Author's Foreword:

MY CREATION LIVES AGAIN!  I finally felt inspired 
to get off my butt and continue this story.  In 
fact, I went back and did revisions on the first 
fourteen chapters, some of them fairly 
substantial.  I've also plotted out the story 
loosely for the next fifteen chapters or so, so 
hopefully, I won't have any more multi-year 
hiatuses.  I hope.

You can find the revised chapters at 
http://www.thekeep.org/~wombat/PL/





***********

        Ranma lay in bed with Kodachi, exhausted.  
Deep inside, he was screaming, while his voice 
apologized to Kodachi for not being able to bring 
her more pleasure.  She seemed quite irritated by 
this.  "You will HAVE to do better, husband," she 
said.
 
        "Oh yes, mistress, I will do my best to make 
you happy," Ranma's voice whined while the tiny 
bit of his brain that was still free gibbered and 
howled with anger.

        "Obviously those pathetic women who had their 
hooks in you tried to ruin you for other women," 
Kodachi said.  "But we can fix that.  I should 
probably have them killed, but then I'd have to 
waste time fighting with Mesaana and Graendal to 
do it."

        "Make them kneel to you!  You must be Nabble!"  
Ranma's whiny voice proclaimed.

        "Nae'blis."

        "That too!"

        Kodachi frowned.  While her Ranma-sama was 
finally treating her with proper respect, his 
brain seemed to have turned into bean paste.  I 
must have done something wrong, she thought.  He's 
no good in bed like he should be, and he's acting 
like my brother.  Worse than my brother.  Perhaps 
I'm overdoing it, she thought.

        Carefully, she bound him with air and undid 
the compulsion she'd laid on him.

        "DAMN YOU!  YOU'LL..."  Ranma began to shout, 
so she gagged him with air.  

        The problem, she saw, was that she'd tried to 
prune the garden of his mind with a chainsaw 
instead of shears.  For the most part, she didn't 
want him to change.  He just had to love her 
instead of the mannish harridan he'd taken up 
with.  She wove a more subtle net of threads of 
Spirit this time, then laid them down into his 
mind.

        His angry glare softened into confusion, and 
she ungagged him.  "Say Nae'blis."

        "Eh?  Nae'blis."  He tried to move.  "Why was 
I yelling at you?"

        "Oh, nothing," she said, smiling more broadly.  
"Let's try that again."

        "Nae'blis.  Now what?"

        "No, I mean, the love making!"

        "Making what?"

        Obviously, there are aspects to this 
compulsion business I have not quite figured out 
correctly, Kodachi thought.  But I should have 
plenty of time to work it all out.  After all, 
with all my rivals eliminated, there's no one left 
to stop me.

        "Kodachi, you are summoned," the fade said.

        She turned and frowned.  "Go away before I 
balefire you."

        "You will come when the Great Lord of the Dark 
summons, or you will go the way of all flesh," 
Shaidar Haran said flatly.  "You are replaceable."

        "I have to finish..."

        His hands closed around her neck.  "You will 
come now, naked or not."

        She tried to reach the Source, but it was as 
if it had never been.  "What..."

        "Come."  They stepped into the shadows and 
vanished, leaving a tied up, naked, befuddled 
Ranma to stare blankly at an empty room.

        Other shadows parted a few seconds later, and 
Semirhage stepped out, staring at Ranma.  
"Finally.  You're going to answer some questions."

        He blinked.  "Do I know you?"

        "No, and you're not going to remember this, 
either."

        "Remember what?"

        The woman is worse than Graendal, Semirhage 
thought.  His brain will be mush if this keeps up, 
and there's far too much that needs to be learned 
from him before that can be allowed to happen.  
"First of all, who are you and where do you come 
from?"  She dumped a compulsion on him to make 
sure that he would tell the truth.  It was clumsy, 
but she was pressed for time. If it did more 
damage, then that was a risk she would have to 
take.

************

Parallel Lives
Book 2:  For the Price He Must Pay
A Ranma/WOT crossover
Chapter 15:  In the Hands of the Forsaken

http://www.dkcomm.net/rhea/Stories/PL/index.html

by 

John Biles

*************

        Mesaana sat on the edge of her chair, watching 
Akane and Ryouga with pursed lips.  They were both 
practicing their completely impossible unarmed 
combat skills.  Akane put her fist through a stone 
wall and Mesaana shook her head.  Aginor would 
have a field day with this, she thought.  If he 
hadn't gotten himself charred to ash, anyway.  
Although the Great Lord may have brought him back.

        Careful study had showed her that her original 
theory was not quite entirely correct.  Ryouga was 
not precisely tapping the True Power as she had 
known it, nor was Akane.  Rather, she had come to 
the conclusion that the True Power seemed to be 
part of a spectrum of power which also included 
what they did.  

        If she understood their beliefs correctly, 
this 'chi' seemed to be a form of energy 
influenced by a combination of emotion and 
discipline.  One drew it by focusing one's 
emotions, while controlling it with discipline.  
Thus, chi masters were passionate people, but who 
could control and direct their emotions (if not 
always in the most rational of manners).  Akane 
seemed most adept at tapping into anger, while 
Ryouga drew his power from depression and 
frustration.  From their stories, Ranma seemed to 
get his power from self-confidence and pride.  

        It would seem that the True Power involved 
tapping the Dark One's own Chi to do things.  
Given his cosmic status, his own chi would be 
vastly more potent than that of ordinary mortals, 
even such powerful ones as these.

        The next step, she thought, would be to get 
some people for them to train, so she could study 
them as well, and to see if she herself could 
learn these methods.  

        She wished again that she knew enough of the 
theory and usage of portal stones to visit the 
world they had come from, but there were too many 
risks to that, especially since it seemed that no 
one there could channel, which would make 
returning difficult.  As a result, the nature and 
functioning of their changing curses eluded her.  
An annoyance, but it likely had something to do 
with chi, she suspected, since that seemed to be 
the major source of power of their world beyond 
the mundane.

        There was much to be learned here.  Very much.  

*********  

        Graendal sat on her throne, watching her 
acrobats perform while she dined on the 
'okonomiyaki' made for her by her new chef.  While 
not exactly fine dining, it had the advantage of 
novelty, and her cook seemed to know a thousand 
variations on the dish, and could prepare many 
other dishes as well.  

        Things were going well for her lately.  Arad 
Doman had been bent to her will, the rulers of the 
nation now obeyed her, one way or another, and now 
its forces were on their way south against the 
Seanchan.  Semirhage's plans had stripped the 
Borderlands of much of its strength, and Graendal 
had quietly bent certain key garrison commanders 
who remained to her will.  When the time came for 
Haldane to unleash his dreadlords and the 
Trollocs, the Borderlands would leak like a sieve.  

        Rotel Ituralde worried her just a little bit.  
He had a great reputation, she knew, and it was 
just possible he might actually find a way to beat 
the Seanchan.  While that could also be to her 
benefit, he was a wildcard.  Unfortunately, he was 
a wildcard who had several Aes Sedai near him, 
making it risky to try anything.  While none of 
them could match her power, the destruction of 
Ishmael and Rahvin and the deaths of Aginor, 
Belthamel, and Bel'al had taught her some caution.  

        Her new chef also could serve as a bodyguard; 
she felt a little safer with someone of his 
fighting skills on her side.  He wasn't half bad 
in bed either, though he had a lot to learn.  But 
Graendal could be a very good teacher when she 
wanted to be. 

        Yes, everything was going according to plan.

**********
        
        Demandred had not survived so long in the 
Great Lord's service by being unable to abandon 
his preconceptions in the face of evidence.  Hard 
as it was to believe some aspects of Nodoka's 
stories, they matched things he did know to be 
true.  And she had no way to resist him extracting 
the information from her, either.  

        A strange interruption of random elements, was 
what it amounted to.  Getting his hands on a 
portable portal stone might be useful, and he 
regretted he lacked agents both trustworthy and 
capable enough to investigate their world further.  
It might prove a useful recruiting ground, given 
how potent its warriors seemed to be.

        She could prove a useful way to tie a string 
to Ailron, though it seemed likely his days as a 
useful tool were numbered.  At least if all went 
well in Ghealdan.  Still, it was useful and wise 
to have contingency plans.  

        Like the one he had prepared to deal with 
Suroth.  She would learn the cost of betrayal.

********

        Alyssa sat rigidly and tried to think.  She 
wanted to crumple up into a ball and cry, but she 
couldn't afford to.  She'd tried tracing the 
Travelling portals with Perrin's forces backing 
her up, but they'd managed to wipe their traces 
clean, and it had all ended up a dead end.  You 
couldn't use Tel'aran'rhiod to find people, 
either.  There was no way to find them that she 
could think of.  She had to do something, but even 
with all the skills of the Age of Legends, there 
was no good way to find people unless you...  She 
paused, then felt stupid.  She could feel Kaneda's 
presence ever so lightly; he was far away, and she 
couldn't tell much of how he felt.  She felt.  She 
thought she could tell Kaneda was now Akane, but 
it was hard to be sure.

        I feel such a fool, she thought.  But this 
gives me somewhere to start, she thought.  I can 
put together a team, and then...  She shuddered at 
the idea of confronting the Forsaken.  But there 
was no choice.  It was that or let them keep her 
friends and her lover.  And she couldn't live with 
that.

        Tyr sat near her.  "I should have come," he 
said.  "Just in case."  He sounded very depressed.

        "Don't worry, Alyssa," Sera said.  "We'll get 
them back."

        Perrin came up to her.  "I wish I could help 
you," he said.  "But I'm stuck here in Ghealdan, 
until we resolve matters with the Prophet."

        "I have to go," Alyssa said.  "I'm sorry to go 
after I said I would be your advisor, but I have 
to try to get them back, before it's too late."

        Perrin nodded.  "I would do the same thing.  
If someone took Faile, nothing else would matter 
to me but getting her back.  I understand."

        Alyssa stood up.        "I have to..."

        Faile stepped up.  "Husband, we have 
discovered something of import."

        He blinked.  "What?"

        "Ailron believes our new maid, Maighdin, is 
Queen Morgase."

        "..."

        "But I thought she was dead," Alyssa said, 
surprised out of her depression for the moment.

        "We need to have a little chat with her, I 
think," Faile said.  

        "Alyssa will be leaving for a while to gather 
the Hall and try to rescue Ranko Sedai and Kaneda 
and Ukyou," Perrin said to Faile.  

        "We will miss you," Faile said.  "Good luck, 
but I fear it may be too late.  Those who fall 
into the hands of the Shadow, even if freed..."  
She shook her head.  "Better to die than to fall 
into the hands of the Shadow."

        "I have to try," Alyssa said.  "I have to."

        "Light guide you," Faile said.  

        "Thank you," Alyssa said.  "Good luck with 
Morgase, or whoever she is exactly."

        Perrin shook his head.  "Elayne will be happy 
her mother is alive, I hope."

        Alyssa suddenly realized that Kaneda's sisters 
were in Caemlyn, and they needed to be told what 
had happened.  So would Elayne.  "I think I had 
better stay a little longer and find out if she is 
really Morgase.  That way, I can take her to 
Caemlyn with me if she is and she wants to go."

        Faile nodded.  "Follow me."

        They soon came to Faile and Perrin's tent, 
where Maighdin was waiting.  Faile said, 
"Maighdin, Ailron claims to recognize you."

        "I know," Maighdin said softly.  "What are you 
going to do with me?"

        "So you are Queen Morgase of Andor?" Perrin 
asked.

        "I am Queen no longer," Morgase said.  "I 
abdicated in favor of my daughter, when I fled 
Gaebril.  I do not know where I will go or what I 
will do now, but I cannot go back."

        "But your daughter will want to see you," 
Alyssa protested.

        "I nearly destroyed Andor in my..."  She 
frowned.  "I can hardly imagine what I was 
thinking."

        "You were under Rahvin's control," Alyssa 
said.  "No one could blame you for that."

        "They will," Morgase said.  "It is best for 
now that I be believed dead.  I wish to see my 
daughter, but she's best off without me, until her 
throne is secure.  I hope only that Gareth Bryne 
will back her, despite my foolish actions towards 
him."

        "He has gone into the service of the Aes Sedai 
opposed to Elaida," Alyssa said.

        Morgase pursed her lips.  "A great loss for 
Andor.  And likely to mean his death."

        Perrin said, "Well, you're welcome to stay 
with us, your highness, if you wish.  Or if you 
want to go, I can have Fager open a portal to 
wherever you wish to go with your companions."

        "I will stay a while," Morgase said.  "You 
have been...kind to me.  Perhaps I can be of some 
help in your mission; I have learned much of 
politics and war over the years."

        "I would appreciate that," Perrin said.  "Can 
we at least tell Elayne you're alive, so that she 
can come visit you if she wants to?"

        "Best to tell no one for now," Morgase said.  
"And make sure Ailron keeps his big fat mouth 
shut."

        Faile nodded.  "He will be kept silent."

         "Good."

************

        "I have to get them back," Alyssa concluded.

        Lori, Elayne, Nynaeve, Konatsu, Lan, Birgette, 
Nabiki, and Kasumi had all been gathered at the 
palace for her report.  Nabiki said, "What about 
Daddy and Mr. Saotome?"

        "It looks like the Aiel have them," Alyssa 
said.  "Perrin's going to send some people to try 
to find them."

        "I want to help," Kasumi said.

        Nabiki stared at her.  "Help how?"

        "I don't know," she confessed.  "But I can't 
just sit back and wait for them to be rescued.  
Not when everyone who ought to do the rescuing has 
been captured," Kasumi said.  

        "I can take you to see Perrin.  Maybe he can 
find a way you can help," Alyssa said.

        Nabiki frowned.  "Then I had better go with 
you," she said reluctantly.   "Suicidal as it 
probably is, I don't want us to get split up, and 
there's not much for me to do here."

        "I will help you of course," Lori said to 
Alyssa.

        "And I," Konatsu said.

        "I really can't spare anyone I actually have 
authority over," Elayne said.  "But once I have 
things in hand here, then I will do whatever I 
can."  She sighed.  "I wish I could go help you, 
but I think my days of grand adventures are over."

        "I will help you," Nynaeve said.  "I hate to 
leave Lan behind, but there's not much for me to 
do here right now."  She looked over at Elayne.  
"I assume you still need him."  It was obvious she 
hoped Elayne would say no.  

        "Yes," Elayne said.  "However, with him here, 
I can loan you Birgette."

        Birgette looked over at Lan.  "I will do my 
best to protect her."

        He nodded.  "You will," he said very firmly.  
"And I will keep Elayne safe."

        "Don't forget she needs her daily beating to 
keep her perspective."

        "Of course."

        "Hey!"

        "Thank you," Alyssa said, rising.  "Let's get 
going."

*********

        Merana and Kiruna stood together before Rand 
as he perched on his throne, Min at his side as 
usual.  Jahar Narishma stood nearby, looking 
slightly confused.  "We have come," Merana said.  
"What would you have of us, Lord Dragon?"

        Kiruna frowned slightly, but said nothing.

        "Kiruna, you are the sister of the King of 
Arafel, correct?" Rand asked.

        "Yes, I am," Kiruna replied.  

        "Good.  The three of you will be going to the 
Borderlands, starting with Arafel.  I would like 
to arrange a conference with the Borderland 
rulers."

        "They will not simply bend their knees to 
you," Kiruna said.  "My brother is rightfully 
proud of his nation.  And if you try to make them 
bend knee, the war would only open a highway for 
the Trollocs."  Her voice was sharp.

        "I am not out to conquer the Borderlands," 
Rand said.  "But we must all stand together."

        "Or we will hang separately," Min said.

        "Exactly," Rand said.  "I have only conquered 
those nations controlled by the Forsaken or other 
foes of mine first.  If I could defeat the Dark 
One alone, leaving the world to its own business, 
I would.  I send you because I want to avoid a 
war, though I will fight one if I must.  The 
nations must stand together, and I will do 
whatever I have to."  His voice was hard and 
unyielding.  "Whatever I have to, to ensure that.  
So I wish to confer with them.  So that we might 
avoid violence.  I am sick to death of killing.  
Sick of it.  But I will do what I must."

        "Why are you sending me, Lord Dragon?" 
Narishma asked.  "I am not exactly a diplomat."

        "You are Arafellin also.  You know the ways of 
the Borderlands.  And I wish to impress on them 
that they must accept the existence of the Black 
Tower.  And you have worked together with Kiruna 
on joint use of the Power.  Perhaps you can do 
something to impress them with that."  

        He nodded.  "Kiruna Sedai is quite impressive 
in her skills."

        She smiled just a bit at that.  "You are not 
too bad for one so young," she replied.

        "Go as soon as you can.  Let them know I hope 
to hold the conference here at Cairhien, ideally 
within a week, but as soon as can be managed."  He 
turned to Min, who rose and passed a sheaf of 
papers to the three channelers.  

        Min said, "This lays out what we want, and 
what you can promise them."

        Rand said, "Read it carefully.  If you have 
any questions, ask them before you leave."

        "I will prepare to leave in the morning," 
Merana said.

        "We will do our best, Lord Dragon," Narishma 
said.

        "I expect no less."

**********

        Elyas looked Kasumi up and down.  "Hmm, so 
your father's been taken by the Aiel?"

        "Yes," she said.  "Can you help me?  Perrin 
hoped you could."

        "You don't look ready to fight Aiel to me," 
Elyas said.

        "Daddy gave us both some basic training, if 
not half as much as Akane," Kasumi said.  "And I 
can't just sit around and wait for someone else.  
Not this time.  Everyone...Everyone I normally 
count on is just...  I have to help."  Her voice 
was pleading.

        Elyas looked over at Perrin.  "I want to help, 
but I don't think she's ready."

        Nabiki looked around at the camp.  "Hmm, if we 
each beat one of these Aiel in combat, would you 
take us?"

        "If you can beat an Aiel in combat," Elyas 
said, obviously believing they could do no such 
thing, "then I will happily take you both."

        Chiad stepped forward.  "I will dance with 
them, to test their skills."

        Perrin frowned a little, but nodded.  

        Kasumi stepped up and bowed to Chiad, then got 
into a fighting position, wishing she'd spent more 
time practicing.  But it had never seemed 
necessary.  Not with so many strong fighters in 
the family or friendly to it.  Chiad moved into 
something which Kasumi thought was probably a judo 
stance.  

        Kasumi stepped left and screwed up her 
courage, then charged.  One of her punches 
connected, but Chiad spun and threw her into a 
tree.  Kasumi gave a yelp of pain, but got back up 
and approached more cautiously.  

        Fists and feet flew about, each of them 
parrying each other's blows.  Slowly, Chiad gave 
ground, and Kasumi picked up the pace of her 
assault.  I have to win, she thought.  I have to.  
Her golden eyes glinted in the sunlight as the 
light reflected off the snow.  

        Chiad managed to toss her a second time, and 
then a third, but she kept getting back up, though 
now she was crying from frustration and pain.  
Chiad asked, "Have you had enough?"

        "No!  I'm not going to stop until I win!" 
Kasumi said, surprising herself with the vehemence 
of her own voice.  She redoubled her assault, 
ducking under one of Chiad's kicks and managing to 
punch Chiad in the legs.  

        Chiad toppled and they wrestled on the ground.  
Nabiki watched in shock; she'd never seen Kasumi 
fight this hard.  Finally, Kasumi pinned her; 
there was a wild light in her eyes, and her teeth 
looked almost like fangs as she smiled.  
"Surrender?" Kasumi asked.

        "I yield," Chiad said.  "You dance well once 
you set your mind to it, though not so 
impressively as others of your homeland I have 
seen."

        Kasumi helped her up, then began dusting her 
off.  "Look at how dirty I got you," Kasumi said, 
a little hysterically.  "I hope this cloth doesn't 
stain easily."

        Nabiki came over.  "She can dust herself off, 
Kasumi."

        She took Kasumi by the hand and led her over 
to stand near Alyssa.  I need to talk to that 
woman later, Nabiki thought.  Once Daddy's safe.  
Then Nabiki took a deep breath.  "My turn."

        Bain stepped forward.  "I see my first-sister 
has become soft, but you will not find me so easy 
a target."

        Chiad said, "She has more the look of a wise 
one than a warrior, but we shall see."

        Nabiki got into a fighting stance.  Just from 
watching Bain move, she had a bad feeling that she 
was going to be in trouble.  And she didn't know 
the woman well enough to psyche her out.  Although 
the woman did seem to be made uncomfortable by all 
the snow everywhere.  

        For a minute, they both watched each other, 
and finally, Bain advanced on Nabiki, launching 
several simple punches to probe her defenses.  She 
parried them and responded with a kick.

        I should have come up with some other way to 
ensure going on this trip, Nabiki thought.  She 
knew she was in trouble.  Well, maybe if I at 
least put up a good showing, I'll be able to go.

        Shortly after this, Bain aimed a spinning kick 
at her.  Nabiki dodged, barely, which left Bain 
open to a counter attack.  Nabiki kicked Bain in 
the back, only to lose her own balance, while it 
turned out Bain had wanted her to do that.  Bain's 
fall became more of a handstand, her legs coming 
up to kick Nabiki, who fell down.

        Bain then sprung back, landing on top of 
Nabiki, and swiftly pinned her in place.  Nabiki 
struggled for a while, but finally said, "You 
win."

        Bain got up.  "You have potential, but you 
haven't developed it," she said.  "And you don't 
have your sister's fire."

        Nabiki tried to figure out how anyone could 
think of Kasumi as having 'fire', although 
lately...  Nabiki sighed.  "I guess I wait here 
while Elyas and Kasumi go."

        "We will go with them," Chiad said.  She 
glanced over at Faile, who nodded.  "We must go 
and go swiftly, if we are to have any hope of 
finding them."

        "Then let's go," Kasumi said.  "And thank you 
for offering to help."

        "We'll catch up to you when we can," Elyas 
said to Perrin.

        "Good luck, my friend."

        "And to you as well."

*********

        Alyssa assembled the Hall.  Everyone came 
except for Alya and Jo, who were down in the 
dungeon keeping Dora Sedai shielded.  Nynaeve 
looked around at Alyssa's motley crew.  They 
didn't look too impressive, except for the ones 
who moved rather like warders, with deadly grace.  

        "The Forsaken have taken Ranko and Kaneda and 
Ukyou," Alyssa said.  "We have to recover them as 
quickly as we can.  I hope they are all together 
in one place, as while I can find Kaneda through 
our bond, I can't find Ranko or Ukyou that way."  
She frowned.  "But we'll see what we can do, and 
if they've been scattered, then we'll have to...I 
don't know.  We'll figure out something."  She 
took a deep breath.

        "Nynaeve, Birgette, myself, Alain, Cerice, 
Mai, Tyr, Lori, and Konatsu will be going," Alyssa 
said.  "Basel, you'll be in charge while I am 

gone.  We may need to call for reinforcements, 
depending on how things go."

        Basel nodded.  "I'd appreciate it if you could 
leave one of our stronger people with us, but I 
suppose if there's likely to be multiple 
Forsaken...have you asked the Lord Dragon to 
help?"

        "I think we can handle it," Alyssa said, 
trying to sound confident.  "And he's in one of 
his moods again."

        "All too frequently, he's in one of those 
moods," Else Sedai said.  "However, I would like 
to go with you."

        Alyssa said, "Are you sure?  This is going to 
be very dangerous."

        "I will face the danger," she said.  "I prefer 
learning to fighting, but we cannot afford to 
leave them in the hands of the Forsaken."

        "I think we have enough people as it stands," 
Alyssa said.  "But should we need reinforcements, 
we will call on you."

        Else looked disappointed, then said, "They may 
have been turned.  Are you prepared to fight 
them?"

        Alyssa winced at that.  "I will do what I 
must."  She shuddered.  "But I pray it will not be 
necessary.  We will have to find them first, 
though.  Gather what you need.  We leave in two 
hours, unless someone comes up with a better plan 
before then or ends up needing more time."

*******

         Elayne studied the map.  "So we still have no 
report of whether the other six houses have 
mobilized forces?"

        "Not yet," Lan said.  "Mantear, Haevin, 
Gilyard, Northan, Candraed, and Pendar have yet to 
choose a side.  We have four, six follow Arymilla, 
and three may follow Dyelin's lead and come to us, 
but are currently still down in Murandy.  In 
addition, there is a large army coming out of the 
north, which is probably the army of the 
Borderlands."  He frowned.  "I still cannot 
understand why they would strip the Borderlands so 
badly."

        "Nor I," Elayne said.  "Unless they mean to 
make war on Rand."  She did not like that idea.  
She checked her warder bond on Birgette and argued 
with herself again over whether she should have 
sent Lan with Nynaeve.  She needed Lan, but she 
knew that both of them would be distracted, 
worrying about the ones they'd sent away.  Moreso 
Lan than her, as he was married to Nynaeve, and 
she was hardly married to Birgette.

        But they would do what they had to.  If not 
like it.  

**********

        Alyssa looked around at her gathered 
companions, and hoped she wasn't about to go 
running into a death trap.  It was entirely 
possible that the Forsaken knew about the bond and 
had carefully moved Akane into some sort of death 
trap.  They would have to approach cautiously.  

        Caution came easily to Alyssa.  Especially 
when her direction sense was pointing towards 
howling wilderness, which increased her fear that 
this was a trap.  "Are we all ready?"

        "Ready as I'll ever be," Cerice said.  

        "Let's go," Nynaeve said, glancing out of the 
corner of her eye at Alain, probably wondering if 
he was going to snap on them, Alyssa suspected.  
He was safe, Alyssa knew.  But convincing people 
of that was not easy.  

        Alyssa concentrated and opened the portal to 
the fields north of Kinslayer's Dagger.  She tied 
the weave open, and then they all stepped through, 
Birgette, Tyr, and Konatsu fanning out to cover 
the rest as they moved through.  

        In the distance, a cardinal flew lazily across 
the sky, and a handful of deer scattered, but 
other than that, they were all alone in the snow 
which laid a white coverlet over the world.  A 
cold wind blew down from the mountains to the 
south of them, and nearby, a tree with still green 
leaves was coated with ice.

        Alyssa concentrated on the Warder bond.  It 
was sharper now, and still pointed further 
northeast.  "Further that way," she said.  "Let's 
back up, and I'll push another portal."

        They withdrew and she closed her first portal 
and opened a second one, this time all the way to 
the mountains far northeast of Cairhien, in lands 
long lost to wilderness.  Not a trace of Hamarea, 
of the days of Hawkwing, or of Aramaelle of the 
Ten Nations remained to be seen, just small 
patches of forest and long ridges gradually rising 
to mountains in the east.  

        Alyssa concentrated again.  "Further East," 
she said.  

        "Well, I'd guess she wanted to make sure no 
one stumbled on this place by accident," Tyr said.

        Nynaeve said, "Well, at least it means we 
won't have to skulk about in disguises."

        "I have the feeling this is a trap," Cerice 
said.  "Either that, or we're on our way to some 
stronghold they've been fortifying ever since they 
escaped into the world."

        "Well, now we back up and open one to the 
other side of the mountains as well, so I can see 
if that seems closer," Alyssa said.

        They backed up, and Alyssa opened a second 
portal, trying to place it on the far side of the 
mountains from their current location.  They 
stepped through onto a large ledge on a mountain 
side, looking down at the Waste.  Alyssa checked 
her senses.  "I'm further away than before."

        More ducking through portals followed, and 
they went back to the western side of the 
mountains.  Alyssa now collapsed the portal back 
to Cairhien, then began milling about, working on 
building her knowledge of the location enough to 
Travel from it.  It was only now that something 
hit her.  "If we Travel too close to where they 
are, they may sense our channeling."  She sighed, 
feeling foolish for not having thought of it 
before.

        "Best we make shorter jumps, then once you 
start sensing Kaneda really strongly, we'll have 
to move in on foot so they can't sense us," 
Nynaeve said.  

        "The mountains are only about three hundred 
miles thick here, if I read my map correctly," Mai 
said, consulting said map.  "So if we take twenty 
or so mile jumps until we get close enough, then 
travel on foot, it shouldn't take too huge a 
time."

        Alyssa nodded, hoping Mai was correct.  
"Alright.  Let's get moving."

        They got two jumps done before sunset, then 
settled down to camp for the night, Alyssa and 
Nynaeve channeling the snow clear while Tyr, 
Cerice, Mai went and gathered some wood for the 
fire.  Konatsu vanished into the snow to scout, 
while Birgette clambered up a tree to keep watch.  
Lori began preparing food for dinner, while Alain 
perched on a rock.

        Nynaeve looked over at Alain.  "Go hunt or 
something.  Be useful."

        He rose, laughing a little.  "Alright, your 
highness."  He took his bow and swept off into the 
snow.

        Alyssa frowned.  "You didn't have to drive him 
off into the cold, Nynaeve."

        "People ought to make themselves useful 
without having to be told," Nynaeve said flatly.

        "He's twice our age.  You shouldn't send old 
men out into the cold," Alyssa said.

        "He'll be fine," Lori said, looking up from 
the food they'd brought on several mules, as she 
tried to pick what they needed.  "And it's better 
we not use up our dried meat before we have to.  
Waste not, want not."

        "That sounds like one of Corwin's sayings," 
Alyssa said.

        "Mother beat it into my head," Lori said.  
"That and how to cook."  She plucked a box out of 
one of the packs on the mule, and extracted 
several small bottles.  

        "And how to flirt," Nynaeve said, not very 
approvingly.

        Lori smiled broadly.  "She wouldn't have been 
a very good mother if she didn't teach me that."

        "I've seen the way you make eyes at Ukyou when 
Ranko isn't looking," Nynaeve said.  She looked 
around for something to point with, and found a 
handy stick.  "You'll get in trouble if you don't 
stop that."

        Lori put down the bottles she'd just found, 
then got the two cooking pots off the mule.  She 
began scooping snow into one of the pots, then 
melted it into water.  "I have never done anything 
to a man against his will."

        "That's not what I mean!" Nynaeve protested.  
"Haven't you seen her doing that, Alyssa?" she 
asked.

        "I don't think she can help it," Alyssa said.  
"Being Domani and all."

        Birgette mumbled something about Tovans.

        "Just like Nynaeve can't help being a stick-
in-the-mud, being from the Two Rivers," Lori said, 
seeming amused, rather than insulted.  She now 
began getting vegetables from the packs.  "Come 
help me peel the potatoes."

        Alyssa came over and started peeling.  Nynaeve 
spent a minute glaring at Lori, then came over, 
and joined her.  She hummed a little tune to 
herself, and kept glancing over at how fast Lori 
was going.  It quickly became evident that Nynaeve 
could, in fact, peel potatoes a lot faster than 
Lori or Alyssa. 

        Nynaeve glanced down at the bottles of spices.  
"You're going to put bisselroot on these?"

        "That's for the meat, of course," Lori said.

        "Of course.  So the lady's hair is for the 
potatoes?"

        "The meat, as well.  The silparkin is for the 
potatoes.  And some butter and cheese."

        "You packed butter?" Nynaeve asked in 
surprise.

        "Easy enough to keep it chilled with the 
Power," Lori said.

        Grudgingly, Nynaeve said, "A good point.  It 
had better be properly wrapped."

        "Of course," Lori said.  "Waxed paper and all.  
I brought honey as well, but I'll save that for 
later, as I couldn't get much of it."

        "You can always skim to a good marketplace if 
you really need to."

        Alyssa smiled a little.  "Illian has the best 
honey, though.  Can't skim if you haven't been 
there."

        "True, but I have been to Tear," Nynaeve said.  
"What's taking them so long with the wood?"

        "Probably having to hack the ice off the 
trees," Birgette said from her perch.  "And off 
any fallen wood.  Or possibly they're off 
kissing."

        Nynaeve's eyes widened.  "What, him and both 
women?"

        Birgette laughed.  "Perhaps they've been 
taking lessons from the Aiel."

        "I'll put a stop to that!" Nynaeve said, 
rising up and stomping off the direction they 
went.

        "Nynaeve!" Alyssa shouted.  "I'm sure they're 
not doing anything naughty!"

        Lori said, "Let her get it out of her system, 
you can help me get the carrots ready."  The 
potatoes now went in the pot.  "Although if they 
don't come back soon, I may just channel a flame."

        Alyssa nodded and started working on the 
carrots.

        Nynaeve found it quite easy to follow the 
threesome's trail; they hadn't gone too far, 
anyway.  As she approached, she heard Mai say to 
Tyr, "You really need to stop stringing Joan and 
Sera along and just choose one of them."

        Cerise nodded.  "It would be the decent thing 
to do.  Although I think you enjoy having two 
women after you."

        Tyr winced.  "I keep trying to get them to 
quit, but they just don't get it."  He picked up 
some more sticks.  "I think we have enough wood."

        Nynaeve strode up.  "Stringing two women 
along?  I should box your ears."

        He laughed nervously.  "I thought Aes Sedai 
couldn't use the One Power as weapons?"

        She seemed a little mollified at that.  "I 
don't need the One Power when hands will do, Tyr."  
She grabbed him by the shoulder.  "Come with me, 
I'm going to tell you how you ought to be treating 
women."

        Tyr passed his wood to Cerice.  "If you hear 
me screaming, you'll save me, won't you?"

        "I won't let her beat you more than you 
deserve," she said, amused.

        "Good, wait..."  As he was dragged off, he 
realized how much leeway that left.

        "She won't really beat him, will she?" Mai 
asked Cerice.

        "Not too much," Cerice said.  "She's more bark 
than bite.  Let's get back, so we can get the food 
going before we starve to death."

**********
        
        "Watches?" Nynaeve asked, looking up from her 
bowl of stew.

        "Yes.  So that if four Forsaken come down on 
us like a bag of bricks, some people will already 
be awake.  Skillful as some of us may be at wards, 
a good pair of eyes is also important," Alain 
said.  "Given we're likely to face possible 
channeler attack, it's best to have some 
channelers awake as well as our experts at 
fighting.  I am thinking you and Birgette on the 
first watch, myself and Mai on the second, Cerise, 
Lori and Tyr on the third, and Alyssa and Konatsu 
on the last watch."  He paused to eat more of his 
stew before it could get cold.

        Nynaeve didn't like the idea of sacrificing 
some of her sleep time.  "Why three people on 
third watch?" she quibbled.

        "To help keep each other awake."

        "It sounds a good plan to me," Alyssa said.  
"We can rotate the shifts so we all get to take 
turns having our sleep interrupted in the middle.  
It shouldn't be for too long."  I pray we won't be 
up here too long, she thought.

*********

        Two days of travel through the mountains 
passed without major incident.  Towards the end of 
the second day, Nynaeve said, frowning, "We're in 
for a major snowstorm starting tonight."

        "Well, we'll find somewhere suitable for 
shelter and dig in," Mai said.  "And wait it out."

        "We'd best do it quickly," Nynaeve said.  
"Being caught out in this won't be easy for even 
an Aes Sedai to survive."

        "Are you sure it's natural?" Alyssa asked.  "I 
hope this isn't a sign they know we're coming."

        "It's natural," Nynaeve said.  "I suspect the 
Forsaken would throw worse than snow at us."

        "True, true," Alyssa said.  "Alright, let's 
find some shelter."

**********

        "Follow me," Kodachi said to Ranma, who nodded 
and followed her down the alleyway.  They quickly 
scaled up the side of the building, then perched 
on the windowsill.  Ranma peered in through the 
window at the sleeping couple, and looked at 
Kodachi questioningly.

        "Blow them up, dear," she said.

        "Yes, my love," he replied with his lips.  
Deep inside his mind, he screamed at what was 
about to happen.

        His chi built up, but he paused before he was 
ready to detonate.  "Don't we need to put our 
scapegoat inside first?"

        She blinked.  "You don't think leaving her in 
the alley will be adequate?"

        "I don't think I can level the whole house, 
making it plausible for her to have been caught in 
her own blast," Ranma said.

        She sighed.  "Fetch her, dear."

        Glowing, he leaped down, grabbed her, and 
jumped back up to the ledge.  "What's her name, 
anyway?"

        "Tremaille.  Does it matter?"

        He hesitated, and Kodachi layered on another 
compulsion, sighing.  "She will be a useful tool 
to us, dear," Kodachi said.

        He nodded and threw her in through the window.  
The thump woke up the couple, who began to sit up 
groggily.  The man rubbed his eyes as the 
moonlight glinted off his mostly bald skull.  
"Ilvy, do you hear something?"

        "Quickly," Kodachi hissed.

        Ranma hesitated again, and she threw on yet 
another strata of compulsion, frowning.  The more 
she had to lay on, the stupider he got, but also 
the more obedient.  She didn't like him being 
stupid.  He fired off the blast, then gathered her 
in his strong arms and leaped clear as the bedroom 
exploded, and then the building collapsed due to 
the damage.

        That should stir the pot, Kodachi thought. Let 
the city's factions tear each other apart a while, 
and then I should be able to step in and 
consolidate things.  And perhaps it'll draw a few 
more Aes Sedai in for me to eliminate as well.

        "Let's go get some sleep, dear," she said to 
Ranma.  "This has been a full night."

        "I was hoping you'd tie me up for a while," he 
said, pouting.

        "Tomorrow dear, tomorrow."

**********
        
        Shampoo lay on her stomach as Ranma gave her a 
massage.  He was really good at it, and she was 
finally feeling relaxed.  "Airen, you are 
wonderful," she said in Chinese.  

        He replied, also in Chinese, "Not half as 
wonderful as you, my love.  You'll give me a 
massage after I finish you, won't you?"

        "Of course."

        SHAMPOO, WAKE UP.  DEMANDRED IS SENDING THE 
SEEKERS OF TRUTH TO ARREST YOU.

        Shampoo blinked.  "Airen, did you hear this 
funny hollow voice echoing in your head?"

        Ranma laughed.  "It's probably Mousse playing 
with that bullhorn again."

        I AM NOT MOUSSE.  THIS IS YOUR GREAT-
GRANDMOTHER.  I CAN ONLY REACH YOU IN DREAMS.  
WAKE UP.

        "Hah!  You won't fool Shampoo this time!  No 
strip-tease for you, Mousse!"

        Ranma laughed.  "Even if you fell for it, he 
couldn't see you anyway.  Want me to go beat him 
up?"

        SHAMPOO, WAKE UP!  I AM NOT MOUSSE!

        "We should make love and make him watch," 
Shampoo said.

        Ranma made a face.  "With Mousse watching?  I 
think I'd lose my lunch."

        "Okay, go beat him up, then."

        SHAMPOO, DON'T MAKE ME TELL THE STORY ABOUT 
THE TIME YOU ATE THE CATFOOD.

        Shampoo's eyes widened.  "Great-Grandmother, 
is it really you?"

        YES.  WAKE UP BEFORE IT'S TOO LATE!

        Shampoo made herself wake up, just in time to 
hear footsteps in the hallway.  She quickly threw 
on a tunic and grabbed her sword with one hand and 
her wand of stilling with the other.  

        The gentle sound of a master key being used 
echoed softly from the lock, and she took the time 
to throw on some pants as well, then head for the 
window.  As the door came open, she was out the 
window and heading down the wall.  

        So much for undercover work, Shampoo thought.  
Time to go find my husband and find out what 
exactly is going on.  I wonder how Spear Boy is 
doing with his escape.

**********

        "This way!" Mat shouted, knocking one of the 
Foxes in the gut with the butt-end of his spear, 
and lifting the man up to topple over the railing 
nearby.  

        "What makes this way any better than the last 
three times you chose directions?" Thom asked as 
he hurled a knife into the throat of an on-rushing 
Fox.

        "It isn't full of spear and sword-armed 
madmen," Mat said.

        Olver whacked a Fox in the leg with a chair 
leg, then just barely dodged being impaled by the 
Fox-man's spear.  Tuon grabbed Olver and tossed 
him to Alludra, who caught him, but fell down.  
"Hey, I was winning!" Olver protested incorrectly.  

        "Heavy," Alludra mumbled.

        Tuon kicked the spear out of a Fox's hand, 
then delivered a spinning kick to his face.  He 
toppled over the railing.  "We go that way," she 
said, pointing the same direction Mat did.

        "Hey, I already said that!" Mat said as 
everyone now took off that direction.  "Just 
because we're going to end up married doesn't mean 
you can boss me around NOW!"

        She smiled her little smile.  "Best you learn 
discipline early."  She paused to look back along 
the long network of intersecting bridges.  "But I 
gave the order because I trusted your judgement in 
this."

        "You can have lovers' spats later," Julin 
said.  "We've got to keep running."

        They took off running, and Mat asked himself 
how he got into these sorts of things.  I suppose 
being more polite to them instead of demanding to 
know who tried to hang me last time would have 
helped, he thought.  

        He glanced over at Tuon, who seemed to be 
smiling as she ran along.  The woman is insane, he 
thought.  But at least she can keep up with me.  
There is that.  She's definitely going to need to 
grow some hair if we're going to end up married.

        Married.  It was hard for him to imagine 
getting married, especially so young.  But it 
looked like he couldn't escape it, though the 
woman would probably drive him insane.  

        She glanced over at him, smiling that little 
smile of hers, and he felt his brain tangle itself 
into knots.  I'm going to go madder than the 
Ash'aman, Mat thought.  How do I get into this?

**********  

        Alyssa sat near the cave mouth and stared out 
into the snow as everyone slept.  Konatsu perched 
on a rock nearby.  "Do not worry," Konatsu said 
softly.  "I'm sure all will be well."

        "I just hate the idea of being stuck out in 
this stupid snowstorm," Alyssa said.  "I don't 
want to wait."

        "Nor I," Konatsu said.  "I wish I had gotten 
Ranma to bond me, so we could find him as well, 
for he could lead us to Ukyou-sama."

        "Well, hopefully, they're all together in one 
place," Alyssa said.

        "I hope you are right, but I fear you are 
not," Konatsu said.

***********
        
        Ryouga got out of bed and went to the window, 
staring out into the falling snow.  The little 
valley had become a lumpy carpet of white.  He 
told himself to be patient.  That evil little 
witch would likely come for Akane soon, Lara had 
warned him.  He had to be ready.  He fingered the 
ring she had given him, and hoped it would work.

        He heard Akane stir and turned around to gaze 
at her.  She looked so beautiful in the dim light, 
smiling in her sleep.  I will protect you, he 
thought.  That evil witch won't get her hooks into 
you again, he told himself.  You'll be free.

        Striding over to the fireplace, he got another 
log out of the fuel stack and put it into the 
fireplace, then warmed his hands over the fire.  
In the distance, he heard wolves howl.  There 
always seem to be wolves howling around here, he 
thought.  I wonder why?  Maybe they don't like the 
snow.  

        After a bit more listening and peering 
fruitlessly out the window, which only showed him 
snow-covered buildings and distant mountainsides 
through the snowfall, he gave up and went back to 
bed.

**********

        "Mistress, I had a strange dream last night," 
Ukyou said as she served Graendal breakfast.  

        "Tell me more," she said.  If this was truly 
Sherin Loys Delerni, as Ukyou believed herself to 
be, then her dreams might well be prophetic.  She 
took a mouthful of the spiced fruit and smiled.  
Very well done.

        "I dreamed Ranma killed you."  Her voice 
sounded quite disturbed.

        "Because Kodachi sent him?" Graendal asked.

        "I don't know.  But he went mad and put on a 
dress afterwards.  It was very strange."

        Graendal frowned.  "Was it a dream or a 
Dream?"  

        "I'm not sure, but I think it was a Dream."

        I will have to be careful, Graendal thought.  
That Kodachi woman is a complete raving lunatic, 
anyway.  It wouldn't surprise me if she used Ranma 
as an assassin.  "If you dream anything else about 
them, tell me at once."

        "Of course, mistress," Ukyou said, pouring 
Graendal a second glass of cider.  "Is there 
anything else I can do for you?"

        "Best you go change for your lessons for the 
guards."

        Ukyou nodded.  "Yes, mistress."  She bowed and 
departed.

        Time enough to worry about Kodachi later.  She 
needed to get a progress report on Rotel 
Ituralde's move against the Seanchan.  His troops 
were in motion, she knew that much, but she wanted 
to know the details of his plan, hard as those 
might be to get.  

        And then she smiled as she realized how easy 
they would be to get.

************

        "Kiruna and Merana Sedai and Narishma Asha'man 
are here to see you," one of the Maidens guarding 
the entrance to Rand's tent said.

        "Send them in."  He was in a foul mood; the 
battle against the Seanchan was not going so well 
as he would have liked.  

        "My lord Dragon," Merana said.  "Our mission 
has not been so successful as we might have 
liked."

        Rand frowned.  "Does the King of Arafel intend 
to defy me?"

        "My brother and the other Kings of the 
Borderlands have all vanished," Kiruna said.  "The 
rumors point to some sort of joint military 
venture, though the Blight seems remarkably quiet.  
All we could determine was that he rode west from 
Chachin towards the Plain of Lances."

        Rand frowned.  "Alright.  Well.  I presume you 
have met Queen Tenobia, Kiruna?"

        "Yes, I have," Kiruna said.  "She is rash and 
impulsive, but a good woman at heart."

        "And probably not very happy at all with 
Davram Bashere," Rand continued.

        "I would expect not," Kiruna said.  "Or with 
you."

        "We will leave her for last.  Your next 
mission is to go to Shienar and see about 
establishing diplomatic contact.  I suggest you 
speak to Lord Agelmar Jagd first, as he is 
friendly to me, or he once was."  There was a 
great sadness in Rand's voice for just a moment.  
"I think he will be willing to help you approach 
King Easar."

        Merana nodded, while Kiruna frowned slightly, 
as if to indicate she, the sister of a King, did 
not need to get a Lord's help to approach another 
King.  Narishma said, "Lord Agelmar is a great and 

good man.  I am sure he will help us."

        "I hope so," Rand said.  "But we cannot wage 
war and peace with hopes.  Report back to me in a 
week if all goes well, or sooner if there is 
trouble."

        Merana nodded.  "As you command, My Lord 
Dragon."

        "We will," Kiruna said.  "I would advise you 
to be ready to send troops to the aid of the 
Borderlands, should the need arise.  Something 
must be up."

        Rand scowled.  "Then go and find out what is 
going on."

        "As you command," Narishma said, and did his 
best to hustle the other two out.

        Rand took a moment to hope this was not a sign 
he would have to make war on the Borderlands, then 
returned to his plans for war.

************

        Kasumi was very tired of walking through snow.  
Her legs ached and she hated being cold all the 
time.  Thankfully, they were at least getting lots 
of fresh meat, and no one was needlessly 
destructive.  On her third day of travel, it 
suddenly sank in that this was one of the longest 
periods she'd gone without witnessing a major 
fight in years.

        "So what is your father like?" Gaul asked her.  
Kasumi liked him; he was a nice, quiet young man, 
not the sort to level his house and leave his 
underwear all over the floor, unlike some people 
she could name.

        "He is a quiet, sensitive man, who is a very 
good fighter and very kind.  He and Mr. Saotome 
are real opposites," Kasumi said.  "But they've 
been good friends for a very long time."

        She then wrinkled her nose.  "Something's 
dead," she said.

        Elyas said, "Dead deer, I think."

        Kasumi frowned.  "Poor thing."

        Elyas gave her a look.  "Rather like the one 
we killed yesterday."

        Kasumi laughed nervously.  She had never 
really fully connected emotionally in her mind 
that meat came from actual animals.  Oh, she'd 
known it in an abstract sense, and it was obvious 
with chicken and fish, but she'd never seen the 
killing before.  "You know what I mean."

        "I suppose so," he said.  

        "There is no shame in hunting," Bain 
pronounced.  "So long as one is not wasteful."  

        They soon came upon the remains of the deer.  
There were several dead; not much remained of any 
of them, as they'd been methodically stripped of 
meat and hide.  "They were here about a day ago," 
Elyas said.  "I think we're catching up to them."

        "Good," Kasumi said.  She sniffed the air.  
"They need to bathe more often."

        "It is hard to set up a good steam tent on the 
march, and they are moving quickly," Bain said.  
"But we will move faster."

**********

        On the morning of the fifth day of snow, 
Alyssa stared out into the seemingly endless 
blizzard.  "Not another day of this," she said.

        "Maybe we should Travel back to Cairhien and 
wait for it to stop," Mai suggested for roughly 
the fifteenth time.

        "Too much risk we're close enough for them to 
notice us," Alain said.  "I'm more worried they'll 
move Kaneda and the others while we're waiting."

        "Two more days," Nynaeve said, frowning at the 
weather.  "I could get rid of it easily, but we'd 
send up a large sign to our foes.  Well, tonight I 
meet with Egwene and Elayne in Tel'aran'rhiod.  
Perhaps they'll have better news."

        "I hope so," Alyssa said.  At least Kaneda 
doesn't seem to be in any pain, she thought.  In 
fact, he seems happy.  Probably due to 
compulsions, she thought, frowning.

        And then she felt something at the fringes of 
her perception.  It grew a little stronger.  
Shadowspawn, nearby.  "We've got trouble coming," 
she said.

        "Tell me which way to go, and I will see what 
is out there," Konatsu said. 

        "I'll go with you," Alain said.  "Everyone, be 
ready for if we come back at high speed."

        He and Konatsu slipped out into the snow; it 
was easy to hide in the endless falling white 
flakes, but Konatsu was much better than he was, 
Alain noted.  Utterly silent and close to 
invisible.  They slipped along through the endless 
white, until they spotted the fist of Trollocs 
slogging along crankily through the snow.  The 
Myrdraal leading them had to keep shoving them to 
get them to keep moving instead of seeking 
shelter.

        "Hmm, not too bad a threat," Konatsu 
whispered.  "I think all of us together can kill 
them."

        "Except that someone may be expecting them to 
report back," Alain said.  "Better to lead them 
away from the camp in some way they won't tie to 
us."

        "The leader controls them, correct?  So if he 
dies, the rest will scatter?" Konatsu asked.

        "Something like that, yes," Alain said.  

        "Could you trigger an avalanche?" Konatsu 
asked.

        "I don't know enough about how they work to do 
it without using the angreal and likely sending up 
a large flare to any of the male Forsaken who may 
be near here."

        "Can they be poisoned?"

        "I suppose so," Alain said.  "I didn't think 
you carry poison."

        "I have a few knockout drugs, but we will need 
something more potent," Konatsu said.  "Best we 
return and check with the others."

        They soon slipped back to the cave and 
reported their findings.  

        "I can brew us up something," Cerise said.  
"Although I'm not sure how well it would work as a 
blade poison.  A lot of the chemicals we work with 
in tanning are toxic when you drink them or if you 
get too many fumes.  I think I can modify them 
with the Power, though."

        Nynaeve did not like the thought of poison, 
though it was a Myrddraal, rather than a man to be 
poisoned.  "I know of some herbs which are fatal," 
she said reluctantly.  "Though again, I do not 
know the making of poisons for blades, as I was a 
Wisdom, not an assassin."

        "Hmm, actually, fatal herbs would be even 
better," Konatsu said.  "Trollocs are stupid and 
might well throw herbs they don't know the 
properties of into their cookpot."

        "Do you think you can actually get close 
enough to do it?" Alyssa asked nervously.

        "Yes, I believe I can," Konatsu said.  "If 
this doesn't work, we may have to simply kill them 
and move our camp."

        "I hope not," Alyssa said.  "I don't want to 
travel in this.  Though it does at least keep the 
Dark One's other spies from acting."

        Nynaeve, Birgette, Tyr, and Konatsu then 
slipped out into the snow to try to find the herbs 
they needed.  It wasn't easy in a howling 
snowstorm, though the recent shift in the weather 
with the end of the long summer meant that the 
various herbs Nynaeve needed were still in bloom, 
though now frozen over.  

        Nynaeve plucked the last of the plants, then 
said to Konatsu, "Be careful."

        "I will," Konatsu said.  "I just hope they 
camp before they get too close to us, or this will 
be in vain."

        Nynaeve frowned.  "It had better not be in 
vain."

**********

        "We may be trailing the better part of a sept 
now," Chiad proclaimed from studying the campsite.

        Kasumi asked, "Is that bad?"

        "Very bad," Elyas said.  "We are either going 
to need a great deal of luck, or else we'll need a 
small army."

        Kasumi sighed.  "But it'll take us days to get 
back to everyone else, and then more time to come 
after them, and..."  She tried to calm herself.

        "They will have set up a hold somewhere," Gaul 
said.  "We can follow them to it, and once we know 
where it is, then we can return to Perrin's army 
and decide what to do."

        "Do not worry," Chiad said.  "So long as your 
father does not cause trouble, they will not kill 
him."

        "We hope," Bain said.  "The Shaido have 
abandoned many old ways, so it is hard to be sure 
what they will do."

        "Then we press on," Elyas said.  "And hope 
Chiad is right."

*********

        "I don't think he's going to come along 
quietly either," Nabiki said to Perrin.

        "We are not here to kill Masema," Perrin 
repeated for what he was sure was the three 
thousandth time.  Faile, Ailron, Morgase, Nabiki, 
Annoura Sedai, Berelain and Alliandre all looked 
at him with a jointly dubious expression.  "We're 
here to restore order and rein him in, not to kill 
him."

        "He has torn my nation apart," Alliandre said.  
"There can be no peace while he lives."

        "Don't forget the Whitecloaks," Ailron said.

        "Perrin, you've seen what he's done," Berelain 
said.  "He is utterly insane.  Perhaps if the 
Dragon had come with us, he could be brought under 
control, but he will not give two figs for any of 
us.  We are not worth a firkin of oil to him."

        Nabiki's eyes lit up.  "I have an idea."

        "This isn't going to involve dressing me up as 
Rand somehow, is it?" Perrin asked with a sinking 
feeling it did.

        Faile laughed.  "Husband, you are as unlike 
the Dragon as I am."

        "I know Akane can make pretty good illusions 
with the Power," Nabiki said.  "Couldn't the Wise 
Ones or the Aes Sedai disguise Perrin as the 
Dragon?  While the Ash'aman handled any channeling 
necessary?"

        Perrin felt the icy hand of doom descending.  
"But I couldn't act like Rand very well."

        "Sure you could," Nabiki said.  "It would just 
take some practice.  It's not like Masema will be 
able to see through someone of Annoura or Seonid 
Sedai's skill, right?"

        "There is some merit in the idea," Annoura 
said.  "However, it is difficult to disguise 
someone as someone radically different in 
appearance than their own.  The Dragon is taller 
and thinner than Perrin, which would make him not 
ideal."

        "How about one of the Aiel?" Nabiki asked.

        "Perhaps when Gaul returns," Faile said.  "He 
is the only male Aiel we have with us."

        "I don't like lying to people," Perrin said.

        "We can keep it in reserve as an option," 
Faile said.  "Should sweet reason fail us, then we 
can try this."

        Perrin nodded, though he frowned.  "I hope it 
will not come to that."

***********

        Kodachi studied the giant ter'angreal.  "Do 
you think you could blow it up, dear?" she asked 
Ranma.

        "Right now?"

        "Should it be necessary."

        Ranma looked it up and down as people bustled 
about.  "Should it become necessary, yes."

        "Good.  Ideally, we can now use this city as 
our slaughtering ground to hunt and kill 
channelers, but just in case..."

        He nodded.  "Who dies first, my love?"

        "A very good question.  But for now, you are 
going to take me out to dinner.  And get me a very 
good gleeman for entertainment."

        Smiling, he took her by the arm.  "Then let's 
go."

        She smiled back.  Everything was finally going 
her way.

*********
        
        "I tell you, it is her," Moghedien said to 
Demandred.

        "Mishi Noto Tadai died three thousand years 
ago.  I expect she is no more running about than 
the leaders of the 'Hall' turned out to be 
secretly preserved survivors from the last age," 
he said.  "Even the Dragon is as much a farmboy as 
he is Lews Therin Telamon."

        Moghedien snorted.  "As you like," she said.  
"I have tried to warn you.  Guard your dreams 
well, Demandred."

        "And why would you warn me if this was true?" 
he asked.

        "There can only be one Nae'blis," she said, 
then opened a gateway.  "But it will not matter 
who gains the title if we are defeated and sealed 
in the Bore again, or worse, all perish.  Would 
you share Rahvin's fate?"  And then she stepped 
through it.

        She seeks to send me chasing the wind, 
Demandred thought.  But I have more important 
things to do.

**********
        
        Kennar Miraj pursed his lips slightly.  He 
wasn't sure why, but something simply was not 
right.  "So you wish me to develop a new plan, 
High Lady Tuon?"

        She nodded to him.  "Yes.  Discard all orders 
given you by Suroth.  We cannot be sure anything 
she ordered was not motivated by her being a 
Darkfriend."  She frowned at the very thought.  
"We wish to avoid direct confrontation with the 
Dragon as of yet, until certain plans are laid in 
stone.  Rather, I wish you to prepare plans for an 
invasion of Arad Doman."

        "I will do so, High Lady," he said.  "They are 
racked with civil war, and ripe for conquest.  
Should we content ourselves with holding the line 
along the front with Illian?"

        "Yes.  Continue the search for Suroth, 
continue to press through Amadicia into Ghealdan, 
and prepare to assault Arad Doman, while holding 
the Dragon's forces back from pressing out of 
Illian."

        "As you command, High Lady."

*********
                
        Konatsu lurked outside the Trolloc camp with 
Tyr and Alain and Birgette.  Watching Trollocs eat 
is not fun, to say the least.

        After a long, sloppy meal, they settled down 
to slapping each other around before falling 
asleep.  It was a long, cold wait through the 
night.  "I will have to get closer, to tell if he 
is dead or sleeping," Konatsu said.

        "Shouldn't they all be going mad if he is 
dead?" Birgette asked.

        "They're asleep too," Konatsu said.  He 
slipped forward, gliding through the Trolloc camp.  
The Myrddraal was dead.  They would all go berserk 
and lose all coherency once they woke up.  Or so 
he had been told.

        He glided back.  "We'd best watch until 
morning, but the Myrddraal is dead."

        "Remind me not to make any of them mad when 
it's their turn to cook," Tyr muttered.

        Birgette stifled a laugh.

        They then settled in to wait.

********

        "Mantear and Northan have come over to me," 
Elayne said to Nynaeve and Egwene.  "So now I have 
six houses for sure, nine if I can count on the 
ones who marched down into Murandy."

        "I don't know," Egwene said.  "I met with them 
today, but I did not discuss your claiming of the 
throne with them.  However, it did give me a 
chance to finally push the Hall into declaring war 
on Elaida."  She clutched her shawl around her a 
little more tightly.  You could will away the cold 
and the snow, here in Tel'aran'rhiod, but it 
required concentration when there was so much of 
it.  

        Egwene, Elayne, and Nynaeve were meeting in 
Emond's Field, as they often did, for there was 
little chance of surprise visitors stumbling on 
them here.

        "It's about time," Nynaeve said.

        "Now I should be able to wield enough 
authority to get things done.  We shall be 
spending some time in Murandy to further train our 
new recruits and gather more men, and then we move 
on Tar Valon," Egwene said.

        "Well, about all we're doing is freezing to 
death by inches," Nynaeve said.  "And poisoning 
Trollocs.  But hopefully, we should be able to 
move on soon once this blasted storm is over.  I 
don't think it's the result of channeling, but a 
week long storm isn't natural."  Her clothing was, 
briefly, surmounted with layer after layer of 
cloaks, and snow swirled around her.  Frowning, 
she willed everything back to normal.

        "More of the Dark One's power, I fear," Egwene 
said.  She glanced over at the Red Eagle banner 
flying over the town.  "Still no news of what 
exactly happened here, Elayne?"

        "Rumors of Whitecloaks and Trollocs and 
rebellion," Elayne said.  "I have a feeling 
Bashere knows something, but won't tell me."

        "Hmph, men," Nynaeve muttered.  "It's probably 
his fault somehow."

        "Oh, Lan sends his love," Elayne said.

        Nynaeve grew flustered.  "He...he does?  I 
mean, of course he does.  It's just...my goodness.  
Well, let him know...that I miss him too.  I wish 
he was here."  Her clothing swirled into a sheer 
Ebou Dari dress for a moment, then reverted to 
normal.

        Egwene looked over at Elayne, who simply 
smiled.  Lan had not sent his love, but he would 
have if he was the sort of man capable of saying 
the words to a messenger, Elayne thought.  No harm 
done.  "I will tell him that," she said.  "Is 
Birgette alright?"

        "She is fine," Nynaeve said.  "We're all a 
little jumpy due to being cooped up in the cave, 
but I have kept my calm and kept others calm as 
well."

        "With a nice solid stick?" Egwene asked, 
smiling.

        "When necessary," Nynaeve said.  "Except for 
that strumpet Lori and Tyr, most of them are very 
well behaved."

        "She seemed quite dignified when I met her," 
Egwene said.

        "I think she's after Ranko's fiancee," Nynaeve 
said.  "She's insolent and she smiles all the 
time."

        "Well, I hope you are able to save Ranko and 
Kaneda and Ukyou," Elayne said.  "Good luck."

        "Thank you," Nynaeve said.  

        "I had best go," Egwene said.  "It has been a 
long day."

        "And I," Elayne said.  "Farewell, my friends."

        "Until we meet again," Egwene said.  "Sleep 
well and wake."  She and Elayne vanished, leaving 
Nynaeve alone among the houses of Emond's Field.  

        Nynaeve restlessly wandered the streets of 
Emond's Field.  It had grown much larger, and a 
new flag flew.  Manetheren's flag.  And a wolf 
flag as well.  

        I will have to see if anyone knows about this, 
she thought.  Once I wake up.

********** 
        
        "Oh, it's Perrin," Alyssa said.

        "Perrin is leading a revolt against Andor?" 
Nynaeve asked in disbelief.

        "Revolt?  Not unless Andor sent Trollocs to 
invade the Two Rivers.  He drove out the Trollocs 
and they made him lord.  And now the Queen of 
Ghealdan and the King of Amadicia have sworn 
fealty to him," Alyssa said.  She paused to take a 
bite of her apple, then continued, "So it looks 
like Manetheren is returning from the grave."

        Nynaeve chewed fiercely on a hunk of bread, 
then said, "They made him lord?  The Two Rivers 
has no lord."

        "It does now," Alyssa said.  "I'd be down 
helping him restore order in Ghealdan and deal 
with the Prophet right now, if I didn't need to 
save Kaneda and Ranko and Ukyou."

        "I suppose Mat will be proclaiming himself 
Emperor of the Seanchan next," Nynaeve muttered.

        Birgette said, "I hope he's alright."

        "He's probably gotten himself imprisoned for 
trying to fondle some High Lady," Nynaeve 
muttered, feeling a little guilty.  "Though it's 
probably nothing he doesn't deserve."

        "His luck will see him through," Birgette 
said.  "He has Thom and Juilin with him; they'll 
be fine."

        "Juilin has less sense than a Congar and 
Thom...well, I suppose he's probably not going to 
get into trouble.  Too much," Nynaeve said.

        "I think Kaneda told me that Mat and his 
friends got away from Ebou Dar through one of the 
Foxes and Snakes' twisted doorways," Alyssa said.

        Birgette shuddered.  "They are best avoided."

        "Well, we got some good things from us, but 
they wanted to cheat us if they could," Alyssa 
said.

        "They can do far worse to someone than 
cheating them," Birgette said.  "Mark my words, if 
you got out as well as you did, it was probably 
because they felt you getting away would suit 
their purposes."

        Alyssa frowned, and wondered what those 
purposes might be.

**********

        Endless strips of metal formed a grillwork 
over a void with no bottom.  There was no north, 
no south, no poles or points of reference, just a 
seemingly endless maze of five foot wide strips.  
If one was to choose a north, one might say that 
the strips running from north to south were all 
straight, running in parallel for infinity, while 
those running west to east were all curved, 
endless waves which nevertheless never touched, 
though each was different.  A dozen of the places 
where wave met line now held chairs, one per 
intersection, forming a square.  Six Snakes and 
six Foxes sat in the square, interspersed with one 
another.

        "One more must be destroyed," one of the 
Snakes said.

        "One of yours.  To balance," the second said.

        "Do you think we don't know this?" one of the 
Foxes said.  "But our Bargainer has been taken by 
the Dark."

        "And what of these rampaging humans?" a third 
Snake demanded.  "What will you do about them?"

        "One of them is a Twister," the second Fox 
said.  "He eludes our thinking."

        "So, once again, it falls to us to patch the 
holes in your thinking," a fourth Snake said.

        Angrily, the third Fox said, "And if we waited 
for you to wrap every problem in your coils, we'd 
still be contemplating our options on how to end 
our ancient bondage!"

        The meeting, as such meetings usually did, 
broke up in bitter recriminations and arguments 
over whose fault the Fall had been anyway.

***********
        
        Genma bowed and scraped before the Aielman.  
Tyrik was his name.  Maybe.  All the Aiel were 
starting to blur together in his mind, endless 
hordes of idiots with spears.  If Soun could only 
pull himself together, he was quite certain they 
could squash the entire warband.  Unfortunately, 
Soun had done little over the last week but cry 
and gibber incoherently and do whatever the Aiel 
had told him to do.

        Genma had enough faith in his son being 
unkillable not to fall apart, though he was 
somewhat worried.  And very angry at letting 
himself be manipulated in his dreams as he had 
been.  That woman would pay for what she had done.  
Once he got Soun back together again.

        Fortunately, groveling came easily to Genma, 
so he could easily bow and scrape and do what the 
Aiel told him to do without it bothering him too 
much.

        Meanwhile, he planned his escape, now working 
on the theory he would probably have to carry Soun 
on one shoulder, since the man wasn't useful for 
much else.  I can't believe he's this messed up, 
Genma thought.  Well, I'll do what I must.

        Another Aiel approached him.  "Come with me," 
he said, handing each of them a shovel.

        Genma nodded and bowed, then dragged Soun 
along after the man.  Several other Aiel joined up 
with them as they headed out of the camp.  Genma 
began to get a bad feeling; they didn't take 
gai'shain on raids and what would they want them 
for this far outside the camp?  

        His nerves jangled more as he began to spot 
more people creeping alongside them.  By the time 
they reached the frozen over stream, there were at 
least a dozen Aiel roaming about in the woods 
nearby, in addition to the six armed warriors with 
Genma and Soun.  "Dig," one of the men ordered.  
"Once you have dug as much as we tell you to, you 
will fill it back in, then dig it again."

        Genma knew from experience this was one of the 
classic Aiel punishments.  However, he had a bad 
feeling that they were going to be made to dig 
their own graves.  Best to play along, just in 
case, though.  He set to digging; with his 
strength, it was easy.   It was easy for Soun as 
well, and seemed to calm him, for which Genma was 
grateful.

        He heard one of the Aiel approaching him once 
he'd dug a fairly large hole.  He could hear the 
man shifting his grip on his weapon, and his 
keenly honed sense of danger told him that he was 
about to be stabbed in the back.  He spun, 
bringing the shovel around and parried the blow, 
then knocked the man flat on his ass with the 
shovel head.  "Soun!  They're going to kill us!"

        The twenty or so Aiel charged.  Genma quickly 
retreated onto the ice, dragging Soun along.  The 
Aiel were used to cold, and growing used to snow, 
but they had little experience with ice, for the 
Waste didn't have enough water to have much ice.  
They began to slip and to stumble, while Genma 
began to nimbly leap among them, bashing them down 
one by one with the shovel.  Several, he grabbed, 
then leaped into the air and crushed them 
unconscious before he hit the ground.

        Soun fought as well, breaking out of his funk 
somewhat, though he was nowhere near the peak of 
his potential.  He took several minor wounds where 
Genma was sure he shouldn't have been hurt at all.  
As for Genma, his only injury was when one 
grappled Aiel simply bit his shoulder.  

        Genma stared at the unconscious Aiel and tried 
to decide what to do with them.  He couldn't bring 
himself to kill them; he'd never killed anyone, 
especially not unconscious people.  But if he left 
them alive, the Aiel would soon be on his trail, 
as they wouldn't stay unconscious for long.  

        But he couldn't bring himself to kill them.  
Not while they were helpless.  He looked over at 
Soun, who said, "This is all the Aes Sedai's 
fault."

        Genma sighed.  "We were conned, Tendo.  And if 
there's anything I hate, it's being conned.  But 
we've got to get away from these Aiel before we 
worry about anything else."  He frowned.  "Hmm, 
maybe we should take one of them with us so we can 
find out why they suddenly tried to kill us."

        "Someone's watching us," Soun said softly.  He 
glanced off in one direction, to where another 
Aiel lurked behind a tree.

        "Come out and dance the spears with us, boy," 
Genma said.  "I can see where you are, and you 
ought to know from watching this that you can't 
outrun me."

        The Aiel stepped out defiantly.  "I am not 
afraid to die, but I wish to know what is going 
on.  Why did they seek to kill you?  Killing 
gai'shain is not permitted," he said.

        "If I've learned anything about you Aiel in a 
week of being your slave, it's that you all could 
care less about breaking your laws if they get in 
the way of what you want," Genma said angrily.  

        The man winced as if struck.  "We do not kill 
gai'shain!"

        "Well, if trying to put a spear in my back 
isn't killing, I don't know what is," Genma said.  

        "Stone Dogs, Black Eyes, Red Shields...half a 
dozen different societies together," the man 
muttered.

        "What's your name, boy?" Genma asked.

        "I am Abel.  And I am not a boy," he said.

        "Did you see what they did?" Genma asked.

        "Yes," Abel said. 

        "We're leaving," Genma said.  "You can fight 
us and suffer their fate, or you can turn them in 
for what they did while we run for it."

        "He can bring the whole tribe or whatever they 
are down on us if we let him go," Soun said.  

        "I have a plan," Genma whispered.  

        Abel looked at the men, then at them, then 
said, "You will be tracked and caught."

        "We'll take our chances," Genma said.  

        Abel nodded.  "Then I will see to these men."

        Genma took off running down the frozen stream 
with Soun.  Once they were out of sight of Abel, 
he broke the ice and extracted some water, filling 
his waterskin.  "Into the trees," he said.

        They moved tree to tree for about half a mile, 
then descended to the surface, where Genma said, 
"This is going to be painful, but...pour this on 
me."

        Soun frowned.  "Do you really want to be wet 
in this weather?"

        "They probably will have lost us in the trees, 
but just in case...I want to leave a panda trail 
instead of a man.  You'll have to..."  He frowned.  
"Ride me."

        "Alright," Soun said, pouring the water onto 
him, then trying to help him get as dry as he 
could before Soun got on his back and began to 
ride.  "Do we have any idea where to run?"

        "Growf."

        Soun sighed.  "Well, anywhere but where we are 
sounds good."

*********

        Once the snow finally broke, Alyssa got her 
forces in motion.  Half a day later, they came 
upon several dead wolves and Trollocs, both sides 
apparently left to rot.  "Gave as good as they 
got," Tyr observed.

        "I think the Trollocs won," Mai said.  "Though 
it's hard to tell with everything snowed over."

        Over the next few hours, they had several more 
encounters with dead Trollocs, though most of 
these seemed to have managed to freeze to death.  
Finally, Konatsu and Birgette returned from 
scouting ahead to report that "Another fist of 
Trollocs is coming this way.  And there's ravens 
in the skies," Birgette said.  "Which will make 
evading the Trollocs harder."

        "And we can't afford to channel in case it 
gives us away to any of the Forsaken," Nynaeve 
said, frowning.  "Can we go around them?"

        "We found another route, but it will slow us 
down," Birgette said.

        "Then we take it," Alyssa said.  "We do what 
we must."

        The encounters with Trolloc bands became more 
frequent, as did sightings of dead Trollocs.  They 
managed to camp for the night unseen, then moved 
on in the morning, skulking along as best they 
could.  The raven patrols grew more frequent as 
well now.  "You'd almost think we were approaching 
Shaol Ghul," Tyr muttered.

        "Don't even joke about that," Cerise said.  

        "This isn't half as bad as the Blight," 
Nynaeve said.  "I have seen it, and this is a 
festival compared to that."

        The channelers and warder could feel 
Shadowspawn at the fringes of their perceptions 
all the time now, it seemed.  Alain's years of 
military experience were making his nerves jangle 
as well; he didn't relish the idea of trying to 
escape this place if something went wrong and they 
couldn't Travel to get out.  

        Finally, they crested a ridge and looked down 
into a pleasant valley, where a dozen or so houses 
stood along the banks of a mountain stream.  Open 
fields which likely served for crops in warmer 
times sat to the south of the houses.  They could 
make out a few human sentries, but the cold and 
snow seemed to have driven the rest of the 
residents inside; there was no sign of Trollocs, 
which rather surprised them all.

        Alyssa pointed to one of the buildings.  
"There," she said.

        Nynaeve peered down.  "I don't see any weaves, 
which probably means they've been inverted."

        "Traps, you mean?" Alyssa asked.

        Nynaeve nodded.  "Yes."

        "Alright.  Konatsu, Birgette, Tyr, your job is 
to help us all get close enough to the place 
without being seen that we channelers can try to 
remove the traps and alarms.  Once we've done 
that, assuming we can do it without alerting the 
Forsaken to our presence, then the three of you 
will need to take out the sentries.  Or possibly 
before, if we can't get close enough while they 
live.  Alain will link with Mai and Lori with 
Cerise, each pair using one of our Angreal.  
Nynaeve and I will focus on any Forsaken who may 
show up, while the rest of you deal with any other 
channelers or if there is more than two Forsaken."  
She hoped they would not all be present.  "We will 
approach cautiously; be prepared to Skim back to 
Cairhien if things begin to go too badly."  She 
prayed they would be enough.

        They slipped down the mountainside through the 
endless snow, clad in white.  Closer and closer 
they crept.  Nynaeve and Alyssa managed to sense 
the outermost ring of channeling traps, and 
quietly, carefully disarm them.  The group slipped 
closer, and Birgette then sniped the sentries on 
this side, one by one.  Konatsu said softly, "Your 
skill with a bow is surpassing great, Birgette-
sama."

        She smiled a little.  "Thank you."

        As they approached the house they sought, the 
door opened and Akane and Ryouga stepped outside, 
apparently coming out to spar.  Ryouga paused and 
began to look about.

        Konatsu said softly, "I fear he may be sensing 
my chi.  Do you wish me to withdraw?"

        Alyssa frowned.  "Hmm.  Alain, Mai, Konatsu, 
circle off to the right.  If he follows your 
movement, begin to withdraw.  If we can lure him 
away from the houses, this may be easier."

        "I think the Forsaken aren't here," Nynaeve 
said.

        "What?" Alyssa asked in surprise.

        "We haven't sensed any channeling at all," 
Nynaeve said.  "Not that they channel constantly, 
but I would think that..."

        Then all the women felt channeling from one of 
the houses.

        "Go," Alyssa said to Konatsu.  "Everyone, be 
ready."

        Konatsu, Alain, and Cerise slipped off across 
the snow.  Ryouga's head began to turn, and they 
could see him fiddling with his gloves.  

        "We strike now," Alyssa decided.  "Lori, wrap 
Ryouga in air.  I will take care of..."  It then 
struck her that Nynaeve didn't know about the 
curses.  "the woman with him.  Nynaeve, be ready 
to deal with the channeler in that building."  She 
pointed.

        Several things happened at once.

        Alyssa reached out with the One Power and 
bound up Akane with flows of Air.

        Lori reached out and bound Ryouga in place 
with Air as well.

        A nimbus of shadow began to form in Ryouga's 
hands.

        The channelers felt a dozen women grasp the 
Source in various of the buildings.

        Two dozen bands of Trollocs emerged from 
hiding places along the sides of the valley and 
began to close in on Alyssa and her friends.  

        Six Draghkar rose from aeries in the mountains 
and began to swoop down.

        And inside one of the buildings, the female 
channelers all felt a large burst of the Power.

        Nyneave directed flows of air to batter that 
building to pieces, and sent knives of spirit in 
their wake, expecting to have to shield whoever 
had just Travelled in.  The building collapsed, 
and the gateway inside was ripped apart, but 
whoever had come through, she couldn't find them.  
Her use of the power enabled several linked female 
channelers to find her, however.

        The quartet of women looked Arafellin to her; 
she did not recognize them, nor did they dress as 
Aes Sedai, but they were strong in the Power, if 
not so strong as her.  They were not, however, 
very nimble or experienced, and so she held them 
off.

        Meanwhile, two more linked circles of four 
emerged.  One began to duel in the Power with 
Alain, while a second one went after Lori.  Their 
superior skill enabled them to hold off the 
assault, but it wasn't easy.

        Ryouga continued to build up his ever-growing 
sphere of darkness, even as someone sliced the 
flows holding him and Akane in place, turning them 
loose to charge at Alyssa.  Alyssa tried to find 
who she was dueling.  Another circle of linked 
channelers, she assumed at first, but she couldn't 
see them anywhere.  

        Birgette began shelling Ryouga with arrows as 
he charged, but he dodged them, continuing to 
approach.  Tyr moved to cover Alyssa, while 
Konatsu concealed himself and began to slip 
towards one of the circles.  I have to stop Ryouga 
before he fires off one of his chi blasts, Alyssa 
thought.  

        She strained herself, splitting her attention 
to leash Ryouga and Akane with Air even as she 
fought with a dozen blades of Spirit against her 
concealed foe.  She won the former battle and 
began to lose the other, feeling her connection to 
the Source weaken even as she leashed Ryouga and 
hurled him into the middle of the linked circle 
fighting Nynaeve.  He exploded like a bomb, 
scattering them like ninepins, even as her 
opponent cut her off from the Source and bound her 
in place.

        Nynaeve now turned her attention to attack 
Alyssa's unseen foe, even as that foe now rained 
down fiery death on Lori and Mai.  Lori tried 
desperately to fend off the flames and fight the 
circle attacking her at the same time.  She held 
off the worst of it, but she and Mai got badly 
burnt.

        And then the Draghkars swooped down, crooning.  
Birgette tried desperately to resist.  It was easy 
for most of the channelers, but Mai found herself 
transfixed by the song, due to her injuries.  Tyr 
began to stagger towards another one of them.  

        The Trollocs were coming closer as Alyssa now 
battered at the shield which was cutting her off.  
Their foe was unable to keep her shielded and hold 
Nynaeve off at the same time, and she burst 
through the shield, then hurled fire at two of the 
Draghkar, roasting them.  Then she pulled Akane 
over to herself and wiped the Compulsions out of 
her mind as quickly as she could.

        "Are Ranma and Ukyou here?" she asked Akane 
desperately.

        "No, other Forsaken took them," Akane replied.  
She looked horrified, but it was quickly turning 
to anger.  "Cold water," she demanded.

        With all the snow, it was easy to oblige her.  
She transformed swiftly, then shouted, "MESAANA!  
RYOUGA!  YOU'RE BOTH GOING TO PAY!"

        Ryouga tumbled across the snow, pulled by 
flows of air, even as Konatsu now appeared again, 
stabbing two members of a linked circle in the 
back, and stabbing the other two before they could 
react.  A circle opened in the air near Ryouga, 
and he was snatched through it before Nynaeve 
could stop it, for she now had to fend off an 
onrushing Draghkar. 

        "Let's get out of here," Alyssa said, opening 
a portal.  "Retreat!"

        As she closed the gate she'd been using to 
observe the battlefield and channel into it, 
Mesaana set off the explosive weaves she'd planted 
everywhere.  Fire and lightning exploded in all 
directions.  Nynaeve and Alyssa and Lori and Alain 
and Kaneda did their best to fend them all off as 
they all ran for the Skimming portal.

        Unfortunately, the two remaining Draghkar 
managed to follow them through it before Alyssa 
collapsed it, and by the time they managed to fry 
both of them to a crisp, Mai lay on the platform, 
staring mindlessly at the infinite 'sky' above 
them.  

        "Mai, NO!" Kaneda screamed in rage.  "Damn 
you, Mesaana!  DAMN YOU!"

        "We were lucky," Birgette said.  "If she had 
had more channelers, we would have been dead."

        "Fortunately, there are not infinite Black 
Ajah to leave sitting around in case we find her 
base," Alain said.  "We only...we only lost one 
person, and we cost her a fair number of her 
channelers and many shadowspawn."

        "Dreadlords," Kaneda said.  "That was one of 
her training camps for Dreadlords.  I don't think 
any of them were actual Aes Sedai."

        Nynaeve did her best to heal everyone, then 
looked at Kaneda.  "Did she have you disguised as 
a woman?"

        "It's a long story," Kaneda said, looking down 
at Mai.  "Is there...there has to be something we 
can do for her."

        Nynaeve shook her head.  "Not with the Power, 
anyway."

        Kaneda grimaced.  "The Age of Legends knew no 
cure for this.  But at least we can try to keep 
her alive, just in case..."  His fists clenched.  
"You should have brought more people."

        "I brought our best," Alyssa protested.  
"Bringing Haile or Havric or any of the others who 
are too weak even to fight an Accepted, let alone 
Black Ajah or Shadowspawn, would have just gotten 
more people killed."

        She flinched as Kaneda glared at her.  Then he 
paused, and closed his eyes, and opened them 
again.  "I'm sorry," he said.  "I just...dammit, 
she's lost her soul because I screwed up and got 
captured."

        "She did her best, Kaneda," Nynaeve said.  
"And Mai..."  She sighed.  "I wish I could help 
her too."

        "Do you have any idea where they took Ranko 
and Ukyou?" Lori asked.  Her voice was far more 
sombre than usual.

        "Demandred took Mrs. Saotome, Graendel took 
Ukyou, and Kodachi took Ranko.  Beyond that, I 
don't know.  I don't even know for sure where 
Mesaana lives herself, although I think she's 
hiding in the Tower," Kaneda said.  "But once I 
find her, she is going to DIE."  His fists 
clenched.  "Slowly.  Along with that..."  His 
teeth ground.  

        They reached their destination, and Alyssa 
opened a way out to Cairhien.  They quickly piled 
out, with Konatsu and Alain carrying Mai.  
        
        Kaneda turned to everyone.  "Thank you for 
coming to rescue me," he said.  "I don't know how 
we're going to find Ranko and Ukyou, but we'll 
think of something.  Somehow."  He forced himself 
to unclench his fists.  "Let's get Mai to a room, 
and then I'm going to go lie down for a while."

**********

        Alyssa hovered near Kaneda as he sat in a 
chair and glared out the window.  "Would 
you...like some tea?" she asked hesitantly.

        "I want to gouge out Ryouga's eyes and use his 
head as a toilet," Kaneda snapped, then frowned 
more and said, "I'm sorry, I shouldn't yell, I'm 
just...he just..."  Kaneda shuddered.  "I want to 
kill them. Kill, kill, kill them.  Even though I 
know Ryouga was just being suckered because he's a 
FUCKING IDIOT."  One of the other chairs suddenly 
burst into flames and crumpled in on itself.  
Kaneda cursed and snuffed the flames.  "I want to 
kill someone."

        "We'll get her," Alyssa said.  "Mesaana will 
pay.  And so will Ryouga.  Did he..."

        "Yes," Kaneda said.  "I know he didn't know 
what he was doing, that he thought I wanted it.  
But I still want to drive my fingers into HIS 
EYES!"  He took a deep breath.  "Let's...let's go 
find something we can blow into tiny, tiny bits 
and no one will care."

        "Alright," Alyssa said, taking Kaneda's hand.  
"I know some places in the mountains."

        Soon, they were off in the Mountains of Mist.  
Alyssa watched quietly as Kaneda began smashing a 
mountain to bits, inch by inch.  While he could do 
a lot of damage, he wasn't strong enough by 
himself to easily level a mountain.  Rocks flew 
everywhere, bouncing off the shield Alyssa had 
erected with the Power.  

        She hated seeing him like this, full of rage 
and hate, though she could understand why he was 
so angry.  This went on for hours, until finally, 
he grew weary, and let his arms fall to his sides.  
"I feel so hollow," he said softly.

        She wrapped her arms around him, and felt him 
flinch, which made her flinch as well.  But she 
held on to him.  "Is there anything I can do to 
help?" she asked softly.

        "I want to find Mesaana, and I want to kill 
her dead, dead, dead.  And that bitch Kodachi.  
She's probably raping Ranma right this minute.  
And Graendal too."  His fists clenched and another 
chunk of mountain exploded.  "Damn, I'm not in the 
mood to see Father right now, even just to let him 
know I'm okay."

        "The Aiel have him," Alyssa said softly.

        "What?" Kaneda asked.

        "He and Mr. Saotome got taken by the Aiel.  
Kasumi's gone with Elyas and Bain and Chiad and 
Gaul to rescue them."

        Kaneda stared at Alyssa.  "You let Kasumi go 
on a rescue mission???"

        Alyssa wilted.  "Well, I needed to go save you 
and she insisted and..."

        Kaneda tugged his hair.  "She's going to get 
herself killed, and then Father will KILL ME for 
letting her go!"

        "Well, we could try to catch up to them," 
Alyssa said.

        "Didn't Nabiki try to stop her?" Kaneda asked.

        "They wouldn't let Nabiki go because she 
couldn't fight well enough."

        "What, and Kasumi did?"

        "Yes," Alyssa said.

        Kaneda took Alyssa's hand.  "Something is 
wrong.  Let's go."

        They opened a portal and stepped through, 
leaving the mountain to its misery alone.

**********

        Demandred grimaced.  I can't be everywhere 
myself, but if all my servants are complete 
morons, what can I do?  The Shaido Friends of the 
Dark had turned out to be stupid and incompetent 
and couldn't even manage to get themselves killed 
before they could be caught.  Now the Shaido were 
in the middle of a purge of the Darkfriends in 
their ranks, which would make guiding them more 
difficult.

        The Seanchan had proven unable to catch 
Suroth, who he now suspected had used the twisted 
doorway and in some manner been possessed by one 
of her past lives as a result.  It would explain 
the strange behavior and the sudden betrayal.  
Likely she'd gained protection for her dreams as 
well, which was why he couldn't get into them.  

        He suddenly wondered if perhaps Suroth was 
Mishi Noto Tadai reborn.  That might explain both 
Moghedien's ramblings and Suroth's change in 
behavior.  Not that Mishi had such strange speech 
patterns in the past, but...  He wished again that 
he'd gotten the twisted doorway for himself in 
time.

        Demandred, finished with rambling to himself, 
opened a portal and stepped through it, then 
slipped unseen through the Aiel tents to the one 
he wanted.  A simple weave insured no one would 
wake as he picked up a woman and carried her out 
of the camp.  Once they were out of sight, he woke 
Galina up.

        She stared at him for a moment, and then he 
said, "I am Demandred, of the Chosen.  Galina of 
the Black Ajah, I have work for you."

        She frowned at him, clearly not happy about 
the idea of taking orders from a man, so he 
applied a gentle chokehold of air to her throat 
while shielding her.  "And you will follow my 
orders to the letter.  Or I will give you to the 
Whitecloaks.  Would you like to be given to the 
Whitecloaks?"

        "No," she choked out.  "I hear and obey, 
Chosen."

        "Good," he said.  "I am going to give you a 
pack of Darkhounds.  I need you to chase down and 
kill two men.  Be warned, they are cunning 
fighters, do not let them get close enough to 
strike you, or they will break you like a twig."

        She stared at him in shock, and he said, "Do 
you understand?"

        "I understand," she said.  "I will destroy 
them."  

        "Good," he said.  "I will check in on you 
periodically until then."  He handed her a ring he 
had prepared so that he could trace it.  "Wear 
this."

        "Yes, Chosen," she said, putting it on.  "I 
hear and obey."

        "Then go, ride with the Wild Hunt.  If you are 
a faithful hound, you will be rewarded.  If not, I 
will give you to the Hounds myself."

        "I will be faithful."

        Hopefully, she will be less stupid than the 
Aiel were, he thought.  If not by much.      

**********

End Part Fifteen