Chapter 19

Scooped Up

Of course, my statement didn't end the argument. They were Aes Sedai, used to getting their way and while I'd shown them I could do impossible things, they were still skeptical. And simultaneously very worried about what would happen if I could do what I said I was going to do.

Not that they could stop me. Not without channeling and even here on the outskirts of town we could hear the Seanchan patrols looking for the marath'damane that had slipped through their grasp. Some had large, flightless birds with them that reminded me of terror birds. they let out piercing cries as they stalked the streets. I spared a thought for that older woman, the freed damane that had fled. I hoped she got away, but even if she didn't, she'd be free soon enough.

In the end, I'd just gotten up and told them we could talk about it tomorrow. That still left the matter of how to hide the two channelers. Luckily, my policy of employing refugees for my expanding business would provide the perfect cover. Exactly as intended, though I'd had Nynaeve and Elayne in mind when I'd come up with it. That, and it made me feel a little less guilty about all the people huddled in the nooks and crannies of this city.

Nobody was starving, not yet. But the Seanchan were supremely unconcerned about anybody that wasn't working.

That was why they were with me as my other employees came in that morning. The Aes Sedai looked very much like other refugees in their sheepskin coats. "Everybody, this is Abrys Mathon and Vyela Namyron. They've joined Parthun Threadery and I'd like you all to welcome them. Mistress Fys, if you could show Abrys how to work the Spinner," I said, gesturing at Sheraine. Her eyes were red and tired. "And Master Ayynar, Vyela shall assist you from now on. With another Spinner in operation, you'd run yourself ragged sorting and supplying everything. Not to mention keeping the place tidy."

The older man nodded. He'd lost an eye somewhere not too long ago and he had a Domani accent. I had my suspicions about what he'd been, but right now, he was like everybody else. He needed money and not to feel useless.

I clapped my hands. "Excellent. Then let's get to it! Master Krynelle expects delivery in two days, but I think we can surprise him and be on his doorstep tomorrow." With four Spinning Jennys in operation now, I was sure we would. "And while all of you do that, I'm going to secure us some more wool. If someone comes looking for me, you can tell them I've gone to Linen Bachagar's farm."

VVVV

I led Ayynar through the streets of Falme as he pushed the handcart through the crowd. The parts of a new Spinning Jenny had been carefully stacked on the cart and tied down. Plenty of people we passed by took an interest in it until they got a glimpse of what was beneath the linen tarp. When they realized it wasn't food or something obviously valuable, they lost interest.

The people hawking their foodstuffs from their own carts or stalls called out. They weren't competing on prices, everything had actually gotten more expensive since I'd arrived two months ago.

We got closer to the collection of buildings housing the damane when I held up a hand. "Hold on for a moment. I need to answer the call of nature," I said with an embarrassed half-smile.

Ayynar grabbed the support leg from the back of the cart and placed it so that the cart rested on it, allowing its bed to remain horizontal. Only then did he let go of the curved handles. He carefully didn't look at the buildings housing the damane or the two grolms guarding the main entrance to Lord Turak's mansion across from it. "Are you certain, boss?"

"I'm going to head back and duck into that alley we passed. But it might take me a little longer to find a good spot so here," I said, flicking him a silver penny. "Buy yourself an apple or something. Just don't lose sight of the cart."

"Oh, I'll keep half an eye on it, boss," he said, scratching his cheek just beneath his eye patch.

I hurried into the alley and kept going. There were quite a few people here as this was more a narrow side street, so I took a left again. Nobody followed me here and the stench of stale urine told me I hadn't been the first to come here for privacy. Though I had a much more important reason for it.

Looking back, I stood close to the wall. A man glanced in my direction as he passed the alley, but just as quickly looked away when he caught sight of me. As soon as he turned away my left hand dug into the wall, removing the mortar around one brick so I could turn it around and give access to the inner core of the wall. The loose fill started to move and I had to work quick to firm it up even as I dug a hollow into it.

Once done I pulled the anchor out of my pocket, silver glinting in the midday sun. I had engraved the image of a broken set of shackles on one side after I had melted the a'dam down and poured it into this shape. That symbol wasn't wholly necessary, what really made this work was the origin of its material, but it didn't hurt to put in the extra effort.

I slipped the fourth anchor into its hiding space and set about restoring the wall to its previous state; at least as far as its outer appearance went. Returning to Ayynar we resumed our journey. It was slow going, between the crowds and having to stop every time a Seanchan patrol or a noble in their palanquin passed us by.

The smell of salt and pitch greeted us as we rolled up onto the dock and headed for the Spray. We were greeted by Captain Domon's first mate, a tall, lanky man with short-cropped hair. He walked down the gangplank, wood creaking with every step. "Master Parthun, is that the rest of your cargo?"

"It is," I said, patting the linnen tarp. "Master Ayynar, please help them stow it securely."

"Will do, boss," he said as a couple of other crew members came down the gangplank.

After they passed I followed Yarin onto the ship. "There's room enough for it now. We've hauled the last of the fireworks out. Captain finally got that Seanchan lord to buy the lot."

"I suppose it's a novelty, though I'm not sure Captain Domon will have much luck selling more fireworks on a future visit. He might want to consider selling fireworks elsewhere. Or change to transporting something else."

"Like these devices of yours?" He stopped at the far side of the ship from the dock, up on the aftdeck. It gave a good view of the Seanchan ships sailing in and out of the harbor, as well as a Seafolk ship. Though the crew onboard it clearly wasn't Atha'an Miere.

"And passengers, which reminds me." I pulled out a leather map that held about 40 loose sheaves of paper. It had been tied close with a leather thong. "Could you stow this somewhere dry; and secure?"

"What is it?"

"Designs and such, explanation of how to assemble the Spinner and some other ideas I've had."

He took it with a frown. "Captain hasn't said anything about leaving today."

"No, I haven't heard anything either, but I believe in being prepared and this is too important to forget while I'm packing." I waved it away.

"Yes, you haven't told us yet how many passengers we'll carry." He gave me a hard stare as if he could delve for my secrets just with his eyes. "If we can carry you. That lord still has the captain perform for him every other day."

"Unfortunate, but I trust the captain will know when he can leave. When, for example, Lord Turak becomes too distracted by other duties to pay notice of a humble merchant."

Yarin stayed silent for a moment. "And the people you're bringing with you?"

"A party of seven, eight if you count me as well. The rest will be women, I hope that won't be a problem with your crew?"

"Just women?" Yarin looked back at Ayynar who was carrying part of the Spinning Jenny into the hold.

"Just those who don't have any roots in Falme. I don't want to bring anybody along who has any reason to stay. After all, my business couldn't survive if I brought everybody along, now could it?" I gave him a grin. "But they'll be fine in my absence." At least I hoped so. Even if things went wrong, the Seanchan shouldn't be able to link our escape back to a merchant called Andur Parthun. "I've made sure of that." I hoped I had.

Yarin took a deep breath. "I can't speak for the captain, but I'll let him know what you've said. About the passengers you want to bring along."

"Good. And please, do let me know if the captain learns of a sudden tide that could hasten our need to depart. My preparations for the journey can be completed quickly, should it be necessary."

He nodded. "I'll tell the captain you said that, too."

VVVV

A lone gull's cry echoed through the dark streets of Falme this early in the morning. People were up and about, but only a few, and most were bleary-eyed. Myself, I was actually on my way back. Placing the last anchor before dawn was a risk, but the Seanchan weren't enforcing any curfew and I had my excuse.

An early delivery to a new customer. Siad Tanche would even have confirmed that I had delivered an entire basket of thread to her. She was a one woman operation so she didn't need that much, but I sold the thread cheap. Not like it cost me much to make it.

I had to suppress a yawn, the jitters of the last few days were gone now. I was prepared, ready to strike. All that was left was the deed itself. The question now was, could I justify it to Gemiad to wait any longer?

A figure turned the corner right in front of me and almost ran into me. I stopped in shock as a young woman wearing damane gray stormed past me. With sudden clarity, I knew when I was in the books. The morning Nynaeve, Min, and Elayne would enact their escape plan.

How I hadn't come across them before-hand when I knew they'd had to have spoken to Bayle Domon these past few days, I didn't know. It didn't matter. I ran, turning the corner I didn't see them but who knew how far she had run before almost colliding with me?

Racing down the alley, I could hear it now, the sounds of someone struggling and muffled shouts. Coming out of the alley I came to a halt, so did the three young women when they caught sight of me. A fourth woman, wearing a burlap sack that covered her to the waist and underneath that the red on blue dress of a sul'dam, came to a stop when Nynaeve and someone with short hair and a Seanchan servant's dress did.

"Nynaeve, what a small world it is," I said, arms wide in welcome.

The former Wisdom blinked and stumbled over her words. "R-Ron? What are you doing here?"

"I believe the same as you," I said, walking forward.

From behind, the youngest of the three with long, red-gold hair hissed, "Nynaeve, who is this?"

"Ron Shen, a pleasure to meet you, Mistress Trakand." And while Elayne gaped at me I slammed my palm into the sul'dam's stomach and sent a jolt of lightning through her. Not enough to kill, but enough to knock her out.

I caught her and slid her the rest of the way into the burlap sack which I threw onto my back as if it were a sack of feathers. "May I invite you all to my place? I think we should talk."

"Ron," Nynaeve said quietly, stretching my name. "Why are you here?"

"Well, originally, I came to write a piece about the invasion for the Caemlyn Times."

"You write for the Caemlyn Times?" Elayne interrupted me. "Wait, you're that Ron Shen?"

"Oh, so someone in the royal family is reading our newspaper. Guess I lose that bet."

The woman that had to be Min kept one eye on me. "Nynaeve, who is he?"

"A friend. One who keeps showing up right before we go into danger," Nynaeve said, shaking her head.

"Right time, right place, a necessary skill for a journalist. But seriously, we should get going. If we wait any longer someone might come looking for your kidnap victim and that would get awkward."

I said nothing more and started walking, the others catching up only when I was tempted to look back.

"You knew we were here," Nynaeve said as she walked next to me. "And how do you know Elayne?"

"Nynaeve, do you really think nobody would notice when you, Egwene, the … daughter of Morgase, and Min over here, all disappeared? I mean, the Tower doesn't want anybody to find out, but finding out about stuff is my job."

Elayne winced and I nodded. "Yes. I really would like to know what you were thinking. Someone in your position can't just disappear for weeks. Not while you were staying outside your mother's home. Wars have started for less."

"But how? We used the," and Nynaeve gave everything else a fierce glance. A woman carrying a basket of freshly baked bread jumped when their gaze met and she quickly ducked into the nearest alley. "We used the Ways."

"I was already in Almoth Plain when you left the Tower. Combined with some other information I had, it made sense you'd been taken here to Toman's Head. But what I didn't know was that my fellow reporter is like you, Nynaeve. The Seanchan took her when we were separated."

"I'm sorry," Nynaeve said.

"As am I. As will the Seanchan be, once I'm done with them."

Those that survive, anyway.