As usual speech in italics is in the Old Tongue.
Chapter XXXVI - Unpleasant Discoveries
Despite what Taija had said about its dangers Egwene kept on finding herself in Tel'aran'rhiod. She could normally stop herself from going there when she fell asleep, Taija's advice had worked, if only partially, but that didn't stop her desire to explore her new found abilities.
She was very sure Taija hadn't meant to implicitly encourage her to visit more, but her explanation of how things worked there made everything so much easier. Egwene still struggled to control her clothing and surroundings, but just knowing that it was a matter of will and focus at least gave her something to work on.
Tonight she decided she was going to look at the Aiel Waste. She wanted to see where these strange people had come from. Elayne had told her some of what she knew about it, but much of it seemed to be beyond credibility.
She closed her eyes and focused, bringing her desire to see the Waste to the forefront of her mind. A flicker and she found herself somewhere else. Small, scrub-like plants were dotted around, but most of what she saw was just achingly dry dirt. Most, except for the woman dressed like the Aiel maiden-warriors stalking towards a boar, spear in hand.
Egwene must have made a sound because the woman suddenly froze and looked towards her. She waited a moment, expecting the woman to vanish like everyone else here seemed to, but instead she raised her spear and took a step towards her.
"Wait, wait I mean you no harm." she gasped the words out, the woman looked like she was about to launch the spear straight through her. Egwene focused for a second, transforming her clothes into Aiel ones to match what the woman wore.
Her reward was a look of distaste, "you have no right to wear cadin'sor girl." The woman didn't do anything, but Egwene's clothes vanished leaving her standing there naked as the day she was born! Outrage flared in her and with a thought she brought her own clothes back, the dress she'd been wearing before though not the cadan'ser, and made the other woman's disappear.
With a suddenly wary frown the Aiel woman brought her own clothes back, different now though a white blouse and brown skirts. "Are you from the White Tower? I am Amys of the Nine Valleys Sept of the Taardad Aiel."
Was this one of the Aiel's wise ones? "You're a wise one? Of of course you are! And you're a dreamer!" She mastered her excitement and put on her most composed face. "I am Egwene al'Vere…" She breathed in nervously. "I am aes sedai."
She noticed a flicker of something in Amys' face. "What are you doing here Egwene al'Vere?"
"I was," Egwene tried to sound confident and serene, like Moiraine always did. "I was exploring Tel'aran'rhiod, seeking to learn its mysteries."
Amys gave her a flat look. "You may be aes sedai, but in the World of Dreams you are an arrogant child. You should not be here."
"I admit I am only starting to learn its secrets, you could be of great assistance." Egwene tried not to sound too eager.
Amys snorted, "I cannot teach you here. If you wish to learn you will learn properly. Come to the Three-fold Land. I can be found at Cold Rocks Hold. I will spread word through the clans that an aes sedai named Egwene al'Vere may have safe passage. I am at Rhuidean now, but I will have returned by the time you can be there."
Egwene resisted the urge to gasp with excitement instead settling for a dignified nod. "Thank you Amys; however, I can be at Rhuidean or Cold Rocks Hold within a day or two, may I come to you at Rhuidean?"
Amys frowned at her, "the city of Rhuidean is off limits to all outsiders. To enter it without permission is death." After a second she seemed to relent though, "but I will show you my camp near the city, you may come to me there as long as you give me your word you will not attempt to go to Rhuidean itself. Aes sedai cannot lie, correct?"
Egwene nodded quickly, "yes, you have my word!"
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Deep in the bowels of the Stone Taija once more stood in the dark, dingy room full of almost useless ter'angreal looking up at the twisted red stone doorway. She didn't know anywhere near as much as she'd like about this, but she knew enough. She needed answers.
No frivolous questions, no questions that touched on the Shadow. Such simple rules, but she'd heard enough about what happened to people who broke them, whether accidentally or deliberately. Taija shuddered, if she wasn't so far out of her depth, flailing around without any real purpose beyond misery there'd be no way she'd risk this.
There were good reasons why she'd sat the girls down before coming here and explained what she was going to do and exactly how dangerous it was. She'd also strictly forbidden them from going through the doorway even if they were inclined to do so, which they'd insisted they weren't.
With a deep breath Taija stepped through the doorway. For an infinite moment all she saw was blinding light then suddenly she was in a large chamber, lit by what might be electric lights with strange columns twisting up to support the ceiling.
Taija took another deep breath. She'd already decided on the questions she was going to ask, but in her time there'd been a whole group of experts dedicated to this. Before anyone was allowed through the doorway their questions would be vetted, double-checked for their own protection. Even then it still wasn't considered safe. Not just any idiot was allowed to go in and ask whatever they felt like. Today, circumstances forced her to be that idiot.
She jumped when she heard a sibilant, reedy voice speak behind her. Even as Taija whirled to face it she stopped herself from embracing saidar. She had to be careful there, she thought she knew the rules, but really all she knew was from reading a couple of academic articles on the doorways which were rather more focused on the physics of it all than the treaties with the Aelfinn. She probably knew more about the strange ways space and time were twisted there than she did about the rules of interacting with the Aelfinn. The risks of getting something wrong were terrifyingly high.
One of the Aelfinn stood before her, black slit eyes, elongated form, just like the pictures. "It has been a long time and yet once again seekers come to us." Taija was sure she could see movement out of the corner of your eye among the columns. "Good. You have brought no lamps, no torches, as the agreement was, and is, and ever will be. You have no iron? No instruments of music?" Its accent was distinctly odd.
Taija nearly asked who else had been through the doorway and then remembered herself, "no I have none. I am here for answers, take me to where I can receive them." Her words were measured, careful, but her heart was pounding in her chest.
The Aelfinn gestured for Taija to follow and began to walk. She hurried after him. This place have her the shivers. It seemed to be a gigantic palace, but there was something badly wrong with everything. Buildings curved impossibly, there were no straight lines, everything was twisted. Despite her discomfort Taija half wished she could spend a week there with a proper research team, the basics were well understood, but there was so much more to discover! Of course the Aelfinn would never allow that.
Eventually her guide brought her to a large, ornate archway, its carved form uncomfortable to even look at and gestured inside. "Your answers lie within." Before turning to leave he leant in, opened his mouth wide and inhaled at her. It was deeply uncomfortable, reminding her a bit too much of the first time she met Ared Mosinel and Taija had to clamp down on the urge to throw him away from her with the Power.
Suppressing a shudder she stepped through the archway. Mosaics formed strange patterns in the floor, ones that made her feel nauseous when she tried to look at them. However, what was important was the three spiralled pedestals in front of her.
One of the Aelfinn sat on top of each them, clad in faded robes. "Welcome questioner, it has been a long time. Ask according to the ancient agreement, ask." They spoke together.
Taija gave herself a nod and recited her first question. "Thank you for your guidance honoured Aelfinn. My first question is, how can I best help Rand al'Thor and Aleksi Durcaral to learn to channel saidin safely?"
One of the articles she'd read had said that trying to "lawyer" questions to force an overly specific answer would often be treated as frivolous by the Aelfinn, so she was trying to keep her questions simple and to the point.
"You must allow yourself to be blind." The first of Aelfinn, on the lefthand pedestal, spoke without hesitation. A deep bell tolled somewhere nearby and the three Aelfinn inhaled sharply.
Taija inclined her head in thanks, despite having no idea what they meant by that. She'd think about it later. "My second question is, how can I best help Egwene al'Vere to learn to dreamwalk safely?"
This time it was the Aelfinn on the middle pedestal that answered immediately. "The young bird must be permitted to fly the nest." The bell tolled a second time and once more they breathed in, shivering in apparent pleasure.
Again Taija nodded her thanks, thoroughly creeped out. That answer was much clearer, unusually so in fact. She strongly suspected it meant Egwene would get an opportunity and she'd need to let her take it without interference.
Taija's final question was the most difficult to decide on, there had been a few options. In the end though she'd decided she needed people you could rely on. Both for her own good and to help with the Light.
"My final question is, who is the most powerful aes sedai that I would safely learn to trust with my life?"
The lights seemed to flicker for a second and all three Aelfinn lean forward, their eyes black slits. The room suddenly felt far more oppressive. Terror spiked within her. Taija had thought this would be a safe question, avoiding any mention of the Black Ajah and being wide enough not just to be seen as an attempt at getting round it, but she hadn't been completely sure…
There was a silence that drew out for agonising seconds until the third Aelfinn broke it. "Tread carefully Seeker of Mysteries." His voice was a low, angry hiss. "You shall see her stand, untouched by your wrath, yet anger may lead to trust." The bell tolled a third time and once again they inhale.
"Thank you for your forbearance," Taija apologised carefully, trying not to shiver at how close she just came to the line. She'd read enough about some of the consequences they could inflict just for trying to get around their rules to have absolutely no desire to try.
"Your questions have been answered. Leave." All three turned their backs on her, their displeasure obvious and four more Aelfinn seemed to appear around Taija out of nowhere, quickly hustling her out of the room. It was clear that they wanted her gone. They weren't friendly when she'd arrived, but now she was met by scowls and practically having to jog to avoid being shoved by them. Taija's journey out of the strange palace was far more direct than her entrance and before she knew it she was stumbling out of the doorway back into the dingy room.
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A couple of days after her visit to the doorway Egwene stayed to talk to Taija after a lesson with the other girls, looking nervous about something.
Taija hoped it was nothing serious. She already had a lot on her mind. In particular, she was worried about Elayne, she hadn't taken Mat's revelations about Lord Gaebril at all well. Taija had her suspicions about who he was and she was starting to think about a suitable way to deal with him if they were correct, but that was small comfort for Elayne.
How could it be? How could someone deal with being told that their mother might be in the hands of one of the Forsaken and that if they tried to rescue her the most likely outcome was that they would be gracing the monstrous man's bed in turn? Taija tried not to shudder at the thought and gave Egwene her attention.
"What's bothering you Egwene, I can see something is." She gave her an encouraging smile.
Egwene looked nervously at her feet. "I've been invited to go to Rhuidean."
"What exactly is Rhuidean and who has invited you?" Taija was a little confused, but a suspicion was growing in her.
"It's a place in the Aiel Waste, I've been invited there by a Wise One to learn how to dreamwalk."
Of course she had. "How exactly did you receive this invitation?" Taija's voice was dry.
"I… met her in the Unseen World." At least she had the decency to blush. Taija wanted to groan at her headstrong idiocy. Light save her from teenagers who thought they were invincible.
"I see." Taija let her stew for a long moment, but she could hardly forget the second answer she got from the Aelfinn. The only one that seemed to make any sense. "You do realise how foolish you were? I'm disappointed in you for ignoring my advice." Her face fell.
"I'm sorry Taija sedai."
Taija sighed, "but you do need a teacher to learn to dreamwalk, as you clearly don't have the self-discipline to restrain yourself. We're going to have a good talk about this and about making sure you're safe there, but I will allow you to go."
It went against every instinct she had to let her run off to Light knows where. The easy solution would be for Taija to go with her, it would be an adventure for the other two to see this Aiel Waste, but the Aelfinn's words echoed back in her head. Taking the nest with her would hardly count.
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A day after Egwene left Moiraine came to Taija's rooms. She's was as serene as ever, but there was a tightness around her eyes and she spun a web against eavesdropping around the room when Taija closed the door behind her. It was unexpected, normally the two of them avoided each other unless they needed something, it was an arrangement that had worked well enough.
"Taija sedai, I must speak with you."
Taija was curious if nothing else. "Of course Moiraine sedai, what's this about?"
She didn't beat around the bush. "Are you aware that Aleksi can channel?"
Taija blinked, surprised. "Well yes, of course. I've asked Rand to help train him as well as he can to make sure he doesn't end up hurting himself." She wasn't really sure she saw why Moiraine was raising this.
"I know he is important to you, but you do know what that means do you not?" Taija could tell she was trying to project sympathy, although she wasn't very good at it.
"I know there's a very real level of prejudice against male channelers nowadays yes."
Moiraine sighed, a hint of exasperation in her tone. "It is not prejudice. Every man who channels is cursed. They will go mad and they will die. It might be weeks, it might be months or it might in rare cases be years, but there is no escape."
"So I've heard." Taija's voice was dry, but worry was curdling in her belly. Moiraine certainly believed it even if she thought it was ridiculous. "I haven't seen any evidence for it though. Where are all the mad men, destroying and killing as they go. I know the statistics, what proportion of the population can channel, they should be everywhere."
"Are you sure your statistics," Moiraine stumbled a little over the word, "are still valid in this Age? Many aes sedai believe that the ability to channel is being bred out of the population. It may be much less common than you think." It was true that that hadn't occurred to Taija. "Wherever male channelers are found they are gentled. The Red Ajah devotes itself to this and all aes sedai will assist because it is a mercy. A mercy to them and to everyone around them, because they will go mad and they will kill those they love." Moiraine leant forward emphasising her words like she was trying to force her to understand.
"What's your point?" Taija knew she was being defensive, but she didn't like what Moiraine was suggesting about Aleksi. She didn't like it at all.
"My point is that you need to be aware of the consequences of letting a male channeler go free. Not only for himself, but also for everyone around him!"
"Why are you coming to me about Aleksi and not Rand?" She was being deliberately unhelpful, but Taija was thoroughly annoyed by her.
"For Light's sake you stupid woman, do you think it's not a concern for Rand too?! But he is the Dragon Reborn, we have no choice. Mad or not we need him to face the Dark One at Shayol Ghul. Aleksi is not." For once Moiraine's composure cracked.
Oh. Now Taija understand where she was going with this or she thought she did and she really didn't like it. "I see." Taija stood meeting her eye to eye, she was actually slightly taller than Moiraine, not something she could say about many people. "Well let me be clear with you. If you lay a hand on Aleksi, if you try to sever him or, Light forbid, succeed, it will be the last thing you do because I will kill you."
Taija didn't change her tone as she delivered the threat. There was no need for her to be dramatic, it wasn't her style. Both of them knew she meant every word.
Moiraine looked at her for a second, her eyes searching for any sign of weakness and then without another word she got up and stormed out. Good riddance.
It was another worry to add to her list though. For all that her first instinct was to dismiss anything Moiraine said that she didn't like, she was a knowledgeable woman who shouldn't be able to tell a lie. She could of course be wrong, but if Taija was honest with herself it seemed unlikely.
Regardless, there was no way that she would let her sever Aleksi, that was a death sentence, but she needed to start thinking about this properly. Whatever happened she'd protect both him and Rand, possibly even from themselves.
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Elayne took a deep breath and kept her face composed. She was not happy that she was here.
The realm of the Aelfinn was worse than Taija had described to her. Just looking around gave her a headache and the way these people behaved, the way they looked at her terrified her. Nearly as much as she feared Taija's reaction if or when she found out Elayne had disobeyed her and come here.
Then there was Mat. They'd agreed to go in together and yet as soon as she stepped into that light he was gone leaving her alone with the Aelfinn. She could only hope that he was well and just separated from her.
However, she was the Daughter Heir of Andor and she knew her duty. She would not show weakness or fear. Raising her chin, she asked her first question of the three Aelfinn in front of her.
"Will I be able to become aes sedai if I take my training from Taija Kosola?"
"The Seeker of Mysteries may name you one." She was surprised at how quickly the answer came.
She'd thought hard about her next question, remembering what Taija had said about questions that touched on the Shadow. She'd very carefully worded it to avoid any mention of Lord Gaebril, if it didn't mention him then it couldn't touch on the Shadow, it was just a question of politics. "How can I help my mother to keep the throne of Andor?"
The room darkened and the lights flickered. Suddenly the Aelfinn seemed to be leaning forward, an oppressive feel in the air. Did they somehow look angry?
"Turn the wolves away, leave her to her own affairs she will keep it." The words were spat this time, dismissive disgust in them.
Rage flared in Elayne, they knew what she'd meant. Trying to twist their way out of answering. Didn't they know how important this was? Fine! She'd rephrase it, she wasn't stupid though, she wouldn't mention Lord Gaebril. "How can I help my mother to regain control of Andor?"
For a moment the lights went out and Elayne had to stifle a shriek in the darkness. When sight returned to her the pedestals were empty. It took her a second to realise the three Aelfinn were in front of her, looming far too close for comfort. Their eyes drilled into her as they pressed forward, pushing her back towards the back of the room.
They seemed to be practically vibrating with tension as they began to speak, one after the other, their voices angry hisses.
"The Worthy Daughter thinks she is clever."
"Sophistry used against us."
"Twisting words, twisting the rules."
"She knows what she truly asks."
"We know what she truly asks."
Elayne's eyes flicked from one to the other with growing fear, as she took another step back.
"She must be punished."
"She asks us to speak of the forbidden."
"The punishment can only be death."
"Death!" All three of them spoke at once in a sibilant hiss.
They pressed in closer, leaning into her space, forcing her backwards as she desperately looked for an escape. Their steps were quickening as were their voices. "Please! I meant no offence!"
Elayne frantically reached for saidar only to find it slipping through her fingers, something was not right with it in this place.
Disappointment entered their voices. "The treaty still holds."
"She did not ask directly."
"The rules are clear."
"The treaty does not permit it."
Elayne breathed a deep sigh of relief, even as her back hit the wall. "M m may I go?" She managed to stammer. She was never going to disobey Taija again!
"She wishes to leave." Mocking laughter seemed to echo through the room.
"She did not ask directly and yet she sought to deceive us, to twist her words."
"She must be punished."
"She will have her answer."
"But she will pay the price."
There was a pause in their voices as if they were conferring silently, but before Elayne could plead with them they suddenly spoke in unison.
"There are three. Find the one one who runs with wolves. Send him to the Enslaved Mother to gain your desire."
All three Aelfinn inhaled deeply and without warning she found rough hands seizing her from behind where there had been solid wall a moment before.
"Let me go!" She shrieked, struggling to pull free from grips that could have been made of iron.
The three Aelfinn ignored her cries, drawing wickedly curved daggers from their belts and speaking one at a time, even faster than before.
"You have your answer as is written in the treaties."
"But there must be a price."
"Equal payment for equal offence."
"The Worthy Daughter protects the Enslaved Mother."
"You shall have no daughters of your own."
"Your line shall end with you."
"So shall it be done, the price shall be paid."
Their faces suddenly split into hungry grins, mouths full of too many teeth, as they leant forward, daggers descending. Elayne could do nothing but scream in agony as the first blade stabbed into her abdomen.