Fanfic:Jerid's Great Stair
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Yellow Ajah Weave: Panic nearly seized Jerid as he felt increasingly flushed. The cough almost seemed to grow worst, but he stood firm, his gold-green eyes echoing a calm that as he adopted the Flame and the Void. Grasping saidin, he focused his mind on the task at hand, focusing on the number that had flashed in the distance, the numeral already scorched into memory. The number four.
It's like the Waste, Jerid. The need for water, when you were on the verge of collapse. Even as the thought touched his mind, he wove the threads Water and Air to filter water into his mouth, to sooth the choking. As moisture entered his mouth to quell the choking and ease his parched throat, Jerid wove flows of Fire and Air about the floor around him, carefully drawing away heat and cooling the area about him.
The pain in his throat lessened, the nausea eased, and so did Jerid's mind. And then the world shifted???
Yellow Ajah Step: ???and he stepped into the lavishly decorated chambers of an Murandy manor. The man at his side, a servant dressed in Cairhienin attire was pulling his sleeve, urging him toward the nearby curtained bed. Jerid could hear a fit of coughing coming from inside the curtains, and he could see two other people attending a to a figure struggling to sit up.
???Please, Master Walker, you must see to him immediately," the servant said, his crisp accent touched with concern. It was not normally like Cairhienin to show much emotion, as it proved a disadvantage in the Game.
But why him? Because Aden was summoned back to the Tower, he thought. When one???s own Ajah Head issued such an order, one did not disobey. That left Jerid as the only Healer amongst the Tower party aiding in the diplomatic proceedings between Cairhienin and Murandian parties.
As Jerid approached the bed and the Cairhienin noble, the coughing grew worse. Both servants stepped aside as he drew aside the curtains. The haggard face he saw was paler than normal, and the man was sweating, as if a fever had caught him.
???I don???t need Healing," the man rasped between fits of coughing. Jerid suppressed a sigh, trying to decide which was the worse patient, stubborn Cairhienin nobles or other Healers. Either way, if the man did not get assistance, it would likely grow worse. And it would just enrage the other party, or worse, give them an unfair advantage in negotiations. But he could not Heal this man if he did not wish it, not without consent. Otherwise Aden would skin him alive.
???My Lord," Jerid said calmly, his expression as smooth as marble, ???you must, if you are to conduct these proceedings. Otherwise, they would suspect weakness.??? The noble???s eyes darted up and met Jerid. No Cairhienin would willingly give an opponent an edge in the Game of Houses.
???Very well, do what you have to," he croaked. Jerid nodded, grasping the Source and balancing against the storm that was saidin. With precision that came with decades of practice, he wove a mesh of Spirit about the noble to determine what ailed the man.
Immediately Jerid became aware of the nasty cold, a particularly odious thing that had infested the man with the cough and made the man feel as if he were roasting from the inside. Releasing the Delving weave, Jerid did not give any sign of concern; illness and fever had been a common scenario with his children as they grew up, if nothing so serious as this.
???Stay still, my Lord," Jerid murmured as he wove a net of Water, the strands thickened more so than for normal fevers, and as if he were weaving a basket, added flows of Air and Spirit and settled them into the man, flushing out the fever, the fluid in the man???s lungs. The man???s coughing lessened, color returned to the man???s face, and his breathing was much less labored.
???You will need rest," Jerid said as he released the Source. ???But you will be fine to continue the proceedings after.??? The nobleman nodded???
Green Ajah Weave: Jerid stepped forward onto the Green step, his mind set on completely whatever task came next. Even as the looming sense of danger settled about him, he remembered the Master of Soldiers words: that there was be but one way to go: forward.
Even as he did step forward, he felt the rush of air as the axe flew by him, close enough that he swore he could have shaved with the weapon. And then he saw the storm of weapons flying toward him, all of them seeking to spill his blood and turn him into a pin cushion. One knife grazed the side of his neck, threatening to break his concentration. He could feel a small stream of blood trickle down his neck.
A number flashed in the distance, searing into his mind. 16. Saidin filled him then, and he wove the strands of Air. It was a strenuous effort, as Air itself had always been his weakest flow, but he dared not fail. The flows meshed together to form a mat, creating a barrier that deflected the projectiles. As the weapons fell to the ground, Jerid held the weave until he was sure nothing else would seek to claim his life.
The mat of Air dissipated and Jerid stepped forward???
Green Ajah Step: ???and he found himself on the walls of a small Shienarian keep. To either side of him soldiers manned the walls, their bowstrings twanging as arrows flew from them. Below the stone keep swarmed a small horde of Trollocs, their animalist features twisted with the bloodlust and desire to kill and maim.
Light's sweet blessing, he thought. Turning slightly, Jerid's gold-green eyes turned back to the courtyard of the keep, to see several of Shienar's finest sons mounting, already clad in heavy armor and weapons ready. Shienar produced the finest heavy cavalry in the Westlands, but he did not know if they could hold against this number.
Something brought his attention back to the scene outside. In the distance, just beyond the small army of Shadowspawn, he could see two figures in the fading twilight. Dressed in black and armed with heavy swords, sinister and black; in contrast their skin was a clammy white, like the skin of a corpse. Their cloaks hung still despite the icy breeze that sprung from the north. Fades.
???Blood and ashes," he swore under his breath. Just his luck to have arrived just before a Trolloc horde came banging on the gates. Why am I here, anyway he asked himself.
To visit an old friend, who was a Shienarian lord who had friendly relations with the Tower. The noble had expressed some worry about increase in attacks in his region, but then Trolloc attacks were an everyday possibility in this cold land.
???Asha'man!??? The call came from the courtyard, and Jerid turned his attention to the interior. The owner of the voice was his friend's, the man who ruled and commanded this keep. His grizzled face was somber, the braid of hair that grew from his bald pate graying with age.
Jerid was down in the courtyard within the moment, and the lord drew him aside. ???We need your help, Jerid. There are too many Trollocs and we may not be able to keep them at bay. This keep cannot fall.???
???Agreed," Jerid murmured. This keep, while small, served a critical role in the supply routes for the Shienar frontier along the Blightborder. ???There are two Fades in the rear, driving those craven wretches.??? His eyes went to the walls, and the archers. A pity they did not have Two Rivers folk amongst their ranks. ???Eliminate those Lurks and maybe most of the Trollocs will follow.???
Edwyn Malekin had once lectured on the Shadowspawn, and his old mentor's lessons still stuck. Trollocs were connected to a Fade, to give the latter command of their otherwise ravenous troops. And like a snake, if you killed the commander, the troops followed. But not every fist was likely to be linked, and Fades were hard to kill.
???Separate your men," he said. ???Send two thirds of the cavalry through the side entrance and have them attack from the side and rear. Send the remaining men through the main gate, but only after my command.???
???And the Myrddraal???? Jerid grinned. He could rain lighting and fire down upon the Trollocs, but it would do no good. They were too many.
???Ready your men, my Lord.??? Jerid was then vaulting back up the stairs to the walls, saidin already raging inside him. Fades could sense presence of anyone holding the One Power, and it would undoubtedly draw them closer. And they did, driving their horrid kin forward. ???Archers!??? he shouted, drawing the men???s attention, ???focus on the center of the horde.???
And Jerid wove, plucking flows of Air and Fire and forming columns in the air above the horde. Beside Healing and crafting ter???angreal, Jerid's skill lay with battleweaves. They had been something he had learned quite easily as a Soldier and had applied several times over the decades.
The twin columns collided together, and lightning crashed to the earth. A second column formed and a third, and lightning rained down upon the Fades. The two Shadowspawn were moving now, running through the throng with incredible speed and grace. The second bolt hit home, and the Fade collapsed, a smoldering, burned mass that twitched like a snake without its head.
The second Fade followed, cut down by the third bolt of lightning even as arrows pierced its head and the vulnerable spots in its armor. Shrieks began to sound throughout the Trolloc horde as entire sections began falling, convulsing as the link connecting them to Fades were snapped. Not all the Trollocs fell, however, but it put a dent in the ranks.
???Now," he shouted over his shoulder. Below, he could hear the gates opening, and in the distance, he could see the men who had slipped out through the servants??? entrance to the keep coming cutting through the weakened middle.
The counterattack by the defenders was looking like a success. Jerid smiled in relief as he saw many of the rear Trollocs turn, suddenly deprived of the leadership and seeking escape. The keep was safe???
Blue Ajah Weave: ???the Green torches snuffed out and Jerid stepped forward as Blue flames suddenly illuminated the area around the Dedicated. Jerid's gold-green eyes sparkled as he stepped forward, the darkness enveloping everything beyond the Blue step. He felt something overlooking him.
Jerid looked up and at the statue of Lady Justice herself, her eyes blindfolded and her hands holding the scales of justice. It was a symbol that Jerid knew well, as many of his friends over the years had been raised to the Blue. Aviaine and Sela had both chosen that path, and had left their marks on the Ajah. And yet something was amiss???
The scales were unbalanced, as if someone were trying to influence the outcome of some significant issue. Justice needed to be equal, balanced. Otherwise the world would be in chaos. It was crucial, in order to seek the number he needed. But how to balance them?
Jerid grasped the Source, and immediately began to weave a net of Earth, and laced it with thin filaments of Water, wrapping around the instrument of justice. Like any burden, one needed to relieve the pressure. With that in mind, Jerid sunk the weave into the scales, the intent of creating a hollow of the interior on both sides, and fill it with water.
The scales shifted and leveled, and stayed. And the number flashed into the mind's eye???
Blue Ajah Step: ???and he found himself face to face with an older gentleman, an Andoran magistrate dressed in fine wool and linen. He nearly blinked but instead kept to a stony calm expression. He was in Andor, in a small village near the border of Cairhien.
???I am sorry, Asha'man, but there is nothing that can be done," the man said respectfully and sorrowfully. ???Davos killed a respected member of this village, and he must stand accused. And hanging is the only sentence; murder cannot be condoned.???
???I understand, magistrate," Jerid said calmly, his hands folded behind his back. ???But he was acting in the safety of his daughter. That cannot be overlooked.???
They were debating over the fate of a man and his life. Davos, the town???s thatcher, had been found over the body of one the community???s more respected members, a wealthy horse breeder. The victim had been married to Davos???s daughter, a pretty young lass who was still in shock about the entire thing. Davos had claimed he was acting in his child's defense, and that he had interfered in any further abuse that had allegedly been committed against the girl.
The only problem was that there was no physical evidence. Even if Jerid could Delve the girl, the chances were there would be no trace. Or if there were any internal bruising, it would prove little help on Davos???s part.
???What can I do, Asha'man, if there is no evidence," the magistrate countered. ???I knew Cameryn, and while he was no saint, he had the support of the community. And showed no malice to Alisyn in public. He was always the perfect citizen, even in his mannerisms and trade.???
???Not all things are visible, magistrate," Jerid said. ???Some forms abuse are hidden, unable to be revealed.???
The magistrate frowned. ???The Wisdom herself looked at Alisyn, and there are no signs of trauma, and she has been fine, other than?????? He trailed off, his frown deepening.
???Other than what, magistrate???? Jerid asked, his tone suggesting that the other man answer him.
???Alisyn had a miscarriage some time ago, two months into the first term. The Wisdom said that it was by natural causes, that some childhood injury had hampered her ability to have children. And she checked for signs of abuse, as???suspicious she is of men. There were none, and Alisyn and Cameryn always went to the Wisdom weekly. There was a slim chance she would have given birth to an ill child. And there were signs of her being pregnant again, and there are again worries that she would be ill.???
Now Jerid frowned. This Cameryn did not sound the type to be ready for children, not from what he had heard. But if there was no signs of abuse???
???This man was a horse breeder, was he not? Would he not know how to prevent pregnancy or induce miscarriage of any mare that might stand to produce inferior colts????
The magistrate lifted his head sharply. ???Yes, he was trained by his mother in herbs, when she had been the Wisdom. But you would think he would wish to deny himself the pride of being a father???? There was some doubt in his voice.
???You said he was a perfectionist.???
The other man nodded and sighed. ???I will talk with Alisyn, and ask if there was any oddities in her meals. And I will talk to Davos, and order a search of Camryn???s house.??? He held up a finger. ???But this does not excuse Davos from his crime. He must be punished.???
Jerid nodded. ???Yes, he should. But you must remember justice must be tempered by mercy. To sentence this man to death for protecting his daughter is unfair. Commute that sentence; a public lashing, imprisonment, or even exile.???
???If what you suspect about Cameryn is true, I will do that, Asha'man. He will be lashed and he will be exiled. I cannot have a man who spilled blood of another citizen in my town, no matter the reason.???
Jerid nodded. And then came the results, as the day seemed to pass on. The Wisdom had found traces of an herb used to induce miscarriage in the girl???s dinner. Davos had finally had the sense to elaborate what he had found out, that he had caught his son-in-law in the act of administering the vile herb into a meal that the lass enjoyed. Yet the father would still have to face a justice of his own. It was only fair???
Indigo Ajah Weave: The world returned to black and Jerid found himself on the Stairway once more. As his mind readjusted to reality, the Dedicated squared his shoulders, and prepared for what came next. Indigo torches sparked alive, and Jerid's eyes adjusted as he stepped forward.
There was no way but to go forward. Looking back showed doubt, and his unworthiness to become Asha'man. To do that would show, above everything else, that he had proven those few that had believed him worthy of the title wrong. Including Daimenin.
The light began to increase and heat grew as well, forcing the Dedicated to shield his eyes briefly. Even as he stepped forward, he found his path blocked by arcs of purple lightning. Jerid knew that to pass through it would be lethal, as he had wrought lightning himself in the past. But how to defeat it?
In the distance, the number flashed, and Jerid knew what to do. He seized saidin and wove threads of Air and Fire, settling them about the torches to diminish the light and the heat. Even as he did so, another set of flows, this time a net of Fire, Air and Earth and Water settled about him. A mesh of Earth, Water and Fire, with the holes filled with Air, completed a ward to insulate him against being shocked or burned. The weaves were difficult to hold, but the Dedicated endured.
He stepped between the torches, and the ward he had woven acted in dispersing the lightning, letting him pass unharmed and uncooked???.
Indigo Ajah Step: ???And onto the deck of a Seafolk raker. The spray of the ocean touched his face as he gained his balance. For a man accustomed more to the sway of a horse and dry land, he had surprised the Atha???an Miere with his quick adjustment to sea travel.
Not that he was overjoyed with the prospect of ocean travel, but his current mission dictated it. A fast means of conventional travel to Mayne from Illian. Light forbid that there were any Seanchan ships between them and the small city-state.
Now, however, he was looking out at the horizon from the deck, and the storm clouds that was quickly overtaking the ship. This was why he preferred to ride, or more importantly, Travel by skimming or gateway. All about him Sea Folk deckhands milled about, preparing for the storm as if it were just another event in their lives. Dark-skinned men and women, both genders bare-foot and without shirt or blouse, they were like farmers about to harvest wheat, and none took time to give one whit whether or not the shorebound was offended by the women???s lack of shirt.
Wind and rain whipped about them and waves splashed about below them, enough to make most lose their lunch at the sight of a violent sea. For a moment he considered trying to soothe the storm, but he thought better of it. He had no skill in Cloud Dancing, and it would just be disastrous if he tried. And it might throw off the fact that he was something more than what he claimed to be, a simple Altaran merchant. It did no good to tell anyone he was a channeler, or from the Grey Tower. Light knew that the former did not sit well with most people, even after the taint had been cleansed from saidin. Only the Sailmistress knew what he was.
The ship heaved slightly and Jerid had to grasp the side of the ship to keep his balance. A few tattooed covered sailors snickered as they passed. Light send that they might one day ride a horse, he thought to himself; it would be amusing to see.
The youthful looking man straightened, and nearly fell on his backside as the ship listed once more. Then he felt goosebumps rise up across his arms and shoulders. He looked about, knowing by experience that a woman was holding the True Source. His green eyes locked onto a young woman at the forward section of the sleek ship.
No sooner than he drew a conclusion then winds started to let up, the clouds started to dissipate. Such a massive storm???and it was passing if as if the Creator had deigned to stretch out his hand to shelter the ship. Soon the storm was passing them by, and rays of sun filtered through the fading clouds.
Jerid moved ever so slowly, taking time to chat with otherwise closed-mouthed sailors, until he had reached the young woman. She had not heard his steps, the advantage of an old thief like himself, and it allowed him a brief chance to study her. She was young, attractive, and with four earrings pierced into her ears, marked her as a Clan Windfinder, and yet she couldn???t be more than two and twenty years old.
Suddenly aware of Jerid, she turned her black eyes sharply to look at him. ???May I help you, Master Walker???? she asked sharply. Sea Folk were always touchy with the shorebound. And from what little interaction he had had with this woman, she did not warm up to them quickly either.
Jerid held up his hands and murmured, ???No, no, Windfinder. I was just marveling at how quickly the storm went just after it had overcome us.??? The Windfiner's eyes narrowed slightly.
???This ship is fast, and he can outrun most storms," she said slowly, turning back to the horizon.
???And most storms like that usually envelope any ship, no matter how fast. It takes Talent and skill," he replied, stressing Talent. Jerid knew potential when he smelled it; this girl was strong and she should have been dressed in Novice white.
???And your point, Asha'man???? Jerid found it hard to conceal his surprise. ???You would think the Sailmistress would not have told me about a channeler on board? You must remember it was I who approved of your gift of passage.???
???My point is, Wavefinder, that you have a great talent and skill that would benefit more than just one ship," he said as he laid his hands on the rail of the ship. He was on thin ice, he knew, to even dare suggest that any Sea Folk set foot on dry land. It was much like asking an Aes Sedai her age.
And this woman???s eyes were like knives as she looked at him again. But they were also filled with a bit of curiosity. ???What do you mean," she demanded.
???The Grey Tower," he murmured. ???It would allow for the proper guidance and training of any channeler, and you would also be able to instruct others in Cloud Dancing, as you are obviously one of the most skilled I have seen.???
A smile touched the woman???s mouth, but was gone as quick as it had formed. His gold-green eyes danced. ???The Sailmistress would not approve, unless it was by some miracle you could convince her. And what if I decide I am against it????
???Bargains are made every day, are they not???? Jerid responded, meeting the woman???s gaze. ???I am sure there would be something that would appeal to the Sailmistress???s approval of your going to the Tower.???
The Windfinder smiled faintly, as if she were open to listen more. ???If she approves, then perhaps I will be more amenable to consider something new.???
Now Jerid smiled???
Brown Ajah Weave: ???and the world vanished as Jerid stepped from the Indigo step and onto the Brown. Gone was the spray of the ocean and the unsettling stomach, and the eyes of that striking Windfinder. Instead, it was replaced with the musty feeling that came with being in the Brown Ajah Halls.
Before him, on a pedestal lay a dusty, aged book, and within, the number he needed to search for. Reaching it, the Dedicated opened it, only to find the first page he touched dissolving into a cloud of dust much older than he was. Coughing, Jerid withdrew his hands, knowing that should he proceed, the entire volume would collapse. And it would take time to decipher the language. But the dust continued to rise the area around him, filling his nostrils and lungs.
Seizing saidin, Jerid acted quickly. Threads of Spirit and Water wrapped around the aging tome, sinking into the pages in an attempt to arrest the decay of the book and preserve it. And then he snatched the dust from the air with a weave of Air and Water, returning the moisture to the air and giving some small relief to his nostrils.
And then ever so gingerly, he thumbed through the book, remembering his lessons on the Old Tongue as he searched for number. He turned yet another page???and there it flashed, the number he sought???
Brown Ajah Step: ???and Jerid found himself in the basement of the Tower, very near where the foundation of the Old Tower resided. The ball of cool light in his hand illuminated the area, as did the light of the young Aes Sedai near him.
???Are you sure it's hear, Ariel???? he asked. The Brown Sister looked at him with a wry smile and nodded. They had been in the basements for over an hour now, looking through old rooms for a needle in a haystack.
Ariel had enlisted Jerid help into finding a particular old tome on an old Talent. She had found out about it while inventorying the a section of the Library???s archives. And she knew that Jerid could not resist learning about some new Talent. She knew that the M???Hael had once taught the man on the subject, and while his interests lay with objects of the Power, Talents was a close second.
And so far, they had only found rooms filled with old records and relics from times past, things that were deemed to be best left out of sight of the general public. In many ways, it was like the museum at Tanchico, only a lot dustier.
Peering into another room, Jerid scanned the area only to find his worst nightmare: a horde of books all piled haphazardly, some open with yellowed pages, others covered with a thick layer of dust. Sighing, he said, ???Over here, Ariel??? and entered the room.
The Aes Sedai entered behind him and swore an oath at what she saw. ???Light, what a mess! I???ll skin whoever left these books to be ruined.??? It was not surprising to hear that from his fellow Sister. While she was more attentive than her brethren, she was still very much a Brown, and the potential loss of knowledge was like speaking the Dark One???s name.
???Skin them later, and I???ll help," he said lightly, his mind already set on the task at hand. ???What exactly are we looking for, by the way? Did the reference give any names or titles, or description????
???No," the Sister said, ???just that it was somewhere in this Light-forsaken place. Other than that it said it had something to do with caressing or some such thing.???
Jerid frowned as he set the ball of light to one side, fixed it to the wall and began to gingerly open one book. An old copy of Jain Farstridder, which he put to the side. Light forbid that it would be easy to find. Book after book, tome after dusty tome, and they came across nothing.
???Burn those scribes," Ariel muttered as she laid down a particularly old leather-bound journal. ???All that is in here are books on nations, old musings, and a recipe book detailing the fixings for some concoction??????
Jerid lifted his head and looked over at the Aes Sedai. ???Remember, Sister, it was your idea, not mine.??? She shot Jerid a look that would have made flowers wilt. ???Let me see the recipe book. At least I can give something to Donovan so he can prepare something for the M???Hael?????? Light knew that the Mistress of the Kitchen would skin him alive if she found out; she was not exactly pleased with the idea that someone cooked for the M???Hael personally.
???You???re a brave soul, Brother Jerid," she said, handing him the book. Jerid scanned the open book. ??? ???Gently churn the Water, so that it does not leave a queasy look????????? He kept reading, noting the detail. After a moment he looked up and grinned. ???I don???t think Donovan will find this book very useful.??? He received a quizzical look.
???Tell me, was there ever a Brown Aes Sedai who loved to cook or write a rather detailed and odd recipe? Because if so, she surely did apply it to other things as well.???
Ariel???s expression brightened and she nearly grinned from ear to ear. ???Brother Donovan can suffer for a lack of new collections. I doubt he would be in the mood to study new Talents??????
Grey Ajah Weave: The world dissolved and Jerid stepped forward into darkness again as the Brown torches snuffed out. Four steps were behind him, and only three remained. The Grey torches sparked and Jerid found himself holding a treaty.
It was an old treaty between Illian and Tear, a nation at war with each other more times than even Andor and Cairhien. He knew that somewhere in its contents was the number he needed. And yet, he could not find it, though he could count the number of blood stains on it.
Instead there was a list the names of delegates each nation would exchange, among the number of recent border violations that had been committed since the Aiel War. Light alone knew what would have continued if the Lord Dragon had not taken both nations.
And yet fighting persisted, if at the political level. Like a flaming Cairhienin noble, both sides dabbled in the Great Game, and like children with a sword, they ended up cutting off their own feet in the process???
The list??? Jerid's mind raced as he added up the number of delegates from each nation and divided it by the number of conflicts between the nations???Two??? It matched the blood stains on the treaty. Two delegates for each nation, to attempt to mend differences for as long as it took.
The Source flooded Jerid as he nodded to himself, and he wrapped threads of Earth, Water and Air about the stains. They began to dissolve, leaving only the text remaining.
???Old wounds must be healed, and so too must hatred be cleansed," he murmured to himself. Even if it started with just the treaty???
Grey Ajah Step: Jerid eyed both women standing in front of him, their black eyes scrutinizing every expression that he might make. He was loath to admit it to himself, but he would rather walk into Shayol Ghul holding the Source than be sitting here in front of the two women.
Still, he didn???t have much of a choice. It was not like he could Travel to Tear, not without attracting the attention of the Seanchan. They were already suspicious of him to begin with; he was thankful that it had been decades since he had last been here, and that his face was something of a faint memory.
???You would want the gift of passage," the woman sitting behind the desk asked. She was just short of her middle years, her curly black hair showing a few white hairs. Four rings studded either ear, denoting a Clan Wavemistress and Sailmistress of this ship. The other woman, a good decade younger, could only be her Windfinder, the medals and eight earrings denoting the rank.
Jerid nodded and murmured, ???I would, Sailmistress, but only if granted. I seek fast passage to Tear, which is where I understand you are heading.???
???Why should we allow an Asha'man such a gift," the older woman asked. ???Especially one with your???reputation. It would not do to be found out we granted one with your history with the Seanchan passage, given our own tenuous relationship with them.???
???If they suspected I was in Ebou Dar, Sailmistress, they would have arrested me already," he said simply, calmly. It did not convince the two women.
???What of their'seekers for Truth. They are notorious for their deception and ability to gain access to even the hardest places," the Sailmistress stated with a casual tone. ???Why should we not simply hand you over????
???Because that would only bring a sul???dam and her damane close to your ship, Mistress, something I would not wish.??? His eyes shifted toward the Windfinder. ???I have no wish to see anyone leashed. They will insist on coming aboard.???
Both women exchanged looks, as if to acknowledge Jerid's point. He seized upon that fact. ???And it would leave me indebted to this ship, as certain members of his crew showed aid in keeping secrets.??? Again his eyes were on the Windfinder. He was careful enough to remember how Sea Folk referred to their ships.
???A bargain then," the Sailmistress mused. ???That would keep secret what you suspect. How would we know you would not betray that information????
Jerid tilted his head. ???Because I would lose face if I were to betray such a thing, something I would rather die than do.??? There was no deception in his voice, no careful wording that came with dancing around the First Oath. Just blunt honesty.
Both women seemed to take on a whole new observation of the man sitting before him. ???And what would you give in return for the gift of passage???? asked the Windfinder, who spoke for the first time since the meeting.
Jerid reached for the satchel next to him and pulled from it a small wooden panel, two feet across and made of walnut. In the surface was expertly carved a relief pattern of a dolphin amongst the ocean waves, the detail so fine it almost seemed real save for the fact that it was wood.
???This gift I give, something of my own creation," he said, offering the panel to the Windfinder. The woman took it in her graceful fingers, and quickly and shrewdly evaluated it, a slight look of approval in her eyes. She looked at the Sailmistress with a quick nod.
The Sailmistress stood gracefully and intoned formally, ???The welcome of my ship to you, Asha'man, and the grace of the Light be upon you until you leave his decks.???
Jerid stood and bowed slightly in acceptance of the gift. And then he pressed his fingertips to his lips, and then reached across to touch the Windfinder's. Both women blinked. ???A bargain, the safety of my secret from the Seanchan for keeping a secret of those who give me aid?????? After all, he was oath bound to keep his promises???
White Ajah Weave: The cabin faded and Jerid found himself stepping forward on the Stairway, his eyes adjusting once more to area. There was but one step remaining. And Jerid found himself realizing that the hardest step lay before him.
You would not have made it this far if you were not worthy, he thought to himself. There was no doubt in his eyes, only commitment. He stepped forward even as the White torches flared up???
???and in the distance engraved words flared, all too small to read by regular vision alone. All it would take would to touch the Source and he would be able to read them???but it was not yet time for that. Instead, Jerid took another step and found the stairway about him suddenly dissolve.
Panic threatened to crash through the barriers of calm even as he sought the cool, emotionless serenity of the Void. He fed the panic to the Flame even as the pathway started to dissolve around him with each step.
Almost immediately Jerid stepped backward, though his focus was still forward. He dared not look back. He knew not why, only that a faint memory told him that it would mean failure.
As he took yet another step backward, Jerid realized the pattern of the pathway was reforming yet again, forming a completely set of different steps. Some areas were emptiness, others white.
There was a pattern here amidst the chaos. If there was anything that Jerid was good at, it was discerning what lay among such chaotic throngs. Most of his youth spent as a thief and decades more living in a place so rife with rumors and half-truths had granted him that much. Taking a deep breath, Jerid took a step forward onto the nearest white tile???
???and the pathway shifted yet again, even as the tiles began to shift, robbing him of the nearest sure footing. A step back and the pattern reformatted, curving as it did.
It looked familiar???the symbol that had been fractured, two halves of the whole. The Seal of the Aes Sedai before the Breaking???
Jerid seized the Source then, letting the icy fire of saidin enter his veins. The letters still seemed too far away to read, even with his Power-enhanced vision. But it mattered not. He stepped forward onto the nearest stone, a short hop away???and watched as the pathway shifted yet again.
Even as it did, Jerid wove flows of Spirit, Fire, and Air together into a ball. Air and Fire to give off light, and Spirit to reveal what was hidden. The area was bathed in cool light, and the way was set for him to step forward. The white stones contoured in a sinuous line, matching the emptiness parallel to it.
With each step, he grew more certain the steps he chose would not vanish. The text grew closer and the number flashed into view???
White Ajah Step: ???Are you serious, Oric???? Jerid said in surprise. He stood looking at a fellow Brother, who sat with a blank expression.
They were both in the man???s chambers in the White Ajah Hall, and away from any prying ears. Short of anyone eavesdropping with the One Power, none would hear the conversation that bordered on blasphemy.
???Yes, Jerid, I am," Oric said, his brown eyes raising to meet Jerid's gold-green gaze. ???It is hard to argue the logic in it, to admit to the Shadow may prevail.???
Jerid tilted his head, torn between hearing the man out or seeking out the M???Hael and the First Reasoner. Oric was a friend, or as close a friend as Whites would allow.
???And what logic might that be, Oric???? he said carefully, sitting down across from the man.
???The Dark One???s touch influences that Pattern with each passing day, and the world is slowly slipping into chaos as nations begin to crumble. Even the Dragon Reborn is having trouble maintaining his grasp on his armies. It is only logical to side with something more structured. The Light is fading.???
Jerid could only blink. The man made sense, but only to a point.
???And one must remember that the world is darkest before the dawn, but there will always be a dawn," he responded simply. Oric???s eyebrows furrowed.
???And what if nothing but darkness extends," the other Asha'man said.
???That would be impossible, Brother. Shadows cannot exist without light, and complete darkness would defeat the Dark One???s purpose. How else would Fades be able to travel???? he asked with a grin. Beneath the humor, however, there was a serious tone that had become part of Jerid personality. In the old days, he would have merely throttled the man for such a rash thought.
A faint smile touched Oric???s mouth, but was gone just as quickly. ???But still??????
???Still nothing. Even the darkest regions hold some smolder of hope, and so long as that is believed, so long as that is kept alive, those smoldering ashes can be fanned and sparked. One person can make that difference. Besides, this Tower is united even as the Shadow fights amongst itself. Even in the dimmest moments, we can claim unification. That is what will make us prevail.???
Oric looked up and tilted his head. ???Perhaps you are right??????
Jerid stood and walked over to the man, patting him on the shoulder. ???I only speak what I know to be true, my friend.??? Oric nodded quietly, a new light entering his eyes???
And then the world faded???
