My WOT Characters

In this rp, Telcia is summoned from her home in Ebou Dar to the Amyrlin Seat in order to discuss her discovery of the Three Arches secret usage & to confirm she is not of the Black Ajah.  Telcia doesn’t know this, however, and what happen is not only shocking but reveals a bit of the future ( Foretelling )

A cold wind raced down from the blight, through the borderlands and further south than such a chill breeze should have gone this time of year. Swooping up a small spray of snow the breeze crossed the plains of Altara and kissed the already wind burned cheeks of Telcia Dyfelle.

The wind was not the beginning of a story for this woman of so many titles, winds are neither beginnings nor ends in the great Wheel of Time, but this wind was certainly A new beginning.

For years now, peace surrounded the heart of the mother and merchant who once wore a Crimson shawl. The previously troubled soul whose heart was locked away for almost two lifetimes in a cold tower of ivory on a far away island to the northeast, had found a renewed sense of purpose and place in the world. Despite the ever looming threat of the shadow and the many issues that had plagued her life in the past, this was the happiest Telcia had been since her youngest years in novice white. Years all but forgotten with the newest words to her daily language: Advisor, Kin, … wife.

Retirement suited Telcia, if it could be called that. Truth was she considered it more of a change of occupation. For two lifetimes she represented her Crimson Sisters as politician in the world’s most impressive governmental body, the Hall of the Tower. All of that changed when Iussi Dyfelle came into her life like a hurricane rising on the ocean; she took a secret husband… a husband who, through a tragic twisting of the great wheel, made her the example of why Red Sisters never bonded or kept men too close.

Now, here with her gentled husband and her children, Telcia worked with another group of channelers… women who made her feel young, women who proved another terrible truth about the place she once called home. She was Kin now, women who were more like the Aes Sedai of legend than those in the Tower ever hoped to be. Her only regret was that the Kin, in fear of the Tower, lived their lives in secrecy. So few knew of them, so few benefited from the things they were capable of doing… if only there had been some way to change their minds.

Smiling at the thought of a world full of Age of Legends style Aes Sedai, Telcia ushered her children behind her husband towards their manner house. Playing in the snow was done for the day, it simply had gotten too cold. At the same moment both Telcia and her children’s nursemaid, Lini, noticed the silver slice through the air off across their field. Such use of the One Power could not be missed by those even with the smallest spark of talent. The location was the same one used by Maegan to travel to their home, as well as Arette, but it only took an instant for Telcia to notice that it was neither trusted and beloved friend. A shawl on shoulders, two bright red cloaks of guards… blades…

“Lini, take the children inside.” Telcia quickly snapped, as much for her children’s protection as for Lini’s. She feared even Maegan, from whom she’d kept the Kin a secret, would not be able to keep the channeling capabilities of Lini secret… let alone the woman who now advanced on her home accompanied by two Tower Guards.

Beside her, her husband Iussi threw back his heavy woolen cloak exposing his sword and as she gracefully crossed the yard to meet the Sister, Iussi mimiced the walk of an experienced Warder. With pride swelling in her chest, she allowed herself to smile. Apparently, her husband had learned more in his time at the tower than he’d let on… or his dear friend Ragan had given him some lessons in the threatening glares and motions of the deadly Warders.

Standing just over five feet from each other, Telcia and this clearly younger Sister stared at one another. The guards and Iussi did much the same to one another, the tension between the two groups was terrible. The only reason Telcia didn’t embrace the source right then and there was because the younger sister had done her the kindness of letting it go before she felt the need to take it up. 

“Telcia Dyfelle?” The younger sister asked politely, finally breaking under Telcia’s icy gaze after nearly a full two minutes of silence. Telcia’s only response was a slow nod. “I am charged with delivering to you the request of the Amyrlin Seat for your immediate presence in her office. I am to await your readiness and escort you back to the White Tower through a weave…” The woman began to explain traveling but Telcia held up a hand.

“I understand the weave, Child.” She may not have been a sister any more but, she would make sure the girl knew that she was well aware which of them was stronger and older. Clearly the Amyrlin had sent her because of her social skills and because she would not be seen as a threat in the ways of the One Power. Still, it was impressive she was able to handle so much spirit. Were it not for the white shawl on her shoulders, Telcia might have taken her for a red or a yellow.

To her credit the girl didn’t give any appearance that the word bothered her at all. For a moment Telcia considered going back to Lini and giving her a message for the Kin, to say goodbye to her children, but these things would be noticed by the Sister and reported. She couldn’t appear as if there was anything was more important than the Amyrlin Seat, no one made such a woman wait, no one.

Turning to Iussi she could see, by the look in his eyes, that he was bent on coming with her even though it meant leaving the children behind. Sighing she managed to lower her voice to a whisper, despite her urge to not let the girl see her in such a private moment at all. She’d seriously considered a privacy circle but that would have been boldly rude.

“I’d never ask you to do this if it was of the utmost importance,” She swallowed hard remembering Rasputin’s words in the carriage that day about the Shadow still wanting her children. “… Iussi you have to protect the children.” Her husband opened his mouth but she kept talking, “Iussi, I don’t have time to argue this with you today, please … just trust that I wouldn’t go back to the Tower alone if I didn’t think there was truly a risk to the children being left without one of us there.”

“What risk, Telc… there’s something you aren’t telling me here?!?” Hurt and frustration filled his eyes. He knew she couldn’t lie and she’d never spoken of an existing risk to the children, not even once. Looking down at the ground in frustration, his eyes dark and for a brief moment… empty of all emotion, cold and dark. A chill touched Telcia, and it wasn’t from the cold. “You said you were done there.” His tone was bereft of all emotion, too much like Con on the battlefield. It was only in that moment that she recognized her husband using the techinique he needed to master in order to join the Dragon Reborn and his men.

In that instant, her warm heart shattered like a mirror on the unforgiving floor of the oaths that bound her not only to secrecy but an early grave. “No one,” she whispered in an equally dark tone. “… refuses the summons of the Amyrlin Seat.” She reached out her hand and touched Iussi’s cheek. “I’m so very sorry my cuebiyari.”

Iussi just nodded and turned to walk home, alone.

The scowl she gave the younger sister effected the girl in a way that her words had failed. For a moment the younger woman’s calm faltered under the scathing glare of the ancient Red Sister. “Let’s go.” She managed through her grit teeth and white knuckled grip on the sides of her dress. The white lead the way back through the shimmering silver portal and as Telcia reached the edge, she turned back only for a moment to call out to Iussi one last time.

“Alantin!” she called out the old tongue word for brother and Iussi, to her surprise, stopped and turned. “We’re a team… I *WILL* return. Mark me.” To her delight, the empty void in his eyes was gone and a smile replaced his frown. This time the oath was a boon as it gave him to know only the Dark One himself would keep her from returning. The last thing Telcia saw before entering the portal was her husband waving happily to her, as she went, in his usual jovial manner.

At least some things never changed. 

The gateway opened near the ogier grove and if Telcia had hoped the winter to be milder in Tar Valon, she was sorely mistaken. Northern winds made everything gleam with unforgiving ice and only the most necessary guards and servants were out on the grounds of the massive white structure that loomed above her.

Drawing a breath and exhaling slowly, she noticed the white waiting for her despite the fact that the two guards had rushed off to some unknown location to attend another task. “Mother didn’t expect you to arrive so quickly, if you like we can get some tea and give you a bit to freshen up before meeting her.”

“Something warm and a cloth to wash my hands would be nice…” Telcia remarked much more calmly than she felt. What she wanted was to rush to the Amyrlin and find out what the woman wanted of her so that she could get on with her life. “I don’t suppose you’d consider the Staff and Stole? It’s just off the main street, a nice quiet place where I’m sure we could find a nice private place to wash up.”

Being the one sent to retrieve Telcia Dyfelle, Lillian had to admit that the meeting was not what she had expected. She hadn’t necessarily expected something grander, but she had expected something . . . different. But, it was a lesson learned, and it wasn’t something that she was going to overly concern herself with. After all, Annais had business with Telcia, she did not, so whatever it was that needed dealing with, those two could handle it. While Lillian didn’t know what it was about, she trusted Annais enough to know that there would be a good reason for it. At least, now she did, now that they had sorted certain issues out. But her mind was wandering, Telcia wished to know whether her choice was suitable. “The Staff and Stole is agreeable.”

Heading down the street from the grove, there was little attention given to the two lone figures. No one wanted to be outside in this weather, no merchants and certainly not the poor souls in the alleyways. Telcia remembered a time she would have given coin to the poor half-frozen souls but, that was before she learned about a different kind of pride than the Tower taught… somehow thinking of Con right now didn’t relax her one bit. The man would be furious she came here without his sword and shield to protect her. Even now a Lord of another city the man still took their words to each other with the utmost seriousness, something she was glad Arette now understood and accepted.

Entering the two story building Telcia was shocked to find another woman behind the counter. “Sarah… Light is that you?” The girl hesitated only a second before dropping a curtsey first to the white and then to Telcia herself. “Telcia Sedai?” She laughed. The last time she’d seen the girl she’d barely had breasts to fill her dress and now she was a woman.

“How is your mother?” Telcia asked without thinking of the dear old woman’s age the last time she’d been in Tar Valon. The girl’s face drooped. “Dead, this past winter, though you’d think it never ended by the look of things.”

“I’m so sorry.” And she was. Her mother had been a strong supporter of the Red Ajah, a good woman. “Sarah we require a private room. Could you see to it?” Telcia reached into her waist pouch and gave a coin to the girl. Quick as you please Sarah had put them in a room off the main area where they were served tea and left to their own.

“Please, forgive my shortness earlier. I didn’t bother to even request your name, how terribly rude of me.” Telcia took up her tea and sipped it.

Listening to the exchange between Telcia and the woman identified as Sarah, Lillian was unsurprised. Many of the Red Sisters frequented the Staff and Stole, in fact it seemed like their home away from home. Every Ajah had one if you knew where to look, and this one was it. Some were more open about it, like the White Ajah with the ‘Logical Choice’, but it was good to go here. It would ensure that word spread a little more slowly, but it would also lend credence to it. It would be interesting to see what stirred as the news spread.

Shown to a private room, Lillian politely waited for the tea to be served and for the woman to depart before she took a sip of her tea. She was more than happy to let Telcia speak first, the apology and request for her name were nice but they weren’t going to stop her from making her point now that there was no one to hear it. “You saw what I was rather than who I was, despite this I did not expect the greeting I and my escort received.”

That much was certainly true, she certainly hadn’t expected Telcia’s earlier assertion of seniority. “My name is Lillian.” 
Telcia chuckled inspite of herself. “Yes, rude of me indeed… but so much more to the story than just the end of it, yes?” Telcia leaned back in her chair and tried to relax in familar surroundings. Truly not much had changed here over the years and that, if nothing else, was a comfort.

“Still, has so much changed here in these many years of my absence? Have the reign of two greens had such a positive effect on our home or… is your shock for some other reason Lillian Tremina?” Telcia watched the girl arch an eyebrow and nodded softly.

“You have your family look about you, though I would not have guessed who you were until you gave your first name. I’d dare say, between your looks… the shawl… and your surprise at my assertion of seniority, you could be none other but the author of ‘The White Tower: Past, Present and Future.’ I’m quite fond of your speculations, for an Accepted, you certainly had the right of many things that Sisters twice your current age have trouble admitting. I admire your courage in sharing it with the Tower.”

Well, the woman knew her last name, it wasn’t expected, but it wasn’t unexpected either. Unlike her mentor, she had never made a great effort to conceal her last name, she was just sparing in its use. After all, while she was one of the Tremina, she was also Aes Sedai. But, she had mentioned her work, even though it was decades past now. “I thank you, but that work was a long time ago. I wouldn’t say it was wrong, but many of the points I made during that time have been refined since then, and from our present circumstances, others have been proven and there is nothing left except to rebuild as best as can be.”

“As to your assertion of seniority, I am surprised that you felt the need to do so. From what I knew of you, I thought you were different from those you contended with, perhaps not so much as I once thought.” Blunt, but true. True strength did not need assertion, but they could move on from there. “The reign of two Green Amyrlins, I have to say I prefered the first to the second. But what is done is done, now we have an Amyrlin who I think shall do much to heal a good deal of the damage, not only by the Greens but by the Brown that preceded.”

Telcia fully laughed this time and called out to Sarah loudly enough to be heard. “Sarah, something stronger for me please… a nice wine and a bowl of ice peppers. Something stronger for you Lillian?” Lillian nodded and Telcia continued to speak.

“So here’s the meat of it then.” Taking her wine from Sarah and watching her leave again, she continued. “I’ve never been much for rank and file as you say. Since you seem to know that about me it’s also safe to assume that like a good portion of the Tower you’re aware of my exploits,”

She paused a moment. “…well at least my allegedly negative ones. Not necessarily bad, in the way of things. So know that you’re not mistaken on my point of view dear, I’m afraid all that was not factored into your equation was recent events of my life which have left me less than positive in my outlook on the Tower. I reacted defensively… even if you gave me no reason other than being from the Tower, to do so. I may have been ill-mannered, but I’ve hardly changed that much of who I am. Perhaps I only needed someone bold enough to point it out to remind me.”

Taking a pepper and then a sip of her wine she continued quickly after swallowing, “And a good thing too. I somehow doubt that the new Amyrlin Seat is eager to have me bristling like a badger after a rainstorm in her office. I have a debt to you, Sister.” 

“Perhaps, though she is rather patient.” Well, at least the words were heartfelt, it was enough to restore some of Lillian’s faith in the woman before her as she reached for the glass of ice wine and relaxed back in her seat.

She shouldn’t have been irritated as she was, but she had expected better, and now it was good to know that maybe her expectations weren’t disappointed. “As for your exploits, I am only aware to a degree. I won’t pretend to know all the details, but while the Tower may have had a problem with you, not every single sister does. If the Amyrlin was one of those sisters, I have my doubts whether she would have summoned you to begin with. How well do you know Annais Nevell?”

Telcia almost laughed and drew a breath slowly. “In my novice days I fancied myself destined for a gray shawl. Back then Liselle of the Blues was the Mistress of Novices and she and I met quite regularly… most of the time ending in my own shame but on a few occasions, my pride.”

She sipped her tea with a grin fit for a cat who’d eatten a mouse. “She despised the fact that of all the books I chose to read in my free time, it was the history of Tower Law and that I was shadow bent on finding ways to exploit every rule regarding Novices.” She laughed. “Those were good times here in Tar Valon… before the dark things began.” She sighed.

“I know her as well as I know you… that is to say, I know of her. I wish I could say more. I was there to cheer for Karana,” Telcia looked fit to spit at saying her name. “I had been a novice with Lanfir… and Sirayn, I held her at nights when she cried as a novice for her home and family. She was like a daughter to me.” She shook her head regretfully.

“All of them I felt I had advantage with… all of them, despite my vaunted skills at the great game, failed me… save one and that was only because I banked on the failure to get me what I felt was right for all.” She shrugged as she set down her wine glass. “I suppose I can’t be worse off with one I know little to nothing of, yet, perhaps you could tell me something of her …”

Silent as she listened to Telcia, Lillian wondered whether the fact that Telcia knew them all so well was exactly the reason for her ruin. She couldn’t make observations about Lanfir because she never knew the woman well, her main problem had been how the woman had come to be Amyrlin. That was a poisoned chalice for whoever had taken up the cup. But Karana had been someone she had only worked with through Arette, she hadn’t trusted her well. Sirayn, it was hard to imagine her in Telcia’s arms weeping, would Sial become like that? Lillian doubted it, there wasn’t the same meanness of spirit that Sirayn had been possessed of. Or maybe she had been different, perhaps her own dealings with the woman coloured her perception, time could change anyone.

The Great Game though, that was something Lillian understood and it was exactly why Telcia lost. Everyone lost when they played the game, even if they didn’t understand it at the time. “Annais is a good woman, she may not give you her trust easily, but if you earn it then I suspect you will fare better than you have before. I would warn you though, don’t play the game with her. Not because its a game you would lose, but simply to have more respect for her than that, and she will return that same respect.”

Sipping her wine, Lillian continued. “I do not know why she has invited you to see her, but I doubt it has something she has done lightly. Regardless of the reason, unless she has changed vastly since I was here an hour ago, she will deal with you even handedly. I suppose my question for you would be whether you will be able to do the same? Will you see her as our mother and leader, or will you see her simply as the Tower that has caused you grief in the past?” 

Telcia was quiet at the question. She couldn’t speak a lie but that was no reason to spout off an answer. Just because someone COULD say something, it didn’t mean they should. Staring down at the table she truly gave a long thoughful appearance, her mind going over the many events of the past years… the good and bad. For the time she pondered she picked up an ice pepper and toyed with it between her forefinger and thumb. It was then she realized, she didn’t have on her ring… it was packed up long ago with the shawl she never meant to wear again.

“I will call her Mother, I will kiss her ring, even as I kissed the foul hand of the woman who sealed me to the flame and sent me off into the world without letting me even explain the why of it to my Ajah Sisters. I respect the office of Amyrlin Seat, but the woman… as she will measure me, I will measure her. I will be more fair to her than I was to you, and for that I am sorry. Of all the Sisters I’ve kept tabs on from my … self-stylized retirement, you were one I wanted to start on the right foot with if we met before the Last Battle.” Eatting the pepper she let it burn a moment, before drinking wine, to remind herself that her tongue could be as powerful a killer as any sword.

“Yet,” She forced a smile. “Perhaps, you of all people best understand the benefit of a Sister who knows the worth of her humanity and has humility enough to wear her grace as well as her faults. If such can safely be called humility without in and of itself sounding prideful.” Shaking her head she chuckled. “I suppose that is only one of the many terrible things the Tower breeds into us, yes?”

Briefly she pauses before asking, with an emotion in her eyes most Aes Sedai don’t wear… ever, worry. “So, if I speak plainly you think that I will do better with her then if I try to wear one of the many masks this Tower helped me to craft then?”

Lillian smiled slightly as Telcia finished talking, it seemed better to answer the question she was posed with a question of her own. Besides, the answer that Telcia gave would be of interest to her. The woman was more of the Tower than she seemed to feel she was, but maybe this would help her better understand what Lillian was proposing. “I guess that depends on you. Will you stand before Mother with the face that you feel will serve you best? Or will you stand before Mother as you? I won’t be there to witness it so I won’t know your decision, but that is something you should decide for yourself.”

Telcia nodded slowly. “Fair.” She says softly, but her meaning isn’t quite clear. Perhaps she’d meant it was a fair enough statement, or fair she would not be there, or something else. “I cried at the feet of Karana Majin, begged for her mercy… came to her a second time with my newborn babies and again sought her kindness as a woman and nothing more.” A distant look spoke mountains of her memories of the incident and the pain it still caused her despite her and Arette’s reunion.

“Lanfir let me return to the Tower after my children had been kidnapped and feared dead, but that never undid the damage with my Sisters. Discoveries, acclaim within my ajah all in the short time I was here believing my husband dead or run off on me…” Anger burned in her eyes for a brief second but then washed away as she moved her eyes to Lillian once more.

“I haven’t been an Aes Sedai, in the terms this Tower holds that phrase, since the day I left sealed to the flame and banished. Every time I’ve returned I’ve come here as what I was… first, broken and lost… but now,” She smiled. “More whole than I’ve been since I wrote my first book… like you, as an Accepted. A starry-eyed girl who had saw that my place wasn’t with the grays but with the Browns.” She rolled her eyes with a wide grin.

“Light but, that was lifetimes ago. Tell me, does the large oak at the back western corner of the graveyard still stand?” It had been far too long since she’d seen the graves of her dear friends and she longed to stop there before leaving. 

The change in topic wasn’t one that Lillian was prepared for, nor did she know the significance of it but she simply shrugged. “I couldn’t say for certain, it has been some time since I have been there. I know of no reason why it should not still be standing though. I assume you wish to pay your respects to someone? It will have to be after the meeting. While I understand that only your Ajah sisters will be aware that we are here, as well as anyone that recognised you, I want to minimise the opportunities to be bailed up by other sisters, and I wouldn’t count the graveyard as a sanctuary.”

“No doubt, your lack of shawl and ring will prompt comment.” Lillian smiled at that thought, it most certainly would. “But when we do go to the Tower, we will not be stopping for anyone. Annais was clear that she wanted no other sisters to speak with you until she herself had first. I’d rather not have to ruffle feathers by trading barbs with another sister to shoo them away if I can avoid it.”

Telcia’s gut twisted. Had the woman learned of the Kin or their wonderous storage of Ter’Angreal? Light but she was glad she didn’t have hers with her now. Surely it would prompt much more comment than her missing ring and shawl. “When the Amyrlin summons you don’t normally stop to grab your adornments… she knows me for who I am, I’m hardly the girl of 90 who was fit to make sure all knew I was Aes Sedai. Because, if the ageless face and graying blonde didn’t tell that loudly, light alone knows what would.” Oh, now there was a topic she wanted to talk about… if there was time.

“As for the tree, yes… two someones actually Melanie and Jelene, old roomates of mine during our novice days. Melanie and I during accepted years. They both died tragically bofore reaching the shawl though your Ajah and Mother did her the honor of granting her the right to be burried with a White Shawl as she was to have been raised within the week of her death. A kindness I’ve never forgotten no matter all my frustrations over the years. Melanie would have been deeply honored to have known she was called Sister by anyone in the White Shawl.”

Letting the topic of the Amyrlin go, Lillian sensed that the conversation was definitely shifting towards this new topic now. It was a kindness that this Melanie was given the shawl of the White Ajah to wear to her grave, though it would have required the White Ajah’s agreement for it. Without a year to place Melanie’s death, she couldn’t decide which sister had been responsible for the kindness, but whoever it was had more heart than some of the sisters she had known. The question was where the conversation was leading to from there, where was the topic? “That was indeed a kindness.”

For a long while Telcia is silent, clearly thinking but unsure of what to share. Her thoughts of Melanie and Jelene were bittersweet though not nearly as troubling as they use to be, at least not in the way they once were. The Black Ajah still scared her to her very bones and it was hard not to forget that the woman before her might be one of them. Perhaps moving from the topic of her friend’s murders would be best.

“I can hardly imagine what Mother wishes to see me for, I can’t imagine she found my gift to Karana and found my insights into Tower Tradition to be enlightening. I’m certain she doesn’t require my talents for capturing some male channeler… nor for dealing with some troublesome leader of a nation. I might think it’s for my expertise in the Old Tongue, few speak it so well as I, or … they didn’t when I was last here, but surely she has expert translators who if given enough time could do the work.”

She gave a wry grin. “Perhaps she means to have me unsealed from the flame and allowed to explain all the terrible misunderstandings that have been created over the years due to politics, fear, and the secrets of my foretellings locked up in that secret library of hers.” By her laugh it was clear Telcia didn’t think that was the case.

“You have no hypothosis based on recent events then?”

The skipping of the topic of her dead friends was curious of Telcia, at least in Lillian’s eyes, but that was something that she would not pry into. Least not now with so many other things she had to deal with, perhaps she would mention it to Annais after the two had met, Annais would maybe shed more light on it. In the meantime, the topic had moved to why Annais had summoned her. Lillian didn’t know the answer to that, she had ideas about it, but they were ideas that could not be confirmed concretely. As such, she wasn’t going to venture much. “I have ideas as to why, but I wouldn’t want to prime you by leaving you thinking it is one thing when it could be something else entirely. Mother knows what she is doing, that is enough for me from this Amyrlin.”

Telcia wiped her mouth and fingers. “Well then, maybe we should not make her wait any longer. Surely she’s willing to expect me by now?” Telcia stood. “Lillian, I hope you’ll pay my house a visit in the future if you wish to discuss … well, anything really. I was a terrible hostess once and I won’t say to you that my temper never gets the better of me… but where I’ve failed at being a good Sister from time to time, I find I’ve become a very good wife and hostess. It suits me. I hope that you’ll give me a second chance to prove that to you some time soon?”

The offer to visit Telcia’s house was unexpected, but one that Lillian acquiesced to with a slight nod as she spoke. “I may take you up on that as time permits, though I wonder with the days ahead whether any of us will have any time for it. If there is one thing I would hazard, while you may not take on the ring and shawl again, I think you may have your part to play yet. I doubt you would be one to remain idle.”

Standing from her seat, Lillian gestured to the door. “After you, we go straight to the Amyrlin’s office.”

“Unending, unending,” she intoned, as if she’d said it some very long time ago or in a dream that she could barely remember. “No rest for the Servants of All upon the Great Wheel of Time.” She forced a smile and followed Lillian directly to the Amyrlin’s office without stopping for a single soul. 

It was a quick pace they set through the Tower, Lillian had no intention of stopping for anyone. There were glances that varied from shock to delight to scorn, but she wasn’t particularly worried about them save as a way to gauge those sisters so she could speak to Annais of it later. It was always good to have an idea of what other sisters were thinking, Mother had to lead for all of them and it was necessary to have that knowledge in order to do so effectively. At least no one impeded them, that would have been unfortunate for them, and her as well most likely, she didn’t want to upset any of her ties to sisters of the different Ajahs.

Ascending the Tower was time consuming, but soon they were in the upper reaches and the door to the Amyrlin’s Office was in sight. Stopping before it, Lillian held up her hand as she turned to Telcia. “Before we go in, I would just like to tell you this. I know I said the decision you make when you step through this door is your own, but I can tell you now. The best thing you can do is be true to yourself, have no fear and you will be fine. Whatever the Amyrlin asks of you, it will help you as much as it will help her. Shawl or no shawl, unity is what we need now more than ever.”

At that, Lillian stepped towards the door and knocked. Hearing Annais call for them to enter, Lillian opened the door and ushered Telcia through the portal. Beyond it was the Amyrlin Seat, Mia was sitting off to one side as was her wont since they had been bonded, no doubt she had her opinions about what was to happen, especially as Annais confided in her more than herself no doubt. But, that was the role of the Warder, there was no begrudging that, even if they might disagree.

Closing the door behind them as Telcia strode forward and gave her greetings to Annais, Lillian quietly slipped a blade from her sleeve and just as easily closed the gap between them and slipped the blade to Telcia’s throat. The woman very still, Lillian didn’t hesitate as she spoke. “I shall speak plainly, you are stronger than me in the power but if you so much as hint at embracing it, I won’t give you the chance to even light a spark. Fold your hands before you and drop to your knees. No argument, no dissent, only obedience.”

“Now.”
“As you have called Mother,” She put her lips to the Amyrlin’s ring gently. “So I have come.” Rising when it was indicated she could do so, Telcia tried to remain calm but it was never easy. Even after all these years, after all the hate, all the pain… she was still Mother.

Cold steel and harsh words and not even a twitch from the warder standing behind the Amyrlin. Panic tore through her body. She’d lied to her husband, she wasn’t ever going to see Ebou Dar, his smiling face, or her precious babies ever again. The Amyrlin Seat, the bloody Amyrlin Flaming Seat was Black Ajah & she’d simply walked in to her own death!

Telcia wanted to cry as she was instructed harshly, but she also wanted to tear the marriage dagger from around her neck violently and bury it in the black sister behind her. Light she could see Iussi kneeling before her on that ship, putting the blade to his heart and swearing his life to her… Light why hadn’t she sailed away that night and never EVER looked back? Was this how it was to end after all these years? Was she really destined to die as Jelene and Melanie had, at the hands of the Black Ajah?

Telcia’s heart pounded in her ears and her head ached in a terrible blinding way, she could feel the wetness in her eyes welling up that might have been tears or blood depending on how badly and long she was willing to fight back the sensation that she’d now identifed with her most powerful fortellings. Light help her this couldn’t happen again, not twice helpless at the feet of a Shadowsworn!

She grit her teeth as excruciating pain surged through her body. Kneeling down slowly towards the floor, her hands twitching at her side, fighting the urge to grab the dagger or to embrace the source no matter what had been told to her.

“You’ll not bend me to the Shadow, you filthly TRAITOR!” She spat the word, spoke to the black behind her but meant as much for the false Amyrlin before her. Light could this be how her Arches came to be? Would she be forced to kill the Amyrlin Seat? She would, Creator help her, she knew that not only could she if give half the chance but that she would.

“You had better bloody well hope you can kill me in one swipe of that puny blade because so help me… if you let up for one heartbeat, you shadowsworn FOOL, it will be your body on the ground I SWEAR IT!” She growled the last words as much as she spoke them, the blade having indented to her flesh so much due to her rage filled shouts that it broke the upper most layer of her flesh causing a hair thin ribbon of blood to fall like tears down her throat.

“To think … I trusted you even for a second…” She hissed under the pain that was painted across her face and in her icy blue eyes. Clearly she had been speaking of Lillian & that for some reason, beyond all sense, she HAD trusted the girl. Inside, silently, she prayed to the Light to give her strength and courage enough to not only see the window of opertunity but to take hold of it the very moment it presented itself. This much she promised herself, no matter how this ended, Telcia Dyfelle refused to die silently. 

It was incredible how you got used to everything, even being an Amyrlin Seat and making big and difficult decisions. But Annais Nevell had a clear idea of where she was steering the White Tower and unlike some of her precedessors, the Hall stood fairly united behind her. And when she made a bad judgement call, she now had a new person in her entourage to kick her tush for it: Mia.

She lifted her gaze from the papers and glanced at her side where her very first Warder sharpened her blade with a whetstone. Fondness dominated the Bond and Mia looked up with a smile. Gray and brown eyes stayed locked with mutual goodwill, and Annais was the first one to break the gaze off. Mirroring was something that she still hadn’t entirely mastered and it wouldn’t do to have the Amyrlin grin foolishly when Telcia Nalemar-Dyfelle arrived.

Light, yet another person to be secured and so many things could go wrong. What if someone noticed that the ter’angreal was missing? Annais brushed her palms to her thighs and let herself revel for a moment at the reassurance Mia was sending at her.

“I’m going for a quick smoke”, she announced and suddenly the Bond brimmed with intense disapproval. “Yes?”, Annais asked challengingly and glared at her Warder. She was still in charge here and even if she let Mia sometimes to get the upper hand, it didn’t mean a more permanent reverse of the roles. Or so she told herself at least. Thankfully the Illianer was willing to let it go this time, even though her perfectly nice cigar moment was ruined by such negativity oozing through.

The Wheel conspired against her and her slight pleasure was cut short by a knock at the door. Annais tossed the cigar over the balcony with a longing look and waved the air futilely to disperse the smoke. She just gave up and stepped inside closing the doors. Just few breaths and sitting up straighter in her fancy chair and she was ready to face her guest and be all Amyrlinly.

A quick friendly smile at Lillian became more polite and Annais stood up to face Telcia and receive the kiss of the ring. She really hadn’t wanted to go through that bit but Lillian had insisted that it was necessary to get the other woman into a right position. The White’s way would better work or Mia really would have her hide. It would have been safer to just Shield the woman but it might have caused some wondering if someone was paying attention. At least Gennie, her usual Traveling agent was still delivering messages back and forth to the various royalty, so no one would wonder why she used Lillian instead.

The reaction had been expected but Annais’ mouth thinned with displeasure at being called a Black Sister – again. She didn’t know Telcia Sedai very well, she had been in Altara for the most of the time the woman was a Sitter. This was going to be a truly rocky beginning if the woman turned out innocent like she very much hoped.

“Easy with the knife, Lillian”, she snapped when the White cut flesh and blood begun to flow down the pale skin. She backed away from the Red like Mia had demanded and let her Warder place the Oath Rod on Telcia’s hands. Annais triggered it with a slight flow of Spirit.

“You know of the Black Ajah but you were never secured, Daughter. The former Keeper trusted you so much. But I don’t trust anyone who hasn’t unsworn and resworn in front of my very eyes. You know the drill. And then you will say that you are not sworn to the Dark One… if you can.”

Telcia’s eyes bulged in their sockets as the oath rod was put into her hands, she feared the worst as the woman activated it. “Unswear…” She looked scandalized, which she was if only because it was exactly what she’d hoped the woman would let her do but she never would have dared to ask.

“Re… reswear?” Telcia was horrified at the idea. The pain would be excruiating on top of the pain she was already in. Sweat dotted her brow, something no Aes Sedai ever should have had. “I know NO such routine! This is positively…” It hit her then, this was what Arette had done to the Black Ajah Hunters. The laughter was wry but it came out of her lips none the less.

“I NEVER unswore anything and in all her foolishness it was something Arette never would have dreamed of asking me to do even in her dizziest day dreams!” The words were an accusation, the woman should feel shame at demanding this, especially in this way.

“Will you make the whole Tower kneel to you this way?” She barely shook her head, feeling Lillian having let up an ounce. “How many times will you swear and reswear Mother, to prove yourself as pure as those you demand things from… especially when you come to understand it’s cutting your life SHORT!”

Blood welled up in Telcia’s eyes, she couldn’t hold back any more. The foretelling wouldn’t wait and there was no mistaking it. If she didn’t unswear and reswear immeidately, the foretelling would be suspect. These weren’t blacks, they were just fearful women with no better ideas… Light help them.

“I, Telcia Dyfelle, renounce the three oaths of the Aes Sedai. I shall not be bound to say no untrue word, I shall not be bound to make no weapon for a man to kill another with the one power, and I shall not be bound to refrain from killing under any circumstances.”

Telcia cried out in agony, the focus required to resist the pull of the pattern was enormous and the weight upon the soul that the oath road placed, was no small thing. “It hurts so … Light… please…” she whispered in a childlike voice. Trembling she let the three oaths out in a blinding torrent ending only with the meekest request, “I am… a servant of …the Light…”

It was then her eyes began to roll up into her head. 

Telcia’s reactions certainly were quite extreme. Popping eyes and horrified face… and she was positively sweating when she mentioned reswearing. Please Light, let it not be guilt and fear. The Red knew the procedure and her precious Keeper friend had done the very same thing to thirteen Sisters who had become the first Hunters. Wasn’t it an outright lie that she knew no such routine? Well, this certainly wasn’t a common practice.

Accusations. Annais had no reason to feel any shame as she was doing the right thing, but her brow furrowed in a frown. Still, her voice was adamant when she replied. “Yes. Every Aes Sedai will got through this same eventually.” The Red’s question made her shiver. Unswearing and reswearing had been horribly painful but she would do it as many times as she would have to. And cutting her life short? What nonsense was that? Clearly the woman was making another attempt to squirm off it.

And then she begun to cry blood. Annais could only gape in disbelief and half worry. But the woman was unswearing. She bit her lip and glanced at Lillian with uncertainty when Telcia cried out in pain. Was it all act or a real thing? Could this bleeding thing be happening because they had caught a Black Sister?

Then it was over as Telcia fainted. Annais lunged toward her and had to struggle for a moment with Mia who blocked her way. Finally the Warder budged but she knelt and took a firm hold of the Red. Even Telcia’s eyes were covered so it should be perfectly safe. But Annais didn’t care anymore. She wove Delving and gasped as it was all for real. The blood vessels in Telcia’s face had bursted like could happen if you concentrate to hard or hang upsidedown too long. What in Light’s name was happening here?

Mia restraining Telcia kept her from hurting herself as she arched and flailed with the Healing. Annais sagged to sit beside her and frowned at her Warder who still hadn’t let go. “Mia Stavros, we will have a word about this. You can release her now. Telcia Sedai, how are you feeling? I am truly sorry about this but it was necessary. What just happened to you?”
As if she heard the woman, Telcia’s eyes lock on the Amyrlin Seat. Her words, while to no one that she would remember later, seem to be spoken as an urgent message to the Flame of Tar Valon.

“Faster, faster we move towards the beginning of the end and the end of a new beginning. Behold, the Kingdom by the sea shall weather a great storm of young hawks, it’s fate resting in the hands of the untested unsworn servants, the crafters of waves, the Queen of Golden Cranes & the Queen of Lions. If but one refuses to stand united, to build a city-state that will see the other side of the Great War, the winter shall NEVER end and the shadow’s foot shall be firmly placed on the throat of the Light. BEHOLD, the Dragon, as guardians balance the servants he stands to work the impossible tasks, nine in all, what is said not to be able to be, shall come to pass. A brother’s death bed plea to his sister, finally ful-filled. By my blood and soul, I Telcia Dyfelle, do foretell.”

And with that her eyes fall shut, her body shuddering from the exertion and pain. 
Light, this had to be a Foretelling. A woman who had just been Healed just couldn’t fake it. Annais repeated Telcia’s every word quietly and tried to press them to her memory. Lillian and Mia would have to remember the bits that she might forget. She didn’t even try to interpret it as the woman spoke lest even one word be missed.

When the speech ended, Telcia slumped down and Annais was torn with what to do: to write the words down immediately or to Delve the woman again? She did kind of both. “Lillian, please jot her the Foretelling down”, Annais told the younger Sister before kneeling beside Telcia. Her weave didn’t reveal any further injury, only great wariness. From what Annais had read, the Foretellers didn’t remember their own words. So it was useless to pester Telcia about it.

And she had been summoned for an entirely different topic. Annais wasn’t entirely heartless, though, so she couldn’t just start inquisitioning her right away after such an experience. “How are you feeling, Telcia? Can I make you comfortable somehow? Do you want dinner, tea or maybe something stronger?”

“Tea,” She whispered softly and blinked a bit. “Please Mother.” Telcia sits up and finally takes Mia’s appearance in for the first time. “Stavros… Con’s Sister Mia.” She smiles at the woman. “We finally meet at long last.” Her voice is hoarse but it’s clear seeing the warder puts her at ease.

Annais caught Mia’s nod before she set to preparing the tea wordlessly. A simple weave of Fire heated the water and even though the tea should have brewn for a longer time, it would have to do. She added in two spoonfuls of honey as they would do good for Telcia. Annais poured the Red a cup and handed it to her. She wished that the woman could at least drink herself.

But before they could start talking about the Arches, Lillian would have to be dismissed. She would react emotionally even when she didn’t know what the information was for. But she was bright so she would figure it out quickly and then there would be trouble. “Lillian, did you get it all down? If yes… well, you need to return the Oath Rod. And we shouldn’t be seen together too much.”

“WAIT!” Telcia cried out. “Don’t take it yet… please.” She looked to the Amyrlin pleadingly. “I … I need your help and I need that to get it.”

Nodding at Annais’ words, Lillian took the oath rod from Mia as it was offered. They had to be careful, and she couldn’t be seen around Annais too often, she had perhaps stayed overlong as it was. She was meant to be a messenger girl, fetching Telcia from one place to another, she was not meant to be privy to private councils. At least, as far as everyone else was concerned, hopefully Annais would speak to her of it later. Or so was her thought until Telcia called for her to wait, and that she needed it? Looking to Annais questioningly, she waited for instruction.

Unexpected. Annais frowned and exchanged a look with Lillian. There was only one way to find out. “What kind of help and what does it have to do with the Oath Rod?”

Telcia stood on shaking legs, taking Mia’s arm to steady herself before she even realized the warder had put it in front of her. “I… I must be released of my oaths, lives depend on it. On my life and soul I’ve promised to say nothing of why, but… I must be released.”

Frowning at the words spoken, Lillian looked down at the oath rod a moment before handing it over to Annais. She wasn’t sure of Telcia’s motives by any means, but a leap of faith might be merited after having tested her and having found her true. Or not, but she thankfully didn’t have to decide in this matter. That was Annais’ place. “It is up to you, Mother. I wouldn’t do it without knowing more, but she has passed the test.”

Nodding sharply, Annais received the Oath Rod and held it in a way that implied that she wasn’t going to hand it over. “That is good council, Lillian. What can you tell, Telcia? And do you understand what exactly you are giving up? Are you certain that you want to make that kind of a sacrifice?” 

Telcia bit her lip. “I’ve thought long and hard on what I could say and not say. The person who bound me to my words I am glad you never asked me if I’d been in the presence of… let us say that much and imply the danger as I can say no more of the man. All that I am able to do is ask of you the impossible task and hope that whatever you have brought me here for, whatever was so serious to put me through that… test of yours, is a worthy trade. I would never ask this, not in a million years if the rod were not here and you had not displayed to me that you have a head to do what is right above what is proper. Light but that whole mess was…” She shook her head, she would not tell her what should be obvious.

“But it proved your mettle, it proved where you compare to those who sealed me to the flame and exiled me to save their careers rather than save the world. I lost everything so one woman’s pride could be protected… and none of that even begins to compare to the work I’ve been doing now. Nearly two lifetimes as a Sitter, Mother… and it’s a pale comparison to what is being done in Ebou Dar.” She paused clearly thinking on what she might be able to say more.

“Do you know anything of my departure from the Tower after Lanfir, Light Bless Her, welcomed me home from Karana’s” she nearly spit the name. “so called retirement she sent me into?”

Well, Annais wasn’t certain that what Telcia was asking from her was right. It certainly wasn’t proper. But she was a pragmatic so she was willing to hear the woman out at least. “No, I do not know the details of your departure, Telcia. I was still at Altara at the time. How do they pertain to your request?”

“You asked what I could tell.” She paused to let the words sink in, to make it apparent that despite the seeming departure in the story, that they were clearly linked. “I came back and was welcomed by Lanfir only after my husband had been gentled and released to my care… but he never made it to me. He was taken somewhere else; a fact I didn’t learn until he escaped his captors who wore shawls and guards cloaks.” she let that sink in too.

“They’ll have good stories I’m sure, another farm, confusion in what the orders were… but notice the one who gave the orders, the Head of Ajah at the time, is dead sometime ago under mysterious circumstances… Perine Caral, the girl who helped me hide my pregnancy.”

“But none of that was known to me at the time, no, why I came back was because servants of the Shadow took my children Mother and I feared they were dead… but they weren’t, they just never made it to where they were going. I was lucky, unlike others… I’m not the only one to lose my children in such ways Mother.” Telcia tried to say more but the oath slammed her jaw shut so hard her teeth clicked.

“Perine Caral, one of the original hunters.” she finally managed as her jaw unlocked.

The kidnap of Telcia’s husband was the handwork of the Black Ajah. But why? Discerning a motive was difficult. “Do you have more information about what happened to your husband? Descriptions of the people involved? Did you tell anyone in the Tower? Would releasing you save more children from the Shadow? I assume yes…. hmm, it is painful but you could just unswear and reswear after you have written it down or told it to someone.” It certainly pained her to even suggest it. But it also pained her to loose a Sister forever, even if she was a retired one.

Lillian frowned as she considered Telcia then looked back at Annais. “May I speak?”

Telcia smiled at Annais. She hadn’t expect this reaction, her eyes beamed with pride. Finally, it seemed the Tower had a woman worth of the title Mother not just leader, warrior, or politician. I almost broke her heart she even had to think of leaving this behind now.

Likely it hadn’t been the best of ideas. Annais should always think a bit longer before opening her mouth and that was why she tried to have good advisors at hand. “Of course. Go ahead.”

Nodding slightly as she was given permission, Lillian ventured her opinion. “Telcia is a retired sister, while she may have been brought here for a purpose unknown to me, I think it is fair to say that she has no intention of rejoining our ranks. Assist, yes, but she has her own life with her own family now. One of our concerns was that she may have been targeted and turned while she was isolated in Altara, we now know that isn’t the case. We would be the only ones to know that she isn’t bound by oaths, others that approach her would do so on the assumption she is still bound.”

“Not only is this a possible advantage to all of us, but after everything that has occurred, perhaps it is right in itself to simply do it.” Looking at Telcia briefly, Lillian turned back to Annais as she finished. “A servant doesn’t need oaths in order to serve.”

Tears filled Telcias eyes, she wanted to hug Lilian despite her venom to her only a few minutes ago, instead she bowed her head respectfully.

It was true what Lillian said, Annais decided as she chewed her lower lip in thought. Telcia might be of use unbound and as an ally. But she was a special case, an exception. “Indeed. Servants shouldn’t need Oaths, Lillian. But we do not live in an ideal world. The Dragon Reborn may bring about change but I am not certain if the world and the Tower are ready for this kind of a change yet. It isn’t a topic I will discuss now as there is another matter on the agenda. But…” Light, she had to make the decision quickly as Lillian had to return the Oath Rod. “If you are willing to revoke your ring and Shawl and every right to the title of an Aes Sedai, you may remove your Oaths, Telcia. Are you really ready to do that?” 

Images flashed through her mind, years of training, tears, she prayed to be free of this place for so long; why was it so hard to say the words then? Jelene and Melanie were out there, she had a promise to keep… but what of her other promises, to the Tower, to her husband and to her blood? Wasn’t 200 years worth of work something easily tossed aside for them? Did she really believe the words she’d taught so many novices? It was then she found her voice again, weak at first and then more confident as she finished.

“In the age of legends, men and women channeled, but not all worked for the Hall of Servants. It took a special person to dedicate a lifetime to service, but ever, the leader of the Servants could call upon those who were trained and they would come to serve when it was required of them and the need was great. I’ve always told the young ones that was how we were meant to be… in a way, it is the wish of every Red, in her heart of hearts that we could return to that. I would have been lying for two lifetimes, to every child I taught, if I didn’t stand now with courage enough to do what must be done. I’m not a liar Mother, I am a Servant… here… or there. I know who I am, and while regretful it was rushed and in this way… I am proud to be the first and by your hand freed.”

Telcia stepped forward and in solemn voice, “I’ve never had more respect for your office, than I have in this moment.”

Annais snorted but her slight smile revealed that she wasn’t awfully upset. “Oh, it is easy to respect the Amyrlin when she is making decisions that please you. Too bad that I just can’t please all thousand Aes Sedai. When you bow to someone, you always turn your bottom to someone else. Now, get about it so that Lillian can return the ter’angreal.”

Taking the Oath Rod into her hands again, Telcia unswore her oaths with more respect the second time than the first. It felt as though a weight of a thousand years was being lifted from her skin and soul and while the first time had been so brief, the second she began to notice the changes. Her hair tightened and unless she was mad the silver seemed to melt away in the reflection of herself across the room in a mirror on the wall. But that was not the only thing slowly changing in the mirror as the oaths left her form, with a smile she realized that her wish to Arette in this self-same room had come true in part… she’d turned back time. Where the Arches had given her the sanity of her youth, the oaths going away had given her back the appearance. Would her husband even recognize her? Would her children? “Light…” she gasped.

“Well, I’ll take that as my cue to leave.” Taking the Oath Rod from Annais, Lillian inclined her head to the pair before taking her leave, slipping the oath rod within the sleeve of her dress as she did so. It would be a touch of a challenge to get the Oath Rod back into the vault, but it wasn’t as if it hadn’t been done before. That and she wasn’t suspected by the guardians, so all was well. Maybe later she would talk again with Telcia, if the woman still wanted to talk to her by then. People tended to have aversions to speaking with her after being menaced with a knife, but that was what she did.

With Lillian gone, Annais felt like she could breath easier. Not because she wanted to be rid of the White’s company but because the Oath Rod was being taken back and they would avert suspicion. That, and she could finally discuss freely the topic she had had Telcia brought here for. But first things first. She reached for her decanter and took out three glasses and eyed around questioningly. Mia would better not disapprove it or she would get a smack on her chops for being a sulky Warder. A little drink hurt no one. Sipping her brandy appreciatively, she leaned back on her chair.

“So, there was a reason why I summoned you, Telcia: the Three Arches. They used to have another purpose once, they were a tool of Healing. They could become that again if we only knew how. I know of the experiment you and the former Amyrlin and some others did. I want to hear all about it, especially the risks. Do you believe that the reliability of the method could be improved?” 

“All about it you say?” Telcia nods slowly. “Alright. Let’s sit, my legs are still tired and I’ll take some of that food now if you don’t mind. That healing … wow.” Smiling she sits and accepts a bit of fruit that is offered to her by Mia from a bowl on a nearby table.

“The arches and my understanding of them comes from 200 years of hatred and study. I’ve long advocated their being shut down as a means of testing Accepted. However… now that I see their true purpose, I think that a properly trained person could make the testing safer and more effective. I can actually see where our sisters of the past got the idea to use it from, really it is a way to wipe a girl’s mental slate clean, per say, and make her stronger for her trials to come. Misused, as we’re doing it now, it only allows the strongest to pass, sometimes breaking them in the process, and on occasion proves … unfortunate.”

“It’s my firm belief that Age of Legends healers who specialized in the ailments of the mind, used the arches as a therapy device which allowed individuals to face their darkest fears and deepest seeded issues in a safe environment. The arches actually touches upon the mind of the person entering, what occurs is as the spirit, filtered through the ter’angreal, touches the mind it creates a small realm based on the … shall we say patient’s needs. Ideally, inside the arches, the patient confronts the issue they are unable to work through on their own, and over comes it… thusly exiting stronger than when they entered. Though I sincerely believe that follow up work was done, this Ter’Angreal isn’t a cure-all, it’s a tool.”

“It occurred to us, during discussions, that for this to work, one would either have to assume the patient would naturally succeed… which we know they don’t… or somehow someone had to help them. This is where our theory-craft got stuck and we had to use the item to learn more.”

“Elyssa of the Blues joined us and together the three of us activated the Ter’Angreal, amazingly the weave on the Ter’angreal CAN be done when three women link… this leaves one person able to operate the Ter’Angreal and prevents the two inside from channeling and endangering themselves or others.”

“Sirayn, who was my first mentee, had a great deal of issues. I knew this… but, after many long years I realized I wasn’t a peach any more either. It’s no secret what some have said about me and I have to say … they were right. I was depressed, among other things, and the yellows spent years trying to help me. So, I knew we both could benefit from going into the arches… this was my first mistake.”

“The person leading a patient is MUST be stable and have few, if no, connections to the patient. The reason for this is simple, the person the arch sees as a patient, will be lost to the illusion… if both healer and patient forget the truth of where they are, both could be lost just as we lose novices in the Arches. This occurred to Sirayn and I on the third arch, happily in the first and second it our issues were so different we were able to act as healers for each other.”

“For us the first was my confronting the death of the Accepted Melanie Tarou. While my rape was always tramatic, it felt her death was my fault as I was the one who showed her how to climb onto the novice roof-top, we did it as novices together to get out of chores and see the sunshine.” Telcia smiles softly. “I was always a pain in Liselle’s bottom with my attempts to circumvent Tower Law with loop holes.” She chuckles and eats another grape.

“I watched as Melanie was pushed off the rooftop and fell after her, Sira saved my life in that arch. As soon as I accepted what she was telling me, as soon as I truly believed that Melanie’s death wasn’t my fault, the silver door appeared.”

“Our second arch was about Sira’s confrontation with a dread lady that cost her a warder and her hand. Here I discovered channeling in the arches is nothing more than an effect of the mind, which is why we can see it done in an arch but it’s dangerous to do ourselves… mostly because their channeling is an illusion of our minds and our own channeling could disrupt the Ter’Angreal. Being linked with Elyssa prevented us from doing any damage. It proved a real safety net.”

“The last arch related to both of our fears about our status in the Tower, the setting was the Last Battle and the location was Tar Valon… I was with the forces of the Tower and sadly Sira was with the Shadow.” Telcia knew this might look badly for her missing mentee but she owed this woman a great deal now.

“We captured her,” she says gravely. “And because of my past issues the Sisters tried to send me away while they tortured her for information. As I use to do, I was ready to accept what I had to instead of making a choice for myself no matter the risk… for all my fire in the Hall and my choice to marry, I’ve always been tied to this place and I knew that. I had no where to go if I’d been put out as a Novice, no future, no home… nothing. I had to face the truth of my life and decide to stand for what meant something to me and while Sira was our enemy, I rescued her. The Sisters torturing her were committing acts of the Shadow and I had to stand against that. My act, my care for sira, broke the power of the Shadow over her and it was that Sira realized the strength to resist the dark things she feared, was in her all along.”

“We spoke of this much, together, alone… but never with others. What was there, was deeply personal, as is the first time you entered yourself. It’s hard to share for us because … we didn’t leave the arch stronger, we were weakened by it. A woman who has no issue with her past has no trouble sharing it when it matters… but this tower is full of women who, to this day, shudder at the thought of what they experienced that night they were ushered into the silver archway.”

“Additionally, I fear that I must tell you that if the person going in to be healed, is a foreteller… or perhaps a dreamer, I think there could be trouble. The person’s mind is effected in all manner of ways and I know for a fact that something of foretelling can occur in the arches, you see… I’ve known the face of the Dragon Reborn since I exited my third arch where…” she hesitated and her eyes lit up as she realized that without the ring, her arch would never happen in any way at all.

“Where I was the Amyrlin Seat… you should know, the Dragon will kneel to you at some point… I saw it back then and I knew it to be as true as the sun rising. That boy’s eyes though… they chilled me. In the arch I had done what Karana did, hid the boy for many years, and when it was discovered what I did… they stood to have me stilled. I ran from that fate for many, many years… in my own ways but if I had been guided in my arches we could have benefited from the knowledge gained there.”

“In short… two must enter. They must not be close, barely know each other is best, and the person who is guiding should be a stable person whom you don’t expect should have any surprises from their past that they have yet to confront. I’d say, if I could be so bold, I or Sira going back now… to take another through, would be good for the Tower if only because the person we healed could easily be used as the healer in future attempts to help others or for Accepted testings.”

“The novice entering has a guide, they face their fears and uncertainties and exit stronger and proven worthy to advance… those who find they can not get past their fears, those who would normally be lost within, are guided out by the healer who calls up the doorway by simply imagining it to be there. It’s that simple. I’m sure you have questions though.” Sitting back Telcia waits to hear what the woman has to say. 

Telcia was hardly the only Aes Sedai who had issues with the Arches but until a viable second option was found, the testing method just couldn’t be done away with. But the knowledge that people could be brought back from the Arches and that they could be used in a more safe way opened entirely new possibilities.

Annais was no expert on Healing, especially not on the ailments of mind but she knew very well that the Arches weren’t the single cure for Estel. But it could be the starting point and she would have people helping her afterwards. Darienna had already gotten through by the time Orion had died and a relapse had occurred. There was still hope.

It was extremely dangerous thing what they had done, entering the Arch while channeling even if Elyssa had directed Saidar from the outside. And why had they chosen the Blue for the work? Why not a Yellow? It sounded very logical that the guide should be impartial or they could get tangled in the internal world of the patient too. Annais doubted that Telcia knew Estel. The Blue certainly shared the views of her most fanatical Ajah Sisters about the Red Ajah. But could that even hamper the Healing process?

She was both fascinated and slightly embarrassed by the highly personal things Telcia spoke of. She wanted to say that Telcia didn’t need to tell her unless she wanted as that was the rule about the regular Arches. But she had to know it all to be able to make a good judgement. It must have been horrible for the Red to face such old guilt. But being purged of it after two hundred years had likely relieved her of a heavy load.

The second Arch sounded very very scary, especially since they couldn’t channel. But then the Arches took place in the World of Dreams and things worked differently there. The third Arch certainly made Annais’ eyes widen. Could Sirayn have become an agent of Dark? She had been a Hunter once but the Shadow could have turned her. Her stomach churned at the thought and the knowledge that a Forsaken had his interests on her wasn’t a comforting one. Be’lal might even know what had really happened to Sirayn.

Telcia’s deed spoke of a great deal of dedication and care and Annais respected her for it. She doubted that she could have been as much help to any of her friends and what made it even more remarkable was that Telcia had been a patient herself. Maybe she should have considered the Yellow Ajah instead of the Brown, Gray and Red that had been her main options once.

Annais was one of the many women who shivered at the memory of her Arches. A century might have passed but the pain of loosing her father and whole family was still there. Duller but never ceasing. Rational mind might know that there was nothing she could have done for them but she had triggered the chain of events that had lead to their deaths. Her father and his men had made their choice of profession and maybe the Pattern had meant to lead her to the Tower, but even that didn’t dim the guilt. But she would just live with it. Entering the Arches again was far too frightening prospect… and too risky also. At least she had been able to set one of her visions to rest, her hatred of Mireina Sedai. And Mia was a proof that her stance toward Warders had changed too.

It made sense that Dreaming and Foretelling could cause issues as the ter’angreal utilized Te’Aran’Rhiod. That might also risk Telcia unnecessarily. Maybe someone else should act as the Guide after all, possibly a Yellow. And how useful the knowledge of the Dragon might have been much earlier. But Karana Majin had made her choices and it was too late to cry over spilt milk. She couldn’t agree with Telcia’s conclusions that the events would play as they had happened in her Arches, though. Too many things didn’t add up. And the Arches were formed of the woman’s own fears and hopes. Who knew how much of it was the truth and how much fabrication.

Imagining Estel Healed and helping young women to heal in turn was a pleasent though and it made Annais smile genuinely. But first she would have to get there herself. “Firstly, about the Dragon. Since you are not the Amyrlin, it is doubtful of how much of your vision is real and how much is the doing of Arches and your own mind. I have no desire to have the Dragon kneel to me. If he decides to do so, it is by his own volition and likely to respect the title as you did before when kissing my ring and nothing more. I seek alliances, not domination.”

“But the Arches… did they work for you, Telcia? Are you fully Healed of your fears and traumas? And you said that being a Foreteller might disrupt the Healing process. Do you think that the same might happen if you acted purely as the Guide? And how does one control who is the Guide and who the Patient? Can you be certain that you would not be thrust in the latter role again?”

“There is a reason why I am asking all this. Naturally I don’t want to loose even one novice to the Arches again and make it unnecessarily painful for them. But there is a Sister who is badly in need of the Healing the Arches can offer. Two in fact.” Her face darkened when she thought of Phinnaver and what she had done in her madness. “Do you think that you could lead their Healing process? Would you be impartial enough to work with Estel Liones of the Blues and Phinnaver of the Greens?”

Telcia had thought it might come to asking, after Sirayn was gone, who else but her and Elyssa would be left and Elyssa hadn’t entered. Kit, as she knew, was travelling the world with Ragan so there was no hope there either.

“I know only of each woman, I do not know them, in that I feel it would be safe. Though having Elyssa there if it is possible, since Kit is gone, might do well… or if another in the Tower has a vast knowledge of Angreal, Ter’Angreal and Sa’Angreal. Both women were possesed of the the Talent for it, as you know, and I am certain Elyssa’s eyes from the outside could alert us to a problem if it should arrise.”

“I’d suggest, in all future uses of the device, that an expert of such things is on hand. I know there isn’t a lot one can do from the outside but, it I can not say what women of such Talent might learn while watching the use of the Arches in the proper fashion. Elyssa determined a great deal on their operation… she admitted to me that with extensive study she might devine more but Mother wasn’t willing to allow that just yet. At the time there was just too many other things that needed to be known about other objects, in her estimation. I can only assume that meant objects we might use in the Last Battle, Greens often put such things first.” She nodded at her words which were clearly not an insult by their tone, after all, she herself had had a green mentor.

“As for my having been healed…” she smiles. “Oh yes, my trip into the arches has given me a new outlook on life. When I left the Tower the second time I left with confidence that I could help the world as much being out in it… as I could here. I had no idea just how right I would be.” Telcia’s eyes were lit up like a school girl.

“I’ve been helping the Queen of Altara and her faction to keep stability in Ebou Dar, there are definately a fair number of rivals to her at the moment, and … as you no doubt know there are many who have been turned away from the Tower staying in Ebou Dar. I’ve spent a lot of time with them, encouraging them to continue good works among the people. Truly they are incredible women of heart. I have given my word not to speak of them directly so I will not say more than you know, but understand I have been taken into their trust and it is among them that I’ve discovered the truth about the Oath Rod.” With a hint of pleasure she touches her soft, younger skin, in disbelief.

“But I move away from the topic at hand, and we can speak of these smaller matters later. You asked if I would be able to do this for these women and the answer is yes. I assume that if something should go wrong, not that I feel it will, that my husband in Ebou Dar will be contacted though and … while an odd request, I wish to be burried here in Tar Valon, if such a thing can occur. The arches seldom are kind enough to leave something behind when error occurs, but one must be practical in thinking of anything. There is a large oak in the back westerly corner, I made a powerful oath once to do all that I could in order to see myself put to rest beside Melanie Tarou, and Jelene… my old roomates. My husband knows this but a woman making a request of the Amyrlin Seat is far different than a man.” She managed a smile for Annais.

“More practical is that besides an expert of Angreal, you might also want to have a healer handy as with any enterance to the arches. Someone trusted. Additionally, if either have a dear friend whom can stay with them for a day or so after exiting, you might arrange for that. Even after confronting and overcoming my own issues, I found it comforting to talk to someone, dwelling on new ideas alone can cause one to come to terrible and incorrect conclusions after the fact. Both should have the opertunity open to them, if they need it. Perhaps the Yellows know more of helping the mind heal now than they did when they tried to treat me, you’d know better of such things but it is any idea to make such a person available to them… or even the Mistress of Novices, since so many still see her as a motherly figure. Sometimes after shock and pain, all a girl needs is her mother.” Telcia shrugs.

“At any case keeping many Aes Sedai around to Oggle them, might not be good, after all… we all try to act differently for our peers than when we are alone. Such pretenses for them so soon after the healing could be bad.” Telcia thinks for a moment.

“Other than a healer, terangreal expert, and someone to be with the girls after… I can think of no other thing that would be needed. I’m prepared to help in whatever way I can.” 

So Elyssa and Kit had been the other two. A piece of a puzzle clicked into place when Telcia explained that they both had been Talented with the ter’angreals. But of course. Annais should have come to think of it herself. Lillian likely would have figured it out right away. Neither Sisters were available anymore but thanks to Maegan’s confession, Annais had just the perfect replacement in mind.

Hmm, Annais would have to find out which ter’angreals Elyssa had been studying. They might actually have some military signifigance. Her thoughts strayed when Telcia mentioned Altara. She certainly should ask how things were in Altaran politics. She was in correspondence with Sarena… and Milos, but eyewitness reports were always more enlightening. When Telcia brought up the runaways in Altara, she gave the Red a look.

Telcia wouldn’t be foolish enough to endanger the secret that the Tower had known about them all long. The runaways were far too useful tool to be scared underground. And the Oath Rod again. Did this have relevance to her comment of the Rod cutting the lifetime short? Annais made a mental note to ask about it. She found it incredible that runaways who many likened to wilders would have come to any such conclusions. They tried to the use the One Power as little as possible but nonetheless Telcia could be an extremely valuable source of knowledge and insight.

Telcia’s dramatic request about her burial made Annais tsk lightly. She would not take unnecessary risks with her Sisters, not even one who had given up the right. If there was a good chance that something would go wrong, traditional methods would just have to be enough. Having a Healer around was a given and one woman immediately came to mind, her very own former mentee. All of it sounded very practical, Zalena, Maegan and Darienna and Lillian to be there for Estel afterwards. But who would be there for Phinn? Annais would find someone.

“Thank you for your offer of help. I do not know how quickly we could do this, though. If we do it. The women you would help must volunteer to become your patients. I would not expose them to anything this risky otherwise. I will also listen to the counsil of two others who have very different point of views. The other one quite wants to do this – knowledge fascinates her. especially when it relates to ter’angreals – and the other one will adamantly oppose because of past bad experiences. Their opinions and questions will provide me the needed extremes to balance my decision.”

“I can’t think of anything else to ask right now. Can you think of something to add? If not, I would be curious to hear of the Oath Rod and these runaways. As much as you can tell of course.”

“I must not say too much, but before I say anything too I will note they are far to old for the novice book, the ones who are among them who have never been written into it… unless much has changed in a very short time here, which I somehow doubt.”

“In most cases they work as wisdoms in many cities around the world… not just in Ebou Dar, others in other ways and many serve as Eyes and Ears for Sisters here in the Tower even if the Sisters don’t know them for more than ‘lucky wilders who didn’t die.”

“They take great pains not to be noticed, to follow the stictures that exist within the Tower regarding novice and accepted channeling, and expected behavior of those who claim offical membership to their ranks.”

“Oh but there is so very much more for the world they could be doing! Sadly, their respect is often displayed in fear of the Tower instead of reverence, hence why they send home runaways. They simply do not want your attention or wrath Mother. Many of them still think like novices or worse, not to say they lack intelligence but their fear of the Tower’s power can be that great.”

“But… in their time they’ve made discoveries and they teach practical things to one another, outside of the One Power so that each person who leaves the Tower can become a seamless member of society again. I’m highly impressed with their sensibility, they took great caution in deciding to approach me and it’s taken me years to gain some measure of faith among them. I’ve had to give my word that I would reveal nothing of their numbers or locations but, Mother, I have to say you’d be proud of the women… for all the set back they had in not becoming Sisters, the Tower has allowed a good thing to be in Ebou Dar & every where else that they call home.” Telcia nodded satisfied.

“The Oath Rod is a matter that I’m not sure I’d believe if I were in your position, it’s almost too much to take in but…” She hesitated, she didn’t know if this was too much to say but then again, what harm could it do if the woman was to not believe it. “The major difference between even the women who failed and were put out and you… is they never took oaths on that rod and I swear to you that I know for a fact some in Ebou Dar to be older than my Aunt Muirenn who is at least 300 if I am not a goat’s uncle!”

Quickly she added, “Of course this seems impossible and I thought so too, but they look younger than me and … well, look at me! I can only deduce that we, as we are with the Arches, may not be using the Oath Rod quite as it was intended. I have to wonder if we made a non-channeler swear on it, if they would age quickly and die before their natural time… not that I’d ever want to do such a test, but what if the device is a punishment tool much as the Chair in the basements? Imagine how one might bind a criminal to not do his foul works and add to that punishment also a shorter life. Where executions, as some countries do, are barbaric, this is a form of imprisonment that no man can escape. Why the thought of us doing that to sisters boggles the mind, doesn’t it?” 

Telcia’s attempt to protect the women from getting enrolled in the White Tower was quite telling. Her faith in the Tower had certainly taken some serious hits. It was a surprise that the runaways had members outside Ebou Dar. Could they be far more organized than the Tower had ever suspected?

Strict rules sounded very good and following novice and Accepted rules likely meant limited channeling too. It would be interesting to hear what more Telcia thought the wilders should be doing. And did they actually accept wilders among them? Maybe their help could be utilized with finding girls who could channel. But if they really feared the Tower as much as Telcia said, their usefulness might be reduced by revealing that the Tower had known about them all along.

What Telcia described certainly sounded like a spirit of a true Servant of All. Even when rejected and sent away, they continued to help people. And then the Oath Rod. It was unbelievable to imagine women older than Muirenn Alianin and many others who had long since retired. But the assumption that these exceptions were caused by the lack of Oaths was jumping into conclusions too early.

It was possible that the White Tower was using the Oath Rod in another way than it had been used in the Age of Legends but everything in Annais rebelled against the prisoner theory. She would have to think on it and discuss with Lillian. But right then she just couldn’t believe it.

“They sound remarkable women indeed. It is good that they put their talents and longer lifetime to a good use that benefits the people. How far exactly are they spread?”

“As for the Oath Rod…” her voice took a slightly disapproving tone “I wouldn’t be so certain that it is exactly the Oaths that create the age difference. How many women are we speaking of here? And how old? They might be just exceptions.” Likely age was as strong taboo among them as it was in the White Tower but Telcia needed to argument concisely if she wanted to be believed. “And the Oath Rod does not work on non-channelers. It was… tested in the early years before it was taken to use. The criminal theory is very… interesting but it all depends on the assumption that it cuts down age. The Rod might have been as well used in court sessions to make sure that all the witnesses speak truthfully. Certainly the side effects are nasty but it might have not been a finalized product.”

Telcia nodded. “Fair enough, I’d hardly call three hundred years a short life for anyone, but a waste for Servants who might have had longer to do good for the world.” She shrugs. “I brought the news of this to you for your research purposes. I don’t expect you should toss out or amend the use of every tradition in the Tower even over the course of your whole life. The arches, changes that may be made with them, is a huge step in the right direction and by far the most concerning issue in my mind.”

“As for where and how many, these things I can not betray… but more than we thought as their lives are longer than we knew. It was impossible, without knowing how long they could live, to guess at their numbers. They may be untested women but they do know what they’re about after so many long years.”

“Age isn’t taboo among them, as you might expect due to how we regard it here in the Tower, but actually a way they measure worth for leadership. Skills among them are respected, in fact they’ve taken me as an adviser, of sorts, with regards to local politics, the White Tower when it is brought up and of course the Male Channelers who have everyone so worried.”

“I hardly have all the answers to their many questions but the women are smart enough to realize there are dangers in the world that they need to protect themselves from & only with knowledge can they really do that.”

“They keep a circle of elder ones who make decisions on where women will work and what punishments they receive if they’ve done something to endanger the whole. These women also decide who must go back to the Tower and who is beyond the Tower’s concerns any more… some girls are found, as I understand it, long after they’ve run away and the Tower has ended it’s searches. For these ones, keeping them and making sure they don’t become a danger to themselves and others is the biggest concern. For those who are freshly run away, well, I think you know about those… fastest ship to Tar Valon for them.” Telcia nods slowly.

“I have to admit the one girl we sent you not too long ago, I felt badly for her but, I knew it was the right thing to do. Her talent is good enough she’ll make the shawl if she has the mettle for it. She just needed a little reassurance, we all did at that age. I hope her time on the farm is almost done so she can be about her studies as soon as possible, I think she’ll turn out to be a truly valuable member of the Tower one day, hopefully before the Last Battle.”

Telcia ate another grape. “I don’t mean to pry but… I’ve heard rumors that the Tower has made some manner of peace with those boys who follow the Dragon. If this is true, what of my … what of the Red Ajah? Has there been any…” How to say this? “Changes with them?”

She wanted to ask if they’d shown the Ter’Angreal yet, but no… not even now could she betray them in that way. 

Wryness was the foremost emotion with Annais. Just like she had said earlier, it was easy to respect the Amyrlin when she was in concordance with you. Telcia Dyfelle might have lived outside the Tower for five years but over the centuries in Tar Valon had instilled a strong sense of ‘my way’ism into her. But then she herself was guilty of it too.

Ambiguity about numbers was to be expected but at least she had tried. It was a suprise that seniority was so important to the Kin but then experience was respected in the Tower also. Sitters tended to be the eldest Sisters of their Ajah and being the Eldest Sitter carried a special significance.

They certainly sounded alot more organized than the Tower had suspected but then the Tower sadly often neglected what they thought were wilders. Annais could vaguely remember the novice, Silje, who Telcia was speaking about. She always felt sorry for the runaways as she knew what it was like. Public birching was awful and being in the Farm was no fun either. Darienna disliked physical punishment so Silje had been spared of that at least but the girl would still regret her trek.

“Silje will be an Aes Sedai one day”, Annais stated with a smile. “She is made of good stuff indeed. And as for the Black Tower, I am certain that you saw the announcement sent to the courts of the world. The wording was of course carefully thought but the message was pretty clear. The White Tower acknowledged the Black Tower. We are working on improving the relationships.” Sadly she couldn’t work on quite kind of a relationship with Brent than she would have wanted. But Mia was right, the Last Battle was more important than her personal desires and dreams.

“The Red Ajah hasn’t made any kind of public declaration so far of any changes. And I do not know what is going on inside the Ajahs. Maybe you could ask from your Sisters… former Sisters.” She certainly hadn’t mean any kind of insult but it was a fact. Telcia had chosen to give up her title as an Aes Sedai. It had to be for an important reason but the sacrifice had been made and she had to live with it.”

“So, how long could you stay in the White Tower? I will speak with few people and they will likely have more questions and then there is Estel’s own decision. But then we will know whether we will use the Arches process or not. I can understand if you want to spend the mean while at your home.”

“In theory, I am at your leisure and can remain as long as needed. In truth, I left a very worried husband at home who only now realizes I was keeping the continued danger our children are in, from him. I’ve gone to great lengths to be with my children day and night since finding out about what I had promised not to speak of. I have no loyalty to the shadow but breaking such a strong oath, even to those who must know, is something I’m not proud of. Yet, if children are saved and the shadow kept from accomplishing it’s goals, I’ll take up the breaking of my word with the Creator when I leave this world. Let us hope that bit about the soul is an extreme.” she forced a smile but it was true, Telcia did have concerns. However, when it came to her children and Arette’s… no price was too dear, even her very soul and hope of rebirth.

“I should return to the manse and explain myself to my husband. Additionally, I’m sure that the women have learned of my trip here, they are likely scared out of their wits… you must understand, what I’ve told you they would not be happy I’ve shared but Lillian is correct… we must try to prepare for the final battle and widlers and weak ones may make all the difference in the Battle. I have faith that my trust in you is not misplaced Mother, you seem to be the sort of woman Lillian said… even if my first words to you were less than kind. Years of fearing the shadow in these very walls however, is not easily washed away… especially when a knife is to your throat.”

Telcia stood smoothly. “I’ll return the instant you call upon me. Hmm, and I should say that Lord Stavros will likely wish to attend me. While tradition has kept me from bonding, his sword was sworn to my safety long ago in the battle for Arad Doman. He’s going to be furious I took this trip without him. No doubt you are aware of the somewhat legendary … shall we say… passion of the Stavros family?” she chuckles.

“I hope that he will be welcome to travel with me if it comes to me being unable to dissuade him of his notions of me not being safe here? I assure you it’s meant not as offense to you but as a matter of him keeping his word. He may not be fond of the idea of bonding but he takes his oath to protect me very seriously and whenever he finds I’ve placed myself in a dangerous spot… well, he can tend to take it personally. I can only imagine how his wife deals with him…” Telcia smirked at that thought, Arette was a stronger woman than she was to be married to that man. 

The summons had been kind of sudden so Annais could understand that Telcia wanted to go back and reassure her husband. It must have been difficult to live with the fear that her children were in danger and not be able to tell anyone. At least Annais could speak of what had happened with Be’lal with Aramina. She seriously wondered what kind of goals the Shadow had relating to the children but if Telcia needed the Tower’s help, she would ask for it.

The moral dilemma of breaking the strongest oath when it was made to a darkfriend was a tough decision. She knew what Mordea would say about it but ethics weren’t so black and white in practice.

Annais nodded when Telcia said that she should try and relieve the fears of the runaways. She wouldn’t have to tell them what all she had told but honesty was usually the best course. Of course she could outright lie now instead of just simple omission but that tended to end badly. She definately agreed that every channeler was needed in the Last Battle. And after finding out about the Black Ajah and with Be’lal’s Wards in place, she certainly was getting paranoid herself too.

Telcia’s announcement that Con Stavros was her almost Warder was certainly surprising. It likely created some interesting compromises for the man. Annais glanced briefly at Mia but the Bond remained calm and fairly light. Well, if Con would come, at least they would be reunited again. This time Annais would be more prepared and not get overwhelmed by her Warder’s giddiness. She merely smiled with amusement at the comment about Stavros temper. She had certainly witnessed it from Mia’s part but from what she had heard of Con, he was the calmer one. And well, so was Mia most of the time. When Annais wasn’t doing things that she disapproved.

It was quite strange notion that Telcia wouldn’t be safe in the White Tower but if she did tell Con everything like one would to a Warder, he likely knew about the Black Ajah. And he had been the Commander of the Tower Guard, so he likely knew something about it from those times. Hopefully his protective feelings would not cause problems with Telcia entering the Arches.

“I will do my best to be worth your trust. And I hope to see your runaways fighting on our side in Tarmon Gai’don. As for the Arches, if you could return tomorrow, that would be quite ideal. Estel really needs help and quickly and if we won’t try this, something else needs to be attempted. You are most welcomed to bring Lord Stavros with you if he insists on coming.”

“I can’t think of anything else to ask you right now. Do you wish to broach some topics with me?” She tried to make it not sound like a dismissal. She had time still and Telcia was important enough that she couldn’t be just sent off. And spending more time with the woman would give Annais more information to predict what she would do in the future.

Telcia folded her hands in front of herself and tried to remain the image of calm, “I’m use to Amyrlin’s not telling me what I just foretold,” She smirked. “…but… if you think any of it pertained to me and not you I would appriciate the warning. Most of the time I foretell something relavent to those whom I’m in the presence of, it’s why I tried to fight the pull of the pattern to force me to speak… I wanted to give nothing to anyone I thought could be black, in then end my fighting it was why I was hurt. In the many years I’ve had the talent, I’ve learned you can do that fight it for a short while when you feel it coming upon you… but always at a price, and never for long.” She looked regretfully at the floor.

“And, you should know, for Tower record… not all foretellings relate to the Light or for the good of it. I’m sorry to admit that while in the presence of the one who I can not name, I did give a foretelling that relate to the politics of the Shadow. Sadly, I regret I remember nothing and only know as much as I do based on the small amount that was said.” Telcia would leave out that somehow it involved her ownself too and how she had a personal tie to Rasputin somehow. Better safe than sorry, a lie of omission yes, but the Amyrlin was use to those by now.

“Based on what was told to me at the time, I would wager a safe bet on the fact that no other sister with my talent is of the Black. If there are any others, perhaps you might approach them first for your testings. However, other than to ask about what I said, I think maybe I should take my leave and head to Illian straight off.” Telcia was quick to add. “I know the weave, I have visited Arette and Con there often. We have arrangements for a safe travel location, please give Mae my thanks for giving you the location to travel to… Light knows if you’d come a bit closer to the house someone might have been hurt.” 

Annais kept her face steady at being told that the previous Amyrlins had not shared with Telcia what she had just said. There were no notes of her words in the private records either so they were pieces of information lost forever. Such a shame. Telcia certainly had a bad history and reason to be bitter at the White Tower. So maybe the choice of cutting all her ties to it hadn’t been so difficult. Of course some could say that she had brought it upon herself by marrying but who could know that the man would turn out a male channeler.

Which made her think Brent again. She really should find some kind of a reason to invite the Asha’man into the Tower again. It was a bit desperate but communicating with cryptic letters just wasn’t enough. She felt a twinge of guilt that Telcia had been hurt because of her suspicions of them but then she hadn’t caused her Foretelling. They had to be extremely taxing on the mouthpiece of the Pattern.

A piece of Shadow Prophecy had been discovered in Fal Dara when the ta’veren had been there but that was all the White Tower knew of them. Until that day they had been just a cause of worry but an uncertainty. It was a bad thing that Telcia had given a glimpse on the Pattern for them but it couldn’t be helped.

The Tower knew no other Foretellers than Telcia but of course there might be someone like Maegan who had kept her Talent a secret from public. Likely friends would know, but like Annais, they wouldn’t divulge the secret. It was a surprise that Telcia knew how to Travel. Annais immediately suspected Maegan of teaching her the weave as the Red had seemingly visited her. They had to be quite close since Telcia had told Mae of the Arches. But then Maegan had been her Ajah Head. Useful as that information might be, she didn’t like knowing such a secret that was meant for Ajah members and other Ajah Heads only. The women would be most displeased with Maegan if they ever found out that she had told Annais.

“I do not remember the Foretelling word from word but Lillian wrote it down. I will give you a copy tomorrow when you arrive. But I remember parts of it. Lets see. The beginning of the end and the end of new beginning is getting closer. Kingdom by the sea will face young hawks. It’s fate lies in the hands of umm… servants of some kind, makers of weaves and two Queens. Queens of Lions and Cranes.” Annais believed that she could at least identify the nations. Lions were the symbol of Andor and Crane of long lost Malkier. But Queen of Malkier? Wife of Lan al’Mandragoran? She would have to look into it.

“Something about winter never ending if something isn’t done and Shadow getting chokehold of Light. Hmmm, the Dragon doing nine impossible tasks. A brother’s plea to his sister finally fulfilled. And that is it. That is all I can remember”, Annais said with slight shame. Her memory really wasn’t as good as she hoped for. But Lillian likely remembered more.

“And I will pass your thanks to Maegan. She taught you the Traveling weave, yes?” Annais paused for a moment and finally decided to press the matter after all. “But before you go… this Darkfriend who heard your Foretelling. You could name her or him now.” Her gaze was unwavering. “But will you? What do you owe to her or him?” Not that she was any better herself, doing deals with one of the Forsaken, not just any Darkfriend. Would she betray Be’lal if his Compulsion didn’t stop her? She would calculate the risks carefully but even if it lead to her own demise and surely to his too… it was likely. As civil and likable as he had been, he was a dangerous enemy who had more blood in his hands than any ten horrible criminals.

Telcia almost hadn’t heard anything else after the mention of a brother’s plea to his sister… could it be? Light! If it was then Maegan should be warned. The red ajah would have to make plans and decide if now was finally the time to tell the tower of the Ter’angreal. It could have been anything though, foretellings were that way… but if it was, could she really hesitate? And… would this mean that healing Iussi was going to be less of a risk very soon?

The Amyrlin had kept speaking though and this time more about Rasputin. Light, if he was only a darkfriend… Her oaths didn’t bind her now. She could warn the Amyrlin about the Black Sister in her midst, his wife… but his wife had warned her in order to save her children. If not for her perhaps she would not know to watch them so closely and protect them as she did now. Could she really throw such a woman to the wolves?

“At great risk to self this servant of shadows came to tell me about the orders given to collect children of channelers, oddly because this one has children too. In that I hope there is an opertunity to grow the spark of light within and save this person who reached out to me. If only because of that slim hope, I will not betray the trust given to me. I will, however, be leaving here for Illian to warn Arette to keep a close eye on her children and anyone else whose children I know about as well. Even one innocent in danger of becoming an experiment in the hands of the Dark One is too many. I will not see my children or any others end up as the poor souls who became trollocs have…” Telcia shook her head gently, her face lined with concern.

“I hope that doesn’t lessen your opinion of my loyalties, I just…” she sighs. “I gave my word on my soul and hope of rebirth. If I go back on that lightly, I am not only an oathbreaker but a foolish one at that. I will not tempt the Creator’s wrath any more than I absolutely must and I would suggest you guard all that I’ve told you about this topic, very close. I do not know who here in the Tower knows about these orders but, I AM aware that some of those who do serve the shadow are and …that it’s they who have given away the locations of some Aes Sedai’s children. We’re fools to pretend it doesn’t happen, what chills me to my very bones is that those who are being raised in secret outside of the Tower may already be victims and their mothers are regretfully unaware and unable to act. I suppose, for them & their innocent ones, I will do what I’m able.”

Telcia hesitated but then decided it must be done, “If you do not mind I would like to pen a message to Maegan,” she added quickly the honorific she would no longer hear herself but be expected to say in proper company “…Sedai while I’m here in your office. It’s a matter of greatest importance to her Ajah and I’m sure she would not wish anyone but your most trusted to see it to her.”

Assuming that she is given a pen and paper, “I am not certain, but I suspect something I may have foretold may be of greatest interest to her. If you do not object, I think we all might benefit from her taking a look at it…”
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Mae,

I’m sorry to not bring this message of great tiddings to you personally but I suspect things will move quickly from this point onward and we will have to try very hard to make time for tea soon. Mother has the words I’ve shared recently about the coming future, please seek her out and ask her for the right to view them. The last discovery I worked on here in the Tower with you and your,”
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Telcia was careful to write “your” instead of “our” as her first instinct told her to. Light but this would be harder to deal with than she first thought!
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“…sisters may have been mentioned within it’s cryptic wording. I can not be for certain but… if it is so, I assumed it would be something you’d need immediate knowledge of. We’ll speak tomorrow briefly, I’m certain there will be questions but of any you might have please remember my words to you as an accepted before you chose the Red, concerning our truest mission & any fears you might have should be put to rest. We each walk as we must in the pattern. Mae, I am honored to stand with you for the Light and all that is right… now & always.

Tai’shar Crimson.

~Lady Dyfelle

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Folding the paper she decided not to place a weave upon it to protect who opened it. It might be seen as disrespectful to do so at this point. Handing it carefully into the Amyrlin’s care she sighed.

“I think that concludes my work here for the day. I shall leave you to you many duties Mother. Until we next meet, may the Light bless and illume upon you. I will await your summons.”

Telcia issued a deep curtsey, worthy of her days as a novice and waited to be dismissed.