Ripple One: Meanings
written by Amora en'Damier, Negrath Devir, Antar al'Kadar, and Coaána

Amora en'Damier found herself walking in a hall shrouded in complete darkness, without any visible floor underneath her feet or walls which explained the confined echo of her steps. She did not even know if it was a hall she was in or not, it could just as well be a small room. Even though she could see nothing, she saw her own hands and clothes as if they were source of light itself. But if it was so, it did not explain why the light she emanated did not reflect upon the unseen mosaic underneath her.

In this place, nothing but her existed. It could be looked upon a place outside the Pattern, and somehow, she would see the past and might catch glimpses of what was to come... how threads could be woven. But that was very rare, since so much depended on each individual's choices.

Footsteps from afar made her stop and listen. Out of he darkness, a young man came up to her. He was dressed in a ragged Drin'far'ji uniform, torn and cut. Even though large stins of blood covered it, the flesh underneath didn't seem rent. "Hello, Aes Sedai. My name is Luantar cen Thaal," said the young man and cocked his head, smiling. "I am dead, you know. Dead as dead can be. But I chose so myself. I had to die. Otherwise, you been dead, along with all my friends. In the end, my death gladdens me, since I died for those I served and those I loved." His eyes took a sad look and he looked away from Amora. "I suppose that makes me a martyr. I just wish I had taken my life sooner. As it is now, I am not sure my sacrifice meant anything."

Turning to walk away, he spoke over his shoulder. "I must leave now. But I will stay and witness what the day turns out like. I want to know if I did the right ting, at the right time. Good bye."

He faded away into the darkness, his steps disappearing abruptly as if he had stepped beyond the hall only a few yards away.

"Leave me be," said a voice behind her then. And when she turned, she saw a man with sand-blonde hair dressed in scaled black armour. The Gaidin Captain looked straight at her form his crouching position, his face chiselled in stone. "Can you not see that I'm injured? Let me suffer in peace." At first, there was no way of telling what the man was talking about, yet then the Gaidin's face caught fire on the right side, and the flames reflected upon the metal of his armour. His face was completely still as the fires consumed his flesh and singed away his hair. "I must go to her. My sweet Leanna. I must reach her. She needs me. She will never forgive me now. I left her. I left her. And I left the others when the Shadow returned. The Tower will be attacked from within the battlements, and I left them to thieir fate... I cannot... Leanna." His mumbling fell into whispers as his face lowered to the floor. The fire kept eating at him, but he did not care. Only after a few moments did the flames snuff out.

Yet then his face jerked up again and the white lidless eye on his burnt side focused on Amora. "Leave me be!!!" And as he draw his sabre and rose to cut Amora down, he vanished in thin air... like a shadow falling into light.

For a few long moments, everything was still.

Then a door opened immediately to Amora's left, revealing a study.

Arms folded beneath her breast, an Aes Sedai named Eya Grenwyne which Amora knew looked towards the doors of the study as they swung open. In walked two Asha'man... one dark-haired with green eyes and one with light hair hanging to his shoulders. Castar and Trean, Amora knew. The two were of the White Ajah. Eya smiled when she saw the two, but none of them appeared to know Amora was there. Both White Ajah men bowed to her in unison, "By the will of the Great Lord, we submit ourselves to you. Our lives are yours, and we follow you in blood and death to His resurrection," they said as if it was an old and secret ritual. When they straightened, they stood impassively with their hands behind their backs.

Trean spoke up, his Andoran accent much alike her own, "What is your command?"

Eya stopped smiling. "You will leave, and together you will purge the Grey Tower of its Sitters and Ajah Heads. Kill as many of them as you can, including any form of resistance you meet, and then create a Gateway to the Claw Stone, where I will wait for you with further orders. Do you understand?"

Castar and Trean looked to each other briefly. The former spoke up. "Why? The power a Sitter or Ajah Head hold is small in comparison to the M'Hael or Amyrlin."

A scowl creasing her brow briefly before her Aes Sedai face resurfaced, Eya spoke in short words. "Because should one of them die, another will have to take his or her place. Thus, we can make sure one of ours is instated. And I assure you, the power of the Hall is no small a thing. Now go. I will await your report in the Claw Stone."

The two looked to each other again. "Yes mistress," said Trean, and Castor was but a heartbeat behind. Turning about, they left Eya looking after their imposing frames. And when the door shut, the study and the Aes Sedai vanished around Amora.

The dark hall was back, but after a few minutes, it lightened and the Aes Sedai found that she was in a Sa'ji'alantin's quarters.

She was face to face with someone she recognized, but before any name reached her mind, the body flew backwards when a balde connected with his throat and then came down in a reverse cut to wards his bowels. The head bent back and the body fell forward... right through Amora's body.

With a sneer, Jhedan Storm-foot stepped to her side and wiped the blood of the assassin off his ivory-hilted sword on the man's dark clothes. He looked at the man lying in a pool of his own guts and blood once more before leaving his own Warder Yards quarters. He did bother to hide the body, as if he meant to never return.

The the very next second, she was in a guestroom, where a young man sat bent over a familiar woman in a torn dress with silver blonde hair. She lay tied to the bedposts with hands and feet, and her wrists were severly scarred. The young man also carried a great red scar crossed his bare chest. "Do you feel shame over your scars?" He asked her, his voice calm as a pond. "Now that I have seen them, I know you speak the truth. Moreover, they do not spoil you in any way. I have seen... the way you look at me. And even though you might think the scars robs you of my interest... as you belong to another... you are wrong. You interest me a great deal, Drelle Tai'shar. I just have to make my mind up in which way."

Releasing her dress, he cupped his hand under her chin instead, fixing her eyes upon his again. "As you are my servant now, I can take what I want. And I would never give it a second thought. But I have a feeling I won't have to take what can be offered willingly."

Her jaw clenched as he began to speak, then slowly unclenched as she listened to his words. When his hand cupped her chin and turned her face toward his, she looked up at him, eyes slightly wider than usual. The tip of an ugly pink scar showed where the bodice had torn, then fell carelessly.

Seeming to calculate her answer, she leaned up and caught the young man's lower lip in a gentle nip, then ran the tip of her tongue over the slight hurt soothingly, "I don't doubt I can match you on any field of battle.." her voice was low and husky, and incredibly sensual as she whispered the few words.

Let's see..." he said and violently pushed her down on the sheets again, "...if there is any truth in such a claim."

Thankfully, the guestroom faded away into nothingness again.

After that she had to wait for what seemed like an eternity, she faced a group of seven Drin'far'ji, one woman and one Ji'alantin... the last one which she knew to be Bethano. He was a tall, wiry man in his mid twenties, and his tough frame stood tall against the winds. Grey eyes and dirt-blonde hair, he was unmistakeable to the other ones in the group... as all of average height and dark pigment they were. Then, the familiar Jhedan came into view. The whole group were dressed in their formal uniforms and had their saddlebags by their feet.

"You are late, my liege. A problem?" Bethano asked in his thick Tairen accent.

"No problem anymore," replied Jhedan and inclined his head towards the stables. "Let us take our mounts and head out. And I want to make sure the Tower knows that we leave." The Atha'an Miere looked to the quite tall woman by his side when he finished the sentence. Amora first thought this was Eya Grenwyne... for the resemblance was striking. She was standing serene in a riding dress, with fur-lined hems and the colour of the Aryth Ocean. She looked determined, yet Amora saw her right hand gripped the expensive dress in fear. Amora knew Eya would never be fearful of anything.

"Move out!" shouted Jhedan and strode away. They all made for the stables.

The scene faded away, and to took a long time before anything else happened.

Then she was in another study, one she had not been in before. "And I am most displeased with the way you have carried them out," came a voice from the door. And Amora spun towards it together with three others in the room.

Jhedan's hand seemed like a vice around the ivory hilt of his blade. The halcyon voice had been smooth; though there was something very unnerving with the firmness each word had been shaped by. When Jhedan found the source of the voice, his eyebrows shot up, just like the other man in the room... he seemed startled.

The same young man Amora had seen in the guest room stood before the door. A large Domani man - also in a Sa'ji'alantin uniform - who stood a few feet beside the young man, backed away into the room. They both seemed to knwo the young man.

"You!" blurted Jhedan, his grip around the hilt lessening, "but you are..."

"Yes," said the young man, his hands folding behind his back, "I am." He was dressed in a plain black shirt and tunic... black like sin... and his equally dark breeches made him look like a shadow. His lustrous dark hair was combed back to frame hard angles in a face to young to suit them. There was a kind of... exotic... no, mysterious nature about his features, a quality no artist in the world could hope to capture. As far as one could see, he was only wearing a sword by his side.

Eya Grenwyne was the only one between the three, besides Amora, that appeared unaffected by his mysterious entrance. She stood and made a deep, if a little hesitant, curtsy. She probably didn't do it often. "Hail to the Shar'rahien. Hail to the Dawn of Blood."

And when those eyes found his, Jhedan seemed compelled to follow in the Aes Sedai's wake and bowed. "Hail to the Dawn of Blood."

"Hail to the Dawn of Blood," the large man repeated, his bow jerky, as he just had found his manners too late. When he straightened, his eyes looked haggard.

There was a pause filled with the contempt emanating from the man. His scowl contradicted the ease of his voice, "You have failed. For naught, I have planned this day from its morn to its dusk. You have rended my weeks of preparations, spying and plotting asunder. You have chopped off my legs underneath me because of your stupidity. The only reason why I let you live is that you are not the worst to blame. It seems our late friend Sagone Ordon went ahead of himself and executed his part of the plan prematurely."

The cheeks of Eya visibly paled, "What?"

The Dawn turned to the source of the statement. "Is your hearing at fault, bastard daughter of Faeuron? Yes, he took his chosen men and struck at the Executive Council. I ask then, where were you? Were you mating with your late cousin again? Didn't it occur to you to aid poor, dead Sagone?`

Now Eya was angry, her brows were lowered and her face obviously flushed. Her Aes Sedai bearing was thorn to shreds by the sharp words. "How dare you..."

"Oh, I dare."

The last word echoed in the dark hall when Amora was left alone again. Dare... Dare... Dare... Dare... Dare...

Amora then stood in the rain, but she could not feel it's touch. A white-haired man's shoulders shook as he wept, he pressed another man with a wound on his forehead to his chest. "Sweet... brother, so sorry I am. I knew not... you were there. Captured... I thought you were. Forgive me... Please, Dinan. Forgive me." Only thunder crashed in answer to his plead. He seemed not to be abel to look upon his brother's face and the gaping hole on the forehead. Instead, he closed his eyes as he rested his head upon Dinan's limp shoulder. "Rescued you right away I... I should have done. I should not have listened to Jhedan when... he said Amora killed Ranno. What does it matter... to avenge a friend, when a brother... you loose. The Aes Sedai... I did not even kill. Blood.... is much thicker than water. Forgive me... Forgive me..."

Amora saw a bolt that had planted itself in the grass. It sprouted only a couple of inches from the ground. Like handling a newborn, he laid his brother down in the grass. Blood ran in rills and rivulets from the open wound through the head. His brother's eyes were wide, as in disbelief of what had happened. His mouth was open too, and blood had run from it down in the grass.

Shutting his brother's eyes in a final farewell, the man picked up his crossbow and cranked it back in a violent gesture. Just when he placed a bolt in the bolt-channel, the winds died momentarily. The calm before the storm. And in the calmness of the air, the man's head perked up. Eyes searching the spaces between the trees, he hefted his crossbow. "Know you are there, I do. Come out, for I will find you either way."

It was then Amora saw another man standing behind a tree, with his sword in both hands. And then they were gone.

The Darkness shivered around her, and Amora knew she was about to wake up. But before she did, one last scene appeared. There, the Gaidin Captain stood in his study in the Warder Hall, facing the unlit fireplace. Behind him, by the wall, the young man Amora knew as the Dawn of Blood stood. For a long time they both were silent, until the Gaidin Captain turned to face him. "You made a mistake. In the letter Luantar cen Thaal wrote, he said his banes were already waiting for him when he reached the bottom of the tower. How could they have known that if you had not told them?"

"Wrong. I did not tell them. But one of the other two did," answered the young man with a cruel smile.

"What other two?" asked Caden, and Amora now saw that his face was as burnt as when she had seen him before. Then the two vanished and she woke and saw the ones gathered around her. And right then, another walked in, a Drin'far'ji by the look of his uniform, and he seemed injured. It was the young man behind the tree.

Walking into the room, careful to close the door behind him*, Negrath looked around at the gathered crowd, not quite sure what was going on. He had some inkling that what he knew would be of value to someone, but whether it would be these people, or someone else, he di not know.
He was still trying to come to grips with the sequence of events he had been witness to, part of, and seen signs of as he walked here. Why did he do so, again? Ah, yes. Someone had told him to. He was supposed to be here.
Shaking his head minutely to clear it of the remaining fog, he straightened, wincing slightly as his his side murred in protest, and waited to be addressed.

Antar had been standing against the wall so that he could view the entire room accordingly, and as the door latch turned, he moved like he was trained; like liquid. His Katana was unsheathed before he realised he had even drawn it and he crouched in front of the bed to protect the sleeping Aes Sedai, using his very body as a shield. He knew Negrath from the times he had occassionally seen him, but was he himself? Or was he with the Shadow? His eyes dart over Negrath with calculation. Shadow or not, if he made so much as a step forward, Antar would have his head. Holding the blade in the High Guard position, he waits for someone else to make a move in the deadly game.

Amora en'Damier Sedai blinked away the sleep that came with Dreams. As their visitor entered the room, and Antar appropriately took his place between them, Amora Sedai rose to a more seemly position. It was rude to walk in on a sleeping woman, and dangerous to walk in on a sleeping Aes Sedai.

The silence remained until Amora Sedai was upright and facing the Drin'far'ji at the door. Beatrise Sedai's weight shifted on the balls of her feet. She had already embraced the source. While her face was as calm and cool as any Aes Sedai, Amora could read the unease in the younger Blue sister's countinance. Grek too had taken a step closer the bed with his hand on his sword. Yet Amora Sedai's calm emerald eyes were on the Drin'far'ji at the door. The boy is injured. I could forgive the presumption, if, he stands under the Light. Truth will tell . . .

It was Amora Sedai who broke the silence.

"You spyed upon a white-haired man from behind a tree in the Blue Ajah Courtyard. " Amora Sedai intoned as if recalling the middle of a tale. However, beneith the surface the elder Aes Sedai had revealed that she would know if he lied. If he did, it was clear by the tension that he would not leave the room. That Jhedan Storm-foot lived and knew she had failed to have him assasinated only meant greater peril than before, and the need for higher caution. I will have a word with Nalia about highering an incompetant assasin for the task. They had been seen fleeing the Courtyard, and could have been followed.

"Tell us what happened, child. What did the Pattern weave before and after you saw this man?"

"I did not know him. I'm still not sure that I do. All I know is that he identified himself as brother to one who had attempted murder on a channeler, in the resulting chaos he was captured, and escaped. I followed. While he was not alone in his task, I feel sure the one you speak of where not the other, seeing as he appeared to have killed his brother with a bolt meant for another...then I was forced to kill him."
He pondered adding more, but had caught on sufficiently to know that the Tower contained two sides of late...
"Would I be allowed to ask if you could tell me more of him? What he was doing there?" he added instead, giving his best 'respectful curiousity'.

Before answering the child's question, Amora en'Damier Sedai addressed her enturage. "There is no longer need to be wary of him. He speaks with a true tongue, and stands in the Light." Grek released a hand from his sword, however Beatrise Sedai did not relax. Instead she continued to hold the source, perhaps too aware of traps.

Then Amora Sedai refered to the Drin'far'ji by the door, "You may address me as Amora Sedai, child, or 'my lady' as it suits you." And proceeded to introduce the rest as needed.

She then spoke not only to him, but to the rest who populated the room. Her eyes flickered to Kadar too. Her son had been at ease, leaning against the wall nonchalantly. Although she knew he must be uncomfortable among so many channelers.

"The Shadow looms over our Halls, and many are fighting their own battles against it. The white-haired man you slayed, Negrath Drin'far'ji was highered to assasinate me, likely because I highered an assasin to kill his darkfriend master. My assasin failed." Her tone was certain. There was renewed tension, and uncertainty, in the room after that statement. "Jhedan's nearly didn't. Neilan Drin'far'ji recovers in the next room. He bought time for our escape, and this white-haired assasin put an arrow through his brother, the one called 'Dinan' you conveinently chased, not an instant after we cleared the Court Yard." It was obvious that Amora Sedai knew more now that she had woken than when she had laid to sleep. There was too much to be done, and too little time to do it in. "In compensation for this debt, I will send for Elisabet Sedai to heal you too . . . unless you have anything else to report that will aid Justice. You also may follow or seek shelter as you wish." Her glance shifted to Antar, who had demonstrated as much true dedication as Neilan had, and then back to Negrath. The look back communicated urgency and the danger under which they lived, with the chilled composure only an Aes Sedai could mantain in such times.

"Yes, it might be of importance that the dead brother was captured following the disturbance in the library, whereas some friends of his, or enemies of our side, made a mess of things as we were on the way to put him in proper storage for questioning, leading to the man's rather desperate escape. We were surrounded by a selection of flying furniture at metal shards at the time, so I did not exactly expect it. Had it been required, I'd have stayed behind to help my group, but as I'd be a bladesman in a channelers' dance I went after him.
Why I didn't work to catch up to him before he surprised his jumpy brother, I do not quite know...perhaps some obscure hope of being led to the heart of things...in order to give the information on to the proper people, of course."
"During the little shouting match that ensued as Sinon, the white-haired one, became aware of my presence, he spoke of Ranno having hired the both of them. At the end he appeared to be asking his brother whether Jhedan had been right in claiming you had killed him. Ranno, that is..."
"Heading back to the chaos I'd left, I found it already surrounded with a good crowd, and some ashaman told me to return to the yards...That is, mainly, what led me here..."
"A healig would be appreciated, Aes Sedai," Negrath gave a half-bow of thanks, "Though I think hardly neccessary unless she is free of any other work. As for my news, I am not sure how much worth they will be, coming from an assassin as they do. Correctly enough he did not appear to think all that clearly at either point, but I just thought I'd point it out that, though I searched thoroughly, I could find nothing with which to prove his words true."

"We were surrounded by a selection of flying furniture at metal shards at the time, so I did not exactly expect it. Had it been required, I'd have stayed behind to help my group, but as I'd be a bladesman in a channelers' dance I went after him. "

Amora's emerald eyes flickered to her son, a once sworn Whitecloak, who's jaw was clenched at the mention of such a battle. His arms were folded over a borrowed Tower Guard uniform. It was obvious to Amora that he was only here to preserve her life and that of her daugther, his sister, and perhaps her Gaidin who had shown trust enough to put men under Kadar's command. His disguise was necessary in order to prevent the Tower from leaping upon him like a room full of cats on a lone dog. "That would be the lightning the Tower Guard reported." He concluded firmly, giving the impression that he was indeed one of them.

"A healing would be appreciated, Aes Sedai," Negrath gave a half-bow of thanks, "Though I think hardly neccessary unless she is free of any other work. As for my news, I am not sure how much worth they will be, coming from an assassin as they do."

Amora Sedai then spoke again at the conclusion of Negrath's report. "I shall allow you and Elisabet the option to discuss the matter amongst yourselves, then, for she will join us. You might be better suited with aligning yourself with me, for any single person, save the Dragon Reborn, can not stand against the Shadow. If you feel you can fight well enough without Healing, and Elisabet's concentration is better reserved, then it will be so. She will give endurance to all who require it." It was implied, however, that this was an exchange relationship. What Negrath received from Amora Sedai and her alliances he was expected to give back in another form, and was considered an allie himself.

"Granted - Sinon had no reason to give you the truth of the matter, but the Dreams tell that he questioned the lie fed to him by Jhedan before he knew you spied him. Not that it is relevant, now."

"What is relevant is our next step. Grek," Amora Sedai referred to her swordsman who stood before the window beside the bed, "fetch Elisabet Sedai and Neilan Davram." The young man bowed with a gentle "My lady." and exited the room.

Timing was such that the chief of the Danzig guards entered the room to report to Kadar, "The Guard report that their questions drew naught out of the Trainees, nor Eya Sedai. She will not speak with them."

Amora Sedai's attention drew to their conversation and corrected the soldier, "She is not Eya Sedai." Both Kadar and Beatrise Sedai looked to the elder Aes Sedai with nothing short of shock and unease. The report had been false, and all who had ridden to the Claw Stone were wrong. "She impersonated the woman. Eya Sedai walks uncaptured. However, this woman in the cells may have answers. The Pattern has given us the first direction. We shall question her ourselves before the next task." The Danzig soldier glanced between Amora and her son.

The crook of Kadar's lips curved slightly. "Have your men and a fist of the Tower Guard make ready to follow us. There will be blood tonight." It was obvious to one adept at the Great Game, such as Amora, that he would enjoy this questioning of a Black Ajah Aes Sedai. And if she will not sing like a bird for my son, then I will scare some squeek of use out of her and be done with it. Amora thought to herself as Beatrise Sedai approached.

"My lady Amora Sedai," the younger woman intoned, "as you may be aware, I could Skim to inform others under the Light of what we know. I feel without use save for that I offer."

Amora Sedai nodded approvingly, "Then I have a critical task for you . . ."

In the passing moments as Neilan was woken and brought back with Grek Elisabet Sedai, Amora Sedai made use of the crude writing set one Drin'far'ji had left in his room. During this time, Elisabet Sedai, touched Neilan on the shoulder - enabling him to ignore his fatigue for a time and offered to do the same or heal Negrath. When Amora Sedai was finished, she sanded the parchment, sealed it with wax, and imprinted it with her House ring. Then she gave it to Beatrise with the word, "Wait."

When Elisabet Sedai had finished her work she stood near the door. There was a look of nervousness about her features. As if she felt like a trapped hare between a fox and a wall of rock. She too, if caught alone, could be slayed. Elisabet was the youngest sister of all, younger than Beatrise Sedai. Her auburn hair was swept back into a butterfly comb back from a face that was not yet ageless. She gripped her skirts with nervous hands, honey yellow sleeves rolled up to the elbows. Beatrise gave Elisabet a look of reassuance, complete faith that all would stand in the Light in the end. Then Amora Sedai spoke, and they listened to their elder sister,

"The Gaidin Captain is severely injured in the tunnels that lead to the ruins of the Old Tower. The leader of this resurgance of the Shadow, the Shar'rahien, the "Dawn of Blood" has burned him terribly." Amora did not make public, however, the man's love for his Aes Sedai, Leanna the Flame of the Grey Tower. It was naught Amora's business and not of relevance at the moment. Although she enjoyed having some lever against her late-husband's third wife. Both the knowledge of their relationship, and how she was about to draw Caden closer in alliance, "Captain Ives was attempting to reach the Amyrlin Seat for an unknown reason, except this suggests that she too is in peril. We can not help her, but we can aid her Warder. Kadar," Amora intoned to her son, who looked up from his thoughts, "Have no fewer than five Tower Guard sent to fetch him with Elisabet Sedai."

Elisabet's eyes widened, "Please, do not send me there sister!" The woman clearly afeared venturing far from the newly-formed group.

Amora Sedai released a sigh and answered as if reciting a tragedy, "He will life his life apearing half-man, half monster, in wretched mourning of his face. I leave it on your conscience then, when the Captain realizes his fate." Then back to Kadar, "Just the Guard then, but bring him back swiftly. If he refuses help, then have the Guard aid him. He must live." The Pattern said so. There was unfinished business between the Captain and the Dawn of Blood, although Amora did not yet know what their conversation would mean . . .

"I have given Beatrise Sedai the key points at which those who stand in the Light make ready to battle the Shadow. She will take the scroll I have given her, depicting the face of the Dawn of Blood, and Skim. If we do not mark him, someone else will. She will tell all she knows that we have discoverd here today. A net of recognition will be drawn for him, and it will close. She will meet us when our task is complete. Who will follow and protect her on this critical task? Neilan, Kadar, Negrath, Grek? She can not fail. The rest of us will soon be in the tunnels beneith the Tower, first to the dungeons and then to the Hall of Sitters' who's lives are in terrible peril. As we walk, I will explain the rest. Which of you will protect her and return to us, and who will follow me now?"

Amora Sedai waited for volunteers as patiently as could be managed in such times.

As Negrath heard the summary of things, he was glad the Yellow had decided to restore him fully, slight as the improvement might have been.
The loss of his amassed fatigue had helped immensely, as well...
Finding that his blade could be put to two uses of near-equal importance, he gave a brief bow; "My blade and the heart that drives it is yours to send where you please, Aes Sedai, though I think it would find itself more useful protecting our messenger."

Antar listened carefully to Amora's words, and at her saying that the Drin was ok, he straightens and sheathes his blade, though his hand does NOT leave the hilt. He does not move from his firm place and watches with utmost care as he listens intently. At her request, he finally moves from his stand-still. Turning lightly, he bows his head as best as he is able, his slightly long hair swaying about his shoulders. "I shall go whever it pleases you to send me, Amora Sedai. My blade is yours, and if you wish it to protect this messenger, than I shall protect her as if I were protecting you."

Kadar outright refused to accompany Beatrise Sedai. His words indicated that he would best serve by interrogating the sister of shadowspawn, but his intentions were likely to avoid detection, however much he would have appreciated seeing his sister and Lord Danzig safe at the Claw Stone.

Grek in turn, had sworn himself to his Lady's side. While he was no trained Warder, he felt it was his duty to remain with her.

Lady Amora en'Damier Sedai looked then upon Negrath and Antar, each in turn. Their answers differed slightly, and in that, she smiled with preference upon Antar. She desired to keep him close, for certain rather than potential battle. It was then when Neilan, son of the Flame of the Grey Tower, spoke up. He had spent the longest of the Trainees deciding his fate, but spoke with the most zeal. He wished to aid his mother's Gaidin, even if that was only a fraction of the journey Beatrise Sedai would take.

I would not deny Leanna's son the chance to fight where his heart is in it. However, Negrath Drin'far'ji has shown himself skilled enough to kill. Two should be appropriate . . . I swore to keep Neilan safe, and safe he shall be. Even under the co-protection of another Trainee. and that was the decision the Lady announced.

"Negrath and Neilan Drin'far'ji, you will accompany and protect Beatrise Sedai on her sacred journey. The three of you will protect each other." Her words were filled with dire seriousness under the cool complacency of Aes Sedai composure. "I can not tell you what you will walk into with certainty. However, there may be battle ahead, and you needs must prove your alliance to those who stand in the Light. Go young warriors," she spoke to Neilan and Negrath, "if you have the makings of Warders, make that potential manifest. Sister," she referred to Beatrise Sedai, "you are my agent, and have my trust. Use your best judgment unto what you encounter."

And with Amora Sedai's blessing, Beatrise Sedai began to skim to the tunnel between the New and Old Tower. Two Trainees followed her in her stead with eight Tower Guard close on their heels . . .

Please continue with Beatrise in Ripple Four: The Messenger.

Moments later, the rest of the party surrounding Amora Sedai ventured forth under the tunnels that led from the Warder Hall to the dungeons in the depth of the Grey Tower. They had slipped under the trap doors in the Trainee Barracks and into the dimly lit corridors that stretched below ground. Kadar held a single torch lighting the hallway, which Amora Sedai thought ought to have been left dark. I would prefer not knowing what I am stepping on. Dank water reeked from drips in the low ceiling, rats scurried to and froe out of the torchlight across the black and white mosaic tails. The party crossed through spider webs and nests of insects as they meandered through the maze of tunnels. But they were supposedly far better protected than they would be above ground and visible by assassins.

At the head, was the lieutenant of the Tower Guard that had reported to Kadar when Amora Sedai had found him. He guided them through the passages, Kadar just behind his shoulder. Between Kadar and Amora Sedai Antar was invited to anticipate attacks. Amora Sedai had donned her traditional black velvet cloak, pierced with an arrow-slit as it was, to mask her features. Elisabet Sedai huddled close to Amora Sedai whenever possible, as if the walls themselves were dangerous in these times. Behind the aged sister Grek loomed with his sword hand on his hilt. And guarding the very rear the Danzig guards marched, aware of any attack from behind.

It was several moments, slid doors, and shifted boxes later when the party approached the Dungeons in anticipation of questioning "Eya" Sedai. The Guard whispered to Kadar in low tones, "We approach the black sister. As I reported, she would not answer to us. Perhaps your lordship will have better luck..."

Lady Coaána awoke, gasping. Her mouth and throat were dry, and she carefully wetted her arid lips.

Lying on the damp, cold stone floor... her hands and feet were fettered to the wall opposite the one with the door. The cell's walls had grown very familiar to her now the past one or two hours, their towering angles letting small trickles of earth-soiled water trail their way to the floor, where it coated the adamant flooring. The only source of light was the narrow slit beneath the iron door. The dampness and the cold had certainly given the young woman the promise of a fever, and she shook where she lay in he torn dress. Its once elegant Andoran clothing was torn and cut everywhere after the last interrogation, sodden through and soiled, stinking of mold, and bitingly cold to her dirty skin. The thick chains made her impossible to rest in a comfortable position, and the muscles of the shadowsworn's arms and back were as hard and as the chains and painfully sore... reminding themselves with each ragged breath.

She blinked away blonde strands of hair from her grey eyes and raised her head a little. She heard sounds. Conversation. And then the door opened, sudden light stinging her eyes shut again. The Lady grimaced as she pushed herself up to her knees, and looked upon the visitors in silence. Mother, I will not fail you, she swore to herself as the cell filled with people. She was no Novice or Accepted of the Tower she had traveled to, so she could not tell much about the visitors. One was dressed in the same Drin'far'ji uniform she had seen on the other shadowsworn she had tried to escape trough the main gate with. The cloth was two shades lighten than the uniform Jhedan had worn, if she remembered correctly.

"What do you want, Light-blinded fools?" she asked, the words venomously cold. She rose to her feet, slowly, muscles protesting against the attempt. Her limbs were all tight and cramped, by the previous interrogation or the way she was chained, but they were commanded to obey. "I don't talk to the walking dead." I was true, if they succeeded that day, she would make sure her captors would burn alive for this.

Kadar glanced to his mother, the Duchess, who in turn nodded in confirmation. "This is her, then. A shame a fellow noble of Andor has fallen to such shame." He concluded, and ordered the Danzig guards and Grek to stand guard outside of the room. Furthermore, he cautioned Elisabet Sedai, "You may not wish to see this, it is not for the faint of heart." Although far more likely, he desired as few Aes Sedai near him as possible that were not mannerly to kill.

Elisabet Sedai gave the elder Aes Sedai an asking look, who nodded gently, "You shall be as safe outside as in here, little Sister." Elisabet hesitated, then bowed her head deeply and followed the soldiers outside. Kadar, Amora Sedai, and Antar remained in the cell with the shadowsworn. Antar would receive trust equal to the oath he had sworn to Amora Sedai.

The door swung shut with a thunderous CLANG. Kadar then paced to the wall left of the door and set the torch he had carried in the wall-hanger. The flickering light cast ominous shadows against the features of Amora Sedai's ageless face and drew Kadar into a silloette, standing with his back to the Light.

Then he moved forward as swiftly as a viper to the side of the traitor and pressed his boot hard on her feet. His dagger glinted in his hand in an instant, slicing her tainted serpant ring finger clear off. Blood squirted back at him and he backed away and threw the severed flesh aside. "That was for being rude the the Lady." He stated simply and returned to casting a shadow across the heretic's face with his stance.

There was silence, before Amora Sedai spoke. The air was damp and chill as the bones of the dead. The smell of urine permiated the space, whether from this traitor or another it did not matter. Yet there likely would be blood perfuming the air soon, and that did matter. The woman before them, with strikingly similar features to the Eya-witch, stood as if awaiting her chance to spit. She was a skunk in their eyes.

"You are not Eya Grenwyne." Amora Sedai began simply, with the truth the Oath Rod had bound.

It was best to begin interrigation by allowing the traitor plenty of time to absorbe just how much perril she was in, and how little room there was wiggle out of the truth.

"You were scared." The elder Aes Sedai stated with calm certainty. "Determined, but you gripped this riding dress of yours in fear. The same fear you will feel now." Kadar reflected her intimidating presence with a cruel smile that promised pleasure in bringing pain to this witch. And before the traitor could deny these facts, Amora Sedai pummeled her with more. "Jhedan, Ranno, and Sagone are dead. Everyone you bought time for with your charad are dead, and those who smote them rode out to the Claw Stone to battle your lord. Your allies are dying as we speek. You failed in your mission. How displeased will the 'Shar'rahien' be with your failure? Do you attempt to convince yourself that you are worth saving?" Amora Sedai clicked her tounge distastefully. "I have a mind to have you squished like an insect simply for being shadowsworn, and worse, being useless." It was difficult to see in the light, but Kadar's smile widened. "However, I am not certain that you are as useless to us as you are to your shadowsworn master . . .

"Therefore, if you do not make yourself useful very quickly, this man will have the pleasure of torturing you. And mark my words, he will enjoy evoking terrible screams from your wrteched, useless, body." Amora Sedai sniffed as if that were the least of this traitor's troubles. "And if you make yourself difficult and waste my time, I will still you." She promised that as cooly as if she were giving pennence to naughty novices once again. "It is your choice. Answer his questions and make yourself of minimal value, or allow this former Child of the Light his way with you before remembering your last grasp of saidar with mourning."

Kadar clasped his hands firmly behind his back, as if only barely restraining himself. His jaw was straight and controlled, but the fire reflected in his eyes with a horrible, terrible, rage. He longed to grip his dagger firmly in his palm and slice the witch's fingers of one-by-one before bringing the edge to her once beutiful grey-eyed face. Vanity was the first death on his list for her.

He then began her interrigation...

When the unknown man distracted her by stamping upon her foot, Coaána wailed in sudden pain when she found her finger cut from her hand. She could not compose a coherent thought while she cringed in her chains afterwards, and could get no word or curse in-between when the one she now recognised as Amora Sedai threatened her.

Mother, where are you? Surely you must have heard? She summoned her courage when the pain in her hand receded to a sharp ache. She refused to look at the silhouetted man in front of her... she leaned past him and glared back at the Aes Sedai. "That was uncalled for, and you are wrong. I don't know why you'd think I'm not who I am, but you must truly believe it in order to state it as if it were a fact to you. I am Eya Grenwyne Sedai, Head of the Grenwyne House. Daughter of Faeuron Grenwyne, ...Formerly... of the Green Ajah, and you may ensure my identity with any inquiries you might conjure," she retorted as composedly as she could with one missing fingers and supporting herself in her chains. There was no way she could deny her capture outside the main gate. However, although Amora had said to her that all the ones she were affiliated with were dead, there were others she had not named, and there was no reason to give up now. The mud from the ground outside still concealed her features well enough to make them doubt themselves. If she were to give up, the Lord of the Grave would be waiting for her on the other side, waiting to punish her in endless torture... A torture no Child of the Light could ever hope to provide. Time, time and deceit, she thought, summoning her resolve.

"I am in no position to deny my true allegiance," she began, and she did not have to feign her hesitation during her simple statement. "And I know that my time as an Aes Sedai for the Green Ajah is at an end. And I see only one alternative, and that is to be useful, as you so delicately put it. Yet if I cooperate, I require to leave the Tower at once... to be freed and given a horse and supply to sustain me until I have left these mountains. And trust me, what I will tell you is of dire importance. Without me, you will not see the next day. So free me at once, and bandage my hand, else I will say not another word to you."

She turned to the alleged former Child of Light, and her courage mounted with each word she spoke. "You don't scare me, you filthy hound. If I had not this Shield placed upon me, I would show you what a witch I am. Make yourself useful and remove my chains, for you will not pry anything out of me until you do, and unless I am willing. Now get on with it!"

"I am in no position to deny my true allegiance,"

"And you are in no position to make demands." Amora Sedai retorted cooly as if speaking to a very young child. I have seen and lived through other invasions of the Shadow. This shall not be the last time. "I am certain you fear the Dark One's torture beyond the grave for your failures. However, if you give me your full coperation, you may be placed beyond his grasp." Amora Sedai smiled slightly as if favoring the young woman.

"You are not Eya Grenwyne." The ancient Sister repeated with utter certainy. "You have similar features, my pet, but you are not her. You are but a pale reflection of that fallen Sister. Eya Grenwyne would not be afraid. And it is as obvious as the mud on your face that you you are afraid." Amora Sedai's emerald eyes flickered in the torchlight, ever piercing beyond the masks nobility wore in far securer positions than this one. "She will be smitten. If you continue to claim you are her, and waste my time with lies, you shall receive the same fate."

Amora Sedai allowed this impostor a moment to absorb the consequences of her actions. There was a faint smile remenicint of rewarding novices of the Old Tower with honeycake. "However, because you have admitted that you know something that may be of value, I will not have you punished for your lie. Yet, you have also lost your reward."

Amora Sedai then glanced to her son, "Fetch the bandages. I believe she may discover a way to earn them back." and then back to the impostor.

"What will you do to earn aid for your disfigured hand?"

Antar stood by, leaning on the wall with his arms crossed, watching the door. So many things had happened, and in a way, he felt pity for the captured young woman, though it lasted but a second. This one had given up the light long ago, and she deserved not the slightest shred of pity. He turns in time to see Amora finish her sayings, and stands lightly, clearing his throat. Maybe he could help loosen her tounge. Before saying anything, he lets the image of Luantar hanging from the rope cross his mind. An intense hatrid flashes in his eyes, like lightning striking the ground, and he speaks. "If I may say words, Amora Sedia..." he turns to Kadar, and nods. Though he had been Whitecloak, he was the son to Amora, and that took precedense over all.

Antar turns then hoping to all Light that Amora would not be angry with him for stepping out of line. Looking down on the woman who claimed to be that which she was not, he emits a sound alot like that of a serpent preparing to strike. "Hear me, Shadowspawn. I am Antar al'Kadar, son to those taken by the shadow, and adopted by Lord Talres al'Jahar. One time friend of that which was taken, and oath sworn to Amora Sedai. Hear my words, spawn of hellgates." His eyes turn slitted. Such a loathing rose in him then, he wanted to grip her and break her, Aes Sedai or not. "I dont know how much you hurt now. I expect having your finger cut from your very flesh hurt. And alot at that. But you see, pretty," he pats her cheek in a hard manner, "The cut was swift, and painless i would think." His stomach turns then, but he forces himself to continue, and memories flood to him as he speaks, "I was orphaned by those that followed the shadow, and on the streets of Andor i watched children die of various diseases.. VERY slowly at that. I one time saw a child, with sores so large and in such profusion on his legs, he begged to be killed. A very great pain indeed. I have seen pain, and felt it, but i ask YOU... what is the greatest pain you have felt?" he smiles, and it is not a pleasent sight to see. "You see, If the Lady, Amora Sedai can not loosen your tounge, and he," he points at Kadar, not willing to reveal secrets, "Can not either, i assure you, that by the time that i am done with you, your tounge will be babbling information like a brook... IF you still have a tounge that is." He smiles lightly on her. "Have you ever smelled the rotting flesh of a child that has died and sat in the sun for days on end?" He lets the thought sink in a moment before continuing. "Im assuming not, and i can make that happen... In fact, i can even prepare a meal to be given to you of that. Tasty no?" His eyes harden to granit then, and he stands. "I can cause many unpleasentries to occur to you, and they do NOT have to necissarily be painfull, though the thought of driving hot nails into your skin does please me," inwardly he shudders at the thought, though you could not tell outwardly, "I CAN and WILL break you.. so i would talk if i were you. And fast at that." He leans on the wall again, bowing both in appology and respect to Amora Sedia.

Hanging in her chains, carefully trying to find a more comfortable position, Coaána listened to the old Aes Sedai. So I am going to buy my freedom with what I know? Then the question is, what can I afford to sell?

Before she could open her mouth, the third visitor in her cell must have reached some sort of conclusion. He rounded on her and hissed threaths and promises of pain like a poised viper. Normally, Lady Coaána would have stripped the skin of the young man's face for such words, yet now she was Shielded, chained and cornered like a rabbit in her own nest. She could not meet the rather long-haired youth's narrowed eyes, and looked to the dirty floor in seek or respite. Mother, what should I do? I have always relied on you, but this time, when you need me the most, my resolve falters. My aims are blurred. If she did not give any information, she would die... either by the hands of her three interrogators, or the Great Lord of the Dark.

She was Andoran nobility, and stubborn by suite and heritage. Yet she was not stupid.

Mother, I have no choice. I will make up for what I disrupt. She looked up and found the young man by his old position, and quickly looked towards Amora Sedai. "I will not debate my identity any further, both because I don't see the point, and since the matter is not even important to either of us right now," she began, finding back-bone to not let any word quiver on her tongue. "I have no interest in that bandage. Un-chain me, and I will give you something or real value. Something that I should not have known in the first place." Her gaze did not waver, and the years in the Grenwyne House paid off.

Amora Sedai glanced at Antar when he returned to her side. She would have to speak with him. The elder Sedai's mind churned like clockwork, despite how the routine had meandered. She intended use that outburst to their advantage . .

And then the impostor spoke up. Finally she had seen reason, even if she did not see the Light.

Yet Amora Sedai did not budge farther than she willed. The three who stood in the Light could not know the value of the shadowsworn's confession. Only a roll of the dice could say whether the woman was usefu at all. And Amora Sedai herself was the only body present who was bound to her promises.

"Tell us, my pet, and then I shall reward you if your knowledge is valuable to me." She replied cooly. "I know more than you will ever understand. And, I will not give you any measure of freedom for knowledge I already posess." Clearly the mud-streaked child could understand that the Oaths still had bearing on the elder sister. There would be an exchange, one way or another, but on Amora Sedai's terms.

Lady Coaána narrowed her eyes as she heard the words spoken. "No."

She thought through her choice once more, as she judged the people before her. "I tell you this," she said, her voice only failing on the last word, "measures have been taken against the Amyrlin Seat. She will either be controlled or killed before the end of the day, whatever you might choose to do. Her well-being is beyond your grasp. However, she does not govern the Grey Tower alone. There is another that needs to be... replaced."

She clenched herself to her thoughts; Traitor! You will die for this! You will never be forgiven in the eyes of the Great Lord! There was no turning back now, for there was no other way fro her to come free and aid her mother... or to escape. "The M'Hael will die within the hour. You will free me and place me outside the Main Gate, only then will I tell you how to stop it from happening. I know where it will happen, and I know how. So, would you be so kind and decide if the Father is worth saving? Your time is running out."

"You are correct, your time is running out. And so has my patience." The Lady Amora snaped icily.

Her son spoke as if voicing the same thought from the same blood, "My lady, she is wasting your time. You could accomplish much more by leaving her here to rot. We cannot afford the time to escourt her to the Gate, nor for this impudent game. When the day is done, I could return to torment her . . "

"That is true." The elder Aes Sedai admitted, cutting off the unecessarily implied gore. "There is still time to prevent the Sitters from being slain with what I know, and the new Amyrlin Seat and M'Hael will be raised by those who stand in the Light." She read it too in Kadar's eyes that reminded Amora so much of his father: Kadar's sister, Amora's daughter, was a Sitter in danger too.

"Come, this traitor has not made herself useful." She touched Antar on the shoulder, "I'll need you two to hold her back when I return to still her for the injustice she helped to create, and did not have the tounge to prevent." And they moved toward the door...

No! Panic was her first reaction, and it shattered her resolve like a goblet on a stone floor. If she was left alone, the Dawn would find her. He knew everything that went on in the Tower, and he could find whoever he wanted. It was as if he had ears everywhere, and knew your most intimate thoughts. Stillled? The Three Oaths prevented the Aes Sedai from lying, did she truly mean it? Without even a Trial!?

"Wait!" she called, her voice failing again. "I will talk, just as long as you set me free. I have to leave the Tower otherwise..." she hesitated, swallowing. "Otherwise, he will find me, and... I... The stories about him... they are to vivid not to be true, at least when told amongst us." She blinked away an irritating tear of helplessness. "The Dawn of Blood will... will have me slowly mutilated to death. If you set me free, outside the Tower, he cannot leave in order to punish me."

She gathered herself, fisting her hands in her chains. "The Keeper's Office. The Dawn should have instructed the executioner by now. The M'Hael will die if he ever leaves or tries to enter his office. The executioner... He is Trean. An Asha'man of the White Ajah. He is strong with Illusions, so do not believe your eyes. Now I beg of you, free me..."

Her sobs echoed faintly in the enclosed space. Free me... He will come... free me...

Antar turned to leave with Amora Sedai, yet at Coaána pitiful sounds, he slows to a halt, ideas running over his mind. Her sobs affected him inwardly, but the M'heal was in trouble, and very serious trouble at that. Illusions where not exactly pleasent to deal with, he would think. But, she had been broken. What they had come to achieve, had been done. He turns, glancing at her, before calling politely to Amora Sedia, and eyeing Kadar. Given who he was, due to his past, he would be very usefull here.

"Amora Sedai... Would it not be a good idea for us to bring this traitor along with us? She is obviously one that knows things, having both information on the Dawn of Blood, and who is after the M'heal. It would be wise i think, to keep her amongst us as it is both in her interest, and our own to stay away from those places with which any danger to ourselves and whatever mission you deem most important for us to achieve. There is the added bonus, that where she lying, we could establish both stilling and punishment then and there." He spoke the words stilling slowly, mostly for Coaána benifit of hearing, "It is merely and idea, and i mean no disrespect, but I see many positive things that could come from this. Many indeed." He smiles, and bows his head slightly before taking up a polite silence.

That was twice now that he had spoken , and with an Aes Sedai in charge at that. He hoped it wasnt going to go too rough for him later when she gave him a dressing down, as it was to be expected. But maybe this would help, if even only a little.

Lady Amora en'Damier Sedai had turned slowly, as if only barely reconsidering leaving the dark Sister to her woven fate. The hem of Lady Amora's saphire blue silks had rustled against the dirt sodden floor. She peered through the jet black hood of her velvet hood, the irridecent blue of the lining framing her face and the wings of white pressed against her head. Her cool ageless eyes attended to Antar's suggestion and then flickered back to the traitor.

"You have made yourself potentially useful, and bought a little time, dog. Now we shall see it through. You shall be safe so long as you aid and follow us. I should not have to explain to you the dire consequences of impeeding our quest now, or misleading us." She allowed that possibility to settle unto the woman. Needless to say, it was in her best interest to cooperate. "If we survive this day and your words do save the life of the Father, and potentially others, then you shall have your reward." Her lips curved into a faint smile, Amora Sedai had never uttered what that reward would be.

"Kadar," she gestured to her son, "I trust you to hold a firm leash. Time is of the essence. We have many stairs to climb."

Chapter Five: Where the Ripples End
~Ripple One: Meanings
~Ripple Two: The Hall
~Ripple Three: Decisions
~Ripple Four: The Messenger
~Ripple Five: Shadow
~Ripple Six: The Clawstone
~Riple Seven: The Claw Stone Aftermath
~The Final Ripple

Return to the Ripples Intro