Seeds sown in blood.
The first thing she did after warding the room was check her hidey-hole, and to her relief she found her little stash in tact. She dropped her angreal, a wooden cat statuette, into her pouch, together with the tiny, stone cup that strengthened Healing weaves, and she laid the Well, a silver and blue hair pin, on her bedside table, ready to wear from now on. Then she sat down and waited for the visit she knew would not be long.
She wasn't sure what to expect; last night Mesaana had shown herself to be as human as anyone, but that was no guarantee for today. On the contrary, she had considered the possibility Mesaana might get rid of her since she witnessed that moment of weakness. Or out of anger over her own failure here at the White Tower. But if that was the case there was nothing she could do to stop the Chosen. She would just have to hope for the best.
It was not long before the gateway opened. Now that she knew what to look for she noticed the little Eye flash open just a moment before. Such an obvious trick, that no one had thought of that!
Mesaana stepped through, once again in her disguise with the fluttering black strips of fabric. She too must have been among the Sisters taking the test on the Oath Rod, but Sheriam could not even begin to guess who she impersonated. Only that it'd have to be someone who had not too many close friends, but that left many possibilities, especially among the Brown and the Red.
Sheriam fell on her knees, bowed her head. "Great Mistress."
"At least you made it. Get up." The Chosen's voice was flat, tired.
Sheriam stood. "What happened?" she asked quietly.
"Alviarin," Mesaana replied. "She must have panicked. I summoned her, told her to gather a handful of others to teach them the weaves. She did not return. When I went to look for her, I found Evanellein, Katerine and Melvara had disappeared as well. I taught Velina and Sedore, but only Alviarin knew all the Black. The remaining sisters did what they could, but they did not reach everyone. The sisters who couldn't learn are in Aringill, so are Atuan, Karale and Marris since it turns out Talene talked before she fled and the Black Ajah hunters knew about them." Mesaana shook her head in disgust.
"At least those can be reached and are easily put to action when I need them, but too many were caught. When I find Alviarin, she is going to wish she was never born." The Chosen took a deep breath. "How did you fare?"
"All should be safe. I haven't been able to check up on those who had to leave, Siuan still does not trust me and has been watching me like a hawk. But no one was caught in the purge at the camp."
"You did well," Mesaana said.
"Thank you, High Mistress," Sheriam replied. Any smugness she had felt earlier at her success was greatly tempered by the capture of the Black Sisters here.
"I tried to get to those captured but it is no use. There are twenty-six Aes Sedai down there, with two dozen Tower guard. Twenty-six! That al'Vere woman is taking no chances."
"I could suggest they be held for more interrogation." She had to at least suggest it.
"No," Mesaana firmly cut her off. "Do not put yourself at risk. You are useful yet. In fact, you are hereby appointed as the new Black Ajah Head. Do better than your predecessor."
Sheriam knelt. "Thank you, High Mistress. I will," she promised fervently.
"See that you do," Mesaana replied. "And speaking of risks, the sleepweavers, have they been missed yet?"
"Not yet," Sheriam replied.
"I still don't like all these visits to Tel'aran'rhiod, but it is not as important. Have a Brown return them saying she did some testing on the lot."
"Yes, High Mistress," Sheriam said, feeling greatly relieved.
"I had a plan to catch Egwene in Tel'aran'rhiod, but perhaps I still can. You must find out when she goes there and what she does." Mesaana said.
"I might be able to do that, but…" She trailed off, she shouldn't question the Chosen's plans, but neither could she keep silent about what she knew.
"Yes?" Mesaana asked shortly.
"From what I understand she is very strong as a Dreamer. She has a great deal of control, has entered in the flesh and traveled from the Waste to Salidar in a matter of hours," Sheriam cautioned, hoping fervently she had not pushed her luck too far.
"The stupid cow!" Mesaana snapped, and Sheriam flinched.
"Not you. That incompetent, lovesick cosa, Lanfear. She had placed herself near al'Thor when he went into the Waste. He gained the support of the Aiel, the al'Vere girl was trained by the Wise Ones and that idiot calf let it all happen!" Mesaana spat. She shrugged, the black fabric fluttering. "Well, too late to change that now, we will watch and see what opportunity presents itself. I will provide a way for you to contact me -which of the rebel Black can read ter'angreal? The ability is related to being able to make them, if only they are taught."
Greatly relieved the Chosen's anger had not been aimed at her, Sheriam gave the names of those of the Black who had most experience with the artifacts, and Mesaana opened the gateway and left.
Sheriam was tired, but she had more to do. She opened the Eye, then the Gateway to Dagdara's room. Dagdara was still up, had been waiting for her.
"Leesa and Kerryn are settled in at Jalila's farm. Sleeping arrangements are a bit cramped with eleven sisters and six Warders, but no more than the tents in the camp were. The farm is secluded and almost self-sufficient, and as long as they use Travel to come and go, the people in the nearest village will not even know they are there," Dagdara reported.
"What about Maigan and Annisha?"
"Stilled and locked in the cellar, as comfortable as they can be under the circumstances. No harm will come to them."
Sheriam acknowledged, pleased at what she heard. She Traveled back to her own rooms, undressed and went to sleep in her old bed, secure for the first time in months that her sleep would not be rudely interrupted.
-0-
The next morning broke. In spite of everything, Sheriam had slept well. Of course she had needed her rest since the previous night she had forgone all sleep in favor of a Refreshing. But at breakfast the serious state of affairs came back to her. She was still shocked at the state of the Tower. The fires were now all extinguished, even in the city, with sisters, Tower Guard and Bryne's men working together. But rubble and dust was everywhere.
Also, she heard rumors about strange occurrences in the Tower, visions of blood or gore, solid stone melting or crumbling even before the Seanchan attack, entire sections of the Tower warping around, halls and stairs twisting back upon themselves. The Great Lord was touching the Tower, people said. At Salidar there had been only the one night when the bubbles of evil had hit, here apparently there had been far more incidents, although they were spread out over time.
Her anteroom was whole but empty, Egwene had ordered everything from Elaida as well as anything from Alviarin and Tarna cleared out and locked away until it could be gone through carefully, and so all she had was the bare desk, and the paperwork she'd had brought in from the camp. And of course the new reports which formed rapidly growing stacks.
There was much work to be done. Sheriam compiled a list of those missing, not only the Black who had fled but also those who were taken or dead in the Seanchan raid. Saerin had taken census immediately after the battle, and while almost forty were missing -twenty-six Aes Sedai, ten Accepted and three novices- there were none that she knew as Black. One of Saerin's list had turned up this morning, an Accepted who had fled into the city and hid in a shed, remaining there all of yesterday until hunger and thirst drove her out of hiding. It did not bode well for the girl's ability to become Aes Sedai, to lose control in this manner, but that was Silviana's concern now.
Eight damane and six sul'dam were captured, and Egwene immediately decided to train them as Aes Sedai. Another one of her wild ideas! The damane were totally submissive, and the sul'dam refused to even admit they could learn to channel. And they would have to be watched constantly so they did not run away back to the Seanchan. It would be more useful to force them to teach the Aes Sedai some of their offense weaves. Somehow Sheriam thought even the Green didn't know near as much of using the Power in a real battle. Well, whether the damane wore novice white or not, she'd make sure at least the Black learned anything they knew. They all had their a'dam, in fact for the time being they were still locked up and still held collared, because the one damane the White Tower sisters had tried to release had immediately attacked and had to be shielded and re-leashed. With a bit of caution, it might be possible for some of the Black to Travel into their cells at night and make them do their bidding.
And of course the captured Black sisters were being interrogated, briefly but thoroughly. Fortunately none were high in the Black and these knew none outside their own Hearts. Of course, that was what had gotten them caught in the first place, the links between the Hearts broken by those who had fled or who were otherwise gone from the Tower. And none knew any of the Black who had been with the rebels; the split between the Towers had been fairly clean, few leaving close friends or comrades behind. Sheriam herself had known only four of the younger ones, three Red and the Brown, but they did not know her. She had merely passed their names along to Galina and Marillin when they were raised to the Shawl.
Even so, a number of disturbing facts came out into the open. Thefts, use of compulsion on non-Black sisters and visitors to the Tower, two safehouses in the city -not the inn- and even a couple murders. Sheriam of course had access to all the reports so she knew exactly what was revealed, but she could not save the Friends of the Dark in town. Guards had been sent out the moment the Black sisters had named those locations, already on their way even as the reports were made to Egwene, and to her. But at least she knew, would make sure word got around and none of the other Black would get caught there.
Then it was High and all were called to the Traitor's Court. Aes Sedai, Accepted, novices and servants ringed a great open space where the block was set up. A row of Tower Guard and Lord Bryne's men stood in front, holding the crowd back. The Hall -still with the odd numbers, the Ajahs had not sorted out their positions yet- stood in front of the soldiers. Murmurs came from all around as Sheriam followed Egwene, out of the Tower, across the open space, to take up position in front of the Sitters. The murmurs rose as the fifteen Black Sisters were led out in chains, each flanked by two members of the Tower Guard, but as they were lined up on the opposite side of the open space the crowd grew silent.
Egwene once again channeled the weaves to make her voice carry. "The Tower has long denied the existence of the Black Ajah. I can no longer do that, for we have found the Black to be real and in our midst. Fortunately, we have been able to capture a good number of them. Others have fled, but I intend to find each and every one of them, so the world will no longer be at risk of this great evil. These who stand before me we have captured, and they will be executed for their crimes. So shall it be, the Light have mercy on their souls."
No cheers this time. The courtyard was quiet except for the sobs of the condemned and the clanking of the chains as the first sister was led towards the block. Yanine, the first to be caught, the first to be executed. As she was made to kneel in front of the block, the clouds moved aside for just a moment and the sun broke through, perversely bathing the scene in a golden light. Sheriam was astutely aware of the angreal in her belt pouch, the silver and blue Well pinned in her hair, but it was not nearly enough to do anything. She stood stoically next to the Amyrlin, Keeper's staff in her right hand, blue stole around her shoulders and face grim. The headsman -one of Chubain's men, not Bryne's- raised his axe, the silver flashing. Then it fell, claiming the sister's head, and blood spurted onto the marble paving blocks even as the cloud cover closed again overhead.
Anger coursed through Sheriam. Great evil indeed. Telma, who was led to the block next, had merely wanted access to forbidden knowledge, had not been interested in the battle between the Great Lord and the Creator at all except in a scholarly way. Many of the Black weren't, would never have done deeds of 'great evil' if the Last Battle had not been so near, and even now would do so only if absolutely necessary. Like she herself. She had been prepared to kill last night but only to save her own skin and that of her fellow Black sisters. She had avoided physical violence that went beyond a good strapping for discipline. Although she would like a piece of Alviarin, in the unlikely event Mesaana left any. Verin was definitely beyond her reach, but the cowardly action of their one-time Ajah Head was also to blame for the disaster taking place in front of her.
She glanced sideways at Egwene as the axe claimed Telma's head too, then she tore her eyes away and forced herself to look in front of her before she lost control and did something to wipe that expression of satisfaction off the Amyrlin's face. Never mind those of great evil, she thought, save us from the righteous!
One by one the other Black sisters were led forward. Their sobs and struggles grew more desperate as the pool of blood under the block grew so large they had to kneel in the blood of those who had gone before them, and the bodies were unceremoniously tossed aside and piled up beside the block by the guardsmen who had brought them out. After eight executions, the headsman was relieved by another, also from the Tower guard, the man checking the axe as he took it over from the first. He took out a whetstone and sharpened the blade, working on that for several minutes as the crowd and the condemned sisters looked on. Then the executions continued as Sheriam could do nothing but watch.
It was then and there that she decided to work toward a victory for the Great Lord in earnest. Until now, no matter how often she had claimed she 'lived to serve' to Halima or Mesaana, she had in reality juggled many interests. She had taken care to secure her own position of course, but she had also served the Tower, in part because a strong Tower meant more power for her, but also because the Tower had been her home for so many years. In the same manner she had cared for the Blue Ajah, had supported the Blue whenever doing so wasn't in direct conflict with the Black. In truth, she had tried to avoid getting involved too deeply with the Chosen and the Last Battle, because of the risk that would mean to herself and to those she cared more about than perhaps she should. But no more. She would do what she had to do to keep her cover, but any consideration for the Tower and those sisters not of the Black was a thing of the past, and she would even put her own position second to the needs of her Ajah. Great evil indeed, she would take her chances. It had to be better than this hypocrisy.
Vittorina Pelos was the last to be executed, a tall and arrogant Tairen noblewoman, who kept her calm until the last moment. Sheriam hadn't liked her, hadn't known her to be other than a Red, a harsh woman who had sent novices and Accepted to her study for the most trivial reasons, and who perpetually looked down on those who were not of noble birth, even though that should not make any difference among Aes Sedai. But now she silently saluted the woman for her stoic behavior. Then Vittorina, too, lay dead, and finally a stir ran through the spectators. Egwene raised her arms, calling for attention.
"Now that we have cleansed ourselves of this evil, this rot that was eating away at our core, we stand united to fight for the Light," Egwene called out. "From this moment on, we will rebuild stronger than ever before, wholly dedicated in the fight against the Dark One."
Right, Sheriam thought as she looked over the crowd. Even if it weren't for the Black, there would still be strife and selfish struggle aplenty. Lelaine and Romanda both had submitted letters of protest against the appointment of Silviana, and a proposal for the sul'dam and damane to be held as prisoners of war, to be offered in a prisoner exchange. As if the Seanchan would so easily consider letting go of those they had captured! Then there was the problem of which Sitters would keep their position and which would have to step down, the humility of which Egwene had spoken the previous evening hard to find among those who had made it into the Hall in the first place. Only the Brown had promised to make their choice known that afternoon, the struggle for power was part of being Aes Sedai in all Ajahs.
"Now there is much to be done. I can not promise you safety, there lays danger ahead as the Last Battle approaches. But go to your tasks knowing at least for the moment we can at least be sure of one another. When the Tower stands strong, we will be victorious against the threats outside our walls as well!"
Oh the irony, Sheriam wished she could laugh aloud at these ridiculous statements, but of course she kept her face completely calm. At least there were only a few cheers, this time, the executions had made a deep impression even on the servants, novices and younglings.
The crowd quickly broke up, impressed or not, they had no desire to remain out here and hang around. Egwene herself went into the Tower, but Sheriam had to stay out here, her task as Keeper to oversee the removal of the bodies. Already a cart came rumbling into the square, the placid oxen snorting at the blood before they came to a stop. The guardsmen picked up the bodies and tossed them on the cart like so much refuse, the heads thrown in after. There was no need to match up the heads with the bodies, the executed would not even get the dignity of individual graves. They would be buried in a mass grave in the corner of the city cemetery, among the poor and common criminals.
The cart loaded, a few of the guardsmen hopped on to help unload and close the pit, and the cart rumbled off. Servants came out with buckets of water and brooms, and, looking rather shaken at their task, started to wash away the blood.
As she watched the cart pass through the gate, she was not surprised to notice Siuan had stayed behind and was watching her, again. Well fine, she knew she had not betrayed any of her thoughts in her face, and at least as long as the woman was here she was not discussing her suspicions with Egwene. Still something had to be done, about Siuan and about Egwene. An idea formed, an idea for which the seeds had been sown long ago, and which had nagged at her time and again during the past months, but which she had always dismissed as being too impractical to implement by herself and too risky to suggest to the Chosen.
Outwardly calm, she turned and went into the Tower and into her anteroom. She quickly leafed through the new reports that had been deposited on her desk in the short time she had been away, selected the ones that were important enough to warrant immediate attention, and went into Egwene's room.
"Tarian died early this morning, all other of the captured Warders have admitted to being Darkfriends," she reported. Not unexpected, it was just that much more to lay at Egwene's feet. Sheriam still wasn't sure if the Warders truly were Friends of the Dark. Some Warders who walked in the Light might turn on their Aes Sedai, there were even a few cases where a Warder had killed his Aes Sedai on discovering she was a Black, but more had remained true to the sister they were bonded to.
"All?" Egwene asked, a rhetorical question since she thought Sheriam could not lie.
"All seven," Sheriam confirmed.
Egwene looked grim. "I had hoped at least some would not be, we will need every trained fighter all too soon. But so be it. They will be executed after the executions of the Darkfriends caught in town, at Trine."
"Yes, Mother," Sheriam acknowledged.
Egwene sighed. "Oh Sheriam, six, six of the Red, and another six who have escaped! A dozen of the Red alone. Did I make a mistake in letting the Red Ajah remain intact?"
Yes, you did, Sheriam thought, and for other reasons. Not that she said so. "Those who are left are not Darkfriends, and perhaps the number of Black found among them might make the rest bend easier to your plans."
A snort came from the doorway and Siuan walked in. "I am still not sure we caught them all," she said.
Damn the woman, even after the dressing-down the previous evening she entered here as if it were still her study, and worst of all Egwene let her get away with it.
"How that so?" Egwene asked, instead of berating Siuan for her behavior.
"Too many young or weak sisters caught, too little spread among the Ajah's. Remember Liandrin's group? They were two from each Ajah, age and strength evenly spread among them, no more than two from any given nation. They had to have a larger pool to fish from."
"There will still be Black among those who are not in the Tower, at Caemlyn, Cairhien, in the Black Tower. I saw the sisters here swear on the Oath Rod, every one of them," Egwene said, but Sheriam heard in her voice there was a bit of doubt creeping in.
"Then maybe there is some way to beat the Oath Rod," Siuan said.
"Beat it?" Sheriam enquired. She kept her calm, she would not allow herself be tripped up. As long as she could beat the Oath Rod, unless Siuan also figured out how it was done, the woman had no way to actually prove her suspicions. In spite of the way Egwene had taken Verin's word about her, and the fact that Siuan clearly still held Egwene's trust regardless of last night's berating, she was also sure Egwene's relief when she had 'proven' herself had been genuine. She was far from safe, but as long as she did not allow Siuan to rile her, she should be alright for the moment.
"I cannot believe that," Egwene replied. "If the Black knew how to fool the Oath Rod, why would so many still flee and why would they allow fifteen of their number to be caught and executed? Perhaps… perhaps the Forsaken can beat it but I can't see someone like Moghedien teaching her weaves to others, not even the Black."
Sheriam frowned as she wondered why Egwene named Moghedien, did she suspect Moghedien of being in the Tower? It hadn't sounded as just a random example. As Siuan's reaction confirmed; the woman glared at Egwene furiously. And finally, finally Egwene said something about it.
"Siuan, I saw her swear on the Oath Rod. And I was watching closely, very closely, because of what Verin wrote." Egwene threw her an apologetic glance before turning back to Siuan. "I told the Hall yesterday that I would have no more of this distrust that almost destroyed the Tower, and I won't have it from you. It was my fault to name anyone before I had proof, but now you must let it go. I need your help to sort through Elaida's papers but it is no use if all you're doing is watching Sheriam."
About time! But still she would bring up her plan that evening. Aloud she said generously, "These are trying times. Enough to make anyone doubt another. I have nothing to hide. If it makes you feel better you can keep an eye on me while working on Elaida's things."
"I will do that," Siuan said, still glowering.
Egwene sighed, clearly unhappy, but she did not push Siuan any further. Sheriam decided the best defense was to appear tolerant, and to go back to business.
"Back to the reports," she said pointedly. "The Brown have decided on Takima, Janya and Saerin as their Sitters, the other Ajahs haven't submitted their choices yet. Tsutama asks permission to speak to you in private -I suggest not making any promises that what she brings up will remain private. She has been exiled once for breaking Tower law, be careful around her."
She might be beyond caring what happened to the Tower, she did not think the Red would be up to anything that was good for the Black either.
There was a knock on the half-open door -something Siuan hadn't even bothered with- and Silviana entered.
"Mother? I thought you might want to see this."
"What is it?" Egwene asked.
"You should come and see."
Egwene rose and, curious, Sheriam went along. To her annoyance, Siuan tagged along as well. Silviana did not explain but led the way to the Hall.
Silviana gestured for Egwene to enter, and Egwene did, Sheriam and Siuan following, down the short ramp to the floor. The floor was freshly repainted, to once again include the Blue. It was good to see, but would be even better if it had replaced the Red.
Beyond the floor and the chairs -the Blue Sitter's chairs were back also- a group of stone masons were hard at work. All stone masons from the city had been called to the Tower, with additional crews Gated in from Cairhien and Caemlyn, but the Ogier refuse to leave their Stedding no matter what they are offered. Work had started in the Hall and several other places, first those that were the most important for Tower business, and where the damage posed the greatest risk of further collapse. The Hall of course was a priority, and the crew was working to shore up the walls. Egwene had decided to put a large rose window in the Hall, where the hole overlooked Dragonmount. The stonemasons had cleared the rubble and were now working to prepare the edges so the window could be fit in.
That however wasn't what Silviana had wanted to show. When they neared the large hole -the masons stepping back respectfully as soon as they saw them approach- she could look out. The clouds had moved apart in a ring above Dragonmount, and the sun shone down on it, lighting the snowcapped crag, shining brightly on the broken mountain in a perfect column. The first sun in weeks except for that short moment at High. And such an unusual pattern!
"Some novices noticed it first," Silviana was saying. "And news spread quickly. Who would have thought that a little ring of sunlight would cause such a stir? It's just a simple thing, really. Nothing we haven't seen before. But…" Silviana paused. "What does it mean?"
Egwene stared out the large gap. "I don't know, but I welcome the sight of it." She hesitated. "That opening in the clouds is too even to be natural. Mark this day on the calendars, for something has happened. Perhaps, eventually, we shall know the truth of it."
Sheriam did not know what it meant either, but she refused to let it awe her. Just like history was written by the victors, signs and omens were interpreted and prophesies written by each side according to their own desires.
"Yes, Mother," she acknowledged, but she knew that if it were up to her, the day would be remembered for a different reason than Egwene had in mind.
-0-
Egwene clearly was impressed, because she stood and stared at the sight for quite some time before returning to her study. Sheriam returned with her, and the afternoon wore on. At Trine she had to witness more executions, the Warders and the two families caught in town. The Warders were also taken to the Traitor's Court, but after the Aes Sedai from this morning, it was clearly of less importance to most. There were primarily Warders and younglings in attendance, and of course the guardsmen and soldiers. And, once again, Siuan, who stood with Gareth Bryne but was no doubt really watching her and perhaps the other Warders. Arinvar joined her as they watched the grim spectacle, his face unreadable, but he felt furious as well as concerned. She had not told him exactly how close she had come to being caught, but he had to have a pretty good idea. So did the other Warders of the Black. Add to that the Warders who walked in the Light and who were outraged at the Darkfriends caught in their midst, and the atmosphere was tense to the extreme. Sheriam was glad when it was over and she could return to her anteroom.
Finally evening fell, and Sheriam waited in her rooms for Mesaana to arrive. Like the previous night, she did not have to wait long. Did Mesaana have a way to watch her, so she knew when she retired to her rooms? It was quite possible, there were so many ways of setting up a ward, or she could simply have one of the many servants stake out the halls. It wasn't as disquieting as it would have been a few days ago. Sheriam knelt.
"Rise," Mesaana said. None of the tiredness or nervousness of the previous days now. The Chosen still wore her disguise of fluttering black fabric, but was once again calm underneath. She held several short, red rods in her hand.
"Call rods," she explained. "These only work as a matched pair. Channel Spirit and Fire in the one, press the end, and the other will grow warm, alerting the person who carries it. They are very simple, there once were ter'angreal which allowed one to contact any other person who carried a similar ter'angreal, one could send a message along and some even allowed for two-way conversation. But these were made only this afternoon from nothing else but a receiving part and a description of what they do. I expect to have better ones soon."
"Thank you, High Mistress," Sheriam replied sincerely, for both the ter'angreal Mesaana handed her and for the slight measure of respect she allowed in her voice. Slight coming from anyone else -a remarkable compliment from one of the Chosen.
"So, report," Mesaana said.
"Siuan is still suspicious, and she has Egwene wondering if there is some way to defeat the Oath Rod. As for now, Egwene does not believe the Black can, but she is considering the possibility of one of the Chosen hiding in the Tower," Sheriam started.
"Verin knew I was here, fortunately she did not know my disguise," Mesaana replied.
Sheriam frowned. "For some reason, Egwene named Moghedien. She said she could not imagine someone like Moghedien teaching others."
"Interesting," Mesaana replied. "I am sure she is nowhere near here now but she may have had a run-in with Egwene in the past. She's had some failures and she definitely did not tell me the details of them. Egwene may be more dangerous than I thought."
"I may have a plan," Sheriam said, taking advantage of the obvious opening. "Why not Turn her to the Great Lord using the full circle and the Myrddraal? Egwene has been captured by the Seanchan and by Elaida, even the Dragon was taken once, and what happened is they couldn't be held. But from what I understand of the weave, when the Turning is done she won't need to be held in collar or shield."
Mesaana looked surprised. "I haven't used that often, but yes it would be workable. She would of course be allowed to keep her position, under our control, if she can keep up appearances."
"Can the Turning be detected by Reading or Delving?" Sheriam asked.
"Not unless one knows what one's looking for. It can't be Read since there are no active weaves left once it is done, and it will not show in a regular Delving either. Some of our adversaries developed a weave to detect it but I doubt anyone in this Age knows it. Al'Thor might, he has memories of Lews Therin."
"Then it can be done," Sheriam agreed. "It has been the way the Black has always operated, pretending to be of other Ajahs, Egwene can do the same. The greatest problem is, again, Siuan. She will notice even a small slip and while she may not suspect this, she will suspect compulsion or another method of control. She must be taken also, first I would think. It is inconvenient she has bonded Bryne as a Warder."
Mesaana got a look of distaste on her face. Sheriam had noticed before the Chosen did not like the concept of the Bond. "The Bond can be used to compel him, can it not?"
Sheriam nodded. "And it can't be Read as easily as an outside compulsion can. But a strong compulsion will still be noticeable."
The Chosen thought for a moment. "Rather than just binding him in Air we will knock him out with the Power during the Turning itself, I will show you the weave. The compulsion will be lighter than when he has felt her fear. After Egwene is taken he can be sent elsewhere, where they do not know him and the strong compulsion will not be noticed. A good general is always useful, but he does not need to command his own troops here in Tar Valon."
Sheriam nodded. She too would hate to lose Bryne, had always planned to have him compelled at the Last Battle. It was a real pity there was no way to Turn someone who could not channel.
Working out the plan took some time, and Sheriam was relieved to notice Mesaana planned carefully and made sure of every detail. The Chosen she had met before had been as reckless as they were ruthless, making demands without thinking of the feasibility or the risks, and that had been costly. Mesaana too had been like that on her first visit, but she seemed to have been shaken out of it by the aftermath of Verin's betrayal.