeding and caring for them. He was a gentle giant, despite what the sword on his hip might indicate. Logan was inside, drinking ale probably. Lincoln did not like the stuff though he drank it anyway. He liked the taste, and liked how it made him before but now. He felt as though he was in constant danger, and any drop in his guard would be the time Trollocs attacked. Or worse, Aes Sedai.

The Red Ajah was still about, he knew, gentling men wherever they could find them. All this in spite of the non-aggression contract that had been made between the two groups of channelers during the days before the Last battle. Red Ajah weren't even Aes Sedai anymore as far as Lincoln could tell. Just in name, they were so far gone from reality of the black Tower and a clean saidan that they lost all-purpose.

But they kept going on, gentling men before they reached the Black Tower. To gentle an Asha'man would end in civil war, not to mention how battle oriented the Asha'man training is would make it extremely dangerous.

But Lincoln didn't know how to channel. Logan had, as soon as he woke up in this village taught him to seize saidan and told him t do so when Red Aes Sedai were around, maybe even if any Aes Sedai were around. Lincoln didn't like the idea of Aes Sedai knowing he could channel, and he didn't think he would even after he learned to defend himself.

With a sigh he took a bundle of hay, knowing it wasn't actually his and threw it into Pip's stall. Smiling in satisfaction that his horse would be well fed and read y for the last push the Valon Tar. His horse comforted him. The beast did not speak, did not urge him to do anything, except maybe let him out of the pen but Lincoln felt that here, in a barn he was at home. Even if it wasn't his barn, or his hay, or his anything at all.

No control over his life, not anymore. No more Two Rivers, only channeling and a black coat were in his future anymore. Warren appeared at the doorway, "The Aes Sedai have caught up to us." He said, almost as though he wasn't alarmed at all. Of course he isn't, Lincoln thought to himself, He can't channel, he's nothing to worry about.

With a wave of his hand Lincoln ignored his concerns, "And?" He said, trying to sound absent. Warren shrugged and entered the small stable fully. His eyes darted about the room, like a child first seeing the world. Lincoln thought that Warren would be paralyzed by fear of anything not of the Two Rivers. He had always been so distant and calm, and it appeared that it transferred to the here and now, Trollocs and Aes Sedai be damned.

"I thought you might want to know. They must've caught up with us after you all passed out. Odd that that should happen, don't you think?" Warren replied.

Lincoln shifted uncomfortably. Yesterday afternoon it happened. They all passed out, except Warren and Mary. Even the Asha'men did not escape whatever took a hold of them. Lincoln had never passed out before, but he thought it akin to sleeping. He even dreamed of his home in Emond's Field. Of The al'Vere inn in particular. "You'd think we'd all of gone under. Something happened out there Lincoln so don't you try and deny it." Warren continued, his tone darker, more forceful than Lincoln had ever seen him.

Lincoln tried to remain stoic but couldn't, "I haven't a clue what happened! Don't look to me for answers Warren, I have none. Ask the Asha'men if you want some!" Lincoln felt a surge of power. He saw every strand of hair on Warren chin clear as the sun at noon. Warren stood, unmoving in front of him, as though he couldn't. Then Lincoln realized, he was holding it, holding saidan. And not only that but holding Warren suspending a good foot off the ground.

As soon as Lincoln saw what was happening something happened. Saidan went away and Warren's feet hit the ground once more and he began breathing again. Lincoln felt nausea overwhelm him and tried to ignore it. After a brief battle with his senses Lincoln could compute enough to open his mouth, but not move his tongue. Warren gasped for breath but remained.

"I know you didn't mean it." He muttered. Warren's eyes glared brightly. So much so that it appeared like he had golden eyes. Warren looked at the ground somberly for a moment, and then turned on his heels and walked briskly from the stable and back into the inn.

Lincoln let out a deep sigh. He felt guilt wash away as he looked back to his prized horse. But Lincoln didn't feel as comforted anymore. Something was different Pip no longer ruffled his mane with a shake. He stood motionless and whined audibly. Lincoln looked over his horse for a moment, his hand on the heron marked blade at his hip. He knew he didn't deserve a blademaster's sword, but steel was steel and he would use it as it was intended if he had to. Light he knew what this meant. Back in Emond's field, in the barn before the attack.

Pip suddenly broke forward, rearing back first and knocking the door of his pen off its hinges. This was exactly the same behavior he had seen before. He knew absolutely.

The Shadow had found them again.

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