A Wheel of Time.

3.

“What is that!?” Cordelia asks. “Mashadar! Run!” Stepin calls as he scoops Kerene up. Cordelia quickly unties her horse and mounts as it bolts, the rest of the Emond’s Fielders scattering like birds during a rainstorm. As they gallop from the city Cordelia’s shire horse keeps pace with Kerene’s and Stepin’s horses. “Good thing I didn’t unpack anything!” she calls and Stepin chuckles. “Yeah! We’re going to need that food!” he calls back and she grins. “Do you-” she begins but he interrupts her. “They’ll be fine! I’ll find them! You have my word ande !” he calls as they continue, gradually allowing their horses to slow. “Did you just call me rose in the Old Tongue?” she asks outraged and Stepin stops cold in his tracks. “Light I did, I am sorry. I don’t know why I did that. I am sorry.” he says, suddenly very red in the face. “What did you give her?” he asks and she smiles. “A brew for the fever… It probably won’t help much. If I knew how to do more, I would. But I can only really treat fever, cuts, and soreness or fatigue.” she says, rather self-deprecating. “I wish I had paid more attention to Naeve now.” she mumbles and he stops setting the fire for a moment. “Hey, you did more than I could have. Don’t say things like that.” he says, trying to cheer her up.

 “Why? It’s true if I paid attention to Nynaeve or to my father then half of what has happened wouldn’t have. I’d have been able to warn the Village Council and the Women’s Circle about the half man, and I’d have been able to tell them that there might’ve been Trollocs nearby… Tam al’Thor woulda listened to me. Bran al’Vere too… And now Kerene is dying cause I didn’t realise she was injured and even if I had I still couldn’t have done anything useful cause I always brushed herbs off as silly… I brushed Nynaeve’s livelihood off as silly and now the only person who could possibly help is dead and I never listened and then you’re gonna kill yourself after Kerene dies and then I’ll be alone with no idea where to go or what to do.” she says rambling, sinking down to the ground, a broken sob ripping from her chest. “Hey, hey, it’s okay, you’re okay. No one expects you to be perfect.” Stepin says, way too far out of his comfort zone for his liking, Kerene never had breakdowns like this.

“No one expects me to be perfect? Pfft, that’s a load of bull. Ever since my dad died everyone has been looking at me like I’m some sort of God because he always knew what to do so by that logic so do I. A-and they expect me to be so strong, especially my mother… Have you ever had to sleep in the same bed as someone just to make sure they don’t harm themselves? I have! I’ve done it for the past year. And everyone smiles and says I’m a good daughter and a good person and an asset to the Village that can’t be replaced so by all means ask for help if you need it. Only to be brushed off like a weakling if I do ask…” she angrily wipes at her face, pinching her arm to stop herself from crying. “I’m sorry, I shouldn’t be baring my soul to you like this. I-i’ll go get firewood.” she says stiffly leaving the general area of their camp before he can say anything else.

He shouldn’t be surprised when he finds the Wisdom, and then when the Wisdom tries to kill him. Tying her to the tree Cordelia raises an eyebrow. “Tried to kill me… Wait, you’re not surprised she’s alive?” he asks suddenly and she grins. “She’s Nynaeve, I suppose I never really doubted she’d show back up…” she says with a chuckle. “But I am a little surprised though… just a teeny bit.” she says kneeling next to her friend and checking on her. “You knocked her on the head pretty good.” she murmurs and he snorts. “She tried to kill me and then bit me.” he mumbles. “She bit you!? Oh you poor baby… Awwwwww.” she says rather dramatically and he glares at her. “I’ll have you know she broke the skin.” he says defensively and she laughs. “Well don’t worry she hasn’t got any diseases.” she responds and he chokes on the swig of water he had taken. “I should hope not!” he exclaims and she laughs.

…

The next morning Nynaeve groans as she comes to. “Morning sleepy head.”  comes a soft voice while removing the gag and Nynaeve groans again. “What happened?” she rasps and Cordelia smiles. “Stepin knocked you upside the head after you tried to kill him.” she responds and Nynaeve grunts. “Shouldn’t have come up behind me like that then.” she mumbles and looks over at Kerene. “Trolloc poison, I’ve been doing my best, but, well, I never did listen to you. There’s an infection.” Cordelia says, answering Nynaeve’s unspoken question. “Untie me, I’ll take a look.” she says and Stepin gets up. “Do you promise not to try to kill her?” he asks and she glares at him. “I am a Wisdom of the Two Rivers, my first priority is to help those that need it, not harm them.” she says stiffly and he nods. “Alright.” he says and then unties her.

…

Stepin leaves shortly after that to find some help, leaving Nynaeve and Cordelia to look after Kerene. “So, that lap dog…” Nynaeve says softly and Cordelia blushes. “Oh! You do like him!” Nynaeve exclaims suddenly, causing Cordelia to sputter. “N-no! I do not, but he almost certainly likes me!” she responds and Nynaeve hmphs before they both notice Kerene stirring. “Lia-liandrin.” she murmurs in her sleep, her head turning to the side and her eyes flutter open, apparently she had regained some strength. “Stepin?” she asks hoarsely and Cordelia makes a shushing noise in the back of her throat. “It’s alright, he’s gone to get you some help then we’ll find the others.” she says gently and Kerene relaxes some and drifts off again, mumbling about Liandrin.

…

“Come.” Stepin says rather ominously still on his horse, quickly Nynaeve and Cordelia help a semi-conscious Kerene over to his horse and he pulls her up and situates her as the girls mount their own horses. Cordelia is whispering to the horse quietly in the old tongue, clearly worried she has been pushing the horse too much. “Shh Dae Bhadi, Aso ain batthien ti sor moro plean.” she whispers as the horse whickers softly, clearly not liking how much moving they are doing. “ She is not used to working so much? ” Stepin asks softly and she shrugs. “ Not really, no, we don’t have a farm so she’s just my horse to get around. She’s about as old as me, so it’s mostly her being ornery. ” she responds and he grins. “Kerene’s horse is pretty old too. She’s had her about as long as she’s had me.” Stepin responds and she giggles. “You make it sound as if she owns you…” Cordelia responds with a tilted head. “Hmm. Not quite own, it is an honour to be her Gaidin.” he responds softly and she nods. 

“So, what is it like then? The bond?” she asks curiously and the look on his face tells her that he is looking for the correct words. “It is as if, at times, you cannot breathe with the intensity of wanting to protect, to comfort, to help. It’s… overwhelming and so complete… it is as if you have known your Aes Sedai since birth. Not in the way of siblings, or spouses, or parents, although the bond can be all those things. But as if that person’s soul just moulds with your own so completely it’s as if they’ve been there since the beginning of time itself.” he says softly and they all hear a ragged cough like laugh. “That’s worse than Kar-ile” Kerene hoarsely whispers and Stepin starts laughing softly and smoothes Kerene’s hair down a bit. “I’m-” she makes a noise in the back of her throat and tries to adjust herself, of course Stepin helps her immediately. “-not a cat.” she finishes and weakly tries to stop him from carding his fingers through her hair. 

Stepin smiles and nods. “Of course not, Aes Sedai, your reputation would be ruined if everyone saw how you can get after getting a little buzz.” he responds, and Cordelia smiles as Kerene pushes him weakly. “You should rest Kerene Sedai. I do not know how long Nynaeve’s concoction will work.” Cordelia says softly and Kerene makes a noise in the back of her throat.

…

Cordelia dismounts with ease and is quickly by Stepin’s horse grabbing ahold of Kerene’s belt and uninjured shoulder to help her down as a Red sister comes over. “Trolloc poisoning.” Cordelia says immediately. “Me and my friend are healers of sorts and tried to help the best we could but, well…” she trails off as the Red sister takes up Kerene’s other side, looking at the wound briefly. “Herbs cannot touch Trolloc poison. I will go get one of my sisters, the Green tent is over there.” she says and Cordelia looks confused. “You can’t heal her?” she asks and the Red shakes her head. “No, Healing with the One Power is a talent, and it is one that I do not possess.” she says and walks, or stalks off really, towards where the Blue and Green Aes Sedai had gone with the false dragon. 

…

“ So you are Cordelia? ” a soft voice asks and I whip around to see a short, brown haired, blue eyed, blue clad woman standing behind me with a warder a half step behind her. “ Yes… Cordelia al’Dune, Mistress. I suppose Kerene Sedai told you about me. ” I respond and only just now realise we were speaking the old tongue. The man behind her grins. “She is definitely Shalan’s daughter if she can speak the Old Tongue without thinking, Moraine.” the man says and it takes me a moment, squinting at him before I recognise him and jump to my feet cursing quietly I bow. The fucking Dai Shan and I was sitting . He chuckles and Moiraine grins. “No need for that kinswoman.” he says good naturedly and I frown. “I am not Malkieri.” I respond and he smiles. “All borderlander people are my brothers and sisters.” he says and I must still look sceptical because they both smile again. The woman, Moiraine, comes to sit down on one of the rocks near me and her warder, al’Lan Mandragoran does the same, so I sit as well. “You knew my father.” I state and he nods. “We fought together. How is he?” he asks. “Dead.” I respond and he flinches. “It was about a year ago now.” I add and he nods. “I kept in touch during the early years of his life with your mother but we fell out of touch eventually.” he responds, if not ashamed then something close. “So the Dai Shan of Malkier is the warder to a member of the Blue Ajah? That is interesting.” she says, changing the topic and he snorts. “Not really, we have more in common than most tend to realise.” he responds before Stepin comes over. “There you are, come on, Kerene asked me to show you a place to sleep.” Stepin says, nodding slightly to Lan and Moiraine. “Kerene is not my keeper, my bed roll works just fine.” Cordelia says softly and Stepin looks at her and raises an eyebrow, however Cordelia does not back down. Moiraine snorts, “Oh just go with him. The greens normally take care of those who help their own. Just… stay away from the Reds, they’ll eat you alive.” she says before getting up, Lan however stays in place.

Begrudgingly Cordelia follows Stepin wordlessly. “When we get in here just pick a empty spot of ground unless they have a spare cot I’m not aware of. And you can leave your stuff unattended, we aren’t thieves.” he says and she nods and says nothing, leaving moments later.

…

The next day, perhaps early morning Cordelia is walking around the general vicinity of the cave. Wondering why on Earth she can feel when any of the Aes Sedai channel. Using one of her spears as a walking stick she steps over a fallen trunk as she walks making yet another circuit. She only halfway notices when Moiraine passes her but she does notice the massive surge in the One Power. Cursing she makes her way over to the cave when she notices Kerene’s wards going off. She rushes into the cave and notices Ablar trying to channel through the shield they are trying to place back onto him. It breaks through. “Kerene! Watch out!” Cordelia shrieks running and flinging her hands up hoping to close to distance fast enough to knock the older woman away. Instead a greyish surge of the Power Power, half Saidar, half Saidin fills the room and the spears of Saidin go careening into the other areas of the cave. Moiriaine and Liandrin take the distraction and push the shield onto Ablar, who winces as Kerene turns on Cordelia just as the rest of the party arrives. Alanna and several others push their own shields onto the false dragon as he stands dumbfounded. “Liandrin, sister, you’ve been shielding him too long, we have it, take a break.” Alanna orders and the Red sister obeys and turns to a still dumbstruck Cordelia who begins backing up. Kerene takes a step forward. “Corde-” she begins but she bolts from the cave running at a dead sprint she makes it back to her horse. 

Throwing her saddle bags onto Dae Bhadi she mounts and erges her horse into a steady gallop as Nynaeve comes running into the clearing with Kerene, Liandrin, Lan, and Stepin. “CORDELIA! WAIT!” Nynaeve screams running to her own horse before Lan wraps a firm arm around her. “No, we’ll find her, a channeler needs to go after her in case she gets sick on the way back.” Lan says but Nynaeve doesn’t listen and bites down hard on Lan’s arm making him drop her and tries to grad the horn of her saddle again before dual weaves of air pull her down. “I will go after her as soon as I know more about the girl.” Liandrin says firmly. “Mandragoran is right, chances are she’ll need a channeler to help her through the first bouts of sickness. Unless of course this isn’t her first time channeling, in that case I need to know.” the Red sister says firmly and Nynaeve looks as if she’s saving up spit but nods anyway. 

…

“Kerene, what the fuck were you doing in Two Rivers? I am Red Ajah! I am your spy! She’s Ta’veren at the very least! B-but being able to channel Saidin of all things! You know what that means!” Liandrin hisses as soon as they are in Kerene’s private tent. In moments Moiraine is also in the tent. “Alanna and four others are holding him, sisters, no worries in that regard. You should also learn to ward your quarters Kerene.” she says and Liandrin looks at her. “She was doing an errand for you, wasn’t she?” she says her voice full of hatred. “Yes, she was, I was not expecting her to find what we were looking for though.” Moiraine responds and Kerene sighs. 

“Moiraine and another sister, and Liandrin please, mi dival, do not ask who, overheard a foretelling that foretold the rebirth of the Dragon Reborn, I found out a decade or so ago and offered to help. After all I am one of the last of Tamra’s searchers. Liandrin, I really need your discretion on this, I am being serious, this has about the same consequences for Moiraine as our relationship or you’re being a spy for the Black.” Kerene says and Liandrin sits down slowly, clearly thinking. “I am going to need a bit more reassurance on whether she is Black Ajah or not.” Moiraine says icily. “By the light and hope of my salvation and rebirth I am not a member of the Black Ajah and never have been. Although I did have to reswear my original oaths, which by the way is a pain in the ass.” Liandrin says smoothly and Moiraine looks at her for a moment before nodding. 

“How can I help, Kerene?” Liandrin asks. “We need to send someone after her, she channelled Saidar, but there was gaps, I don’t know if one of us can shield her on our own, but, well Liandrin I think it might be better for you to go, you do have a talent for talking people down, especially female channelers, I’ve seen you do it.” Moiraine says and Liandrin nods. “Maybe Alanna?” Kerene suggests and holds a hand up to stop a rebuttal. “She is good at taking girls in, I know you were friends as novices and accepted. And your partner trusts he- FUCK.” Kerene says suddenly and Liandrins eyes goes wide. “The Amyrlin Seat Moiraine! Sister if you get found out! I am still bound by my oaths! I cannot lie to the supreme council! If anyone finds out you’ll both be stilled! Hell you might be killed!” Liandrin says, showing a concern she rarely does. “I know that Liandrin!” Moiraine snaps. “And Alanna is out of the question I will not jeapordize her in that manner, Siuan and I decided on that long ago. Leane, maybe Myrelle, but not Alanna, she- her attachment to Ivhon and Maxism will be her down fall.” Moiraine says firmly and Liandrin thinks for a moment before nodding. “Can you manage without me? And can either of you spare your warder? Maybe we can pass it off as trying to gain Cordelia’s trust?” she says getting up and pacing. “I might be able to tie off a weave to limit her ability to channel, maybe the Saidin aspect, probably not the Saidar aspect, that would likely diminish my own abilities too much and with the Whitecloaks out in force… No, I won’t be able to shield her not without help…” Liandrin stops and snaps suddenly. “Stepin is mooning over her isn’t he?” she asks and Kerene snorts. “A little bit, yes.” she says and Liandrin nods. “I’ll take him with me, it might be easier for you to go, but I can claim that he is just there so that I can gain her trust. Maybe a week tops, depends, a shire horse can go forever without stopping as long as the pace is steady.” 

Liandrin stops her ramble and pinches her cheeks roughly and bites her lips, she looks in the small mirror before scowling. Shrugging she storms from the tent muttering about stupid Greens and mysterious Blues. “You! Kerene wants you to accompany me to get the Girl. Too many Whitecloaks around for comfort.” she says gruffly and begins saddling her horse.

Jörg Naeve & Quantas.

Medium Tour II

CSI*** Spangenberg ‘18

© by me

Little Nut

(A restructured Fairy Tale) Once there were two daughters of a wealthy family. Both were as pale as birchwood, and as beautiful and as prideful of their beauty as songbirds. Each of them strove to become yet more beautiful than the other, through all the arts they could put their hands to, and through all the deeds they thought might give them greater appeal.

The eldest thought that showing off wisdom and kindness would surely make her more loved, and so she cultivated her knowledge in the sacred grove near to the family lands, and was generous and fair to those seeking work in the enterprises of the family. And she became wise and kind, forgetting that it was only a pretence at the start, though she cared for her own beauty no less for all that. When the time came to choose a name, she named herself Naeve.

The younger thought that the air of the forbidden and the cloak of mystery would surely make her more enticing, and so she dared to go into deep crypts and cursed places, breaking seals without cause and learning what terrible things she might learn there. Hidden and isolated, she became arrogant and spiteful; when her naming day came, she called herself Valda.

Naeve sought to marry, and after a year of attendance at every dance and gather, had her choice of a thousand proposals. From these she chose the king of a neighbouring tribe. The people of that tribe celebrated, for she was known for her justice among her own - and because ever since she had made plain her desire to be courted, there had been hot competition among suitors, for she was known for her beauty.

Valda, who dwelled at that time in the bosom of a shattered ruin with the cursed spirit of that place, heard of this wedding, and was not pleased. Her ally the spirit, pleased by her spite, shared with her some power and bid her do with it as she would.

So it was that Valda attended Naeve on the wedding night, as the new husband and wife slept. From the shadows, Valda came to their bedside, and whispered a curse in the ear of her sister. You shall have a child right quick, she said, but only one in all your life. She shall share none of your beauty, and after she comes you will wither and die, and I shall become the beauty that all speak of. And with that, the younger sister left the elder, going back into the shadows from which she had come.

Naeve, who had wakened to the whisper and knew it for the curse it was, went in that same night to the sacred grove where she had studied so long. In terror and desperation, she begged of the wise and of the grove itself that they give her aid and break this curse. The wise had no help to offer, and when they consulted the spirit of the grove, it told them that the curse could not be broken.

But, the grove-spirit told them, it could bless the child with strengths all the same, to last through the time to come.

Could it, Naeve asked of the spirit, grant the child at least a little beauty as well?

At this, the grove was much amused, and answered back that it could grant that in plenty, but that the beauty of the child would share nothing in common with the beauty of her mother, just as the curse had said.

Let her have yours then, Naeve said; if my skin is pale as birch, let hers be as dark as walnut. If my eyes are the crystal pools that men praise, let her have eyes as green as your leaves. If I curve as the willow does in a hundred foolish poems, let her have the strength of oaks instead. If I am a trophy to be won, let her be a champion to win trophies of her own.

Hearing this, the spirit of the grove was no longer amused, but solemn, and said, it shall be so. And though Naeve did not know it, she had given her child another parent, for the grove gave much of itself to the child.

So it was; the girl was born nine months later, and all were amazed. Not least of those amazed was her father, who wondered if his wife had had another lover just before their time together. But this Naeve could not tell him, for she had kept all this a secret and had withered and died in childbed. And the wise would not tell him, for Naeve had sworn them to silence on these matters, so that she might at least have a few months of happiness.

The king called the girl Little Nut, that being good enough until she should be grown enough to choose her own name. He never ceased to wonder if she had another father in the world, but he resolved to raise her regardless, and loved her as a father should.

The secret that Naeve had kept, though, bore bitter fruit some years later. For none knew to fear when Valda made her return, all in pretence of travel in far places. Valda charmed the people with her mystery, and one of those she charmed was the widower king.

When Valda married the king and became queen, she played gently on the king's uncertainty. She cannot be your daughter, said Queen Valda; love her, of course, but remember that you are her caretaker, not her natural father. Perhaps a little distance would be wise? And if Naeve had made a mistake in keeping a secret, then Valda had made one too, in not seeking to discover what her elder had done about the curse. For it was through those whispers of making a little distance that Little Nut was sent to be educated, as her mother had been educated, in the sacred grove.

Even as they raised Little Nut and educated her, the wise did not break their vow of secrecy. But they did teach Little Nut all the ways to consult the spirit of the grove, which had made no such promise. The grove warned Little Nut to be wary of the new queen, and told her that when she had bested seven warriors in one day, it would tell her the whole of the story of her birth and the all the secrets it held. In this way, it hoped, it would set her on the course her mother had wanted.

To know the secrets of your own life is a powerful bolster to action. When she was thirteen, Little Nut bested five warriors in one day - not yet seven, but growing close. And the common folk began to say to one another, she will be a champion.

Queen Valda heard of this feat, and knew fear, for it meant that one day a mighty warrior might grow, and learn cause to hate her. So she sent a gift to Little Nut, as if from the king, of smoked meat and dried apples and hard cheese; the rations many champions carry when they travel. Little Nut thought this very fine, and ate of it - but it was terribly poisoned, and Little Nut fell sick of it. Had she not been born to the strength of the grove itself, she surely would have died.

For three years, Little Nut lay sick, breathing but otherwise not stirring, and the wise built a bier and lifted her onto it, and the grove itself mourned. In that same time, her aunt Queen Valda was busy, busy; the king died of being thrown by a horse that had never spooked before, and his guards were replaced, one by one, with grim soldiers in great masks.

And then one day, Queen Valda received word that the spirit of the grove was wakeful, and that it had taken on form as a hunter. Further, that in that form, it had found some other ally, and borrowed magic to cleanse the poison from Little Nut, and was returning home even then to wake her.

Queen Valda then saw the truth, that it must be the spirit of the grove that was responsible for the aspect and power of Little Nut. And if it were responsible, and if it cared enough to seek a remedy, then it might have further plans. So Queen Valda sent her elite guards to the grove, to finish what she had started with her poisoned gift. These elites went with speed, and cut down those of the wise who stood outside the grove. But they were not swift enough, for as they arrived, they saw the grove-spirit, in its form as a hunter, breathing life and power back into Little Nut.

It was then that Little Nut bested seven warriors in one day. It was then that she learned the secrets of her life. And it was then that she chose her name, and became Yrail. But when Yrail gathered the people and raised them to take the hall of the queen, they found it empty. The queen was not there to face them, or stand for justice; she had fled before their coming.

Yrail went then, into the wood, to hunt the queen her aunt, and bring her to account.

She had many adventures, and some of them I may tell you in time. She has brought justice to many of the cruel, and cast down many who were high, but never have I heard that she found out Valda from that day to this one.

But all this was not so long ago; for all that I know, she pursues her aunt even now.

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CSI5*

(c) by me