When Rana was finally released from the dream the sun was high in the sky, and she tumbled out of her bed with a thump, clutching her burnt wrist to her chest as she scrambled to her feet, icy cold panic filling her as she rushed out of the room. Either Ishmael had given up on getting the information from Perrin or Mat, or he had gotten what he wanted and was coming for her. And she was not ready. Not yet.
He might be able to hurt her in dreams but it was superficial hurts, bruises and minor burns, he could not kill her. But out in the real world... she was not ready to face him. Not yet. She practically burst into Perrin and Mat's room, her eyes wide and her face pale when she saw Perrin led on the bed, looking pale, "Did he come to you?" she asked, not bothering with the niceties.
Perrin sat up quickly, taking in her appearance before nodding, "He wanted to know where we are, I didn't tell him anything.. Light you're a mess Rana, you aren't even dressed!"
"I'm covered enough for now, I shall dress if I must go outside. What of Mat?"
"When I mentioned dreams he did look... concerned but he said nothing." Perrin frowned, "You think that he dreamt of the man also?"
"I know he did... Blood and Ashes, we have to find him Perrin, if he let something slip..."
Perrin groaned, "It truly is serious isn't it?" he shook his head, "He said he was... was..."
"I know who he is." Rana stated swiftly, "Do you feel strong enough to find Mat with me?"
"No." Perrin shook his head, "I don't think I could even stand... be careful Rana."
Rana nodded, "I will." and with that she rushed back to her room again, dressing and tugging a brush through her hair swiftly before heading out of the inn, trying to hide her panic. If she wasn't careful she'd draw too much attention to herself.
Once she was outside she looked around with wide eyes, one hand on the hilt of her sword in case she did need to defend herself.
"A young girl with a sword, I've never seen the like."
Rana spun around at the sound of the voice, her hair flying out as she did, and stood there was a woman, with short cut hair wearing a mans shirt and trousers, a few years older than Rana at least. She tried to calm the pounding of her chest as she stared at the other woman before speaking, "And I have never seen a woman dressed as you are."
The stranger laughed at that, her eyes shining, "Are you one of the travellers who came here with Mistress Alys? Don't look so worried, I am a friend..." she grinned, "I've heard men talk about you Two Rivers folk, how on the surface most are meek and soft as butter and underneath you're all tough and proud... but I don't see any meekness with you."
Rana shifted slightly at that, curious despite the pressing need she felt to find Mat, "And how do you know Mistress Alys?"
"I know her in other names too." she gave Rana a meaningful look, "I am a friend... she told me. Though she had little choice... I saw what she was... I wouldn't tell a soul of course, the Whitecloaks wouldn't like what I do anymore than what she does?"
"What you do?"
"She says I see pieces of the Pattern, as far as I'm concerned I just see things when I look at people, and sometimes I know what they mean. I look at a man and a woman who've never even talked to one another, and I know they'll marry. And they do. That sort of thing. She wanted me to look at you. All of you together, but you were in the bath I believe, so I just looked at your friends."
"What did you see with them?"
"When they were all in a group? Sparks swirling around you, thousands of them, and a big shadow,darker than midnight. It's so strong, I almost wonder why everybody can't see it. The sparks are trying to fill the shadow, and the shadow is trying to swallow the sparks." She shrugged. "Even now I can see the sparks surrounding you. You are all tied together in something dangerous, but I can't make any more of it."
"All of us?" Rana felt a surge of horror. She had caused this somehow. She had dragged them all into this, Mat, Perrin, even Egwene, the Light curse her desire to adventure.
"Yes, all of you... I see lots of other things too."
"What of me? What do you see from me?"
"I see a sword that isn't a sword, a golden crown of laurel leaves, a black rock wet with blood... and I see lightning around you, some striking around you and some coming out... other things are there but I can't see them clearly. I don't know what any of it means but I do know we will meet again."
Rana blinked and nodded, "Perhaps we will."
"And now you're anxious to get away.. but not away from me I think. You looked flushed when you came out, you're worried and you're looking for someone."
Rana nodded with a start, "Yes.. yes I am. I'm sorry but I have to go." She took off, and the womans laughter echoed on behind her as she rushed into the streets, looking around desperately as she ran.
As it was she almost missed him. Padan Fain, dirty and gaunt. Her eyes widened as she recalled what Ishamel and said. The useless coward Fain. He was a Darkfiend... he spotted her and span around, rushing in the opposite direction and into an alleyway.
She rushed after him, her eyes wide. If he had a way of telling Ishmael where he was then even if Mat had held out against him they were done for.
The alley had a tall fence, making it a dead end, and Rana blocked the exit, her eyes glued to Fain. "How long?" she demanded, "How long have you been watching the Two Rivers for... for us?"
Padan's eyes narrowed "You know... how do you know... no... no it doesn't matter now. He is coming in person, I sent the message when I spotted Cauthon."
"Light no." she stared at Fain, torn between rushing off to warn the others and staying to make sure Fain didn't escape. Her decision was made for her when Fain suddenly leapt at her, sending her crashing to the ground as he scrambled out of the alley, and her head hit the ground hard, leaving her dazed and shocked.
She moved only when A kindly older woman rushed to her side and helped her sit up, which made her head spin even more. And then she was on her feet, ignoring the pain as best she could in favour of running.
She had to warn the others. Before Ishmael arrived. It was her he was hunting but he would certainly kill them without a second thought, and powerful though Moiraine was, he was beyond her skill.
When she arrived back at the inn though, she saw Mat and Perrin stood outside, and when they saw her they both rushed over.
"Rana! Nynaeve is here." Perrin yelped, nightmare seemingly forgotten.
And Rana was so taken aback that she blurted out, "What? How?"
Mat nodded, "Perrin says she rooted Hightower out — I don't know how he got back over the river, but she said he was hiding in his bedroom and didn't want to go near the river — anyway, she bullied him into finding a boat big enough for her and her horse and rowing her across. Himself. She only gave him time to find one of his haulers to work another set of oars."
"She came for us." Perrin added, "She's with M-Mistress Alys right now, and it's cold enough in there to snow!"
Rana shook her head, "I don't have time for this!" she blurted out, "I don't care if they get angry at me for interrupting but this is important light damn it! Where are they?"
"The private dining room, but Rana-" and with that Rana was rushing inside, ignoring their frantic calls behind her as she rushed to the private dining room they had eaten in the night before.
Moiraine was stood at one end of the table, her hands flat on it, and Nynaeve was stood, tugging at her braid.
They both turned to look at her when she rushed in and Moiraine frowned, straightening up instantly at the look on her face. "Rana, what's happened?"
And Rana found that her mouth was too dry to talk, and her legs were shaking so much that Lan darted to her side and led her to a chair, frowning.
"There's blood on your hair." he looked at Moiraine, "She's hit her head. She may well be in shock."
And Nynaeve rushed forward at that, "Look at the state of her! This is your doing, who do you think you are? Dragging the children away from their homes like this?" she glared at Moiraine viciously. "And her wrist too!"
Moiraine glanced at her wrist and her eyes widened, "A hand shaped burn... Rana you must tell us what has gotten you so worked up, Lan, give her a sip of the wine." he did, and Rana took a moment before speaking.
"We must leave now.. we must. I saw Padan Fain in the town when I was looking for Mat, he's a Darkfiend! He pushed me over and ran, I was too shocked to stop him."
"Nonsense Rana! Fain's been coming to Emond's Field for years, we'd know if he was a Darkfiend."
"Yes! Yes he has! And he was looking for me!" Rana yelled before she could stop herself, "He doesn't know it yet but it was me and he's sent Elan a message and he's coming Moiraine! We must run!"
Moiraine and Lan exchanged looks before Lan nodded, "I'll ready the horses and warn the others." he stated swiftly.
"Egwene." Moiraine nodded to her, and Rana noticed that she had been in the corner and looked deathly pale "Go pack your things, take your Wisdom with you. I must talk to Rana."
Nynaeve looked like she wanted to protest, but the look on Rana's face must have made her reconsider because she left with Egwene.
When they were both gone Moiraine focused on Rana fully. "We can no longer afford these secrets child. You must speak to me. You think it is you they seek."
"Of course I do!" Rana trembled, "I know why you came to the village Moiraine, or at the very lease I believe I do. But you'd never have realised it! No one would... but he... he knows me. Knows my soul... it's me you came to Emond's Field to find!"
Moiraine leaned back, a stunned look on her face, "How can I be sure you know what you're talking of... how could you know?"
"My father told me, before the Trollocs attacked he told me. Light help us all but he told me that he found me as a babe in the snow, my mother half dead on the slopes of Dragonmount." her words came out almost as a sob, "My mother told him an Aes Sedai and warned her that she must leave Caemlyn, and she told him that she knew now that I was the reason! Because I needed to be born. And I remember things, I see things I should not know... and... and I knew that Elan was his real name! I am the Dragon Reborn."