Against their will.
Reports from elsewhere were not as good. While the turnings went well, and all remained quiet in Tar Valon itself -apart from their own staged attack- chaos and war now struck everywhere else. Refugees arrived in the city every day, carrying tales of Trolloc raids on unprotected villages and larger towns alike, and Blight-like plagues destroying their crops.
Sisters who Travelled across the continent in search of produce now came back empty-handed, reporting that in Altara and Ghaeldean it was as if the Blight itself had struck there. In one case there had even been a Stick that managed to kill several villagers before it was crushed to death, miles and miles from where any had ever been seen, but the description left little doubt it had indeed been such a creature.
Other areas suffered as well, and the Borderlands most of all. The Blight had moved down further South than ever before, with more than just a single Stick, and Mesaana showed Lisa and Kerryn at the farm how to weave strong wards against the bigger creatures that threatened those who were unprotected.
There certainly was no more food to purchase, and Sheriam was glad she had managed to restock most of the Tower's supplies that had been depleted as a result of Elaida's miss-management and the Tower's split, even if prices had been high.
She assigned shelter to the refugees, making the guardsman set up the tents the rebel army had used, and told Laras to hand out soup once a day to those who were worst off.
-0-
Near the end of the day, a large party rode into town and were brought to her. Three sisters, Teslyn, Joline and Edesina, escaped from the Seanchan, rode into town with an escort of Redarm soldiers. Sheriam was glad to have them safely back at the Tower and they were easily turned, but she had mixed feelings about their travel compagnions. Two Seanchan sul'dam, now they could be useful, but the others? A single nosy thief taker who offered his services to the Amyrlin could have been manipulated, sent off on a wild goose chase, but Sheriam thought the woman with him looked familiar, and when she asked around, Nynaeve told her 'Thera' was Amathera, former Panarch of Tarabon. The woman seemed submissive enough after what Temaille had done to her and whatever had happened to her afterwards at the hands of the Seanchan, but she would be trained in Daes Dae'mar and she was not completely broken.
And the third Seanchan woman did not have the ability, could not be turned like the sul'dam. Nor could the man with her, a sailor who had helped the girls before and was known at least to some who weren't turned yet, Elayne for one. Should she have them killed, tomorrow, when the Redarm soldiers had left town with the horses? She did not want to do that, Aybara had been necessary but these were not ta'veren. One got used to it, all good and well, but she wasn't there yet.
-0-
Two more days passed and most resources were spent on the hunt for the presumed attackers. Egwene made quite a show of sending all she could miss off after the Black sisters, and when Juilin offered his services, Sheriam paired him up with Moria, whom she was sure would be able to handle him.
The Redarm soldiers were sent back to Mat's army's camp just outside Caemlyn by gateway, and Miyasi went with them. Unfortunately Mat Cauthon was not there, and none seemed to know where he was, or at least none would tell.
Jahar reported in twice a day on the taking of the men who had bonded the sisters, and Pevara visited the Black Tower and managed to stall Androl and the others who did not hold a bond. The Red was not sure how long it would last, but since several trusted men who did hold a bond and were turned supported her, she was confident they did have a little time left before Androl and the others would insist on making a move against Taim.
Sheriam was glad she was once again in touch with the sisters held at the Black Tower. Even if the bonding made her uncomfortable, and the sisters would have to remain at the Black Tower with their men, it was better than not knowing anything about their situation. And the Dedicated were decent men, even the other Red sisters who had been at the Tower had to admit that. Decent and reliable, the way they had first caught Toveine's party with only a few casualties among the Warders and guards, and now took every one of them who remained at the Tower without any serious trouble as well, proved what they were capable of. Mezar Kurin first of all, but others as well, Norley, Wellyn Kajima, Duco, all worked hard and followed their orders conscientiously.
The more she saw of the men, the more it surprised her that Demandred had so readily allowed Mesaana to turn them and take them off his hands. Even if he had been ready to send them all to their deaths, that too seemed folly to her.
She brought it up to Mesaana, who agreed it was foolish, but was less concerned.
"Demandred is wasteful, most of us were. What puzzles me is not that he wastes fifty good assets, but the fact that he allowed me to have them. Now last he knew I stood well below him in favor of the Great Lord as well as with Moridin, so he could afford to be generous. He likely expected to be able to order me around, so the armies under my command would be his to use, indirectly. That however is changing, with the information about the Dragon's plans, the Tower firmly under control, and not in the last place Aybara's death. I am sure he will regret his generosity by now, and I expect he will try to re-gain control of the men somehow. He shouldn't dare attack me openly, even before Aybara that wouldn't have gone over well, and he hates being second to Moridin more than anything. As long as Moridin lives, the agreement we made not to turn on one another will stand."
Sheriam was somewhat reassured, but she still felt far from easy when they rode to their appointment with Demandred the following day. She left Wing with the Asha'man Soldiers and followed Mesaana to the manor house.
-0-
They were led into the same room as the previous week, and like last week, Mesaana sat down. Again, it took only a short while for Demandred to arrive, but this time he was not alone. A tall, dark man with Saldaean features followed him into the room. Mazrim Taim, it had to be.
As last time, Sheriam knelt as Demandred entered, and rose at Mesaana's gesture. This time, Demandred gave her more than just a glance.
"Ah yes, you did take your pet along again." He nodded to Taim. "She's yours."
Sheriam started as Taim came forward and reached for her. She stepped back, even as she noticed Mesaana veer up out of her chair.
"What's the meaning of this?" Mesaana demanded, but now both men crossed the remaining distance between them, and while Taim grabbed her arm, Sheriam saw Demandred do the same to Mesaana, ignoring her protests.
She wasn't supposed to channel, but she reached for Saidar anyhow. Shielded, of course.
"Let me go. We had an agreement!" Mesaana demanded. She too had to be shielded, Sheriam saw no glow of Saidar around her.
Taim now took her by both arms and pulled her closer. She struggled, but the man was much stronger. She thought of the Well, she could still use it, but against two men, one of them a Chosen? It only held a little of the One Power. She heard Mesaana curse but she had no time to look. Taim leaned over her, and she kicked him in the shins, yelling at him to let her go.
"Feisty as a real Saldaean redhead, I like that," Taim said, his face so close to hers she could smell his breath.
She turned her head away from him, but he grabbed her hair with one hand so she had to turn back. And while she hammered him with the one hand she now had free, he leaned even closer and pressed his lips on hers. No, not that! She struggled and managed to claw at his face with her nails, but in vain, she felt the unseen weaves settle into her, filling her from head to toe with heat, perversely sweet in her veins. It lasted only moments, and she gasped as it shattered, as if the heat suddenly turned to ice and burst from her in tiny shards.
And Taim was there, inside her. His triumph, a wolfish lust she did not even want to think about, down to the slight burning of the scratches on his cheek. He grabbed her free arm again even as he spoke.
"Do not attack me or any other of the Asha'man, nor Demandred of course. Do not channel without my explicit permission. Do not try to escape."
Then he let her go.
She wanted to run away, but she could not, the compulsion held her as strongly as his grip had. Carefully she probed -she could do that, as long as she did not actually try to channel- and she found the shield was gone too. Fat lot of good that did her.
In the back of her mind she felt an echo of her alarm. Oh Great Lord, Arinvar! He had of course felt her panic, but he was back in Tar Valon, and he too could do nothing against these two men. She willed him to remain where he was, to not come here and be killed. As if he could feel that, the Bond was not telepathic in that manner.
"Heal this," Taim told her, as he probed the scratches on his face with his fingers. "No more, no less."
Gritting her teeth, she fervently wished she could try out Dagdara's weaves on his heart, but she had no choice but to obey. She channeled the weaves of Healing. He grinned, had to feel her hatred but seemed to relish it. The rotten bastard.
As soon as she was done, he ordered her to let go of the Source, then turned to look at the two Chosen.
While to Sheriam the struggle had seemed endless, she realized it had only taken a few moments. The two Chosen were still facing off, Demandred holding Mesaana by the arm and Mesaana, clearly furious, cursing and struggling.
"I should have known you could not be trusted any more than a Tojar street thug," she spat. "You would not hold to an agreement with your own mother."
"You keep bringing that up. Really I did not break it as much as bend it a little," Demandred said. "Moghedien and Cyndane may live, they are hardly in the running for a position of power anymore, and I was quite interested to learn that Graendal has lost her position as one of the Chosen entirely, as of last week. Due to an incident at the White Tower that you did not bother to tell me about, I may add."
"That leaves Moridin," Mesaana said. "Have you decided second place is good enough after all, or do you plan to challenge him all alone?"
Her voice made clear what she thought of those odds.
"Alone? Oh no," Demandred answered. "You will help me. So you see, in fact I am not breaking our agreement after all, I am only making sure that it stands."
He pulled Mesaana closer towards him, turning her around and pinning her to his chest.
"More… permanently," he added, speaking over her shoulder.
"You really want me in your head for ever?" Mesaana snapped.
"It beats having you behind my back," he replied.
But he was hesitating, Sheriam realized. Had been hesitating all along. While Taim had bonded her immediately, Demandred was stalling, more reluctant to carry through with this vile plan of his than he perhaps knew himself.
Taim also realized the Chosen was taking his time, he started to feel slightly nervous. Not that it was immediately clear what Mesaana could do, if she could have broken through his shield she would have done so already. But any time gained might give Mesaana time to come up with something, anything. Even a small chance was better than none, for once Mesaana too was bonded all would be lost.
And then, while the two Chosen kept arguing, she felt Arinvar's bond shift in her head. He was here! Hope and despair surged through her and she felt Taim's alarm even as he grabbed her by one arm again, frowning.
"Whatever you just thought of, you will not try to escape," he told her again.
"I can't," she said truthfully.
She struggled to suppress the slight hope she felt, Arinvar had to be with someone who could channel, one of the men because he had arrived nearby, very nearby, and none of the Aes Sedai knew the key to Travel directly onto the Black Tower grounds. She could swear he was in the very house, in fact…
The door was flung open and several people burst into the room. Jahar and Merise in front, Merise glowing with Saidar, Arinvar and Merise's two Warders close behind them.
Sheriam wrenched herself loose from Taim's grip and dropped to the floor -not an attempt to escape but simply to stay alive, for lightning and fire flashed through the room between Demandred and Taim, and Jahar and Merise.
She watched and saw Mesaana had managed to pull partly free of Demandred's grip, and she too had ducked, although Demandred still held her by one wrist. The air overhead crackled with the Power and the room shook as each weave crashed into the heavy shields. Furniture toppled and crashed to the floor, the smell of smoldering wool filled the room as sparks scorched the carpet and tapestries.
Even as she saw the Chosen had one hand free, Sheriam pulled the Well from her hair and tossed it to Mesaana.
She had never told Mesaana she had it, and if the Chosen had recognized the hair ornament for what it was, she had not mentioned it, but it did not take her more than a fraction of a second to react. The glow of Saidar sprung up around Mesaana at almost the same moment her fingers closed around it.
Mesaana channeled, the killing weave aimed at Demandred's mind and a long, sharp blade of Air stabbing deep into his back. The flows met no resistance, she must have been within the other Chosen's shield.
The Well ran out and for just a fraction of a second, the glow of Saidar winked out, but then it sprang up again, at full strength now, as Demandred died, crashing to the floor without the time for a counter-strike.
Taim was strong, but fielding off the attacks from two sides he had no chance. Mesaana's weaves reached out, stopped only momentarily where Taim's shield of Air had to be, then cut through. Sheriam felt him stagger as weaves of Spirit hit him in his mind. Anger and only a touch of fear at the moment he lost the Source.
Pushing past the resistance, Mesaana shielded him and at the same time called out warning.
"Careful, he has bonded her."
Arinvar stepped past Jahar and Merise, his rage stronger than Taim's, but comforting in its familiarity.
"I felt it."
He stepped up behind Taim, who stood reeling, grabbed the man by the hair and put his blade to his throat.
All Sheriam felt was defiance.
"You hurt me, you hurt her." Then Taim's eyes fastened on her. "I should have told you not to help her escape either."
More anger and disgust, and only a very, very slight trace of regret underneath it all.
"I can compel him to undo the orders he gave you, and he can be held," Mesaana said. "Or you must risk the breaking of the bond."
They could hold him, they had the manpower with the Dedicated taken too, and the road now clear to turn the rest of the Black Tower. But Sheriam needed no time to decide. It wasn't just the risk of him breaking free, Mesaana knew ways of weaving compulsion that would hold him securely, especially since he, unlike Tuon, would not need to function normally. It was that he was there, his filthy, overwhelming presence.
"I want him out of my head," she said decisively, her eyes hard.
Mesaana nodded.
"I understand severing to be less of a shock than straight, sudden death," the Chosen said.
Merise had turned green.
"The bond of the men is far stronger than the usual Warder bond," she cautioned.
Mesaana glanced at her once more, but Sheriam did not blink.
"I'm sure."
He had not even felt defeat or resignation, not even now. Vile, the man and his bond.
Without further comment, while Merise looked on in horror, Mesaana wove Spirit.
Sheriam smiled in determined anticipation that was stronger than the fear she felt. She would rather die than live with Taim's bond.
There was no warning, no 'running out' or slow ebbing. From one moment to the next, his overbearing presence was simply gone, imploded while in its place was a cold nothingness. And on the edge of that emptiness relief and triumph. That must be what kept her upright, he would not see her fall!
"Kill him," she ordered.
She must have said it, but her voice sounded as if it were someone else's, or as if she was standing in a large, empty cave.
Arinvar cut Taim's throat with one smooth pull of his blade. He was still there, his anger strong, but it was on the other side of the vast emptiness. Taim's blood spurted out and the light left his eyes even as Arinvar threw the body down in disgust.
The next thing she knew, she was laying on the floor, with her head in Arinvar's lap. Concern came from him, now stronger than the anger. Mesaana sat next to her, Jahar and Merise on the other side, and she remembered the cold tingle of Healing. And there was the emptiness, spreading from her mind through her body as if she were nothing but an empty shell. The bond had only lasted, what, fifteen minutes perhaps, and she had hated every second of it. How could it hurt so much?
The brief rush of energy that had come from the Healing ebbed away and she felt herself fading as if she were drifting off to sleep. She closed her eyes. Again the tingle of Healing and she felt a slightly stronger, but only a little.
She heard Mesaana curse.
"She needs a bond." Merise's voice.
"Can you?" Mesaana.
"I… it may not be enough. Their bond is different, that much is certain."
"I will do it." Jahar.
Sheriam opened her eyes with a small surge of apprehension, alright so he wasn't Taim, but bonded again? Still she knew he would have to, and she did not really want to die. As if she were even in any state to argue.
Jahar reached out, took her head in his hands, and somehow she found the strength not to pull back or flinch. He was not Taim! He looked at her with concern in his dark eyes.
"I promise not to use the bond in any way to compel you, and I will search for a way to release you when you no longer need it."
No, not Taim at all. She felt some of the tension leave her as he leaned close. The bells on the ends of his braids tingled, and he smelled vaguely of spices, the sage Arafellin often used. His lips touched hers, and she felt the weaves take hold. The heat almost unbearable in contrast to the vast coldness inside her, then the explosion of sharp shards which seemed dulled by the same void.
Then he was there, filling the emptiness with concern and strength, so much pure strength!
He drew back, sitting on his haunches holding only her hand. Sheriam felt her own strength return. She smiled weakly.
"Thank you."
She sat up, slowly so as not to get dizzy, and felt that she could. Jahar and Arinvar helped her into one of the chairs. There was still a ring of emptiness around Jahar's presence, a nagging sense of loss, but with some effort it could be ignored.
She looked at the two bodies on the floor. Taim, face down in a puddle of blood, and Demandred -Great Lord, one of the Chosen!- who had fallen backwards and only a bit of blood spread from under his body.
"Will there be trouble?" she asked.
"He gambled and lost," Mesaana said, glancing at his body with an expression of extreme distaste. "If there is any trouble, it will be his."
Of course, even in death he was not necessarily safe from the Great Lord's wrath. She nodded in relief.
"Now you need food and rest, while I deal with this. I will need Jahar -can you go to Tar Valon or should we find a place for you to lie down here?" Mesaana asked.
Merise looked startled as Mesaana even suggested she would return to Tar Valon. A Green sister would not let a newly bonded Warder out of her sight under similar circumstances. But she hadn't wanted the bond in the first place, and was far from comfortable even with Jahar. The bond would do what it needed to do, and a little distance would be welcome.
"Tar Valon would be fine."
Mesaana turned to Jahar.
"Tell me exactly what you do when you Travel here. Which flows do you use, and what do you do with them, every detail."
With a look of concentration on his face, Jahar channeled and explained. Several times, while each time Mesaana asked for more explanations, for another small detail. She frowned and muttered numbers under her breath as she wove the flows Jahar described. Then all of a sudden, a small Eye opened for her too.
"Got it," she said, satisfied.
The Chosen wove a full size gateway and Sheriam saw it led to her quarters in Tar Valon.
"Now get some rest. Oh, and these are yours," Mesaana said as she held out the Well and the stone cup.
The Chosen had used the Healing ter'angreal? She must have been closer to death than she had realized. She took it, but was reluctant to take the Well.
"It would not have helped me," Mesaana said. "He was ready for it, could have countered the little Saidar it held when he shielded us, and the first thing he did was he took my belt pouch and searched me. He did not think to check what you carried, others may make the same mistake."
Sheriam had not seen any of that, but then she had not seen anything much for those first moments, except Taim, Taim so close… no, she would not allow herself to think of that. With a nod, she took the Well, too.
"The official version of what happened will include just you and Taim, as if he acted on his own to control the White Tower. But do not tell anyone yet, I will work out the details later so there are no inconsistencies in the story when it reaches al'Thor and any others."
Mesaana looked at Arinvar as well as her as she said this, and he too nodded.
"Yes, High Mistress."
He helped her up and led her through the gateway into her quarters.
Jahar kept back, Sheriam felt his concern but also appreciated his restraint. Then the bond dulled as Mesaana's gateway closed. Jahar was still there in her head, but not as near, not as strong.
Arinvar went out into the hall and ordered one of the servants to bring food, then returned. Sheriam stripped down to her shift and sat on the edge of the bed, fighting a wave of tiredness that was coming over her even now. Fortunately, the food was not long coming and she quickly finished the stew, bread and cheese. Then she laid back and fell asleep almost as soon as her head hit the pillow.
It was a deep sleep but it was full of dreams. Some were of cold and emptiness, where she was left all alone, either in strange places, vast empty fields, dark forests, or under the burning sun of the Aiel Waste. The loneliness was depressing and frightening, but those dreams were still better than the nightmares. Nightmares in which she ran from Taim, a dozen Taims, always appearing in front of her no matter how fast she ran or where she turned, the wolfish grin on his hated face. She fought until she slipped into one of the empty dreams again.
Then, at some point, the loneliness became less, the emptiness less severe. She woke to find Jahar standing next to her bed.
"Mesaana said to make sure you ate another meal tonight," he said.
In a reflex, she pulled the sheets up high around her, then relaxed as she felt only concern and care from him. She looked around and saw a tray of food already brought in, could smell more of the stew, and she realized she was hungry again. Still she was reluctant to sit up in only her shift.
Then Arinvar handed her her shawl, and she gratefully draped it around her shoulders as she sat up. He had seen her in her shift before, and it hadn't bothered her that afternoon when he had helped her into the bed, but he had felt and understood her uneasiness about Jahar.
Even with the blue-fringed shawl covering her, she kept carefully probing the bond, but there was none of the vile, raw lust that had scared and disgusted her so much in Taim. Just the concern, his quiet, confident strength and perhaps a bit of… appreciation? As Arinvar propped up the pillow behind her back, and Jahar handed her the bowl of thick stew, she felt her apprehension lessen.
Jahar pulled up a chair, the silver bells on his braids tinkling as he moved, and filled her in on the situation at the Black Tower as she ate.
The official version of the events had Jahar at the Black Tower all along, waiting to see Taim, and speaking with Arinvar as she met with the former M'Hael. The Dragon did not know the men had the key to the Dreamspike, knew only the artifact protected the Tower from an attack by Gateway, but as far as he was concerned all had to Travel to the gates and walk in.
When Taim had assaulted her, Jahar, Arinvar and Merise had rescued her, killing Taim in the process, breaking the bond, which led to Jahar bonding her to save her life. It was close to the truth and sounded plausible enough.
The Dragon had accepted Jahar's report of the events without showing doubt. He said he had never trusted Taim, and had only used him because there had been no one else who had been able to teach at the time. He sent his apology to her for allowing this to happen. And he had given the M'Hael's position to Jahar. For a moment, he had frowned, had seemed to hesitate -perhaps he had thought of Logain, who had led a faction of the men before he had joined the Dragon in Cairhien, and then gone off to a place still unknown to any of them. But then he had made the decision, saying that it was meant to be. 'Who draws it out shall follow after', he had muttered, something Jahar had not understood but Mesaana had told him referred to Callandor. Jahar had told them before he had been the one to retrieve the sa'angreal from the Stone of Tear, although Sheriam had not known that particular verse of the Karaethon Cycle.
The Dragon charged Jahar to weed out any Darkfriends from among the followers of the former M'Hael, something Jahar had readily promised.
He even referred to Egwene's purging of the Black Ajah from the White Tower, at the same time cautioning he feared the Black to have a greater number with Taim in charge and no Oath Rod. This was good news in so far that the Dragon clearly had no idea of their true numbers, even before the turnings, and presented a difficulty in that the Dragon would expect a number of Darkfriends to be caught and executed. More random men would be taken and killed instead of the presumed Darkfriends, and Sheriam hated the necessity, regretted the deaths even as she knew they would only be few among the many who died in this war. So did Jahar, she felt his loathing at the thought of having to order the death of innocent men, even as she knew he would do what was necessary.
Better to concentrate on what had been gained. With free rein at the Black Tower they could now take the rest of the men and none of them at least would be sent to be slaughtered. Some of the most influential ones, Androl, Lord Pendaloan and others who had been close to Logain, were taken already. That was the best one could hope for in a war, to be able to save your own, even at the cost of lives to others.
-0-
Soon she had finished her food and Jahar Traveled back to the Black Tower, leaving her for the night. In spite of the emptiness within, she slept through the night without waking once, and in the morning he came again to check on her before they each started their work of the day, each in their respective Towers.
For while she still felt tired and empty, there was just too much to be done to remain in bed any longer. She made her way to her anteroom and found to her satisfaction that Egwene had kept up with most Tower business, and all reports were laying on her desk in order. She looked over what the young woman had done and approved. She had assigned more of the Tower guard to help the refugees, ensuring all would have at least food and clean water, and fewer fights would break out. Egwene had also assigned extra patrols in the villages at the foot of each bridge leading into the city. There would be no Trolloc raids there, not this close to Mesaana's Tower, but the people wouldn't be allowed to guess at that, and also not all refugees were content with what they were offered. Some had banded together and raided smaller villages and outlaying farms. In other times, Tar Valon had very little trouble with outlaws, but these were not normal times any longer. Sheriam approved.
-0-
That afternoon Mesaana came to her anteroom and told her they had been summoned to Shayol Ghul. She was confident and pleased, and Sheriam trusted her judgment enough to know they had no reason to fear this visit, but she still felt far from easy as the Chosen opened the gateway to Bore.
They had Traveled to the same place as last time, the forge nearby, the group of victims for the blades outside. But this time they were not kept waiting. Almost as soon as they arrived, Shaidar Haran approached.
Mesaana curtsied deep, Sheriam knelt, always in her position slightly behind the Chosen.
"Rise, both of you," Shaidar Haran told them.
Sheriam did, as before making sure she rose after Mesaana.
"You have done well," the tall Myrddraal addressed the Chosen. "But this is no place to talk, let me invite you in."
Even as he spoke, their surroundings shimmered and they were in a stark room, sporting just a few chairs and a fireplace. A woman servant took Shaidar Haran's cloak, and Sheriam saw he wore a black coat and equally black trousers underneath. It was the first time she had ever seen a Myrddraal without a cloak or black mail, but then she had never been in one's home either. For that's what it had to be. Even though they had not entered the usual way, Sheriam guessed from the entourage they were in the cottage she had seen on their previous trip here. It was the only place she knew here that could hold such a room, and while Travel could take them anywhere, it would not make sense to summon them only to take them to a completely different location.
The woman had lush brown hair and was beautiful, but she handled the cloak carefully, and as Sheriam looked down she saw the hands of the woman were bandaged on each finger, and stained with the yellow and greenish taint of old bruises. No doubt some form of punishment, for what she could not even guess.
Even as they had appeared in the room, the woman had thrown Sheriam a look of surprise and recognition, but Sheriam was as good as certain she did not know her. She could channel too, and quite strongly.
"Take a seat," Shaidar Haran told Mesaana, even as he himself sat down in one of the dark, ornately worked chairs. Sheriam knew it was not intended for her and remained standing next to the Chosen.
"Verin, tell Graendal to bring tea."
This time Sheriam could not keep her surprise hidden. She looked at the woman again, even though she knew this body at least was not the old Verin at all, but the Great Lord could do that, give life to one who had died in a new body. That explained the injured hands, the bruises seemed about that old. And to be a servant to Shaidar Haran! That was one form of punishment that had never occurred to her, even when she had wondered if he were the one who lived in this otherwise normal-looking cottage. She felt no pity for the woman, even though they had once gotten along well enough.
And Graendal! Even as she pondered the situation, Verin had curtsied and disappeared through a door on the far side of the room. Moments later another servant came in, also beautiful and with even lusher hair than Verin now had, although it was golden rather than brown. Her hands were whole, the fingers long and slender, but she looked sunburned as if she had worked Moridin's fields.
Whether she had been one of the Chosen or not, Graendal moved as quick as Verin had. She curtsied deep as she served the tea, first to Shaidar Haran himself, then to Mesaana, who smiled as she took her cup. No doubt Shaidar Haran had chosen this venue with his two servants on purpose, to show his servants those they had tried to defeat were doing well, but also as a reminder that no matter how high one stood, a mistake could cause one to fall just as deep.
Only when Mesaana had her tea and Graendal had backed away to stand and wait in one of the corners of the room, did Shadar Haran speak up again.
"So tell me how you killed the Blacksmith."
Mesaana related the story truthfully and in detail, including her own fall and Sheriam's action that killed Aybara.
As the Chosen finished her report, Shaidar Haran looked at Sheriam as intensely as he had on the slopes of Shayol Ghul. She felt the cold seep into her, but like the previous time she did not look away.
"Interesting indeed. I will keep this in mind," the Myrddraal said. "As well as Moghedien's assistance. I give rewards as well as punishments. And speaking of such, Graendal, sent in Del'han."
Sheriam frowned slightly as she recognized the word, bound it meant in the Old Tongue.
The former Chosen curtsied and quickly left the room, to return moments later with a short man with thin, blond hair. He wore plain clothes but he walked tall, even here, that is until he saw Mesaana. Then he started and missed a step before he halted completely and knelt to Shaidar Haran.
The tall Myrddraal reached into his shirt and pulled out a crystal and wire mesh cube on a chain, like those Moridin had worn, and handed it to Mesaana.
"Del'han is still one of the Chosen, as his plans have been relatively successful up to his last mistake, but he will be under your command," he said.
Sheriam didn't recognize the artifact, but clearly Mesaana did.
"Thank you, Great One," she said and smiled as she took the item and slipped the chain around her neck. "I will put his talents to good use."
"I trust that you will," Shaidar Haran replied.
Del'han's face was an angry snarl, but he was pale rather than red, and Sheriam wondered whether this cube, which was clearly some controlling device, allowed one to feel the subject's emotions like the a'dam did.
Shaidar Haran got up from his seat, implyinging the meeting was over.
Despite the current favor she found herself in, Mesaana took care to rise quickly, and as she curtsied to Shaidar Haran, Sheriam knelt deeper.
"My house is warded against Travel with the One Power, let me return you," Shaidar Haran said, and even as he spoke the three of them suddenly found themselves on the slopes of Shayol Ghul where Sheriam and Mesaana had arrived. Clearly Shaidar Haran, in spite of his almost human behavior at the meeting, still did not care to exchange extensive goodbyes.
Mesaana immediately opened a gateway of her own, back to the White Tower. They arrived not in Sheriam's anteroom, where Gawyn would certainly wonder about the man's identity and how he got there with the Dreamspike in place, but in a small spare room in the Green's wing.
"At either the White Tower or the Black, you will be known as Dillan. Dillan.." she paused a moment, "Locke. Too many people know the Old Tongue and will wonder where you are from. A select few will know your identity and you will teach them, the male version of the turning to start with, and any useful weaves you have kept from Taim's men after that. Jahar Narishma is M'Hael now, you report to him when I am not around."
"A common Asha'man, barely trained?" Del'han protested. "You heard Shaidar Haran, I am still one of the Chosen."
"And under my command," Mesaana pointed out. "And I command you to serve under Jahar. And Sheriam, she is my second in command and you will take any order from her as if it is my own. Any slip and I will be quite displeased."
She stroked the crystal and wire construct, and Del'han shivered visibly.
Without paying him any more mind, she turned to Sheriam.
"The cour'souvra is made in Shayol Ghul, using blood and saliva of the subject. It allows the wearer complete control of the bound one, and has the advantage over other bonds in that it can be passed around among men and women alike, and it does not depend on a physical leash. Channeling in its presence is extremely painful for the subject, and touching it as it is worn by someone else causes instant death, as an extra precaution preventing the bound one from overpowering the one who holds the Mindtrap. Crushing it destroys the subject's mind completely," she explained. "You give the orders similar to compulsion, and the subject can feel whenever the wearer touches the cour'souvra, which can be useful to remind the subject of the duties given or to encourage him to try harder. Going completely against one's wishes is not possible, but especially when a lot of distance is involved or a given task is complicated, a subject may slack in the performance of his duties. Here, wear it and get a feel of it."
To Del'han's obvious disgust, Mesaana handed her the artifact. Sheriam took it and hung it around her neck, and found that she could feel the man's emotions -anger and disgust but some insecurity and plain fear as well, which hadn't shown in his actions after his brief when he had entered the room in Shaidar Haran's cottage. But contrary to the Warder bond, she had to actively think about his feelings, when she let her mind drift to the attempt at Bonding them, the sense of his emotions faded to a very dim level, as if a Warder were all the way across the continent or beyond.
She rubbed the surface of the cour'souvra, the ornate cage structure strangely cool in contrast to the crystal underneath, which was warm to her touch. She could feel the echo of Del'han's shiver. Then she thought of a small command, making him walk a circle, and indeed he did, scowling.
Mesaana nodded approval and Sheriam handed the Mindtrap back to her. Then the Chosen gave Del'han more detailed instructions about the teaching he had to do. She mentioned casually that if he did not apply himself, it would be Jahar wearing the cour'souvra, something which would be rather painful to his greater proximity.
Then the Chosen Traveled directly to the Black Tower. As she did, she showed Sheriam the key to the second Dreamspike, another sequence of flows before opening the gateway itself, and she told her how to Travel from one place with a Dreamspike to another one that was also protected by one. Counter-intuitive, one had to channel the sequence for the destination first, or it would not work.
Jahar was at one of the training fields, but with the Bond, finding him was no problem. He found them, approaching them through the Tower's streets, before they reached the field itself.
As Mesaana told him who Del'han/Dillan was, his face went grim and Sheriam could feel his dislike, but mixed in was also a desire to learn from the man.
Sheriam was not all of one mind about Demandred's resurrection either, she was glad that the men learning the turning weave would take some of the pressure off the sisters, and she trusted Mesaana would keep the man under control, but she loathed the man for what he had done to her, or to be exact had made Taim do to her. At least it was no Taim, she did not think she could bear to feel his thoughts again, not even dim as through the Mindtrap. Or to have him walk the earth again. She hoped the Great Lord had not given him a new body, but thought it not likely. Such things were rare enough, and the Great Lord would not use it on every one of his Dreadlords. Verin had surprised her too, even if she had known the Great Lord had made the snake tell of her treacherous plans.
And while it did feel good to be near Jahar again, Sheriam was still glad when Mesaana was done explaining her plans and the two of them returned to Tar Valon.
-0-
Jahar moved fast in the Black Tower, knowing he had less than two weeks before the Dragon would break the Seals and attempt to close the Bore. Had he taken only the key figures the day before, now he had his men take any and all. Demandred -Del'han- showed the men how to use the turning as Mesaana had ordered, but they still needed more, and the Aes Sedai turned as many as the men did. Sheriam had Silviana sent novices and Accepted to supplement the circles, those who had come to the Tower as Friends of the Dark were now called to action. Silviana was unhappy about the younger ones, but the need for numbers was pressing and they would have to get used to the Myrddraal, like it or not.
They had just two close calls. Gheral and Welyn took one recent arrival to the Tower, shielded him and tied him in Air, then took him through the gateway to Malkier before they physically touched him and discovered the Mask of Mirrors. Naeff, sent by the Dragon to contact those loyal to him. Obviously it was too late to back off, and they went ahead at all speed hoping he could take them to Nelavaire before she could raise the alarm. Thankfully, although Nelavaire had felt Naeff's alarm, the ones she had first ran into when she went looking for help were Cadsuane and Merise. She was brought in before the circle turning Naeff was halfway through.
The other close call was not such a risk in itself but certainly shook up those it happened to. The Asha'man returned to the Black Tower, together with his two bonded sisters, but when Mezar, Adrielle and Androl tried to get the three of them together, making up some impromptu excuse to request the presence of Toveine during their visit, Logain and Gabrelle shielded them instead. He then told them such a story worked once but only a fool would be caught by it twice, and to be on their way. In fact he had been caught by Taim and his men some days before, when he had returned to the Tower and became a 'nuisance', as Taim had said. He was surprised to find out he was one of many who had been turned, and after releasing his would-be captors reported to Jahar, who put him in charge of the Tower's guard. Logain accepted the position, although one could see he regretted not being available when the Dragon had to replace Taim. Jahar called in those who had done the turning with Taim, berated them and sent them off for a flogging for withholding such information from him.
-0-
By noon on the second day after Demandred's failed move, Jahar had collected his 'Darkfriends'. Nine men, eight random victims who were disguised as Asha'man who had been whisked away to yet another temporary shelter, and one of Taim's men who had tried to make the others gang up against Jahar, hoping to take over himself. The stocky Shienaran had not been near as popular as he had thought he was, and his friends had ratted him out.
Sheriam was present at the executions as much as a representative of the White Tower as well as a victim of Taim herself. She watched emotionlessly, distancing herself from what she knew to be a necessary evil. Jahar had more difficulty, she felt his discomfort held tightly in check, but close, so close to the surface.
And no axe, here. The men did everything with the One Power, and these executions were no exception. Jahar had picked the henchmen carefully, older men, soldiers in other armies before they came here and learned to channel, they at least would not hesitate to do what was necessary. And indeed they made it quick, small comfort for the men who died.
The Dragon was not present at the executions. He did commend Jahar for his quick actions, but he was too busy as he left Cairhien and moved to the Field of Merrilor that same day.
-0-
Even as al'Thor made his move, he requested his allies join him there. Some of course came immediately, his Aiel moved as he did, and Aybara's army, now led by Tam al'Thor, Faile and Berelain with her Mayeners, were there by nightfall. Elayne joined him as well with the Andorian lords and ladies loyal to her. Mat's redarms remained camped near Caemlyn, as Mat himself still hadn't been sighted, Miyasi reported.
Sheriam wasn't sure why al'Thor moved so quickly. He still hadn't shared the details of his plan, and no matter how great his armies were, gathering them all in one place made them a target, too. Perhaps al'Thor knew Moridin too, or at least Lews Therin did, and he would know there would be no attempt to take him until he had gone to the Bore itself.
But his early move left the cities unprotected. Only a day after Elayne had left Caemlyn, Trollocs attacked. Only a very small number of guards and channelers, mostly members of the kin, were left at the city, and by the time the messengers made it to the White Tower, the aid they asked for was just for Healing and shelter of the refugees.
Sheriam thought that between the two Towers, they could have swept the city even now the Trollocs had managed to get a foothold, and she was as surprised as Mesaana that Elayne did not request that. Was the woman influenced by another? It seemed impossible for such a thing to be done without alarming the Dragon. Mesaana even asked Del'han, but he had not gotten a hold of the woman, nor did anyone think it was likely to be Moridin.
Either way, the city was abandoned to the Trollocs and most of the refugees directed to Whitebridge. The White Tower provided Healing for those who needed it, citizens and soldiers alike. A few more who lived to fight again would not make the difference at the Last Battle and to refuse would be a clear sign that something was wrong.