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

Chapter LXXVI - An Unexpected Letter

Tel idly watched the stranger heading towards Taija. She was nearby speaking with Taim who'd pulled her off her work helping with construction.

Taim… In an ideal world he'd have sent the man packing. He was unpleasant, had entirely the wrong attitude for an aes sedai and seemed to take pleasure in making people uncomfortable. However, he was also very strong. As strong as Tel himself. There was also the fact that he could hardly turn someone away on the basis of their past deeds, he allowed himself a wry smile at that. Anyway, ultimately it wasn't his choice. He'd promised himself never to seek power or glory again and he was keeping that promise. The decision was Taija's, she was in charge.

As it kept doing, when he thought of her, his mind went back to recent events. He'd been more than surprised at Taija's willingness to return him to being aes sedai. Perhaps it had been the wrong decision, he didn't really think he deserved it. If it had been anyone else deciding he'd have refused it. He knew if he'd tried that with her she'd have given him the exasperated look she always gave when he did something she thought was stupid and inconvenient. It would be 'for fuck's sake Tel, just do as your told' and then he'd do as he was told and she'd be upset because the ceremony had been ruined. Better to just avoid the middle step and do as he was told.

Still, while that afternoon had probably been the best single moment of the last 11 or 12 years, well except perhaps for when he gave her Lanfear's head, it was still bittersweet.

It was Rand's tendency to bend the pattern around him that had made him blurt out what he'd said about his greatest desire, but it was true all the same. What he really wanted was for her to be happy. To be able to smile again. She'd always been so cheerful, playful during their time. Bouncing from place to place, throwing herself into games, even occasional pranks. He didn't think he'd actually seen Taija laugh in the entire time he'd spent serving Rand.

His presence now couldn't be helping. She could accept that he'd moved on it seemed, believe that he was redeemable, which was another weight taken off the stack weighing him down. But he also knew she believed in duty and doing the right thing, above her own comfort. She'd accept that, restore his status, even work with him, while it ate her up inside. He wanted to just grab her and tell her everything would be ok, that she was allowed to be happy, that he didn't matter anymore. Yet he knew exactly how helpful that would really be. If only he'd done the right thing and died like the rest of the aes sedai.

Tel gave himself a shake. That wasn't a spiral he wanted to go down.

He could see from Taija's body language that she was getting more and more irritated with Taim. Not surprising. The man clearly had issues with female channelers. Understandable. Perhaps. But it pissed him off to see Taim taking it out on Taija. He wouldn't intervene, she was more than capable of putting Taim in his place without him jumping in, but it was still frustrating.

His eyes went back to the stranger heading towards them. There was something slightly off about him. Tel seized saidin and strode over. It was just a feeling, but better to be close.

As the man reached Taija he gave a low bow and handed her something. She'd be fine, if there was any danger she'd deal with it. She was certainly faster at spinning than he was.

As soon as he'd handed whatever it was over, the man turned to leave without a word. There was clearly something going on so Tel quickened his pace while Taim stood there looking bored.

As Tel reached them, Taija unfolded the object she'd been given to reveal a letter. Her eyes widened as she read it before her mouth thinned in a mixture of disgust and anger. A moment later she looked up and then wordlessly handed it to him.

Dear Professor Kosola,

I know that due to the misfortune of historic events we find ourselves on opposing sides of this sad conflict. However, as a fellow scientist who, like you, understands the importance of expanding the boundaries of human knowledge, I wished to extend to you my unreserved congratulations.

Your recent achievements were beyond impressive and I was honoured to be a witness to them. Like you I have suffered under the constraints of this time, struggling against the lack of resources, infrastructure and basic technology. Your ability to overcome that and to devise a way to change the world for the better was exquisite.

In better times I would look forward to corresponding with you on how you managed to achieve what you did, but sadly I believe that will not be an option here. I shall try not to dwell on yet another of life's disappointments.

As you will no doubt be aware, I joined the Shadow because of the Light's narrow-minded refusal to allow scientific progress. However, my true allegiance is and always will be to the expansion of human knowledge and achievement and you, Professor Kosola, have trumped all possible expectations in that field. Your achievements were well known in our time and you were as deserving as any of us of your third name, but what you have done here and now. It was something different. I congratulate you and I envy you.

I think you are the only one of this time who would truly understand me and, if things had been different, perhaps we could have done great things together. As it is, I wish you all the best in your reclaiming of Tel Janin. I cannot say the man is to my taste or that I had thought anything would turn him from his monomanical quest for revenge, but I am not a churlish man. A towering exemplar of achievement like you deserves to have what you want and I congratulate you on your success in that endeavour.

Sadly the next time we meet I expect we shall have to try to kill each other, but please do know that, whatever the outcome of that, I hold you in the highest respect.

Yours sincerely

Ishar Morrad Chuain (Professor)

Tel glanced over at Taija who still seemed to be deciding whether to be disgusted or furious and tried hard to clamp down on the amusement bubbling up inside him. It was one of the most ridiculous things he'd ever read. Of course Taija was angry, he could see why she would be utterly furious at the comparisons Aginor had made between them, at the man even daring to write to her. But at the same time it really was very very funny.

The idea that she had played some sort of long game to seduce him back into her bed. That was… well he didn't find it funny and he could entirely understand why she was livid there.

In the end he settled for handing it back to her. "That was… unexpected."

She took it without answering and a moment later it burst into flames before she stalked off.

Taim looked curiously after her, his contemptuous sneer momentarily forgotten. "What was that all about then?"

Tel gave gave him a slightly unfriendly smile. "It seems that Aginor had decided to send a letter of congratulations to Taija for successfully cleansing the taint on saidin."

It would have taken a better man than him not to enjoy the stunned look on Taim's face as he strode away a faint smile on his lips.

Then he stopped dead. Hadn't Rand killed Aginor?!