First among the Dragon's men.
The next morning Sheriam woke refreshed, her sleep undisturbed. She got up early and had breakfast with Arinvar, who even after the assassins were caught preferred to accompany her on the Tower grounds.
After breakfast, she called for Myrelle and sent her off to Caemlyn. She wanted someone near Elayne, and while Myrelle had not voluntarily joined the Great Lord, Sheriam thought her quite capable. Also, it would get her and her Warders out of the Tower. Although there were several unturned sisters in Caemlyn, too, who knew the Green and her Warders. Still Myrelle was a sensible choice, she'd been trusted by Egwene and by Moiraine, which would speak well for her when it came to gaining Elayne's trust.
That done, she went over the preparations for taking the Dragon's envoy, making sure all of the Sitters were near at hand. The Dragon had not sent a message specifying a time, nor had he let them know whom he would send, but Egwene was sure he would keep his word and send one of his Asha'man this day.
And so he did. It was only shortly after breakfast when one of Coulin's guardsmen came to her anteroom and told her Jahar Narishma had come to see the Amyrlin.
Sheriam asked him if he had an Aes Sedai with him, and the guard confirmed Merise and her two Warders had come too. As was expected, but it was good to have it confirmed. Sheriam thanked him, alerted Mesaana, Egwene and the Sitters and went to the entrance hall.
She was glad it was Jahar who had come, even if this meant they would have to deal with Merise's other two Warders. She had not been able to attend the meeting at the camp, when Jahar had promised them the bonding of the Asha'man, but from what she heard about it later from Moria and other Sitters, Jahar seemed as sensible as any of the Asha'man she had met.
And she owed him; it had been after he noticed a man channeling in the camp that Halima had fled. Halima, who had demanded the impossible, and punished harshly when she failed to achieve it. She had been lucky to survive those times. She smiled briefly as she realized he would not see the turning as a way to return the favor at all, if he were asked now, quite the opposite in fact. But he would see different once it was done.
That reminded her of the slight concern she felt about Fager Neald, who had not brought anyone in yet. True, not all sisters they had turned had taken an active part in the taking of others either, but he had been assigned a specific task and he had seemed well capable of it. This morning made two full days since his turning, they should have heard from him by now. Well, first things first, Jahar was here, almost in their hands.
Several Aes Sedai had gathered in the large entrance hall, but she still spotted him easily, they kept a slight space around him as if afraid to actually touch a man who could channel. He stood at ease even among all the sisters, all of whom held Saidar. Unlike the Dragon his visit was expected and Sheriam had instructed the sisters not to shield him, but many had been unhappy with that order, and made it no secret they were ready to channel at a moment's notice. Merise stood next to him with several other Green sisters, Nethan and Bassane behind her.
The crowd parted for Sheriam and she greeted their visitors. Jahar first, then Merise. A stern woman, they had not been close friends but neither had they ever been at odds.
"Good to see you," Sheriam said. "Please follow me, the Hall is waiting for you both. And Nethan and Bassane, this is at least in part about bonding the Asha'man and I believe some of the sisters have questions about how it affects other Warders, too."
She turned and Jahar fell into step beside her, Merise on her other side. The two Warders -regular Warders- followed behind.
"It is good to see the Tower whole again," Merise said as they walked the halls.
"That it is," Sheriam agreed. "I am glad you could come."
"You did not seem in favor of contact with the Asha'man last time," Merise remarked.
Of course she would remember. Well Sheriam had counted on that.
"I was afraid it would make it more difficult to negotiate with Elaida and her Hall, if it came to that. The retaking of the Tower was my first priority at the time. Fortunately that is no longer an issue, Elaida and the Red are no longer a threat."
"The Lord Dragon said there were no Red Sitters when he was here, did the Red get ousted from the Hall?" Jahar asked.
"They were absent at the time, but they are not banned from the Hall. They are in attendance today, of course they will not bother you," she told him.
Jahar nodded. "The Dragon trusts the Amyrlin, so will I."
"She has the Tower well in hand," Sheriam said.
As they spoke, they had come to the Hall. Here too several Aes Sedai had gathered, hoping to hear what would be discussed, but unlike last time, this meeting of course would be sealed to the Hall.
She opened the great, carved doors and noticed all were in place. The full Hall was present, except for Kwamesa, the weakest, who was in her own rooms, out of sight. Mesaana had taken on her appearance and sat in the chair for the Brown. Egwene sat on the Amyrlin's seat, her Amyrlin stole around her shoulders, the new rose window behind her, the morning light flooding the room. It was an impressive sight, she thought approvingly.
As she held the door, she gestured at Jahar to continue into the room, towards the center of the Hall and the Amyrlin. Merise too followed, her two Warders remaining close behind her. She had frowned a little as she saw the glow of the Power around all the Sitters, but she had neither mentioned it nor taken hold of Saidar herself. The heavy doors were slow to move, and Jahar had reached the middle of the ornate, inlaid floor before the doors shut completely.
Mesaana instantly wove the flows of the wards, as would be Kwamesa's task, part of her strength masked as she drew no more of the Power than the Brown sister could. Then, even as Jahar bowed for Egwene, the Chosen tied off the flows of the ward and drew on Saidar with her full strength, through the sa'angreal she carried. She struck out with the shield and Sheriam channeled the stunning weaves at the same time.
Merise had barely time to look alarmed, and no time to grasp the Power, as she too was shielded and stunned by some of the Sitters. Others had struck out at Nethan and Bassane and the men sank to the floor. Egwene opened the gateway and they took their captives through to Malkier without a hitch. The entire Hall was really overkill for the taking of this group, but it was needed as a cover, the Aes Sedai who had not been turned yet would expect the Asha'man to meet with the Hall rather than with the Amyrlin and a select few alone.
The turning itself was quickly done and before long they sat in Egwene's study. Mesaana, Sheriam, Jahar, Merise and Egwene herself, who was present not because of her presumed position as Amyrlyn but because she knew al'Thor. The Hall had also returned and was hopefully making use of their time by discussing other Tower business, although Sheriam feared there would be a lot of time lost squabbling. Romanda and especially Lelaine showed the turning did not change one's character and too often a lot of time was wasted in meetings of the Hall, now as much as ever.
She was impressed by Jahar's strength. She knew the Asha'man was strong in the Power, but he was young, looked no older than the Dragon. Yet he was unfazed by the turning. When Mesaana had woken him, he had for the first moments fought like a lion against the shield, harder, so much harder than even Egwene had done. He had looked around, found Merise on one of the other tables, also sitting up, and Mesaana had held him back with new flows of Air. But as the Chosen ordered him to sit and listen, and he saw Merise being helped up from her table by some of the Sitters, he had listened with a deep frown on his face.
As the Chosen finished her explanation and released him completely, he got up and knelt.
"What is done is done. I pledge to serve to the best of my abilities, High Mistress." He had his voice and breathing fully under control and sounded calm as he spoke.
Since Mesaana had just explained the turning and he knew there would be no doubt about his allegiance, Sheriam thought his solemn pledge was more than a simple confirmation of his loyalty. From what she had heard, the Asha'man had been one of the Dragon's most trusted men, and it seemed that now he would go beyond what the turning required of him for them.
Jahar was far more calm than Merise, who for all her age and experience was stunned and distracted. Then she would have to deal with her other two Warders, who were still fast asleep in a corner of the Hall, watched over by some of the Sitters.
Mesaana asked about the Aes Sedai, Asha'man and other channelers close to him. There were many, and especially the Wise Ones were of concern. The Aes Sedai would not be too difficult to take. Egwene suggested letting the Dragon know of her Oath Rod test, something that would appeal to him and would almost certainly make him agree to send the full sisters under his control for a 'visit' to the new Amyrlin. But none of them could think of a reason to send for the Wise Ones. Jahar and Merise never met with one of them alone either. And there were those among the Wise Ones who could not channel, but were still as much involved with those sisters taken by al'Thor after Dumai Wells as those who could.
It was decided that Egwene would petition al'Thor to have the sisters taken at the Wells released into her custody, but Jahar was doubtful about the chances; even if al'Thor might consider it, the Wise Ones would be reluctant to let them go. Still it was worth a try. If AlThor refused, Egwene would still insist they were allowed to pay a 'visit' to be tested on the Oath Rod, and only those who had no Warder would be taken. Jahar, Merise and Egwene all agreed the Wise Ones were particularly perceptive and taking those with a Warder was a greater risk than leaving some of them unturned.
Jahar was confident they could take Damer and Corele, as well as Donalo and Welyn with their sisters, but he was not so sure about Logain. The man was not as often near al'Thor as the others, and also he did not always keep Gabrelle and Toveine with him. And most recently, Logain had been gone and Jahar did not know where to. Naeff had been with al'Thor but he had been sent off on an errand the previous day and was often away from Nelavaire as well.
Mesaana told him to keep alert for any opportunities but not to push for a private meeting with any one person in particular, not when doing so would raise eyebrows. They would not be able to turn everyone, it was more important to keep cover than to take every last individual.
There was also the difficulty of reporting in, while Jahar would Travel to take those he had to, he could never stay away long as the situation currently stood. The Dragon had been reluctant to let him go to the Tower even this morning. However when Jahar heard of the trouble they'd had at the Black Tower, he had a suggestion.
"I will ask for permission to go to the Black Tower and report back here regularly. I know the bonding is off but he does not. As far as the Lord Dragon is concerned, since I was the one to make the agreement with the Hall, it is my responsibility to see it is kept."
"He will allow you time away from your other duties for that?" Mesaana asked.
"It's what I would have wanted if there had been no turning. He may not like it, but I believe he will understand."
Egwene nodded agreement. "Rand always was the responsible one, always finishing his chores before play, even if Mat tried to convince him otherwise. I expect he will agree to let Jahar deal with the bonding of the Asha'man, rather than assigning someone else to the task."
Mesaana looked pleased. She instructed Jahar about the turnings, showing him the place in Malkier even though she did not yet entrust him with the key to the Dreamspike. He could still get the bearings of the place without actually being able to open the gateway from here. She also told him to work with Mezar and any of the newly turned Asha'man on his cover at the Black Tower. Then, she asked him for a detailed report on al'Thor's recent activities.
Jahar and Merise told in detail, some what they already knew, like the attack on Graendal's palace and the meeting with the Seanchan Empress, but some was news to them. Sheriam was shocked to learn of the Shadowspawn's attack on Maradon. She had rarely been to the capital but Saldaea was her homeland. And the level of strength he had displayed was awe-inspiring, too. Even Mesaana frowned as Jahar told them how the Dragon had dealt with the shadowspawn.
"Perhaps he really is both," the Chosen said thoughtfully. "Lews Therin and Rand al'Thor. It shouldn't happen of course, even one who is reborn has the body, the physical strength and the strength in the Power of one man while he is alive. One man can hold the knowledge, the memories, of others, but not double the physical abilities. Or at least, so I thought."
"I did have a feeling he could have broken through the shield, last week," Egwene remarked.
"I still doubt that," Mesaana replied. "It was held by two full circles. Even if he is both, it should have held him. But a single circle, he may have broken through. It is something to remember, when the time comes we will need have more than thirteen to take him."
"He is not invulnerable," Sheriam said, thinking of his missing hand.
"No, he is not. He has been held before, but he has gained in strength since. I wish Moridin's orders were not so strict about leaving him untouched until the very last. Moridin believes the confrontation must be at Shayol Ghul, according to prophesy, but I don't. Prophesies have been made by both sides, each interpreting the signals in their own way. Even a Foretelling or a Sighting may be thwarted with some effort, or more often it will be woven into the Pattern, almost what was foreseen but warped in a slightly different way than originally intended. Take the Dragon now and he can still do what needs to be done at Shayol Ghul, only under our command."
"What he did at Maradon makes no difference to Moridin?" Jahar wondered.
Mesaana shook her head. "I'm sure he knows. It was likely Moridin's doing, razing random cities like that is his way. His orders are still the same. No, we will take as many of those around him as we can, but we will have to leave al'Thor for the time being. Find out as much as you can about his plans, that is all."
Jahar nodded. "I will, High Mistress."
At that, they returned to the Hall, where Lelaine was so intend on her arguing with Romanda that she did not notice the gateway until they had all stepped through and Mesaana allowed it to close. With a squeak, she cut off her argument and apologized profusely.
The Chosen ignored her, continuing with the tasks at hand. She told the Hall briefly what Jahar had told them and what his cover would be -as much as they needed to know to keep up appearances and make it seem as if Jahar had met with the entire Hall all along. Then she left using a gateway. Kwamesa had Traveled in for the regular meeting and there was no need for Mesaana to resume the disguise and walk out through the doors.
Sheriam told Malind to help Merise with the Warders, the Green Sitter had been unhappy when she was taken but had her own Warders well under control, Sheriam had seen them several times over the past days and not noticed anything seriously wrong about them. The two men were woken up and soon Merise had them compelled and ready to leave.
All that done, she walked them back to the Traveling grounds. Even though the meeting had been sealed to the Hall and had taken some time, a number of sisters hung around outside hoping to hear at least some of what had been discussed from the Sitters. Well, that was for them to deal with. Sheriam saw Jahar and Merise off and returned to her anteroom for the day's business.
-0-
There was just time to look over the morning's reports before it was High, and time to attend to Elaida's execution.
The Traitor's Court was full, even more so than when the Black sisters had been executed. More than a few people from the city had come to see the one-time Amyrlin die, and as Sheriam looked over the packed crowd, she saw a handful black-coated Dedicated with their Aes Sedai. Carniele, Desandre, Wende, Nenya and Tonni, none of them a Red. She did not know the names of the men. They stood with the townsfolk and other people from outside the Tower, and no matter how crowded it was, there was a small open space between them and the rest of the onlookers. The men may not have been seen here in Tar Valon before, word had spread and the people knew who, and what, they were.
Once again she took her place next to Egwene, in front of the full Hall, to watch the execution take place. Behind her, several Sitters stirred and shifted their feet uneasily. Those were the ones who had sat in Elaida's Hall, Javrindhra, Memara and Barasine of the Red. Javrindhra had kept her position, as Sheriam had expected.
Apart from them, there were few Red in attendance. Many felt Elaida's execution was their shame as well, and even now, only the higher among the Black knew Elaida had been set up on Mesaana's orders. Not that that knowledge made it much better for those of the Black who had remained here in Tar Valon, for Elaida had proven far harder to control than expected. So much harder even than Egwene, for while she had to admit at least to herself that the young woman had been very difficult, she had been brought under control, something that couldn't be said of Elaida.
As all were gathered, Elaida was led out into the courtyard. She still wore the grey damane dress she had arrived in the previous day. She looked thin and haggard and her face was puffy, her eyes red. She was in chains, even though there really was little risk of escape. A guardsman flanked her on either side and Dawn had followed her as far as the door leading from the Tower into the square. But such was the custom of all who were condemned, and the chains clanked as a hush fell over the crowd.
Egwene used the Power to raise her voice.
"The Tower is whole again and all Ajahs stand together against the Shadow. As the Hall shows, I did not spurn those who remained in Tar Valon during the split. However Elaida do Avriny a'Roihan is a different case. Not only was she the leader of those who overthrew the reign of Siuan Sanche, her crimes went beyond that. While the Amyrlin should be of all Ajahs and none, aiming to smooth their differences, she actually banned an entire Ajah and caused strife between those who remained behind. She ignored all reports and intelligence and sent a group of sisters and Tower guard out on a mission against the Black Tower that could have cost them all their lives.
"She misappropriated funds, splurging on her own selfish desires at a time when the Tower can least afford it. She made the people of the city who should look to the Tower for advise avoid it instead. She in her madness did more harm to the Tower than can be forgiven. She will pay for those crimes with her life, so all, including those of the Red, can move forward and, no, not forget, but remember and make sure nothing like this ever happens again.
"Elaida do Avriny a'Roihan, may the Light have mercy on your soul."
Egwene had been concerned she would not be able to speak with as much conviction as she had before, and she had kept her speech short. But in spite of her youth, Sheriam thought she did well. Her voice had rung out clear, the words coming strong and without hesitation. The woman picked up skills in deception as quick as she learned almost anything else. And now everyone's attention was on Elaida, who, at a signal of Egwene, was led towards the block.
The headsman was the same who had beheaded the first group of the Black sisters, a strong, bulky man of the Tower guard. Chubain picked his men carefully for the task, ensuring a quick execution. Sheriam had seen an execution once, many years ago in Bandar Eban, where the headsman needed four strikes to take off the convicted man's head. While some of the crowd -quite a large part of it, rough folk from the port district- had gone wild and cheered at the victim's distress, she had considered it a barbarian display. Executions may be necessary at times, there was no need to drag it out.
Elaida had been a proud woman, once, tall and stern, but the Seanchan had changed that before Sheriam's sentence did. She sobbed and stumbled as she was led forward, finally falling to her knees before actually reaching the block, so that the guardsmen had to pull her forward for the remaining span. The compulsion that kept her from speaking about the illegal manner in which she had been sentenced could be used to numb her panic as well, but Sheriam's compassion did not go that far. Elaida would get the punishment she deserved, no more, but no less either. She watched with hard eyes as the guardsman raised his axe and struck down.
A stir ran through the crowd as Elaida's head fell to the cobbles and her body slumped down behind the block, a few cheers but mostly gasps and shudders.
There had not been any executions for years, and now so many in a row, first the Black sisters, then the Warders and the families caught in town, the Seanchan Bloodknife and now Elaida. Each time the crowd had reacted differently; with the Black, there had been awed silence. The knowledge the Black was real -something which had been denied for so long- and the sheer number, fifteen sisters, had hushed the crowd. Many had known the sisters, and were either outraged at their allegiance or stunned in shock and disbelief.
Then later that day the Warders and the Friends of the Dark, grimmer even since those watching had been the ones closest to them. The Seanchan's execution, the previous day, had been completely different. An outsider and an assassin, she had been treated as a common criminal, she had been led out to jeers and catcalls, and when her head had rolled on the cobbles there had been a general cheer and applause. And now Elaida. When a leader was executed, a King, Queen or Amyrlin, no matter what their crimes, there was always a sense of awe among the populace, something that made them uneasy. Even those who had hated her most were reluctant to cheer, and those who had come to see one of the mighty fall also dared not show their relish too much, not when so many others who held high positions were watching.
"Now we can truly leave the split of the Tower behind us," Egwene said, her voice once again raised by the Power, not as much as before but just enough to be heard even by those at the very back of the crowd. "Let us move forward as one, stronger than ever for our experience, to meet the forces of the Dark."
Meet the forces of the Dark indeed they would, and join them. And the Tower truly was united, more so than ever before. Sheriam allowed herself to smile, even as Egwene finished her short speech and sound rose up again as the crowd slowly started to move away.
For the fourth time Sheriam watched as the body was taken away, the blood washed from the marble. The servants, who the first time had looked shaken, now looked mostly weary at their task. And in spite of their efforts, the marble in the center of the square remained slightly discolored, the porous stone soaking up the blood. If it had been just Elaida and the Seanchan Bloodknife, she would have left it, but it was also the blood of the Black sisters and their Warders, and she made a mental note to send one of the sisters out to clean it with the Power even as she walked back to her anteroom.
-0-
Jahar and Merise proved their worth when they brought in Damer and Corele late that evening. Sheriam had already been getting ready for bed when the message reached her. The Dragon had also agreed to send the sisters over for an 'audience with the new Amyrlin', the day after tomorrow. She smiled, the deception was so easy, especially coming from one who was trusted. Egwene had been a good choice after all. And they had been lucky with Jahar, or perhaps it had been logic rather than luck -it made sense the Dragon would send an emissary he believed he could rely on. The Dragon had also agreed to let Jahar oversee the agreement with the Black Tower was held, reluctantly, but his sense of duty had won out. Just like Egwene had thought it would.
As she unbuttoned her dress and brushed her hair she went over the list of sisters who were with al'Thor. They would get the Sitters involved, and some others from their Ajahs, to help in the taking and to keep the others busy, to take those who were most stunned apart for a 'chat' to give them time to get themselves together before returning them to the Dragon and the Wise Ones.
And there had to be at least one who was found to be Black Ajah, if not two, for it was inconceivable there would not be at least one Black sister who had placed herself near the Dragon. Not Fera or Nalaene of course, they would pass the presumed test and return to Cairhien. How to catch another sister and make her disappear, rather than having her executed like the fifteen who were caught before they had taken Egwene? Apparently the Dragon was far more reluctant to execute women, perhaps that could be useful. Would Merise be able to steer him so he would order any Black held rather than executed? No, that was risky, better Egwene could claim to want to learn more about what the Black had done, and of course insist on holding her here at the Tower rather than entrusting her to the Dragon's care. It would mean imprisonment for the unfortunate sister who was picked for the task but that couldn't be helped, and it was only for a short while. Yes, that would be a feasible plan, she would suggest it to Mesaana in the morning.