Mist of Shadows
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Dawn and Reincarnation Part 18
🕑 Added 2019-05-28 04:53:11 +0000 UTC“It’s going to take a while to get used to the heat,” Egwene complained good naturedly as she absently tugged at the neckline of her wool nightgown.
“I’m going to have to thank the maid that packed my silk nightgown, even if it’s a bit scandalous,” Elayne muttered the last part.
“Considering over half the girls on the island don’t even bother with clothes, I doubt anyone is going to call you on it,” Tara pointed out, a touch surprised that Egwene hadn’t already tossed her wool shift.
“Galad will,” Elayne grumbled.
Tara laughed. “Considering you can legally go naked if you want, I doubt it.”
Egwene blushed slightly as she turned and looked at her new friend and remembered why she’d been avoiding looking at her. While Elayne’s silk nightgown hinted at her body, Tara’s color shifting silk nightgown clung to her and was extremely sheer which meant she might as well have been naked. “I’m surprised that Nynaeve didn’t hit anyone with her stick.”
Elayne shook her head. “My mother would come unglued.”
“Sounds like a reason to have some fun,” Tara teased. “We could always head down to the ocean for a swim.”
“Don’t tempt me,” Egwene complained thinking how nice it would feel to go for a swim and cool down.
“Don’t tempt you with what?” Willow asked as she walked in holding a silk shift that was slowly changing colors in one hand and a deck of playing cards in the other.
Elayne turned to look at the red haired girl a couple of years younger than her. “Tara is trying to convince Egwene to go for a late night swim in the ocean.”
“Sounds fun,” Willow teased as she tossed the color changing shift onto Egwene’s bed. “That should be far more comfortable.”
Egwene stared at the color shifting shift as if it was going to bite her. “Nynaeve would explode if she saw me wearing that.”
Willow snickered as she pictured Nynaeve tugging on her braid. “That sounds like an excellent reason to wear it to me.”
“Have you ever been switched by her?” Egwene asked as she ran her fingers over the smooth sheer silk nightgown that felt blessedly cool to the touch unlike her wool shift.
“I’m fairly sure Mom would have lost it if she’d tried provided I hadn’t done something to actually deserve it.”
“How did your talk with the Aes Sedai go?” Tara asked, wanting to change the subject before Egwene dug in her heels about swapping shifts.
Willow smiled smugly as she thought about the horrified expressions the Red sisters had failed to keep off their faces when she’d spun her stories about a world where Saidar was tainted rather than Saiden. “I’m fairly sure that I managed to convince a couple of the Aes Sedai that we can send them to a nightmare world, I’ll let them stew until morning then we’ll send them through the giant ring and see what type of twisted world it creates.”
Elayne shook her head. “What do you have against Aes Sedai?”
Willow snorted. “Beyond them being convinced of their own importance and wanting to control everything? They’re so bound by traditions they never really seem to stop and think.”
“Do you have examples?” Egwene asked rather curious about the Aes Sedai that would be teaching them to channel.
“Take the Oaths, they’re basically worthless. Aes Sedai are so good at lying by twisting the truth or leaving details out that you can’t really trust anything they say. Not using the power as a weapon just means you need to bind someone in threads of air then cut their throat. Not making weapons with the power just helps shadowspawn.”
“How does it help shadowspawn?” Elayne demanded, having grown up hearing about the importance of the three oaths.
“Power-wrought weapons generally speaking don’t cut through armor like butter or do anything amazingly special which means that against normal soldiers a power-wrought sword is just a sword,” Willow explained.
“Power-wrought weapons don’t break,” Elayne pointed out.
“Most swords don’t break every fight which means they’re arguably no better than any other blade at killing people. Not having to sharpen them or replace a bunch of weapons after every battle is nice but on average they don’t win wars against humans.” Willow continued before Elayne could interrupt, “On the other hand, not having your sword hacked to bits against fades and trollocs would save lives. The fact that the Tower banned the creation of something that would help against the shadow for rather flimsy reasons is deeply suspect.”
“I’m sure they had valid reasons at the time,” Elayne argued half heartedly.
Willow snorted. “And yet, they haven’t reconsidered their choice for the better part of two thousand years. Never mind that criminals don’t have to be darkfriends which means Aes Sedai can’t use the power as a weapon against them except in self defense. But yeah, I don’t see a reason to cling to stupid oaths when the ter’angreal that binds them to the Oaths cuts their lifespan in half.”
“Wouldn’t someone have noticed?” Egwene asked, not sure why anyone would want to bind themselves to such stupid oaths.
“It’s considered extremely rude to talk about age between Aes Sedai, that tradition had to come from somewhere. Likely as a backlash from people dying early after they started swearing the Oaths.”
“On that note, we should probably play some cards or try to get some sleep, I vote cards,” Tara cut in before Elayne could argue for the Tower.
“I don’t know how to play,” Elayne admitted, gambling wasn’t exactly something her mother approved of her doing after all.
“Don’t worry, we’ll teach you,” Willow offered with a sparkle in her green eyes as she bounced over to the table and sat down.
“Sounds fun,” Egwene agreed as she looked down at the silk shift, imagining how cool and smooth it would feel on her skin. ‘The only thing my stubbornness is going to do is make it so I can’t sleep. It’s like braiding my hair, I can wear it if I want to.’ She blinked as it sunk in that she didn’t have to care what Nynaeve or anyone on the village council thought ever again if she didn’t want to. “I don’t have to care what anyone thinks.”
“Nope!” Willow agreed.
“Besides, Nynaeve should still be checking all of the pregnant girls,” Tara added, knowing that Nynaeve would be ranting about decorum. She liked the wisdom well enough when she wasn’t being snappy but she needed to loosen up.
‘And the boys should be too busy making friends to worry about me,’ Egwene thought as she glanced at the tent flap then stood up, reached down and grabbed her shift. She pulled the shift over her head after a moment’s hesitation then dropped it on the bed and picked up the silk shift.
Willow grinned as she studied Egwene’s naked body, looking at her cute nipples and full breasts. ‘No wonder Mom always wanted her.’
“You look like Dawn when you’re looking at me like that,” Egwene said as she pulled the silk shift over her head.
“That’s because you’re beautiful,” Willow teased as she glanced between her roommates, feeling like she’d won the lottery. “Best roommates ever.”
Elayne shook her head. “Let’s play cards.”
Tara made a mental note to thank Dawn for the excellent choice of roommates then walked over to the table. “Deal.”
“With pleasure,” Willow replied as she started dealing, looking forward to playing against people she could actually win against even if they weren’t playing for coins, tokens or clothes. ‘Ah, well, there’s always next time.’ She figured it might take a couple of weeks and some alcohol but eventually she’d get her aunt’s alternate into bed.
0o0o0
Dawn was sort of curious what Willow had told the trembling white knuckled naked Aes Sedai the night before because she was staring at the giant ring like she was expecting it to devour her. “Don’t worry, I’m sure they’ll take good care of you.”
Willow had to resist the urge to laugh as she listened to the Aes Sedai’s thoughts spin out of control. If she’d had any illusions about Aes Sedai serenity or competence watching the idiot have a mental breakdown would have buried them. Normally she wouldn’t have taken any pleasure in ruining someone’s life but the bitch had intentionally gotten thirteen men killed over the years because she’d told people they could channel in ways she shouldn’t have. “Walk through the ring or we’ll toss you through.”
Ethan used the link the bracelet gave him to swat the Aes Sedai’s ass. “Move.”
Javindhra forced herself not to turn around and rant at the bastard that held her leash as the last time she’d done that he’d used the leash to torture her until she’d passed out. She walked through the ring, knowing that refusing would just end with her getting tossed through without even a scrap of dignity.
Ethan grinned as he stepped through the ring after Javindhra, looking forward to seeing what type of world the ring had created from the Aes Sedai’s nightmares.
Willow glanced at Dawn then stepped through the portal into a small northern style village with a wooden wall around it. She grinned slightly as she saw the portal was where the gate should have been. ‘At least that should make it easy to remember where the exit is.’
Dawn stepped out of the portal and glanced around at the well built brick houses with slanted tile roofs that looked like they’d stand up to some abuse. “At least we didn’t step into a battle.”
“Yet,” complained Javindhra as she glared daggers at Ethan.
Willow turned toward the village as she felt someone channel saidin. “We have at least one male channeler around.”
“How do you know that?” Javindhra demanded more than a little unnerved with being in a world with insane male Aes Sedai that had managed to convince the world that they weren’t insane.
“One of my ter’angreal,” Willow lied as she started walking toward the center of town, curious what they’d find.
“Hopefully they know something worth the trouble,” Ethan muttered as he gave Javindhra a push to get her moving then followed his cousin.
“Hopefully,” Dawn agreed as she followed her sort of nephew and the Red sister she was fairly sure would try to screw them given half a chance.
Willow plastered a smile on her face as a handsome red haired glowing man dressed in black silks and a red sash around his waist walked around the corner with an attractive naked busty glowing redhead in her late teens or maybe early twenties with a black metal collar around her neck. Her gaze jumped to the ghostly chain that went from her collar to the bracelet on the man’s wrist. The wisps of ethereal steam coming off of the chain gave it an interesting and slightly chilling look which was probably half the point.
“She can channel!” the woman said as she pointed at Javindhra.
“Of course she can,” Ethan cut in before anyone could say anything stupid. “I wouldn’t have a collar on her if she couldn’t.”
Javindhra glared at the man holding the girl hostage, more than a little disturbed that the girl seemed happy to be on a leash.
“She seems rather badly trained unlike Rose here,” the man said as he patted his cousin on her rather firm behind. ‘He looks young enough to be new though I should have heard of a new crafter.’
Willow cut in before Ethan could say something he shouldn’t, “He’s been working on a new type of collar for stealth missions.”
Rose pouted. “I like the ghostly chains, they make people nervous.”
“They certainly look interesting,” Dawn agreed as she worked on memorizing the weaves that would let her duplicate the black collars.
“Don’t worry about it, I doubt they’ll be swapping over any time soon,” Ethan assured her, trying to say the least possible so that they didn’t start a fight or make the locals suspicious.
“Good,” Rose stated firmly, not liking the idea of giving up playing with the ghostly chains.
The man glanced at Javindhra then focused on Ethan. “What are you doing here and why didn’t the captain tell us there would be other Aes Sedai running around?”
Javindhra opened her mouth to snap at the man then felt a pin stab her in the behind, reminding her to keep her mouth shut.
“Do try to keep a civil tongue Javindhra,” Ethan warned, not wanting to have to fight their way out when the point was recruiting people.
Rose shook her head. “You should talk to the captain about getting a different girl, yours seems defective.”
The man grinned as he patted Rose on her head. “Don’t mind Rose, I don’t spank her enough.”
“He really doesn’t.” Rose snickered at the look of disgust on Javindhra’s face. ‘I bet she hasn’t had sex in years.’
Willow snickered, having caught Rose’s thoughts and her obvious attachment to her cousin Erik. ‘Sorry, Javindhra, you’re insane if you think she’s abused.’
Erik glanced between Willow, Dawn and Ethan. “You should talk to the captain.” He glanced at Rose then started walking down the street past Dawn’s group. “We need to get back to making sure there aren’t any girls hiding.”
“Of course, there’s always at least one idiot that tries to avoid getting collared.” Rose stuck her tongue out at Javindhra then followed her cousin with a spring in her steps.
Javindhra stared in disbelief as the strange channelers walked off. “We’re just letting them go?”
“They have a job to do,” Dawn pointed out, seeing no problem with letting them search all of the houses for them.
“Exactly, there’s no reason to start trouble until we’ve talked to the captain.” Ethan turned and headed toward the town square. He stopped in surprise as they walked around the last house and saw what looked like half the town town lined up on the village green, the male teenagers and men in one long line and the women in several lines and a group of older women watching the men in black silk outfits like the first guy walking around. He mentally noted the three glowing young men in the line of men then looked over at the line of girls in their holiday best.
Willow’s attention was pulled off the six glowing teenage girls mixed in with the rest of the girls in lines when she saw the golden red haired glowing girl that looked exactly like her aunt’s alternate standing next to a dozen collared young women that were glowing. She her gaze followed the ghostly chains trailing off the girl’s black collar and over to someone that looked like Rand. “Huh, I wasn’t expecting that.”
Ethan shivered slightly as the woman that looked like his mother’s alternate stuck a black collar around the neck of an attractive glowing girl’s neck that looked about Willow’s age and ghostly chains sprung up between the collar and the bracelet on Rand’s other wrist much to the girl’s shock and horror.
“There must be some mistake!” the girl shouted frantically as she pulled at the collar around her neck. “I can’t channel! I swear it!”
The girl that looked like Elayne sighed. “The collar never lies.”
“You’re no daughter of mine!” spat one of the middle aged men in line as he took a step toward the girl at which point Rand stepped in front of the man and looked down at him with a look that promised all the pain in the world if the man didn’t reconsider whatever ill advised stupidity he was considering.
“Daddy!” the girl shouted in anguish as her father spat on the ground then turned his back on her, crushing her heart.
‘At least my brother still has a sense or honor,’ Dawn thought to herself as she glanced over the crowd, trying to judge people’s reactions.
Elayne gently but firmly pulled the crying girl out of the line of girls that were trying to edge away from her. “Don’t worry, we’ll take care of you.”
Ethan glanced at Rand’s belt, noting a lack of sash unlike the middle aged man with a green sash and what he was fairly sure was some type of rank emblem on his shoulder. “Is that the captain?” he asked in a whisper.
Willow reluctantly pulled her attention off her aunt’s naked alternate and looked at the man’s thoughts, trying to get an idea of what would happen to the new recruits. “Yeah, he’s the captain.”
“We need to rescue them before they get severed,” Javindhra snarled.
“They’re not going to get severed, they’ll be sent to the Tower for a brief course in channeling then most of them will never channel again outside of the winter solstice thanks to the collars.”
“They don’t sever them?” Javindhra asked in disbelief, figuring they’d want to sever them if Saidar was actually tainted.
“Not unless they request it,” Willow replied with a shiver, more than a little uncomfortable with the idea of never using magic again.
“Why would they do that?” Javindhra demanded as she watched the naked collared girl help the newly collared girl out of her dress. “This makes no sense!”
“It makes perfect sense,” Willow explained in a whisper. “The collars keep them from channeling Saidar without permission which they almost never get which means they won’t go insane which means they don’t have to be severed.”
“Why would they put up with being chained?” she snapped.
“Because the alternative is being severed and dying in a ditch,” Willow replied in a shiver, not terribly surprised that the Tower had made sure to spread that particular rumor far and wide to keep the number of women that chose severing as low as possible.
Ethan forced himself to smile as the captain walked over. “Captain.”
The captain glanced between Dawn and Willow then glanced over Javindhra and focused on Ethan. “Any reason you’re not using the standard collar?”
“I’m testing an alternate stealth collar,” Ethan replied. “How many recruits?”
“Two so far, we sent them to pack their stuff,” the captain replied rather happy with the number of channelers he’d already found. “With any luck we’ll find a couple more men and girls.”
“So many?” Javindhra demanded.
The captain lowered his voice. “Considering the Yellow assigned to the village is young and handsome, I’m fairly sure that at least half of the channelers we found are his.”
“So the man screaming about his daughter might have had a point?” Ethan asked, curious what the captain’s reaction would be.
“It’s possible,” the captain admitted as he glanced between Rand and the crying girl’s possible father. “It’s also possible that the idiot carries the ability and doesn’t realize it. He’s lucky that he didn’t try to attack the girl, the last time that happened to one of Rand’s girls, he broke the man’s jaw.”
“I can’t say I blame him,” Ethan replied as he watched another set of ghostly chains spring up around a girl slightly younger than he was. “How long until you’re on your way?”
“Provided we have enough accepted to leash everyone we’ll be on the road in an hour,” the captain replied. “Hopefully we don’t have to let the new recruits leash anyone, you know how some of the idiots can get.”
Willow winced as she read the captain’s mind as he thought about a couple of times he’d had to beat the hell out of a recruit for trying something stupid with one of the girls on the way back to the Tower. “Sounds like a recipe for pain and suffering.”
“Basically,” the captain replied then looked at Ethan. “Stick around, I’m going to need the help if we find a couple more girls.”
“No problem captain,” Ethan lied as the captain turned and walked off. ‘Shit, maybe I can use the other a’dam set I have.’
“They have no right to strip the girls, it’s barbaric!” Javindhra hissed as she glared at the captain’s back.
“Compared to what the Reds do to men, this is downright polite,” Willow pointed out as she watched Rand and Elayne’s alternate walk over with the new recruit. “How are you doing?”
Rand glanced at Javindhra’s collar then focused on Ethan. “It could be worse, we had one idiot in the last town start tossing rotten tomatoes at us because we wanted to train his son. Apple, take Lemon for a walk, see if you can convince her that her life isn’t over and that whatever crap the townsfolk filled her head with isn’t true.”
“Come on, let’s go for a walk,” the Elayne alternate led the other girl away.
“Aren’t you afraid of them running off?” Javindhra demanded.
Rand snorted. “You’d have to be insane to attack someone wearing a collar.”
“Why?”
“Most accepted and Aes Sedai are decent enough people but we tend to get vindictive when someone messes with our charges. The last time that happened to the captain, he burned the man’s legs off then healed the stumps so that he’d live a long and painful life.”
“You can use the Power as a weapon?” Javindhra demanded.
“Where did you find her, under a rock?” Rand asked in surprise.
“Pretty much,” Ethan replied, taking some amusement in the Aes Sedai’s discomfort.
“Can I touch your bracelet for a second?” Dawn asked, wanting to see exactly what it did and to distract the man from paying too much attention of the Red’s comments.
“Sure,” Rand replied as he held his left hand out showing off Apple’s bracelet.
Dawn barely managed to keep herself from squealing with glee as she reached out and touched the bracelet with a finger and realized exactly what the bracelets did and how useful they’d be for training and running around without clothes considering the comfort effect built into them. ‘Yeah, I’m going to have to copy these considering they can’t torture people and they don’t try to kill male channelers like the a’dam.’
“What did you sense?” Rand asked, noticing the look on the girl’s face as she pulled her finger away from the bracelet.
Dawn briefly considered lying but figured there wasn’t really a point. “You could let the girls channel Saidin if you wanted to.”
“Technically. Realistically, Apple still needs to finish a couple of classes before I can let her channel without an Aes Sedai around unless it’s an emergency though I’m curious how you worked that out just by touching the collar.”
Ethan spoke up, “It’s a talent.”
“Ah…” Rand trailed off when Lemon vanished from his senses followed by Apple. “What the bloody hell?! The girls are gone!”
Willow glanced in the direction the girls went. “They probably went through the gate.”
“They wouldn’t have just vanished like that because they left the town, tell the captain,” Rand said then took off running toward where he’d last felt his girls, worried that someone had grabbed them.
“We’ll go with him, you tell the captain,” Ethan said as he gave Javindha a shove toward the exit to get her moving then ran after Rand, planning on shoving him through the exit if he didn’t willingly jump through on his own.
Willow smiled slightly as she read her cousin’s plan in his head. “Let’s go tell everyone that there is a problem outside the town, that should get most of them moving.” She was hoping they could get at least half of the channelers through the exit portal before the rest realized there was a problem.
“Sounds good to me,” Dawn agreed as she glanced toward where the captain was watching a number of men pass around a bracelet to see if chains appeared. “At least they have this down to a science.”
“Yep,” Willow agreed as they walked toward the captain so they could trick them into walking through the exit portal.
