Second Place - Most Plausible
Second Place - Most "RJ-esque"
(NOTE: This entry was unusually long, and has been broken up into several sections, because my HTML editor wouldn't allow me to present it as one piece)
(Continued from Part One)
Chapter 27
The Lugard Road
Nynaeve had never been to the city, and did not intend to stay long. She
simply meant to find the Two Rivers girls Verin and Alanna had sent to
Salidar. She had taken a room for the night at what looked like a fairly
respectable inn. At least, Lan had said it was better than most in this
town. Leanne hardly seemed to care one way or the other. She liked the
woman, but she did have odd notions at times. But she would have thrown
the girl who sang in the common room out of the Two Rivers, back when she
was Wisdom.
Still, there were a good many things she left to Lan. Finding out if the
girls had been in Lugard was one of them. She didn't need to hide her
face, though an Andoran woman and a borderland soldier were an odd couple
at best. And they were in Murandy, where border wars with Andor were a
frequent thing.
And it seemed they had been here, and might be still. The girls had just
arrived in town yesterday, and had done that late. It wouldn't be
unreasonable for them to spend another day or two here. That many women,
most of which were younger than Egwene, would occasion comment anywhere.
In this town, though, they'd be glad for the Sisters' warders.
It wasn't late enough that leaving would be remarked upon, so they went
to the inn where it seemed her friends were staying at. The sisters
there would not know she was Aes Sedai, but Leanne should be able to
smooth that over. She wished she could stay with the girls for more than
a few hours, but someone needed to take the embassy in hand.
No one knew what they were doing. Seonid and Masuri had said some --
enough that Egwene had managed to bring the Hall around to her point of
view. She found it hard to credit their theory that Rand was behind the
attack on Demira. Maybe Taim, or even some of the Aeil, but Rand?
The girls had been in the common room, of course. And not surprisingly
Nynaeve was surrounded by Emond's Fielders. Only Bode managed to speak up.
"Do you know where Mat is?"
"No. I'm sorry, Bodewhin." She truly was. "Some friends of mine are
looking for him, though."
"Are you an Aes Sedai?"
She spoke conspiratorially. "Yes. But the Aes Sedai with you don't know
yet."
Which led to a flood of questions. Most were on how one became an Aes
Sedai. She told what she knew of that, though she added "but I wasn't
exactly normal. Neither was Egwene."
They didn't believe her when she said Egwene was the new Amyrlin, until
Leane and Lan confirmed it. She'd been about to add that she doubted
Bode would be normal either. If she was any judge of things, the girl
had as much potential as that wretched Nicola did. And if she'd watched
what her brother did for the past ten years (and she must have -- Bode
had come running to her often enough), she'd likely cause a good deal of
trouble for Nicola. She shouldn't be grinning about that.
"How much have you been teaching them?" She asked Demira.
"What we can. They all learn quickly enough. Not like you or Egwene,
though Bodewhin comes close. She's the only one who can channel every
time she tries. I haven't seen a crop of Novices like this since the
ones that arrived with you, Leane."
Leane let the man on her arm leave. "We were an exceptional group,
weren't we? Still, there is another matter."
"We aren't in Salidar any more. We're in Amador, and someone else can
explain that one. But the Amyrlin wants you with her as soon as
possible. So I get to play ferry service."
[...]
Chapter 28
Under the Rising Sun
"I'd thought Rand would be here." Nynaeve said.
"He was, until a few weeks ago. And I think there is only one place he
could have gone." Kiruna said.
"I truly wish that boy would ask for help when he could use it." Cadsuane
said as she walked in. The guards had trouble stopping her.
"You think he went to Illian. To fight Sammael."
"Certainly. And could have had thirteen Aes Sedai with him had he asked.
Any green would have volunteered, and almost any blue."
"And what are you doing here Cadsuane? Is there any reason I shouldn't
shield you and take you back to the Amyrlin?"
The other Aes Sedai looked shocked. She'd known this ... legend among
Aes Sedai ... was in Cairhein a few minutes after she met Kiruna. And
she didn't need Lan and Leanne to tell her that this woman had very
nearly taken over an embassy that was supposed to report to the rebel
hall. What did they expect, polite banter?
Cadsuane sniffed. "There were things I came here to do. And I plan on
doing them."
"I will have an explanation, then." Nynaeve had no intention of using
the angreal in her pocket. She'd only kept it as a precaution. Elayne
had taken the only sa'angreal they'd found, for much the same reason she
had an angreal. Moghedien was around somewhere, looking for her. And
she feared the next time she met the woman, one of them would not
survive. Cadsuane, though, she didn't need an angreal for.
[...]
Chapter 32
In Caemlyn
Nynaeve let the gateway close as soon as Leane rode through. She had
thought there was only one man she would chase halfway across the world,
but that man was riding next to her. Ta'veren, she thought, were even
worse than children.
She hoped Rand was at the palace; she had no intention of seeking him out
at his Black Tower. A message sent to the palace would probably get an
answer, if he'd been in the city recently. He'd left Illian weeks ago,
though he'd stayed long enough to pick up a throne. So either he was in
Caemlyn, or off somewhere completely unexpected. She could almost think
he'd turn up in Amador, though that would probably be a disaster. Rand,
and almost three thousand women who could channel? And two nations flying
the flame of Tar Valon with their own banners? That was not likely to
make him happy, though perhaps if he understood the alternative...
* * *
An invitation had arrived at the Queen's Blessing the next day. The inn
was still nice enough, though for some reason Bessell Gill was gone.
She'd expected one whether Rand was there or not; Lady Dylin would
probably invite two Aes Sedai to the palace out of courtesy, and be upset
that they hadn't taken rooms in the palace.
But she'd received a hastily scrawled note in Rand's hand.
* * *
"I don't suppose this is just a friendly visit?" Rand said. At least
he'd ordered all the servants out of the hall. Some of what she had to
tell him was known to her, and a few other Aes Sedai. Lan knew, of
course -- keeping things from him was nearly impossible. But though
everyone could hear of what had been done in Ebou Dar and Amador,
Moghedien and Logain were closely held secrets.
"Not really. There's some things you ought to know about." She said,
then began to explain. He'd looked tired when she arrived, and what she
had to tell only added to the lines of strain and worry on his face.
Strangely, even Moghedien had seemed to bother him less than knowing she
and Elayne were Aes Sedai now. He'd looked back to Leane, who'd only
nodded.
Chapter 35
In Tanchico
Mat supposed he should be grateful. He wasn't in a cell anymore. He
just wasn't allowed to leave the Panarch's Palace. He'd thought
Cairheinin were dangerous, with their constant playing of Daes de Mar.
But Seanchan were worse. Maybe Thom could make some sense out of things
here. He couldn't.
Tuon was hardly any easier to figure out than any other Seanchan woman.
The Light-cursed Daughter of the Nine Moons herself. He'd swore if he
ever found out who the woman was, he'd run as far as he could. But he
couldn't run at all. As if he'd ever run from a beautiful woman in his
life. Maybe Perrin would know what to do; he was married, maybe he
understood women.
*Well, Elayne, if you're going to rescue me, now would be a good time.
With Seanchan and the daughter of the Nine Moons to worry about, I might
as well be in a cell*. Though it really wouldn't be a good time for a
rescue. It seemed that every sul'dam and damane on this side of the
Aryth Ocean was in Tarabon, and most of them in Tanchico. Nynaeve and
Elayne had rescued Egwene from the Seanchan once, and the pair were Aes
Sedai now, not just pretending to be.
Still, it wasn't the Seanchan in general that had made him a light
sleeper. It must be two hours before dawn. So when the two women
entered his room despite the lock, he'd already been awake. He'd
survived more than one attempt on his life. None of the assassins before
could channel, though. He knew that as soon as his medallion went cold.
The sul'dam might figure it out, or not. That foxhead medallion was
limited. It didn't stop them from picking up something with the power
and throwing it at him. Rand wasn't about to explain, but Mat thought it
wasn't much good against lightning either. He wasn't going to give them
a chance, though. His andrashei had been looted from the Tarisan Palace;
Tuon had given it back to him. But he used it like a staff, clubbing the
two women unconscious in an instant.
Again, he tried to puzzle out the reasons for an attempt on his life. If
the Seanchan wanted him dead, they could probably have him executed. But
they hadn't. Tuon, and most of the other Seanchan nobles, seemed
perfectly happy to let him walk around the palace unhindered. High Lady
Suroth and High Lord Rendis were the only ones who had been openly
hostile.
Still, who else in Tarabon could want him dead? Not Whitecloaks, and not
any of the nobles who plotted against Rand in Caemlyn, Cairheinin, Tear,
or even Illian. That left Darkfriends, and probably working for one of
the Forsaken at that.
Chapter 38
The Tower
Thom had been in Egwene's dreams too often. Even after she'd taught him
the stone ring ter'angreal, hoping to find something, she dreamed of him
too much. She'd tried to teach him and Perrin together, though Perrin
knew more to start with. That had seemed odd -- Thom was usually the one
who knew everything, or at least the unexpected.
But Moiraine had been there just an often, and it was only now that she
was beginning to credit the Dream. Always Moiraine, a metal tower, Thom,
and Perrin. Always a warning of great danger was there, but there was
always some reason she entered the tower anyway. No one but Siuan knew
she was doing this, though. Siuan, Perrin, and Thom.
She stepped into the Dream...
But it seemed there was no way into the tower. She channeled at the
walls, and nothing happened. Perrin's axe, though, seemed to work well
enough. They entered there.
It wasn't long before they were lost in the darkness inside. Strangely,
imagining light did not help. She channeled, and it seemed to work this
time. The walls had strange carvings on them, of figures that were not
quite human.
"Fire to blind." Thom muttered under his breath. They pressed on. It
seemed there were several levels to the tower, so they methodically
searched one floor at a time. Nothing inhabited the first few levels.
At least, nothing living.
That continued for hours, though she grew more worried with every empty
floor. As if something hiding here was only waiting for the right moment
to strike. And then there was a door. Egwene opened it.
Inside, someone was shackled to the wall. They walked close enough to
see her face...
... And an arrow came out of nowhere. She fell to the ground.
Perrin broke the shackles holding Moiraine with a clean twist of his axe.
She had to be awake, and strong enough to channel. No one else could
Heal Egwene. But he had left whoever shot the arrow to Thom. Who knew
less of this place than anyone else here.
Surprisingly, she didn't have any trouble walking. "Go with Thom." She
said, giving orders as if she hadn't last seen him over a year ago. But
he did. He knew the face that had shot that arrow. Slayer.
"You shouldn't have come here, Goldeneyes. You know it is much harder to
leave this place than to enter."
Perrin had an arrow knocked by the time Slayer saw him. He didn't worry
about where the bow came from. Egwene had told him his will could affect
things here; he'd seen that for himself more than once. It wasn't merely
desperation that made him loose the arrow immediately. And another. One
arrow had not killed him before; Perrin would not count on it again.
Then one of Thom's knives was in Slayer's eye.
"We have to get out of here. That man is the least dangerous creature in
this place. Carry Egwene."
They had little choice but to leave the same way they came in; his axe
seemed to have no affect on the walls, now. Their resistance to the
Power had not changed. That left finding the hole he had made before.
Though all she had done since Healing Egwene was a single attempt to
break the walls, and a light for the way, Moiraine was leaning on Thom.
She must have been here since she fought Lanfear in Cairhein. How had
she survived? Or had she at all? He had seen dead wolves in
tel'aran'rhoid, and a Hero of the horn. An Aes Sedai was hardly less
strange.
But when they reached what he was sure was the spot, he found the wall as
solid as any other. And strange creatures were converging on them.
"Remember the game." Moiriane said. But he had paid her no mind. Egwene
was propped against a wall; he could not swing his axe and carry here at
the same time. And whatever these creatures were, they were armed, and
not human. One of them slipped passed him to Egwene. He lobbed the
creature's head off, but Egwene was bleeding badly.
Thom seemed to understand something she said; he dodged their attacks for
a second, and then was playing a flute. And they shied away from it,
nearly as much as they shied away from the flame Moiraine used for a
light.
"Stay close." She said. And they were encircled by a ring of fire.
"They will stay away. Iron, Fire, and Instruments of Music. They fear
those things."
The creatures ran, and quickly. But every one of them was injured, and
most badly.
"But how do we leave?"
"Look at the wall again." And it was there. The hole he had cut before.
"Through the fire?"
"It keeps them out. And it will keep them from following."
So they ran through it.
Egwene seemed very weak when she woke. "I think I can get you out of
here. Probably, anyway. Go through, Moiraine. And the rest of you,
leave." There was some sort of gateway there.
* * *
When Egwene awoke in the real world, Romanda was by her side. The woman
was a problem in the Hall, but she was one of the strongest Yellows
alive. Nynaeve was halfway across the world, so Romanda would have to
do.
"Moiraine?"
"Dagdara has seen to her. Your other two friends have also been seen to.
But how could you risk yourself like that?"
"It had to be done, Daughter." It was necessary far too often to remind
this woman who was Amyrlin. "And no one else could have done it."
Besides, that was true enough. Moghedien or Lanfear might know
tel'aran'rhoid better than she, but no one else had her abilities with
the Dream and with the Power.
Chapter 41
A Rescue
"Are you *sure* you want to do this, Elayne?" Egwene said. She still
looked tired, though it had been over a week since she rescued Moiraine.
"Mat saved my life more than once. And Rand might need him."
"I still think you should go to Caemlyn."
"And I will, as soon as we take care of Mat. Moiraine and Thom are going
ahead, to tell Rand I'm coming."
"And who else do you plan on taking on this jaunt?"
"Perrin, which means Faile will come with us whether Perrin wants her to
or not. Birgitte, and Mat's man Vanin. And Aviendha."
"Then be careful."
At least she hadn't needed to look for dresses. Among the prisoners,
there had been someone close enough to their sizes. With a little
needlework, even Aviendha's fit well enough. She hardly liked even
pretending to be damane, but she might need to use the power, and it
would be well not to cause unneeded suspicion. But the collars they wore
were of Illusion, as were the bracelets Faile and Birgitte wore. The
leashes were real, though. Maintaining that effect took more effort than
it was worth. Perhaps she was being cruel to leave Aviendha to the
Saldean woman, while her Warder was paired with her, but any other
arrangement would have Birgitte furious.
She knew Tanchico well enough; she'd been there before. So she opened a
gateway to a district that was nearly always empty. From there, it was
easy enough for a pair of sul'dam with their charges and a pair of
soldiers to get into the palace.
That left looking for Mat. He was almost certainly a prisoner, but
sul'dam did not frequent the dungeons. Aviendha saw something, and
pulled Faile in the right direction.
"What did you see?"
"Mat, and a Seanchan woman. And a man started following them both, about
halfway down the hall."
* * *
When they entered the room it was chaos.
The woman had a sword, and she was ready to use it. Not against Mat,
though. "You will pay for this insolence, Lord Rendis. By the Crystal
Throne, I command you to leave."
"It is not Rendis but Demandred, Tuon. And I have no further use for
you." Tuon had started to swing her blade when the Forsaken was halfway
finished with his speech. But she found herself crumpled on the floor
before she could do anything.
"It seems Suroth's assassins were not as good as she thought." He said.
And a bar of liquid fire shot at Mat. It fell apart as it was about to
touch him.
Mat drew his andrashei and moved against the Forsaken's sword. Demandred
was a formidable swordsman, though he seemed slightly distracted. Mat
felt his medallion go cold more than once, and thanked the creator that
it seemed to work against men and women.
Then Mat began to feel the medallion go cold, and jumped out of the way
of a bolt of lightning. It was then that Elayne and Aviendha entered the
room. The disguises they were wearing fell away when they entered the
door.
"Hold, shadowsouled." Aviendha said.
And it seemed he did. At least, he didn't try lightning again. For a
second he hesitated, whispering "Illyena?" Then another of those
white-hot bolts flew, this time from Elayne's hand. Demandred
disappeared.
"I think that we had better leave, Mat." Elayne said. "That much saidar
will draw every sul'dam in the palace."
"I am coming with you." Tuon said, pushing herself up. Light-cursed
woman.
"Well, then, let's go." She said, weaving a gateway to a room in the
Royal Palace in Caemlyn. And if there was someone there, she might well
kill Rand. It was, after all, her room.
* * *
"How did you manage that, anyway? You and Egwene didn't do much against
Lanfear."
"We were linked," Elayne said. "I have a sa'angreal. And Perrin and
Vanin killed a dozen Seanchan soldiers who came to help 'Rendis'."
Chapter 48
New Arrivals
Rand sat by the Lion Throne, waiting. He wasn't sure what he was waiting
for, only that there wasn't any clear direction to go anymore. It had
been easier when his enemies were obvious. But seven of the Forsaken
were dead, and five of the other six were likely plotting his death.
Asmodean was probably more concerned with avoiding the others than
anything else.
The servants had let someone into the room. Nynaeve had already managed
to be here; the Maidens seemed to let her get away with anything. At
least, after she wrapped a dozen of them up in saidar and walked in to
see him without their leave. When she'd told him that she bested
Moghedien alone and unaided, he should have believed her. Maybe she
would help him. He certainly couldn't trust Lanfear with that statue.
Could he trust Nynaeve?
A Maiden had knocked in the lull in conversation. Rand bid her to come
in.
"A man is here to see you. Logain Albar, or so he says."
Logain might be more than useful, if he could be trusted. Taim would not
be happy to see the man, nor to let him have any authority. But if he
was as strong as Nynaeve thought, and his six years as a False Dragon had
taught him how to use the power, the man would wear both Dragon and sword
soon.
"Send him in."
He began to explain to Logain what would be expected of him if he went to
the Black Tower, but Nandera interrupted again. The woman behind him did
not wait to be let in. Moiraine never had.
[...]
Chapter 50
The Lion Throne
Elayne knew the words by heart. She'd known them since she was thirteen.
But even with everything prepared, even having practiced this to the
smallest detail, she was still nervous. But she walked into the Grand
Hall like she owned it. Which she did, of course. As long as she didn't
make any mistakes.
"Who are you, to enter the Lion Palace?" Dylin said, from the Regent's
chair.
"I am Elayne." That was all she said the first time. But she wished
Birgitte were here. She wasn't, of course. There was no place for the
Daughter-Heir's Warder in this ceremony. So Birgitte was just outside,
and even more nervous than Elayne was.
"The descendents of Ishara are found in every line in Andor. So I ask
again, who are you?"
"I am Elayne, daughter of Morgase." She knew that while Rahvin lived her
mother had treated some of the nobles here badly. She hoped they
understood. At the very least, Lady Dylin seemed to.
"But who are you, to approach the Lion Throne today?"
"I am Elayne, daughter of Morgase, high seat of House Trakand, and
Daughter-Heir. And I would be your queen."
* * *
It had taken some argument to get them to accept. At least Faile had
been helpful, for once. But Mat and Perrin didn't like the idea very
much. Still, she had convinced them it would help.
"Perrin Ayabara. You stopped a Trolloc invasion of your home. You drove
a foreign army from Andor. For this, and more, rise Lord Perrin of House
Ayabara, Lord of the Two Rivers."
"Matrim Cauthon. You have saved my life more than once. You have proven
yourself to be one of the finest generals Andor has ever known. For
this, and more, rise Lord Matrim of House Cauthon, Lord of Kore Springs.
And Captain-General of my Guard."
Mat's Band of the Red Hand *was* the Guard, for now. The Guard Rahvin
had raised could not be trusted, and many good Andormen had found their
way into the Band. Even those that were not native to Andor were loyal
to Mat. She hoped that soon she'd command as much loyalty from them;
she'd offered a pay increase to the soldiers who swore to Andor, and
patents of nobility in Andor to the officers. Andor needed a strong army
now; Mat would need to find another fifteen thousand men, at least. At
least Lord Byrne had been agreeable to giving Mat his estate. He wasn't
leaving Siuan in any case.
Chapter 52
A Path of Daggers
Egwene leaped out of the Dream, and back into the Fortress of the Light.
Halima. Who was she? Or who was he? A dagger. A face she only saw
once, and that several years ago. Could it be true? Could it not be?
If it was, she had no time. Halima saw her before she left the Dream; of
that she was sure.
"Chesa, fetch Theodrin, Faolin, Siuan, and Leane please. And hurry."
The woman had to be one of the Forsaken, if her Dream held true. She had
to be Balthemel, and that was impossible. She'd seen the Green Man kill
him. She wasn't sure the four sisters would be enough.
Even with her part of the treasure from Ebou Dar, she might not be up to
facing one of the Forsaken. She'd leant the sa'angreal to Elayne, and
the stronger of the two angreal to Nynaeve. After all, she had several
hundred Aes Sedai around her; she shouldn't have needed the power.
She embraced saidar, and waited.
* * *
"You are certain, Moriaine?" Rand said.
"As certain as I was with Lord Brend, and High Lord Samon. And Jasin
Natel."
"I wish you had been certain yesterday, before Nynaeve went back to the
palace."
"You know who he is. And you know what you must do."
Dashiva knew as well. He held saidin near to bursting. Rand would have
none of it. He let a thin strand of balefire jump at the man. Of course
Dashiva avoided it.
Then they began to dance.
* * *
"Just be quiet and link with me. I'll explain later." Egwene said when
the others arrived. But she never did explain. A lightning bolt
produced by a power none of the women could see or feel did her
explaining for her. It took little more than a second for the women to
comply. And then she struck back.
Not at Halima. But at her link to saidin. Egwene drew on saidar as
deeply as she could, through the link and through her angreal. Power
rushed through her, far more than she could have hoped to handle unaided.
A thought bubbled up that Nynaeve might be able to, or at least come
close, but she pushed that asside.
Halima did not stop her attacks on the physical plane. However she found
her power, she was the equal the sisters gathered against her. But she
was one against five, and one of those five held an angreal.
* * *
Few of the students in the Black Tower were yet awake. It was well past
dark, and most had chores to do. Only the soundest of sleepers could
fail to notice that something was happening this evening, but most would
have little clue who the combatants were.
But Rand and Dashiva were using the Power in huge amounts. Both had come
close to killing each other. *And me*, Moiraine thought. But she got up
anyway. She wasn't all that close to them.
The men were paying her no mind. Perhaps they hadn't seen her yet. She
winced, as another section of a building was destroyed by balefire. And
then she used it herself.
The Forsaken was simply no longer there.
* * *
Halima was tiring, Egwene was sure. The attacks on her were not coming
as quickly; her responses were coming closer and closer to her goal. At
last she found it. The link between Halima and the Power was gone. And
with the knife-edge she'd put on her shield, it was likely gone forever.
Epilogue
Dark had settled on the city of Tar Valon. Once, its streets were the
cleanest in the known world. But times were different now. The Sitters
met in secret, and more than a few visibly shuddered at what they were
about to do. Seaine was not one of them. She did what had to be done.
"The greater consensus is achieved. Elaida do'Avriny a'Roihan is
removed."
For the first time in Tower history, the Sitters from an Amyrlin's own
Ajah had voted to remove her. Not just Pevara, but all three Red
Sitters. Elaida's disgrace was that great. She had nearly destroyed the
tower. Worse, she had been a tool of the Black Ajah. And with their
vote, they had only one place to go.
* * *
"Elaida."
"Why am I shielded?"
"You know why. You are no longer Amyrlin. In light of certain
circumstances, you may escape being stilled. But do not expect any more
than that."
"And who do you plan to raise in my place, Seaine? You?"
"There has been no decision on that as yet."
Seaine knew what the answer must be, though. She'd tell the Hall
tonight.
* * *
"The Tower must be whole and strong, and there is only one way to do
that," she said with a confidence she did not really feel.
Every sister she and Pevara had suspected had disappeared in the past few
weeks. Nearly a hundred of them. The sitters all were avoiding the truth;
they were a pale remnant of the White tower, a paltry hundred and fifty
sisters, and had no real choices left.
"Egwene al'Vere must be summoned before the Hall. A hall with the sitters
for all 7 Ajahs. The Blues have led us for 20 years; losing them led to
the greatest disaster in the history of the tower. This rebellion is
over, and we have lost."
The sitters gasped. But they agreed.
(Return to Part One)