Wheel of Anime:  Book 1 – The Eye of God 
Chapter Two:  The Road to Baerlon

By John Biles

http://www.thekeep.org/~wombat/Jordan/


********

 	"Ten against one," Basara said as they all rode along 
the road between Watch Hill and Kumon's Ferry.  "The 
odds were not fair at all.  To them.  The first three Lagmen 
fell before they even knew what shot them.  The next two 
were reaching for their swords as they fell.  They began to 
turn, and two more sprouted arrows from their eyes, flames 
spreading across their bodies.  A while later, they fell, by 
which time the battle was already over, for as the last two 
shouted orders to their Fanboy followers, the followers of 
the other Lagmen were beginning to riot and tore them 
apart.  And so, Rei leaped down from the tree onto her 
horse, and began to ride to the army of Andor and 
Revelstone.  This was their chance to take the army of 
Fanboys while it was vulnerable."

 	Kurz and Ranma and Ukyou all listened with interest; 
they'd heard many stories of Rei Silverbow, but not this 
one.  Hinako half-listened, and half-simmered in her own 
mental juices.  Eleanor paid the tale little mind; she'd heard 
it many times, growing up.  Roland looked around.  "Where 
is Ayabara?"

 	Ukyou sighed.  "Dammit, he's lost AGAIN."

	"Again," Roland echoed flatly.  "This is the third time 
since lunch."

	Eleanor sighed.  She waved her staff in the air, and the 
tip began to glow as she homed in on one direction.  "This 
way," she said, riding off across the fallow, empty fields.  

	Ranma felt her arms tingle a little and rubbed them, 
wishing her clothing fit better.  It was too loose, given she'd 
shrunk.  "I think my arms are going to sleep," she said.  She 
glanced over.  "Kurz, if you don't stop looking at my 
breasts, I'm going to break you in half."

	"I am not staring at them!" Kurz protested.  

	"Uh huh."  Ranma sank back into the sulleness which 
had devoured her for most of the day, as they searched for 
Ryouga.

*******

	"You don't have to lead my horse by a line," Ryouga 
protested to Roland.

	"Yes, he does," Kurz said.  

	"Sorry, Ryouga, but it's necessary," Ukyou said.  "You 
know how you get lost."

	He grumbled, and Basara said, "How about another 
story?"

	"I'd like to know more about the White Tower," 
Ukyou said.  "Since all we ever hear about it are rumors 
and gleeman's tales."  She paused.  "No offense."

	"None taken," Basara said.  "I could sing the story of 
how the jealousy of Amrylin Ran led to the destruction of 
Manetheren during the Fanboy Wars."

	"Let's not and say we did," Eleanor said, frowning.  
"The White Tower stands in Tar Valon, home to all the 
Ajahs of the Aes Sedai.  We are led by the Amyrlin Seat, 
who is elected by the members of the Cabal, our ruling 
council."

	"There is no cabal," Basara whispered, seeming 
amused.

	Eleanor took no notice of him.  "The Tower is divided 
into Ajahs, groups of Aes Sedai with common interests, 
each of whom chooses three Sitters for the Cabal.  I am of 
the Blue Ajah, who seek to promote justice."

	"They like to meddle," Basara added.

	Roland glared at him.  Ryouga and Kurz laughed.  
Ukyou tried to not laugh, but failed.  

	"The Yellow Ajah studies the arts of healing.  The 
Green Ajah study the arts of war."

	"And sleep around," Basara pointed out helpfully.  
"Due to having lots and lots of warders."

	Roland fingered the hilt of his blade meaningfully.  
Ryouga and Kurz snickered.  Ukyou glared at them.

	Serenely, Eleanor continued onwards.  "The Grey 
Ajah are negotiators and peacemakers.  The Brown Ajah 
study and preserve knowledge.  The White Ajah are 
students of logic and of law, practicing the legal and 
debating arts."

	"Because, of course, if you have the power to change 
the world, the best way to use it is to take up a job where 
the use of your powers means you've failed in your job," 
Basara said.  He sounded a little bitter.

	"It might be said that the Silver Ajah is in charge of 
finding people who won't shut up when other people are 
talking and setting them on fire and using their burning 
bodies as night-lights," Eleanor said, her voice still level.   

	Kurz howled with laughter, and Ukyou laughed as 
well.  Even Ranma smiled a little.  Roland grinned for a 
moment.

	Basara said, "Alright, I get the hint."

	"The Silver Ajah is actually in charge of the Tower's 
finances," Eleanor continued.  "And they study ways to use 
the Power to make things.  The Red Ajah is in charge of 
hunting down male channelers and bringing them back to 
the Tower to have their powers removed."

	"Because they're all insane," Ryouga said.

	"Because they go insane, ever since the Dark One 
tainted dubin, the male half of the One Power," Eleanor 
said.  She glanced over at Basara for a moment, then said, 
"It is a necessary job, but not very pleasant.  You may get 
to meet a Red sister, Fatora, since we will likely pass 
through Caemlyn."  

	Basara started to speak, then fell silent.

	"She lives in Caemlyn?" Ukyou asked.  "I thought all 
Aes Sedai lived in the Tower."

	"We are trained there, and many make it their home, 
but many of us must leave the Tower frequently or most of 
the time, to pursue our Ajah's functions.  Only the Whites 
spend most of their time in the Tower.  Fatora is Queen 
Lum's advisor, which is why she dwells in Caemlyn."  
Eleanor paused.  "The last of the major Ajahs are the 
Purples.  They are explorers, who use the Power to seek out 
new and exciting places."

	"And die a lot," Basara said, then paused.  "I had to 
say that."

	Eleanor sighed.  "I'm afraid it's all too true.  The world 
can be a dangerous place, even for Aes Sedai."

	"Are there many Aes Sedai?" Ukyou asked.

	"There are a thousand Aes Sedai, perhaps a hundred  
Sempai, and hundreds of Kohai," Eleanor said.  

	"What's a Sempai and a Kohai?" Ukyou asked.

	"Kohai are the new apprentices," Eleanor said.  "They 
learn the basics of the Power and learn self-control and 
discipline while serving the Sempai and Sisters.  The 
Sempai are the journeymen, who had mastered the basics 
and begin advanced studies.  They also help to teach the 
Kohai."

	"I take it a lot of the Kohai and Sempai flunk out?" 
Ryouga asked.  "Or quit?"

	Eleanor gave him an assessing look.  "Yes, they do.  
What made you think that?"

	"Because if everyone who was a Kohai made it to 
Sempai, there would be roughly even numbers of each," 
Ryouga said.  "And given Aes Sedai live for hundreds of 
years, with that many Sempai, your numbers ought to be 
growing.  I think."

	"You are correct," Eleanor said with a tone of some 
respect.  "Hinako and Ukyou will be Kohai when we reach 
the Tower."

	"I am not becoming an Aes Sedai," Hinako said 
sharply.

	Eleanor just smiled.  "We shall see."  She turned to 
Basara.  "My throat is dry.  Would you like to tell another 
story?"

	"Hmm, how about the tale of Franky Four-Fingers and 
the Demi-Jewel of Death?"

	"Ooh, yeah!" Kurz said.  "Tell us that one!"

	"Frankie Four-Fingers, he was a great gambler," 
Basara said.  "Some said he had the Dark One's own luck.  
In the same sense that a lucky rabbit's foot wasn't too lucky 
for the rabbit.  But as it stood..."

********* 

	"What part of 'We're closed for the night' was 
unclear?" the groggy and angry ferryman asked them as he 
leaned out of the front door of his house.  They had finally 
reached Kumon's ferry.  "Get an inn room, come back in 
the morning."

	"We need to cross immediately," Roland said.  "We 
can pay you well."

	"You can pay me well in the morning," the man said, 
yawning.  

	"We need to cross now," Eleanor said.  "We can't 
wait."

	"It's foggy, it's cold, if we get wet, we will likely all 
freeze to death," the ferryman repeated.  "I am going to 
bed, goodnight."

	"Well, I suggest we wait here and sing the entire Great 
Song of the Horn to keep awake until morning, when we 
can get our ride and move on," Basara said.  "You all can 
sing well, right?"

	"If well means 'sing like a choking horse'," Ryouga 
said.

	"I ain't singing," Ranma said sullenly.

	"I can sing pretty well," Kurz said.

	"My singing was once described as 'the lost wailings 
of a dying banshee'," Roland said.  "But I have great 
volume."

	The ferryman said, "You wouldn't dare."

	"Singing is a good way to keep warm on a cold night," 
Eleanor said.

	"Especially very loudly," Roland said.

	The ferryman said, "Hah!  Do your worst!"

	Twenty minutes later, they'd sent all the stray cats 
running for the hills, and the ferryman stomped out.  
"Alright, I'll take you across if you will just shut up!"

	The ride across the Kumon seemed endless as they 
drifted through the mists.  Ranma stared down into the 
water at her now feminine reflection.  Hinako came over 
and began taking measurements.  "If you're going to be a 
woman, we're going to have to get you some nice dresses," 
she said.  

	"I ain't gonna wear no dresses," Ranma said.  "Once 
we find a cure, I ain't never gonna be a woman again."

	"If there's a cure.  Aes Sedai don't know everything," 
Hinako said.  "But while you're a woman, there's some 
things you should know."  She began rambling on about 
periods and men and various other things Ranma hoped 
might not turn out to be useful to know.

******

	Once they were across the river, they rode upstream a 
mile and made camp.  Exhausted, they all collapsed and 
slept.  Ryouga had to be tied to a tree.

	The next day, they rode on without incident.  That 
night, they made camp.  Hinako put Ryouga to work 
helping her cook, since his tether was long enough to reach 
the cooking fire, and Ukyou because she was a great cook.    
Ranma wandered off to sulk.

	She had brewed herself up a good cup of unfocused 
anger and loathing when she heard footsteps behind her.  It 
was Ukyou.  "Hey, Ranchan," Ukyou said, coming over 
and hovering behind her.  "You okay?"

	"No," Ranma said flatly.  "This sucks."

	"Hey, being a woman isn't so bad," Ukyou said, sitting 
down next to her.  

	"It SUCKS," Ranma asserted.  "I can't move right, my 
body feels funny, my arms get all tingly at random 
intervals, and this braid keeps getting tangled up in things."  
She tugged her braid irritably.  "Stupid Pop."

	"Hey, being a woman has its good side too," Ukyou 
said.

	"Not for a man," Ranma said.  "I hope this isn't 
permanent."

	"Me too," Ukyou said.  "I mean, we couldn't...I 
mean..."

	They trailed off into silence, staring off into the 
woods.  "This can't be permanent," Ukyou said.

	"I'm gonna kill Pop so dead they'll be finding bits of 
him in Saldea if this is permanent.  It didn't even have any 
kind of warning label or nothing!"

	"Well, maybe you can learn to channel if you stay 
stuck," Ukyou said.  "Then we could be in the Tower 
together."

	"I'd rather turn back to a guy and be your Warder," 
Ranma said.  "Someone's got to watch out for you."

	"Hey, I can take care of myself!" Ukyou said.  "I'm 
stronger than you."

	"Not any more," Ranma said.  

	"What?" Ukyou asked.

	Ranma turned and picked Ukyou up with one hand, 
holding Ukyou over her head.  "See?"

	"Put me down!"

	She began to juggle Ukyou.  "And I can do this."

	"PUT ME DOWN!"

	"And this."  Now she was juggling Ukyou and her 
sheathed sword.

	"Ranchan, stop being an idiot!  You could put an eye 
out!"

	"Ranma, what are you DOING?" Hinako said, looking 
at them.  "You're being a delinquent."

	"No, not while he's..."  BZZAP.  "...juggling me," 
Ukyou said, then toppled to the ground.

	A now grownup Hinako said in her deeper voice, 
"And don't let me catch you doing that again, Ranma.  A 
woman has to have some dignity."

	"We're both in trouble, since I'm not a woman and you 
have no dignity," Ranma mumbled.

	BZZAP!  "I heard that," Hinako said.  "Ukyou, weren't 
you supposed to be gathering wood for the fire?"

	"I'll get right on it!"

*******

	Several more days of travel ensued, and finally, they 
crested a ridge and saw the city of Baerlon spread out 
before them.  It was the largest city in Western Andor, for 
what that was worth.

	Kurz stared, mouth agape.  "It's...you could drop five 
of Nerima's Field in there and LOSE it."

	"Wow, that's a great city," Ukyou said, staring.  
"There must be dozens of inns."

	Hinako tried to pretend she wasn't impressed by the 
seemingly endless sea of tile and metal roofs and the stone 
houses, but the other Nerima's Fielders all simply stared in 
utter amazement.  Ukyou saw Hinako didn't seem 
impressed, and tried to fake not being amazed herself, but 
without much luck.

	"And blacksmiths," Ryouga said.  "Do you think 
they'd let me watch?"

	"If we were not in a hurry, this would be a very good 
place for you to learn of smithing," Eleanor said.  "Baerlon 
processes all the ore that comes down from the mines, and 
makes the coins of Andor.  "But we will simply be staying 
at an inn I know, then moving on.  I think we deserve a 
night in comfortable beds."

	"I couldn't agree more," Kurz said.  "I hate camping in 
winter time."

	"Then let's go find ourselves a room," Ryouga said.  
"Just don't tie me to the bed."  He sighed.

	"Hmm, I'd forgotten the Royal Mint was here," Basara 
said.  

	"Let us go and settle in for the day and the night, 
then," Roland said, starting down the slope to the city.

	"Wait," Eleanor said.  She got several pouches of 
coins out of her bags, passing one to everyone except 
Roland.  "I expect most of you will be wanting to buy some 
new clothing here, and didn't think to bring enough 
money."

	Basara blinked in surprise, then smiled broadly.  
"Very generous of you."

	"Thank you," Hinako said reluctantly.

	The others gave thanks as well.

	Eleanor smiled a little smile.  "Thank the Amyrlin.  
The Tower has grown richer since Amyrlin Nabiki took the 
helm, as she'd put it," Eleanor said.  "Try not to spend it all, 
as I don't have infinite amounts of money."

	Basara said, "I would be impressed if we could spend 
this much money in Baerlon in an overnight stay without 
buying half the town."

	"Why doesn't Roland get any money?" Kurz asked 
curiously.

	"I have few unmet needs," Roland said.  "And I 
already bought a keg of sword polish on our way through 
here."  He preceded to start polishing his sword as he rode 
as an illustration.

	Kurz began to snicker, but wouldn't explain why, as 
they rode down into the town.

********

	Ukyou stared at the Stag and Lion. It was twice the 
size on each floor of the Winespring Inn back home, and 
twice as tall as well, with four stories.  Father would give 
his left arm to have this inn, she thought.  "Can we afford to 
stay at such a palatial inn?" she asked.

	Roland smiled slightly.  "Master Stephan Fetchitt 
charges quite reasonable prices."

	"Rank hath its privileges," Eleanor said.  "And the 
Silver Ajah ensures no Aes Sedai goes hungry.  

	"Expense account?" Basara asked.

	"Exactly.  But remember, do not advertise than I am 
Aes Sedai.  Master Fetchitt knows, but few else in Baerlon 
know, and I would keep it that way."

	"Yes, ma'am," Kurz said.

	They went inside and were greeted by the tall, balding 
Master Fetchitt.  "Lady Eleanor, it is marvelous to have you 
back so soon, and with so many guests."  He counted them 
with his eyes.  "We have a room suitable for the three 
ladies with you, assuming you wish to share.  Or we can 
provide private chambers."

	"Share a room?  With Ucchan and the Wisdom?" 
Ranma asked in shock.

	"Now, now, we're all girls together," Hinako said 
warningly.

	"But...we...I mean..."  Ranma made herself shut up.

	"Nanami.  NANAMI!" Master Fetchitt shouted at a 
girl who was off across the room.

	Nanami was a girl about the same age as Ranma, 
Ukyou, Kurz, and Ryouga.  A little on the short side, she 
had short orange hair and wore the same style of outfit as 
Ukyou, a green wrap around with black pants, with a 
golden stag and a golden lion embroidered on the top.   
Instead of answering Master Fetchitt's call, she continued to 
address the five miners at the table.  "Now, this one is my 
special ginseng dinner, which will give you extra energy.  
It's discounted to only four silver pentemes and two copper 
axes.  Or, you might want to try the..."

	"Waitresses who don't come when called get docked 
their wages for the hour!"

	Like a flash of lightning, she was over at Master 
Fetchitt's side.  "Any of you like to try a handmade dinner?  
Only four silver pentemes and two copper axes!" she said.

	"Nanami, stop hawking your special dinners when 
you're on the clock and take these people's bags up to their 
room," Master Fetchitt said.  

	"Yes, sir," she said, looking them up and down.  She 
saw Ranma, paused, rubbed her eyes, blinked, then said, 
"Alright.  Let's get you all up to your rooms!  Time is 
money."

	They all got their bags squared away; Roland tipped 
Nanami, which made her smile.  As she was about to go, 
Ranma pulled her aside.  "Why were you looking at me 
funny earlier?"

	"I...uh...I thought I'd seen you before," Nanami said, 
then poked Ranma's left breast.  "But I guess not."

	Ranma-chan frowned a bit.  "They're real, yes."  She 
sighed.  "I've never been to Baerlon before," Ranma said.

	"I can tell," Nanami said.  "You all stare at everything 
like it was a royal palace."

	"It just seems so huge and...oh."

	"Oh?"

	"Where do we take a bath?"

	"There's a bathhouse on the first floor, but you can 
only get to it from the stairs over there," Nanami said, 
pointing.  "Keeps perverts from wandering in off the street 
into it."

	"Okay," Ranma said.  "Thanks."  She paused.  
"Bathhouse?"

	"Group bath," she said.  "You don't have them back 
home?"

	"Not with strangers," Ranma said a little nervously.

	Nanami shook her head.  "Look, I'll come with you, 
okay?  We know each other's names, so we're not strangers 
any more."

	Ranma sighed.  "I guess I sound like a village idiot."

	"Not at all," Nanami said.  "I could use a nice relaxing 
bath."

	"And it gets you out of working?"

	Nanami laughed.  "See, you're not an idiot at all.  Get 
a change of clothing from your room, and I'll go get myself 
one and meet you back here at your room."

	Ranma-chan laughed nervously.  "We sort of...lost all 
our other clothing."

	"Really?" Nanami said.  "We have a laundry here, it's 
very cheap.  You can borrow some of mine while they do 
yours, okay?"

	"Thanks," Ranma said.

	"No problem," Nanami said, smiling.  "Let's go, then."

********

 	Ranma-chan's nerves were jangling like violins.  She 
was surrounded by naked and half-naked women...well, 
okay, there were only about eight women in the room, but 
that was enough to easily pound her to a pulp if they 
realized she was a man on the inside.  

	On the other hand, Nanami's hands felt really nice on 
her back, and she was better looking naked than Ranma-
chan had originally expected.  There was something 
vaguely reassuring that she still found women attractive 
despite having been turned into one. 

	"Relax," Nanami said.  "There's just women here, 
nothing to worry about, Ranko."

	Ranma had given her that name so she wouldn't have 
to explain why a girl had a boy's name.  It sounded strange 
to hear herself called that.  "I guess any guy who got in 
here would get pounded flat, fast."

	One of the other women said, "I can take a man down 
with a thrown bar of soap in one shot."

	"Whack him in the balls with a curled towel," another 
said.

	"You're safe here," one of the women said kindly.  
"Had trouble with a man in the baths?"

	"Cats," Ranma said, having a flashback she didn't 
want.  "The big idiot threw cats in my bath."  She'd 
pounded Kurz flat for a week after that.  He was lucky 
Ranma had been the one in the Al'Vere's bathtub instead of 
his target, Ukyou.  She would have slaughtered him worse, 
Ranma was sure.  

	"I hope you pounded him flat," another woman said.

	"He couldn't sit for a week," Ranma said, grinning.  

	Nanami finished Ranma's back.  "Alright, let's rinse 
off and get in the hot water.  I'll go get us some drinks real 
quick."

	"Alright."

	Nanami got up and went to get some drinks, wrapped 
in a towel, while Ranma went over and sank into the nice 
hot water.  Then her whole body spasmed and suddenly, 
she was a he again.

********

	Eleanor heard the screaming from the second story 
and rushed down the stairs to find a bunch of women 
pounding Ranma flat.

	This will be interesting, she thought.