Chapter 3
The Right Gift

Night had fallen and we'd all eaten together in a private dining room. There was plenty of conversation, though Hurin only engaged when addressed. He was still in awe of the Aes Sedai even after traveling with them for weeks. Gemiad didn't have that problem, but she'd barely said a word to me.

The remains of our supper still on the plates I got up before anybody else could. "So I have an announcement to make, we'll be parting ways as I came across a lead I can't ignore. I'll be leaving tomorrow, unless a snow storm buries the entire town."

Sheraine was the first to recover from the surprise. "A lead on what?"

"A personal matter regarding my home. You'll forgive me for keeping it vague, but a secret can't be kept if you share it. It's not a matter of trust, but I'm all too aware how things can leak without meaning to."

Nynaeve leaned forward. "Are you sure you want to travel alone? We were nearly robbed in an inn of all places. Many more people will try to take advantage of a stranger on his own."

I inclined my head. "Thank you, but I can handle myself. I'm announcing this now because before I leave I wanted to honor a tradition among my people. Rather than marking the end of winter with giving gifts we exchange them on the shortest day of the year. I had considered giving these gifts during the Feast of Light, but I didn't yet have gifts for everybody then."

"There's no need, Master Shen," Elayne said. "Your help rescuing Egwene and protecting us since then is already quite the gift."

"Thank you, but those aren't gifts, they're common decency." I clapped my hands together. "Now, please, give me a moment while I retrieve them." This dining room was on the second floor so I quickly reached my room. The gifts were in a simple sack whose contents shifted and rattled when I picked it up.

I couldn't help but hum a few bars of "Zie ginds komt de stoomboot" even though that was over a month earlier than Christmas. Once I was back I set the sack down and pulled out the first gift, which I presented to Mat.

He blinked at the small cardboard box I held out to him. "Uh, thank you?"

"Oh, you're welcome. Now, I know what you're thinking. What is it and couldn't I have gotten you something a little bigger." It certainly was the smallest present.

Mat shook his head. "No. Well, yes. I mean, what is it?"

"A box of matches," I said. "You slide it open like that and then you can pull out one of the matches. Then you place the head against one of the rough, red sides like this, and swipe!" Flame erupted from the head followed by the hint of sulfur in the air.

Mat jumped in his chair, but a moment later he leaned forward to get a close look. "How did you do that?"

"Just chemistry." I blew the match out. It couldn't burn my finger, but it would be best if Verin didn't see that. "There's a substance on the head of the match that only needs a little bit of heat to go up in flames which is covered in a very thin layer of wax. When you scrape it against the side of the box it removes that layer, and the friction of two materials rubbing against each other is enough to set it off. So there are about 50 matches in the box and each one can be used only once. Try only to use them when you need a quick flame. If you run out, I can see about getting you more when we meet again."

Seeing his expression, I rummaged around in one of my pockets and 'found' a few more matches. "Here, I've got more for myself. You can use these to … get the hang of the trick."

"Thanks, Shen!"

"Shen, is that really a good idea," Nynaeve said.

I gave it some thought before nodding. "They're far safer than fireworks and very useful. Just don't get them wet, they won't work until dried out and don't put them next to a fire to do that," I warned him before moving on to Hurin.

"So I heard you rode with the Heroes of the Horn, Master Hurin." I grinned and he scratched the back of his head.

"Just Hurin's fine enough. And I found myself among their company, Master Shen. All I did was finish what I started, that's just my way." He sketched a shrug with his shoulder.

"Don't sell yourself short. But what I mean is that if you throw yourself into situations like that, you should have some better protection." And out of the sack I pulled the heaviest object by far, I had to be careful as it had been on the bottom.

"I can't accept that!" Hurin stared at the dark blue canvas of the brigandine I held out to him.

"Sure you can. If you worry about that cost, I got this cheap on account of it hadn't saved its original owner but I replaced every plate that needed it. So take it, and if you find yourself on an adventure again, wear it."

He still sputtered when I thrust it into his hands, though that got cut off when I let go and he struggled with the weight a bit before he got a good grasp of the armor.

The sack was a lot lighter now, though I handled it with the same ease as I moved onto Sheraine. Her, I handed the knife I'd made today. "So I noticed some issues with your current knife when you last held it to my throat."

Elayne gasped as Nynaeve gave Sheraine a complicated look. Actually, just about everybody stared at Sheraine now. She only gave me a slight smile as she accepted the knife and slipped it out of its sheath. "Yes, this should work better if it becomes necessary to slit a throat."

"And look fabulous while you do it," I added while Mat muttered something about us both being insane. "Now, Verin Sedai, I noticed you've been taking a lot of notes but ink and pen can get very messy. So I present to you this."

I handed her a thin wooden case. I couldn't resist and had carved the simple outline of an owl in its lid. "I use these pencils myself and they're quite handy on the road. Even better, I added an eraser so you can remove any mistakes you made. That works best if you do it right after you made that mistake, however. If some time has passed since your mistake, you'll want something stronger. But we can talk about that when we next meet."

Verin gave me a quick look like an owl that had a mouse just waltz right up to them. I was sure I'd been way too obvious, so I quickly moved on. "So Elayne, I'll admit, figuring out what to give to a Daughter-Heir took me a second. But I think you'll like this," I said, handing her a rectangular box half as long again as my hand. This one had a roaring lion inlaid with silver on one surface and other decorations carved into the other faces.

"Thank you, it looks lovely," Elayne said, giving me a very polite smile. Though it faltered into a frown as she examined the box a little closer. "Ah, how do you open it?"

"Oh, but that's the fun part. You'll have to figure it out. This is a puzzle box. Feel free to use the One Power to try and figure it out, I tried to take it into account. Though you'll have to tell me afterward if I managed that."

"I see, thank you, Master Ron."

I nodded and moved on to Egwene. "Now coming up with something for you, was easy," I said, pulling my gift out of the rapidly emptying sack. "Though making it wasn't." I handed the book over to her, it had fairly thick and sturdy covers which were connected not only by the spine but a bronze clasp with a lock.

Egwene accepted it and unlocked it, revealing the blank pages. "It's a diary?"

"It's been observed that people who've gone through … bad days can benefit from simply writing their thoughts down. It helps to reflect. And given the times we live in, I made sure that if anybody opens this diary without using the key it will blow up right along with any secrets you entrusted to it."

Nynaeve startled and leaned away even as Egwene froze. "Blow up?"

"A derivative of the Illuminators' black powder formula, it won't ignite just by looking at it. But if you open it without that specific key, or throw it in a fire, there's going to be a flash and a bang. Again, I tried to take the One Power into account but I just can't guarantee that the security can't be beaten by it. Even chance that it would work, or it could blow up in their faces."

"Thank you, Shen," Egwene said, her voice a little rough before she gave a small shake of her head and looked at me. "It seems you gave thought to everyone's gift."

I grimaced. "And you say that right when we come to Nynaeve's gift." I looked over to meet Nynaeve's eyes. "You actually gave me the most trouble of all. Took me a while just to come up with the idea."

I pulled the last item out of the sack, it looked like a large medallion made out of copper with the flying crane of Malkier on its lid.

She took it and opened it, her eyes growing two sizes when she saw what was inside the medallion. "That's ..."

"A good likeness, I hope. Not much of an artist but faithful reproduction based on my memory I can manage. Please note the needle, see how it moves as you move the medallion. It's actually a compass so you can always find your way home."

Egwene leaned over to sneak a peek and Nynaeve snapped the medallion shut. "Thank you, Ron."

I shrugged as I took my seat again. "Naturally, I hope you won't actually need it, but better we are all prepared."

Nynaeve nodded with pressed lips, only to glance at Gemiad and then gave me a thunderous look. "Haven't you forgotten someone?"

"No, I already gave Gemiad my gift this morning. Though she hasn't accepted it yet, so if she decides otherwise I'll have to think of something else," I said.

"What did you give her?" Egwene asked.

"Something personal, though it would mean I can't accompany you all to Tar Valon," Gemiad said before I could speak up.

"Don't be foolish," Sheraine snapped. "What you did at Haerelar proves you do need the knowledge The White Tower can provide. You were fortunate you didn't kill anybody with that outburst and you nearly burned yourself out."

"It's certainly a concern," I interjected. "But you won't reach Tar Valon tomorrow anyway and I hope that my own errand won't take too long."

"And where are you going?"

"South. My first stop is Baerlon, I promised I would visit again, and it's on the way."

Egwene joined the conversation. "Are you heading back to the Two Rivers? Could you deliver a letter then?"

I grimaced. "I'm sorry, but I'm not planning on visiting the Two Rivers. I could take any letters you want to send as far as Baerlon and arrange for someone else to deliver them?" I gave Nynaeve and Mat a questioning look.

A look Mat ducked. "I haven't had the chance to write them. Wouldn't know what to write either. They'd just worry if I wrote the truth, and who would want to know it?" He barked a laugh, then scratched his cheek. "But I should write them that I'm well. What about you, Nynaeve?"

"I have … Yes, there is a letter I can send." The former Wisdom turned her attention to me. "When will you be leaving?"

"Tomorrow, as early as I can. So any letters you want to send, give them to me tonight." Those words broke up the dinner party as the people from Emond's Field retreated to write their letters. But when I retreated back to my own small room I quickly found myself with company as Gemiad joined me.

She took a deep breath before she spoke. "I'll be taking you up on your offer. I have no desire to have to look over my shoulder at every moment, distrusting every person I see. But Sheraine Sedai wasn't wrong, I do need to master … channeling."

"Excellent. I won't expand on your options here where someone might overhear, but we can do so on the way. Might even be able to combine both my errant with your education." It's too bad the Kin wasn't an option. Ebou Dar was a harbor so I might be able to hire a Windfinder. Though, of course, they, too, were still committed to keeping their channelers a secret.

That a powerful organization sought a monopoly was natural, but there's a reason societies can't abide them. It only ends up with harming everybody.

"Then you should pack, I intend to leave before first light."

"That's good to know," Sheraine said from the hallway. She entered my room now as well and closed the door behind her. As I had one of the smaller rooms this meant it was getting rather full in here. "Because I'll be joining you."

I blinked. "Excuse me?"

"Given the utter chaos your plan caused in Falme it's clear that letting you go unsupervised would invite disaster. So I'll be coming along to wherever you go to stop a repeat of that. And provide you with the Tower's wisdom, since you apparently didn't acquire that when you managed to glean some of our secrets," Sheraine finished with a stern look.

I rubbed my chin. "And what if I say no?"

She waved that argument away. "Why entertain a choice you won't make? You may disagree with me about why you need me, but you can't deny that traveling with an Aes Sedai opens many doors otherwise closed to you."

I chuckled. "You would be surprised how many doors are open to me. And you have no idea how many doors are shut and hidden at the mere hint you are an Aes Sedai." I sucked in a breath as I studied her closer. "Though right now, none would recognize you as an Aes Sedai if you did not tell them. And even then, some would doubt." No serpent ring on her finger, and she'd lost the last traces of that ageless look some time ago.

She drew herself up and replied in an icy tone. "I have no control over the thoughts of fools, but whatever doubts some may have, I am an Aes Sedai."

I held up my hands in surrender. "Please, I'm not disputing that. But the fact that you are not so easily recognizable now is the only reason I'm considering it." I glanced at Gemiad. "If you'll agree to tutor Gemiad on the more general knowledge regarding channeling and control over the One Power. And you must agree to keep whatever secrets you learn on this journey to yourself for at least a year."

Gemiad glanced at the Aes Sedai. "Wait, you want me to learn from her?"

"Only if you want to, but having a solid foundation on the basics of channeling and the One Power can only help you regardless of what you decide to do." Then I returned my attention to Sheraine. "Well, can you agree to those terms?"

Sheraine remained silent for a moment. "You haven't asked for an oath. And you know I'm free of the Oaths, I can lie."

"You can." I shrugged. "But I don't trust magical oaths. In the end, they're no match for intent. Either you will hold to your word or you won't. It's the same as everybody else. And it's not like you don't already have some of my secrets. You've been careful with them, as far as I can tell, so your word will do. And a handshake," I said, holding out my hand.

VVVV

The inn was silent this early in the morning with the sun still just beneath the horizon, it's inhabitants and guests fast asleep, with a few exceptions. Sheraine illuminated our way down the stairs with an orb of light floating above her head.

Gemiad fought and lost to contain a yawn and that set me off as well. "Why do we have to leave this early?" She asked at the bottom of the stairs.

"Because I want as little witnesses as possible regarding our means of travel."

Shock drove away the tiredness from her eyes as they flew wide open. "You mean?"

"Yes, we'll be taking the safest way to travel." Then I remembered these people had no idea who Superman was. "We'll be flying."

"You can't mean to … transform in the middle of town," Sheraine said as she joined us in the common room.

"For a moment, yes," I said as I made my way between the tables with my own rucksack slung over my shoulder. The chairs had been placed upside down on the tabletops to create more space, but I could knock one over if I wasn't careful. "I'll go straight up. Between my speed and the darkness, people will have only a few seconds to see anything, and even then, they'll not know what they saw."

Unhindered Passage!

The door was barred and locked, but the bar slid away and the lock clicked open before I'd touched the door handle. "After you," I said, waving them through as the cold air of the early morning slapped my face.

Gemiad shivered as she rearranged her shawl, but then she took my invitation. Sheraine ignored the cold as she knew the trick to that and only walked up to me. "Ron, you'll set off a panic. And word of a possible Shadowspawn could draw troops away from Saldea when they need every single one to guard the Blight and deal with a False Dragon."

I nodded. "Which is why I'm leaving before dawn. I'll only be visible for a couple of seconds and at this time, very few people should be awake and those that are will almost certainly still be sleepy. If I try to do this outside of town we'll either have to try and sneak out or wait for the gates to open up. There's more chances for someone to spot me with either option, I'm not that sneaky, so I'll trust to speed instead." I nodded at the inn's courtyard. "Now, Gemaid and me are going. You can come along. Or you can decide to stay here after all."

Sheraine huffed, but stepped outside and I followed after. I closed the door, but barring doors was not so easy for my power. Not without expending a miracle to manipulate the door through my bond to the Word of Artifice. What I could do was create a copy of the key that allowed me to engage the lock again as I had seen that particular key.

I led them to the middle of the courtyard, the snow crunched beneath our feet. "Now, nobody has forgotten anything?" I asked after I turned around.

Gemiad checked her knapsack, but Sheraine spared her saddlebags not even a glance before she raised an eyebrow. Those saddlebags were hovering beside her, held by invisible flows of what had to be Air. "What of you? You seem to have left behind most of your baggage."

"The advantage of having my abilities is that I can just make what I need when it is needed. And I got deep pockets," I said, patting one of them holding the travel case of my Glasses of Translation. I turned to Gemiad. "And you're good to go, too?"

At her nod, I threw my arms out. "Then say goodbye to Etycan. Next stop is Baerlon!" It only took seconds for me to return to a draconic shape, yet even as I was still expanding to my full size, I crouched down and scooped both women up.

I jumped up. Less than five meters was impressive when you were the size of a human. But at my height, it looked more like a decent hop than a leap. Still, it gave me just enough height so that my wings could unfurl and miss the sloping roof of the inn.

Intent alone was enough to launch myself upward from there. Gravity tried to stop me, but my flight was more a function of my will than my wings. The latter only assisted and my Gift allowed me to travel at the same speed no matter if I was traveling perpendicular to the pull of the world or in straight opposition to it.

Cradled against my breast I could protect my passengers against much of the G-forces as we disappeared into the dark night within the blink of an eye.