Fire and leashes.
Early in the evening Mesaana told Sheriam to get some rest, they would meet in the Tower's East stable yard two hours after midnight. The Chosen activated the Dreamspike before they went to their quarters to sleep.
It was only a brief rest, for the time came and all gathered. The stable yard was warded against prying eyes and none could see Karale, Atuan and Marris as they returned to the Tower once more to participate in a raid. Mesaana herself wove the gateway to Aringill, the Black sisters did not know the key. Apart from those summoned to Aringill the previous afternoon, Dagdara and Sedore were also present. It was clear the sisters had been instructed earlier, but Mesaana went over it one last time.
"Dawn, you target Selucia. Saerin and Karale, attack the Deathwatch Guard, Irna and Cheryl the damane on the right and Atuan and Marris those on the left. I will take the Empress myself. We will be in and out as quickly as possible, apart from Selucia who must die and of course the Empress herself, I do not care whether any live or die, just as long as they can not interfere. Do not hesitate even if any of the damane are Aes Sedai."
She then deactivated the Dreamspike and handed it to Sheriam.
"It is turned off for the raid. If any of the gateways close before those who opened it are back through, activate it. Dagdara, Sedore and Nynaeve are standing by to Heal but we will not risk the mission to retrieve any wounded who can not make it back on their own. If all goes well, activate it as soon as we have all returned."
If a gateway closed, that would mean any of those left in Tanchico would be trapped, to be captured or killed, but it was better than dealing with the Seanchan here. Sheriam would not hesitate. "Yes, High Mistress."
"Places, everyone," Mesaana ordered.
Sheriam stepped back, embraced the Source, ready to act when necessary.
Then Mesaana gave the signal. "Now."
She herself channeled first, the Eye opening. The others got their bearings off it and then the gateways opened, the sisters stepping through blasting streams of Fire and holding a strong shield of Air to protect themselves from a counter-attack. Screams rang out and at Saerin's gateway, a partially severed body fell through into the courtyard. The Eye could be used to avoid injuring people, it could also be used to open a gateway on top of an enemy on purpose.
Mesaana acted fast. Her gateway opened a second after the others, so they would draw the fire, but it was only a second. She rushed through, a shield bristling with power around her. Only moments later she was back with a startled woman in tow. The woman was young, dark-skinned, her head was shaved completely, and she was wearing a long, silk night gown. Mesaana had her gagged, shielded and wrapped in Air.
"Back!" the Chosen called, her voice booming with the Power to easily carry over the screams and cries of the battle.
The sisters burst back into the stable yard. Dawn first, her face bright with triumph. Cheryl pulled Irna along as they reappeared, the White cursing and turning, sending one last exploding ball of lightning through to Altara, even as Cheryl let her gateway close.
"That was Sheraine," Irna called out. "Sheraine! The bastards, they will pay for this!"
Saerin and Karale came running through their gateway at almost the same instant, Karale limping and almost tripping over a dangling strip of her torn skirts.
Sheriam turned to see about her injury and Dagdara, Nynaeve and Sedore started forward, but even then Marris and Atuan fell in through the last gateway. Literally fell, for even as their feet touched the cobbles a stream of fire hit them in the back. It cut off as the gateway snapped shut, and Sheriam channeled the sequence of the key and activated the Dreamspike. She knew even before she looked up that the fire, short as it had been, had done serious damage.
Marris sat on the cobbles, groaning through clenched teeth as she channeled Water and Air to quench her smoldering clothes, but Atuan lay face down where she had fallen, writhing and screaming in pain like a pig led to slaughter. The flesh of her back, shoulder and right upper arm was black and smoldering, the clothing completely gone, and the smell of burning flesh filled the square.
Dagdara, Nynaeve and Sedore left Karale, whom Sheriam could now see had a long cut on her thigh, deep but not life-threatening, and rushed over to Atuan's side. Channeling Water and Air the wisps of smoke disappeared, but the injuries were severe.
Sheriam dug the cup ter'angreal from her pouch and handed it to Dagdara, then backed off to give the sisters room to work. She did not ask questions, she could see for herself the situation was dire and anything she said would be a distraction.
Mesaana looked at the three Healers, Atuan and the others, then gestured to Karale and Marris.
"I can handle this."
She channeled, first Healing Karale and then Marris' superficial burns quickly disappeared.
"Cheryl, remain here with the Warders, the rest of you, you're with me," the Chosen ordered then. She opened a gateway to Malkier. Sheriam threw one glance over her shoulder but she knew remaining here would be no use, the three Yellow/Black sisters were strong and they could either Heal Atuan or they could not, she would hear soon enough.
-0-
Moria, Leesa, Velina, and several other Black sisters were in the Malkieri ballroom, waiting, as well as the Myrddraal. The Seanchan Empress visibly struggled, her eyes wide in fear, but of course it was in vain, and Mesaana led the circle herself, easily dividing the flows. There was no push against the shield, sul'dam had no conscious control over the One Power.
When Mesaana was done she released the bonds and gag and the Empress sat up. She looked around and as the Myrddraal withdrew, Sheriam noticed the panic quickly left her. In spite of her youth, this was a strong woman, used to being in command.
"The White Tower is even more vile and evil than I thought, what did you do to me?" she demanded.
Irna pushed through to the front from her position at the foot of the table, her face a mask of fury. She slapped the Seanchan hard with the flat of her hand, not a trace of her usual White Ajah calm remaining.
"You attacked us, your minions murdered my friend in her own room, and tonight I had to kill one of our own because you had made her into some mindless thing with those horrible leashes of yours. And you call us evil?"
She punctuated her words with repeated slaps and as she finished made to grab the Seanchan by the throat. Then Mesaana put a restraining hand on her arm. "Don't harm her, she is useful yet."
Irna still had enough control to curtsy as she backed off immediately, but she was breathing hard and kept glaring at the Empress with hatred in her eyes.
"Now for you," Mesaana addressed the Seanchan. "I am Mesaana. From now on you serve the Great Lord. And you serve me."
"I am Fortuona Athaem Devi Paendrag, Empress of the Seanchan Empire. My armies are even now preparing to attack the Tower with far more force than before."
"Then it is a good thing you will be returning to them to call them off," Mesaana replied.
"Call them off?" the Empress replied incredulously. "Never, nothing you can do will make me do that."
She seemed little impressed by being face to face with one of the Chosen. Sheriam had seen nobles like that, who had never in their lives met anyone higher than they, and simply refused to accept a situation in which they had to bow to others in turn. And she had been raised Seanchan, who knew what tales went around there. From what Sheriam had seen, it seemed they considered anyone who could channel and was not leashed almost as bad as the Chosen themselves.
"Didn't it work?" Birlen said softly, astonished.
"Oh, it did," Mesaana replied her. "She just can't get her mind around to it that serving a woman who can channel is ever of benefit to the Great Lord or anyone else." She turned back to the Empress.
"You should know however that your bold statement is untrue. I can put a collar on you, we have plenty of those since the raid, or I can give you to the Black sisters and I assure you they will be quite capable of breaking you. That however takes time, a luxury I do not have. I will use other means."
She wove the compulsion even as she spoke.
"Now, let's try this again. When you return, you call off any direct action against the White Tower, and you will release the Aes Sedai you captured. Will your commanders follow those orders or are there any among them who will balk at that?"
"I am the Empress, they will serve and obey," Fortuona replied. She, like the sul'dam, seemed to put up little or no resistance against the compulsion.
"Even if you give orders directly conflicting those you gave yesterday."
The Empress nodded. "Yes. They may be concerned and no doubt some will send a message to my sisters in Seanchan. They in turn may send assassins if they believe I am betraying the Seanchan army. But they will not rebel against me without support. The only one who is allowed to question my orders is Selucia. She will protest, especially about the damane being released, but I do not have to listen even to her."
"Selucia is dead," Mesaana told her. "You will take someone I designate as your new so'jhin."
"Dead?" This came as a shock to the Seanchan and for the first time Sheriam saw a brief glimpse of the young woman she was, rather than the mighty Empress who stood as high as the Chosen in her own country, and who lacked the experience to know when she in turn should bow. Just as quick it disappeared and Fortuona straightened. "You will pay for that."
Mesaana lashed out with Air. Just three times, but very hard, and Fortuona gasped.
"Don't be stupid. I let you get away with your attitude for the first moments because you had not fully realized yet what had happened, and because your ways are so different from ours, but by now you should have figured it out. You are mine, and I am not known for my patience."
"Yes, High Mistress," the Empress replied this time.
"Sit and stay quiet while I decide what to do with you," Mesaana told her, and wove a ward of Air so she could no longer hear what was being discussed.
"That was better, but a good part of it is still the compulsion," she said. "I am reluctant to let her return alone, even if the Seanchan do not know the weave. She claims no one will disobey her openly, but the orders will go against everything the Seanchan believe in, even if we give her some incentive to return the sisters, and I fear the obedience may not last as long as she thinks. She is confident, but also young and inexperienced, someone older will quickly suspect foul play. Sending someone along with her is risky, but I don't see any way around it. Someone to keep an eye on her and good enough with inverted weaves to send her a reminder when necessary, and to take care of anyone who gets too close to the truth. Any volunteers?"
Irna and Marris held up their hand, Irna too eager, Marris more calmly.
"I have practiced with the inverted weaves, High Mistress, the technique is very interesting. I am rather good with them. For someone from our Age," Marris added, well aware of what the Chosen thought of their abilities in general.
"Then you will go," Mesaana decided.
Irna frowned although she knew enough not to protest aloud. Mesaana noticed her scowl.
"If she is not fully cooperative when the Last Battle is over, you will get your chance."
Irna looked at Fortuona and a smile crept up, replacing the scowl. "Thank you, High Mistress."
"I can show you how to disguise your ability to channel, but you can not pass as Seanchan. I do not know enough of their ways," Mesaana turned back to Marris, then looked around at the others. "Those of you who know Ebou Dar, what would be the best disguise?"
"Why not pose as damane?" Moria suggested. "I know a silversmith would could make a copy of the a'dam, and that would be a reason to remain close to her at all times."
"A good disguise until another sul'dam wears the bracelet," Dawn remarked.
"And why would we allow one of our own to be leashed? We want the other sisters back," Velina wondered.
"A prisoner who refused to accept the new Amyrlin, given as a small gesture of goodwill in trade for the others," Mesaana said. "The Ebou Dari who hear it may doubt it, but they are far from the Tower and know less about Aes Sedai and the current Amyrlin than the people of Tar Valon or even of Caemlyn or Cairhien. For the Seanchan themselves, the tale will confirm what they believe about the ruthlessness of those who can channel."
Marris had been frowning at the bound Empress all this time.
"I wonder if the a'dam works if the controlling part is worn as the collar and the leashed one wears her end as a bracelet?" she asked. "If anyone can make one, that is."
Sheriam looked at her in surprise. "A very good idea. Elayne has made one before, she ought to be able to make another."
"Elayne has been taken?" Karale wondered, and Sheriam shook her head.
"Egwene will make the request, Elayne will never know we need it."
"Of course." Karale looked abashed, and Marris' thoughtful frown, which had started off somewhat dark when Moria had come up with the idea of the fake collar, turned into a look of anticipation now. Mesaana nodded.
"See if it can be done."
Egwene was quickly called and she agreed it was feasible. Soon Moria Traveled back to Tar Valon to wake the silversmith, for Egwene explained Elayne would need an existing item to turn into a working a'dam.
All this time the Empress watched. In spite of being bound and gagged she could be watching a parade for all her expression showed, haughty and almost bored. Now Mesaana stood considering her, quietly tapping her lip.
"Now, for that incentive to explain her change of mind. I wonder what targets she cares most about."
Even as she spoke, she channeled and released the wards and gag.
"Tell me where those flying beasts are kept, I assume they are rather valuable?"
The Empress glared, then showed some confusion as Mesaana reinforced the compulsion, but Mesaana pressed on, and Fortuona gave all the details of where the raken, to'raken, Deathwatch guard and sul'dam were housed.
Then Mesaana asked her more about the armies, her commanders, her plans, the forces in the Seanchan homeland and anything else that was relevant. Using this information, the Chosen decided on a plan that should, combined perhaps with some light compulsion on the highest commanders and der'sul'dam, hold off the Seanchan for the time being.
They would set fire to several key locations, after which the Empress would 'decide to accept a truce'. It was still a risk, for an order to call off the attack on the Tower and especially the release of the captured sisters would cause unrest and suspicion no matter what the reasons, but Sheriam hoped it would hold for three weeks. Mesaana's inquiries into the general state of the Empress' army and even the situation on the Seanchan continent showed she too had her doubts that controlling the Emrpess would be enough to control the Seanchan for ever, but if it held until the Last Battle that would be of great help.
It was starting to get light out when Moria returned with Egwene. And the ter'angreal. It looked exactly like the ones taken from the damane and sul'dam after the attack on the White Tower, but Moria's look of satisfaction made it clear it was not.
"Master Georgios does good work," she said. "Elayne had some difficulties, her pregnancy interferes with her channeling and she can not hold so much of the One Power unaided. Eventually Egwene and I both linked with her, and then she managed."
"Excellent," Mesaana said. She gestured to Marris.
Egwene showed her how the clasp worked, and Marris opened and closed it several times before she put the collar around her neck. Then she put the bracelet on the Empress' wrist.
The Empress had been gagged and warded from hearing when they had discussed the making of this special a'dam, and while she had watched Marris take it, the confusion in her eyes showed she had not understood until the bracelet closed around her wrist. Her eyes opened wide in astonishment.
"From now on you are my damane," Marris told her. "I will call you Tuon except in front of the Seanchan, that was your name before you became Empress Fortuona, was it not?"
The Empress' hand shot to the bracelet but she was stopped short, by the a'dam itself which prevented the one who was held from removing their own leash, and then she flinched as Marris obviously sent some kind of punishment through the link.
"You will not try that again," Marris stated calmly.
Novices had often mistakenly thought they could get away with inattention or chatting or even pranks because the Black sister seemed so even-tempered. In fact, she did not accept any tomfoolery or insubordination, and had been as quick to send the novices to Sheriam, when she had still been Mistress of the Novices, or to the kitchens as any other. She just didn't see the need to raise her voice to do so. Like the novices, Tuon would learn soon enough not to push her luck.
-0-
With the a'dam made, they returned to Tar Valon for the fiery raids, taking most of those who had formed the circle along. Atuan and the Yellow/Black sisters were gone from the stable yard, but Cheryl and the Warders were waiting for them.
"Atuan will live," Cheryl reported. "But it is unlikely she will regain the use of her right arm. She is back in Aringill, Dagdara and Nynaeve went with her to see if they could do anything more when she wakes. But much of the muscle and part of the bone in her shoulder and upper arm was simply burned away."
What was gone could not be grown back, like the Dragon's hand. Healing would smooth the wound over, but when too large a part of the flesh were gone, that was all it could do. But Atuan had survived and that was something Sheriam hadn't been sure of at all, when they had left for Malkier.
Mesaana acknowledged the report and instructed Cheryl about the upcoming raid, showed the Dreamspike's key to the Black sisters who had been involved in the first raid, all except Marris of course. Then she ordered them to line up, and channeled Eyes to find the targets.
Voluntary or not, Tuon's directions had been precise, and it did not take long for Mesaana to find the best points of attack. On the Chosen's signal all opened a gateway into the quarters of the riders of the flying beasts, the morat'raken as Tuon had called them. They released a stream of fire for just five seconds, and let the gateways close again. The attack was followed in quick succession by blasts of fire into the quarters of the riders of the grolm and torm, followed by three separate locations of the stables. Not a single counter attack came through, the five seconds long enough to set fire to the buildings but not long enough for any damane to respond, even if there had been any at these locations. Which wasn't likely, the damane's quarters, kennels as Tuon had called them without so much as blinking or looking abashed, were in a different location, and any who were assisting the guards were only guarding the entrances, not spread out inside.
A few Eyes high overhead five minutes later showed all three buildings engulfed in flames, people and animals running around frantically, sometimes injured or even aflame, others laying dead already. In the brief moments they watched, they saw a strange, large beast, Sheriam did not know whether it was grolm or torm, which trampled a man as both man and beast tried to flee the fire, one of the great flying beasts which tried to lift off with its wings aflame but crashed into another building that had so far been spared, and a man who jumped from the upper story window, flames leaping out the building after him. The damage to property and the loss of life was great and Sheriam realized with a chill she had now seen the real power of the Chosen in battle. At the same time, the necessity of such protective devices as the Dreamspike became very clear. The Seanchan would no doubt do the same to the Tower if they got even half a chance!
As she was made to watch through the Eye, for the second time a crack in the armor of the young Empress showed, as she could not suppress a sound of dismay. Likely she had as little experience with losing battles and serious military failures as with situations in which she had to bow to those who stood above her. Sheriam thought that their plan was not so far-fetched as Tuon had claimed it was. A few more of these raids and Tuon might well consider to deal with the Tower even without the compulsion. With it, this was enough.
The raids successful, Marris went to change into a simple, coarse dress, to fit her cover of a sister who had rebelled against Egwene's rule. Sheriam wished they could leave Elaida with the Seanchan, but the risk was too great. The woman knew too much, and would be easily broken to tell it all. Travel, compulsion, the location of anything within and around the Tower, including targets outside the influence of the Dreamspike. No, Elaida would have to be rescued, even if it were only so she could be Stilled and executed.
While Marris was gone, Mesaana took the collar. After a while she took it off and told Sheriam to put it on.
She could feel Tuon's emotions through the a'dam, even more clear than through a link. Or perhaps it appeared that way because the young woman's emotions were so strong. Fear, sadness, anger, she was a mixture of strong emotions even though she had once again regained control of what she showed in her face. And in addition to all this, there was a deep sense of pure disgust when Sheriam so much as came near enough to touch her. Disgust rather than hatred, like one would feel for a rat or other vile creature.
When Marris returned Mesaana took her and Sheriam apart, while several of the Black sisters took a turn and tried the leash. The Chosen gave Marris her final instructions, some based on what she too had felt through the a'dam. It had provided more insight beyond what they had been able to tell just from watching the Seanchan. Then Marris took the leash, Mesaana channeled a gateway near the Tarasin Palace, and they saw the two off.
"Get a bit of sleep," Mesaana told Sheriam. "When those who were captured have returned from Altara, we will go see Demandred. I want Pevara's sisters back here too, and I will convince him to either release those he holds bonded or let our sisters bond some of his men."
Sheriam acknowledged and went to her rooms for another brief rest.
-0-
Even with compulsion and a'dam, their plan had been a risky one, and Sheriam was relieved when, only a few hours later, she was wakened with the news that the captured sisters, Accepted and novices had returned to the Tower, those who had been taken in the attack on the Tower and also Guisin and Ryma, who had been taken many months ago.
They were intercepted at the edge of the Dreamspike's influence by a group of Black and turned sisters. There they were split up and taken apart in small groups by some of the Yellow, ostensibly to check them over, and so they did, in addition to delivering them to Malkier. Even Guisin and Ryma, although the Yellow did not send them to their old rooms after their turning, as they were completely mindwashed and broken. Even after their turning they referred to themselves by their Seanchan damane names. Guisin kept repeating she had to be leashed, as all Aes Sedai, because such was proper, and Ryma asked to be returned so she could serve the Empress. The two were left in care of the Yellow, locked in for their own safety.
Several sisters had a Warder, but those had been waiting with the sisters here in Tar Valon and were taken along with them without difficulty. Any odd behavior would be explained away by what had been done by the Seanchan, rather than by the turning.
The Accepted and novices were taken as well, to avoid any risk of the details of the release coming out, and they were being watched over by Silviana and several others until it was their turn.
Some had superficial injuries, but most were physically unharmed, the a'dam's punishments leaving no marks on the skin. But all had lost weight even in the short while they had been with the Seanchan, and the red eyes and haunted looks told Sheriam they had suffered enough.
Elaida was a separate case. She was shielded as soon as she arrived, in spite of her protests, and taken apart. Then she was led into Sheriam's anteroom.
As Elaida was led in, the woman knew no better than she was to be judged by Egwene, or the Hall, and she fell all over herself giving thanks for her rescue and apologizing profusely for anything she might have done wrong during her rule. The woman looked even more distraught than the other sisters, whom Sheriam had watched from a distance after they arrived, and her fear for the Amyrlin or the Hall could only account for part of that. Her face was haggard, her grey damane dress wrinkled, and while Sheriam had not seen her recently, she was certain from the hollow cheeks and the sagging skin that the Red had lost more weight in recent days than any of the others. She had been correct, Elaida had not dealt well with the leash and would likely have been the first to break, at least from among the full Aes Sedai.
The state Elaida was in and her pitiful pleading did nothing to change Sheriam's opinion of the woman, in fact it rather irritated her. There were none present who weren't either Black or turned, and Sheriam didn't bother to pretend it was Egwene dispensing judgment. She ordered the woman Stilled and executed, while Elaida first fell silent in astonishment and then started to sob and plead even louder than before.
She begged to see the Amyrlin, the Hall, and Sheriam told her in a few short sentences that her pleas were useless, and why. She then did the Stilling herself -a full circle was custom but not needed- and wove compulsion so the stunned woman could not call out any accusations about the illegal proceedings. That done, she sent her off to the cells with Dawn and her Warders to guard her, knowing the Green would let none who were not trusted would come close enough to touch Elaida and read the compulsion. The time of the execution was set for the next day, to allow those who had grief with her to be present.
Sheriam briefly considered claiming Elaida was Black Ajah to justify the woman's execution rather than casting her out, but her crazy actions would not speak well for the Black. They would have to come out into the open soon, and fight for acceptance by the people of Tar Valon, the Tower servants and guards, not all could be done by force. The less recent violence and erratic actions were ascribed to their Ajah, the better. Elaida's rule had been hard on the city, she had made harsh demands of the people in favor of her own excesses. No, Elaida would be executed as the Red she was, and if that hurt the Red then Sheriam certainly did not mind. The one real Red -not Black like Nesita- who had stood out in the past week was Silviana, and if she suffered from the repercussions of Elaida's disgrace, Sheriam would suggest that once all was over, she join the Black. Come to think of it, she would suggest this regardless. While the fate of the Red had not been decided yet, and would not be her decision alone, the Red Ajah would not come out looking good, even with Elaida gone. Mistress of the Novices was a respected position, and Sheriam would rather have it filled by a Black sister than a Red.