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A Dark Path Homeward, Part II A
Gathering of Friends Sorhan
al'Danielle Gaidin,
Warder to Elyssa
Damaar Sedai, and
Patriarch of Bardic
Hall, was whistling
to himself a tune
that he hoped would
become the prelude
of a new score he
had envisioned. This
was to be an effort
to implement an idea
he and Aelric had
discussed several
months ago regarding
a new form of
dramatic play set to
music. They never
had agreed on a name
for this new genre.
Deep in thought, he
almost didn't hear
the unmistakable
sound of a crossbow
in action.
Suppressing the
instinct to flinch
and frowning
slightly in
annoyance at being
disturbed, though
indeed he was
walking past the
training grounds,
Sorhan observed a
lone man on the
practice range just
as he fired another
shot. Sorhan's sharp
eyes noted the thick
cluster of bolts
grouped together
tightly around the
central circle of
the target. The
man's marksmanship,
good as it was,
didn't catch his
notice as much as
did the particular
design of the
weapon. It seemed to
be made of two
parts, the
crosspiece appeared
to be part of a
mount strapped onto
the man's left
forearm, while the
triggering mechanism
and bolt tray was
held in the right
hand. By holding his
left arm
perpendicular to the
line of sight, the
two pieces fit
together to form the
whole. It was rather
a small weapon and
Sorhan estimated its
effective range at
no better than 40-50
yards, but is was
clearly portable
and, a deeper part
of his mind
suggested, easily
concealed. Sorhan
shook his head,
wishing he had the
time to talk to the
man as weapon design
was an interest of
his, but he knew
that he had better
get on to Bardic
Hall. His last
thought before
returning to
consideration of his
prelude, was that
his late friend
Aelric had been a
marksman with a
crossbow and would
have been fascinated
by the design of the
weapon he had just
seen. -------------------------------!br
The
citizens of Tar
Valon who passed
them couldn't help
but turn around and
take second looks at
the mismatched pair.
Tar Valon was a city
in which one might
encounter all manner
of folk, even Ogier,
yet the tall Aielman
in his cadin'sor and
the, by contrast,
short, red-haired
Ebou Dari made for a
novel sight. The
wicked looking
scimitar and the
cat-like grace of
the latter would
have ensured a clear
path through the
crowd for them,
though anyone with
sense gave an Aiel a
wide berth. Though
now allies, memory
of the Aiel war was
not so far past as
to have been
forgotten. "This
younger generation
has no honor,
Rillian,"
growled CorDazar,
Warder to Niniane
al'Valon Sedai.
"I mean no
offense, but the
wetlands have made
our young soft and
weak." Rillian
Thandril managed a
smile before saying,
"perhaps they
each ought to spend
a day guarding
Niniane Sedai? That
would either kill
them, or make them
strong." The
two laughed at the
joke, knowing all
too truly how well
the Battle Ajah was
a way of life for
Niniane. As her
Warder, CorDazar was
constantly reminded
that she viewed
every day as a
preparation for the
Last Battle, though,
so far, he had
managed to avoid the
"live fire
exercises" that
had led Aelric to
require a large, and
often restocked,
supply of a healing
salve.
CorDazar
had continued along
in companionable
silence before he
realized that
Rillian was no
longer beside him.
Looking back, he saw
Rillian staring off
into the crowd, his
face clearly
reflecting some
degree of concern
and doubt.
"What is it, my
friend," asked
CorDazar? Rillian
stood for a moment
longer, before
looking up at the
towering Aiel and
asking, "did
you see him? I could
have sworn it was
… but it couldn't
be." Rillian
stopped then, and
began walking back
to the Tower.
Rillian wouldn't
discuss the incident
further and CorDazar
didn't press the
matter, though he
was gravely
concerned. Rillian
had been under a lot
of stress since the
breakup of his
romantic
relationship with
Jendaia Sedai and,
of course, there was
the severing of the
bond to consider.
Hopeful that some
sparring would take
Rillian's mind away
from his troubles,
CorDazar bet him a
bottle of oosquai
that his lips would
kiss the ground
first.
--------------------------
Careil
knew he was being
watched. Stopping to
look about, as if
trying to find a
particular shop, his
eyes caught sight of
a red-haired man
whose familiarity
seemed to rise up
out of a dark mist
in his mind. Even as
he began to take a
step towards the
man, the voice came
to him, telling him
to get away quickly
and threatening dire
punishment if he
failed in his
mission. So Careil
placed his cap upon
his head and drifted
back into the crowd
and was soon lost to
sight.
----------------------------
Maihgread
Sedai of the White
Ajah looked out from
the window of her
study at the
landscape around the
White Tower, happy
to see that winter
was losing its grip
upon this part of
the world. She
didn't care for cold
weather. Turning
back to make herself
comfortable in her
favorite chair, she
channeled a weave of
fire to stoke the
embers in the
fireplace. Picking
up a philosophical
treatise entitled
Free Will and the
Weavings of the
Wheel, she soon lost
herself and all
track of time until
a gentle knock shook
her from her study.
"Enter,"
she said, and was
quite surprised to
see Rillian Thandril
standing on the
threshold. Though a
visit from Rillian
was not uncommon,
the clear distress
in his face alerted
Maihgread that this
was no courtesy
call.
Having
been made welcome
and engaged in some
small talk, Rillian
slowly worked
himself up to saying
what was on his
mind. "Maihgread
Sedai," he
began, "I know
this is going to
sound irrational,
but I could swear
that I saw Aelric
several days ago. I
mean it wasn't him,
but it was," he
stammered.
"Tell me what
you saw,"
replied Maihgread,
very concerned that
Rillian's distress
over his
relationship with
Jendaia was causing
him to seek out his
old, but deceased
friend. "I saw
a man in the city
several days
ago," continued
Rillian, "he
bore no bodily
resemblance to
Aelric. He was
taller by several
inches; had green,
rather than gray
eyes; and the facial
features were
different. This man
was Saldaean. He
walked as did Aelric
and his hair ---
though it was
shorter than Aelric
wore his, it had a
tuff of white hair
just over his left
eye. It was recent
though, the white
patch wasn't the
same length as the
rest of his
hair." Seeing
the doubt and pity
in the Aes Sedai's
face, Rillian
quickly added,
"but Maihgread,
I tell you, these
details aren't what
made me think that
he actually was
Aelric, I just, ah,
felt Ael's presence
- the impression was
very strong."
With that, Rillian
exhaled a deep
breath and took a
plunge. "Maihgread
Sedai, I wouldn't
have bothered you
with this except
that I'm so certain
of what I felt.
You've told me that
you've met Ael in
Tel'aran'rhiod.
Would you be willing
to enter the world
of dreams and talk
to him? It would put
my mind at
rest."
Maihgread
considered the
request. She debated
whether honoring it
would do more harm
than good. She liked
and respected
Rillian however, and
knew what it must
have cost him to
come to her in this
way. "Very
well, Rillian, I
will make the
attempt. It will
take me a while to
prepare and to cast
myself into sleep.
Why don't you return
to your quarters and
I'll come to you
when I'm done. Try
to get some
sleep," she
added, impulsively
hugging him.
Rillian
awoke some time
later to a pounding
at his door. He had
managed to get some
sleep, but his
dreams had been
disturbing and he
felt little rested.
Getting up and
running a hand
through his hair, he
went to answer the
door. He blinked
momentarily in
surprise to see
Maihgread Sedai
standing there; the
earlier part of the
day only slowly
coming back to his
memory. The control
evident in her face,
only visible to one
who knew her well,
quickly brought
Rillians' wits back
up to speed. Seeing
the Aes Sedai
seated, Rillian
could only look at
her in mute
supplication. "Ael's
not in
Tel'aran'rhiod,
Rillian," she
said flatly. Noting
his look of surprise
at this unambiguous
declaration, she
continued, "He
didn't come to me
after I repeatedly
called to him.
Always before, he
has made himself
known whenever I've
sought him out.
But," she said
in a firm voice,
"just as
earlier you said
that you felt his
presence, so this
time in
Tel'aran'rhiod I
could feel no echo
of him. I fear
something terrible
has happened."
The
two pondered in
silence for a
moment.
"Clearly, one
possibility might be
rebirth, but that
would not explain
why you felt his
presence in an
adult," offered
Maihgread.
"Perhaps a
Dreamer could have
cast him out,"
mused Rillian,
"though it
would require a very
powerful channeler;
I've only heard of
the story of
Moghedien ever
ripping someone out
of Tel'aran'rhiod.
Or, what about an
object of the
power" inquired
Rillian after a
moment,
"something like
a ter'angreal?"
"You mean an
object like unto the
Horn of Valere,"
asked Maihgread?
"That was
specific to certain
heroes bound to the
Horn by Fate, but
perhaps some
artifact from the
Age of Legends might
have such
power."
Standing up,
Maihgread said
firmly, "come
along, Rillian, we
need to discover
whether such an
object is known to
exist or could have
existed and Cadrien
Sedai is the best
resource
available."
------------------------
"Shoo,
you foolish
cat," exclaimed
Cadrien al'Muir
Sedai, Sitter for
the Brown Ajah. The
feline in question
had chosen a
particularly rare
parchment scroll to
use as a
satisfactory means
of sharpening his
claws. The animal
was debating the
wisdom of
demonstrating to his
mistress the
efficacy of the
newly found scratch
pad, when an urgent
knock upon the door
sent him scrambling
for shelter under a
nearby couch.
Cadrien was
surprised, but
pleased to see her
sister from the
White Ajah. The
looks on Maihgread's
and Rillian's faces
however, made her
realize quickly that
serious matters were
afoot.
It
required only a few
minutes for Rillian
and Maihgread to
relate their
respective stories.
"We need to
find out whether
such an object as
we've described
might exist,"
concluded Maihgread.
Cadrien looked at
them carefully
before saying,
"I have to ask
you this Maihgread,
so please don't take
offense, but could
Ael be playing some
kind of game with
you? He had, after
all, a rather warped
sense of
humor," mused
Cadrien with a
slight grin on her
face as she
remembered a few
episodes with the
late Warder.
"No, Cadrien, I
don't believe
so," answered
Maihgread. "Ael
knows that I do not
enter Tel'aran'rhiod
with a light heart.
I have no doubt that
he would have
appeared to me if he
were able. And, as I
said, I could not
even feel his
presence."
Cadrien
spent a moment in
reflection before
answering, "I
am not aware of any
record that would
indicate the
existence of a
ter'angreal or any
other object that
had such a power. A
very strong
channeler with
proper knowledge
could, I suppose,
have pulled him out
of Tel'aran'rhiod,
but Aelric could
channel in his own
defense. Further,
this doesn't explain
his changed
appearance, if
indeed Rillian is
correct." She
mused a bit further
adding, " 'Tia
mi aven Moridin
isainde vadin' - the
grave is no bar to
my call." She
got up and began
pacing, muttering to
herself, "Aelric
died, but was
somehow caught in
Tel'aran'rhiod; the
Heroes of the Horn
likewise died and
were bound to the
Wheel, subject to
the call of the
Horn. And yet, the
Horn still refers to
'the Grave'. What
else might have
power over the
grave?" Silence
greeted this for a
few moments, when
suddenly Maihgread
interjected,
"not what,
who?" Her blue
eyes met Rillian's
and Cadrien's as
each realized the
answer. "Lord
of the Grave,
Shepherd of the
Night, Father of
Lies,"
whispered Rillian.
He took little
comfort in knowing
that he was not
alone with the
horror he felt.
Cadrien
poured them all a
glass of wine to
help steady them as
they rehashed their
arguments. She noted
that it was getting
colder outside, so
she added a few logs
to the fire to warm
the room. Maihgread
began the
discussion, by
pointing out that
while the
possibility of the
Dark One's role was
not illogical, they
had not proven that
this could be the
only possible
explanation. Rillian
nodded, but added
that the
ramifications of the
Dark One's touch
were such that they
almost had to act on
that presumption.
They turned to a
discussion of how to
locate this
"mystery
man" that
Rillian had spotted
when Cadrien
suddenly slapped her
forehead. "Garic,"
she exclaimed! A
couple of weeks ago,
he mentioned to me a
newcomer to the
Warder-in-Training
program. He said
that the man was
both familiar and
unfamiliar at the
same time. He also
mentioned that his
swordsmanship seemed
to have been Tower
trained, though even
Janus didn't
recognize him …
" As she
trailed off, they
all stood together.
"Where would
Garic be now,
Cadrien," asked
Rillian?
-------------------------------
Garic's
room was rather
crowded with three
guests. Eventually,
Garic remembered the
newcomer's name as
Careil. "We
can't just accuse a
man of being the
reincarnation of a
dead Warder without
some evidence -
especially if we're
saying the Dark One
had a role in
it," said Garic.
"I refuse to
believe Aelric would
be tempted to the
Dark One,"
interjected Rillian.
Maihgread shook her
head, "I don't
believe he would
either, Rillian, but
it’s a little
known fact that a
circle of thirteen
sisters of the Black
Ajah and thirteen
Myrddraal can turn a
channeler to the
Dark One against
their will."
Cadrien didn't
appear overjoyed to
hear that bit of
information leaked,
but she didn't make
an issue of it.
"What's
bothering me,"
she said, "is
assuming the Dark
One did infuse
Aelric's soul into
another body, for
what purpose did he
do so?" A few
minutes of silence
passed, before
Maihgread said
suddenly, "Aelric,
A-E-L-R-I-C. Now
compare. Careil,
C-A-R-E-I-L. The
names are anagrams
of one another. It's
simply too much of a
coincidence. And
then," she
added, "there's
the matter of this
lock of hair that
was so much a part
of Ael's character.
That doesn't seem
like the Dark One's
hand."
"Could it be
then,"
speculated Rillian,
"that Aelric's
personality is
trying to come forth
and fight through?
Perhaps he wasn't
turned completely to
the Father of
Lies?" "I
think that it's time
to go talk to this
Careil," said
Garic grimly.
The
four of them
encountered Sorhan
on the way. He'd
spotted Rillian and
came over to inquire
about some business
at Bardic Hall.
Being no fool,
Sorhan quickly
spotted the nervous
demeanors of all
four. Knowing Sorhan
had been a firm
friend of Aelric's,
they filled him in
as quickly as they
could, perhaps
hoping that he might
offer some less
somber
interpretation of
events. The first
looks of incredulity
were quickly erased
from Sorhan's
expression. Turning
to Garic, he asked,
"what did this
fellow look like
again?" As
Garic provided a
description, a look
of dismay came
across Sorhan's
face. "I saw
such a man just two
days ago; he was
practicing with a
peculiar kind of
crossbow. A short
range weapon, and
one … easily …
hidden." His
last words came out
ever so slowly as he
realized their
import. Thinking
quickly, Rillian
added, "such a
weapon would be made
for a single target.
It couldn’t be
reloaded fast enough
for more. And it
must be for close
range."
"But what
target? And
when," asked
Cadrien?
"Surely not
Niniane Sedai,"
offered Garic,
"besides, she
and Hilarion are out
of the Tower."
Maihgread looked up
into the darkening
sky, then asked,
"what day is
today?"
"Why,
Winternight,"
they all replied
with surprise,
"tomorrow is
Bel Tine."
"And what
tradition has the
Amyrlin instituted
for Winternight,"
she asked in a voice
as cold as a
Borderland's winter?
They collectively
blinked and turned
to run towards the
Great Doors of the
White Tower.
A
Bolt in the Night
With
the setting of the
sun, a cold breeze
and low clouds had
quickly rolled in
from the North. This
decay in the weather
didn't dampen the
spirits or
enthusiasm of the
inhabitants of Tar
Valon who had come
out before the Doors
of the White Tower
to celebrate
Winternight. After
the ceremonies here,
most would return to
their homes,
gathering with
friends and
relatives to share
good cheer, exchange
presents, and begin
to wait in vigil for
the coming of spring
on the morrow - the
Feast of Bel Tine.
Particularly excited
were the eight
families seated on
benches in front of
the gathering crowd.
They had been chosen
at random from
amongst the less
fortunate families
in the city;
families that had
lost a mother or
father due to
illness, or
accident, or perhaps
some other mishap.
Tar Valon was
fortunate compared
to most cities in
having very little
true poverty. Each
of the seven Ajahs
and the Keeper of
the Chronicles
donated some simple
gifts to one of the
families, often toys
from far away
countries for the
children and
clothing for the
adults. It was a
simple gesture, but
one which helped to
forge a closer bond
between the Aes
Sedai and the
community in the
midst of which they
lived, and yet, by
necessity, from
which they had to
remain apart. The
idea had originated
with the current
Amyrlin Seat, Qirien
Dhaela Sedai. As
ruler of the Tower
and being 'of no
Ajah, but of all
Ajahs,' she
personally bestowed
the gifts to each of
the families in the
name of all Aes
Sedai. After the
singing of a few
traditional
Winternight hymns,
the Amyrlin would
bestow upon the
people the Blessing
of the Light.
Not
everyone shared the
crowd's enthusiasm.
Mingar Gaidin never
cared to see his
charge so close to
large numbers of
people. His
intellect told him
that the ceremony
and the emotional
bonds it evoked were
good for the Tower
and the citizenry of
Tar Valon, but to
the man most
concerned with the
Amyrlin's personal
safety, it was an
annual nightmare.
Three
women in the crowd
also did not share
in the people's
anticipatory joy.
Oh, indeed they were
looking forward to
the night's events,
but whereas all
around them were
hearts full of love
and communion,
theirs were filled
with the poison of
malice. The leader
noted the changing
weather, and allowed
herself a slight
grin at this proof
of the Great Lord's
long arm. Though the
crowd was thick, she
had no difficulty
moving through it
towards the front;
few there were
indeed who could
meet the look of her
eyes. Paliamihn and
Temrain followed
her. They were
apprehensive, though
they knew that their
faces bore no
resemblance to their
true appearance.
Furthermore, they
were masking the
ability to channel.
They had learned
both techniques from
Idhre, but not
before being
reminded of the
price to be paid for
disobedience or
failure.
Nevertheless,
walking about in the
sure knowledge of
the proximity of
hundreds of Aes
Sedai, all of whom
would gladly see
them dead, or worse,
made them rather
anxious.
The
crowd suddenly
stilled as the Doors
of the Tower opened
slowly and grandly.
A small band of
musicians from
Bardic Hall began a
subdued fanfare that
was appropriate to
the intimacy of the
occasion, but in
keeping with the
dignity of the
Amyrlin Seat. A
representative from
each of the Ajahs
walked out in single
file, her Warder in
attendance upon her.
Most Aes Sedai were
not actually
present, though a
fair number of
Accepted and Novices
were scattered
amongst the
citizenry. Then
appeared the Keeper
of the Chronicles,
Iliana Sh'mur Sedai,
wearing a yellow
stole about her
shoulders, the tall
staff of office held
upright before her
in both hands.
Tapping the staff
upon the marble of
the stairs, her
voice rang out over
the whole of the
courtyard, "The
Watcher of the
Seals, The Flame of
Tar Valon, The
Amyrlin Seat!"
As
the Amyrlin made her
graceful entrance,
tall and stately
with a lithe
carriage inherent
from her days among
the Atha'an Miere,
her dark blue eyes
taking in the hushed
multitude, the only
sound that could be
heard was the sudden
outburst of a young
child saying,
"daddy, is that
her? Is that really
the Amyrlin
Seat?"
-------------------------------
Careil
had found himself an
excellent location
to participate in
the evening's
activities. Though
his 6'2" frame
blocked some
people's view from
his location in the
front row, no one
quite saw fit to
make an issue of it.
The voice whispered
to him now almost
constantly. The cold
breeze made his
heavy cloak quite
natural, the
makeshift crossbow
easily concealed
under the draping
sleeves. Looking
across the space set
aside for the
families to be
presented gifts,
Careil spotted a
trio of women. There
were plenty of women
about, of course,
mostly townswomen,
but he could see
Accepted in their
banded dresses. The
chill along his skin
told him that some
of them at least
were channeling,
probably providing
some of the soft
illumination that
gave a low, but
comfortably warm
glow around the
public square. His
gaze returned to the
three who had
attracted his
attention earlier.
What was it about
them, or rather,
about that one? Yes,
that one with the
eyes. He was sure
that he had not seen
her face before, but
he seemed to be
viewing another
aspect of her, as
though this outward
appearance was only
a mask, a veiled
cover for something
else, something
darker. He began to
recall the dream he
had experienced his
first night in Tar
Valon, at the Inn
called Natiah's.
"Yes," he
thought, that face
surrounded by a
nimbus, but with a
voice that reminded
him of the wind
blowing through a
graveyard.
The
fanfare and the
opening of the Tower
doors interrupted
his introspection.
Calmly, he watched
as the seven sisters
and their Gaidin
formed a semi-circle
facing the chosen
families. The horror
that was about to
occur seemed
pleasing to the
voice. He looked up
at the sound of a
staff's rapping. As
he beheld Iliana's
face, a memory
surfaced despite the
efforts of the voice
to prevent it.
Dimly, he recalled
another period of
darkness, another
time when he had
lost himself, lost
knowledge of
himself. This face
was the first he had
seen when he had
been restored to his
own mind and memory.
He began to take a
step towards her in
hopes of a similar
renewal, when his
mind exploded in
agony, freezing him
in place as he
sought, unavailing,
to fight it. A few
people near by
looked at him
momentarily, though
mostly in innocent
concern lest the man
be ill. The nearest
Warder looked his
way briefly, but all
attention was
encompassed by the
appearance of the
Amyrlin.
Qirien
Sedai, the Flame of
Tar Valon, made a
few general remarks
to the audience
regarding the
holiday and hopes
for the upcoming
season. Then, moving
towards the first of
the families, with
Mingar just beside
her, she made the
presentations of the
gifts. She had begun
at the end furthest
from Careil, but was
making her way
towards him. So tall
she was, thought
Careil, noting how
this made her an
easy target despite
the lurking presence
of her Warder.
He
cast one last look
across the way at
the woman with the
eyes so clearly
filled with hatred.
The voice in his
mind whispered,
"now fulfill my
will." In a
smooth and agile
motion, he raised
his arms knowing
that no one could
react in time to
prevent his task.
------------------------------
Because
they had been so
high up in the
Tower, the group of
friends had to run a
considerable
distance to get down
to the ground level
of the structure.
Cadrien and
Maihgread were in
decent physical
condition, but
running down stairs
in long dresses is
not the easiest of
tasks. Garic stayed
with them since his
life was pledged to
Cadrien Sedai's
safety. Sorhan was
some way ahead of
them, but he could
not keep up with the
fleet-footed former
Ebou-Dari thief.
Rillian's mind was
full of concern for
the Amyrlin's
safety, but also the
need to prevent his
friend from a deed
that would
undoubtedly damn him
for all eternity.
Rillian
turned into the
large entrance
vestibule, not
bothering to slow as
he raced through the
great open doors and
burst into view.
Iliana looked with
shock at him and was
about to demand a
sotto voce
explanation, when
she noticed his
quickly darting eyes
and heaving chest.
Rillian spotted
Qirien just as she
was offering gifts
to what appeared to
be the last family
in the row. There!
Just to her right in
the crowd, a man's
arms were moving
upwards. "AELRIC,
NOOOOOOOO,"
screamed Rillian!
------------------------------
The
name of 'Aelric'
burst into Careil's
consciousness like a
hot knife through
wax. His arms seemed
to be rising still,
but ever so slowly
as images within his
mind flashed with
ever accelerating
rapidity. Yes, he
was Aelric. Again
came the flash of
pain as chagrin and
frustration twisted
the tone of the
voice. The new
awareness of himself
and his identity
warned him that
fighting the pain
would not suffice.
With nightmarish
quality, he realized
that his arms were
almost in firing
position - all those
around him appeared
barely to move. No,
fighting the Dark
One could not
succeed. Doing so
merely acknowledged
his being, giving
him strength. Evil
always attempted to
seduce by claiming
it existed as a
balance of or
complement to Good.
But Aelric knew that
for the lie it was.
Rightly named was
the Father of Lies.
Evil partook of no
essential existence,
rather only as the
absence of or the
warping of Goodness.
This was why evil
could never endure -
it was a parasite, a
nothingness that
could never create,
only destroy. Aelric
accepted the pain,
but in the deepest
part of his soul, he
rejected the Dark
One and all his
empty promises. The
black thread that he
had seen in his
dream snapped and
broke away from him
as he freely chose
service to the
Light. Suddenly, the
pain was gone, but
he could feel his
finger tightening
upon the trigger. In
the last instant, he
changed his target
ever so slightly and
completed the pull.
Time seemed to
resume again as the
bolt was released.
Aelric didn't move
as a crashing blow
was delivered upon
his head and he felt
a dagger thrust
slice between his
ribs.
---------------------------
Idhre
saw the swift, but
unhurried movement
of the man's body.
She had learned at
Natiah's that he had
called himself
Careil, though she
hadn't grasped its
significance. Her
heart filled as she
looked upon the
imminent death of
the White Tower's
leader, when
suddenly she
realized that the
bolt's trajectory
had taken it past
Qirien and towards
… her! Surprise
and outrage masked
the initial pain as
the bolt entered her
chest with a
sickening squelch.
As her heart labored
to pump blood
against the steel
shaft embedded
within its tissue,
that soon changed.
Even as she fell,
she began to
channel. She managed
to send a burst of
energy towards her
enemy, just as a
shield suddenly
wedged itself into
place, blocking her
from the True
Source. Pain
exploded in her head
as her lifeblood
poured out and all
went black.
------------------------------
The
crowd naturally
began to panic,
instinctively
running away from
the source of
perceived danger.
Qirien embraced
Saidar and formed a
defensive shield
about herself just
as a blast of energy
seemed to originate
from a woman to her
left. Preparing to
counter it, she
missed seeing Mingar
leap in front of her
to interpose his
body. "Mingar,"
she exclaimed!
-------------------------------
Adiah
al'Rhaen, of the
Green Ajah, saw the
crossbow bolt strike
a woman in the
crowd. Adiah was
prepared for battle,
as all Green sisters
were, but she was
shocked to see the
woman's face begin
to undulate and
change even as she
fell. The newly
raised sister's mind
was still grappling
with this, when the
glow of Saidar
surrounded the woman
just before she
released a bolt of
energy at the
Amyrlin. Adiah
embraced the One
Power, brutally
slamming a shield
into place, cutting
off the apparent
Black sister. True
to her calling as a
member of the Battle
Ajah, Adiah casually
slammed the hilt of
her dagger into the
woman's head, taking
some satisfaction in
the fact that her
struggles to remove
the bolt from her
chest ended abruptly
thereafter.
---------------------------------
Paliamihn
and Temrain were
making a run for
cover along with the
crowd. Unfortunately
for them, the panic
that had taken hold
of them was
loosening their grip
on their abilities
to maintain an
illusionary
appearance and mask
their ability to
channel. Ramonay,
Ashlaine, and
Selante were three
Accepted who were
trying to make their
way towards the
White Tower against
the flow of the
crowd. Their sharp
eyes did not miss
the rather odd,
shifting images of
the two women that
spirited past them,
nor did the chaos
prevent them from
sensing the presence
of women who could
channel. It only
required a few
moments conferral
before Ramonay and
Ashlaine shielded
the two women and
Selante had them
bound in flows of
Air. The two had
fought for a moment,
but were no match
for the strength of
three of the Tower's
most powerful and
promising Accepted.
Walking up to the
pair of captive
women, whose true
appearances were now
clearly visible,
Selante mused rather
cold-bloodedly,
"well, well,
well, what have we
here?" The
glare in Ashlaine's
and Ramonay's eyes
held no hint of
compassion for
Paliamihn and
Temrain.
---------------------------
"Wait,"
said Rillian,
interjecting himself
between the body he
hoped was still his
friend and the two
Warders. They had
been nearest to
Careil/Aelric and,
quite rightly as far
as they could have
known, used the
force necessary to
incapacitate the
suspected assailant.
No one yet could be
aware that the man
had missed the
Amyrlin
intentionally,
though Rillian
suspected it given
the short range. He
motioned eagerly to
Jascha Esman Sedai,
who had been the
representative of
the Yellow Ajah.
Knowing that he
couldn't hope to
explain in time, he
asked Jascha Sedai
to attempt a healing
so that they could
question him.
Nodding, Jascha bent
down, embracing the
Source, and began
her work. Rillian
was kneeling by the
man's head, a large,
purplish bump
already rising, and
was calling to him
gently, "Aelric,
hold fast my
friend." Jascha
and the two Warders
looked at him
askance, even as
Iliana, Cadrien,
Maihgread, Garic,
and Sorhan arrived.
"Iliana, have
we a story for
you," said
Cadrien with a wry
look on her face.
"Fear not,
Rillian," she
added, "Aelric
won't die again
until I have a
chance to kick him
soundly for that
previous time - that
is, if Niniane
doesn't get to him
first!"
------------------------------
He
distantly felt
himself shudder as
the healing flows
swept through his
body. As pain faded,
to be replaced by an
overwhelming
tiredness, he could
hear the laughter of
his friends, and in
that sound, he took
comfort.
Epilogue
It
was a beautiful
spring day in Tar
Valon. The singing
of the birds
returning from their
wintering in the
south filled the air
that was warm,
fresh, and thick
with the scent of
new growth. A
dramatic change from
that cold last day
of winter, now more
than two months
past. Sorhan and
Rillian were
practicing their
music while sitting
on a bench nestled
in the shade of a
tree whose leaves
were bright with the
green of new growth.
Their playing was a
soft accompaniment
to the voices of
nature around them.
During
a break, Sorhan
cocked an eye at
Rillian and asked,
"how's Ael been
doing? I haven't had
as much opportunity
to visit him as I'd
like." Rillian
thought for a moment
before answering.
"Physically,
he's doing well. His
wounds are healed
and he's exercising.
In fact, he's even
working sword forms
and sparring with
CorDazar." He
sighed before
continuing,
"He's wrestling
with a lot of guilt,
however. He feels
that he failed
Niniane Sedai to
some extent. And, of
course, he's aware
that he's the man
who almost killed
the Amyrlin. What
happened to Mingar
didn't help
either." Sorhan
nodded, adding,
"I've heard
that he still hasn't
regained
consciousness,
though his actual
wounds were minor.
The Amyrlin says
that she can feel
the bond, but, in
her words, it's
"weak and
tenuous." No
one can or is
willing to say,
when, or if he'll
return." After
a few moments
reflection, Rillian
added, "I think
that the toughest
part of all for
Aelric though, is
the realization that
someone, or rather
an entire family,
were killed so that
he could be
reincarnated into
that body. Every
time he looks in a
mirror or hears his
voice now, he thinks
of himself as a kind
of murderer."
"Well,"
suggested Sorhan,
"at least he's
among friends back
in the Ashandarei
halls. Maybe having
his old room back
will give him some
space to make peace
with himself."
By
unspoken agreement,
they both turned to
happier matters.
"It was nice of
the Green Ajah to
invite us along to
clean out the den of
darkfriends down at
that inn,"
resumed Sorhan. You
have to admire their
audacity in picking
out that name for
the place,
though,"
shaking his head.
Rillian nodded,
thinking to himself
that the Battle Ajah
was rather an
appropriate name
having seen, and
participated in,
that little
aforementioned
purging. Jonash, the
innkeeper, and
several others were
all questioned
briefly, then sent
in small packages to
their Dark Master
rather than be
allowed to use up
space and resources
occupying the
Tower's dungeons. It
appeared that the
Sisters of the Green
Ajah didn't
appreciate the
effort of the
darkfriends to
suborn one of their
former Gaidin.
Sorhan
chuckled, "did
you hear that
Paliamihn and
Temrain finally
talked?"
"No,"
answered Rillian,
"what happened?
They appeared to
have recovered from
their initial shock
and were tight
lipped ever
since."
"Well,"
continued Sorhan
with laughter in his
eyes, "someone
had the idea to send
Sri in there to have
a little chat with
them. Apparently,
after about ten
minutes, they were
screaming for the
opportunity to talk
and muttering about
ashtrays!"
Rillian found
himself on the
ground, rolling in
laughter. When he
opened his eyes, he
saw Aelric - it
still took some time
to realize this face
now was Aelric's -
standing there above
him with a sly grin
on his face. "I
see you found the
story as funny as I
did," he said.
Rillian stood and
was happy to see
that Aelric was
wearing the sword
that his father had
sent him when he had
first become
Ashandarei. Niniane
had kept the weapon
after his
"death".
"Well,"
mused Aelric,
looking at Sorhan
and Rillian, "I
don't know about you
two, but I've had to
dodge a few of Sri's
projectiles in my
time. I, for one,
wouldn't want to
imagine being in an
enclosed space with
her if she's
armed!"
------------------------
The sound of the three men's laughter rose on a puff of wind whose origins and destination would never be known; its breath told of stories to come, but closed gently the pages of this one. My
Music, a Light
Forsaken Pillar, and
a Three Week
Vacation
It
had been a long
week, but finally it
looked like I would
have some spare time
to do the things
that I had earlier
postponed. In fact
it looked like I was
going to be getting
an ample respite of
three weeks from my
other
responsibilities. I
walked down to the
basement and entered
the library of
Bardic Hall. I
looked around, more
empty shelves then
full ones, well I
would have to do
something about that
later. A large black
pillar that was in
the center of the
library dominated
the room. It had
been found while the
Ogiers had been
building the
foundations for
Bardic Hall.
However, even with
their strength and
ingenuity they had
been unable to move
the black pillar, so
they just shifted
the foundations
slightly over
leaving the pillar
in the center of the
future library. The
ogier masons had
mentioned it to me,
but as there was too
much else to do I
did not go and see
the problem first
hand. I had put this
off for too long and
was starting to feel
a little guilty for
letting it slide for
so long. As
the ogier masons had
been unable to move
the pillar I did not
take any time in
futile efforts with
lifting the pillar
with the Saidin. I
walked into the
center of the
library and started
a close inspection
to the black stoned
pillar. I went over
the pillar inch by
inch trying to
memorize the
features of the
faces. However,
after a period of
what must have been
an hour, I had found
nothing to explain
to me what was
special about this
pillar. "Wait a
second, why do I
think this pillar is
special in the first
place, it hasn't
done anything it is
probably just really
heavy." I said
to myself, as I
often do, talking to
myself that is, when
trying to solve a
very difficult
puzzle. I then
probed the pillar
and quickly found
what my senses had
subtly observed and
had led my mind to
give this pillar
importance. The
pillar had been made
with the one power
and gave off a
slight pulse, which
could be easily felt
when one uses the
One Power near the
pillar. My
probing also gave me
other interesting
information. First
the pillar was very
ancient perhaps from
the age of legends.
This brought up a
curious question,
how had it gone
unnoticed by the
White Tower for so
long, I mean Bardic
Hall is not very far
away from Tar Valon.
I then went to my
shelves and looked
for my notes on the
history of this
area, which I had
written down when I
had chosen this
place to build. I
worked furiously
trying to dig up an
answer, but I found
nothing from my
notes of any use. It
was a few days later
when I realized my
attempts from
looking through my
notes would give me
no answers.
Slightly, well
slightly is an
understatement,
irritated at having
no answers and more
questions from this
light forsaken
pillar, I stomped up
the stairs. I tried
to puzzle out all
the questions that
this pillar had
brought to my
attention. I decided
that I better look
for information in
Library at the White
Tower. I went to my
room and buckled on
my sword, and opened
a gateway to the
Courtyard. I was in
a hurry as I did not
want to waste any
time unnecessarily
and therefore I
failed to notice an
answer to a question
I had been trying to
work out. I quickly
strolled through the
courtyard and past
the practice yard
where I met my
brother. "Hey
Sorhan," Rohan
yelled at me as he
disengaged from his
sparring partner and
ran toward me,
"wait up will
you." I
stopped and waited
for him to catch up
to me. "What is
the problem?" I
asked once he was by
my side. "There
is no problem, just
wondering if you
would be interested
in sparring with
me," he
replied. I raised an
eyebrow at him, and
he quickly said,
"I have
improved I swear I
even think I can
compete with you
now," he
grinned and amended,
"well for a
while at
least." I
shrugged and said,
"Well it can't
hurt, the answers
will not run away
and I could probably
use a short break.
What weapons do you
wish to spar
with?" He
replied, "I
would prefer if you
use a quarterstaff
while I use a sword,
I have not gotten as
much practice
against a
quarterstaff and it
hopefully will not
hurt as much as the
sword." I
grinned and said,
"Many famous
peoples' last words.
Well it is your
life. I guess you
can choose when and
how you want to end
it." I went to
the practice yards
with him and found
myself a suitable
quarterstaff and
placed myself in a
defensive stance.
"Ready when you
are," I said.
He saluted like a
young soldier would
salute to a master
swordsman. "Do
you hope flattery
will give you fewer
bruises,
brother?" I
asked with a grin. "It
couldn't hurt to
try?" he
replied with a
rueful smile. I
chuckled and said,
"Well if you
are not going to
start I might as
well before the
sunsets and nothing
happens." I
attacked with a
feigned blow to the
head and quickly
turning the
quarterstaff down
toward the legs. The
very quick attack
surprised him and he
was just barely able
to recover from the
fake blow to block
the sweep of the
legs. I stepped back
into a defensive
position and allowed
Rohan time to
recover and start an
offensive sequence.
After a moment he
started his first
attack, it was a
quick thrust to the
midsection, but I
blocked it and the
quick blow aimed at
my arm right after
the thrust. I
created a defensive
wall and Rohan was
never able to touch
me as I continued to
slide the
quarterstaff down
his sword and
blocking all of his
attacks. His attacks
became quicker as he
tried harder and
harder to enter
through my weaved
defense of the quick
quarterstaff.
However by doing
this he left himself
open for quick
counterstrikes,
which I took full
advantage. I blocked
Rohan's next attack,
but this time he had
placed too much on
the blow and was off
balance. I quickly
struck once to the
left side, then the
right and I then
swung the
quarterstaff down
and swept his legs
bringing him
crashing down onto
the ground.
I
wiped the sweat off
my forehead and
asked, "Rohan
are you ok?" I
heard him mutter
something, but
couldn't quite get
what it was.
"Yes I am
fine," he said
as he sat up,
"nothing wrong
that a hot bath and
some rest won't
cure." As I
came over to help
him up, I heard a
round of applause
and for the first
time noticed that
our sparring had
attracted a group of
young warders in
training. When
I was assured that
Rohan was fine I
bowed, to the
audience and said
with mock sternness,
"Well I am sure
you had fun
watching, but I
doubt the Master at
Arms would be
pleased to know that
you failed to do
your duties because
you stopped to watch
a family rivalry. So
if I were you, I
would hurry up and
get back to what you
were suppose to be
doing." My
attempt at being
stern failed as I
couldn't stop a grin
from covering my
face. Before too
many of them noticed
I was just playing
with them, I walked
out of the practice
yards and went to
take a long hot bath
and get something to
eat from the
kitchens. The
sparing had been a
refreshing brake
from my current
puzzle, but the
break was over and I
went to the library
to find out anything
about pillars made
with the One Power.
I started with
several books about
the Age of Legends
in hope of finding
some answers. As I
was reading one
question kept
popping into my head
and would not let me
think of anything
else until I solved
it. How had the
pillar gone
undetected for so
long, and it being
so close to Tar
Valon? Maybe they
had found it earlier
but were unable to
move it and after
time had just
forgotten it. I went
searching through
for anything that
might hint about the
light forsaken
pillar. However, I
found nothing either
it had been
undiscovered or the
manuscripts were
lost. I was starting
to believe no one
had discovered it,
but that still did
not explain why it
hadn't. I continued
to think, how could
something made with
the one power that
made such a strong
pulse not be
noticed. That's when
the obvious struck,
like it so often
does, without
warning, I hadn't
felt the pulse when
I opened a gateway
earlier today, or
any other day for
that matter. Then it
dawned on me it
couldn't have been
sensed when it was
buried under all
that rock and soil
and just out of pure
luck I had found it. Now
with that question
answered, I began to
look for the answers
to what it was, and
why it was built. To
my utter
disappointment I
found nothing of
use, it seems that
nothing quite like
it had ever been
discovered. This
pillar was a
complete dead end,
it made no sense,
and was a complete
enigma to me. I
decided that I might
need more
specialized
information about
power-made objects,
thus I went to the
Hall and looked for
anything along the
pillar's nature, and
asked Aran Tarrent
if he had ever heard
of such an object as
the pillar I had
found.
Unfortunately, he
too had heard
nothing of such an
artifact, and said
that he would look
for anything that
could give me some
answers. Once again
I was up a creek
with no paddle, and
in this case no boat
either. I went back
to the Bardic Hall
Archives in an
attempt to raise
answers to my
questions out of the
bloody pillar. I
conducted another up
close examination of
the pillar, but was
only able to learn
that the black stone
was obsidian, and
confirm that it was
ancient and made
with the one power.
This extreme
examination,
required vast
amounts of time
staring at the
object, so it wasn't
much of a surprise
when my eyes started
to ache and I began
to get tired. I went
to a table to just
sit and rest my
eyes. Honestly, I
didn't mean to fall
asleep, but I should
have guessed that it
would happen. It
must have been two
in the morning when
I woke up and
realized that I had
indeed fallen
asleep. I decided I
better get up to my
quarters as it was
obvious that nothing
more was going to be
found tonight and I
should get a good
night sleep. I
shrugged stretching
out my sore shoulder
muscles as I got up.
I muttered to
myself, "One
week and still no
real answers."
As I got up, I look
one last time as if
hoping some
inspiration would
appear to me.
However, I was
unable to see the
pillar as the lamps
were all out. I
decided against
relighting them and
just placing a fire
in the fire place.
And to my great
surprise I found
nothing, nothing
what so ever
(::grins:: you
thought something
might come about,
well not yet). I
really felt like a
fool for wasting my
time lighting the
damn fireplace. I
doused the fire and
grabbed a lamp and
lit it and walked up
the stairs to my
room. I laid in bed
and couldn't fall
asleep as the pillar
continued to haunt
all my thoughts. I
finally did fall
asleep an hour or so
later, but it was
not a deep sleep,
and I awoke maybe
more tired than when
I went to sleep. I
got up decided to
check up on how
things were doing in
the classrooms with
the future gleemen
and bards trying
their best to
improve. My mood
improved seeing
something working
like it was supposed
to. I walked toward
the kitchen and got
myself breakfast,
which I ate quickly,
and with renewed
vigor I attacked
this puzzle. I
walked down to the
Archives, and sat
looking at the notes
I had accumulated in
the week of
frustration and
failure. Made
of jet black
obsidian.Very
ancient perhaps from
the Age of
LegendsMade with the
one powerNot found
because it was
hidden by layers of
rock and soilUse:
unknownCannot be
movedNothing like it
has ever been
reported That
was it that was all
that I had found in
an entire week of
studying the pillar.
I looked at the
notes again and
thought of its use.
"Could it be a
form of Portal
Stone, it can't be
moved," I
thought as I tried
to answer this
enigma. I went back
to the White Tower
Library and read
several manuscripts
on portal stones,
including the Nature
of Portal Stones,
and the written
experiences of
Joslyn Damodred
Sedai. However, the
descriptions of
portal stones were
very different from
what the pillar was
like. I decided that
it was just a
coincidence that
these two
phenomenons had a
characteristic in
common and continued
to search for other
answers to what its
use could be. I
looked back up at
the pillar from the
table that I was
sitting at when I
noticed what I
hadn't noticed
before. There was
writing on the
pillar. I couldn't
believe how dense I
was, I had been
doing up close
observation, but not
from a distance and
for that reason had
completely missed
the writing. Granted
it was very subtly
written and only by
pure luck, the lamp
light hitting the
pillar just at the
moment I looked up
and at the precise
angle needed for me
to see it. I was
ecstatic, I finally
had found something
that could give me
answers about the
pillar. I went to
work copying down
the runes on the
pillar. It was
written in the Old
Tongue, which
increased my belief
that the pillar was
very old. I quickly
set myself to
translating the
text, which I had
copied. It had been
a long time since my
long days of study
in Cairhien, and I
was a little rusty
with the Old Tongue.
I got myself a
dictionary, and
started to work on
the translation. I
worked hard and
completely lost
track of time when a
sound surprised me
into alertness. I
looked around
quickly trying to
find the source of
the noise, when one
of the librarians,
and the source of
the noise said
sounding amused,
"You look lost,
almost like some of
those brown sisters
when they're
studying." I
grinned and said,
"Sa souvraya
niende misain
ye." I got a
blank stare as she
tried to translate
it quickly. I
chuckled and said,
"I am lost in
my own mind. Sorry
about the old tongue
there, it just
slipped." I
heard her mutter as
she walked away to
clean other areas,
"His mind is
probably a labyrinth
where everything
gets lost including
himself." I
grinned, and
continued with my
translating. I
looked down at my
translation and then
tried to turn it
into understandable
sentences. Finally,
I finished the
translation process,
which wasn't easy as
the old tongue can
have several
different
translations into
the modern tongue. I
looked down and read
it to myself. A
ter'angreal whose
power is to allow
traveling by
establishing
semipermanent
gateways. Warning
(could be caution)
When programming the
ter'angreal one
should have both
Saidin and Saidar
working together. It
can be done with
only one side of the
One Power but the
results could be (I
was unable to
translate) One must
open a gateway just
like normal
traveling except
instead of normal
grounding one must
ground oneself to
the bedrock (direct
translation was
rock) via this
ter'angreal. Once
the gateway is open,
it will become a
permanent gateway.
At this time (could
be point) you must
name the gateway.
This gateway will
now open whenever
anyone (direct
translation is a
person) touches the
ter'angreal and
gives the name of
the gateway. These
gateways will lose
power after a year
and should be
renewed. The renewal
process is the same
as the programming
process except only
one half of the One
Power (Saidin or
Saidar) is needed
for reliable
results. I
reread the notes to
myself out of
disbelief, I
couldn't believe
what I had found. I
decided I must have
done a mistake, was
in shock or I would
have realized that I
would have had to
translate everything
wrong for it to be a
mistake, and I
certainly didn't do
that many mistakes.
In fact even after
checking the
translation twice I
found no errors with
it. Although still
in shock I had
allowed myself to
finally believe that
is what the runes
said. However, I
still didn't believe
that the runes were
true. Although the
translation had
answered several
questions I had been
asking (i.e., its
use, why it was
built), it had
brought up some new
questions. For
example what did it
mean when it said
grounding, and how
can you name a
gateway. I
decided to study
gateways, and in
hopes of
understanding the
runes on the pillar.
I heard my stomach
growl, and I went to
the kitchens to get
something to eat. I
found some bread
from this morning,
and some cheese. I
took my meal and
walked to my
quarters so I could
eat and look over
the business reports
of my river trading
enterprise. I
finished the meal
faster than I had
hoped, and once
again it was time to
go back to solving
the challenge
presented by the
pillar ter'angreal.
I chose to go on a
retreat for a few
days to do my
studying in peace,
as there wasn't much
written about
traveling and day or
two is all I would
need. I decided on
going to the most
peaceful place I
knew of, an ogier
stedding. I planned
on a trip to
Stedding Yontiang in
Kinslayer's Dagger.
It would take me two
days to get there
from Cairhien, so I
packed for a nice
journey. I saddled
my horse Ji'mahdi
(translated as honor
seeker) and left to
Cairhien. I rode
Ji'mahdi out about
five miles from
Bardic Hall, and
opened a gateway to
the school created
by Rand al'Thor. I
emerged from my
gateway and found an
inn nearby the
school to rest that
night as it was
already late from
all the packing. I
thought about
visiting many of my
old teachers at the
school, but decided
to do it early the
next morning instead
of bothering them
tonight. That and
the bed really was
comfortable. I slept
a deep sleep, and
awoke the next
morning early and
refreshed. I picked
up some fruit and
went to the school.
I met with my
philosophy and
history teachers and
discussed the pillar
however they too had
heard nothing like
it. I gave my
farewells and said
that I would visit
them some time
later, and went back
to the inn to
prepare my things to
leave, before I went
to visit my other
teachers. However I
was surprised when I
entered the common
room to find my
three other teachers
there waiting for
me. "Greetings
Sorhan," said
Aaron, an elderly
gleeman who had
taught me much of
what I knew about
music. Both Johanin,
my fencing
instructor, and
Roedran an aiel from
the White Mountain
sept of the Chareen,
who had taught me
martial arts, nodded
their heads. I
bowed and replied,
"Ninte
calichniye no
domashitsa, a long
time since I have
seen any of you. So
how is everything
going?" We
started a
conversation where
we caught up on
recent news and
other happenings.
After I listened to
what had happened to
them since I had
left, mostly
involving the recent
politics in the city
(remember this is
Cairhien where even
the servants play
the Da'es daemar) I
explained what had
happened to me since
the day I had chosen
to try to become a
warder. Both Johanin
and Roedran were
impressed at my
rapid advancement,
and many of the
other
accomplishments
including the
starting of Bardic
Hall and my own
river trading
enterprise. However,
Aaron seemed not
surprised, which
makes sense as he
being a gleeman had
probably already
heard about Bardic
Hall. Finally, the
conversation seemed
to come to an end,
and we all knew that
it was time for me
to go on to Yontiang.
I bowed to my former
instructors, and
left to the stables
and my ready steed. The
ride to Yontiang was
peaceful and without
incident. I spent
the two days
reaching there,
traveling in a very
leisurely pace. I
camped at night and
ate rations, which I
had brought along,
spiced up with
berries and nuts
that I found near my
camp. I arrived at
Stedding Yontiang
early in the morning
of the third day of
travel. I rode
Ji'mahdi up to the
waygate, which told
me the entrance of
the stedding. I
dismounted and led
Ji'mahdi as I walked
into the center of
the stedding. I
walked slowly
absorbing the
calmness that is a
characteristic of
Ogier steddings. I
was greeted by what
would seem to be one
of the elders. I
bowed and said,
"Carai ti tia
avende alantin." The
elder replied with a
deep rumbling voice,
"Kodome
calichniye ga ni Aes
Sedai hei. It has
been along time
since one of your
kind has come to ask
refuge, has the
madness
started." "Ninte
calichniye no
domashitsa, but the
age of male Aes
Sedai has come and
gone, I cannot in
honesty accept such
a title. And no I am
not asking refuge to
delay the madness. I
ask to be able to
enjoy the peace and
beauty of your
steady for one or
two days, as the
tranquility of the
stedding will do
much in helping my
studies," I
said. The
elder replied,
"Ah a warrior
and a scholar, well
I believe that your
request shall be
granted and I would
be very glad if you
would stay in my
household while you
are here."
Looking at my flute
case he added,
"And I would be
very glad to hear
some music, we do
not hear the music
of man often here,
and it would be very
welcome." "I
am honored by your
hospitality, and it
would be my pleasure
to play music for
you," I stated.
"However,"
I amended, "I
would consider
myself a scholar,
and a musician
before a
warrior." "A
man of peace you are
welcome here, there
are so few of
you," he said
sadly. He led the
way to his household
and I followed him.
We conversed, well
it was more of an
interrogation by my
part. I asked
questions about
their records and if
I could talk to the
stedding's scholars.
The elder chuckled
and said,
"Patience, my
eager friend,
everything cannot be
done at once, and a
small amount of time
will not change the
answers you are
looking for,
whatever those
questions might
be." I
restrained from
asking any more
questions knowing
that I would not
receive any answers
until we had arrived
at the elder's
cottage. Once we
arrived, he showed
me where the records
were, and told me
that I could meet
the scholar later in
the day, when they
would come over to
eat a meal at his
cottage. I thanked
him emphatically for
his help and quickly
went to see if there
was anything about
gateways in their
records, the
steddings had once
been refuge for the
powerful male Aes
Sedai and they might
still have copies or
fragments of those
old manuscripts, and
essays. I
took along with me
my notebook, and the
two books, which I
had borrowed from
the White Tower. I
sat myself done and
started to look
through the two
books, unfortunately
there was nothing
new that could
extract from either
of them. Thus, I
started looking
through the records
for anything of use.
I found several good
manuscripts, but
they like the pillar
just took for
granted that you
understood the terms
of traveling from
the age of legends.
I was disappointed
that I had found
nothing of use, but
not totally
surprised. I hadn't
expected any answers
from books, I
believed that the
answers were already
there I just had to
put them in the
right order to make
sense. I walked back
to the elder's
cottage, I fed
Ji'mahdi, and
unpacked. I then
went into the main
room of the cottage
and sat down to
start composing
another ballad. I
already had one and
I felt inspiration
from the serenity of
the stedding. The
Ogier, creatures out
of legend and
loreThe arts of war
they deploreFamous
as builders of
golden cities
unwornYet it is for
the lost trees they
mourn Warriors of
fame and mightWhose
courage could hold
off the nightBut it
is the songs and
life that they
loveAnd their
character is of
peace like the dove.
Glory to the
builders, ingenuity
untoldWhose
hospitality and
welcome are never
coldWisdom from age
they do ownPatience
a virtue they have
honed. The elders of
this world of
ours'They see our
lives pass by like
hoursTo nature they
are headingAs the
lords and ladies of
the tranquil
steddings. The Ogier,
creatures of legend
and loreOf acts of
war they must learn
moreFamous as
builder of golden
cities tornFor the
loss of their trees
they will mourn. I
heard rumbling
voices entering the
cottage, and I knew
that it must be the
scholars, and it was
time to eat. I bowed
to the two ogier
scholars and said,
"Greetings, I
am Sorhan al’Danielle." The
scholars raised
their bushy brows in
unison, and the
elder of the two
replied, "Hmm,
a humble man you
take no title." I
grinned and said,
"Humble, you do
me honor, I have
taken titles that
have been given to
me, but I see little
reason to waste time
using them."
The ogiers seemed to
approve of my
answer, and we
continued to the
table where a meal
was ready. It was a
surprise to me, how
had I missed the
noise, and smells of
cooking, had I been
that attentive to
the writing of my
ballad. I shrugged
off the questions,
and sat at the
table. The meal was
delicious and was
finished in what
seemed like seconds,
I hadn’t noticed
how hungry I had
been. The
ogiers then pulled
out pipes and began
to smoke. It was now
that I asked the
scholars if they had
heard anything about
a pillar like the
one I had found. "No
we have never heard
of anything like it,
we are sorry Sorhan,"
replied the elder
scholar. "Well,
then would you be
willing to check if
the translation I
have done is
correct?" I
asked. They
assented, and I gave
them my copy of the
runes, and the
translation that I
had written. They
looked over the
notes carefully and
a tension seemed to
mount in the air as
I awaited their
response. Finally,
the scholars lifted
their heads up and
said, "Sorhan,
everything you have
translated is
correct, we found no
errors." "Do
you know anything
about
traveling?" I
asked. The younger
scholar answer yes,
as the elder scholar
shook his head. I
asked the younger
scholar, "Do
you know what
grounding is in
terms of traveling,
and do you know how
to name a
gateway." The
younger scholar
looked to be in a
state of deep
thinking and after a
moment he said,
"I am sorry I
do not know what
grounding means, as
I have never
actually been in a
gateway, but my
guess is that to
name a gateway you
just touch the
pillar and say a
name out loud, just
like you would do to
open the permanent
gateway." I
had to agree that
did seem logical of
how to name a
gateway. "Thank
you for your time
and answers," I
said. "It
was our
pleasure,"
replied the elder
scholar, "I
heard that you are a
musician, would it
be too much to ask f
you would play us
some songs." I
assented and went in
to pick up my flute.
I returned and tuned
my flute, and played
the music to an old
song from Mayene.
They seemed to like
it but looked a
little disappointed
as if they expected
something different.
"Is there a
harp I could
borrow?" I
asked. The elder
said there was one
in his room and I
could borrow it. I
quickly went to his
room and found the
harp, the only
problem was that it
was rather large,
say twice as large
as my normal harp. I
ended up pushing it
back into the main
room as picking it
up could have been
dangerous for me and
the harp. I tuned
the harp, and made
myself as
comfortable as
possible, and tuned
the huge harp. I
then sang the first
ballad I had ever
composed, and
although I couldn’t
use Saidin to create
illusions my music
and words were
enough to paint the
picture in their
minds. I then
decided to sing the
ballad I had just
early that day
written. I started
with a soft
introduction, and
then went into the
ballad slowly and
softly. It was truly
beautiful. I
had once heard Aaron
say that a true
musician must find
himself in his
music, and until he
did he could be a
great musician, but
he would never be
one of the best. I
had asked him how
does one know when
they have found
themselves, and he
had said he didn’t
know as he had never
found himself, but
he said that I would
know if it happened.
He was right, I knew
when the final note
of my ballad ended,
that I had found
myself in my music.
My song before
though beautiful in
technique and sound
it had lacked the
spirit that had been
found in my last
song. I looked up
from the harp and
saw tears coming
down the eyes of
three ogiers who had
been the audience of
my self discovery. I
felt a little
embarrassed as the
silence continued, I
finally couldn’t
take it any longer
and to break the
silence I coughed.
This seemed to bring
my audience out of a
daze and the small
talk that we had
been participating
in before continued. The
two scholars left a
little after and I
helped with picking
up. I then walked
out of the cottage,
and found a small
tree in which I
decided to sit under
and think over the
questions of the
pillar, and my own
discovery. I finally
came to terms with
my own self
discovery, and went
on to tackle the
question of
grounding. I went
through all the
steps one does in
traveling. I knew
that grounding had
to be one of the
first steps or it
wouldn’t have
asked me to ground
myself before
opening the gateway.
So what did I do
before opening a
gateway, I had to
know the area. But
how could that be
grounding. Walked
outside the stedding
and then started to
open a gateway,
slowly step by step.
Right before I would
open the gateway I
stopped and observed
myself. I probed
myself and my
relation to my
surroundings. I
slowly probed until
I found it, the
answer I had been
looking for. I had a
small strand of
spirit grounding my
existence to my
surroundings to keep
me from being
destroyed by the
boring of the
pattern. It was so
minute and done
subconsciously in
our own instincts of
self survival that I
had never noticed
it. I
practically ran back
to the cottage, my
stay was over, I had
been here only one
day but I would
leave early the next
morning, my quest
for answers was
finished, and now I
would get a chance
to test out my
hypothesis. I
entered the cottage
and finding no one
in the house I
started to pack it
was already growing
dark outside and I
knew that if I
wanted to leave
early the next
morning that I would
have to say my
farewells tonight
before I left. I
found the two
scholars that I had
conversed with
earlier and said
good bye, they were
very kind, and they
both gave me a
present. They knew
that I would be
going back by
gateway, and had
observed my
appreciation for the
trees in the
steddings. Each of
them gave me a
sapling, and said,
"Sorhan, take
these two saplings
and start your own
small grove." I
grinned at them,
"You do me
honor and I will do
what I can, but my
own lifetime is much
shorter than yours,
and I don't have
your touch with
plants, I doubt that
I or the generation
after me will see
the results of this
gift."
"That
might be Sorhan, but
be it several human
generations before
results are seen,
this moment will be
remembered,"
replied the elder
scholar. I
bowed to their
wisdom and accepted
the gifts. I walked
back to the cottage,
and found my host
calmly smoking his
pipe. "I thank
you for your
hospitality, and as
I'm leaving early
tomorrow morning, I
felt it best to say
goodbye
tonight," I
said. My
host muttered
something about
humans and being in
such a hurry, but
replied, "As
you wish I would
like to thank you
for your company and
your music Sorhan.
You are welcome here
anytime you
want." "Thank
You, Elder," I
replied, "I may
take you up on your
offer someday."
I went back to the
guest room and
finished the little
packing I had left
and went to sleep.
It was a deep sleep
with no dreams, and
I awoke before dawn
feeling refreshed
and ready for my
return home. I
quickly got out and
saddled Ji'mahdi and
rode out of the
stedding to where I
had been studying
gateways the day
before. I opened a
gateway to the
courtyard at Bardic
Hall and walked
through. I
emerged through the
gateway into the
empty courtyard,
remember it was just
after dawn. I
stabled Ji'mahdi,
and went to my
quarters where I
unpacked and
changed. Once that
was done, I went
down to the kitchen
to eat breakfast. It
was a quick
breakfast consisting
of a glass of milk,
and two sweet rolls,
both which I
swallowed down. I
walked quickly to
the archives, my
anxiousness was
impeding my
judgement. I wanted
so badly to test out
my hypotheses that I
forgot about the
warning of
programing the
ter'angreal. A
mistake that would
create several
memorable moments. I
entered the library
carrying only my
notes, and my sword
at my side, which I
hadn't taken the
time to take off. I
took one last look
at the pillar, then
I reread the
instructions to
programming. Once
finished I
practically ran to
the pillar to try
out my ideas. I
calmed myself enough
to reach for Saidin.
I slowly reached the
void, and then I
grabbed a hold of
Saidin, that bitter
sweet nectar that
could make you feel
more alive and real,
but would destroy
you if you became
careless. Instead of
looking at my
surroundings like I
normally would do, I
look at the pillar
and memorized every
small facet of its
surface. I probed
its interior, so I
would know it
inside-out. I then
slowly wove a strand
of spirit like the
one I had observed
near the Stedding
Yontiang. Once this
was in place, and it
felt secure, I
started to open a
gateway to the White
Tower Library (it is
one of the places I
spend a lot of time
in ::shrugs::). The
gateway looked
normal, and I
stepped through to
find out the mistake
I had made.
The
gateway had opened,
but not to where I
had wanted it to,
the White Tower
Library. The
gateway, because of
the imbalance of
being programmed
with only Saidin,
had opened slightly
off course from
where it was suppose
to have opened. It
got me to Tar Valon,
but it was a rather
embarrassing
experience to say
the least. I walked
through the gateway,
but what I found was
not the books, and
shelves of the
Library, but the
naked backs of
several women taking
a bath (later I was
to find out that the
gateway had
transported me into
the washing room of
an inn in Tar Valon
nearby the White
Tower). To say the
least I was rather
surprised and out of
pure instinct, and
thank the creator
for those instincts,
I wove air around me
reflecting the light
away from me, making
me invisible.
However, this cause
another dilemma, I
could not see
because the light I
had reflected to
make me invisible
was the same light I
needed to see. The
gateway had closed
so the only way out
of the washing room
was the normal door,
however it was on
the complete other
side of the room,
and either I blindly
groped, hmm that
wasn't the best
choice of words.
Either I blindly
search for the door,
or I drop my
illusion and run for
the door, neither
plan was very
satisfactory to me.
I sat quietly,
although they
couldn't see me they
still could hear me,
and thought out how
I could get out. I
couldn't open a
gateway for one main
reason: I didn't
know my
surroundings, and to
learn them I would
have to drop my
illusion. I
continued to think
up and abandon plans
of escape in the
complete darkness in
which I was in. Finally,
something occurred
to me that I had
never thought of,
which just might
work. I eased out my
senses from the
small area around me
and tried to catch
all sounds. I then
slowly probed the
room with spirit,
giving me a blurry
picture of the room.
This blurry picture
only told where
anything living or
had once been living
(includes humans,
clothing, furniture)
was situated. With
the sort of vision,
I walked slowly, and
quietly toward the
door of the washing
room, to find
another problem. The
door was closed.
"Damnation,"
I muttered to
myself, "I
can't get out
without giving
myself away."
With this
realization I sat
and tried to think
of something else. I
decided that I would
knock on the door
and hope that one of
the women would open
the door so I could
get out. I stood up
and knocked on the
door, and luckily
someone from the
washing room opened
the door, and I
quickly moved out
the door onto the
other side. My quick
movement surprised
the lady as she had
felt the air move.
However, she must
have taken the air
to have been
something strange
but didn't consider
it something
important enough to
think a great deal
about, thank the
creator for that. I
heard her say,
"I guess I just
mistook the
sound." With
that I heard the
door shut. I then
started to slowly
walk down toward the
common room, and out
of the inn. Once out
of the inn I looked
for an abandoned
alleyway, which I
found rather
quickly. I then
dropped my illusion,
and could once again
see. I took a moment
to recuperate from
this experience and
then walked to the
nearest inn to get a
stiff drink. After,
the drink I walked
to the White Tower,
where I could rest
in my room there
while I regained my
reserves that I had
used creating my
prolong illusion. I
arrived at the gates
slower than I would
have liked, but the
crowed streets make
quick travel
impossible. Once
I was in the White
Tower, I went and
got a meal in the
kitchens, which I
then took up to my
rooms so I could
rest off the effects
of long usage of the
One Power. Now I
knew what they meant
by caution with
programing the
ter'angreal with
only one side of the
One Power, I didn't
plan on trying that
again, the only
problem was now
finding and Aes
Sedai who would
agree to help me
program the
ter'angreal, and not
want to take it
away. By now I
figured that I did
not want to lose the
ter'angreal, because
of all the work I
had made in
discovering what it
was. That and I did
not want the Bardic
Hall Archives to be
completely torn
apart in attempts of
taking the
ter'angreal to the
vaults in the White
Tower. These
thoughts dominated
my mind during my
time resting, and my
dreams once I feel
asleep. |