Filling the Days

[Morven]

Devika Sirideán

Aes Sedai of the Red Ajah

✥

The sound of his very name irritated her. Devika’s nostrils flared, but she listened, jaw tight. It was impossible to wash Jole’s words clean enough to find the lies in them, and for now she did not try. Frankly a weapon of that magnitude was better off neutralised rather than risking it falling into the Dark One’s grip for a second time. After Arikan’s failure to take the Tower, he must have become persecuted amongst his own kind – for the Tower had certainly believed him dead, and had he instead found favour for his little performance review then Devika would surely have known of it. She was the Light’s hound, and had been at the forefront of hunting down those who foolishly fled the Shining Walls after Arikan’s defeat. That he had apparently evaded her, and for so long, was nothing short of a personal affront. The temper in her simmered.

She ignored the barbs, though neither did she shield her emotions. Vika was publicly estranged from her Ajah, yet it was abundantly clear her loyalty to homefires remind undimmed.

“His acumen matters little if he cannot be swayed. His soul is sworn to the Shadow, Jole – that is what you have told me. Against his own will, and even between the very Ages! He will not bend because he has a vendetta, and his murder of Daniel Larnair hardly recommends his usefulness to our cause. Which I am forced to presume means you believe you have a way we can use him – to make him become the Dragon’s weapon, and not the Dark One’s.”

Her stare was intent. Did he know where this ter’angreal was? Light forbid a Forsaken of Ashtaroth’s unpredictability might hold such a key, but if the process could actually be reversed?

As for the rest, Devika was no dreamwalker, and his teasing drip of the name only tightened the severity of her frown. Her skin prickled with the sense of an artful trap. Not that she would speak such frailties aloud, but it had taken Corele and Rikela working together during the battle to take Arikan down, and one of those pair was long dead. Dreamwalkers were not so common, and while the Ajah held objects that might aid one to enter Tel’aran’rhiod, they offered no mastery. And certainly not against the kind of ability Jole described Arikan to have.

“They say Evelara calls the Dreamworld her own domain. If you are so concerned that she may come for you, it would be irresponsible to let you go awandering there, no? For I feel almost certain you are about to suggest yourself as the perfect emissary to find our weapon.” Her tone was dry. He dangled his words like bait that bid she follow. Clearly he enjoyed the stage, but he was foolish if he believed she was going to allow him the freedom for such potential betrayal.