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

Interlude XIV - The Competent Forsaken Sub-Committee III

The three figures were sitting in an empty void of absolute blackness, each on a huge wooden armchair that wouldn't have looked out of place in an opulent reading room. This time there was no preamble or small talk.

"What the fuck is going on?" Demandred sounded furious.

Semirhage gave him a look. "No need to be so aggressive, to be honest I have not got much to report since last time. We are preparing for another return to the main continent, I have been…"

Demandred cut her off. "No. I mean in the main continent, the western nations. Ishamael."

"You are going to have to enlighten me." Semirhage sounded resigned to another of his rants.

"Fine," Demandred brought his temper back under control after a momentary struggle. "Firstly, Lews Therin has taken the Stone of Tear, proclaimed himself the Dragon Reborn."

"Hardly unexpected," Semirhage replied. "All part of the plan I thought."

"Not part of Be'lal's plan though and now he's dead. So are almost all of the black sisters that Ishamael sent there." Mesaana's acidic tone suggested she wasn't delighted by that.

"Were there not there thirteen of them?" Demandred sounded like he genuinely was not sure, an unusual occurrence. "Surely that would have been enough to deal with the boy, even with assistance."

"Yes, emphasis on the were. I've struggled to piece together exactly what happened, but it seems Ishamael neglected to inform them about Taija Kosola being alive." A deep scowl marred Mesaana's face.

"Ah," Semirhage nodded sagely. "So she with the backing of this time's aes sedai overwhelmed them, I suppose anyone from our time would be an unfortunate force multiplier."

"Right, so that is one thing," Demandred had no intention of being deterred. "But not entirely surprising. The so-called aes sedai fucked around and they found out, if that woman can be a threat to the weaker Chosen," he clearly did not include himself in that, "then she is hardly going to struggle with them."

"Fine, but you would not be so worked up about that. You are not even involved with the Black Ajah." Semirhage frowned, "so what is it that is worrying you?"

Demandred sneered, "little worries me Semirhage. However, this is something I think should worry all of us. My sources tell me Ishamael is dead, Sammael too and no explanation for it." He glanced at both women. "If that does not worry you then I do not know what would. Similar methods too, that manor that Ishamael likes to use as a retreat, obliterated in fire. For Sammael, the apartments he kept in Illian, exactly the same. Neither of them have been seen since."

Semirhage choked off a surprised exclamation. "You are telling me that someone managed to kill both Ishamael and Sammael by blowing up their homes? Is this some kind of joke?"

"No joke. Do I look like I'm smiling. Be'lal was… well not unexpected, but two more of us in a matter of weeks? I do not think any of the backwards channelers from this Age could do it. Even Lews Therin is a half-trained boy," he sneered at the name. "Taija Kosola could do it, in theory, we all know about Falme, but she would have had no way of finding Ishamael or Sammael and if they did not have appropriate wards I will eat my sword. I think we all agree she is not on the level to do it through more conventional means." He winced at the idea, "I do not think any of us would be stupid enough to try to kill Ishamael with the Power and Sammael was hardly an easy target either, the man specialises, specialised, in elaborate defences." He paused. "Why are you smiling Mesaana, this isn't funny."

Mesaana's smile widened. "No it isn't, although I can't say I'm sorry to see some of the competition eliminated. However, I'm smiling because I know something you don't." She sat back folding her arms smugly.

There was a long pause, broken eventually by Semirhage's exasperated voice. "Fine. Please could you tell us what you know Mesaana?"

Mesaana grinned, "there politeness isn't so hard is it? You always said I was wasting my time speaking with Moghedien. That she's practically useless in this Age, but you forget the strength in the Power isn't everything and while she may not have her old network she still makes it her business to know what's going on. Now, I can't confirm any of this, but she told me that Taija Kosola was indeed involved with Be'lal's death, which is hardly surprising, she seems to have attached herself to Lews Therin." She paused to consider, "although I don't remember her ever spending much time with him before or during the War. I suppose none of us really knew her though."

"Maybe she is just clinging for whatever security she can? It is not like she was ever much of a player in the game after all." Demandred offered.

The other two shrugged at that, it was probably true. "Anyway, the more interesting thing is a woman who exactly matches Graendal's description was seen around Sammael's apartments immediately before they exploded."

"So you think Graendal is making a play to remove the competition?" Semirhage leant forward. "I am almost surprised she could tear herself away from her pleasures to be honest. I also do not see how she could have taken on Ishamael."

This time Mesaana shrugged. "I don't know, perhaps he was injured by Lews Therin. Again. But…" she smiled conspiratorially, "a little spider did tell me that Graendal has been summoned to Shayol Ghul to explain herself."

Both Semirhage and Demandred looked perturbed at the idea. Certainly not out of any sympathy for Graendal, but it was not an idea any of the Chosen would be comfortable with.

"Well I for one will be fascinated to see what kind of a state she is in when she comes back." Despite his causal words Demandred looked pensive. "It seems that the Shadow may have just lost three, potentially four, of the Chosen. Ultimately the chaff will be weeded out, but in the short term this does severely weaken our position. We may need to take more proactive action."

"I suppose with Ishamael out of the picture we can take off the kid gloves with Lews Therin." Semirhage's comment was casual, but she watched Demandred brighten up at the thought.

"A good point, but we will need to take care. He should not be underestimated and he's surrounding himself with other channelers who are not insignificant." Mesaana spoke with the tired voice of someone who felt themselves having to be the voice of reason all to often. "Do you want to go after him and find yourself with Taija Kosola spinning balefire behind you? Or go after her and find Lews Therin is there? Or a circle of thirteen of this Age's aes sedai? He may just be an untrained boy at the moment, but he also seems to have managed to defeat both Aginor and Ishamael unassisted and walked straight through one of Be'lal's nets."

"Hmph," Demandred just snorted, but he was never going to do more than that to admit that she was correct. "Very well, we all have much to think on. Until next time?" He did not wait for their nods before vanishing.