The Dragon's sisters and the Blacksmith.
Sheriam received the sisters in the entrance hall, together with trusted representatives of each Ajah. From there, she sent them all with their own Ajah to wait until they would be called in, all but Cadsuane, whom she invited to see the Amyrlin first of all. It was a pity so many of the other Green had Warders. At the time, that had been the reason for selecting Bera, Faeldrin and Kiruna for the embassy to al'Thor, but now it was a nuisance. At least Beldeine and Karldin could be taken, and Bera who would remain here as 'Black', but Nelaveire apologized for the fact that she could not bring Naeff along as had been Egwene's orders, since he was off on a mission for the Dragon.
Taking Cadsuane first was a risk, but it would be expected Egwene would call the respected, almost legendary sister in to see her first. The other sisters would not be within hearing distance, and as far as anyone knew, there was nothing like the Call rods included in the ter'angreal set that Mesaana had called a Paralis-net.
Sheriam made small-talk about the Tower, the Seanchan attack and the bubbles of chaos, which were gone now that the Tower had been reunited but which had been so prolific when chaos ruled. She gave no details about anything, not yet, claiming Cadsuane would hear those from the Amyrlin. Arriving at her anteroom, she went straight through and led the older sister into Egwene's study. Egwene was at her desk, Mesaana in her Accepted disguise pretending to serve tea.
Unlike the previous times, they did not strike the moment the doors closed. Egwene greeted Cadsuane and invited her to sit down, Sheriam closed the door and wove the wards. Only after Cadsuane was seated, Mesaana took tray with a cup of tea and several sweets to Cadsuane. She set the tray down next to the Green sister, standing half behind her, as Egwene asked something about al'Thor. Then Mesaana reached for the net with a quick movement, but not quick enough.
Lightning-fast, Cadsuane grabbed her wrist and pulled the Chosen around in front of her. Both channeled, Cadsuane trying to push a shield in place and Mesaana drawing Saidar through the sa'angreal, trying to cut the flows, but the net included an aid in shielding and even with Vora's rod Mesaana was having a hard time holding the shield off her.
"Who are you?" Cadsuane demanded.
Mesaana did not reply, instead struggled to pull free, but Cadsuane had a grip of steel. Sheriam could not get to the Green as Mesaana was in between them now, and as she tried to channel the stunning weaves Cadsuane cut them off before she got even close.
Then Mesaana showed she could fight without the One Power as well. She kicked Cadsuane in the shins even as she hit her hard in the jaw with her free fist. Then Egwene, who had lunged from behind her desk, reached the Green sister, grabbed the net from behind, and yanked it away.
Sheriam struck again with the stunning weaves as soon as she saw the net come free. Only for a split second shock registered on Cadsuane's face, then she slumped in her chair, and Mesaana's shield slid in place.
The Chosen pulled free from Cadsuane's now unresisting grip, and rubbed her wrist. Egwene handed her the ter'angreal set. More than a few silver hairs clung to it.
"I hate those things," Mesaana said grimly, even as she took it. Then she channeled the gateway to Malkier.
Sheriam took Cadsuane through and put her on one of the tables where a circle was waiting. Several Black and turned were already gathered, the myrddraal among them. Nesita held Sashalle on another table -the Red who after all had no Warders had been instructed to take their sisters if they could safely do so, and it did not surprise Sheriam Nesita had been this quick.
"Take her while I look over this," Mesaana instructed, indicating the Paralis-net.
Sheriam linked with the waiting sisters. She wove the turning, then woke the Green.
Cadsuane sat up and looked around the large room, at the sisters, the Myrddraal. She raised her hand and rubbed her chin, where a bruise was forming, and slowly shook her head.
"Turning my back on Egwene was a mistake, I should have known she was hers when she attacked in the Amyrlin's Study. But I never could have expected anything on this scale. Could not have expected her to move this quick. All?"
"Almost all," Sheriam replied. "Some with Warders are still unturned. We will not take those with a Warder among Al'Thor's either, he nor his Aiel should get wind of this."
She looked around at the circle and selected Larissa.
"Heal the visible bruises," she ordered.
At one time, seeking or offering Healing for an injury received from one of the Chosen had been a sure way to more pain. Anyone would be left to cover up their bruises as much as possible, or to come up with an explanation for them, no matter how farfetched. But in this case they could not afford the risk. Especially not with Aybara coming soon, trying to explain two suspicious accidents or attacks in or near the Tower would be folly.
As Larissa wove the flows, Mesaana walked over. She nodded approval.
"You will have to wear these again too, of course," she said, indicating the Paralis-net. "All except this. Interesting to see an Oathbreaker in the set, it must have been owned by a Friend of the Dark. I'm not sure whether it would work on the turning like it does on the binder, but I am not about to let you try."
The Chosen held up a silverpike as she spoke, then handed the rest of the net to Cadsuane. The silverpike she dropped in her belt pouch.
"Once we are in the open, you will turn in the rest."
"Yes, High Mistress," Cadsuane replied with only a small sigh of regret in her voice as she knelt.
It was strange to see the other woman kneel as readily as that. Cadsuane was a legend of her own, and Sheriam was certain the meek obedience didn't come easy to her, let alone the promise to part with the ter'angreal set -something no Aes Sedai would willingly hand over. Clearly Cadsuane had expected not to be challenged about her right to keep it, wearing it as openly as she did even though many knew what it was, but Sheriam wondered if she would have returned to Cairhien with it if the Black hadn't taken over the Tower. Any other Amyrlin, even Siuan, would have been reluctant to challenge a sister of Cadsuane's status, but Egwene had broken with tradition before. No matter what their respective age, she might have demanded it remain in the Tower, for her or Nynaeve or one of the others she trusted to use, or for Elayne to replicate. And while Sheriam was sure Cadsuane would've argued, she was not at all sure of who would've won. As it was, the Green sister put up no resistance. No matter what her status was or had been outside this room, she, unlike Tuon, knew when to show respect.
Mesaana looked down at the Green sister.
"Rise and we will return to Tar Valon," she said.
-0-
The briefing of Cadsuane took some time, even though they already knew much about the Dragon and the sisters he had gathered around him from Merise and Jahar.
Cadsuane was not even surprised they would allow al'Thor to remain free until he came to the Bore, where prophesy placed him. She, like Moridin, seemed to believe the prophesies showed the confrontation had to take place there.
After her, the others were taken and briefed a lot quicker, and given instructions for their return to the Dragon. All save Shashalle and Bera, who were to remain in Tar Valon, exposed as Black Ajah.
Shashalle was relieved she did not have to return to the Wise Ones, even if here at the Tower she would be locked in the cells. With almost all sisters turned, there would be no real interrogation, and Mesaana showed her how to hide her ability to channel so she did not even need to be Stilled. For Bera it was much worse. With her Warders, the Stilling could not be faked, and even though she knew it was only for a few weeks, and Stilling could now be Healed fully, she was frightened and upset, and fretted over her Warders. Who were livid, and had to be held apart since one, Raymon, held fast it was a mistake while Ian and Trey swore they'd been with er all along. This time everyone knew it was a lie, but even though it seemed those two would stay true to Bera no matter what, Sheriam forbade the Green to tell them the truth. They couldn't be released from the cells regardless, there were too many non-channelers in the Tower, and it was safer the less they knew.
Finally the others returned to Cairhien, to al'Thor. The announcement about Bera and Shashalle was made, and there was little surprise or resistance against their imprisonment, even though the others had been executed so quickly. The explanation that they had to be further interrogated to learn what they had done so close to the Dragon was readily accepted by Chubain and his guards, and most of the sisters of course could guess the truth. Only Gawyn expressed doubt, stating the risk of escape or further trouble might be greater than advisable. Egwene had to be quite firm with him, telling him that learning what the Black had done and planned for the Dragon was of extreme importance, and certainly the Tower could safely hold just two sisters, now that the rest of the Black Ajah had been purged from the Tower itself.
The young woman managed to keep her face completely straight in spite of the magnitude of that last lie, and Sheriam was impressed. Less than two weeks ago, she had been able to tell from Egwene's uneasiness that she did indeed know about the Black, and here she was lying to her Warder, a hard thing to do at any time. She was a quick learner indeed.
-0-
While they had received the sisters, Kiyoshi had returned with Aybara's reply to Egwene's letter. Sheriam hadn't known who Mesaana had picked to deliver the message, and Kiyoshi had not been a member of the Black, but she had done well.
Heavily warded, the Grey was still shaken as she made her report. She had encountered a dozen or more little accidents and mishaps, and it had been difficul to reach Aybara and hand him the letter. Even then, it had almost gone awry, as a gust of wind -inside a tent!- took the letter from his hands and landed it partially in a cup of tea. But it had still been readable.
And as they had hoped, Aybara trusted Egwene and believed the mishaps to be something of the Dark One, rather than the Pattern trying to protect its ta'veren. He had agreed to come the following day.
-0-
Sheriam was uneasy as she went to meet Aybara. As far as any of the Two Rivers men were concerned, they did not know how to Travel within the Dreamspike's sphere of influence, and Fager Neald had woven his gateway well outside its limits. From there to the Tower gates, they rode, and at the gates, Sheriam met them.
Even if he had not come at Egwene's summons, Sheriam thought she would have recognised him. Only a few years older than the Asha'man, he was obviously a strong man, with broad shoulders and thick, muscular arms. But he jumped off his horse lightly, and hardly seemed to feel the heavy warhammer that hung from his belt. He had brown hair, a beard, and the startling yellow eyes of a Wolfbrother, the first time she saw those except in illustrations. She stopped herself from staring, instead greeted him cordially.
"I am Sheriam Sedai, Keeper of the Chronicles to Egwene al'Vere. She is pleased you could come. I will take you to her."
"Perrin Aybara," the young man said, far less formally.
Horse handlers had come to take the horses and made to take the tall dun as well as the grey Fager Neald had ridden. Suddenly the horse spooked and the man who had just taken the reins from Aybara stumbled, just barely catching himself.
"Easy, Stepper," Aybara said, then made sure the man was alright before letting him lead the dun stallion off. Then he nodded to Sheriam, who led him through the gates into the great square in front of the Tower itself.
Neald remained behind, as far as anyone was concerned he had only come along for the Traveling and he would not be in on the meeting with Egwene.
"He is not normally spooky, it must be more of the Dark One's tricks, trying to stop me. Egwene warned me of that in her letter, and we've had some difficulty..."
A crash from off to their left interrupted him, as a hand cart turned over and dozens of apples rolled in their path. Sheriam started but Aybara was barely fazed, merely sighed deeply before he continued, stepping around and over the spilled fruit as he spoke. "...we had some difficulty already this morning. My saddle strap broke and Fager's horse threw a shoe, but we would have come walking if necessary."
Sheriam nodded sympathy and started to ask about this and other incidents, but before they had gone more than a few dozen steps inside and through the hallway, two novices came hurling around the corner, barreling into Aybara. They apologized profusely, more startled than either Sheriam or Aybara himself, exclaiming they did not even know what had set them off running in the halls. Sheriam dismissed them, and they were both relieved and surprised at getting off so easily.
"I hope no one suffers serious harm," Aybara said. "It is a curse to be ta'veren and a target of the Dark One like this, but he will not prevent this meeting. And I will leave you money to settle with the carter, he should not suffer from my visit."
"That is very generous of you, but the Tower will pay for any damages," Sheriam replied. "After all, it is the Amyrlin who requested this meeting."
They continued down the hall and for a brief while nothing happened directly to them, although there were startled screams and more clamor than usual coming from afar. The Pattern was straining, trying its best to keep Aybara's thread safe. Sheriam felt herself go cold inside, had they gone too far, trying to fight the Pattern itself? But there was no other way. Aybara, Mat Cauthon and the Dragon himself were all three ta'veren, and all three were firmly on the side of the Light. If they were to set the Great Lord free, they had to defeat them at one point or another. And better to face him here, him alone and they on their own turf, than to wait and face them all three at once. She knew that Mesaana had made the only sensible decision she could have made, but she was still uneasy about the outcome. In spite of the wards Mesaana had woven around her, she would still feel the Pattern tug at her, and she had to struggle to keep walking straight.
They continued on their way to her anteroom and Egwene's study, up one flight of stairs, through another broad, marble-tiled hall, then just as she led the way around one more corner, with a sharp snap, the leather strap holding the huge warhammer to Aybara's belt broke in two.
Sheriam tried to jump aside but she was too late, while she avoided taking the massive head in her knee, it landed on her right foot. Pain lanced through her and she hissed, biting her lip to keep from crying out.
Aybara reached out, catching her in his arms as she stumbled, at the same time snatching the warhammer away from her. His touch was strong but gentle and his face showed genuine concern as he apologized. "Oh, Light, I am sorry. Are you badly hurt?"
Sheriam flexed her foot, then even though fire shot up her leg from the three smallest toes, she pushed the pain away. Physical pain could be ignored, and it was something she and many of the Black had plenty of practice in. Unlike the openly administered penances, the punishments meted out among the Black Ajah had to stay hidden from inquiring eyes, while those were generally the harshest kind. She could feel blood starting to seep inside her slipper, and she channeled a small version of the Mirror of Mists, hiding any stain that might soak through the soft fabric.
"I am terribly sorry," Aybara told her. "Let me help you sit down and find someone to Heal you."
"It can wait," Sheriam replied. "The meeting is more important, I can still walk."
And she could, using the willpower and disciplines of many years.
Aybara looked doubtful. "Are you sure?"
She nodded and, ignoring the throbbing pain, put her weight on her foot without showing the strain in her face. "I am sure. The meeting. Perhaps then, when the Dark One can no longer prevent you from meeting the Amyrlin, there will be less of these incidents, and the sooner that happens the better."
Aybara nodded, and she allowed him to support her by her arm as she led the way again, at a somewhat slower pace but with only the slightest limp. Fortunately there was only one short flight of stairs to climb, and they reached her anteroom without anything else ontoward happening.
She led Aybara through her anteroom towards the ornate door leading to the Amyrlin's Study. Here, she gave a brief knock, then opened the door and invited Aybara in. He walked past her, releasing her arm as she remained at the door.
Mesaana was waiting inside, in her usual Accepted disguise, pretending to be busy with a tray with teapot and cups. An excellent disguise, no one questioned her presence any more than that of a servant would be questioned elsewhere. Evanellein was disguised as Egwene, sitting at the Amyrlin's desk, while Egwene herself was well away from here, in Malkier.
The Grey glanced up, nodded, and then carefully put aside some papers she had in front of her to cover her slowness in greeting Aybara; voices were harder to disguise than appearance, and he knew Egwene well enough he might notice if they were even the slightest bit off.
Mesaana was glowing with the Power and had the flows ready to aim at the blacksmith's heart. Sheriam wove the ward as soon as she closed the door, which was all Mesaana was waiting for.
Then, the same instant she lashed out with the Power, Mesaana tripped. On what, Sheriam didn't know, there was no rug or any other object on the floor, but one could trip over a mote of dust when a ta'veren as strong as Aybara was in the room. The Chosen fell and lost Saidar as she hit her head on the small, ornate table that held the tea tray. The tea pot and cups crashed to the floor, tea splashing everywhere.
At the same time, the chair buckled from under Evanellein and she too fell to the floor.
That left only her. Sheriam struck out with the stunning weaves, as she had done with Bryne and Jahar before, and to her surprise they took hold.
Maybe the strike with the hammer had been all the Pattern could do to her at the time. She felt Aybara lose consciousness even as he sank to the floor, then unlike the other times, she pulled the weaves tighter.
Aybara's breathing slowed as she channeled, then she felt it stop, almost immediately followed by his heart. Then, nothing. For just a moment she pulled the flows tighter yet, but she knew it was not really necessary, Aybara was dead.
She let go of the flows and turned to Mesaana, who was sitting up with one hand pressed to her temple. Sheriam knelt down and Delved, found it was only a bruise, and Healed it.
"Thank you," Mesaana said as Sheriam helped her up. The Chosen looked at the still form of Aybara. "And for that."
Relief was clear in Mesaana's voice, clearer than Sheriam had until recently expected to show any such emotion.
"Thank you, High Mistress," Sheriam replied.
She heard a noise and saw Evanellein push herself up from among the remains of the Amyrlin's chair, shaking her head as if she too had been stunned for a moment. As she moved to help, she put her weight on her right foot and flinched.
"You are hurt too," Mesaana noticed.
"His warhammer fell on my foot," Sheriam answered.
"Sit down," Mesaana said, then as Sheriam glanced at Aybara's body, "Plenty of time now, and we no longer have to fight his ta'veren influence."
That was true, all had gone quiet, Sheriam no longer felt the Pattern tug on them, and she did not doubt that outside all had gone quiet as well. Would anyone wonder about the tugging stopping now, rather than after the staged assassination? Sheriam tried not to worry about it, if Aybara himself believed their suggestion it was the Dark One who had been trying to prevent the meeting, then few others would question it.
Mesaana channeled, Delved and frowned. hen the tingle of Healing ran through Sheriam's body.
"I Healed most of the bones, but the little toe is crushed beyond my abilities. I put a cast of Air on it and a nerve block, one of the Yellow can look at it later," Mesaana told her.
Sheriam stood and carefully put her weight on her foot. The pain was gone, although there was a bit of a numbness in her toe.
"Thank you, High Mistress," Sheriam said again.
Mesaana nodded satisfaction as she saw Sheriam stand on the foot, then looked down at Aybara's corpse.
"So that's the power-wrought hammer. I wish we could keep it, but of course it will have to be returned along with the body. It shouldn't be too dangerous when another wields it, perhaps Fager himself or another one of ours."
The Chosen did not check on Evanellein, Sheriam noticed, but only a few weeks ago the Sitter would have been punished for her failure to strike at Aybara. The Sitter was obviously not too seriously injured, and quite relieved to escape notice.
Mesaana channeled into her Call rod, alerting Dawn, who arrived immediately, her Warders leading a large, heavy-boned man through the gateway.
The Mask of Mirrors could be cast on a slender girl, but in case any of the weaves used in the attack made it flicker, or any quick bystander made it to the scene even quicker than the sisters and would be able to touch him, a man with a similar built to Aybara was safer. Sheriam had no idea where Dawn had found him and she did not ask, it was far from here as per Mesaana's orders, and when all was over, Dawn herself would dispose of the body.
Mesaana wove the Mask of Mirrors with Air and Fire, careful of each detail. Then the Chosen switched to the flows of Compulsion, and she gave the man precise instructions. Sheriam added such information as necessary about their encounters on the way here, so the man would appear to know the horse handler and the man whose cart had been upset.
Only when Mesaana was completely satisfied with their decoy, did she open a gateway to the Tower's small chapel. While the Yellow could Heal most who came to the Tower for help, they could not save all, and old age eventually claimed sisters as well as the Tower's servants and other inhabitants, and there was a small room off the Yellow's quarters where the dead were washed and prepared for burial. There were only Black sisters in attendance now, and they handed off Aybara's body, leaving it there for the time being.
Then Dagdara and Talva saw to Sheriam's toe, Healing the crushed bones to their normal state. She felt slightly hungry but the bones of the foot were small, and she ignored the feeling for now.
In spite of Mesaana's care with the disguise and the compulsion, they found they had a little time left. They returned to the Amyrlin's Study and Mesaana told Dawn and Evanellein to remain in the chapel to help switch the bodies. The Chosen sat down in a chair and looked over their decoy one last time, then told him to stand in the corner and wait. Of course, the man did as he was told. She turned back to Sheriam.
"Pour us a cup of tea while we wait," she ordered.
Sheriam acknowledged, retrieving more tea in from her anteroom and channeling to heat a fresh pot of water.
Mesaana had been worried about Aybara, but now that he was dead she was clearly confident in the rest of the plan. She sat back looking completely at ease when Sheriam handed her her cup.
Sheriam herself felt less comfortable. She trusted the Black sisters to carry out the plan, and even Moghedien, although she was sure the other Chosen would just as soon backstab Mesaana if she though it would better her own position, but that would not be the case here. No, her uneasiness had little to do with doubts about their plan. What bothered her was that she still felt the life leave Aybara under her flows of Saidar.
She told herself it was silly, certainly her weaves of Fire had caused death in Altara, and she had condemned Elaida to her fate without any scruples. But Aybara had been the first she had killed so close up. She glanced at their decoy, then caught herself and looked away, her expression neutral.
But she saw from the Chosen's expression that Mesaana had noticed. Was she getting too comfortable with the Chosen? This was the second time she let her feelings show! Yet Mesaana did not berate her.
"Your first?" she asked.
Sheriam nodded, not bothering to explain about the Seanchan or Elaida. The Chosen knew all that.
Mesaana looked at her for several long moments. "It gets easier," she said then.
Sheriam nodded a quiet and relieved thanks, relieved as much for the reassurance as for how Mesaana had taken her moment of weakness. Then the Chosen changed the subject, asking after other Tower business, and they quickly covered a few points while drinking their tea.
When they had finished their cups, Mesaana deemed the time right to let their decoy leave. She channeled and gave the man his final instructions, and he took up an easy conversation with Sheriam as ordered. Only those looking really close might notice the look in his eyes; they could disguise the color but the look was rather more blank than the eerily bright and animated yellow the eyes of the real Aybara had been.
Sheriam led the man out to the gates, where Fager was waiting. The horses were quickly brought out, the dun stallion gentle now, and the man could mount without incident.
As the two men rode off, Sheriam turned back into the Tower and calmly made her way back to her anteroom, as she would have done any other time.
She had only just made it back when the alarm came, by way of a harried guardsman who reported a brief but serious attack in the city.
Once again she retraced her steps to the gate, then out to where the incident had taken place. She was glad there had been time to fully Heal her toe, as the guard set a quick pace.
As agreed, there were only Yellow-Black sisters immediately in attendance, although more than a few Aes Sedai and townspeople thronged around the fallen man and those supposedly trying to save him. As soon as she approached, Sedore got up from besides the body and reported they had not been able to do anything to save Aybara, he had been dead already even though they happened to be close by. Several injuries, angry red burns from lightning and the scorched clothing hanging off the limbs, were visible to all, and there were no raised eyebrows at Sedore's statement. The Sitter also reported several others were in pursuit of the attackers.
Sheriam ordered the body brought into the Tower, and she voiced her approval at the quick response of both Healers and pursuiers, knowing very well they would not catch anyone.
Once inside the Tower, the switch was easily made. The injuries copied to Aybara's real and so far unmarred body, the decoy taken away by Dawn to be dumped who-knew-where. Without the Mask of Mirrors, it was just one more dead body in a time of war.
Then Sedore and Kiyoshi went with Fager to Aybara's camp to bring the news and the body. Returning several hours later, they reported the normal disbelief and denial those confronted by sudden death were likely to exhibit, but there was no true suspicion. Only Faile, Aybara's wife, and Berelain of Mayene had raised questions and demanded to know every detail of Aybara's visit in a way that showed disbelief greater than could be explained by their shock alone. Sheriam knew Fager would keep an eye on them and once Annoura was taken, she too would be instructed to put any doubts to rest.
-0-
Egwene was called back to the Tower and put up a brief but convincing show of outrage, sending sisters and guardsmen after the assassins. She held up well, but Sheriam saw the strain and as soon as they were in the Amyrlin's Study alone, Egwene broke down and cried.
Sheriam held her as she had once held novices who needed to be consoled. She did not mention that she had been the one to kill the blacksmith, only telling her it had been very quick.
For the rest of the day, Sheriam busied herself with the daily routine of the Tower and with keeping all who couldn't be trusted, as well as most of everyone else, out of the Amyrlin's study.
Late that same evening, Fager brought Jur Grady to be turned.