Slowly, he regained consciousness. He was lying on his stomach, his face resting against a small bush with sharp thorns. The only thing he felt was pain, pain in every inch of his body. For a while, he lay still without moving at all. Who was he? Where was he? He felt a small stone pressing against his left knee, the discomfort prompting him to try to sit up. After a moment, he pushed himself into a sitting position. A battle, he remembered—a battle. Slowly, memories began to find their way back into his consciousness. He sat still and let the memories wash over him like waves rolling onto a shore.
The Eye! He could still feel the Eye's presence, though faint, as if it were fading away. He staggered as he stood up, his body screaming at him to lie down again. With unsteady steps, he slowly began to move toward the Eye; he felt it pulling at him, wanting him to be near. After a while—he had no idea how long—he saw the clearing and the opening that led down to the Eye. In the middle of the clearing stood a stately tree, and beneath it sat three women. The memories had returned; he recognized them—Moiraine, Nynaeve, and Egwene. But I must reach the Eye. With unsteady steps, he began to cross the clearing.
"Rand!" Egwene shouted. The three women had stood up and were now staring intently at him.
"How are you, Rand?" Nynaeve called out. Lews noticed they didn't come to meet him but remained where they were, clearly uncomfortable with the situation. They know. What do they know? Oh right, that I can channel the Power. Or do they really?
"Fine, just fine," he lied, continuing to limp toward the Eye. Not that he thought they would believe it—he had wounds and bruises everywhere, and his clothes were tattered.
"I must get to the Eye," he continued.
"Stop, Rand! The Eye is empty now, it's gone. The others are searching the place right now," Moiraine said.
Lews stopped and turned toward the women. Their expressions were very different: Egwene looked frightened, Nynaeve looked sad and determined at the same time, and Moiraine—she looked inscrutable, just as usual.
"I… how much time do I have?" He didn't say more. They might not know, and he wasn't going to say it out loud. He managed to stay calm. He had begun to see the group as his friends, and it would pain him more than he wanted to admit to leave them.
"The Wheel weaves as the Wheel wills, and I don't think it's done with you yet," Moiraine said.
"I…" he trailed off.
"We know, Rand, we know you can channel the Power," Nynaeve said.
"Judging by your reactions, I don't think the others even want to be near me," he said.
"They know nothing; Lan is the only one who knows," Moiraine replied.
"Tell me what happened—every detail," she continued.
He was silent for a moment, his thoughts racing. Then he told most of it, leaving out the conversations he'd had and elaborating on the overwhelming feeling of not being in control. Just then, the rest of the group appeared, cheerful. Loial was carrying a large chest of the purest gold. Perrin carried some sort of bundle, and Mat cupped something in his hands. Lan and Thom were with them; Lan looked at him just as before, but Thom seemed much more reserved. He knows too. They had many questions, and Lews had to spin quite a tale to explain what had happened.
The group was excited about the discovery of an ancient, legendary horn, but to Lews, it seemed like utter nonsense. He was far more interested in the two other items, especially the ancient seal from the Dark One's prison. He remembered it; he had planned to place the seals himself, and this was the third one. The Dragon Banner was another story; he had given his secretary, Yanet, the task of designing a symbol around which the forces of the Light could rally. She had built the entire myth of the Dragon from the ground up. She had been a remarkable woman who managed all his daily activities. When Graendal killed her, he had felt utterly paralyzed for a long time.
They spent the night in Someshta's decaying garden, and when morning came, they set course for Fal Dara. The Blight seemed to have calmed down, and on the way to Fal Dara, they camped by the same lakes they had passed on their journey north. The next day, they met soldiers who spoke of a miracle at the Gap. The Shadow's invincible army had been defeated, and the Light itself had taken the form of a man and destroyed the Shadow. Lews felt eyes watching him, or maybe he imagined it, but he pretended not to notice—just in case.
When they finally reached Fal Dara, the whole place was in a festive mood; everyone they met was joyful. Moiraine requested to be taken to Lord Agelmar. Lews, however, turned toward his room.
The next morning, Lews was awakened by a knock on the door. He got out of bed and opened it—Lan was standing outside.
"Time to train, shepherd," he said. Lews couldn't help but smile.
"Give me a few minutes; I just need to get dressed," he said. Lan was a tough teacher, and sparring with him was excellent training.
"Moiraine says you can head home now," the Warder said as they sat catching their breath after the intense session. Lews grunted something unintelligible in response. Do they really think I'm that gullible?
"Come on, Lan, neither you nor I believe that," he said. Lan said nothing more, but gave Lews a slight nod before walking away.
Lews visited Lord Agelmar's library, where he found a copy of the Prophecies of the Dragon, which he began to study, along with a map of the Westlands—the most detailed Lews had seen so far. The days continued in a similar manner: Lan woke him for training and hinted that Lews could go home whenever he wanted, and afterward, Lews visited the library. Mat was drinking and gambling all the time. Perrin was brooding. The women were avoiding him and Thom was nowhere to be found. Loial was the only one of the others he met regularly.
On the seventh day after their return to Fal Dara, Lan and Lews were training in a high tower when suddenly they heard trumpet blasts. They walked to the edge of the tower and looked out toward the forest. At the forest's edge, they could now see drummers and trumpeters. After a while, women and men on horseback appeared around a palanquin. A large banner bearing one half of the Aes Sedai symbol was carried by the soldiers.
"The Amyrlin Seat," Lan said, sounding genuinely surprised.
"You should have left when you had the chance, shepherd," he said, almost as if Lan felt sorry for him.
"Training is over for today," he continued, then hurried off.
Lews stood for a moment, watching the approaching Aes Sedai. There are too many of them. She sold me out.
Inside the keep, Moiraine stood alone by a tall, narrow window, her expression grim as she gazed out over the training grounds. Her attention was focused entirely on the two figures she had been watching for the past hour. Rand and Lan had been training, their movements precise and controlled, the dance of sword against sword a deadly ballet. Now, Lan had departed, leaving Rand alone, his shoulders squared as he observed the approaching Aes Sedai with an intensity that made Moiraine's stomach twist. She knew what was coming, the confrontation that would inevitably follow. How will he react? The question gnawed at her, feeding the knot of worry that had settled deep in her gut.
She had made her choices—difficult, painful choices—but there was no going back now. I couldn't have acted any other way; the good of the world and the Tower must come first. It was the mantra she repeated to herself, the one truth she clung to in the midst of so much uncertainty. But that didn't make the burden any easier to bear.
Moiraine watched as Rand finally turned away from the scene outside, his strides long and purposeful as he made his way back into the heart of the keep. The determination in his gait both reassured and troubled her. He's resolved, but what will that resolution bring?
Sighing, she turned from the window, her mind already shifting to the next challenge—the meeting she dreaded more than she cared to admit.
Moiraine's steps were measured as she walked the familiar corridors, the distant sounds of the keep—voices, clattering armor—fading into the background as her thoughts consumed her. It wasn't long before Anaiya and Liandrin appeared beside her, their faces impassive as they escorted her to the Amyrlin Seat. Though the journey was brief, each step felt heavier than the last as they neared the grand chamber. The door opened to reveal Siuan, seated in all her formidable authority.
Standing before Siuan, Moiraine had to listen as the Amyrlin recited the Hall's viewpoint—an assessment of how they believed she should be disciplined. The words were harsh, a litany of perceived failures, which Moiraine knew were more political maneuverings than genuine critiques. Suddenly, Siuan's voice cut through the formality with an unexpected command. "Leane, leave us." Leane's surprise was evident. "Yes, Mother," she replied respectfully, though curiosity laced her tone. As the door closed behind her, Siuan's demeanor shifted. She stepped forward, closing the distance between them, and without warning, pulled Moiraine into a tight embrace.
For a long time, they held each other. When Siuan finally spoke, her voice was thick with emotion. "Moiraine, do you remember my ability to see Ta'veren? I... I saw him, up in the tower. He shone like the sun. He... he scared me. Can he... can he use the Power?"
Moiraine's heart ached at the fear in Siuan's voice, a fear she herself had tried to prepare for yet still found overwhelming. "Yes, he can," she admitted softly, her voice steady despite the turmoil within.
They stood in silence for a long moment. Siuan hugged her tighter, as if trying to offer comfort where none could be found. "Moiraine, I can see that you are troubled. Tell me, what is it?"
Moiraine hesitated, the words heavy on her tongue. When she finally spoke, her voice was barely above a whisper. "I sent a young woman to the Tower, Min. She can't have reached it before you left." She paused, gathering her thoughts before continuing. "Min can read parts of the Pattern—auras around people—which she can sometimes interpret and predict the future."
"Incredible!" Siuan's eyes widened in disbelief. "Is she always right?"
"She says so, and I've seen proof a few times," Moiraine replied.
"And what has she seen?" Siuan's tone turned serious.
"I... The right thing would be to release me from my task," Moiraine confessed, her voice trembling slightly. "I could become a problem if I continue to guide him."
Siuan's gaze grew intense as she took Moiraine's shoulders in both hands, her expression softening with a mix of concern and sorrow. "May the Light protect you, Moiraine, you're in love with him."
The words struck her like a blow, and Moiraine felt a flush rise in her cheeks. She turned her head away, unable to meet Siuan's knowing gaze. "Is there no one else we can trust?" she murmured, her voice thick with emotion.
"Leane is the closest we can get, but it would draw far too much attention," Siuan said.
Siuan sighed deeply. "I'm sorry, Moiraine, but you must continue. We have no choice."
Moiraine nodded, a small, resigned gesture that belied the turmoil raging inside her. Part of her felt relief, yet another part dreaded what lay ahead. "We'll continue this discussion tomorrow," Siuan said softly. "We mustn't arouse too much suspicion."
As Moiraine left the chamber, the weight of their conversation lingered in her mind, refusing to be cast aside. Upon reaching her own room, she locked the door behind her. She stood in the center, breathing deeply as she struggled to regain her composure. Her emotions were a chaotic storm—fear, joy, sorrow, love—all crashing against each other in a dizzying whirl.
Her gaze fell on the bed, neatly made, but something caught her eye—a glint of silver on the pillow. Her heart skipped a beat as she crossed the room, breath catching in her throat as she saw the silver coin lying there. Fear, cold and unrelenting, gripped her, pushing aside all other emotions. She could feel Lan drawing closer, the bond between them throbbing with urgency.
Moving quickly, she went to her saddlebags where she kept the Dragon Banner. Her hands trembled as she opened them, only to find them empty. It's gone. Panic surged through her veins, her mind racing with questions and fears. How could he have taken it? The wards she had placed should have alerted her the moment anyone tampered with them. How did he even get into my room? The realization that her defenses had been breached filled her with dread she had seldom known.
A knock on the door pulled her from her spiraling thoughts. She hurried to open it, relief flooding through her as she saw Lan standing there. His face was calm, but she sensed the tension beneath the surface. She wasted no time explaining what had happened, her words spilling out in a rush.
They had been searching for Rand all afternoon and into the evening, combing through every alley, shadowed corner, and hidden passage in the city. The sun had set hours ago, and the city was bathed in the dim glow of lanterns, casting long, flickering shadows across the streets. Agelmar, always a man of action, had swiftly organized patrols. Scouts were dispatched to the surrounding countryside, riding swiftly into the night, while the city guard systematically scoured every building, marketplace, and back street. No door was left unopened, no hiding spot unchecked. Yet with each passing hour, the hope of finding Rand within the city walls grew fainter.
The urgency of their search forced them to be cautious, especially around the other Aes Sedai, who would have sensed something amiss if they had been too overt. Drawing their attention could complicate matters beyond repair. Moiraine, ever calculating, had instructed Agelmar to keep the true nature of their search secret. Instead, they spun a believable lie, claiming they were hunting a suspected Darkfriend. The description was vague but intentionally similar to Rand's—tall, with red hair and an unsettling presence—though they never mentioned his name. It was a careful balance between truth and deception, designed to keep the other Aes Sedai out of their affairs for as long as possible.
"Not a trace," Lan said, his voice a low growl of frustration as he returned from yet another fruitless search. He wiped the sweat from his brow, his face illuminated by torchlight. His piercing eyes reflected a hint of admiration, as if Rand's ability to evade capture was not entirely unwelcome. "He must have managed to get over the wall," he added, glancing toward the towering stone barrier that encircled Fal Dara. "An extremely dangerous feat, especially under the circumstances."
Lan paused, his gaze lingering on the wall as if trying to picture how Rand had done it. "The scouts have all returned without a single sign of him. Completely unbelievable," he continued, though there was no mistaking the note of approval in his voice. For someone to scale the walls of a fortified city like Fal Dara without being noticed was no small feat.
Moiraine, standing nearby, said nothing. Her face remained calm, but her eyes held a sharp intensity as she considered Lan's words.
He feels betrayed by me; that is why he left.