Despite the Asha'mans' initial destruction, there is still a sea of Shaido trying to reach the wagons, their weapons cutting deeply.
----------
Round 6 Battle Update
Where the Asha'man tread, death follows behind them. It's hard to stomach watching as bodies around you simply die, enemies falling around them.
As Jasmine and Jed try to push their way through the chaos, they see a lone Cairhien warrior tumble from his horse. Judging by the stripes going down the front of his coat he must be a noble of one of the great houses. He stands alone, the Shaido circling around him, trying to strike at an exposed side.
Fiallain spins, spear in hand as a Shaido spear catches her leg. She can see the other Shaido around her getting ready to leap on her, to bury her underneath a stabbing mound of spears. Eyes tightening she waits for the inevitable. Suddenly 3 wolves crash into the Shaido, teeth flashing as they tear flesh. Shockingly Ryland moves amongst them, his sword and fist flashing out in perfect sync with the wolves' attacks. With a snarl on his face, he simply tears a man's throat out with his bare hand.
The immediate threats down, Fiallain catches his eyes briefly and recoils at the lack of recognition. He simply looks at her as if at a stranger before turning to lope off with the wolves, as if he were shortly going to drop down to all fours to run with them.
*edited*
Forcing his horse up amongst the men, Jasper rides up and greets the Asha'man in charge of the group.
Well met, Brother. What brings you here to this battle? he asks. He swivels his head around to look about and spots a Wise One staring in the groups direction. Without a second thought, Jasper obliterates the Shaido Wise One.
Jasmine grunts as a Shaido spear strikes out blindly and catches her in her leg before she continues her charge through the sea of black veiled faces. Catching sight of a Cairhienin noble going down nearby, Jasmine yells out to Jed Take the reins! before moving her arm like she is standing upon the deck of one of her fathers trading ships, casting her rod into the ocean catching Stripers. Flows of air wrap themselves around the nobleman and yank him into the air away from the fray with a pull of her outstretched arm. Keeping hold of the man is very difficult but she manages to pull him to her, although he is flailing wildly in fear of being yanked about by the power. In the chaotic state, a strange though comes to her as she sees him flail about, He really does look like a Striper. she says with a nervous laugh, ignoring the strange look Jed gives her when she does.
Jed takes the reins from Jasmine and continues to guide them through the throng of enemies and allies. He takes it slow enough to weave a course that takes them past fewer spears, but fast enough to avoid most of those that do take a stab at them.
Ryland has lost sight of the Asha'man he was following through the mass of Aiel. He still moves quickly with the wolves, moving into and out of combat like a hot breeze. To stay and fight is death here, the earth has become red mud and the press of bodies can kill as quickly as the flashing spears of the Shaido.
Still, the woodsman keeps fighting. His sword is gone, lost somewhere in the mass of bodies on the field. He now carries a broken spear taken from one of the dead. One of the female wolves has fallen; her body pierced by numerous spears and left behind. Mourning will happen later, now there is only time for killing.
In the midst of the battle, Alathea can no longer see the Aes Sedai clearly. There are too many Aiel, too much chaos...and now, too many of these madmen. Light, I hope that they only fight these Aiel! There are too many for the Sisters to fight!
Alathea knows that she's not going to survive this battle. Bleeding from a dozen different wounds, she's light-headed and dizzy, and she's hardly made any progress towards the Aes Sedai. But she cannot stop trying: she is going to die whether or not she fights, but she'd rather not just give up. Although her body is failing, she can still touch the True Source, and it will have to be enough.
Catching her breath and recovering from the shock at the Ryland's bestial glare, Fiallain quickly springs into action, following in the void left in the wake of the borderlander and his companions. Her spear darts out, striking against any Shaido each time. The roar of steel against steel and the one power thumping and crashing fills her senses and she tries not to think about who or what is using it all around them.
Litheene pushes on, weaving aside any attackers, trying to get closer still to the wagons.
The Shaido spears continue to fall, drawing new blood from all of you.
----------
Round 7 Battle Update
Jed nearly stumbles as the press of bodies suddenly seems to clear for a moment and then he's standing panting as a space opens around him as the Shaido die. Ahead of him, the ground lies mostly clear between himself and the wagons, any remaing Shaido being quickly dispatched. A sense of frustration and fear flows through the bond and he turns to see Jasmine, her body crushed against an invisible wall by the mass of Aiel. Charging forward he swings his sword with a yell only to have it ricochet harmlessly off of the Power made wall.
Jasper sees the flows of Air go up and joins in wordlessly, meshing his own weave to those of his brothers. He can see the churning mass on the other side as the smoke from the wagon fires billows up to the hole in the top of the dome.
Alathea collapses under a sea of Aiel, her vision going dark as a spear punctures one of her lungs.
Jasmine feels the first icy finger of fear run down her spine as she sees Jed separated from her by a wall of air. Doing the only thing she can think of she forms a tapestry of all five elements into a shimmering transparent dome around herself. Looking at Jed she steels herself to try and kill the Shaido trapped with her.
Jed feels a sharp pang of fear, some of it his own, but some of it he knows is Jasmine's. Through the fear rises a feeling that Jed has become rather used to lately. It is a feeling of strong determination. Jasmine's determination fuels Jed's own determination. "Jasmine, stand strong!" Jed looks into Jasmine's eyes for a brief second and she feels some of her strength returning. He then turns to find someone who could be solidifying the air in place, leaving Jasmine behind.
Jed moves to the Asha'man he perceives as taking part in keeping him from his Ward. Jed's face is hard as cold stone, though there is now a fire burning in his eyes. "Bring down that wall! You need only bring it down for a few seconds. Just long enough for a few of our allies to make it through. We can handle a few more Aiel!"
The pain burns fierce and hot, but it is mercifully short. As Alathea's consciousness fades away, she cannot help but think that she has failed. The Aes Sedai are still surrounded by a sea of Aiel and madmen. The Black Ajah surely still stalks the halls of both the Tower and the rebels' camp. The Dark One still waits for the Dragon. And she has done nothing to correct any of these grave wrongs. But even more painfully, she hasn't helped even one man avoid the fate of her brother. All these years in the Tower! All for nothing! Forgive me, Ralin...
Jasper will continue to do what the other Asha'man are doing, concentrating on holding the wall of air in place.
The savage woodsman continues along his path of distruction among the Aiel. He now swings an axe in large arcs as he moves, cutting down Aiel like wheat in the field.
Ryland continues to run towards the wagons until he slams head first into something, knocking him backwards. The Boarderlander shakes his head as if to clear it and blood flows from the bridge of his broken nose. Slowly the savage woodsman gives way to the real Ryland, he looks around at the battle field taking in the death and distruction as if for the first time. Stunned he looks at his wolf companion, a lanky grey wolf. Wasn't there more? I remember more.
Standing in the chaos, Ryland sees the image of the sun low on the horizon, still shining through the red clouds of a passing storm as darkness creeps over the land, with a cool wind blowing through the tall grass passing over him and he feels he knows the name of the wolf. "Duskwalker."
Standing a few paces apart from his fellow Asha'man, Jasper holds his weave steady, overlapping the wall of air with the others.
As the walls fall into place, the noise of battle slowly recedes until it is cuts off, allowing jasper to hear different noises.
At first he hears his own heavy breathing, surprise flicking across the Void. Then he begins to hear odd, singular noises. Moans of pain begin to echo from the fallen, and at odd moments a woman's heart wrenching scream bellows from the wagon-ring. THe voices in his head are just a murmur, sedated by the carnage they have wrought so far.
Glancing off to his right, Jasper spots Jed, rushing up on another Asha'man. Where is Jasmine? the question rolls along the void, seeming to whirl in his thoughts. Jasper looks about the wall where Jed was spotted, searching for Jasmine.
Jed's words wash over the nearest Asha'man who turns to look at him with cold, remorseless eyes. That wall comes down when the M'Hael orders it, Warder. The man heaps scorn and anger on that last word, which he makes sound almost like property, as he turns away from Jed.
Jed's face hardens and his sword rises. He's about to plunge it into the man's back, so consumed is he by anger and concern over Jasmine when he suddenly catches Jasper's eye from across the distance. Apparently he too made it into the dome. Jasper's face is covered in sweat and he's barely able to stand on his feet but he shakes his head quickly before turning back to focus his attention on the invisible wall.
Jed can feel concern and sadness flowing through the bond as he turns to see Jasmine looking at him. She seems unharmed, surrounded by a small bubble of calm amongst the raging hordes but her eyes are firmly locked on to him and what he was about to do. Jed lowers his blade, his thoughts and emotions in turmoil.
The Shaido press against the dome, the pressure of their numbers having little effect on the invisible wall.
The fighting within the dome has completely died down, Aiel with red bands overseeing the captured Shaido as they began to disrobe. A cluster of Aes Sedai were surrounded by a large group of Asha'man looking nervous but otherwise unharmed while another group was kneeling on the ground within the wagons, shielded and under guard.
Outside the dome the fighting raged on, weaves of the power slamming against it while the Shaido continued to press forward trying to find some way in.
Suddenly a man's voice could be heard booming over the battlefield. Grady, raise the Banner of Light! A red banner floated up through the air until it was sticking out of the dome of Air, the red fabric billowing in the breeze as fire and lightning rained around it, the ancient symbol of the Aes Sedai rippling across it.
The man's voice rang out again. Asha'man, form line of battle! At his command, all of the black-coated men not watching over the various Aes Sedai ran to put themselves between the invisible barrier and everyone else.
Asha'man, raise the barricade two spans! The dome raised itself and surprised Shaido stumbled forward as the resistance was suddenly gone in front of them. They recovered quickly but only had time for a single step before the next command rang out.
Asha'man, kill!
The front rank of Shaido exploded. There was no other word for it. Cadin'sor-clad bodies simply burst in bloody sprays of gore. It was as if the Shaido were running into a giant meat grinder. Flows of [i]saidin[i] snaked through the mists of blood and burst another form and another, Shaido disintegrating in the blink of an eye. No enemy could stand up to that and suddenly the front ranks of Shaido were fighting to flee from the devastation, unable to move as the back ranks still pressed forward unaware of what awaited them.
Seeing a light before her, faint but pulsing with the promise of warmth and comfort, Alathea moves towards it.
Feeling blood running down his thigh from a still embedded shaido spear, along with the multitude of cuts and slashes he has endured from the battle, Jasper feels these pains even in the Void.
Asha'man, form line of battle! he hears the command from the M'Hael.
Shuffling along, leaving a trail of blood, feeling the exhaustion settling in, Jasper sets himself in line with the others.
Here it comes!says two voices, echoing each other
Destroy the voices chant
For the M'Hael
For the M'Hael
For the Dragon
For the Dragon
I am the Dragon a small voice says
Wait for the command the commanding voice bellows
Asha'man, kill! the M'hael commands.
Freedom the voices purr
Freedom the voices sing
Restraints are off the voices say with glee
Dont hold back the voices urge
Kill! pleading
KILL demanding
KILL THEM ALLThe command is given, all three voices say
Muscles quiver and clench, Jasper channels, watching with disinterest as the threads of saidan knit together into a weave finer than a hair, sharper than a razor, burrowing into an Aiel's stomach. Upon contact, the weave surges with power, drawing more from the source, and forcing multiple knit lines of Saidan to be created, following lines of bone, blood vessels, nerves. Upon reaching the extremities of the body, the ends suddenly vibrate with savagery, and then explode with a shocking force as each fine line touches another, amplifying the power to incredible degrees, causing rapid destruction to nerves, blood vessels, organs, bones, bursting forth in a viscous display of power.
Jasmine waits withing her cocoon of Saidar as all around her the world turns to blood. Gore and entrails splash messily against the dome, coating it in blood until it is nearly opaque. Revulsion and nausea pour through the bond to Jed, along with a fear of what the Dragon Reborn has loosed upon the world. Jasmine begins to weep silently for the utter destruction being wreaked around her. Once the killing stops, Jasmine releases the ward, revealing a small pocket of clear ground in a sea of dismembered corpes, blood, and the remains of what were once men and women. Her coppery skin pale and slick with a sheen of sweat from the battle, she begins to carefully walk towards Jed, her head high and trying not to look at the ground around her.
As the destruction continued, the lightning and fire began to falter against the dome. The man's voice rang out again. Asha'man, rolling ring of Earth and Fire!
Beneath the feet of the Shaido nearest the wagons the ground suddenly erupted in fountains of flame and dirt, hurling men in every direction. While bodies still hung in the air, more gouts of flame roared from the ground, and more, in an expanding ring all the way around the wagons, pursuing the Shaido for fifty paces, a hundred, two hundred.
Jasmine nearly lost her footing as the waves of dirt and fire washed over her ward, which seemed so fragile a thing to be able to withstand such destruction.
Ryland moved almost by instinct and it was all that saved him as a gout of flame roared not more than five feet from him, the ground flinging him through the air. Landing hard on his shoulder, he rolled to his feet with the smell of burned hair strikingly clear in his nostrils.
A second voice suddenly rang out over the noise of the eruptions. Stop it, Taim! The first speaker, now identified as the false Dragon Mazrim Taim, called out one final time. Asha'man, rest!
At first there was almost a deafening silence left in the wake of the explosions and battle. This however was quickly replaced by the screams and moans of the wounded, many heaving weakly against the mounds of dead that now littered the battelfield. Past them the Shaido fled, truly broken their spears forgotten behind them, leaving behind them clumps of Aiel with red strips of cloth, Cairhienin and Mayeners on horseback and afoot. These started moving slowly, hesitantly towards the ring of wagons and the Dragon's forces.
The second man's voice, the one that commanded Mazrim Taim as a lord would who could only be the Dragon Reborn, spoke. Asha'man you have done well. I congratulate you, Taim. The still air was suddenly filled with a roar from the black-coated men as cheers of "Lord Dragon!" and "Asha'man!" filled the air.
Jed glowers at the Asha'man who hadn't been willing to help, but turns to look at Jasper once again. To his dismay, Jasper has collapsed onto the ground and is not moving. Jed turns back to Jasmine, who is now walking to him, calmly and with her head held high, the picture of a true Aes Sedai. Jed too walks calmly over to Jasmine and without a single word envelopes her in his arms and kisses her forehead. He doesn't linger, however, as he knows Jasper needs her help. Jed leads her over to Jasper, saying only a few words. "Quickly, this way."
"Asha'man, form line of battle!"
Ryland's eyes narrow as he watches the black coated men move to face the Aiel, and looks down at Duskwalker. "We need to run my friend. I have seen what these men can do. Run!"
With that the Boarderlander turns his back to the gathering host of Asha'man and begins to run, sprinting away from the dome and doging Aiel warriors as he moves. The grey wolf lopping at his side.
"Asha'man, raise the barricade two spans!"
The woodsman glances back over his shoulder as the Aiel surge forward towards the Asha'man, then the blaring words not heard for centuries makes the hair on the back of Ryland's neck stand. "Asha'man, kill!"
The front rank of Shaido explode before Rylands eyes, looking like mellons dropped from the top of a keep's wall all at once. He quickly looks forward, determined to distance himself and Duskwalker from the carnage left by the Asha'mna.
Jasmine gets to Jed, keeping her eyes on him she says quietly Take me to him. As she is lead to Jasper, Jasmine starts at the powerful voice she hears congratulating the Asha'man but continues to Jasper. Once there she lays hands on him to stop the damage he has suffered.
Ryland staggers and slaps at his head, putting out the smoldering remains of his hair while gritting his teeth against the pain. He sees Dusk walker off to his left, the lanky grey wolf strugeling to it's feet. It's fur singed, the wolf makes it to it's feet holding it's right front leg up as it hops towards the woodsman.
The boarderlander turns, taking in the distruction all around him. "Light save us from these men." He staggers with Duskwalker back towards the wagons looking for his friends.
Fiallain beeathed with relief as Ryland seemed to at last come to himself. She was about to call to him when suddenly a commanding voice rose above the din of battle. She can do nothing but stand in awe and revulsion as suddenly, those once her people simply begin to explode in an eruption of gore and death. Her stomach roiling, Fia misses the second command, but the results of thatcommand are impossible not to feel as the very earth roils beneath her feet. Instinctively she does the only thing that might possibly save her. Quickly she threads strands of air, interlacing them with one another and pulling the strands taught together until a wall of solid air surrounds her in a sphere. Earth, stone, and bodies crash against her shield, making her wince and shut her eyes against the horror. This is not battle, not honorable combat. This is slaughter. Oh light, make it stop, make it stop!!
Jasmine laid her hands on Jaspers brow and his eyes flew open. Rising to his feet, he seemed tired but otherwise not too injured. As he nodded his thanks, suddenly there were four more Asha'man around them. Jed's sword rose briefly before Jasmine gave him a slight nudge with the Warder's bond and he lowered it, although not fully sheathing it. You will come with us Aes Sedai. Jasmine nodded to the man, unsure yet of herself to speak to him but trying to maintain the quiet poise she knew was expected of her. Jed followed closely along, refusing to be more than paces from Jasmine now that he had her back again.
----------
Alathea jerked awake as a wave of fire and ice flowed through her veins. Her eyes snapped open to see a pair of man's hands clutching the sides of her head and she realized that he was Healing her. The thought of saidin being used to close her wounds disgusted her but she couldn't move as the man worked, her muscles clenching as he worked. It felt like forever but it was mere moments before he finished and removed his hands. Without a word, he lifted her roughly to her feet and herded her along until she found herself walking next to Jasmine. What has happened?!
Jasmine pitched her voice low towards her, sadness and fear both fighting to break free from her Aes Sedai control. The Dragon Reborn and his Asha'man have won. Although at what cost... Alathea is then able to fully take in the surrounding carnage, her face paling.
The two women were moved forward until they were suddenly surrounded by more sisters, Litheene amongst them. She too looked the worse for wear although a small smile showed on her face at sight of her two missing sisters. Moving to her side, the three of you recognized a number of faces in the crowd although you were summarily logged and dismissed in most of their eyes, at least for the moment. It seemed that even the horrors of the day could not change the complicated maneuverings of the Aes Sedai. Or maybe it was simply the last thing you and these women clung to in order to maintain your sanity.
-------------
Ryland could feel the wolves moving off again, sadness and pain filling his thoughts but also a sense of pride and accomplishment at what had been done that day. Duskwalker was the last to fade from his mind but he could hear her clearly now as she turned to look back at him. We will meet again, Blood Dancer. The name was more complicated than that, more a series of images of him fighting alongside the wolves today, blood spraying in the early afternoon air to coat his blade and his body as he moved amongst the pack, the feel of muscles bunching for the next strike.
He turned to head towards the wagons and noticed Jasmine and the other Aes Sedai moving towards the wagons, although there were more of them now. Probably the other sisters who were fighting the Aiel outside. Ryland moved to follow them and didn't flinch when Fiallain soon appeared at his side. She was just as bloody as he was, although she still carried herself with a strength that continued to amaze him. Without a word the two friends moved to find out what was going on with the rest of their group, keeping close to the group as they moved up the hill.
----------
Fiallain managed to hide her shock behind a tightening of her mouth as she met up with Ryland and began walking with him towards the commotion that was brewing up the hill. The man was covered in cuts and wounds, his blood mingling with the gore that coated him almost head to foot. His left arm was burned badly, skin blistered and raw yet he seemed hardly to notice, his gaze distant and troubled. And it was his gaze that had troubled her the most. She snuck a glance again at his face and felt her concern flare up anew, his eyes catching the light and reflecting a solid golden color back to the world.
----------
The Aes Sedai marched up the hill, seemingly oblivious to the Asha'man surrounding them and there was nothing Jasmine, Alathea, and Litheene could do but follow along with their sisters. They drew up in front of a tall young man, with the red hair and build of the Aiel but dressed in the fashions of a young noble. A young woman stood next to him, clutching his side protectively and looking at the Aes Sedai with a mix of emotions.
His eyes nearly froze you in place, a roiling gray storm that seemed harder than granite. Everything about the man radiated a quiet power and danger that seemed to visibly cloud the air. This was a man born to lead and everyone around him could feel it.
A pair of Aes Sedai clearly seemed to lead the group of women and the squared faced one spoke up. You have done well. I am Bera Harkin, and this is Kiruna Nachiman. We came to rescue you - with Alanna's aid - though it seems you had small need of us. Still, intentions do count, and -
The man fixed her with a hard eyed stare. Your place is with them. He pointed to another larger group of sisters shielded and under guard. Jasmine, Alathea and Litheene were as shocked at the sight as the rest of the sisters.
Kiruna drew herself up, every inch the Aes Sedai even though she looked like she could just as easily be a farmer's wife. You forget who we are. They may have mistreated you, but we -
His voice was colder than a Saldean winter. I forget nothing, Aes Sedai. I said six could come, but I count twelve. I said you would be on an equal footing with the Tower emissaries, and for bringing twelve, you will be. They are on their knees, Aes Sedai. Kneel!
The Aes Sedai stared back at him coldly, serene faces a mask. Defiance began to grow on their faces and a ring of three dozen black coated men surrounded the group. Mazrim Taim moved closer, his voice cold but proud. Kneel and swear to the Lord Dragon. Or you will be knelt.
----------
As stories do, the tale spread, across Cairhien and north and south, by merchant train and peddler and simple traveler gossiping at an inn. As stories do, the tale changed with every telling. The Aiel had turned on the Dragon Reborn and killed him, at Dumai's Wells or elsewhere. No, the Aes Sedai had saved Rand al'Thor. It was Aes Sedai who had killed him - no, gentled him - no, carried him to Tar Valon where he languished in a dungeon beneath the White Tower. Or else where the Amyrlin Seat herself knelt to him. Unusually for stories, it was something very close to the truth that was most often believed.
On a day of fire and blood, a tattered banner waved above Dumai's Wells, bearing the ancient symbol of Aes Sedai.
On a day of fire and blood and the One Power, as prophecy had suggested, the unstained tower, broken, bent knee to the forgotten sign.
The first twelve Aes Sedai swore fealty to the Dragon Reborn, and the world was changed forever.
The Wheel of Time turns, and Ages come and pass leaving memories that become legend, then fade to myth, and are long forgot when that Age comes again. In one Age, called the Third Age by some, an Age yet to come, an Age long past, a wind rose in the great forest called Braem Wood. The wind was not the beginning. There are neither beginnings nor endings to the turning of the Wheel of Time. But it was a beginning.
North and east the wind blew as the searing sun rose higher in a cloudless sky, north and east through parched trees with brown leaves and bare branches, through scattered villages where the air shimmered from the heat. The wind brought no relief, no hint of rain, much less snow. North and east it blew, past an ancient arch of finely worked stone that some said had been a gateway to a great city and others a monument to some long forgotten battle. A few wagons trundled by in sight of the arch, along the Tar Valon Road, and folk afoot shielded their eyes from dust raised by hooves and wagon wheels and driven by the wind. Most had no idea where they were going, only that times had become chaos and the world was a place of fear and uncertainty.
Onward the wind traveled, across the gray-green River Erinin, heeling ships that still carried trade north and south, for there had to be trade even in these days, though none could be sure where it was safe to trade. East of the river, the forests began to thin, giving way eventually to low rolling hills covered in brown, tinder-dry grass and dotted sparsely with small clumps of trees. Atop one of those hills stood a circle of wagons, many with the canvas scorched or else completely burned away from the iron hoops. On a makeshift flagstaff, trimmed from a young tree dead in the drought and lashed to a bare wagon hoop for more height, waved a crimson banner, a black-and-white disc its heart. The Banner of Light, some called it, or al’Thor’s Banner. Others had darker names, and shivered as they spoke them in whispers. The wind shook the banner hard and was gone quickly, as if glad to be away.
Briefly glancing up at the snapping banner, Jed sat quietly as he turned back to watch Jasmine talking with the other sisters. He could feel frustration and annoyance oozing through the bond and it was becoming difficult not to allow it to reflect in his own feelings. The slow repetitive whisking sound of the whetstone on his sword was helping but he still wished he could do something. But this type of battle was one he was ill-suited to handle. For her part Jasmine tried equally hard to curb those feelings, wishing she didn’t have such cause to feel them.
She and Litheene had spent the last day trying to figure out their next steps with the sisters from Salidar. Having been gone from the politics of the Tower for so long and only having spent a brief time in Salidar, it was a frustrating reminder of what they were in for. The sisters seemed to defer to Bera and Kiruna yet none of them seemed to know exactly what to do. They kept sending over pairs of sisters, trying to talk with the Dragon Reborn but were constantly met with silence and rebuffs. He didn’t dismiss them from his presence but neither did he welcome them. They trailed him like hounds trying to garner a scrap from the table. It was a cold reminder of what had transpired only days before. Jasmine and Litheene still could remember the shock and horror as the words came pouring out of their mouths with the rest of the sisters as they knelt on the hill before al’Thor.
----------------
Alathea sat quietly by herself on a flat rock, idly twisting a dried blade of grass between her fingers. She wanted to cry but it simply was not something that an Aes Sedai did. She had approached the captured sisters from the Tower as soon as she was able and yet they had turned her away harshly. Because she had been seen arriving with the “rebel” Sisters, she couldn’t get anyone to listen to her otherwise. And it only took a matter of time until the Salidar sisters found out she had not acknowledged their Amyrlin as her own. Rejected by both groups, she felt truly lost for the first time in her life.
And this was a welcome distraction from the other more horrifying truth. She had sworn fealty to the Dragon Reborn! To a man who could channel and was fated to go mad! Light save me, what have I done?! The blade of grass ripped in her suddenly clinched hands and it was all she could do not to burst into tears.
----------------
Jasper hadn’t seen any of his companions since he saw the three women swear to the Lord Dragon with the rest of their sisters. Back amongst his brothers, he had been quickly pulled into the routine again, following commands and going where he was needed. He spent time guarding and Shielding the Tower emissaries and their warders although they seemed a broken and wilted lot. He assisted in putting the camp in order and was quickly subsumed by the mundane tasks that fall to a victorious army in the field.
He still couldn’t quite nail down his feelings on what had happened, his thoughts a tumble with everything that had occurred. Remarkably the voices that sometimes filtered to him were still silent, as if sated on the violence and blood of the battle. The anger he often felt was muted and it was a strange feeling, one he wasn’t sure of how long it would last.
--------------
Ryland roamed the plains immediately around the hill, getting away from all the bodies and blood. The smell was strong enough on its own but Ryland could almost taste it now. He didn’t sense any wolves around but he knew that he’d be able to if there were. He knew something had changed in him during the battle. He didn’t know what it was or what would happen to him in the future but he was different now. Maybe he was slowly losing his mind, like Jasper seemed to be.
He had seen his eyes reflected in his blade and knew they were still the same bright gold they had been since emerging from the carnage. Those that had seen him looked quickly away but he knew this would be a common occurrence from now on. Ryland couldn’t help but think of the young man who seemed close to the Dragon Reborn, the big man with the same golden eyes he now possessed. Ryland had caught him looking at him with a gaze too blank to read but he hadn’t come over to talk to Ryland yet for which he was grateful. He still didn’t know how to handle what was happening to him and didn’t know if he’d be able to put it into words just yet.
--------------
Fiallain felt the sweat pour down her back as she continued to dig. The hole was already 4 feet deep and she had another 2 to go before she was done. And then 3 more holes to make the 5 she was commanded to dig before filling them all in again! It hadn’t taken long after the commotion of the Aes Sedai swearing for Inoreal to find her and begin her “training”. This of course consisted of hours of intensive labor when her muscles and body were already sore and ready to collapse. He wounds would ooze fresh blood occasionally as a scab tore open during her work. The Wise One hadn’t Healed her but put her directly to work. If you hadn’t shirked your duty to the clans child, there would not be the need to have you work that much faster. We will see to your wounds once you’ve made some progress. Fiallain knew they wouldn’t let her die but she had to remind herself of it at times.
Her mind was elsewhere than her digging which had Inoreal known, would have prompted a swift chastisement and additional labor. But she couldn’t get Ryland’s golden eyes out of her head. She had only managed to see him briefly before she was corralled but it wasn’t much. He hadn’t said a word, his thoughts distant and she didn’t know what to say. She continued to dig as the sun climbed through the sky, trying to puzzle out these changes going on around her. Maybe the Car'a'carn’s companion will know what to say or do about this. Or possibly one of the Wise Ones. If I ever get a free moment to myself again that is.
--------------
*whisk* *whisk* *whisk* *whisk* *whisk* *whisk*
The sound grated on Jasmine's already frayed nerves as Jed honed his sword.
*whisk* *whisk*
Each stroke keeping time with the pulsing of her frustration and annoyance.
*whisk* *whisk* *whisk* *whisk*
Just as Jasmine feels her anger boiling to a head inside of her...and Jed about to feel the rough side of her tongue!...he stops and checks the edge giving a blessed moment of silence. Turning back to Litheene and the other sisters she says for what seems the hundredth time These approaches, they are doing no good and only seem to be annoying him further. There was no need to specify who "him" was as there had been no other topic of conversation the past two days. We must wait, watch, and listen. That way we may be able to affect some small change. By giving oath, we may be able to put ourselves in a position to help. My father always said "Focus not on what cannot be changed, accept it and move on to that which you can control. That is the path to victory, in business and in life." We have given oath and instead of trying to find ways out of it we need to see what sort of advantage this may have given us. Nodding to herself she is about to continue when...
*whisk* *whisk*
Light burn that blasted sword!
Standing guard over the Aes Sedai is a job that Jasper relishes, even going so far to volunteer to stay on longer holding shields in place. Tis nothing, brother. Just one hour longer. I like to see the look of shock upon their "righteous" faces. He says with a large smile upon his face as his replacement had come up. A grunt is all that he gets in reply, a salute and then the Soldier walks off. Studying their faces, Jasper cannot help but think of Jasmine, Alathea, and Litheene. Will they have that aged look that marks them Aes Sedai? He wonders to himself. Shrugging, he looks out around the landscape, taking in the scene.
I had a hand in this. I did this. I destroyed them with ease, for the Dragon. Something inside of me should feel something, anything, and yet I do not. Am I truly a monster, as the others whisper behind my back? he wonders to himself.
No. I am Asha'man. I have done the bidding as the Dragon. This is what both the Dragon and the M'Hael both have trained me to do. To Kill. To destroy. To pacify. I should not feel bad because it has sickened some people, what I, and my brothers, have done. What has happened 2 days ago has rocked the world to its core. The Asha'man and the Black Tower are a force upon the world. A game changer.
Sighing, he shakes his head, and his gaze falls upon Jasmine and Jed.
And yet, I feel a strange urge. An urge to have those that i traveled with respect me. Not through fear and intimidation, but through admiration, and friendship. I know that the M'Hael has warned us you will be the most hated and despised people in the world. But they will not dare say this to your face, and soon enough, they will fear you but they dont despise me.
Staring off towards a baren area, Jasper is shocked to see Alathea sitting by herself. Turning, he sees a Dedicated passing. You! Dedicated. Come take over for me. My time is up.
Handing off the weave, Jasper goes up to the wagon and fills his waterskin.
Walking along, shuffling his feet, Jasper walks up to Alathea. Holding out the waterskin, he says simply So two peanuts are walking down the street, and one gets assaulted.