As usual, all speech in italics is in the Old Tongue.

Interlude IV - The Competent Forsaken Sub-Committee II

The three figures faded into existence within seconds of each other. A moment later there was a flicker and the dark, empty space was replaced with a horde of lush greenery. Birds chirped amidst the fronds of tropical trees and the buzz of insects permeated the background.

Instead of standing on platforms in empty space, the three were now sitting on comfortable armchairs, incongruous in the midst of the greenery.

Demandred surveyed the scene with a certain sense of satisfaction, "well that's a bit more convivial than last time. So, Mesaana, Semirhage what updates do you have?"

Semirhage rolled her eyes at the surroundings and leaned back in her chair, "my plans continue. At the moment the focus is on the Return, it is already bringing chaos to the west of the main continent and if we can stoke the flames successfully then a full scale war will serve the Great Lord well. Whichever side wins, the Shadow will be stronger."

Mesaana on the other hand seemed more irritated than bored. "There's something going on in the Tower, I haven't quite gotten to the bottom of it yet, but I'm sure that the Amyrlin is up to something. She's a hard woman, but normally not particularly subtle so this is a change. Of course I'll be able to deal with whatever she's come up with in due course, but there may be some instability in the Tower soon. What about you Demandred?"

"Everything is going smoothly and according to plan for me. Soon I'll be exactly where I need to be. I've got a couple of irons in the fire in the central nations too, but nothing that should concern either of your interests."

"Excellent." Semirhage nodded. "So what about the others? Any news of their movements?"

Mesaana frowned, "I'm not sure it's news as such, but Asmodean has vanished. One day he was in Tar Valon going around doing his silly little shows, the next, nothing."

"Well that is interesting." Demandred sat up a bit straighter. "I'd expect Moghedien or Lanfear to just disappear on some scheme, but Asmodean was always a bit too obvious for anything like that."

Semirhage shook her head in disagreement, "I look down on him as much as any of you, but we should remember even if he is the least of us he is still one of the Chosen. Look at Aginor and Balthamel, they went off to face a farmboy and a half-trained girl, hardly comparable to any of us, and now they're both dead because they underestimated them. Mesaana, do you think maybe Asmodean might have something to do with the difficulties in the Tower? Perhaps he found what he wanted and is now acting against you there?"

"Hmm, I confess that hadn't occurred to me. A worrying thought, the so-called aes sedai of this age are a trivial concern, but one of the Chosen, even Asmodean, is much more significant." She looked up lost in thought for a moment, "well, thank you for the idea. I'll look into it and if that is what he's doing then I'll have to re-educate him." Mesaana's smile was more feral than friendly."

There was a brief silence until Semirhage spoke up, "Ishamael has moved himself to Falme where he seems to be spending time with the Return. At least that will mean less interference in the Empire itself. Last time I spoke to him he said he was waiting for 'the girls' and smiled enigmatically."

Mesaana huffed irritatedly, "well I think that explains one thing. The Tower's been awash with stories about three students running away. Two of them are from Lews Therin's village and all three are among the most powerful students they've had in centuries, not that that's saying much. I wonder if they're what Ishamael's excited about." She continued with an annoyed grimace, "if it wasn't Ishamael, we'd be having a thorough… conversation about why he should stay out of my territory. I had plans for those girls, with proper training they wouldn't have been insignificant. But… since it is Ishamael…" she trailed off to nods of understanding from the other two.

Semirhage's nod even had a tiny hint of sympathy in it, "believe me I know how irritating that man treading on your toes can be. If I could get him out of Falme I would. Still, it is a relief that he's got proper reasons for grabbing them. With his cackling about girls I was starting to worry he might be turning into another Rahvin. Not that I care what he does with the girls, you understand, but he just goes on about them so much."

That brought a look of exasperation to Demandred's face, "speaking of Rahvin, he's set himself up in Andor. It seems he's moved into the royal palace and is enjoying the queen's company, along with any other woman who comes near him."

Mesaana rolled her eyes, "well of course Rahvin chose that way to 'contribute', the Great Lord only knows how that man managed to become one of us. Is he even doing anything useful beyond banging whatever noblewomen catch his eye?" She didn't wait for an answer, shaking her head. "Of course he's not."

"Actually," Demandred replied, "I think he may be plotting something with Sammael." He held up a hand to stop their immediate denials. "I know, I know, but Sammael has definitely been visiting Caemlyn."

"But Sammael hates Rahvin nearly as much as he hates Lews Therin," protested Mesaana.

Demandred shrugged, even as his lips twisted downward at the mention of the Dragon. "That is true, but much as we all despise Rahvin we have all put up with worse when it would benefit us. I do not think we can discount it. I will keep an eye on the situation and if Sammael can actually put up with that man's idiotic preaching for more than a few minutes then so be it. We will find out what they are up to."

Semirhage gave her own shrug, "well I cannot argue with that. Have either of you spoken with Be'lal recently?" When both shook their heads she continued, "well you are not missing out on much of interest. He seems to be incapable of talking about anything other than how he is locking down the 'greatest fortification of the age'," the inverted commas were audible in her tone, "and preparing an ambush 'ready for the prophecies'. He is just refusing to even talk about anything else and when I tried to discuss coordination of the Great Lord's plans he kept asking me how I thought a Seanchan army might try to take the Stone."

"I suppose he always did like playing with soldiers, no offence meant Demandred."

Demandred waved her off. "Be'lal's one-track mind aside, any other updates?"

"One more from me," said Mesaana. "Lanfear seems to have cheered up a bit, much less of a temper on her than last time I spoke to her, so presumably something's going right for her, but I've no idea what."

Semirhage looked annoyed at that, "mmm, what about Moghedien? Do either of you know where she has been crawling around recently?"

"No one ever knows where Moghedien is until she wants them to," Demandred didn't look pleased at the fact, but neither of the other two could disagree.

Conversation trailed off after that and the three soon departed leaving the lush gardens to fade back into blackness.