Ripple One: Alive
written by Caden Ives, Janis Tearsin, Nykolai Deoddyn, Leisha Lukonia, Croi al’Cor’vron, Aedomon al’Cor’vron, Notrym (NPC)

His stride fierce, Caden Ives climbed the stairs to his chambers.

Alive I am, he thought, quite sure he felt the stone underneath him. Sure of the stairs' touch. Of the smells of candles and the noon air streaming through the high arched windows his small entourage passed on the way up, up and up. The light alone knows if I will by the end of the day too. Inwardly, he shuddered at the thought that he had been dead and only brought to life by Saphire's brave act. Despite the ensuing accusations and the eventual trial, she had done what in her heart felt right and restored the Warder Halls, and returned an unaccounted number of lives. With one act, she had worked a miracle. One could not do anything but admire the woman for her unselfishness and her strength. She had grown much in the eyes of the Gaidin Captain.

The feeling of uneasiness was not lessening though. He had been slain. Dead by fire.

After the Halls were restored, there had been great confusion. People had been shouting. Anarchy had ensued. However, everything had now taken on a forced calm. Ellisande Gaidar, Sigmund Gaidin, his friend Firredal and many other Warders had put down the panic and brought everything to order to the best of their ability.

Then reports had flooded over him. Edon had appeared and told him that Croi Gaidin and Leisha Gaidar were waiting for him in his chambers... injured to add ...and saying that they needed to see him immediately, and required the help of trust-worthy men. According to his squire, the urgency was clearly merited in their opinion. He had sent Edon to locate Croi's son, for both Croi and the Gaidin Captain considered him reliable. Aedomon was one of those, despite what issues they had between themselves. Caden had watched his squire's billowing white robe as he ran to do his duty.

That was not all... Samsu Unraen had been captured by Firredal and Leisha and put to questioning by the Master of Training. Then Janis and Nyk had appeared by his side, dragging the unconcious body of Gaura Sindaran, rambling about how they had found Wensa Fuon dead in the dungeons, and that there was another dead drin'far'ji lying outside the storeroom they had found him in. They clamied Gaura had been responsible for the latter. He had not had the time to ask how in the Light they had managed to find the late Wensa.

They were silent as they trailed in his wake, and he didn't feel like talking at the moment either.

He had chosen them to follow him because they had been closest at hand. He had briefly considered ordering Nykolai to return to the infirmary, since the young man was injured and had obvious problems with authority. An image where he had struck the Trainee over the face and sent him reeling into the wall flashed before his eyes. When it did, he found that they just passed the part of the great stairs where the incident had occurred. Nyk could not be trusted. He had attempted to trip Leanna down these stairs. Therefore Caden thought it was better that he was placed right under his nose. To his knowledge, at least the older drin'far'ji could be somewhat trusted. Janis Tearsin had proven to be a good addition to the Yards. Caden had personally cleaned and bandaged both the Trainees' wounds before directing theirs steps to the Grey Tower itself.

Instead of being where he was, Caden had much rather remained by Leanna's side. When he had found her, her eyes had been drawn with emotion by having her Bond to him severed by his death and then suddenly restored by Saphire's act. To add, he had not been able to openly embrace her and pull her close for a kiss of joy at still being with her... joy of still being alive with her. He could not have done so, for she was the Amyrlin, and there had been too much people around. Her standing and her sway in the Hall would have been swept underfoot if it was discovered that she had a relationship with her Warder. Caden suspected some people knew, yet unspoken of, but it would not have been appropriate to show it so openly either way. The whole Yards had been watching when they found each other. His jaw clenched, he had forced the mask of the Gaidin Captain on himself. He had obligations to live up to. And his first obligation after her protection was to lead the unbounded Gaidin in events such as these. She was safe, for she had many around her, and she could take care of herself... or so she had said. She had given him leave to hear what the two Warders waiting for him had to say and then return to her side.

With a mordant stride, he covered the last turns of the stairs and approached his chambers. As he entered, he smelled strong beverage. He turned his head to the drin'far'ji behind him in mid-stride. "Stand guard outside and keep your weapons uncovered. Permit none to enter without my approval. The Shadow can have the disguise of any friend in the Yards you might trust. I will soon be out soon with stitching material for your wounds. In addition to your full report." He closed the door behind himself, leaving Janis and Nyk to their duty. Caden knew he did not have to explain the danger they were all in. He knew that Janis had heard Antar al'Kadar's account of the condition in the yards, and knew the danger they were in. And he had probably already told Nyk as well.

After he had crossed the antechamber, he saw the two Warders tending their injuries. His squire must have given them his stitching utensils. The lad has obviously shown them proper hospitality, good. Edon had done well, and Caden was pleased that his squire showed such extraordinary potential.

Looking between the two, he rested his hand upon the pommel of his sabre. "Tell me what happened."

Jan's normally cheerful face was grim and determined as Caden ordered both he and Nyk to stand guard. "The only way anyone will enter these doors," he said in a hard voice, "is over my dead and broken body. On that, Captain Ives, you have my word."

Jan turned back to the corridor as the door closed behind him and drew Skyfire from it's sheath. The sword's turqoise blade gleamed in the light, as though hungry for action. Jan smiled grimly and set himself at one side of the door, senses in combat readiness.

As an afterthought, the Aielman sent a mental command to the little ter'angreal ring on his finger. The rig responded instantly, warming up slightly as it granted the Aielman the power to see and sense a weave of the One Power being channeled. Captain Ives hadn't said exactly what had happened, but Jan had a fair fuess that channelers were involved somehow. And his little ring might just give him an unexpected edge if a battle between channeers erupted.

A pang of agony from his shoulder reminded him that he was hurt, but he payed it little mind. Captain Ives had said that he would return with the equipment needed to stitch up the wound. Personally, Jan would have preferred to be Healed, but he was not in a position to be picky.

He glanced over at Nyk, wondering what the boy was thinking. Caden had seemed hostile towards the lad, which was not that odd considering what Jan had heard of Nyk's reputation. Still, he had proven to be a true comrade, had laid his life on the line beside the Aielman. And that made him trustworthy in Jan's book.

"What are you thinking, Nyk," he asked quietly.

Nyk regretted that it was the Gaidin Captain that they had to report to. If he could have chosen, Nyk would have gone to any of the Warder Officers before the Gaidin Captain, except for the situation at hand. Caden had apparently not forgotten the incident, either, and tension ran high between the Captain and drin'. The man had cleaned and bandaged his wound, but Nyk knew better than to think that it was anything personal. Caden would need as many soldiers in working order as possible, and properly treating Nyk's wound was just part of that.

Nyk had said only a little in their preliminary report to the Gaidin Captain, and had willingly followed Caden in silence. As they passed the staircase, Nyk could feel the hostility rising, his body braced itself as if he was anticipating another crushing blow. Caden still didn't trust him, and Nyk couldn't blame the man. He had done nothing to earn the officer's trust or confidence.

He was slightly surprised when Caden instructed Janis and him to guard the door, but he took post opposite Janis, still avoiding conversation with the Gaidin Captain. It was inevitable that he would have to speak when the man returned for their full report, but if he could avoid it now, that would be fine.

Nyk unsheathed his sword as he thought about the events of the day, and the events of the past weeks. He still had not decided what to say to Caden after he recovered, but Nyk still had a little while. The brief meeting with Caden again reminded him of the potential consequence of expulsion that he would face when his ribs were healed. He also dreaded recounting the happenings from that corridor. Pain ripped through his arm, but the pain of causing and seeing someone die in agony cut deeper than any blade.

"What are you thinking, Nyk?" he heard his companion's voice cut through the reverie.

"I'm trying to think how I can prove to that man that I should stay at this Tower, and what we are going to say about the... encounter in the dungeon. I don't want to relive that." Suddenly, Nyk asked his new friend a question. "Does it ever get easier? To see someone die? Or to kill someone?"

Jan took a deep breath and let it out slowly, mainly to give him time to think over the Drin's question. does it ever get easier...?

"Not unless you allow it to," he said at last. "Taking a life will always be hard unless you allow it to be easy. Only if you place such a low value on human life that killing someone is no worse than chopping down a tree."

Jan did not say that once, many years ago, he had reached that stage. It had taken the murder of an entire village to snap him out of it, and he rarely spoke of it with anyone.

Jan smiled kindly at Nyk as he continued, "you may not realize this, Nyk. But despite your reputation as a trouble-maker, despite everything I've heard about you, that one question proves to me that you are a good man. You feel guilty about what happened to Seanco, you feel it to be your fault. But, more importantly, you feel ashamed, almost hateful at yourself because you believe you killed him. Those are good feelings, Nyk. They prove that you are human, that you are good and decent."

"And as for what getting kicked out of the Tower... My friend, I will stand up for you no matter what they say." Jan placed a comforting hand on Nyk's unwounded shoulder. "I care not what anyone says, Nyk. You proved your worth to me in that dungeon when you willingly entered the fray. You could have turned back, could have fled and left me alone with two potential enemies. But instead, you put yourself in harms way by attacking an armed and dangerous opponent. To me, Nyk, that action alone stands taller than enything else you may have done. I am proud to have you as a comrade, and I will defend you until I am unable to do so if Captain Ives talks about throwing you out of the Tower."

"And, if you wish, I'll give Captain Ives our report. I know what it is like to see death for the first time, I know what you are feeling. I'll speak, you can just plug your ears and stay quiet, if you wish."

Jan gave Nyk's shoulder an encouraging squeeze before resuming his surveyance of the corridor. The Aielman had meant what he said, and no one and nothing would change his mind.

Nyk's heart sank that it would never be easier to kill someone unless he just radically changed. He didn't want to become a cold, heartless killer, but he wasn't sure if this was cut out for him. If he felt that horrible every time he actually fought, he wouldn't survive.

Yet Janis seemed to approve of his reaction. Maybe he could do it. Maybe. Nyk smiled at Jan's willingness to defend him against the Gaidin Captain. It would be much easier to convince the man to let him stay if he had a trustworthy drin' with a decent reputation on his side. "Don't think that I won't take you up on that offer, man," he replied.

Janis was turning out to be a really good friend. In addition to offering to defend Nyk, he was trying to help him with his guilt. "I think I can handle listening to the report... but I'll let you do all the talking."

After only another minute, Nyk heard the commanding voice of Caden Ives calling for them to enter the room. Nyk gave Janis a nervous grin before resheathing his sword and entering the room containing three Warders. With no effort, Nyk was able to keep his face completely serious. There was no laughing matter at hand. Caden called for them to report, so Nyk deferred to let Janis do the talking, as they had agreed.

He had been able to ignore the constant throbbing in his injured upper arm, but as soon as he saw the stitching thread, the ability to ignore the wound left completely. Nyk's face paled as the Gaidin Captain began to stitch Janis' wound first, and he ground his teeth, knowing that it would soon be his turn. For now, he stood in anticipation, trying to pay attention to Jan's account.

A little earlier....

Lei had just set about examing Croi's wound when the door opened. Something inside her jumped for her blade, but knew that it was Caden. She felt that somewh weary look in her eye as she lifted her head to look upon him. He didn't look much the better for wear, himself.

"It was really quite simple." She began, turning back to look at the wound more closely, "I happened to be walking through the gardens when I saw an archer pointing a bow at Croi. I called out to him and things happened rather quickly then. There ended up being three fellow henchmen with this archer. We dispatched them and both ended up with arrows in our arms. Regardless, we cleaned up the scene because didn't want a panic happening over it. We had enough evidence from it, including a letter Croi found on one of the bodies - which I'll let him explain. After that was done, we returned here to find you and began bodily repairs while we were waiting." She recounted as she began preparing to fix that arm.

Scowling at the bolt in his shoulder, Croi looked up at Caden. "Ranno al'Din has betrayed the light, and sacrificed his life in service to the Dark One. The letter is in my cloak, you had best read it, Captain. There is also a map of the Tower grounds in my cloak that bears the results of my search in the gardens. However, the four bodies need to be dealt with discreetly, hense sending Edon to fetch a couple good men."

Looking from Caden to Leisha, then his shoulder, Croi scowled again. "I came out of the woods around the clearing to the pathes, and Ranno was waiting with a hand-quarrel. He had 3 Drin'Far'Ji with crossbows waiting with him. Had Leisha not arrived when she did, they would have escaped, with no guarentee of my life."

Face contorted in thought, Caden listed to the two Warders. When they were done, he nodded, “Then the situation is no less dangerous than we feared.” Walking over to Croi’s fancloak, he withdrew two papers. One fairly crumpled.

He began to read the letter first, high for the man and woman in front of him. Meanwhile he let Leisha continue her work on Croi’s wounded shoulder.

“’Dear officers of the Grey Tower,

My father used to tell me that I would know when my life was forsaken, and that I then must do what I could to fulfill my duty. I have been a disgrace to my uniform, and let myself been taken advantage of in the name of the Shadow. For three months I have served three sa’ji’alantin out of fear for what they would do to me if I failed to obey their every whim. The day before I wrote this, the three Shadowsworn came to me and gave me an order I could not obey. They told me to kill the Gaidin Captain in his sleep. They seemed apprehensive, and I suspect they thought Caden Gaidin was on to them somehow. They told me that if I did well, they would reward me. And when the other three officers of the Warder Yards returned from the Citadel, I would have even more work to do.

‘My mind still in their talons, I climbed the great stairs of the Grey Tower to carry out my dark orders. But just as I entered the Gaidin Captain’s chambers and adjusted my grip on the dagger I’d been given, I realized I did not have it in me.’”

Here Caden paused. He could not suppress a shiver running down his spine. Today had not been the first day his life had been at stake. His brow-ridge lowering, he continued.

”‘I had decided to run then and was hurrying back to mine and Antar al’Kadar’s quarters. However, they must have found out I had failed them somehow, for I did not get any farther than the walls of the Grey Tower itself before two of them descended upon me. I now write with a mortal wound to my gut, but I managed to flee and now hide upon the roof of the Warder Hall. When you read this I have taken my own life, and sacrificed my soul in the name of our great aim – to fight the Shadow until the Final Battle. I know my life is forsaken, and that I must do what I can to fulfill my duty. This is the only way I can think of.

‘The three sa’ji’alantin are named Ranno al’Din, Clavil Fon’har and Jhedan Stom-foot. They are promised to Eya Sedai of the Green Ajah, whom is in reality of the Dark Ajah. She seems to do the bidding for some other, but I cannot give you any more information about that. Make sure my efforts have not been in vain, and make them pay for their crimes in blood.

‘Before I die, I salute you all, for it has been an honour to serve under you, and if you can – please give my regards to my bunkmate, as well as my family. Father will understand.”

‘Farewell,

Luantar cen Thaal
Drin’far’ji of the Grey Tower’”

Caden lowered the letter and looked out through a stained glass window in reflection. Out of respect, he held his silence for a while, bringing to mind the young man’s face and what he had spoken of when he had come to the Gaidin Captain’s office, saying that he wanted to enlist as a recruit in the Yards. There was something in the letter that he overlooked, there was something there that evaded him. What’s the element I cannot see here...? While he thought, he spoke softly to the two in front of him. “Firredal and Aynaiss found ink and quill on the Warder Hall’s roof. He must have written it just before he tied the rope to his neck and jumped,” the Gaidin Captain’s anger began to coil in his belly. His teeth were bare. “Burn the Shadow for making a young man do such a thing to himself.”

Returning his gaze to Leisha and Croi, he saw that the Gaidar was almost done with her work. “While you were up here, an Asha’man of the Shadow attacked the Executive Council together with a number of ji’alantin and drin’far’ji. His name was Sagone Asha’man and he managed put the whole Warder Hall to the flame, kill countless of Trainees as well as the Master of Training, and he also killed me.”

With a sigh, ignoring their expressions, he walked over to the redwood table and leaned against it with his hands, facing them. “Thanks to Saphire Sedai, all was restored. She used a forbidden weave named Balefire and burnt the Pattern. By killing Sagone with that weave, she also erased the latest actions in his life. There is no damage left except what the Executive Council afflicted in the battle.”

Leaving the Warders to reflect on this for a second he looked at the map Croi had presented. His eyebrows rose. “What did Aedomon do there?”

Looking from the needle peircing through his flesh to Caden, Croi ran over the map in his head. "Aedomon? He entered from the south, crossed past the firepit, moved back to the trees and waited. Some time later he moved to the marked bench, under which I found an empty wine bottle. He met somebody there, the person belonging to the small set of tracks that enter directly there and back out, after scuffing around at the bench. The wine was a vintage Aedomon made some time back before... before the raid on my home. He must have packed it when we left."

Pushing the absent pain away from himself within the void, Croi looked back down at the needle breifly. Shaking his head slowly, he scowled. "I suppose the use of balefire under such circumstances is acceptable, but warping the pattern is dangerous, and can cause as much pain as good. However, Saphire knows this as well as I or the next. If it restored as much as you say, then I will support her use if such a weave."

Moving his shoulder slightly to test the stitching, Croi nodded, smiling softly towards Leisha. "There is still the matter of the bodies in the gardens. We need a couple good men to deal with them, whom I asked Edon to send summons for, as well as yourself. Pardon the formalities, but I believe you agree under the circumstances."

“Yes,” answered Caden, his eye drawn to the letter again, “I agree.” The thing which had eluded him when he read the letter for the first time still didn’t surface as he skimmed it through again. What was it that had caught his attention? He did not have the time to study the letter any closer than he already had, so he forced himself to fold it and tuck it away in his fancloak.

“I’m afraid these bodies in the Gardens aren’t the only ones lying about today,” he said and walked to Croi and Leisha, picking up the needle and coil of boiled horse mane. While he put the needle to the flame, he eyed them in turn, as he resumed: “There are two trainees outside who guard these rooms as we speak. The two of them –Janis and Nykolai – found the body of Wensa Fuon in the dungeons below the Yellow Ajah quarters. From what I gathered in their brief summary, one of the two drin’far’ji who guarded the room he was found in – under the orders from the three shadowsworn – died while the other was captured. The latter is undergoing interrogation by Sigmund Gaidin as we speak. However, at the same time as I sent Edon to find your son, Croi, I dispatched a number of trainees to guard the storage room below. They wait for me down there now, without further orders.”

Taking a few steps towards the antechamber, he spoke over his shoulder. “Before we act, we should hear what the two outside has to say, for their report might alter our course. To add, they are injured and their wounds need some sewing too.”

From the antechamber he called out, “Janis Tearsin and Nykolai Deoddyn! Enter!”

When the two came in, he bid them to give their full report of the days events.

Jan heard the call of the Gaidin Captain as well, and followed Nyk’s action of sheathing his blade. He kept the ring active, however, just in case. Once in the room, Captain Ives beckoned Jan over and told him to give his report. Jan nodded and started speaking as Captain Ives worked on his shoulder

“A short while after the discovery of Luantar, the drin we found hanging from the roof, I had a violent run-in with Antar Al’kadar. He ended by breaking my arm, and as such I was sent to the infirmary to have my arm Mended. I was left with strict orders to get some rest, but I found rest impossible with the events of the day still in my mind. So, seeing as I hadn’t eaten all day, I decided to drop by the kitchens for a bite or three.”

“Once I was out of the room, though, I discovered a trail of blood moving off through the Yellow Ajah quarters. At first I didn’t think too much of it, it was the Yellow Halls, after all.”

“Describe the trail,” Caden interrupted.

Jan blinked, “well, it wasn’t much more than a drop or two every few yards. And that was what tipped me off to something being wrong.”

“Meaning?”

“If it had been an open wound, or even a bloody nose,” the Aielman explained, “there would have been more blood on the floor. Either that, or there would have been no blood on the floor. But a drop or two spaced that far apart, no wound that I know of does that save one. A body, or bodypart, with a greivous wound on it will bleed heavily. If you place that in a sack or bag, the blood will collect at the lowest point of the containet and eventually start leaking out. The leak could be a fast one, or it could be slow and even, like the spacing of the trail I found.”

“How did you know this,” Caden asked.

Jan shrugged, and immediately regretted it as the needle Caden was using to sew his skin back together scraped against his shoulderblade. Jan winced and sucked in his breath against the rasp of pain. “I spent several years up in the borderlands fighting Trollocs and other shadowspawn,” he explained between clenched teeth. “That was the method they used for transporting their ‘leftovers,’ if you’ll pardon the expression. That’s why I knew about that kind of trail, and that’s why it was suspiscious.”

“Anyway,” the Aielman continued, “I returned to the infirmary room to inform Nyk,” Jan nodded at the other Drin, who was watching the Captain patch up Jan with a mixture of fear and queasiness. Jan chuckled and continued with his report. “Given the events of the day, I realized that one life or more might hang in the balance. I knew that if I tried to find a superior officer, or if I hesitated in any way, there might have been another death in the Tower. I told Nyk of the blood trail and then started following it. It was impossible to tell witch way the trail actually led, the drops had fell straight down with no smearing whatsoever. One way led through the great hall, the other through the Yellow Ajah quarters. I went through the quarters as I figured that a man carrying a body around in a bag probably wouldn’t go through the Main Hall.”

“Nyk chose to join me, and to tell the truth I was glad for the company. We followed the trail through the Ajah Quarters and down a stairwell into the dungeons. When we got into the dungeons, I discovered the tracks of three people going in, but only a single set of tracks leading out. I warned Nyk to be ready for trouble, as it seemed likely that trouble would be ready for us.”

“We continued on,Yeeeeeow!” Jan gasped as a flash of pain shot through his shoulder. “I think you got a nerve, Captain,” Jan gasped as the pain subsided. “As I was saying, we continued on. I acquired a torch from a wall sconce to serve as both a light source and an impromptu weapon should the need arise. Normally, I would have my dagger on me,” Jan pulled up his sleeve to reveal the forearm sheath and the slim dagger therein. “Unfortunately, the good Aes Sedai who healed my wounds had seen fit to remove the blade and have it sent to my room.”

“Anyway, the end of the trail was a door guarded by two Drin’Far’Ji, both armed with short swords. I saw them first, and started talking to them, mainly to try and convince them I wasn’t down there for any sinister reason, but also to warn Nyk of the fact that there were two armed potential enemies. He had been trailing behind me a ways, and had not yet rounded the corner that would have revealed him to the guards.”

“The two Drin were not taken in by my speech, and I gave them a choice. They could surrender to me, and I promised them they would be safe from any retribution by the three Sa’Ji’Alantin who had apparently murdered Luantar. Had it been just the three Ji, I think I might have been successful. Unfortunately, one of the two Drin, the one called Guara, revealed the reason he could not turn from the shadow. The man behind this entire attack on the Tower, and it does appear to be a concerted attack, goes by the name of Blood Dawn. I know very little about the man beyond the name.”

“The two Drin drew their blades and advanced on me. I wa not given a choice, so I took the battle to them. I attacked Guara first as he was the closest and also the biggest threat. That’s where I got this little souvenier,” Jan tried to gesture at his wound, but Caden muttered for him to stay still. “It is worth pointing out,” Jan glanced at Nyk, who still seemed a little nervous, “that Nyk, even though he was injured, chose to join the battle and help me by attacking the other Drin.”

Jan shook his head sadly. “Unfortunately, my speech about turning back to the light had not been entirely without effect. Seanco, the other Drin, had reconsidered his stance with the shadow and was about to turn his blade on his own companion.” Jan tried to phrase it in a way that would not look bad for his companion, “there was no way either I nor Nyk could have known this. Unfortunately, Guara had discerned that his companion had turned against him. And, when I had to fall back or get a blade in my ribs, Guara attacked both Nyk and Seanco. Seanco recieved a mortal wound. He also wounded Nyk on the arm, and that pushed me over the edge. I could shrug off injuries to to myself, but when Guara injured my companion, that was something I could not ignore.”

“To spare you the gritty details, I took Guara down in three blows. I tried to do all I could for Seanco, but he was beyond my help. He did warn of an attack on the Warder council before he died, and bade me pass on the warning to you. We searched both Guara and Seanco for a key to the door they had been guarding. I didn’t know if there was a body or a prisoner behind that door, but I figured I should find out. I did not want another death on my conscience.”

“Behind the door, we found the dead body of another Drin’Far’Ji. He was, as I had expected wrapped in a burlap sack. It was one of the few times in my life that I wish I had been wrong.”

“I grabbed Guara and Nyk and I made for my quarters, thinking to arm ourselves from my personal stash of weapons. On the way there, I shook Guara awake and tried to question him as best I could, but he refused to speak to anyone but a full Gaidin. So, I rocked him to sleep with the flat of my blade and continued on. When we reached my room, we armed and armored ourselves as best we could. Nyk noticed smoke coming from under the door, and figured we should probably exit the building before we were turned into smoked sausage.”

“I had to break the window to do so, but we did make it outside before we were burned to death. When we finally got our breath back, we were confronted with a strange situation. All signs of the fire were gone, as was the smoke in our lungs, and the Warder halls were as whole as they always had been. That was when you found us, Captain Ives. And that’s about it for my report.”

Caden nodded, “And your shoulder is as well as I can make it, Janis Drin’far’ji.”

Nyk listened to his companion's report intently, trying to remember any other facts that the Aielman had not recounted. When he had finished, Caden gave the Gaidin and Gaidar a chance to ask questions. When it was obvious that they were not going to ask any questions at that time, Caden turned to Nyk. "Report," he told the drin'.

Nyk glanced at the Gaidin Captain for only a moment. "I don't really have anything to add to Jan's account." With another glance at the Gaidin, Nyk saw the look that the man was giving him, a look that made it nearly impossible for him to not continue.

"I was in the Infirmary, oblivious to what was going on in the rest of the Tower, as I had been there for several days to recover." Nyk knew that he did not need to specify the incident from which he was recovering. The Gaidin Captain knew perfectly well.

Caden had begun stitching his arm, and Nyk tried to focus on the story and ignore the needle passing through his flesh. "Janis was admitted, and the Aes Sedai Healed him. After a while, Jan left and asked me if I wanted to get some food with him. I wasn't interested, so I let him go on without me. A couple of minutes later, he was back, saying something about a blood trail. I admit that I went along at first just for the adventure, but it soon grew to more than just that. We followed the trail for a while, and Jan told me his suspicions about what had made it, and what direction in was going, and he informed me of the recent events in the Warder Yards."

"We went down a dark spiral staircase, but found a torch along the way. I was having problems keeping up at the same speed as Jan, so I was several paces behind him. I noticed that he stopped when he rounded a corner, so I pressed up against the wall. He continued down that hallway, and I remained in the shadows. It was obvious that he was talking to more than one other person, so I figured that I could introduce the element of surprise if it came down to a fight. When I heard swords being unsheathed and the first sounds of conflict, I crept around the corner and down the hallway, trying to stay out of sight of the two unknown drin'. One of them had taken Jan down, and the other had his sword raised."

Nyk paused in his story. This was the worst part for him, the guilty part. However, as he paused, his attention diverted to the pain in his arm. "Continue," the Gaidin Captain told him shortly.

Nyk went on, hoping not to think about the guilty points much. "I tackled the one with his sword up, and the other drin' stabbed him in my arms. He then slashed my arm and his blade was moving toward Jan. I let go of the drin' and watched as he died on the floor. Janis was able to take care of the Darkfriend before trying to save the good one. After all that, we came back to Jan's quarters to arm ourselves, in case we ran into more Darkfriends before we delivered this Guara to the Executive Council. Then there was the fire, and we jumped out the window, and then it disappeared, along with all traces that it had ever existed. And that's it."

Nyk let out a sigh of relief. It was over. The Gaidin had finished sewing his arm, and he had finished the story. He really hoped that there were no questions. He didn't want to relive it all again.

The Dawn of Blood. The Gaidin Captain knew the rumours - dreadful tales barely dared even to be uttered in whispers. Caden turned to exchange a glance with Croi and Leisha. Light... If that monster of a man was behind it all, he must already inside the battlements. And he must have been there for a longer period of time if he could lay such plans, and coordinate the agents of the Shadow in such a direct manner. Without a word, he turned back to the two drin’far’ji, “Are you positively sure that Guara Sindaran said ‘the Blood Dawn’?” Sighing, he lowered his head and motioned for them that that they didn’t have to answer that.

Instead Caden walked to one of the stained glass windows which overlooked the Yards – far, far below. The horizon caught his eye then, and the winds seemed about to deliver clouds heavy with rain. The winds pressed hard in turn against the glass before him, not unlike the pressure of his duty - like an iron battering-ram over his shoulders. Not only rain... he thought, ...a rain storm.

Before dusk, the downpour would hit them all. And the storm would dare anyone to thread outside.

After a pause of thinking, Caden Ives resumed his questioning, his head turning halfway in the direction of the two trainees. “Nykolai, do you know anything about the Blood Dawn? Any idea about where – or who – he can be? Also, I want to know more about the storage room where the two of you found Wensa Fuon’s body. Janis Tearsin, what condition was the body in? Was there any signs of other bodies or were there anything there that could help us in binding the Shadow to the dead? Parchemnts, notations, anything?”

Listening to the drin's accounts of what had transpired, Croi scowled, shaking his head. A body in a bag was not the only thing that would leave such a trail, but such corrections would be made over time. Such a small detail was insignificant now in regards to the situation as was.

"If the Dawn is truly within the walls, then we are in for a bigger fight then we had thought." Croi whispered quietly to Lei as they awaited the drin's responce to the Captain's questions. "Doubtlessly he will be held up in the ruins, unless he is the Tower itself. I spent very little time down there in my training, and when I was, I was trespassing. An entire throng of shadowspawn could hide down there, and we would never know."

Striding to where his notes lay on the desk, Croi glanced over the lower section of the Tower, attempting to remember where the hidden entrance he had always used was concealed, if not sealed.

Jan really didn’t want to recall the details of the grisly scene, but he brought the images back to the front of his mind at Captain Ives’ request. “It was a small storage room, Captain,” he said as he frowned in concentration. “But there was a peculiar smell about the place, almost like someone had been cooking meat for too long. Too, there was a small pile of ashes in the center of the room. I do not wish to to speculate on what had happened in there, but I fear that someone or something had been burning the bodies of other dead persons.”

“As for Wensa, I found no signs of injury save one. He was killed by a single great slash to the chest, it tore through his ribs and heart with a single stroke.”

“And no, there were no signs of parchments, nothing to link the shadow to the killings. Save, of course, the words of Guara and Seanco. They directly linked the shadow to both the killings with their words and their actions. Beyond that, there is no proof.”

Digesting Janis' info on the room and Wensa's condition, he nodded briefly. A crematory in active use by the Shadow, he thought darkly, and I wager Sagone Ordon was the cremator. After the attack, Caden had heard that the Asha'man had been notoriously strong in the Fire-aspect of the True Source. And the Gaidin Captain had foudn out just how strong he had been...

"Hopefully, that will be enough," he said in answer to Janis last statement.

With that he turned to Nykolai. Trying to neglect personal issues with the man, he folded his arms and willed himsefl not to lower his browridge and scowl at the young man. When he blinked, the image of the impudent fool trying to trip Leanna down the stairs flashed before his eyes.

Yet his face remained blank.

Nyk hesitated to answer Caden's question, trying to think back on whether he knew anything beneficial or not. In the meantime, Janis answered the Gaidin's questions for him. When he felt the Gaidin Captain's cold gaze slide over to him, Nyk knew that he would have to answer now, fully thought-through or not.

"I don't think I know anything about who specifically the Blood Dawn would be, or anything about him actually in the Tower. All I know are the stories... the stories that everyone has heard of the Blood Dawn. Nothing particularly useful, though... I'd like to be able to contribute somehow, though. Even if I can't help with this." Nyk didn't really know what he would be able to contribute to the fight, but he really did want to be of some use. Something more than just going back to the Infirmary, that was.

Laying his staff across his shoulders, Aedomon glanced around the garden path before slipping out after the grizzled man looking for his father. Clicking his tongue to get Notrym's attention, Aedomon hurried his pace to catch up.

"Oh, Aedomon, hello." Lowering his naginata to his side, Notrym stood and waited for his master's son, not much younger than himself, to catch up. Lowering his voice, Notrym glanced around before addressing the young man again. "I'm looking for your father, I thought he might be here in the gardens, but it seems he has already left."

Nodding to the thief-catcher, Aedomon leaned his staff against his chest, freeing his hands to speak. "He is most likely with that tart of his, up in the Captain's chambers. I'm headed up there myself, if you care to tag along. I've to deliver a report myself, and it would be best you had an escort, given the circumstances within the Tower." Motioning with a tilt of his head, Aedomon started off down the path towards their destination.

Pausing at the door to Caden's office, Aedomon watched Notrym as he stepped close to the door, his head tilting to listen. "If hes in there, hes not speaking. There are several people within, however." Nodding agreement to the man's words, Aedomon stepped forward, giving three sharp raps. Turning to Notrym, Aedomon once again raised his hands to speak.

"You had best wait in the antichamber, until we know for sure if father is there or not. No reason giving your identity away to those within if he is not."

Just when Nykolai had finished speaking, three raps were heard from the door beyond the antechamber.

Caden was not expecting anyone.

With a motion for Croi and Leisha to follow, the Gaidin Captain drew his dagger with a rasping sound and advanced towards the vaulted stone frame leading to the antechamber. His hand-and-a-half sabre would be inept in such close quarters. His eyes went to the two trainees, and he did not have to say anything to make them understand the possible danger. There was no need to order them to stand ready for anything. As it was, one could not be too careful.

Moments later – his weapon held in a reverse grip and hid behind his arm and leg – he opened the door with his free left hand, he was greeted by the sight of a stranger and Aedomon al’Cor’vron. Stepping back, Caden sheathed his blade behind back. “Aedomon drin’far’ji,” he said and inclined his head in acknowledgement, “you would not come to my door if you didn’t know anything about the events that has occurred this day. Come in quickly and tell me what you have found. And please introduce this man to us all.”

He led the newcomers into his quarters and then waited with his arms folded.

Lowering his guard, Croi stepped beside Caden, glancing down the halls before pulling the two men deeper into the anti-chamber.. "Introductions of this man are not overly important, Captain. Hes friend, and here to report, I trust?" Ending the comment with a meaningful glance in Notrym's direction, Croi glanced down the halls once more.

"Of course, Croi... I came directly from the city looking for you, and instead found Aedomon, who led me here." Glancing at Leisha, Notrym bowed his head slightly. "I hope I find you in good shape, Leisha?"

Turning his attention to the Captain, Notrym bowed slightly. "Captain. I am a thief-catcher, and have information you would be interested in, I'm sure, if Croi is so obligated, of course." Nodding at Croi's approval, Notrym leaned his naginata against his side. "However, I think Aedomon has news more immediate than my own."

Glaring at the man, Aedomon scowled slightly before raising his hands. "As you already know, Captain, the Halls burned. Then it was restored, as I'm sure you also know. Everybody is on edge... everybody still around, that is. Numerous trainees have disappeared from the Yards, captain, without a trace." Lowering his hands, Aedomon watched the man's reaction.

Leisha had kept rather silent for her time in these rooms. She listened to each report and every question with great care, feeling that it may need to be remembered later on. Many things, she found, needed to be remembered later on. She spoke no words, finding her speeches unneccesary under the circumstances.

She had gone on gaurd when the knock had come, but let herself take a step back, lessening her own stance. She recognized Notrym when she saw him and gave him a nod to his well mannered question to her, but still she said nothing. She did not know the boy, but recognized his name as Croi's son. This was the first time she'd ever seen him, other than amongst others in the Yards. She also had not known that he spoke with his hands, but she was familiar with speaking of this sort and could read what he said. She narrowed her brow slightly in consideration of the news, but still remained silent, and observant.

First, Caden regarded the stranger with the withheld name. A thief-catcher he thought, maybe that’s what we need now.

Then Aedomon began to sign a report about the situation in the Yards. When he was finished, the Gaidin Captain nodded briefly and raised his hands to reply. ”That makes sense. The trainees sworn to the three sa’ji’alantin has been deployed by their masters. As of now, some have already lost their lives. They are not darkfriends in the usual sense, though they do the Shadow’s bidding. They have been broken by the three shadowsworn and they do what they do because of fear. Tell me, do you know any names of the ones that deserted the Yards this morning?“ They needed the upper hand in this fray, and foreknowledge would be the key to their success. Hopefully, the thief-catcher knew something of value as well.

Nodding to the captain, Aedomon did his best to remember the names of those he knew had disappeared. Raising his hands, Aedomon signed the names as he called them to mind. "Thenan Yenge, Guara... Sindaran? Seanco Dinan, Maekar Onen, Syrahn Rygel, en'Ghall... Tyngen is it? Khenna Cellone, Wensa Fuon, and Lo'arn... I have no idea what his surname is. Thats all I can remember, though. Like I said before, everybody is on edge, and there are more faces than that, but I cant put names to them."

Looking around at the faces in the room, Aedomon paused briefly on Leisha, his stomach knotting. Linking his hands behind his back, Aedomon did his best to cover his distaste for her and his father. The nerve of them both, prancing around together so soon after his mother's death. To think she had even gone with him in search of Aerin...

Making a mental note of the names Aedomon signed, Caden lowered his eyes in though, face still and set in stone. “Seanco and Wensa are already dead, at the very least. And Guara Sindaran is being interrogated by Sigmund Gaidin. We can not take any chances. I will order the Tower Guard to apprehend any of these individuals on sight.”

How has it come to this? Self-reproach was easy for him now as the ones he had accepted into the Yards were broken and subdued by the Shadow. Did he not have an eye fro sterner stuff? If he lived to see the dawn, he would have to make sure something like this never happened again… The three Sa’ji’alantin had joined before his time as Gaidin Captain, yet that was small solace when trainees died like flies because of him…

There was silence while he contemplated his coming orders. He had no time fro self-distain. He could not afford it. It clouded his mind like the approaching storm by the horizon. He turned to the stranger in the room. ”Tell us what you know, thief-catcher.”

Nodding, Notrym leaned lightly against his naginata. "There are strange things happening around the Claw Stone, and the villagers wont go near there anymore. They claim to hear unnatural sounds coming from the area at night, and sighting movements in the shadows around the area. Upon investigation, I found few tracks, but it was obvious whoever is gathering there is covering their tracks. There were, however, a few stray tracks from shadowspawn, and some made by booted feet. There has also been alot of movement in the surrounding mountains at night, grunted conversation, shouting, steal against leather... but little evidence come daybreak. Whoever is frequenting the area is doing their best to cover the fact that they were there. There are, however, tales of passages passing under the mountains and stone, all centering somewhere under the Tower." Looking from the Gaidin Captain to Croi, Notrym bowed his head slightly. "If that is all, I should slip back out of the Tower and return to the stone... surely I can find something more."

The room became very silent when the news were pronounced, and Caden Ives stood eminently still.

Shadowspawn less than a day’s ride from the Tower, how in the Light... he thought, then remembered how he had followed Eya Grenwyne weeks back and then turned his mount around in eye-sight of the Claw Stone. That landmark was a ruin of an old world. Caden suspected it to be the last memory of an old civilization. The cliff owned the shape of a hand with long, sharp nails which reached towards the sky. Maybe the Aes Sedai of the Dark Ajah did not ride any further than that. His obligations as a Warder to the Amyrlin Seat and the fact that he had been the lone officer of the Yards that day – the others supervising the construction of the Citadel – had made him turn around. Had he just pressed on for a few hundred more spans, he could have found that she did not continue west. They plan an attack upon the Tower... Or do they?

“Yes, thief-catcher,” he answered, not quite hearing his own voice. It was time for decision, and none left for subtle prodding. They could not afford to stall their sword because of fear for what the Shadow might do from within the Tower. “But you will not be alone. You will travel there with Croi Gaidin and Leisha Gaidar.”

The Gaidin Captain knuckled his fists by his sides, yet his face remained as solid granite. “The Shadow is more cunning than this. The coming attack must be a distraction, for an army of shadowspawn less than one from the Trolloc Wars cannot even hope to break the Tower’s defences. No, while the attack comes, the real attack must come from inside somehow.” His strategic mind was spinning now, the knowledge he had earned under Hezahl in his foster-father’s day were alive in his mind. When it came to warfare, he held no doubts whatsoever. “The Amyrlin and the M'Hael must become aware.”

Caden turned to the two Warders and gave his orders. “A battle could be imminent if this report is true. Take as many of the Tower Guard as you can without undermining the battlement’s defences. And make sure to locate Norén al’Thanell, he is a sub-commander of the Tower Guard who is very familiar with the terrain of the Mountains of Mist – he grew up on a mountain farm not far from the Claw Stone. As you know, the location is less than a day’s ride away. Make haste. Do whatever you can to stall any attack coming against us while I mobilise the Tower. Do you understand?”

Nodding slowly, Croi rolled over the reports in his head. "All due respect, captain, but there are a few angles that should be discussed. By entering the ruins from the Claw Stone, we may simply flush the attack forward against the Tower. I think it best if the defenses be set up below the Tower before we enter the ruins. I don't claim to know the exact distance or path from the Stone to the Tower via the ruins, but what I do know of the ruins does hold well for a search party, no matter what size. Its like a maze down there... I ventured down before I reached the fancloak, and had it not been for my guide, I fear I would have been lost for days." Allowing the thought to sit a moment before continuing, Croi locked eyes with the Gaidin Captain.

"All due respect to al'Thanell, but I've spend nearly 50 years living them. His knowledge would be better suited here; of course, an extra set of experienced hands is always welcome, provided we can be sure where his loyalties lay." Glancing around the already assembled party, Croi ran a hand across his cheek, already showing growth from the passing day. "We have a better chance of stalling the attack if we go in with a small party; myself, Leisha, Notrym, and a few choice men. By all means I will have a sanction of the Guard standing ready, but not close to the Stone itself. There will be eyes watching it, and the area. If a party of noticable size moves close, the alarm will be sounded, without question. If we move in as a small party, we can draw the attention of those eyes... they will want to want us to decide whether they need sound the alarm, or simply move in for the kill. I will have to plan this out before we move, so even moving as fast as possible, it will take time."

“Time is short, those Darkfirends we have captured have implied that this day, something dire will happen. I cannot see what else it could be than this. We are past noon already, and if an attack will come, we are bereft of time for the preparations we prefer,” replied Caden at once. The veteran Gaidin had some good points, so the he addressed them as well before dealing out further orders. “Don’t worry about the tunnel. I will deal with it personally. Although you are right about a smaller force penetrating the Claw Stone, I insist that you take the soldiers with you. For should you fail, they could stall the enemy from reaching the Tower by land. Yet like you say, you should leave the main force behind before you reach the Stone. Order them to prepare the terrain and organize themselves for an ambush. You could use al’Thanell to supervise that if you wish. …Cunning as the Shadow is, I do not doubt they will send forces through the tunnel at the same time – or even before – the larger force arrive.”

Folding his arms, Caden paused in thought before he resumed: “I reckon you may need the aid of channelers to carry out this mission. Yet I do not have the authority to put them to your command, however…” Caden walked to his desk and picked up quill, ink and a blank parchment, “…I do know someone who can order them to assist you.”

While he wrote in his stark hand, he considered whom he should send with the letter. Nykolai? No, he was not suited for such important errands. Caden wanted him close so that he could keep an eye on him. Considering who the letter was to, he completely disregarded the impudent young man. Janis Tearsin? Him, he did not know well enough to trust completely. To Caden, he still had to show his quality more. Aedomon, though… Caden knew Croi’s son well enough to know that he would not fail him. He was finished in a few moments, and then folded the letter twice, and stamped the Gaidin Captain’s sigill in the white wax of the desk’s candle. Pausing again, he turned the letter over and wrote on the outside:

By my order, this letter must reach the Amyrlin at once. Let the Drin’far’ji who carries it through, for it must not come to any other person’s hand.

In the Light,

Caden Ives
Gaidin Captain
Warder of the Amyrlin Seat

He turned towards the mute man and handed him the parchment, searching his eyes. Then he signed, Aedomon, I order you to carry this to the Amyrlin Seat. She is in the Executive Council together with Saphire Sedai, and the Green Ajah Head. I suspect you will find the Mistress of Arms in there too, and a larger group of guards protecting them all. Come unarmed and show them the text on the back. They will recognize my sigill as well. Now hurry. And may the Light illuminate you.

He turned his head towards Leisha and Croi again. “You know what to do. Farewell. And let us hope we are not too late. Now go!”

His eyes fell upon the two remaining Drin’far’ji. He regarded them as he considered if he would send them back to the Yards. I might need a few extra hands. There is no knowing if shadowspawn have already made their way to the bowels of the Tower. Who knows what awaits down there. After picking up his armour and his gauntlets, he made his decision. “On your feet. Open the chest over there and find whatever else armour or weapons you want. Time is short.”

Methodically and with used movements, he donned his scaled armour and attached the worn steel pauldrons, the gorget, the neck-guard, and finally pulled on his long-sleeved gauntlets, testing the grip. Edon had cleaned the parts with sand and vinegar to prevent rust and then painted them black to make sure they stayed free of the oxidation. As the perfectionist his squire was, he had not missed a spot – to Caden’s great content. When he had re-fastened his fancloak around his neck, moved his hand-and-a-half sabre to his black stout leather baldric and sheated his curved dagger behind his back, Caden made for the antechamber and waited for the trainees there. “Hurry!”

Nyk stayed silent while all the news was communicated before his eyes. A drin' that Nyk did not know came in, and both Gaidin seemed to know him. The man talked using his hands, communication that Nyk could not understand. Caden seemed to know it though, and he was able to talk back in the same fashion. Nyk found it frustrating not knowing what was going on. He did pick up some of it while Caden was speaking with the other Gaidin and Gaidar. Suddenly, Caden was sending everyone off on some sort of a mission, leaving Janis, the Gaidin Captain, and himself left in the room.

Caden looked at them for several moments, and Nyk's heart seemed to stop beating. Would the man send them back now? Surely he wouldn't. Surely he would let them do something for the effort. When the Captain commanded them to arm themselves from his chest, Nyk's heart started beating again, relieved that they could do something, and somewhat nervous in anticipation.

He walked with Jan over to the chest that the man had indicated. Upon opening, Nyk saw even more armour and even more weaponry than Jan had had in his quarters. Having been instructed to arm himself, Nyk looked over the choice of armour and weaponry. He still had the mail shirt on from Jan's room, so he picked up a breastplate and backplate and began to put them on. Next came a steel gorget, and then gauntlets. Nyk looked over the selection of weapons carefully. He picked up a broadsword from the selection, and kept the dagger that he still had from Jan's room.

Caden was waiting for them in the antechamber, and soon shouted for them to hurry. Nyk sheathed the sword and the dagger and ran to where Caden was standing. "I'm ready," was all he said to the man.

Jan kept silent as the two newcomers spoke with Captain Ives. He knew one of them, the mute one, from the warder yards. And Jan thought that Kanamai had mentioned him once or twice as well. Jan let his attention drift for a while, focusing on his ring, making sure that there wasn;t any mayhem being created anywhere near them by a dark Channeler. That was one of the limitations of the little Ter'Angreal, it couldn't sense whether the channeler was good or evil, just that he or she was channeling.

When Captain Ives started doling out orders, Jan's attention snapped back to the scene at hand. He caught a flash of the handspeak between Aedomon and Caden, and his hands twitched in remembrance of the Aiel Handspeech he had learned so long ago. Then Captain Ives ordered Jan and Nyk to arm themselves from his own personal armory, the Aielman grinned. He had Skyfire at his hip, his mail shirt on his back and his gauntlets on his hands. He was ready for battle, as far as he saw it.

He did not wih to burden himself with cumbersome plate mail or, not when his fighting style relied more on movement and speed rather than the ability to take a hit. And, all things considered, if the enemy was good enough to hit the Aielman, platemail was not going to make much of a difference in the battle.

He did go over to the chest, but he was right in his assessment. Caden, while he had an impressive array of weapons and armor in the chest, did not have anything the Aielman needed. Jan cursed himself for not bringing his bow and quiver with him, but it could not be helped now.

The Aielman did a quick equipment chack. Sword, gauntlets, holdout dagger... Yes, everything was there and ready for his use. Jan moved out to join Nyk and Captain Ives, "I'm ready for anything, Captain." Jan placed a hand on the hilt of his sword and bowed. "What do we do now?"

Contined here in Chapter Four, Ripple Eight.

Chapter Three: The Dawn of Blood
~Ripple One: Alive
~Ripple Two: Captured
~Ripple Three: Trapped
~Ripple Four: Questions
~Ripple Five: Your Mission
~Ripple Six: Task Presented
~Ripple Seven: Vengeful Assassain
~Ripple Eight: Echoes

Return to the Ripples Intro