Chapter XLIX - Retirement Was Boring Anyway
The gateway fizzled into nothing sending a shower of sparks through Savriti's cupboard.
What in the Light?! Cadsuane stared, speechless for a second then realisation hit her. Wards! She cursed silently to herself. One of the Forsaken must be here. Not unexpected if she engaged her brain, something she had apparently been failing to do in recent times, but still a terrifying thought. Taija was bad enough and the woman was fundamentally nice.
She was already assessing her options. Iron-hard eyes flickering around the room. This was not a good situation.
She could just walk out the way she had come, but now she had another aes sedai bound and gagged behind her. Without Savriti it would be easy, but Light damn her, after going to this effort she was not going to leave her behind. The taint was more important and if she left Savriti now then there was no way she would ever get another chance at this. It would have to be the hard way.
She turned to face her friend, possibly former friend now. "Well Savriti, it seems things are not going entirely to plan. I truly am sorry, but this is more important than your dignity or even my life."
Cadsuane turned to the door, floating Savriti behind her and ignoring the woman's furious facial expressions. There was no way that she would be getting out of the Tower without incident at this point, but the longer she could delay it the better her chances. Perhaps, if she ran into the right people she could enlist their support instead of fighting them. Unconsciously she reached up to touch the ornaments hanging from her hair. It seemed some of her secrets might be revealed too. Despite her anger at her own foolishness, there was a certain exhilaration to it. Retirement, tending to her roses, that was just waiting to die. This was living! Not that she would ever admit it to anyone, but Light she had missed the rush!
With a thought, Cadsuane wove the mask of mirrors around Savriti, overlaying the image of a large case on her, making the threads as small and fine as possible. She had at least been doing rather more practice on precision weaving recently. It would not convince anyone who looked too closely, but it would likely deflect the attention of any non-channelers and the lazier or less skilled among the aes sedai.
Enough procrastinating. She took one last look around the room for anything potentially useful. The sooner she started the sooner she would be out of the Tower and the last thing she wanted was to delay for long enough that people started to wake.
As she removed the weaves around Savriti's door and glided out into the corridor Cadsuane looked as composed as ever, but someone who knew her well might have noticed the faint tightening around her eyes and lips, the way that her eyes scanned back and forth.
Cadsuane had only been moving for two or three minutes when she first encountered somebody. An aes sedai came hurrying up the corridor heading towards the Red Ajah quarters. It took her a moment to work out who it was. Danelle. The dreamy brown was not the worst person she could have encountered, but perhaps not the best either. Hopefully she would just go past.
Indeed Danelle barely seemed to shoot her a glance until they had almost reached each other. Oddly enough there was no recognition in her eyes, surely her head was not that far into the clouds? Then she suddenly came to a halt, her eyes flicking from Cadsuane to the 'case' floating in the air behind her.
"Danelle," Cadsuane nodded to her, not breaking her step, conscious of the way saidar glowed around her.
Danelle frowned. "What are you…" Cadsuane had no warning, the light of saidar never sprung up around Danelle. However, suddenly, there were flows of spirit a razor sharp shield flying towards her. Strong. Far too strong.
The crescent moons went cold enough that she could feel it even without them quite touching her forehead. Danelle's weave dissolved around her.
Cadsuane did not wait, she was already channeling. There was no need to worry about the Three Oaths. This was not Danelle, it could not be. Hiding her ability to channel, such strength. She did not hesitate. Adrenaline flooded through her. Taija had beaten her, but she had been thinking about that, how to deal with any rematch. Now she would see how one of the Forsaken compared. Weaves of fire and air sprung from Cadsuane ripping through the space between them, the air burning around her.
With a jolt the weaves snapped back into her, severed. Cadsuane suppressed a wince at bad memories and redoubled her assault. Fire shrieked towards the imposter, the ground under her feet came apart and blades of air sliced at her. Yet the Forsaken casually deflected everything Cadsuane could throw at her, even while directing her own weaves at Cadsuane, only to see them vanish.
Cadsuane immediately tried to force the woman into a link, but as with Taija, nothing happened. Not unexpected, but still a pity.
This might be worse than with Taija. Cadsuane was still not sure how strong Taija actually was, the woman's secrecy was infuriating, but she already suspected whoever was impersonating Danelle was stronger, noticeably so. She must have an angreal, but then she was fairly sure Taija did too. No one could be that strong naturally.
She allowed weaves to strike her where she judged they would not be a danger, ignoring the cold above her forehead and focused on cutting weaves directed into the air around her or the stone beneath her feet. Thank the Light this woman did not seem to have Taija's infuriating habit of inverting her weaves.
Cadsuane wove, razor sharp air, desiccating weaves of air, water and spirit, simple fire. She carefully did not attack the Forsaken, because that was what she must be, with anything indirect. For now the woman seemed to be struggling with her ter'angreal and she absolutely did not want to give her any ideas.
The floor under her feet shook, the whole Tower seeming to vibrate from a deflected weave and Cadsuane staggered forward. Even with her ter'angreal she could not match this woman. Still, she had ideas, she was no helpless prey for one of the Forsaken to scoop up.
Saidar flashed between them and the woman sneered, "is that a paralis net that you're wearing little 'aes sedai'? It won't save you." She sounded nothing like Danelle, it was a similar accent to Taija's, all harsh consonants, although in this case the emphasis seemed different. No doubt then, one of the Forsaken.
Cadsuane forced herself to smile, allowing an explosion of fire against the wall to make her stagger, bringing her closer. So much strength, but this woman was not truly a fighter. She could already tell. Taija had been, despite every sign she gave off, this Forsaken was not. "No doubt, eventually you would overwhelm me, through sheer strength, certainly little else." Excellent, a flash of anger in the woman's eyes, she was more controlled than Taija, but nothing compared to the women Cadsuane regularly dealt with.
Cadsuane's voice was completely level, small twitches the only sign of the cut weaves snapping back into her. Suddenly gongs and bells began to ring around the Tower, perfect. "However, you are on a time limit. How will it affect your plans if dreamy Danelle is found wielding so much of the Power in a duel with me?"
The Forsaken's eyes widened slightly and the vigour of her assault redoubled. "I'll have long enough. I'll have you worshipping at my feet as I make you kill your closest friends!"
A block of stone ripped from the wall behind Cadsuane and slammed into her. That would have crippled her if not for her six pointed star ter'angreal. Instead the impact shoved her painfully forward, but pain was an inconvenience. It did not matter now.
Cadsuane's own weaves superheated the air around the Forsaken and were almost immediately cut, but she was nearly close enough. A smooth step forward and she was almost there.
The Forsaken's eyes widened and with terrifying speed all five elements came together in front of her. An instant later a blinding beam of light connected her to Cadsuane and vanished, the threads making it up dissolving to nothing. Balefire, it must have been!
Cadsuane did not give her a moment to recover, ignoring the purple after-image flashing across her eyes. One last step and she was close enough. Idiot woman. With a loud crack Cadsuane's forehead met the Forsaken's nose.
With a howl of pain the woman fell over backwards clutching her face. Definitely not a fighter. Impressively she kept her hold on saidar, but was distracted for long enough for Cadsuane to direct a vicious kick into her face and another. She should have worn proper shoes not these slippers!
At the same time Cadsuane continued to throw weaves down at the woman, nearly landing them through her frantic defence. Channelers, particularly women, never expected you to get physical, not even Taija had, and with her six pointed star ter'angreal Cadsuane was hardly afraid of being hit herself.
Cadsuane raised her foot for another kick to the Forsaken's blood covered face when two huge slabs ripped out of the floor, slamming into her and throwing her back down the corridor. Ah. The Forsaken had finally started to think. Still, it had been a good try.
They both clambered to their feet. For all her bravado, Cadsuane was in pain. She was an old woman and her body was reminding her of that right now. If she was lucky enough to survive this she would be paying for it for a while. The Forsaken on the other hand was covered in blood, Cadsuane suspected she had broken her nose. Hopefully removed some of her teeth as well.
Rage painted her enemy's face and she looked like she was about to say something, but then there was the sound of running feet and shouting coming down the corridor.
"Oh dear." Cadsuane smiled through her pain. "It appears that your time is up. What will it be? Revenge or discovery? You must have spent a lot of time working on your plans here. It would be a pity to see them fall apart just because of me."
The Forsaken hesitated for a second and then turned and ran.
Excellent. Cadsuane resisted the urge to clutch at her back. Now for the rest. First though, she turned back to Savriti, letting the illusion around her fade. "You saw that. Are you willing to cooperate now? It would make things considerably easier for both of us."
Unfortunately the fool woman just had anger in her eyes and seemed to be trying to shout through the gag of air. A pity, she always had had a bit of a temper. Perhaps once she had had time to process what she had seen. Cadsuane rewove the illusion around her and started on her way again, choosing a different path to the Forsaken's. Hopefully she could avoid the people coming to investigate too.
To her mild surprise Cadsuane actually managed to make it most of the way out of the Tower proper before anyone tried to stop her. She was approaching one of the smaller entrances when the a pair of aes sedai appeared from around a corner and came to a shocked halt at the sight of her.
"Cadsuane, what are you doing here? I thought you were dead." Vonayne was a green of middling strength. With her was Hattori Gatano.
Cadsuane offered them a polite nod. "Vonayne, Hattori. I am afraid rumours of my demise are somewhat exaggerated and I have come out of retirement. If you are looking for the commotion, I believe it came from that way." Cadsuane gestured behind herself. "I would accompany you, but I have urgent business that must take priority over every other concern."
Instinctive deference to Cadsuane's strength and reputation had both aes sedai moving almost before they thought about it. Then Hattori paused, glancing at the illusion floating behind Cadsuane. "Why are you holding the Power? What is it that you are trying to sneak out of the Tower?"
Cadsuane had to give the woman some credit, it must have taken courage to be so blunt. Yet she did not have time for this. Every second of further delay reduced the odds of success. "You question the affairs of another sister Hattori. Have standards fallen so far since I was last here?"
Unfortunately the woman did not back down. "There have been statements from the Amyrlin, rumours. I think it would be better if you waited here with us. Just for safety."
With her reference to Elaida's proclamations she skirted dangerously close to suggesting the Black Ajah might be among the aes sedai! To suggesting Cadsuane might be involved. Of course the former was true, even if the latter was not, but it was shocking that she would go so far.
"Are you implying…?" Cadsuane allowed false outrage to enter her voice. Unfortunately she had no time to convince these women. She struck. Shields easily sliding into place on both of them.
Fools, if they had truly suspected her they should have been holding saidar. She bound them with air and shifted them to a side corridor where they would hopefully remain out of sight, before tying the weaves off. "Fortunate for you that I am not Black Ajah, but they do walk among us. Next time you suspect someone is a member, perhaps take more precautions." Cadsuane patted Hattori's cheek and turned to leave. Someone would find them soon enough.
The next problem came when Cadsuane reached the courtyard outside the Tower, so close to freedom. She had encountered a few Tower Guards on her path, but they had done no more than bow and continue on their way. Of course, no man in Tar Valon would defy an aes sedai.
The real problem was the three aes sedai who came running into the open space in front of her, skirts hiked indecently above their ankles. They were led by Alviarin, was she not Elaida's keeper now? The light of saidar glowed around all of them.
"Cadsuane Melaidhrin, stop! You are under arrest by order of the Amyrlin. Release saidar now!"
Cadsuane kept walking, closing the distance between them. "No, I do not believe I will." Alviarin at least was quite strong, together they might be able to overwhelm her. If not for her ter'angreal. Of course she could not use the Power as a weapon against these women, not now, not without the certainty that they were Black Ajah. Not that she wished to. Still, she had other tools.
The crescent moons went cold and weaves of air and spirit vanished around her. Well that secret was likely already out of the bag. No matter.
Cadsuane channeled, her own weaves of air and spirit cutting off Inene, the weakest of the three women, from the Power. Too easy with her angreal. She wove a touch of air, fire and spirit around herself and her voice boomed out, unnaturally loud. "Elaida is either mad or a darkfriend. I have just fought one of the Forsaken, disguised as Danelle, in the Tower grounds. Any sister who aids Elaida turns her back on the Light."
Cadsuane jerked as the weave was cut, a look of thunderous fury on Alviarin's face. "How dare you!"
The two remaining aes sedai were strong, certainly, but nothing compared to Cadsuane and her ter'angreal. She started to think she might actually manage this when more women came running into the courtyard. The glow of saidar bright around them. Four of them were linked, a truly powerful shield dissolved against her ter'angreal a second later.
This was untenable. She would have to reveal her greatest secret. Cadsuane's lips turned down in distaste, but still, what was the point of having a trump card if you did not use it when it was needed? She focused her mind on the sharp-finned fish dangling among her ter'angreal and released the shields around Savriti and Inene.
First Alviarin, she was strongest. Cadsuane pulled through the ter'angreal and suddenly she could feel Alviarin in front of her. That bundle of sensation told her satisfaction was suddenly turning to dawning horror. Next was Alviarin's other companion. Then Savriti and Inene, released from their shields embraced saidar too. Perfect. Another thought and there they were.
Cadsuane drew on saidar, pulling through the four other women, their strength added to hers. With contemptuous ease she batted aside another attempt at shielding her. Another two women had joined the link facing her. That made six. It would not be enough.
Still walking towards the exit Cadsuane cut her opponents' weaves and wove her own attacks, carefully avoiding anything she considered to be a weapon. Shields, bindings of air, painful switches to distract. Nothing truly dangerous. It was frustrating fighting with one hand tied behind her back, but regardless she had no desire to hurt other sisters.
Another two sisters came running into the courtyard, drawn no doubt by the feel of huge amounts of saidar being channeled. Cadsuane pulled them in too with a thought. Seven in total, including her own strength. It was enough, she forced a shield into place on the linked sisters. She had never channeled so much of saidar. It was incredible. The light of saidar winked out around them and Cadsuane turned to leave. There was no one left to stop her.
Just as she reached the gate that marked the edge of the White Tower's grounds she felt it. A huge weight of power behind her. Oversized threads of air slammed the gate shut in front of her and as she turned she saw what she feared. A full circle of sisters, led by Seaine. She had been so close! Already they were throwing the Power towards her, huge weaves, more powerful than she could hope to counter for long. Unless…
Cadsuane released the shields on the sisters who had been in the original link. As she frantically fended off the circle she watched from the corner of her eye as they gasped and reached for saidar. The second they embraced it, she had them. Pulling them into her link. Eight. Nine. Ten. They had no idea what she was doing, just ambling straight into her trap. Eleven. Twelve. The last of them embraced saidar and Cadsuane had thirteen now. A full circle of her own.
It was a heady feeling channeling so much of saidar. Fire blossomed around her and she pushed the weave away almost casually. Still, she could not stay and fight. Cadsuane wove air and spirit, throwing them at the other circle, more to keep them distracted than with the aim of hurting them. Even if they had decided she was a darkfriend, she was still bound by the Three Oaths.
Then with a thought she gripped the very walls around the gatehouse and pulled. Earth, air and fire came together and with a groan a section of the Tower's walls came away, ripped into the air above the courtyard. Cadsuane was already running, using the women in the link's own strength to bind them in air and pull them with her.
The women attacking her seemed to have paused, staring slack jawed at the groaning, creaking mass of stone hovering in the air. With a thought she threw it behind her, careful not to hit the other aes sedai and wove a complicated and ostentatious, but completely useless ward behind it. They would be scared of causing more damage to the Tower and cautious of what she had left behind the rubble. It would take them a little while to get past that.
Now she needed to steal a horse, fast. Then she could decide when she was going to release her "companions". She would need to be sure she was both out of sight and free of the wards before she tried to Travel again. Taija had better be suitably grateful for this!