Tevin lifted his black veil silently and motioned the others of his clan forward. He was uneasy being this close to the Wetlander border. He had heard that the wise ones here made slaves out of male wise ones. Shifting silently he brought up the rear of his clan. One by one they rose like ghosts out of the grave. And they danced. Spears became a solid circle of light in the night. A low hum echoed into the canyons as they began to dance the spears. Tevin ducked under one trolloc blade and thrust his spear forward, glancing the blow off his hide buckler and onto one of its compatriots. Kicking his foot out his crushed another ones throat, leaving it to fall to the ground gurgling in it own blood. It was about a half an hour since they began the dance to the time they were finished. Suddenly he heard one of the Maidens scream and watched as she feel, a black form standing behind her, its face as white as the moon. Quickly he started his spear twirling again, prepared to die when the Myrrdrall suddenly burst into flames, a horrifying wail coming from it in its final moments. Tevin quickly looked around for a wise one. Seeing none but his clan he began to get edgy. He jumped as a stone fell from in front of his footing. "Are you watching for the Sightblinder himself Tevin?" one of the Maidens chided him. The rest of the Aeil burst out laughing at him and he grinned. "No, I was just wondering when you were going to tell us you were a Wise One in disguise Caries, you have a strong tongue you know." That brought about another gale of laughter. They lowered their veils and Tevin brought forth a water skin. Taking a quick sip he passed it along to his fellow Aiel.

Tevin felt a passage of air by his arm but not the rest of him; he quickly shot his leg out and spun, taking a form in the lower back. With no thud but a visible puff of dust he quickly raised his veil again and brought his spear about. In no time the others had their veils and spears raised to the ready. "Show yourself so I can see who I dance with tonight." Tevin called out. Suddenly a small form appeared on the ground, holding his head and whimpering softly. He heard his companions sigh as they lowered their veils. Many of them had cuts and bruises and they had lost Hared and Jein. "Have you taken up dancing with children then Tevin?" Caries chimed in again followed by another brief burst of laughter. "Well Caries I thought since you were a Wise One that this would be yours, so I was sure it could dance half as well as you." That brought forth a couple snickers and a guffaw or two. He could almost feel the heat radiating off her blush. "If we weren't out here where I would embarrass you Tevin, I'd dance the spears with you." Tevin let that one pass as he studied the small wetlander.

The child had silver hair and startling blue eyes. He was around six years of age at best guess and was dressed in torn rags, bleeding from many spots. His face was tear stained and he looked half-starved, passing out from fright or starvation when Tevin approached him. He gently picked up the child and took him to the rest of the Aiel. A wordless fear ran across each of their faces. A Male Wise One. "We should take him to the Wise Ones at once." Miran said. They all nodded in agreement. Tevin lifted him again and they all set out at a run as the rising sun lighted their path ahead.

Meanwhile back within the Shining Walls of Tar Valon...

Or, rather, just outside of them, a lone figure rode out on her aging white stallion.  She was once again restless with a need for a good fight, and she knew the horse was as well.  The sun had not yet risen, and the city of Tar Valon was dark and relatively quiet.  Rio's eyes roamed the streets from habit more than anything else, and Cheyhrad's hooves echoed a little against the buildings.

She had decided to journey to Shienar to see what fights she could join there against the Shadowspawn.  The soldiers often welcomed her presence in battle, much to her delight, and at least one would try to keep an eye on her during the skirmish.  They knew by now she had a Shienaran Warder, but because he was rarely with her on her sojourns they took it upon themselves to act in his place as much as they could.  She wasn't sure if they looked down on Junal for it, but she refused to ask at all.

She booted Cheyhrad up into a gallop and waited until she was out of Tar Valon before opening her gateway.  She exited it at a place at the foot of the Dragonwall so that she could roam the area a little first.  It never hurts to take a look around and see what nasties might be hanging out around here, she mused as she released the gateway and turned Chey's nose for the mountains nearby.

*~*~*~*~*~*

They had run for three days. He knew they were getting close to the place the Wetlander's called Shienar. He had heard of many Wise Ones being there. Normally Tevin would be wary and stay far from them, but they supported the Car'a'carn. Rounding the next hill he darted from tree to tree, carrying the now slumbering child closer to the capital. When he got within a stones throw of the walls he placed him down and gave a snarl very similar to a Trolloc and then faded back into the hills. He stayed long enough to make sure they found him and then headed back to the Waste. It was too cold here for his tastes.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Rio grinned darkly as she heard the alarms raise to notify all within the walls of the group of raiders she had spotted earlier.  She had brought word of it only a few candlemarks prior, and the army of Shienar had amassed within a short time.  Apparently, the guards had spotted the oncoming raiders.  It really didn't matter to her much as she rode out of the walls on tall Cheyhrad.  They can die as easily seen as not, she thought to herself.

She wasn't far from the gates and walls when a flash of silvery color caught her attention.  She immediately had her sword out and saidar in her grasp before she turned her head to examine it further.  What she found shocked her completely, and she sent Cheyhrad the message, via her Talent of Animal Speaking, to head that way.  "What's a child doing out here?" she hissed to no one in particular.

She slowed Cheyhrad and dismounted gracefully, almost leaping from the saddle to land on silent feet.  The boy, for boy it was, looked to be awakening to the sound of the army mustering and leaving the city.  She didn't move a bit, fearing that to scare him would mean she would then have to catch him, and noted how worn and hungry and dirty he looked.  His silvery hair shone like a beacon in the sun just like her mount's coat.  She waited patiently, though in her blood sang the need for battle and in her head ran Cheyhrad's desire to fight as well, for this strange child to notice her and perhaps speak.  Her brown eyes met his very, very blue ones, and though she didn't wear her Great Serpent ring on her finger or her green-fringed shawl on her shoulders, somehow she knew the boy knew exactly what she was.  It's the ageless face, it has to be, she mused.

Talarus looked up at the woman on horse back with more than a little confusion. He knew she was a channeler that much was certain, but Black Ajah, never. Even through her hardness he sensed a soul of Light. But then again, Mical could fool anyone. Shakily he rose to his feet and dusted himself off a little while he fought for the Oneness. Grasping onto Saidin tightly he quickly began weaving thick flows of Air and Spirit. He wrapped them around both horse and woman. "You'll never take me back!" he screamed. That in itself almost broke his hold on the One Power. Throwing in Water and Earth he fought to make them both fall asleep.

Rio's eyes widened for only a moment before she had channeled to attempt a shielding of the boy.  She began to feel drowsy, however, and her grasp on Saidar slipped quite a bit.  She mentally nudged Cheyhrad into doing something with a flicker of fear.  She could sense the stallion's slight sleepiness through her Animal Speaking Talent, but the moment she showed fear of the boy in front of her the tall white stallion snapped out of it with a scream of fury.  He reared to his full height, ears pinned back, and Rio felt the drowsiness leave her without warning.

In his mind the world shattered into pain. Saidin slipped from his grasp as it had done so many times in the past. Forming a wall in his mind he let the One Power subside within him and knelt crying with the over whelming pain coursing through his small body. Within a few minutes it had passed. With a new plan and goal in mind he fought against the pain in his mind and sought the Oneness yet again. Rising as fast as he could he took off with all the speed desperation would lend his little legs.  Mentally the weaves for a Gateway started to spin themselves into being. He was vaguely aware of the horse and rider right ontop of him. Suddenly his fatigue hit him in full fury as in panic he saw he weaves tumble and start to fail one by one.

As soon as Rio saw the boy drop Saidin and take off running, she bade Cheyhrad to fall back.  Simultaneously, she wove pure Air and wrapped it around the child to hold him even as his weaves for the gateway which tried to flicker into being obviously collapsed.  As it vanished from view, Rio strengthened her hold on saidar and the weave itself, though she didn't shield the boy.  Her face dark, she strode up to him and quietly said, "All I desire to know is who you are, child.  Then I will decide if you should go back to wherever it is you are from."

Struggling as much as he could against the air he knew inside it was hopeless. Even with that realization he didn't let it touch his face.  "You know who I am. Master Mical sent you to come get me so don't play with me." Her face barely twinged with confusion at first, then changed utterly afterwards.

Her expression suddenly one of hatred, she snarled, "Mical!" she spat venomously, brown eyes ablaze.  "That nictuga!  What...??"  She visibly made an effort to control herself, running a scarred hand over her braided hair and taking a deep breath.  "I do not know what your relationship is to that...creature... but I will know later, rest assured."  Her gaze sharpened even as it looked to hold the promise of violence.  "But you will tell me who you are and what you are doing channeling Saidin at me, and you will tell me now!"

Talarus cringed and started to cry again. "My name's Talarus ma'am and I thought you were gonna take me back to Mical again and he was gonna beat me and makes me channel and leave me in the cold and...and..." With that his words dissolved into his tears as he sagged against the Air holding him, too tired and worn to even care whether he went to Mical or Shayol Ghul.

Rio let go out a small hiss, her eyes narrowed at him.  Inside, she had no idea what to do with the crying child in front of her.  She wanted nothing more than to wrap her arms around him, however, and that softness caused her a sudden bit of irritation.  You don't have the time to be comforting; she berated herself, not with a Trolloc raid on the way.  "Child," she snapped quickly, looking back at where the Shienarans were amassing, "listen to me and listen to me quickly.  I will let you go if you will not run or channel to get away.  I am not taking you anywhere near Mical al'Dae, not with any breath in my body."  Her brow arched a little.  "Are we agreed?"

Talarus nodded strongly and fell with all his weight when the air around him had been released.  He heard the jangle of metal as a Shienaran soldier came trotting up to them. "Rio'lan Sedai, we had heard Trollocs outside the walls and when you had not come back we had thought the worst. Is the boy hurt? What should we do with him?"

Rio frowned and considered the odd child.  "Take Talarus to my room.  Give him food, clothing, and let him bathe in privacy.  But don't let him out of your sight.  And be warned: he channels."  She leveled a look at the boy.  "Though I don't think you will, will you, Talarus?"

Talarus shivered his agreement and fell once more into unconsciousness. He was dimly aware of being lifted and taken away. After being shaken awake he went through the motions of stripping and climbing into a smaller sized bathtub. A shaky thought came to him that there shouldn't be women in the bath area but he was too tired to care. As he climbed from the copper bathtub he found a fresh pair of clothes about his size and a man standing beside them waiting to towel him off. After being subjected to the rough torture of being dried he was hustled to a huge room decorated sparsely but richly nonetheless. He stared around the room as he was gently pushed forward to a table decorated with more food than he had ever seen. After looking at the man and wondering what kind of trap lie for him in the lavish gift, he proceeded to devour the food in whole chunks, barely bothering to chew. After he had cleared another plate and a half he started to feel the drowsiness settle back in. He felt himself lifted onto the bed and tucked in, finally settling into an uneasy but mostly peaceful slumber.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Rio watched as the boy was taken away, a frown on her face, then mounted Cheyhrad again with a lithe movement.  She rode towards the Shienaran soldiers and smiled as quite a few recognized her and sent up a cheer.  She had to wonder where Junal was in all of this, or if he'd come out to aid the men, then settled back for the jaunt to the pass she had spotted the raid near.

They had just crossed an area of boulders near the foot of the mountains when a Trolloc arrow whistled through the air behind her, followed by the shriek of a man in pain.  Rio reined in Cheyhrad violently and yanked him towards the area the projectile had originated, her eyes surveying the land at a glance for the enemy.  They weren't difficult to spot, as suddenly a roar went up and Shadowspawn came from where they'd been hidden and waiting.  They have Myrddraal here, at the least, Rio noted to herself as she wove Fire and flung it at the oncoming line of Trollocs.  Light, they had best not have a Dreadlord with them; otherwise the odds are more than even. Within a few minutes line upon line of Trollocs were engaged full force against the Shinerans. It was like old times. Suddenly black veiled Aiel started to sprout out of the rocks, adding their singing spears to the fray. One of them, she noticed, glanced back at her more than once and she could almost see him grinning.

Tevin didn't know exactly what had caused him to want to go this way, but he wasn't about to complain too loudly. The wind had carried the smell of the Trollocs as soon as they had seen the pass and the sound coming from the soldiers would have had even the heaviest sleeping Aiel awake in a heart beat. And as with all of his people, who would give up a chance to dance the spears with Trollocs? Bringing his focus back to the here and now he ducked a black metal blade and shoved his spear forward, deflecting the blow off his hide buckler. With a well-placed kick the Eyeless was down and another of his clan took a cut to destroy it. The Wise One with the Shienarans was not bad looking. In fact she was very comely. And she showed much strength. At first thought she would make a wonderful wife and mother, on second what man was crazy enough to marry a Wise One of his own choosing? Still, he might not mind too much. To his much surprise she suddenly dropped down from her horse and pulled a sword, fighting side on side with the men. Moving his way through the melee, he placed his back against hers, looking over his shoulder to smile at her and then danced away.

Rio knew that being on Cheyhrad only made her a target, and she didn't relish the thought that if there were a Dreadlord in amongst the other Shadowspawn she would be picked off.  She therefore leapt off of the stallion's back, not needing to tell him to fight as he did it on his own, and landed on the balls of her feet.  Her sword was in her hand immediately and cutting down a Trolloc, then another weave of Fire flew into a group of three who were hacking apart a downed man.

She felt a sudden presence behind her, then the feel of a back against hers caused her to look over her shoulder instantly.  It wasn't the first time that one of the soldiers had done such a thing, but when she noticed it was an Aiel she felt her brows raise slightly.  He smiled at her, then was once again away into the fight.  She turned her attention back to the battle at hand.  The exchange had only taken all of a second or two.  Cheyhrad stayed near her at all times, his hooves and teeth still savage even if his age made them slow.

Rio had no qualms about the Aiel fighting with them.  She had known many of the Aiel at the Tower, had befriended some, and even called more than one sister and brother.  However, this one Aiel seemed to cling to her memory like a sticky bit of honey and she almost took a slice to the ribs as her attention waned for only a second against her opponent.  She dispatched the raven-headed Trolloc soon after and put the man from her mind.

A sudden scream sounded near her, something so high and wild and familiar to her that for a long moment she thought she was back in her own home in a clan battle.  It was utterly washed away by the abrupt tidal wave of pain and rage and sadness that flooded her mind.  Rio knew even before she wheeled around, eyes sorrowful, what had happened.

Time and things around her had no meaning.  Nothing else was important.  She slowly walked to where wild-eyed Cheyhrad lay on his side, still kicking in pain and trying to fight, a Trolloc arrow embedded in his chest to the feathers.  It hadn't struck him directly in the heart, where he would have died within moments, but instead off to the side.  He moaned in agony and kicked again, trying to get to his feet, his blood beginning to pool around his body.  She then knelt by his head and laid her hand upon it, sending him soothing thoughts of protection as her eyes roved over the arrow and saw that there was no way to Heal or save him.

She closed her eyes, then, and channeled saidar.  She took a gentle flow of Air and wove it onto her best friend and confidante since before she had come to the Tower for training.  With soothing thoughts and a soft stroking of his muzzle, she took the Air from his lungs without thinking and closed off his esophagus so that no more could enter.  He thrashed violently for only a short time before going still, but knocked her away in his throes so that she had to crawl back to where he was.

She stroked his noble and scarred head a last time before closing his eyes and whispering, "We will ride again one day, my thica, my soul, in the lands beyond the Mists."

When she looked up, she noticed that the battle was quite over, and that there were wounded men to attend to.  She stood slowly, her face a mask of emotionless calm, and gave a small salute to her dead mount before stepping a ways back.  She wove Fire, enough Fire to alight a large house easily, and set the corpse ablaze.

Then, and only then, did Rio'lan Shade Dyelra turn away and begin her task of Healing the downed warriors.

Tevin looked mournfully at the Wise One and the now dead mount. He felt a sense of great sadness, as if the two were the oldest of friends. After the battle was finished he walked over to her. "My condolences Wise One.  I am Tevin from the Jaern Rift Sept of the Codarra Aiel. I am Far Aldazar Din. My water and shade are yours."

Rio looked up from the man she was Healing and nodded shortly.  Grieve later, she told herself severely.  Her voice was curt.  "Many thanks, Tevin, for your aid today. I am Rio'lan Shade Dyelra Sedai of the Green Ajah.  You fought well."

Tevin grinned and looked at his fellow Aiel. They had just finished burying their dead. Walking over to the pile of ash that was the horse he lifted his voice in a heroic song for the slain animal.

Rio watched this man's actions for a long moment and blinked a little in surprise.  She would've sang her clan's passing song had there been an opportunity, and she was shocked to find another who would do something like that for one he didn't know.  Especially one who does not ride a horse, nor feels as close to them as do I, she ruminated with interest.

After he finished he turned and smiled at Rio.  "May you always find water and shade Rio'lan Sedai."  With a grateful nod of her head and a sharp chiding from one of the Maidens, he turned and disappeared into the mountains.

She watched this Tevin vanish as well as any assassin and felt the ghost of a smile grace her lips.  "Today has been a day for many events," she murmured to herself as she finished with the wounded man and stood to find another.

It was a while later when she made her way back to Shienar via a gateway.  She was tired and hot and sweaty, and not a little bloody.  The army itself was coming back in even as she walked the halls to her room.  She had saved those she could and had done what she could, but she was no Yellow even if she did have Healing as a Talent.  She threw open the door and stepped inside, glancing up at the soldier inside and nodding for him to leave.  Her eyes then rested on the boy she had brought in, the one named Talarus.

Talarus looked up from his meal and almost but flew out of his chair at the opening of the door. Fear tinged his eyes but the rest of his face remained smooth, unbroken by any emotion. Quickly looking her over he saw many cuts and bruises. Almost without thought the void sprang open in his mind and what would seem most difficult without years of training, came easy to a child. Weaving deftly flows of Air, Fire, Wind, Water and Spirit, he played the weave over and through her, removing the aches and pains of her journey, as well as binding broken flesh and torn blood vessels.

Suddenly his eyes felt like they were being pressed out of the back of his head and he saw his weaves falter and die. Rio's voice dropped to a cold level.  "I just came back from battle, boy.  Never channel at me until after I give permission."

He nodded softly, a few tears forming. Biting back his fears he asked timidly, "Can I finish now?"

She released him and walked to a chair, dropping into it heavily.  "Do so if you desire."  Her face and mood were obviously dark, and her eyes were both hooded and barely concealing an inner pain. Nodding once again, he flooded his tiny frame with the Male half of the One Power. Picking up the weaves where he left them he resumed his healing. Within a few minutes she was completely healed and full of energy. With that he dropped down out of his chair and lied down in front of her, curling into a ball at her feet, as he was accustomed to when he was not in use.

She looked at him in consternation.  "Boy, what in the Light's name do you think you're doing?"

Talarus looked up his eyes averted from hers. "Master Mical always makes me lie at his feet when I'm done with my work."

A low growl escaped her throat.  "I am not that fiend.  He was wrong.  Get up and into a chair, please, like a person instead of a pet."

Talarus shivered and looked about in fear. Mical had shown numerous times that he could hide anywhere. Slowly he rose and sat in the chair, fingering a small gash beneath his eye.

"Don't look around so, child," Rio said as she laced her fingers together over her stomach.  "I will not harm you and will make certain nothing else does."  She winced involuntarily at the brief memory of telling Cheyhrad that when she found him, abused and hating men.  A sudden sadness welled up in her eyes, though she fought it back after a long moment.  I must grieve soon, she realized, lest I break down in front of this boy.

Talarus looked at her with confusion. He sensed a great sadness coming from her, but had been tricked like that many times before. Going against his better judgement his climbed down from his chair and walked over to her, hugging her tightly when he was within reach.

At first she stiffened sharply at the embrace, fearing some trick or hidden knife, then relaxed without warning.  She had her arms around him before she knew what she did and returned his embrace, bowing her head and resting it on his.  She hadn't been hugged in years, hadn't allowed it because of her fears of betrayal being so very strong.  This child, she thought to herself, this child fears as much as me, and yet he sacrifices his well-being to embrace a woman he does not know.  Where did this trait go for me....?  "My thanks," she whispered, barely audible.  "But I must bathe now.  Healing does not remove the stench of death from my clothing or skin."

Talarus nodded softly and went back to the chair, where he curled up to wait.  Rio rose silently and padded cat-like for the other room.  She shut the door behind her and stood for a long moment, then channeled enough Water to fill the small basin.  Fire heated it soon after, and she proceeded to wash herself clean.

Some time later, she dried herself with the towel placed near the tub after Talarus had bathed and left her hair wet and unbound.  It was almost black while wet and trailed in thick streams down to her waist.  She tucked a bit of her bangs behind her ear and realized that she had brought no clean clothes in with her.  She sighed and wrapped the large towel around herself, then paused with her hand on the latch of her door.  The boy was still out there.  She grit her teeth.  Blast you, he's probably seen worse than the scars on your skin, or even your skin, if he lived near Mical for any amount of time!

The idea caused a bit of relief to flood her.  She had rarely taken a lover after her episode with Mical and the Black Ajah just before she'd been raised to her shawl, mostly because of the myriad number of scars she saw as marring her physical beauty.  Her memories had marred the beauty inside of her soon after, to her mind.  The idea that someone might actually not be aghast at seeing her wounds...

She clucked and hauled open the door.  It didn't matter, in the long run.  She had to have clothes, either way.

Talarus looked up and waited patiently. She seemed to hesitate, which gave him pause. She seemed really nice, but he wondered just how much of it was show. He noticed many the myriad of scars that could be seen and instantly recognized Mical's hand. "Did master Mical do that to you to?" he asked shyly. Suddenly it dawned on him that her clothes were dirty, which was why she was standing there in a towel. Fearing she would beat him and that she had expected her clothes to be cleaned he obediently as he had done a thousand times he rose and went over to her clothes and grabbed the filthy sweetness of Saidin. Weaving Water, Air and a thin stream of Fire, the were cleaned and dried before his eyes. Lifting her clothes gently, he draped them across his arms and held them up to her. "Here Mistress." he mumbled.

Rio's face hardened.  "There was no need to do that, Talarus.  That is what the servants here do."  She took the clothes from him gently.  "My thanks, however.  I....will answer your first question when I return."  She vanished back into the washroom and closed the door once again, her thoughts whirling in confusion.  Who is this child?

Talarus stood stone still, quite sure in his mind now that he was to be punished. Looking about for an avenue of escape he started to panic, a deep cough rattling his lungs. He would have to find something to heal himself with later.

She returned only a short while later, her hair still wet and loose, and padded barefoot over to the bed and sat on it.  She looked at Talarus, who seemed to want to hide more and more as she watched him, and sighed.  "Sit with me, child."  She patted the bed next to her.  "I'll tell you a story."

Talarus looked up in alarm but didn't dare show it. Briskly he walked over to where she sat and stood waiting.

"Sit."

Talarus dropped to the floor like a sack of dirt.

Rio's face retained its patience.  "I meant....beside me.  Here."  She pointed to the place on the mattress of the bed.

Talarus scurried up onto the bed, pulling his knees to his chest to peer over the top of them.

"I'll make you a deal, child.  If you will tell me about yourself, I will tell you about me."  Her face took on a decidedly amused edge.  "Count yourself quite lucky in that respect.  I count the number who know of my heritage on the fingers of one hand."

Talarus nodded solemnly as he began to unfurl his tale. "I don't know who my momma or da are or if they are even alive. Master Mical told me my mother was a Black Ajah sister and my father was some Lord from Amadicia but then he always laughed so..." Talarus shrugged. "Anyhow, I don't have a very long tale, since I was three, I think, Master Mical has been telling me things about the world. That's how I knew you were an Aes Sedai. Last year he did something to me with the True Source that made me feel funny. The next day I found out I could channel Saidin. I can't hold very much, just enough to do some simple stuff and I can't control it real well, but I get better every day. Master Dalin and Master Cayne were the best. They gave me hot foods and took my training easy. Master Dalin taught me what I know of healing and Master Cayne taught me what I know of Compulsion. Mistress Moghedien didn't like that very much. Mistress Lanfear was also very nice. She didn't beat me when I messed up in Tel'Aran'Rhoid. They said I wouldn't grow to be very strong but I had the potential to do allot. But Master Mical made me do all my chores with Saidin. He never gave me warm food and only when I couldn't possibly do what he asked would he heal me. Well...Master Dalin would heal me. He can heal anything! But I watched Master Rahvin make a gateway one day into the Aiel Waste and so I worked on imitating his weave every night until I got it right. Three nights later I left. I wish I knew how to invert my weave so they couldn't follow me. The reason I have this cut is because Master Mical sent a half-fist of Trollocs after me." Talarus lifted his shirt to see a gash across his chest that was red and angry looking. "He knew I couldn't take that many. Luckily for me the pattern wove the Aiel that brought me here to help me. I remember the one that carried me. He was nice...So what about you?" Talarus looked up at her with concern, waiting for her answer.

Rio nodded slowly, wisely.  “We have things in common, then.”  Her fingers lightly stroked the hilt of the dagger at her belt, then she took a deep breath and began.  “My name is Rio’lan Shade Dyelra, and I am an Aes Sedai of the Green Ajah.  I will begin this tale from when I awakened, and then explain to you my past.”  She gave him a serious look.  “You may want to settle back.  It is quite a long tale.”  She waited for him to do so before clearing her throat and starting.  “In the beginning, a day's ride from the little town of Crolhim in Altara and about three days from Ebou Dar, there existed quiet lands near the sea.  There are still tales, however, of a time a few years prior when a bright light flashed through the heavens and disappeared into the distance.  The people of Crolhim, taking note of the burning object coming near them, ran indoors for the most part.  There were two men who dared to watch where the light landed, and they were the ones who went to find it the next day.  What they discovered was a flaming mass of metal, melting as they watched and far too hot for them to approach, and the figure of a woman lying a distance from the blaze.”  She paused, then said with a wry smirk, “I was half dead and they didn't expect me to live long.  It was with much surprise that they watched as I somehow survived, whether by will or with the Light's blessing we have never been entirely certain.  They spoke with me, and I said I had no memory of my past.  I didn’t, either.  All I had to remind me was a dagger with strange script upon it that I could read, but which no one else could.

“And so it was that I was taken to Crolhim to stay with my new guardians until I could get on my feet and find a place of my own.  My strange ways, alien accent, and obvious differences made the other villagers nervous.  They'd all seen the great flame that had streaked across the morning sky and that had landed about a day's ride from their home.  And then two of their own had come back with me from investigating it.  I had received signs against evil from everyone from the start but for the exception of Caith Aeliryn. We became friends, against the wishes of Caith's aunt, and I learned much about the history and lands I was now
in from my long talks with Caith.  We would often borrow horses from her aunt or my guardians and explore the places Caith had played in as a young girl. One night Caith's aunt and the other adults, except for my guardians, met together in her home and decided that if I wouldn't go on my own, I'd be chased out of Crolhim or killed.  Caith overheard the plan and sneaked out to warn me.  Running as fast as she could, because her aunt would see a missing horse easily, Caith beat on the door to the house I stayed in, waking up the two men as well.  Caith quickly and breathlessly related what she knew and begged me to go right away so I'd be safe.  The two men gave me a mount and some money and pointed me toward Ebou Dar, wishing me luck and telling me of an inn I could stay in whose proprietor they knew.  Bidding them all a hasty and unwelcome farewell, I booted my horse into a gallop and set off into the black night.

“My adventures in Ebou Dar were few, although I was there for awhile.  Little did I know that a month after I left Crolhim, Caith and the two men who'd found me traveled to Ebou Dar, probably just missing me on the streets as I ran an errand for the innkeeper or slept in on a day off (there were more than enough workers some days so that I was quite unneeded).   Nonetheless, I found myself able to pass exceedingly well for an Altaran woman, though I still had no idea of my true home.  I made my coppers by mucking the stalls or sometimes helping the serving girls of the well-kept inn I stayed at.  My work was pay for my living there, but the money I received I saved for other things...like the sword I finally bought.  I was surprised to find myself able to use it fairly well, seeing as I couldn't recall training with one.  Chalking it up to another mystery of my past, I waited for my opportunity to get out of the inn and Ebou Dar and see the world for myself.  That chance came when a man entered and sat near the place I was sitting, resting after a hard day's work.  I overheard this man mention to his friend about a merchant needing guards for an overland trading trip.  I waited until I knew who it was that was needing help and decided to go for the job the next day.  I ended up getting a position as a guard, though I could see from the looks on the other men's faces that they expected me to break down halfway into the excursion.   However, my motto of "expect the unexpected" held true and I collected my pay at the end of the job with a smirk on my lips for them.

“I traveled to many cities and guarded many different types of caravans.  During one of the periods of unemployment I sometimes found myself in, I found Caith in Caemlyn.  I had originally come to Caemlyn to see the false Dragon being brought in, and to see what kinds of jobs awaited me, and was overjoyed to find my friend again.  We decided to share a room to cut the cost involved and were lucky enough to get one before the tide of people came into the city.  When the red and white factions developed, Caith and I wore red on our swords in support of Queen Morgase.  The day Logain was brought in, we were jockeying for position in the streets along with everyone else.  We carefully kept our swords hidden from view in the sea of white.  I, at one point, was accidentally shoved into a tall man who seemed not to notice he'd been bumped because he was too busy staring at a beggar headed his way.  With a mutter about, "Bloody, wool headed, idiot men" I backed away a bit with an irritable frown.  The tall man headed for the back of the mob, and I tugged on Caith's sleeve to tell her we needed to move out of the beggar's way.  The distance between ourselves and the back of the crowd lessened as we wove our way back a ways.  However, sudden shouts of anger caused us both to look up and see the tall man running, his red sword plain to see.  I latched onto Caith and tried to drag her away to find a different place to watch for Logain, but the crowd shoved at just the right moment and Caith went to the ground, her sword and its red trappings like blood in snow.  Her eyes met mine in horror, her face pale, as a man near her made a sound of surprise and made as if to call out.  I plowed into the man to try and stop him as Caith leapt to her feet and sprinted away, but it was to no use as another man had seen the red and shouted to his neighbors.  A group of them took off after Caith while I was untangling myself from the man I'd leapt on.  Seeing myself blocked from aiding Caith, but stubbornly refusing not to try, I raced after the now vanished group as the man I'd tackled yelled for help in catching me.

“I easily lost my pursuers while trying to find my own quarry, but the ones for which I sought never showed themselves.  With a heavy heart that still contained some hope, I returned to the inn Caith and I had been in.  I entered the doors and immediately kept my sword hidden from view just in case.  Gathering up my things, I then went to the stables for my mount.  I hid in Caith's mount's stall while my things remained in my mount's stall.  I dozed off briefly and was awakened when Caith walked up to the stall door.  Fully awake, I waited for Caith to open the stall door before showing myself.  She and I plotted on how to get out of Caemlyn and away before nightfall, and accomplished the feat with a minimum of chaos.

“We traveled and worked together for two months before we took a fateful job guarding a bunch of goods headed for Saldaea from Kandor.  It was during this trip that our group found the remains of a traveling band obviously moving to the safety of more southern towns.  The signs of a Trolloc raid were everywhere, and my group, out of some honor, stopped to check for survivors.  I—I found a child and called for aid, but the men only said the little girl was dying.”  She refused to look at Talarus as she spoke, not wanting him to see the pain that still graced her eyes at the old memory.  “Not even Caith could stay and watch the child die, but I felt obligated to give what little comfort I could and stayed with the girl until she'd passed on.  She thought I was her mother, and I just...helped her sleep so that the pain would go away.  She was blond, and had green eyes.  I never knew her name...”  Rio’s voice trailed off for a long moment before she blinked and returned to the present.  “I vowed that day to find a way to help kill the Dark One's minions so that no other innocents had to die.

“The next day my group was found by what I still believe was the same Trolloc raiders.  Knowing there was no way to win against the numbers thrown at us, and having our goods already destroyed along with most of our number, I watched as the group split into two and escaped in different directions.  I lost her mount to a Trolloc arrow and grabbed the nearest loose horse and headed out with part of the fleeing group.  The animal was lame, however, and had to be put down as soon as I reached Saldaea.

“I was once again forced to work as a stable hand for a few months.  I had no mount and no money, as Caith had been holding our funds in her saddlebags.  Try as I might, though, I couldn't save enough money to buy even a poor animal since I was only being paid enough to barely survive on.  A string of horses arrived in Maradon as remounts for the army there, seeing as the Trollocs had been growing bolder and more frequent in their attacks in the month before and the toll on man and beast had been high, and were quickly culled for use. I had been given the day off when it was found there were a surplus of stable hands for the amount of animals being boarded and wandered down to the area where the culling was taking place with my little bit of savings in the hopes that one of the culls would be within my price range.  That, and I had always felt a clear communion with horses in general, having discovered I could communicate with them somehow, and wanted to see the ones brought in.

“My gaze rested on a large commotion to my right and I walked towards it in curiosity, idly nibbling the apple I'd managed to steal from the inn's kitchens.  The group had dispersed by the time I reached the area, however, leaving two men that argued loudly.  But what held my gaze was the horse they fought over:  a fine white stallion, tall and powerful, with fire in his eyes and lines that blatantly proclaimed his ability to race the wind and win.”  She swallowed heavily and obviously forced herself to continue.  “He had old scars and newer wounds healing on his neck, shoulders, and flanks that told me he'd been treated badly.  The stallion screamed his hatred of men through his thoughts and feelings, visions of the evils done to him pounding through my head.  One of the two men noticed me standing near them and bluntly told me to leave since the stallion wasn't for sale, but was being culled and put down because it was a maverick and rogue.  Glancing at the man, I quietly asked him if he'd give me the animal if I rode him.  Once the trader finished laughing at me, he gave me a mock bow and proclaimed that if I were stupid enough to risk my life and ride the animal, I could have him for nothing.  I turned to the stallion and moved to him slowly, sending him peaceful thoughts of myself offering a gift and holding out my barely eaten apple.  The stallion, off guard by the direct contact of my mind and what I was telling him, watched me for a long moment before hesitantly stepping close and taking the apple from me.  I smiled encouragingly and explained to him through pictures and feelings that if he let me ride him, I'd take him to the stable I worked at and would care for him and make certain no one could hurt him again.  It took the animal aback that I didn't want to hurt him, but he let me mount and guide him.  The trader shook his head in amazement and let me go.  The stallion, after a month or so with me, found my company to be pleasant and he owed me for taking him from his nightmare life.  When I left to begin my work as a guard once again, I had a mount so loyal to me he would die to keep me safe.”  Her voice broke a bit and she squeezed her eyes shut tightly.  Control, she demanded of herself.  Control, blast you!  “I named him Cheyhrad.  I didn’t know why the word popped into my head back then, although I do now.  He became my best friend.  We understood each other.

“I found herself back in Saldaea after six months and at the end of a journey that had paid well.  I was readying herself to leave on another when word came of a large Trolloc army headed in the direction of the city.  The Trollocs hit hard and fast and continued to do so for five days.  The wounded were brought in after each day's pause in the fighting, when either party was forced to rethink strategies or wait for reinforcements, and aid for the downed defenders was left to the people of the city.  I had nothing else to do, so filled in as a nurse.  For all that week, the men I tended to healed faster than others with the same wounds.  When the Shadowspawn were finally broken and defeated, I made plans to continue on with my guarding duties as soon as possible.  To celebrate the defeat of the Dark One's minions, the mother of a young man I had cared for invited me to dine with them the night after the victory.  I accepted, but after the dinner, as I was leaving, I collapsed in the hall leading to the door.  I was placed in the woman's bed and tended to for a few hours, but was back to normal again by the time a healer could be called away from the battle wounded.  My hostess explained that she'd once had a daughter who'd done this exact thing, collapsed with a sickness that had passed in a few hours and never returned, but that the girl had died within a few years. Later, the lady continued, a passing Aes Sedai took the daughter of a friend, who'd also had the same "disease", and explained why the girl needed to leave with her.  The friend had shared the information with the lady, and thus my benefactress had learned that the signs of the "disease" meant the girl had channeled, and that the now dead daughter should've gone to Tar Valon for teaching.  I was instructed to do so as swiftly as possible to save my life.  I was allowed to stay at the lady's home that night, and the next day I set out for Tar Valon.

“Novice life went peacefully for me.  I promised Warders in training and lost them, and I learned what I had to in order to channel effectively.  I went through the raising ter'angreal and emerged a bit harder, though no less warm and affectionate and flirty, but amazingly still had no memory.  I had chosen to be Green Ajah as a novice, my refusal to change or consider any other Ajah evidence of my stubborn side.  It was with some satisfaction that I left on a journey with a Brown before I was raised, though the reason for the trip gave me a distinct pause.  My past was being studied, a subject that I feared somewhat.  It was at this time that my stamina and fortitude were tested, as the Brown sisters turned out to be Black Ajah out to use me for the Dark One's gain.”  Her brown eyes glowed with hatred.  “I met Mical at this time, before he became Nae’blis.  He tortured me to get the secret of how to make a specific gateway from me, but I never recalled it.  When I would be close to death, he would allow the two Sisters to Heal me so that he could cut into me and rip me apart again.  I was rescued by my friends and brought back to the Tower, and a day or two later I was raised to the shawl.

“It was during my second trip through the ter'angreal that my memories returned to me.  Dark and twisted things that they were, they began to gnaw on my conscience unendingly.  Often I will find myself speaking in my native language, slipping back into it without warning or reason.  I walk the gray area in between Light and Dark and will always do so, bound by my Oaths and my love of the Light to slay what I so hate, but also called to give in and serve the Dark One as I enjoyed doing once before.”  She looked at the hilt of her dagger as her fingertips stroked it and sighed.  “But the history of my origins is something quite different from what I expected....”