Chapter
1: Realizations. Shan
had been worried
bout her friend for
a while now. Since
getting back from
her lil trip, she
hadn't had the time
to blink, let alone
go see how he fared. Stepping
through the
unfamiliar training
grounds, mind half
on where she was going,
and the other half
on making small
notes in her ever
present book, Shan
tripped over what
appeared to be a
boot sticking up
from the ground like
a smelly tree root. "Omph!" Hopping
around on one foot,
cuase the other had
a toe that felt
broken at best,
she let her
irratated gaze rest
on the owner of the
naughty boot. Shoar
was sitting under
his tree, sharpening
his sword and
humming a nameless
tune. My tree...?
Shoar mused as he
glanced up at the
leafy branches
above him. Well, I
guess it IS mine...
Noone else trains in
this particular
area. He
critically examined
the sharpened edge
of his sword and
nodded to himself,
satisfied with the
edge, then got out
his rag and oil and
began wiping the
sword down. He
had just started
wiping the sword
when he saw a
familiar figure
approach out of
the corner of his
eye. The last time
he had seen this
girl, she was doing
what could only be
described as a belly
dance in the Tower
Basements during
the Rave, and before
that the frightened
girl whom he and
Cameron had had
to rescue in Mayenne
along with Reile,
Ryell, Akira and the
First of Mayenne. Now,
she was walking
along, her nose
stuck in a book, not
paying attention to
where she was going.
Shoar expected her
to walk around him,
but instead she
tripped over his
boot before he could
retract it. She
turned and glared
down at him. He
smoothly got to his
feet, inclining his
head and said
"I apologise,
Shandryll." He
then Folded the Fan, sheathing
his sword in a
smooth motion and
smiled down at her. Shan
blinked at
this...this...towering
bit of humanity that
loomed above her with
a smile on his face.
Of course, everyone
loomed above her,
but that was beside
the point. Not long
before, she would
have probably
feinted dead away at
the mere sound of
his voice speaking
to her, but time and
adventure had changed
her somewhat, so
instead she smiled a
trifle when she
placed her still
throbbing foot on
the ground. "Hi
Shoar..Gaidin."
She'd almost
forgotten that the
once ward had been raised
not to long ago.
"I'm looking
for Halvic, have you
seen him?" Shoar
chuckled softly at
her hestitation of
adding the Gaidin to
his name. He was
actually surprised
she was talking to
him. From what he
could remember of
this girl, she had
been scared stiff of
him when they first
met. She was
talkative at the
Rave, but she was
also drunk.
Shrugging his shoulder's
slightly, he looked
at the title of the
book she was
holding. "A
Study of the
Aiel" Shoar
spoke aloud.
"An interesting
book I take it, from
the way you were
absorbed in
it." Shoar
chuckled again, then
slipped into the
Spring. His
already happy face
suddenly became even
more animated as the
wellspring of
power erupted inside
of him, all his
emotions conjoining
into the flow of power.
"Halvic. Follow
me." He turned
and walked around
behind the tree he was
leaning against. Behind
the tree, Halvic was
practising the sword
forms Shoar had set. Shoar
leaned against the
tree and folded his
arms. Pursing his
lip, he whistled
sharply. Halvic
immediately Folded
the Fan and turned
to face them. His
face was distant
from the Void, and
his eyes flickered
towards Shandryll before
returning to center.
Shoar chuckled and
nodded his head. The
Ward is well
trained Shoar
thought to himself,
then said "At
ease. Take a break, Halvic."
Shoar still leant
against the tree,
humming his tune
again and wiping
his sword down. Halvic
slowly relaesed the
void as soon as he
executed Folding the
Fan. He looked a
Shandryll for a
moment before
speaking. "I
found something
interesting that you
should see in my
book." he voice
had a harder edge
to it than she had
heard before. She
looked at him
quizically. He
turned without
explaination, not
that she had really
expected one. He just
expected her to
follow him and to
her surprise she
did. He lead he a short
distance to a place
near the wall where
some of his gear was
stacked neatly.
From a saddlebag he
pulled out the old
book that had been
his mothers, and
handed it to her. "Open
it to the back five
pages." he said
looking over her
shoulder at Shoar who
had remained by the
tree and had
restarted working
forms again. Shandryll
opened the old book
to the back. And was
shocked at what she
saw there. Shandy
looked at the book
before her, pages
scrawled in some
language that she'd
never layed eyes on
before. With a blink
and a tilt of her
head, she sat
down on the ground,
uncaring if it was
on a small gopher
mound, it just made
better cusion for
her tush anyhow. She
heard the clearing
of a throat, or so
she supposed, in the
direction of the
tree and then a
shadow moved past
her, more then
likely Halvic going back
to his practicing. "Let
me know what you
find out." The
voice she guessed
was his, inside that wierd
thing that wards and
warders called the
void. Nodding
absently, she
flipped through the
last pages where the
weird scribbling
was then stood,
deciding to check it
against a few things
she'd seen in the
Library.
******** time
passes bars ********
Shan
had spent what felt
like hours, scouring
every part of the
library that she
thought she'd seen
any sort of
references to.
Nothing. With a
disgruntled sigh,
followed by a yawn,
she stretched,
moving from the bed
in which she'd been
comparing notes to
her table, resting
the book on the
small surface. She
caught her gaze in
the small bit of
polished metal that
served as a mirror
in her room, wincing
at the signs of
fatigue she caught
within the reflection.
Sliding the book
forward so she
wouldn't mar it's
surface, she began
to place her head
down on the table
top. "just a
little bit of shut eye....." Something
in the mirror caught
her attention, a
word on the page of
the book....and
she could read it! Excitement
gripped her as she
gazed on the page,
the once unledgible
letters swimming
into focus through
the surface of her
makeshift mirror. "Oh
my...." her
voice a course
whisper as she read
the contents within
the book.I know
my husband is a
Darkfriend light
send that he does
his family no harm
before we can escape
him. Shandy read no
further, though her
curiosity bade
her to know, to
search and find out. Closing
the book with a
snap, she left it
only to find her
darkest cloak and wrap
it around herself,
then tucked the tome
to her chest,
placing the mirror
in her pocket,
before heading
quietly out the door
of her chambers. Sneaking
through the near
moonless night to
the barracks, she
was reminded of a
time not long ago of
someone beside her,
bags of pepper and
whatnot hidden
within her cloak,
much like the book
that was now folded
to her chest.
Once the thoughts
might have brought a
smile to her lips,
though her errand
was far from being a
prank and held a
small ball of cold
fear in the pit
of her stomach. Slipping
through the barracks
door, she sought the
room she knew was
her friends,
remembering from
that last long ago
trip with a twinge
of guilt for the
prank she'd leveled
on him. With a
stealth she'd
learned back home in
Mayene, Shandy crept
through the halls,
halting finally at a
door, turning the
latch ever so slowly
as to not wake
the inhabitants in
the other rooms. Pausing
for a moment, she
watched the
inhabitant sleep,
her heart moving for him
because of what he
was about to learn.
Taking the book from
within her cloak,
she crept forward,
then shook Halvic's
shoulder gently,
surprised when
not only his eyes
snapped open, but a
dagger point
appeared from no where,
leveled at her
heart. Halvic sat
up ashamed at the
dagger that he held
in his hand. Quickly
as it had
appeared it
disappeared. Even in
the dim light he
could see her face well
enough to make out
the fear that she
was trying to hide.
From inside the
void which he wore
like a cloak he
could even tell the
she seemed to tremble
a bit. The night was
cool but not cold
enough for her to be shivering. "What
did it say?" he
asked fearing the
answer. When she
looked at him she
looked as though she
wanted to speak but couldn't.
Her eyes were
shining with tears
that she had not yet
shed. He knew
what the book said
then he didn't need
to here her say the
words, but a part
of him hoped that he
was wrong. "What
did it say."
there was no
question in his
voice only demand. She
must have used the
one power to light
the candle on his
table. She put the
book on the table
and handed him a
mirror. At his
confused look she showed
him how to read the
words through the
mirror. She sat next
to him on the
bench as he read. He
read several pages
as she sat nearly
touching him. She
wanted to comfort
him knowing how
horrible the news
was but was unsure at
how to go about it.
Men were often
confusing to her and
Halvic was perhaps
the most confusing
one she had ever
met. Finally he
closed the book and
sat staring at the
wall. The typical
lack of expression
on his face told her
nothing she couldn't
even be sure if it
was because he
was in the void or
not. Obviously
though upon
receiving the news that
he had nobody could
be unaffected. Tenativelly
she reached out to
touch his shoulder,
but as soon as her
hand touched him
he turned his head
and glared at her.
She shrank back and
he returned to
his thoughts. After
a few moments she
tried another
approach. "Halvic,
I.." she was
cut of by his harsh
whisper "Get
out." "But
Hal.." she
stammered. "Get
out" This time
the voice was
louder. "I
won't leave you, not
after what..." He
turned to face her.
She knew him well
enough that his
expression was slightly
differnt than
normally nothing she
could point out but
different none
the less. "You
will leave, and you
will leave now or I
will report you to
the Mistress of
Wards and her bond
holder." Shandryll
sat there a moment
thinking that he was
bluffing, but then
thought better of
it. She turned
back to look again
as she shut the
door. He was once
again setting
there stare into
nothing. Shan
watched the door for
a moment more, until
the soft fall of
footsteps was
heard down the hall. "stupid
woolheaded fool of
a..." her voice
trailed off as she
opened the door,
escaping the
interior of the
barraks and taking
herself accross the grounds
to the tower proper
and the accepted
quarters. Men had
always baffled her,
having few, if any
emotions that didn't
include sleep,
food, drink or
women. Those who
showed nothing as
Halvic often did, eluded
her understanding
more then anything
else. Tonight was no
exception. Letting
herself into her
room, and allowing
the cloak around her
shoulders to fall
to the floor, she
flopped herself
down, thinking over
what the events
of the last hour
might hold for the
future. Ticking
things over in her
head, and what she
knew of Halvic, her
eyes widened then
narrowed with
something that could
only be described as irratated
pissyness. Righting
herself, she looked
around her room then
grabbed the
saddlebags she'd
used on her trip
before. Stuffing
the needed
essentials in them,
she nodded, hoping
she hadn't underpacked
for what she knew
was going to be a
long trip. Light,
she hoped she
hadn't guessed wrong
about his
intentions. Penning
a note for Carra who
always stopped by to
wake shan for
breakfast, she
slung the pack over
her shoulder and
made for the
stables, hoping the same
sweet mare was
there.
Chapter
2: the getaway.
It
was several hours
until dawn when
Halvic snuck out of
his room in the barracks
and went to the
stables. As queitly
as he could he put
his saddle on the
large horse he rode
during his times of
helping his mentor
Radzynne Gaidin
teach her
horsemanship
classes. The horse
was intelligent and resaonably
fast, but more
importantly for his
purposes tonight it
had a lot of
stamina. He couldn't
be sure that the
Tower would send
anyone after him but
he needed to get to
his destination. He
had considered
taking another horse
for a spare mount,
but he realized that
a ward leaving the
White Tower alone
in the middle of the
night would attract
enough attention
from the gaurds
as it was, let alone
the extra notice a
ward with two
mounts. Quietly he
lead his horse out
of the stable.
Trying to appear as
at ease as possible he
mounted and began to
walk the horse to
the gate. The desire
to run the horse
to the gate and
right on through was
hard to resist but
was very nescesary.
He was sure he
hadn't been seen and
was nearly to the
gate when he saw
perhaps the most
dangerous, if not
entirely expected
sight of all- Shandryll,
standing along the
wall with a smallish
horse (with a saddle hanging
off to one side). "What
are you doing
here?" he
whispered harshly to
her, not bothering
to dismount. "Why
Halvic Crowe,"
she said curtly,
"I am coming
with you." Shan's
dignity at that
point in time was
ruined by the mare
she held on a lead.
The ghastly animal
decided it wanted
the apple in her
pocket and nudged
her forward, hard
enough to cause the
girl to stumble a
bit. Waving her
hand at the horse,
she rounded on the
poor beastie like
she would an
errant child. "Now
you stop that you
hear." her
voice was not held
at the conspiritoral whisper
it should have been,
and shan paid no
mind to the narrowed
glare that was
shot her way from
the Ward. Turning
her attention back,
she ignored the look
he gave her. "Now,
are you going to
help me with this
hatefull saddling
thing or not?" His
gaze didn't waver
nor did he make a
move to dismount. "Your
not going." Oh,
now that did it.
Rare did the girl
have the spine to
speak up, even less did
she stand up to
someone, but by
golly, she would not
let him go off on his
own, someone had to
keep him out of
trouble. Standing
to her grand whoppin
5' height, she gave
that look she'd seen
Ryell give her
Gaidin more then
once. "I am
going. How did you
plan to eat on the
trail hmm? I don't
think that you
have much in the way
of currency to buy
much if anything at
all, now do you?
Besides, it would be
a terrible shame if
news of this got out
to say...your
mentor...." she
left the rest of it
trail, hoping that
would be enough
to bring her along,
then went for the
ultimate clincher.
"Of course, you
could leave without
me, and I'd
follow." with a
shrug and another
shoo at the mare
she added.
"It's up to
you." Halvic
sat on the back of
his horse not even
looking at her.
Shandryll was beginning
to wonder if he
might just ride off
and leave her after
all. Finally,
though he climbed
down from the saddle
grumbling under his
breath. He didn't
say a word to her as
he walked over to
her horse and began straigthening
the saddle.
Shandryll followed
him over to the side
of the horse to
watch him fix the
saddle. He silently
went about fixing
everything that
was wrong. After he
pulled the cinch
tight he stepped
back for a moment and
looked at the horse.
He could see the
horse was holding
its breath. Shandryll
winced as he brought
up a knee into the
horse's ribs.
Quickly he pulled
the strap tight.
Finally he turned to
her and spoke. "You
can come with, but
you must promise to
do exactly what I
say, when I say
it." "But
I..." She began
to protest but he
continued as though
she hadn't even made
a sound. "I
will decide where we
go and how fast we
go. This is
something that I am doing,
if you feel the need
to come along I
can't stop you, but
all the same I
won't tolerate you
causing
trouble."
Halvic's stare
stilled any
arguments Shandryll
thought of before
she voiced them.
Reaching out and
grabbing her he
lifted her into her
saddle. After he
mounted his gelding
he turned back to
her, "When we
get to the gate let
me do the
talking." His
thoughts were
whirling through his
head, he realized
that he might not return
from this and if he
did his position in
the warders would be
very much in
doubt. Know he was
going to also be
responsible for
Shandryll. His
reflection was
interupted when they
got to the gate. The
gaurds posted there
stopped them. "Where
do you two think you
are going at this
hour." a guard
named Jonas Reltin
asked them rather
confrontationally. "We
are sent on an
errand by Radzynne
Gaidin." Halvic
said confidently, at least
he hoping he sounded
confident. "She
is sending the to of
you outat this
hour." Jonas
seemed rather skeptical. "Yes
as a matter of fact
she did. You want to
run to her quarters
and ask her? Your
more than welcome
to." he gave
the gaurd a flat
look. Uncomfortable
with the thought of
disturbing the
Mistress of Wards
the two runaways
were allowed to pass
out into the night. "Now
where to?"
SHandryll asked. "The
docks." Halvic
didn't even look
back at her as he
answered.
Not
much time passed as
they rode to the
docks, though all of
it was spent in
silence. Though her
butt was already
getting saddle sore,
she grit her teeth,
determined that she
would
<b>not</b>
be left behind under
any circumstances.
Patting the saddle
bags behind the seat
she smiled, mentally ticking
off the things she'd
brought. That
burn salve that
Carra had put on her
when someone had
pulled that terrible
prank was there, it
might come in handy.
She'd been
able to sneak out
some dried apples
along with a small thing
of flour, if nothing
else, they'd have
breakfast for a day
or two. While
they rocked back and
forth in the saddle,
the road giving way
to docks, Shan
took out a thick
cord, removing her
serpent ring and
placing it onto
the rope then
sliding the loop
over her head,
tucking the ring in
her bodice
safely.
Once
they reached the
dockside, Halvic
hailed someone, a
sailor by the look of
him, feet bare and
burly from days
doing whatever
sailors tend to do. Shan
wondered if she
should warn Hal of
her seasickness, but
thought better of
it, since it'd be
one more reason to
leave her behind.
The sailor pointed
futher down the dock
to a tall robust man
in his later years
and the pair
followed the guiding
hand. Shan sat
back and waited
while Halvic went through
the ritual of
bartering and
bargaining for
passage for both
them and thier
steeds on the
goosefeather.
Begining to
wish it was light
enough to read,
so instead, she
began to chew at a
nail, not really
noticing what it was
she did.
Heaving one
heck of a sigh, she
pushed back an
errant lock of straw
that was considered
her hair back into
her hood and wavered
in the saddle,
bored to near tears
until the tall man
tilted back his head
and roared with a
raucous laughter
that probably shook
the tower walls. Blinking
at the pair of them
she was thankfull
for the hood that
mostly hid her
face as the big man
waggled his brows in
her direction,
slapping Halvic on
the shoulder when he
dismounted, not
seeing the cold
gleam in the Wards eyes
as he took it to
play along with
whatever Charade
he'd been putting on for
the man.
Before
she could protest,
he was pulling more
then helping her off
her small mare,
setting her none to
gently onto the
boards and letting
her sway there before
her hand found a
crate to steady
herself with.
The urge to
kick him right
square in the
postieror was
quelled when he
tossed her heavy
saddle bags at
her, landing them
directly to her gut
with a loud oomph.
She grit her
teeth and followed,
half tempted to
shove him overboard
if the chance presented
itself.
On
deck, the peacefull
sway of the
goosefeather
made her tummy
do a bit of a
flippity flop, but
she kept her teeth
together and
followed, debating presenting
her dinner to the
Ward in a most
unbecoming fashion.
Again, the urge
was resisted, but
oh, the power of
temptation.....
Taking
up a stance at the
front of the boat,
Hal stood there like
some derranged
and calloused
statue, staring
North at whatever
had brought him out
of the Tower.
Shan decided
to make due and
grabbed a rail
herself, readying
for what she knew
would happen
eventually.
Thier horses
were brought on
board and settled in
the small pen that
housed beasties on
boats she sposed,
lines were cast off
and out into the
river they went.
Reality
to Shan became alot
of the ship moving
one way, her stomach
another, her
lunch up and her
head down, resting
on the railing that
was gripped beneath
her hands till the
knuckles shown
white. She
thought, when she
was allowed a
moment of coherance,
that there might be
something in her bag
that would help
with the vertigo she
was experiencing,
but refused to let
go of the rail.
Thinking
that things couldn't
get much worse then
they were, the river decided
to prove her wrong
as the hull of the
goosefeather hit a particularly
dippy part of the
water, smacking
Shan's nose right
into the railing
and becoming the
final straw on the
proverbial camels
back as her supper
flew over the side.
If this wasn't
enough, she felt
someone's eyes on
her, even as she
sprayed the water as
surely as it did
her. A gulp of air
and a groan later,
the deck below her
feet decided to
repeat itself as her
hands were busy
trying to catch her
hair out of her face
before they too became
mussed in the most
undelightfull of
ways. Never
one for having water legs,
she staggered,
bumping her already
bruised tush into
the rail right below
the cheeks, the
movement of the boat
causing her to lean
backwards over
the water. The
mess that had
spilled itself onto
the boards at her feet
caused her boots to
slip and for just a
second, she knew
what it was like
to fly. Eyes
wide, her scream was
cut off mid way as
icy water enveloped
her and drew her
under.
Halvic
turned at the sound
of the splash. He
immedately saw that
Shandryll was no
longer present on
the boat. With out
hesitation he dove
into the icy water.
With powerful
strokes he was soon
at the spot where
she was splashing around
and going under.
Quickly he grabbed
her exactly as he
had been instructed
to in Ghalren's
swimming class. She
struggled against
him in her panic.
He ignored her
thrashing and pulled
her towards the
boat. Once they
were both pulled
back on board
Shandryll was
surprised when
Halvic put her
back on her horse.
Halvic talked to the
Captian of the small
vessel. Shandryll
tried hard to listen
to there discussion
but all that she
really picked up
was that they had
probably gone far
enough south. As
surprised as she
was to find herself
back on her horse,
she was even more
surprised when Halvic
mounted hi own
horse. "Umm
Halvic, what are we
doing sitting on
horses in the middle
of the river on a
boat." she said
through chattering
teeth. She was cold
enough, and confused
enough to
momentarily forget
about her upset
stomach. Halvic
looked at her, and
though she couldn't
be sure in the dim
predwn light, she
was sure he was
grinning at her. "Hold
on to you saddle. as
an after thought he
added, "Hold on
as hard as you
can, no matter what.
Horses are good
swimers." Shandryll
gripped the saddle
for a reason that
she couldn't guess.
She was just
about to ask for a
clear explaination
when she heard a
slap and her horse
lept from the boat. Halvic
was glad to see that
she managed to hold
onto the saddle
after he smacked
her mares butt to
get it to jump in
the river. She had
only yelped once
and he saw that she
was know laying on
the saddle holding
on with all her
might. Her eyes were
squeezed shut. Her
horse was nearly to
the shore when
Halvic nodded to the
Captain of the boat,
who saluted him in
turn. Halvic
heeled the gelding
and joined Shandryll
in the river. About
one hour till dawn
the two damp cold
and damp riders
passed by Tar Valon
heading north.
Shandryll broke the
silence by asking
"If we were heading
north then why did
we get on a boat
going south?" "To
throw anyone who
wants to bring us
back from catching
up to us. Hopefully
they will ask around
and find out that we
got on aboat heading south."
Halvic answered
without looking at
her. "That's
what I
thought."
Shandryll said in a
way that made Halvic
unsure wether she
had really thought
that or not. Either
way it didn't matter
he was on his way
back to the
Borderlands.
Chaper
3: Northbound.
Shan
slouched in the
saddle, tired,
saddle sore and
wishing she dared channel
herself dry. The
thought never
crossed her mind
about doing the same for
Halvic, it was
mostly his fault, to
her way of thinking
at least, that she
was the way she was. Clenching
her teeth together
to keep from
chattering or
complaining, Shan tried
to think of nice
thoughts, of warm
thoughts, of her
wonderfull quilt back
at the Tower that
kept her warm on
those cold rainy
nights. Shan cast
a glance at her
companions back,
still straight in
the saddle like someone
had shoved a rod
down his spine.or a
stick up his... she
let that thought
go before it could
finish.patience
girl, just have
patience... this became
her talisman chant
as they rode. Halvic
kept riding all day
long. Shandryll was
surprised that he
even let her stop
to eat somethime
during the
afternoon. He
however never left
the saddle. As
Shandryll
practically fell
from her saddle when
he told her to stop
and eat, he
wheeled his mount
back towards the
south and galloped
off. He didn't really
like leaving her
alone but he would
only be gone for a
few moments and
he felt the need to
make sure that any
pursuit from the
White Tower. He rode
hard till he nearly
crested the next
rise where he
dismounted his horse and
crept the final few
spans to the crest.
He studied the
countryside long enough
to ensure that they
weren't being
followed before
returning to where he
had left Shandryll.
When he reurned she
was reading a book,
the one about the
Aiel that she always
seemed reading
lately. "I
hope you ate."
he said turning his
head toward the sun
for a moment before
looking back at her.
"Nightfall
isn't for another
few hours, and I intend
to ride until the
sun is halfway below
the horizon." He
looked to the norht
as he waited for her
to mount her horse
so they could continue. Halvic
galloped off back
the way they had
come, leaving Shan
there to fend for
herself. Heaving a
sigh she figured she
might as well make
the best of the
time she had. Giving
the little mare a
pat on the nose for
being such a sweet,
dear thing so
far, she grabbed the
stuff from her
saddle bag, her
spare blue gown
she'd gotten in
Andor. It was quite
plain, in a pretty
sort of fashion, and
Shan hadn't owned
something this nice
in her life. It had
gotten damp and she sighed.
Looking around to
make sure no one was
watching, she took a
bit of fire air
and water and pretty
much steamed the
dress to it's normal
shape. Taking a
bite out of the
apple she'd brought
from her pocket, she
changed, smearing
on some of the
ointment before
donning the dress,
glad to be out of those
monotonous whites
for once. Once
changed, she
scratched the mare
behind the ears and
fed her the apple core
then settled down on
a nice rock to read. A
bit of time passed
when he showed up
once more. "I
hope you ate."
he said turning his
head toward the sun
for a moment before
looking back at her.
"Nightfall
isn't for another
few hours, and I intend
to ride until the
sun is halfway below
the horizon." Looking
up from her book,
she regaurded him
cooly for a moment,
tired, sore and
wondering why on
earth she even cared
what happend to him. "Contrary
to popular belief
Halvic Crowe, I am
not stupid. I did
eat, I did get
out of still wet
clothing before I
caught my death of
cold, something I might
want to point out,
you should do as
well. I do not have
healing skills in
that
department." He
looked at her in
that now so oh
familiar way.
"We don't have
time." Setting
her jaw she nodded.
"I see, very
well then." Embracing
Saidar, she wove the
same weaves she'd
used for her dress,
though this time,
the weave of fire
was thicker. Using
this, she made a
surface of the
power the size of
her hand, running it
over his clothes
till they steamed,
sucking the rest of
the moisture from
anything that hadn't
dried yet. Releasing
her hold on the
power, she tucked
her book into her
pocket and pulled
herself into the
saddle then nudged
the mare into a walk
heading north. Looking
him over briefly,
she repressed the
urge to turn around.
She didn't, knowing
that was one thing
he was trying to do
more then likely. As
the steam rose up
around him and he
gat uncomfortabley
warm from her using
the one power to dry
his clothes, Halvic
didn't move. He
didn't even flinch.
He appreciated the
fact that she had
dried him off, but
even that brief
use of the one power
let his mentor come
that much closer to
catching them. He
knew Radzynne well
enough to know that
she was coming. He
hoped that she
wasn't alone, in
fact the more people
the better. A group
of people couldn't
move as fast as a
pair. Another
thought was that he
knew Aes Sedai could
tell whent the one
poser was being
used, but he didn't
know how far away
they could feel it.
Though Tar Valon was
half a days travel
to the south he
didn't want any
unneeded risks. He
brought his gelding
along side her
horse. "When
I agreed to let you
come along," he
said quietly without
looking anywhere
other than straight
ahead, "you
were told to do as I
say when I say it.
I don't want you to
channel anymore, for
any reason. I also
don't want you to
be dilly-dalling
around when it's
time to move
either." he
looked at her out
of the corner of his
eye. "I
don't know what you
think Shandryll, but
they WILL send
people after us, and
they will drag us
back to the Tower. I
need to get to my
destination before
they catch us." He
turned and looked at
her, his face that
would intimidate
most usually had no
effect on her, this
time though it did
send a shiver up her
spine. "I
won't be denied the
truth any
longer." "First
of all, your
welcome." no
reaction, not like
she expected one. "Second,
someone would have
to be pretty darn
close to be able to
feel what I did.
Third, it took less
then a minute, less
time then it did for
you to bark out
your oh so
exhuberant command
of eat and ride.
Third, I have four friend
in this entire
world, four. Four
people I would
rather die then see hurt
and would go to the
ends of the earth
for. Face it pal,
your one of them.
I have an inkling of
what is going on in
that one track mind
of yours, and
what you think you
are going to find at
the end of the trail
and dammit, you
are not going to
face it alone." She
looked forward for a
moment, struggling
to regain some sort
of composer to
talk to this brick
wall that rode
beside her. "Another
thing, don't you
think I know they
will be after us?
Don't you think
for one single
second, I've brain
enough in my head to
come to that conclusion?
Have you even
thought about what
you are going to do
next besides ride
north to what you
feel you have to do?
and did you
consider, that
maybe, just maybe,
if you share that
plan with me, I can
help instead of
feeling like a damn
tag along that has
to do whatever mr.
Halvic Crowe says
to do. I have spent
the last fifteen
years studying
Halvic. Fifteen years
of knowledge about
where we are going,
the people that are
there, and what
we should expect on
the road ahead. And
not once have you
even thought of
making use of
it." Shan
snorted. "By
the way, there is a
village ahead, it's
a full days ride
from Tar Valon. Do
what you will with
that bit of
information." Shifting
in her saddle to
ease some of the
soreness, she looked
ahead once more,
doing her darndest
to ignore the
discomfort.
Halvic
looked northward to
where Shandryll told
him the village was. "We
are too close to
pass through that
village. Any pursuit
will be sure to learn
that we came through
this way. We are
also too close to
stop here for thew
night. We will have
to go around the
village." he
stated. He
glanced at Shandryll
and though he wasn't
sure whether or not
she approved of
his plan, but at
least she followed
him as he left the
road. As they
made camp later that
evening, he decided
it was time to tell
her everything. "I
know that you saw
something of what my
mother wrote in that
book." he pointed
to his saddlebag,
which held his
mothers book. He
sighed, looking away
from her. "My
family lived near
the Blight, one day
upon returning from
Fal Dara after dropping
off some horses for
them, I found my
families house
destroyed, and my
mother and two
sisters gone. My
father had a bump on
his head, but was otherwise
unhurt. He told my
that it had been
trollocs. Trollocs
that took my
mother and sisters,
and fought with my
father. It never
really occurred to
me until recently
that the trollocs
had only wounded him
and left him for dead.
They should have
killed him. That is
there nature. I
stayed with him for
a time, he often
went out hunting for
the trollocs that
had destroyed our
home. One day a Fade
appeared in the cave
we were hiding in.
My father told me
to run and stayed to
fight it. I did as
he told me bringing
with me my
mothers book, where
we found her
message." He
paused for a long
moment before
continuing. "My
mother felt he was a
darkfriend, I am
going to find out
wheter she was right
or not. If he is
still in the light I
will bring him back
to Tar Valon with
me." Shandryll
waited for a few
moments before
asking "And if
he is a darkfriend?"
she asked quietly. Halvic
turned stood and
walked away from the
small fire they had
built. Pulling
his scabardedd sword
from the small pile
of his belongings. She
couldn't be sure,
but she thouhgt that
she heard him say
something about sword
forms under his
breath. Shan
didn't sleep well,
if you could even
call it sleep. Not
only was she thinking
about what Halvic
said about his past,
half thankfull she
didn't know
anything of her
parentage, half
regretting that
she'd never had
them, be they
good or bad. There
was something else
though that kept
running through
her mind. Thoughts
of her friend would
skitter through her
state of half
awareness as she
drifted on the edge
of sleep. She knew
that they were being
followed, of that
both of them were
sure, but it
confused her on why her
mind kept turning
back to Carra, why
she kept getting the
feeling that she
was close by. Shan
figured that it
might be because she
knew Carra would be
worried sick about
her by now and her
conscious was trying
to comfort her,
or make her guilty,
one of the two. Thoughts
began to slip as she
drifted over the
edge of
conciousness,
falling into that
blissfull realm of
sleep when someone
shook her shoulder. "Time
to hit the
trail." A
bit of travel bread
was placed in her
half awake hands as
she rolled out of
her bedroll to find
Halvic just
tightening the
cinches on the
horses. Stuffing
the bit of breakfast
in her mouth to gnaw
on as she rolled up
her blanket, he
secured that behind
her saddle then all
but threw her in it, both
silent and lost in
thier own world of
thought. An hour
later, dawn greeted
them as it cast it's
sunny gaze over the
horizon and
onwards they
trudged, Shan
feeling as if she
was both preditor
and prey. Halvic
had pushed the
horses to their
limits, but not
past. He allowed a short
break again for
eating and while
Sheandryll ate he
practiced with his staff.
He realized that the
instruction he had
received from
Radzynne wasn't quite
completed but he
noticed improvements
in his speed and
technique. He had
practiced his sword
forms earlier that
morning before he
woke Shandryll. At
least she hadn't
really slowed him
down any. That
evening at camp
Halvic told
Shandryll to stay
put at the campsite
while he rode
back a bit down the
road to check for
any pursuit, and
possibly hunt a
bit. He had only
used a bow a few
times, and that was
a couple of years ago. Confident
that the campsite
was hidden well
enough and that
Shandryll would be
fine until he
returned. Looking to
the sun he figured
he had about two hours.
He turned the horse
to the south and
rode off. shan
watched Halvic ride
off back the way
they'd come and
flopped herself to the
ground, to damn
tired and sore to
really care. Stretching
very sore muscles,
shan took off her
boots and wiggled
her toes with a
sigh, it seemed
every part of her
ached. Leaning back
for a moment, her
solitude was
disturbed by her
angry tummy. With
a sigh, she sorted
through her bags,
taking up the
precious flour she'd brought
with then smiling. "I'll
show that dunderhead
I'm good for more
then just yelling
at." Making
sure her horse would
stay put and not eat
everything in site,
Shan started off
twords some bushes,
remembering what
Carra said about
them. Ooohh....huckleberries...... Grinning
from ear to ear and
very very glad to be
doing more then
nothing for once
on this trip, shan
began to pick the
berries, putting one
in the dish she'd
made of her dress
and two in her
mouth, one in the
dress, two in the
mouth, savoring the
tangy sweet berries. her
belly growing full
and her dress not,
shan yawned, the day
taking more out
of her then any
class at the tower
ever could have.
Taking a good look around
her, she blinked.
she didnt' know
where she was.... "oh
bloody sheepdip.
he's going to kill
me...or worse.
breathe shan, breathe,
what to do..." She
judged it would be a
good hour till he
came back to the
campsite. Figuring
that staying put
would be her best
option, she settled
herself against a
tree, absently
popping berries into
her mouth and
nodding off, only
to wake and do so
again. Halvic had
managed to shoot a
rabbit with his bow
though it had taken several
attempts. He had
skinned it and was
ready to go back to
camp and enjoy a
nice warm meal of
rabbit stew. His
calm ride was
interupted when he saw
the camp sight.
Everything was in
order but only about
as unpacked as it had
been when he had
left. Usually
Shandryll would have
had a fire going by now
or at least have he
bedroll out and
reading a book. He
quickly dismounted
and examined her
saddle bags. Her
books were all still there,
and her bedroll was
still tied to the
saddle, and there
wasn't even kindling
piled anywhere. He
stood and listened
for a few moments,
it was only then
that he realized
that the void was
wrapped around him.
The heightened
awareness didn't
betray a songle
sound. He knew that
if she was out
collecting wood for
the fire that he
would hear her. A
sudden thought came
to him. He had never
spent much time
around women, and he
was unsure how they
took care of
there...personal
needs. He knew that most
of them liked to
keep themselves
looking pretty and
clean, maybe she was
washing or something
that girls do.
Forcing the void
away he sat down and
started cuttin the
rabbit up and
preparing a stew. He
had just finished building
a fire and putting
the stew on when he
finally decided no
women took that
long to do whatever
it was that they
did, and Shadryll
seemed somewhat
oblivious to her
appearance in
comparison to other
women. Something
had to have gone
wrong he looked up
to see the sun
nearly below the
horizon. Drawing his
sword he walked into
the woods to begin
searching for his
friend. He
considered himself
to be decent
tracker, of course
all he had ever
tracked before was
horses, and it was
usually daylight,
not sundown. He
started calmly
searching the ground
for any sign of her,
making ever
increasing cicles
around the camp
sight. Through the
void he finally heard
a low moan.
Unfolding the Fan
came as easily as
drawing breath did now.
He began creeping in
the direction that
he had heard her
moan. He was
afraid that maybe
some wild animal or
maybe even a bandit
had attacked her
while he was gone.
If she had gotten
hurt while he was
awy, and he had
just sat there he
would never be able
to forgive himself.
Bracing himself
for the worst he
rounded the tree,
only to find her
sleeping with what
appearred to be
berry jucie
droolling out of her
mouth. When he
nudged her with his
boot it was maybe a
little harder than
it needed to be
done. Her eys
looked dazed and
unfocused as she
said "A few
more minutes
ok?" and started
to roll back over to
go to sleep again. Shan
felt the nudge and
stirred as she
rolled over. "A
few more minutes,
okay?" the
nudge came again,
harder. "What
do you think your
doing?" Shan
covered her head
with her arm, still
half asleep and in
an entirely different
world. "Mira,
I don't want to hear
bout how big your
mouth opens
anymore..."
shan mumbled
under her breath
between snores. Realizing
she wasn't about to
wake up, Halvic did
the next best thing,
he picked her up
to cart her back to
the campfire,
earning the last of
the berries that
were still in the
folds of her dress
smooshed into his
shirt and a tiny
berry belch when he
set her down by the
fire. Halvic
checked in his stew
which was nearly
ready before making
an attempt to
clean his berry
stained shirt. All
that he really
managed to do was
smear the stain
around making it
worse. Sighing in
vexation he glanced
at Shandryll
before dishing up
some stew for
himself. He was a
little angry about
her and the mischeif
she had caused on
thier little
excursion. First of
all falling off the
boat and then
getting herself lost
in the woods. He new
she was tired, that
he was pushing he to
hard on the road,
but he also knew
that thr only
advantage that they
had over their pursiut
was that they could
move quicker with
the smaller numbers.
That was an
advantage that she
might end up taking
away from them if
she wasn't carefull.
He had known better
than to bring her
along but he was
still glad that
she had come. Finishing
his meal he dished
some of the stew up
for her and placed
the bowl nearby
to where she was
laying. He shook her
gently to wake her.
She stirred and
he told her to eat. Her
eyes opened (mainly
because of the good
smell from the stew)
to see him walking
of a little distance
to practice sword
forms. Shan
leaned back against
a log, patting her
full tummy with a
grin. There was
barely enough light
to read by and she
didn't want to
strain her eyes, sides,
she was pooped, even
with the short nap
she'd taken. Standing,
she dusted off her
poor rumpled dress
and her way over. "Whatcha
doin?" Halvic
turned to her,
picking up the
quarterstaff that he
had been instructed
on while still in
the White Tower. "Practicing."
was all that he said
and turned back to
an old stump which
had apparently
been struck by
lightining some
years ago. Shadryll
was about to ask
another question or
say something to her
quiet companion,
but before she he
had the opportunity
Halvic had the
quarterstaff whirling
back and forth at
the stump. Beginning
slowly and
increasing in speed
with each pass soon
the staff was moving
to quickly for
Shandryll's eyes to
follow, especailly
in the near darkness
beyond the light
cast off by the
small campfire. The
staff was missing
the loose bark
hanging from the
stump by a fraction
of an inch. Soon
he was beginning to
sweat but he didn't
slow down at all.
The movements had
if anything become
more advanced.
Halvic had begun
with simple swipes back
and forth across the
stump. Now the staff
was whirling above
his head and
occasionaly behind
his back. The
direction was
sometime reversed in midstroke,
but it always seemed
to continue its
momentum. Shandryll
wasn't sure how
good he wasa with
the staff, but she
was impressed, at
least as much as
she could be by such
a display. After
some time she once
again attempted to
start a
conversation. "Thank
you for the
stew." she
said. There was
no response. "It
was quite
good." she said
after clearing her
throat. The staff
slowly spun to a
stop, ending up held
in the exact same
manner which he
had held it in the
beginning. Slowly he
turned towards her
and walked back
towards the camp,
passing her on his
way. "Next
time stay in camp
when I tell you
to." he stated
in a flat voice
which was even
flater than normal
having just released
the Void. She
turned on him ready
to tell him exactly
what she had been
doing in the trees,
but all she saw was
his back as he was
crouched down to
stir the fire. looking
at him just hunched
there over the fire
and something inside
her snapped.
Stalking twords
him,she picked up
the satchet of flour
she'd brought,
hefted it in her
hand and narrowed
her eyes at him.
there he still sat,
stirring the fire
like an immobile
brick. "You
know halvic, I was
wrong. I have three
friends, not four,
since the fourth
seems to be nothing
but an anal ass that
has no feelings
except for himself.
Excuse me if I
thought you might
like cakes with
dinner, excuse me if
I thought that maybe
I could help you
with your quest. and
bloody well excuse
me for caring!" The
bag in her hand flew
on it's own accord,
landing with a
satisfying thump in
the middle of his
chest and sort of
... exploding,
leaving him staring through
a cloud of flour. "there!
eat your flamin
shirt, cause i'm not
going to try to help
you anymore. no
one, no one has
treated me as low or
made me feel as
though i was as
ignorant as you
have. and i lived in
a blasted brothel
the first fifteen
years of my
life!" Stalking
her way to her
horse, she went to
tighten the cinch,
took a good look
at it, grabbed the
lead instead and
started off, not
looking back or where
she was going, to
mad and hurt to care
about anything but
getting away. Halvic
stared at Shandryll
as she lead her
horse out of the
camp. He hadn't realized
that he had hurt her
feelings, or made
her feel unwanted on
this expedition.
Though he had not
wanted her to come
along with him at
first, he had
enjoyed the fact
that she was with
him. He was sorry
that her feelings were
hurt, but maybe her
going back to the
White Tower now was
for the best. He
had already failed
to protect her as he
should have. True,
he had told her
to stay in camp
while he was gone
and she had wondered
off of her own accord,
byt still he had
left her alone. What
if bandits had
attcked her or wolves
or any other of a
thousand hazards
that faced a lone
traveler at dusk.
Yes, he decided she
would be better off
with the protection
offered to her by
being in the White
Tower. Maybe he
could still be her
warder after he took
care of this quest
that he was on, but
for now he was far
to intent on his
own personsl goals. He
looked up to see
that she was gone
from his sight.
Suddenly the idiocy
of it all hit
home. He felt bad
for leaving her in
the camp alone, and
now he was
letting her wander
into the night!
Cursing himself for
a fool he quickly leapt
up from the fire and
mounted his horse.
He tore of in the
night looking for
her. He found her
quickly trudging
down the road
leading her horse.
He could tell by
the way she carried
herself that she was
still very upset. He
cleared his throat
attempting to figure
out how to proceed. "I,
Look Shandryll,
I," she looked
over her shoulder at
him, but didn't stop walking. Halvic
dismounted so as to
not tower over her
as much. "I
apologize for making
you feel unneeded
and unwanted."
That sounded good he
thought. Still she
kept walking. "I
need you to come
along with me."
he said. She
stopped walking and
turned to face him. "And
anything you want to
be included in just
tell me and I will
let you come
along." Shandryll
seemed to consider
what he had told
her. Shan looked
at him for a moment,
mulling his words
over in her mind. Stepping
up so her nose was
almost touching his
chest, she looked
up. "You
know, there were
times I wondered if
I was keeping
company with a rock or
not." Removing
something from the
folds of her cloak
she wrapped his
hands around it
then reached up and
patted his cheek
with a grin. "Whether
you'd have 'let' me
come along or not,
I'd have been there.
that's just how
friendship works
Halvic." Giving
a tug to the lead
line, shan began to
work her way back to
the campsite,
leaving Halvic
standing there
looking down at his
mothers book.
Shandryll
was walking back to
camp, Halvic hadn't
even noticed. His attention
was firmly placed on
the book that
Shandryll had just
given him. The
book that had
belonged to his
mother. The book
that contained the damning
statements about his
father written by
his mothers hand in
the back. The
book that Shandryll
had used to teach
him how to read. The
book that was all
he had left of his
family.
The
book that Shandryll
had been carrying
with her when she
was going to leave
him.
Normally
the book helped him
to relax. It
reminded him of
nights when his mother
would read the
stories in it to his
two younger sisters.
Before Shandryll
had taught him to
read, he would just
hold it and look at
the words. He
still looked at the
words, but now they
held meaning.
Now,
however, the book
clutched in his
hands brought no
comfort. A rage was beginning
to boil over. He had
considered Shandryll
a friend, and now it appeared
that she wasn't the
trusting friend he
had origanlly
thought. Leaping
on to his horse he
kicked it into a
full run back to
camp.
Shandryll
had just sat down by
the fire when Halvic
came bursting into
camp. Lookng up
at him got her a
face full of dirt as
the horse was
brought up short
in a tight half turn
less than one step
from her. Maybe if
she had not gotten
a ton of dirt in her
face she may have
thought it was
something she would
like him to teach
her how to do
someday. As it was
though she sat with as
much dignity as she
qould muster after
being showered with
soil, finally looking
up at him she was
amazed that his
expression had
somehow managed to get
even more fearsome
and intense than
before. She thought
she had gotten used
to his nearly
perpetual scowl,
with his cold eyes,
but this time she had
to swallow hard and
brace herself to
look him in the
face.
"Did
you intend to bring
this back to the
Tower to show
everyone that my mother
beleived my father
to be a Darkfriend?
Is that it, or did
you intend to
tell them that I was
a darkfriend as
well?" his
voice wasn't it's
normal bass
rumble, this time it
was more like the
sound of a finely
oiled blade sliding
free from its
scabbard. Shan
might have been
worried when he rode
into camp like the
dark one himself
was after him, even
been nervous at his
display of temper,
but when he threw
the tantrum Halvic
style, she lost
those feelings in a
swirl of angry
disgust.
"Is
that what you think?
Is that why you
think I took the
book you hold so flaming
dear? Of all
the woolheaded
idiodic self
centered egotistical stupid
things!
Haven't you
got it through that
thick skull of yours
that I am
trying to help you!
That is the only
thing I have done on
this trip. that
is why I am here.
to help a
friend. a friend
halvic. I took
the book so i can
find out where you
are going and be
there when you
needed me.
Call me
stupid, but that
little six letter
word means alot more
to me then it does
to others. You
do not betray a
friend, you do not
treat a friend like a
dog. sit, come,
stay, pat it's head
and tell them they
are good poochies. you
just don't do that.
I wasn't
heading back to the
tower with it.
I was heading
around to get people
off your trail, buy
you time and then
hopefully meet
you there.
that's what
friends do."
Throwing
her hands in the air
she looked to the
sky for a moment.
"Why,
why do i even bother
re explaining this
to you. all
you have done this
entire trip is doubt
me, yourself, my
intentions and your
capability. That's
one sure fire way to
fail this quest
you've
undertaken."
Looking
up squarely at him,
gone was the demure
little girl who
squeeked in panic
at the first sign of
anything out of the
ordinary. Shan
stood straight,
facing whatever
hellfire he might
throw back at her on
her feet, a stiff
backed Sedai in the
making wrapped in a
pale blue dress.
"Now
I'm giving you two
choices Halvic.
You either
accept my help,
trust in me that
I will not fail or
betray you, or you
can leave me here
with the knowledge
that I will follow
no matter how hard
you try to stop me.
It's up to
you, becuase I am
done with this
farce."
Folding
her arms over her
chest she waited.
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