Towers of Midnight

by Robert Jordan; Brandon Sanderson

  It wasn't often that a murderer was so open about what he had done. Galad heard the rasp of a sword being drawn behind him, and raised a hand. "Child Bornhald! You will control yourself!"

  "Two Children of the Light, Shadowspawn?" Bornhald spat. "And what of my father?"

  "I had nothing to do with his death, Bornhald," Aybara said. "Geofram was killed by the Seanchan, unfortunately. For a Whitecloak, he seemed like a reasonable man, though he was planning to hang me."

  "He was to hang you for the murders you just confessed to," Galad said calmly, shooting a glance at Bornhald. The man snapped his sword back in its sheath, but his face was red.

  "They weren't murders," Aybara said. "They attacked me. I fought back."

  "That is not what I have heard," Galad said. What game was this man playing? "I have sworn testimony that you were hiding underneath a cleft in the rock. When the men asked you to come out, you jumped out screaming and attacked them without provocation."

  "Oh, there was provocation," Aybara said. "Your Whitecloaks killed a friend of mine."

  "The woman who was with you?" Galad asked. "From what I hear, she escaped safely." He'd been shocked when Bornhald had mentioned that name. Egwene al'Vere. Another woman who seemed to prefer dangerous company.

  "Not her," Perrin said. "A friend named Hopper. And after him, a companion of his. They were wolves."

  The man was condemning himself further! "You make friends of wolves, known to be creatures of the Shadow?"

  "Wolves aren't of the Shadow," Aybara said. "They hate Shadowspawn as much as any man I've known."

  "And how do you know this?"

  Aybara said nothing further. There was more there. Byar said this man seemed able to command wolves, run with them, like a wolf himself. That testimony was part of what had persuaded Galad that battle was the only recourse. It seemed that Byar's words had not been exaggeration.

  But there was no need, yet, to dwell on that. Aybara had admitted to murder. "I don't accept the killing of wolves as something to exonerate you," Galad said. "Many hunters slay wolves who attack their flocks or threaten their lives. The Children did nothing wrong. Your attack on

  them, therefore, was unprovoked murder."

  "There was far more to it than that," Aybara said. "But I doubt I'll convince you of that."

  "I cannot be convinced of something that isn't true," Galad said.

  "And you won't leave me alone, either," Aybara said.

  "We are at an impasse, then," Galad said. "You have confessed to crimes that I, as a servant of justice, must see righted. I cannot walk away. You see why I felt further parley was useless?"

  "What if I were willing to stand trial?" Perrin asked.

  Aybara's bold-nosed wife rested a hand on his shoulder. He reached up and laid his hand on it, but did not turn away from Galad.

  "If you will come and accept punishment from us for what you've done . . " Galad said. It would mean execution. Surely the creature wouldn't give himself up.

  At the back of the pavilion, a group of servants had arrived and were preparing tea. Tea. At a war parley. Obviously Aybara had little experience with this kind of thing.

  "Not punishment," Aybara said sharply. "A trial. If I am proven innocent, I go free and you—the Lord Captain Commander—instruct your men to stop hounding me. Especially Bornhald and that one behind you who growls like a pup seeing his first leopard."

  "And if you are proven guilty?"

  "That depends."

  "Don't listen to him, my Lord Captain Commander!" Byar said. "He promised to give himself to us once before, then betrayed his word!"

  "I did not!" Aybara said. "You did not fulfill your part of the bargain!"

  Galad slapped the table. "This is useless. There will be no trial." "Why not?" Aybara demanded. "You talk of justice, but won't offer me a trial?"

  "And who would judge it?" Galad asked. "Would you trust me to do so?" Of course not," Perrin said. "But Alliandre can. She's a queen."

  "And your companion," Galad said. "I mean her no insult, but I fear she would acquit you without hearing evidence. Even the Lady First would not be adequate—though I would, of course, trust her word, I fear that my men would not."

  Light, but that woman was beautiful! He glanced at her for a moment, and found her blushing as she regarded him. It was faint, but he was sure he saw it. He found himself blushing as well.

  "The Aes Sedai, then," Aybara said.

  Galad tore his eyes away from Berelain and looked at Aybara, giving him a flat stare. "If you think that a judgment by one from the White Tower would satisfy my men, you know little of the Children of the Ligh Perrin Aybara."

  Aybara's eyes grew hard. Yes, he knew that. It was too bad. A trial would have been a tidy end to this. A serving woman approached the table with two cups of tea, but there was no need. This second parley was over.

  "You're right, then," Aybara said, looking frustrated. "This meeting was pointless."

  "No," Galad said, stealing another glance at Berelain. "Not pointless for me." He knew more of Aybara's strength; that would help him in battle. Beyond that, it had been right to delay fighting for a short time to make certain it was needed. There was still plenty of light in the day for the fighting to proceed.

  But . . . what of that woman . . . the Lady First? He forced himself to look away. It was difficult.

  Galad stood, and bowed to Alliandre, then to Berelain. He moved to leave.

  Then he heard a gasp. Oddly, it came from the serving woman who had brought the tea. Galad glanced at her.

  It was Morgase.

  Galad froze, completely still. He'd been trained by swordmaster after swordmaster never to let his surprise overwhelm him, but at that moment, their careful training was for naught. That was his stepmother. That red-gold hair he had tugged as a child. That face, so beautiful and strong. Those eyes. Those were her eyes.

  A ghost? He had heard the stories. Manifestations of the Dark One's evil returning the dead to life. But nobody else in the pavilion seemed uneasy, and this woman was too real. Hesitantly, Galad reached out and touched the apparition on the cheek. The skin was warm.

  "Galad?" she said. "What are you doing here? How—"

  She cut off as he seized her in an embrace, causing those around him on both sides to jump in surprise. She jumped, too. She lived! How?

  I killed Valda, Galad thought immediately. Killed him for the death of my mother. Who is not dead. I have done evil.

  No. Valda had deserved to die for the assault on Morgase. Or was that part true? He had spoken to Children sure that it was, but they'd also been sure she was dead.

  He would sort that out later. Right now, he needed to stop embarrassing himself in front of his men. He released his stepmother, but she kept hold of his arm. She looked dazed. He had rarely seen her that way.

  Perrin Aybara had stood up and was watching them with a frown. "You know Maighdin?"

  "Maighdin?" Galad asked. She wore a simple dress and no jewelry. Was she trying to hide as a servant? "Aybara, this is Morgase Trakand, Defender of the Realm, Protector of the People, High Seat of House Trakand. She is your queenl"

  That brought a stillness to the pavilion. Aybara scratched at his beard thoughtfully. His wife watched Morgase with eyes wide, either shocked or

  angry.

  "Maighdin," Aybara said, "is this true?"

  She lifted her chin, staring Aybara in the eyes. How could they not see the Queen in her?

  "I am Morgase Trakand," she said. "But I have renounced my throne in favor of Elayne. Before the Light, I will never again claim the crown."

  Galad nodded. Yes. She must have feared that Aybara would use her against Andor. "I'm taking you back to my camp, Mother," Galad said, still watching Aybara. "Then we can discuss the way you were treated by this man."

  She turned level eyes on Galad. "An order, Galad? Have I no say in the matter?"

  He frowned, leaning in and speaking in a whisper. "Does he have others captiv
e? What leverage does he have over you?"

  She shook her head and replied softly, "This man is not what you think he is, Galad. He's rough-cut, and I certainly don't like what he's doing to Andor, but he is no friend of the Shadow. I have more to fear from your . . . associates than from Perrin Aybara."

  Yes, she did have reason to distrust the Children. Good reason. "Will you come with me, my Lady? I promise you that you may leave and return to Aybara's camp at any time. Whatever you suffered from the Children in the past, you will be safe now. I vow this."

  Morgase gave him a nod. "Damodred," Aybara said, "wait a moment."

  Galad turned, laying his hand on his sword pommel again. Not as a threat, but a reminder. Many of those in the pavilion had begun to whisper. "Yes?" Galad asked.

  "You wanted a judge," Aybara said. "Would you accept your mother in that position?"

  Galad didn't hesitate. Of course; she'd been a queen since her eighteenth

  nameday, and he had seen her sit in judgment. She was fair. Harsh, but fair.

  But would the other Children accept her? She'd been trained by the Aes Sedai. They'd see her as one of them. A problem. But if it gave a way out of this, perhaps he could make them see the truth.

  "I would," Galad said. "And if I vouched for her, my men would as well."

  "Well," Aybara said, "I'd accept her, too."

  Both men turned to Morgase. She stood in her simple yellow dress, looking more a queen by the moment. "Perrin," she said, "if I sit in judgment, I will not temper my decisions. You took me in when we needed shelter, and for that I am appreciative. But if I decide that you have committed murder, I will not hold back my decision."

  "That will do," Aybara said. He seemed sincere.

  "My Lord Captain Commander," Byar said softly in Galad s ear, sounding fervent. "I fear this would be a farce! He's not said he would submit to punishment."

  "No, I have not," Aybara said. How had he heard those whispers? "It would be meaningless. You think me a Darkfriend and a murderer. You wouldn't accept my word on taking punishment, not unless I was in your custody. Which I won't allow."

  "See?" Byar said, more loudly. "What is the point?"

  Galad met Aybara's golden eyes again. "It will give us a trial," he said, growing more certain. "And legal justification. I'm beginning to see, Child Byar. We must prove our claims, otherwise we are no better than Asu-nawa."

  "But the trial will not be fair!"

  Galad turned to the tall soldier. "Are you questioning my mother's impartiality?"

  The gaunt man froze, then shook his head. "No, my Lord Captain Commander."

  Galad turned back to Aybara. "I ask Queen Alliandre to grant that this trial be legally binding in her realm."

  "If Lord Aybara requests it, I will." She sounded uncomfortable.

  "I do request it, Alliandre," Perrin said. "But only if Damodred agrees to release all of my people that he's holding. Keep the supplies, but let the people go, as you promised me you would before."

  "Very well," Galad said. "It will happen once the trial begins. I promise it. When will we meet?"

  "Give me a few days to prepare."

  "In three days, then," Galad said. "We hold the trial here, in this pavil-

  ion, in this place."

  "Bring your witnesses," Aybara said. "I'll be here.

  CHAPTER

  27

  A Call to Stand

  I am not opposed to questioning the Lord Dragon, Egwene read from the letter as she sat in her study. Indeed, the more absolute a man's power becomes, the more necessary questioning becomes. However, know that I am not a man who gives his loyalty easily, and I h ave given my loyalty to him. Not because of the throne he provided me, but because of what he has done for Tear. Yes, he grows more erratic by the day. What else are we to expect from the Dragon Reborn? He will break the world. We knew this when we gave him our allegiance, much as a sailor must sometimes give his loyalty to the captain who steers his ship straight for the strand. When an unnavigable tempest rises behind, the strand is the only option. Still, your words bring me concern. The destruction of the seals is not something we should undertake without careful discussion. The Lord Dragon charged me with raising him an army, and I have done so. If you provide the gateways you have promised, I will bring some troops to this meeting place, along with the loyal High Lords and Ladies. Be warned, however, that the Seanchan presence to my west continues to weigh heavily upon my mind. The bulk of my armies must remain behind.

  High Lord Darlin Sisnera,

  King of Tear

  beneath the rule

  of the Dragon Reborn

  Rand al'Thor

  Egawene tapped the sheet with one finger. She was impressed—Darlin had committed his words to paper, rather than sending a messenger with them memorized. If a messenger fell into the wrong hands, his words could always be denied. Convicting a man of treason based on the testimony of one messenger was difficult. Words on paper, however . . . Bold. By writing them, Darlin said, "I do not care if the Lord Dragon discovers what I have written. I stand by it."

  But leaving behind the bulk of his army? That would not do. Egwene

  inked her pen. King Darlin. Your concern for your kingdom is well measured, as is your loyalty to the man you follow.

  I know that the Seanchan are a danger to Tear, but let us not forget that the Dark One, not the Seanchan, is our primary concern during these worst of days. Perhaps it is easy to think yourself safe from the Trollocs when so distant from the battle lines, but how will you feel once the cushions ofAndor and Cairhien have fallen? You are separated from the Seanchan by hundreds of miles.

  Egwene paused. Tar Valon had been separated from the Seanchan by hundreds of miles, and had nearly been destroyed. He was right to be afraid, and he was a good king for considering it. But she needed his army at the Field of Merrilor. Perhaps she could offer a way for him to both be safe and help with Rand.

  Illian holds for now, she wrote. And gives you a buffer between the Seanchan and yourself I will provide you with gateways and a promise. If the Seanchan move against Tear, 1 will give you gateways so you can return immediately and defend your nation.

  She hesitated. Chances were good that the Seanchan had Traveling now. Nobody was safe from them, no matter how far or close they might be. If they decided to strike for Tear, even giving Darlin gateways back might not be enough to help.

  She felt a shiver, remembering her own time with the Seanchan, captive as a damane. She loathed them with a hatred that sometimes worried her. But Dariin's support was essential to her plans. She gritted her teeth and continued writing.

  The Dragon Reborn must see our full forces marshaled to oppose his brash intentions. If he sees this as halfhearted, we will never dissuade him from his course. Please come with all of your troops.

  She sanded the letter, then folded and sealed it. Darlin and Elayne were monarchs of two of the most powerful kingdoms. Both were very important to her plans.

  Next she would respond to a letter from Gregorin den Lushenos of Illian.

  She hadn't yet told him directly that she had Mattin Stepaneos at the White Tower, but had hinted at it. She'd also spoken to Mattin himself, letting him know he was free to leave, if he wished. She would not be in the habit of holding monarchs against their will.

  Unfortunately, Mattin was now afraid for his life, should he return. He'd been gone too long, and he viewed Illian as being in the Dragon Re-born's pocket. Which it probably was. What a mess.

  One problem at a time. Gregorin, the steward in Illian, was very hesitant to support her cause—he seemed more intimidated by Rand than Darlin was, and the Seanchan were not a distant concern for him. They were practically pounding on his city gates.

  She wrote Gregorin a firm letter, giving a promise like the one she'd given Darlin. Perhaps she could arrange to keep Mattin away—something both men might want, though she wouldn't let Gregorin know that—in exchange for him bringing his armies northward.

>   Obliquely, she realized what she was doing. She was using Rand's proclamation as a beacon by which to gather and tie the monarchs to the White Tower. They would come to support her arguments against breaking the seals. But in the end, they would serve humankind in the Last Battle.

  A knock came at her door. She looked up as Silviana peeked in. The woman held up a letter. It was curled tightly from having been carried in by pigeon.

  "Your expression is grim," Egwene noted.

  "The invasion has begun," she said. "Watchtowers across the Blight-border go silent, one at a time. Waves of Trollocs advance beneath clouds that boil black. Kandor, Arafel and Saldaea are at war."

  "Do they hold?" Egwene asked with a spike of fear.

  "Yes," Silviana said. "But news is uncertain and piecemeal. This letter—which is from an eyes-and-ears I trust—claims that an assault this massive has not been seen since the Trolloc Wars."

  Egwene took a deep breath. "What of Tarwin's Gap?"

  "I don't know."

  "Find out. Call Siuan in here. She might have more. The Blue network is the most extensive." Siuan wouldn't know everything, of course, but she would have her fingers in it.

  Silviana nodded curtly. She didn't say the obvious—that the Blue network was the Blue Ajah's, not to be preempted by the Amyrlin. Well, the Last Battle was at hand. Some concessions had to be made.

  Silviana closed the door softly, and Egwene picked up her pen to finish her screed to Gregorin. She was interrupted by another knock, this one much rnore hasty. Silviana threw open the door a second later.

  "Mother," she said. "They're meeting. As you said they would!"

  Egwene felt a stab of annoyance. She calmly put down her pen and stood. "Let us be to it, then."

  She walked from her study, pace hurried. In the Keeper's antechamber,

  she passed a pair of Accepted—Nicola, who had just been raised, and

  Nissa. She'd like them both raised to the shawl before the Last Battle.

  They were young, but powerful, and every sister would be needed—even

  one who, like Nicola, had proved to have terrible judgment in the past.

  These two had brought the news about the Hall; the novices and Accepted were among the most loyal to Egwene, but were often ignored by the sisters. For now, they remained behind as Egwene and Silviana hurried toward the Hall.