The Point of No Return

[Adrian Kane]

Arikan

He searched all the drawers until he found what he was seeking: a ledger filled with nonsense script. Excellent. He tucked it into his pocket and continued searching for similar signs of intelligence until he had everything he desired. A glance at the couple saw the Aes Sedai curled over the Asha’man - Jai, he thought he heard. Arikan rolled his eyes and continued searching. The toils of compulsion could break the strongest of wills, but he didn’t think the Chosen that created this one wanted a broken vessel. Assassination, even of one as wily as the M’Hael, was a tool for a blunt object. Whoever it was wanted something far more sophisticated. So what else did Jai do first? If the Chosen didn't break his mind, was it already that unhinged? Say what one wanted, but the Great Lord kept one promise: to protect from the taint. For that, Arikan acknowledged, but it didn't mean he wouldn't see the Great Lord any less dead for it. Another glance at the curled Asha'man and his opinion was decided: the taint must have damaged his mind. 

Arikan ripped a piece of paper from the ledger, flipped it over and scrawled a note on the back. Then he stalked quickly to the M’Hael’s body and padded the man’s unmoving chest for lumps. He found no pocket book, which he hoped would decipher the intelligence now in his possession, but there wasn't time to further search the quarters. So with a kick, he shoved the dead body to its back and ripped the dragon pin off his collar. A heave wrenched the man's coat straight down the center; buttons flying to both sides as the cloth opened. The coat was soggy with the blood having poured down his face, and Arikan wiped his palm on the man's leg to avoid soiling his own.

Intentional and methodical, Arikan laid the note over the man’s heart and suddenly slammed the back of the dragon pin into his chest to hold it there. The point pushed straight into the meat of the M'Hael's bare pec. Brutal, maybe, but when the eventual chaos rushed in, the note wouldn't be lost nor reddened by the blood and so drown the ink. He didn’t want his message to be ruined after all. It was important; the recipient just as much. From this position, he noticed the Asha’man was finally on his feet, the Aes Sedai ushering them through a gate.

He all but ordered them to go first.

Just as he allowed the ward to collapse and the first of the guard to crash inside, they witnessed the dreadlord Arikan standing in the light of Nythadri’s portal. His gaze moved quickly from person to person memorizing their faces but importantly noting that no women were among their company. It would take an extraordinarily strong one, but a woman could follow the gateway to their Illian fortress. He had to ensure their safety beyond.

Just as intentional, he allowed himself to be seen in turn. At least one face flashed recognition before he stepped backward with a dry twist on his lips. Their collective onslaught of saidin fell to nothing as the gate closed.

Back in the library, he moved smoothly to the table and poured two cups of wine left there from earlier.

"You're welcome," he said to Nythadri specifically, hovering over her when he offered one of the cups. The other he delivered to Jai.





The note was scrawled in Arikan’s tight script. 

Rand al’Thor:

Get your shit together.

See you at Shayol Ghul.

- Arikan