The Gift and the Pledge

[Lawrence Monday]

Lythia Sedai - Captain General of the Green Ajah
And recently turned Darkfriend

There wasn’t so much a time as the present that Lythia did find herself missing a warder. There were many, many nights since severing her bond with Blakeahle that she missed a man’s touch. Missed his soothing presence as she slept. But that was entirely different. She could easily find a suitor for the night, and had done as much, but a protector she could rely on was a valuable ally. In the dark of the back room, she found herself thinking about the many faces since Blakeahle, but none of them would fit the duties of a protector. Nor did they share her current affiliation to the Dark. She thought of Zahir then, wishing that he fit the second half of that bill. She was enjoying his company. He was so close to being perfect.

In the front, the door dinged as it swung open and a voice called out into the apparently empty shop. Hessalam sat at attention then, and Lythia bid her to go out and investigate. If it was the Asha’man, and Lythia was sure it was, she was happy to let nature take its course for a few minutes. She wouldn’t let any real harm come to Jai, but disorienting him before coming to his rescue would serve her purposes well. He was so easily unhinged. Hessalam hurried away, and Lythia waited, listening to the ordeal. She didn’t feel the blur of the Forsaken’s channeling either, but by the thud of the tripped up man, she assumed as much had occurred. The same trick that the Forsaken used to hide her weaves was one of the first things she taught Lythia. Since then, Lythia used the knowledge sparingly. Time to go to work.

She bid the Sisters to stay there, smoothed her skirts and confronted them. In the low light, shadows pawed at Jai’s face. With his jacket half-open and chest exposed, Lythia had to steel herself from letting her gaze slide lower. She didn’t really blame Hessalam, half-deranged as she was, from wanting to lick the beautiful man up and down the floor. But like the past, Lythia refrained from similar, more tasteful, advances. He belonged to her Green Sister in the long-run, although that alone wouldn’t stop Lythia from seducing him if she had a mind, but for now, Jai served a much better purpose than being a toy. A shame as it was.

When Hessalam was called off, she bid Jai follow. The stock room contained barrels of wax, heating supplies, strings and dye. In the corner was a table, and Lythia bid Hessalam pour tea for them both. It was best to discuss the toppling of two towers over tea, she thought.

She sat, inviting him to join her. “Hessalam, you may be excused, but don’t go far,” Lythia ordered. The disfigured woman bowed her head and backed out, but not before eyeing Jai one last time. Lythia couldn’t help but wonder what the woman had been like prior to her rebirth.

“So Daryen went through with it,” Lythia shook her head. “I know Trista. She trained in the Tower after I was already raised to the shawl, but the Gaidar’s prowess was renown. I used to watch her train in the yards,” she said with a hint of sadness, like she was as good as dead now.

“You should know that what Daryen did was without the blessing of the White Tower. You must have noticed no Aes Sedai were present today? At best, the Hall will issue a warrant for his arrest. At worse, he will be branded a traitor and a Darkfriend in league with the Seanchan. They have been looking for an excuse for some time. You know about the contract put out on his assassination, right? General Sadiq took it in hope the payment would restore his House, but I can tell you who was going to pay it.”

She sipped her tea, pushing a cup toward Jai as well. She was being hospitable. Hopefully he saw that she was only a friend. Only trying to help. “I always liked Daryen. He is a remarkable Asha’man. I don’t want to see him harmed. He has generally done great things for Arad Doman. Until this business with the Seanchan, the nation has never been so stable. I think we can stop it.

“You know why there were no Aes Sedai there today? Because the Amyrlin ordered us to stay away. Because she didn’t want to be associated with this. Because this was all her plan. Her policies are slowly growing to be more friendly with the Seanchan. This is only the beginning.”

Most of what Lythia said was true. The Amyrlin had ordered them to stay out of sight. She was growing more tolerant of the Seanchan.

“Your brother is going to take the fall for her pulling the strings, and the Hall is going to act on it. Unless we convince them otherwise,” she added, nodding and watching. Did he understand?