"SAMMAEL, YOU HAVE DONE WELL, LUCKY FOR YOU , FOR HAD YOU DONE LESS WELL,
YOU WOULD HAVE GREATLY DISPLEASED ME! STILL, YOU WERE PUSHING YOUR LUCK, IN
TEMPTING MY GREAT ENEMY AS YOU DID AT SHADAR LOGOTH."
" But GREAT Lord , if he is you enemy, why won't you let me kill h..".
"SILENCE, YOU HAVE YOUR ORDERS, YOU WILL OBEY THEM!"
"Yes, Great Lord, I obey them and I obey you, but if only we, I was allowed
to...".
"ENOUGH, MY PLANS ARE LAID, AND YOU MY CHOSEN , SHALL FOLLOW THEM."
"Yes Great Lord, and Lanfear and Demandred , do they follow your plans Great
Lord, does Greandal?"
"DO YOU QUESTION ME SAMMAEL? ALL THE CHOSEN HAVE THEIR PLANS AND THEY SHALL
FOLLOW THEM, IF THEY OBEY, ETERNAL LIFE IS THEIRS, IF THEY DO NOT THEY SHALL
DIE FOREVER! YOU SHALL DIE AN ETERNAL DEATH IF YOU DO NOT OBEY ME SAMMAEL!".
"I obey you Great Lord, it's just that these orders are restricting."
RESTRICTING TO YOU AND YOUR PLANS SAMMAEL, NOT TO ME OR MINE! LOOK TO THE
EAST FOR GAINS SAMMAEL, THERE YOU SHALL FIND POWER, AND BETWEEN DEMANDRED IN
THE WEST AND YOU IN THE EAST, THE LANDS THAT LIE IN BETWEEN SHALL BE CRUSHED!".
"Yes Great Lord, the east".
As he left the Pit of Doom through the tunnel, Sammael wondered why he was
ordered to gain power in the east, it was an order, of that he was sure,
even a suggestion from the Great Lord was an order. To the east was the
waste and further east was the lands of the Shaharan, that must be the place
the Great Lord wished him to go to, for the Aiel were nearly unapproachable,
except those he had already swindled into going through 'call boxes'.
Sammael had a quiet chuckle at that, how easy it was to fool these savages
in these modern days. Even Graendal would agree with him there, 'Graendal',
she would be useful in these new lands he had to acquire, he had used her
before and she was his now, there was nowhere else she could go, and in fact
she already new something of these people beyond the waste. Yes , time for
a trip to Arad Doman, he thought as he opened a gateway on the slopes on
Shayol Ghul.
Davram Bashere looked out over the strange city he had inhabited the last
month and wondered again why he was here. Sure, he knew he had to support
the Dragon Reborn, had to follow him and lend his support and his expertise
to him, but why did it have to be in this cursed hot land. If it wasn't for
the cool wines to the north he felt he may have melted away. Still, this was
a small problem for him, compared to other problems he had, and also the
problems the dragon had in holding all of his lands. Rand Al'Thor, the
Dragon Reborn had taken this city, this city called Illian a month ago and
in doing so he had annexed the whole nation of Illian. Since then he had
only been back three times, twice to check on routine problems and once to
ask if his boyhood friend Matrim Cauthon had shown up. He hadn't, a
fascinating lad Matrim Cauthon, he thought, so knowledgeble for one so
young, he would be handy to have around when these Seanchan started to
advance. And that was the main problem, the Seanchan, there had been regular
reports for over three weeks now, of a strange alien army marching across
the western lands, rumour had it they had captured Ebou Dar, and even Amador
and the Fortress of Light.
The other major worry he had was that of his
family, he had no idea of where his daughter was, off somewhere with that
blacksmith Lord, at least that was what Rand Al'Thor told him, on a mission
to the west of Andor. West, that meant towards these Seanchan, he knew he
shouldn't worry, she was an able woman, in fact she wasn't just an able
woman, she was a Saldaean Woman, and he could not think of a people that
bred their women more fierce, he grinned a small grin of pride as he thought
of that and his wife and daughter. Only the Aiel could possibly lay a
similar claim, he thought, and who in the civilised world could understand
Aiel, he still found it hard believe the insult the Aiel thought they had
incurred when Rand and him had used those Gateways to launch an assault on
Illian. Oh, it wasn't the Gateways that were the problem though, it was just
the fact that the Aiel weren't invited, as if there wasn't going to be
enough fighting to go around in the days to come, the light knows there
will be fighting to the west soon, folks were whispering daily of a storm
coming.
He looked up as he heard the clank of boots on marble walk towards him, "
Yes Talivar?".
"Lord Bashere, there are reports of fighting up in Ghealdan, they say these
Seanchan have taken the capital and have pushed the prohpet and the
whitecloaks back."
Ghealdan, where Zarine was, he thought, still she wasn't likely to fight in
any battles and she couldn't channel , thank the light. There were rumors of
these Seanchan kidnapping any channelers they could find.
"Anything else?" he asked.
"Only that our , I mean the Lord Dragons agents have sent pigeons reporting
that a small army, possibly a scout army have started marching East towards
us, here at Illian." reported the messenger.
"Thank you Talivar, that will be all." he waved him away, and thought again
how he would like Matrim Cauthon to be here, he did not know why exactly,
after all he was just a kid really, with no real experience even if he knew
a lot of the theory and had some good ideas.
Instead he thought of the
Seanchan, so it begins he thought, but why only a small force over ground,
perhaps there were to be more troops coming in from the sea and the ground
force was just to harass supply lines and contain them. He had to act even
if Rand Al'Thor was not here to give his blessing, he pulled the bell cord
and soon two servants entered. Illianers they were, and both had served well
since the Dragon ruled here.
"Eobrel , send word to Weiramon and Semaradrid in the foothills that the
Seanchan are marching at last. Have them move their infantry to the city and
surroundings valleys. I want their cavalry west of here by tomorrow, they
are to harass and scout the enemies strengths, they are not I repeat NOT to
engage fully." he thought of what might happen with those two fools in
charge against these Seanchan then banished it from his mind.
"Lapel, send word to Bruan of the Aiel, have them set up a perimeter defence
around the city, nothing is to get in or out unless they have valid reason".
At least the Aiel would do their bit, and do it well he thought, now if only
he had more ships in case of sea attack.
--
"Tell me again what this charm is and how did you get it", said the man in
black in a lazy drawl.
"I've told you a thousand times, I'm not sure what it is, all I know is it
stops the power and I got it from these snakes who tried to kill me."
replied the young man lying on a bench in the corner of a dark dank room, a
cell really, there were no comforts, there was not even a window, and the
door was always locked whenever the man in black was not present.
"Yes , so you said, do you really expect me to believe that snakes gave it
to you, I suppose these snakes talked to you as well?" , "Never mind, you're
to come with me now!". he replied as he walked out of the room, moments
later two dark very capable looking men walked through the door.
"Are , it's my friendly gaolers." snorted the prisoner.
"Shut up!" one replied as he hauled the prisoner to his feet. " Come with
us, walking or carried it doesn't bother us."
"I'll walk." the prisoner replied quickly. "Where are we going?" he asked in
that infuriatingly chirpy tone he always used with the guards.
"You'll find out" , replied a man in front of him. It was the man in black
again. " Just know, that if you botch this, you'll not live to see another
day, audiences with the daughter are hard to get, but you are a... a
curiosity in the court, many know of you, but don't know what to make of you."
"How could they know of me, I've been in a cell for a month." the prisoner
asked speculatively.
"In the Court of the Nine Moons , even a temporary court abroad, all know of
the comings and goings of strange things and peoples, and you are most
strange." the man in black finished.
But the prisoner wasn't listening , in his head the words , daughters, nine
moons , were spinning through his brain, forming a fact he had learned long
ago, from that place similar to the one where those snakes had given him his
amulet which had started it all, without that amulet he would probably be
dead, but with it he might find himself in a worse position, married. Matrim
Cauthon walked with a dread in his heart greater than anytime since his
imprisonment and questioning had begun.
--
"My Lords, I know you all have many titles and hold claims to power greater
than those titles, but this is my land , and I feel I must have final say in
the matter, for over a month now we have been fighting a hard messy war on
two fronts and I agree that it cannot go on, our forces are not great , even
with our channelers" , there was a slight grimace on that word , " but to
leave my lands and my people to the whitecloaks or these invaders would be
unquestionable and I could not do so unless some form of conciliation was
made to the crown of Ghealdan." there were cheers and murmurs both from the
assembled people listening to the stately beautiful young women who was
speaking.
When all had quietened down a bald man spoke up first.
"Alliandre, you forget yourself, if it is the will of the Lord Dragon that
we leave to join him , then we shall, there is no question of payment or
re-conciliation in the matter, it is simply sin to disobey the Lord Dragon,
I'm sure Lord Perrin agrees with me." the bald man with the feverish look in
his eyes gestured towards a large youth who strangely enough , seemed to
have eyes glowing slightly yellow.
The youth shrugged his shoulders uncomfortably, since his arrival the young
women who had finished speaking had regained some control of her life and
that of her subjects back from Masema, the self styled phropet of the Lord
Dragon, and he did not wish for her to lose any of that gain by supporting
Masema openly, even when he knew the phropet was right. How the youth hated
this kind of political talk and meanuvering , he would rather be in a smithy
making some tools or other ornaments, anything really except maybe a weapon,
a good fighter he was, but he hated to kill or even be associated with
killing. The only thing that got close to his dislike of killing was that of
politics and these nobles and their Game of Houses, but he had a duty to do.
"Masema, Queen Alliandre, I'm sure Rand would be happy to compensate the
state of Ghealdan if he could , but he may not be able to, all reports say
the Seanchan are attacking Illian as well, and there are still pockets of
Shaido Aiel running loose, not to mention minor insurrections in Andor and
Cairhien......." he was not surprised when Masema interrupted.
"They are traitors, I do not know why he bothers to try to win them over,
be done with them already."
"My Lord Phropet, they are not traitors as of yet, they merely wait to see
if the Lord Dragon forfills his promise of delivering the thrones to Elayne
Trakand." replied an exceptionally beautiful young women.
Perrin continued on after the young woman had finished.
"Thank you Berelain, but as for the matter of Ghealdan, we must leave here ,
to stay is to be annihilated by these Seanchan and their domane, we must
leave with as many of our resources as we can, if Rand can help Ghealdan
after this is all over , then I'm sure he will." the youth finished up.
"Yes, you are probably right Lord Perrin, to stay is to die, and we must not
die when we can still fight on. Very well, all state resources, including
the treasury and army and all remaining loyal nobles will travel with you to
the Lord Dragon." replied the Queen of Ghealdan, "And I as well."
"I too, Lord Perrin, will organise the common followers of the Dragon and we
shall travel with you as well.".
"Thank you Masema , and you Queen Alliandre. It is the only way." Lord
Perrin stated , "I will brief the Ashaman of what must be done, we shall
leave at dawn."
"As you say, Lord Perrin." the Queen replied sadly.
--
As she studied the surrounding countryside she felt a lump settle deep
within her. Two weeks of hard travelling to the border of Andor had showed
her there was something wrong, terribly wrong. Even the more hard-line Aes
Sedai knew something had to be done. Ewgene sighed. Why now, she thought,
they were just days away from beginning their attack on Tar Valon through
the gateways. How she burned to bring down Elaida. She never used to have
that desire, she briefly wondered why she had changed in that respect, but
the thought skittered away as soon as she touched it. But the Tower would
have to wait, this was a more serious problem, one that could endanger the
whole world. What was Rand doing? Where the hell was he even? She had seen
evidence of his victory down in Illian, Eyes and Ears agents reported that
Rand was now King of Illian. The big-headed fool. Not enough to be The
Dragon Reborn, now he's a king of a powerful nation. The problem was Rand
was never reported at actually being seen in Illian, all decisions came
form, or at least seemed to come from Davram Bashere. She did not know
General Davram Bashere, but many sisters and especially Gareth Bryne all
mentioned that he was a dangerous foe. She was not overly concerned, no one
could really harm Aes Sedai. Except possibly the Seanchan and a few of these
Ashaman Rand is training. Well, that can't be allowed to carry on, how
stupid of Rand to think he has the right to unleash male channelers on the
world again. She dismissed that thought and thought instead on things she
could control, for if it did come to any conflict with any conventional
armies, her own captain, Gareth Bryne had a reputation few could match. She
thought how glad she was to have at least one strong ally, she smiled when
she saw him walk towards her.
"Good morning , Gareth." she called to him.
"Morning Mother, but I don't think it's a good one." he replied.
"No , it's not. And something must be done to make sure this is all
stopped." she gestured to the plains in front of her and the small
smouldering village and slaughtered villagers and livestock , "Have you any
idea who might have done this Gareth."
"No Mother , it defies all reason, my scouts can find few tracks, those they
find are sporadic. There is no evidence of theft, and why kill valuable
livestock? I've heard that trollocs often kill all they find, but it just
doesn't fit that it's trollocs this far south of the blight." he said with a
slightly annoyed perplexed look on his face.
"It is consistent though with all the other massacres we have found on our
march." he finished up.
"Yes , something is very wrong here, this is not the work of brigands and
it's not trollocs either," she paused on that , "We are going to have to
delay the attack on Tar Valon Gareth Bryne , these murders must stop."
"But Mother , to delay now could be disastrous, we must press on with the
original plan, we can deal with this later, after you are firmly in place in
your position in the Tower." he advised.
"No Gareth, I'm going to summon a meeting of the Sitters, plans must be made
to find those responsible for this and to eliminate them."
"As you say Mother, by your leave." he replied as she waved him away,
striding back to the armed camp, her soldiers they were, ready to live and
die for her , or rather for her money, and the chance of loot.
She wondered how her friends were getting on, she had met Elayne and Nynaeve
several times in Teleranhriod, they were making plans to go to Andor so
Elayne could finally take her crown. More like so she could finally be with
Rand again, she had a quiet laugh at that , then thought of Gawyn, where was
he , was he still with the Tower in Tar Valon under Elaida's orders. Well,
that was a problem for another day, and her head was starting to hurt again.
She would go see Halima, the woman had wonderful hands, they could soothe
away any pains.
--
"You still want her head , don't you my pet." Moridin laugh quietly as he
stroke the regal woman's hair.
At least she would have been regal, except for the mixed look of loathing
and forced worship upon her face as she looked up at the man who now
controlled her life. HER Life. She, who was one of the most powerful people
in the world and among the most favoured of servants of the Great Lord, it
still amazed her that she was here now, at the beck and call of this man. A
man destined to die from his use of a dangerous power. Yes, he would die,
and she could wait , she had all the time in the world to wait, she would be
free one day, but she did want the woman he mentioned dead. It was that
woman who was responsible for her being in this situation, her and Elayne
Trakand's fault, but it was mostly Nynaeve Al'Meara's fault, and she would
pay one day.
"Yes Moridin, I want her head, but only when you wish me to take it." she
replied with a calm long practised.
"Well, my pet, perhaps it's time I let you have her."
Emotions ranging from hope to joy to fear went through her at these words,
hope to finally accomplish something and the joy of that accomplishment, to
fear of facing an opponent and fear she might fail her master and what that
might mean.
"Yes Mia'Cova, what do you wish of me." she breathed.
"Both Elayne Trakand and Nynaeve Al'Meara are heading north, apparently so
Elayne Trakand can take the throne of Andor and presumably Cairhien, once
she takes the thrones, those lands will calm down, our master does not wish
this to happen, you are to kill them both before they reach Andor, make sure
there is no body of Elayne Trakand to be found, the nobles of Andor and
Carihien will rebel, chaos will engulf both nations and the Lord of Chaos
shall rule." he laughed merrily at some distant thought she knew nothing of,
what was his affiliation with creating all this chaos? Sure it hampered this
Dragon Reborn in his efforts, but accomplished nothing stable. Still to ask
was to invite punishment.
"Yes Mia'Cova , I shall kill them quickly and quietly and leave no
evidence.." and she meant it as she had never meant it for any of his other
missions.
Basically the prologue sets up how the book will proceed for the major
characters but leaves a bit of mystery as to what Rand is doing.
1. Shows that Sammael lives and did not break any of the Dark Ones orders.
2. What has happened in Illian after the conquest, and what is going to happen there with the armies that are still there.
3. Where Mat is and what he is going to face in the book.
4. What Perrin has been doing and what he is going to try to do.
5. How the Salidar/ WhiteTower Aes Sedai came close to confrontation, but how a mysterious problem now faces Egwene.
6. Implies Elayne is finally going to get her Throne, but that Moghedien will get another chance to take on Nynaeve and Elayne again