A Memory of Light (Wheel of Time, #14)

by Robert Jordan

“I demand to know what you are doing,” Jarid snarled. “Is this your doing?” He waved toward the departing soldiers. “You’re staging a mutiny, is that it?” “This isn’t my doing,” Karam said, looking ashamed. “And it’s not really yours, either. I’m … I’m sorry.”

“We’re not—” the head man began again. “Do you know what this is?” Talmanes asked softly around his pipe. “This is the beginning of the end. This is the fall of nations and the unification of humankind. This is the Last Battle, you bloody fool.”

“My people live with a grave misconception of the world, Bayle. In doing so, they create injustice.” “They did reject you, Leilwin,” he said softly. “You do no longer be one of them.” “I will always be one of them. My name was revoked, but not my blood.” “I do be sorry for the insult.” She nodded curtly. “I am still loyal to the Empress, may she live forever. But the damane … they are the very foundation for her rule. They are the means by which she creates order, by which she holds the Empire together. And the damane are a lie.”

“I did try,” Bayle suddenly said, regretfully. “I did fight them, but I was taken easily. They could have fired my ship, sunk us all, killed my men.” “Better that you and all aboard should have died, Illianer,” Nynaeve said. “The ter’angreal ended up in the hands of one of the Forsaken; Semirhage was hiding among the Seanchan, pretending to be some kind of judge. A Truthspeaker? Is that the word?” “Yes,” Leilwin said softly. She understood now. “I regret breaking my oath, but–” “You regret it, Egeanin?” Nynaeve said, standing, knocking her chair back. “‘Regret’ is not a word I would use for endangering the world itself, bringing us to the brink of darkness and all but shoving us over the edge! She had copies of that device made, woman. One ended up around the neck of the Dragon Reborn. The Dragon Reborn himself, controlled by one of the Forsaken!” Nynaeve flung her hands into the air. “Light! We were heartbeats from the end, because of you. The end of everything. No more Pattern, no more world, nothing. Millions of lives could have winked out because of your carelessness.”

“But why,” Bair said softly, “would the columns show a despair that cannot change? No. I refuse to believe it. Rhuidean has always shown us what we needed to see. To help us, not destroy us. This vision must have a purpose as well. To encourage us toward greater honor?”

“From what you said,” Kymer replied, “it sounds as if he intends to ignore the Aiel, his own people. Why would he give boons to everyone else, but not to those who are most deserving? Does he seek to insult us?” “I don’t think that is the reason,” Aviendha said. “I think he intends to make demands of those who attend, not grant them gifts.”

What was he planning? She saw hints of it in the visions, but increasingly, she was certain that the next day would start the Aiel on the road to their doom. She must see that did not happen. This was her first task as a Wise One, and would likely be the most important she was ever given. She would not fail.

“What if they are true, Bair?” Aviendha found herself asking. “What if there isn’t anything we can do?” Bair turned. “You saw your children, you said?” Aviendha nodded. She hadn’t spoken in detail of that segment of the vision. It had seemed more personal to her. “Change one of their names,” Bair said. “Never speak of the name that child was called in the vision, not even to us. Then you shall know. If one thing is different, then others may be different as well. Will be different. This is not our fate, Aviendha. It is a path we will avoid. Together.”

A Red. Well, common destinations made for unusual shipmates, as the old Tairen saying went. Perhaps he should use the Saldaean proverb instead. If his sword is at your enemy’s throat, don’t waste time remembering when it was at yours.

“All men are ignorant, Aes Sedai,” Androl said. “The topics of our ignorance may change, but the nature of the world is that no man may know everything.”

“Hmm … I suppose that it would. Have I mentioned how intriguing I find it that the one of you who treats me with the most respect is a Tairen?” “Being polite to a person is not a sign of respect for them, Pevara Sedai,” Emarin said. “It is merely a sign of a good upbringing and a balanced nature.”

“What he does is pure, undiluted evil,” Pevara said. “This is no longer a division between the men who follow one leader and those who follow another. This is the Dark One’s work, Androl. The Black Tower has fallen under the Shadow. You must accept that.” “The Black Tower is a dream,” he said, meeting her eyes. “A shelter for men who can channel, a place of our own, where men need not fear, or run, or be hated. I will not surrender that to Taim. I will not.”

“Light!” Melten exclaimed, looking at the body. “Another one?” “I’ve found the secret to defeating them,” Talmanes whispered. “You just have to be dead already.” He chuckled to himself, though Melten just looked at him, seeming baffled.

Tedronai—

Inside that tent, Rand al’Thor—the Dragon Reborn—laughed, head thrown back. “So what did she do?” Rand asked when his laughter subsided. He poured himself a cup of red wine, then one for Perrin, who blushed at the question. He’s become harder, Rand thought, but somehow he hasn’t lost that innocence of his. Not completely. To Rand, that seemed a marvelous thing. A wonder, like a pearl discovered in a trout. Perrin was strong, but his strength hadn’t broken him.

“They would not awaken her without good cause,” Rand said softly. “Considering her state.” Pregnant. Pregnant with his children. Light! He had only just learned of it. Why hadn’t she been the one to tell him? The answer was simple. Elayne could feel Rand’s emotions as he felt hers. She would have been able to feel how he had been, recently. Before Dragonmount. Back when … Well, she wouldn’t have wanted to confront him with a pregnancy when he’d been in such a state. Beyond that, he hadn’t exactly made himself easy to find. Still, it was a shock. I’m going to be a father, he thought, not for the first time.

After a moment of reading Elayne lowered the letter. “Perhaps we should simply let him do as he wishes.” “Break the seals?” Egwene asked. “Release the Dark One?” “Why not?” “Light, Elayne!” “It has to happen, doesn’t it?” Elayne asked. “I mean, the Dark One’s going to escape. He’s practically free already.”

Termendal

Egwene left her to her work. Perhaps it would be enough, though he looked far gone. The Light willing, the man would live. She had been impressed with him in the past. He seemed precisely the type of man that the Band—and Mat—needed.

“I’ll support you in this, Rand,” Perrin said. “But I want you to promise me that you won’t let it come to blows. I won’t fight Elayne. Going up against the Aes Sedai would be worse. We can’t afford to squabble.” “There won’t be fighting.” “Promise me.” Perrin’s face grew so hard, one could have broken rocks against it. “Promise me, Rand.” “I promise it, my friend. I’ll bring us to the Last Battle united.”

Of all those to turn to the Shadow, Demandred’s betrayal seemed the most tragic. The man could have been a hero. Should have been a hero. I’m to blame for that, too, Rand thought. If I’d offered a hand instead of a smirk, if I’d congratulated instead of competed. If I’d been the man then that I am now … Never mind that. He had to send to Elayne.

“We exist to make certain that men who can channel do not accidentally hurt themselves or those around them. Would you not agree that is a purpose of the Black Tower as well?” “I suppose that might be part of it. The only purpose I have been told was that we are to be a weapon for the Dragon Reborn, but keeping good men from hurting themselves without proper training is important as well.” “Then we can unite on that idea, can we not?” “I would like to believe that, Pevara, but I’ve seen the way you and yours look at us. You see us as … as some stain that needs to be cleansed, or poison to be bottled.” Pevara shook her head. “If what you say is true, and the Source is cleansed, then changes will come, Androl. The Red Ajah and the Asha’man will grow together in common purpose, over time. I’m willing to work with you now, here.”

The force of it nearly made her teeth rattle, and it felt as if her skin was being pulled off. Pevara closed her eyes, breathed deeply, and did not let herself fight back. She had wanted to try this; it could be useful. But she couldn’t help a moment of sheer panic. She was linked with a male channeler, one of the most feared things the land had ever known. Now he had control of her, completely. Her Power flowed through her, washing over him, and Androl gasped. “So much…” he said. “Light, you’re strong.”

Her self melded with his for a seeming eternity. She knew what it was like to be him, think his thoughts. She saw his life in the blink of an eye, was absorbed by his memories. She gasped and fell to her knees in front of him. It faded. Not completely, but it faded. It felt like swimming a hundred leagues through boiling water, and only now emerging, having forgotten what it was like to have normal sensations. “Light…” she whispered. “What was that?” He lay on his back. When had he fallen? He blinked, looking up at the ceiling. “I saw one of the others do it. Some of the Asha’man bond their wives.” “You bonded me?” she said, horrified. He groaned, rolling over. “You did it to me first.”

“Light, Aviendha,” Elayne said, embracing her, “if the people who want me dead had half of your skill…” “Did I do something wrong?” Aviendha said. “Other than sneaking into my tent like an assassin?” “But you are my first-sister…” Aviendha said. “Should I have asked? But we are not under a roof. Or … among wetlanders, is a tent considered a roof, as in a hold? I’m sorry, Elayne. Do I have toh? You are such an unpredictable people, it’s hard to know what will offend you and what will not.” Elayne just laughed. “Aviendha, you’re a gem. A complete and total gem. Light, but it’s good to see your face. I needed a friendly one tonight.”

“Oh, that man…” Elayne said. “Rand?” “I think I may strangle him one of these days.” Aviendha set her jaw. “If he’s offended—” Elayne turned the letter around. “He insists that I return to Caemlyn to see to my people. He gives a dozen reasons why, going so far as to ‘release me from my obligation’ to meet with him tomorrow.” “He should not be insisting on anything with you.” “Particularly not so forcefully,” Elayne said. “Light, this is clever. He’s obviously trying to bully me into staying. There’s a touch of Daes Dae’mar in this.” Aviendha hesitated. “You seem proud. Yet I gather this letter is only one step away from being insulting!” “I am proud,” Elayne said. “And angry at him. But proud because he knew to make me angry like that. Light! We’ll make a king out of you yet, Rand.

“I must go to him,” Aviendha said. “Tonight?” “Tonight. The Last Battle will soon begin.” “As far as I’m concerned, it started the moment those bloody Trollocs set foot in Caemlyn,” Elayne said. “May the Light favor us. It is here.” “Then the day of dying will come,” Aviendha said. “Many of us will soon wake from this dream. There may not be another night for Rand and myself. I came to you, in part, to ask you about this.” “You have my blessing,” Elayne said softly. “You are my first-sister. Have you spent time with Min?” “Not enough, and under other circumstances I would remedy that lack immediately. There is no time.”

“The pain is ours to accept,” she said, raising her chin. “Rand al’Thor, your decision is simple, though you strive to make it difficult. Choose yes or no. Be warned; it is all three of us, or none of us. We will not let you come between us.” He hesitated, then—feeling a complete lecher—he kissed her. Behind him, Maidens he hadn’t realized were watching began to yell louder insults, though he could now hear an incongruous joy to them. He pulled back from the kiss, then reached out, cupping the side of Aviendha’s face with his hand. “You’re bloody fools. All three of you.”

“The Forsaken had access to the knowledge of Ages.” “You really think one might be involved here?” “Why not?” she asked. “If you were preparing for the Last Battle and wanted to make certain your enemies couldn’t resist you, would you let a crop of channelers train together, teach one another and become strong?” “Yes,” he said softly. “I would, and then I’d steal them.”

“And now?” Pevara asked. “Now,” Androl said, “we douse these three with something that will keep them sleeping until Bel Tine. We gather Nalaam, Canler, Evin and Jonneth. We wait for Taim to finish his inspection of Logain; we break in, rescue him and seize the Tower back from the Shadow.” They stood in silence for a moment, the room lit only by the single, flickering lamp. Rain sprayed the window. “Well,” Pevara said, “so long as it’s not a difficult task you’re proposing, Androl…”

Rand took a step forward as well, right up to Moridin. They were the same height. “You hate yourself,” Rand whispered. “I can feel it in you, Elan. Once you served him for power; now you do it because his victory—and an end to all things—is the only release you’ll ever know. You’d rather not exist than continue to be you. You must know that he will not release you. Not ever. Not you.”

Light, Pevara thought. Androl and the others really are weapons. She hadn’t stopped to consider that Emarin and the others would lead with lethal attacks. It was completely outside her experience as an Aes Sedai. Aes Sedai didn’t even kill false Dragons if they could help it. “Gentling kills,” Androl said, eyes forward. “Albeit slowly.”

“You’d only assumed that you’d eliminated war,” Aviendha said with a sniff. “You were wrong. Your ignorance left you weak.” “It did. I can’t decide if I would have changed things, though. There were many good years. Good decades, good centuries. We believed we were living in paradise. Perhaps that was our downfall. We wanted our lives to be perfect, so we ignored imperfections. Problems were magnified through inattention, and war might have become inevitable if the Bore hadn’t ever been made.”

Light, Egwene thought. I wonder how long it’s been since a meeting of this scale occurred. Nearly every nation was represented, and then some, considering the Sea Folk and the Aiel. Only Murandy, Arad Doman and the Seanchan-held lands were missing.

The other rulers allowed Egwene to enter before them. All understood that this confrontation was, at its core, between Rand and Egwene. Or, rather, the Dragon and the Amyrlin Seat.

“What are you saying, Rand al’Thor?” Egwene said, folding her arms. “That we are doomed?” “I’m saying we need to plan,” Rand said, “and present a unified attack. That we did poorly last time, and it nearly cost us the war. We each thought we knew the best way to go.” He met Egwene’s eyes. “In those days, every man and woman considered themselves to be the leader on the field. An army of generals. That is why we nearly lost. That is what left us with the taint, the Breaking, the madness. I was as guilty of it as anyone. Perhaps the most guilty. “I will not have that happen again. I will not save this world only to have it broken a second time! I will not die for the nations of humanity, only to have them turn upon one another the moment the last Trolloc falls. You’re planning it. Light burn me, I know that you are!”

“I call it the Dragon’s Peace,” Rand said softly. “And it is one of the three things which I will require of you. Your payment, to me, in exchange for my life.”

“I am their Watcher.” “In name only. They were only just discovered, and I possess them. It is out of respect for your traditional title that I approached you about them first.” “Approached me? You didn’t make a request,” she said. “You didn’t make a demand. You came, told me what you were going to do and walked away.” “I have the seals,” he repeated. “And I will break them. I won’t allow anything, not even you, to come between me and protecting this world.”

Slowly, the rage melted from his face, and he raised his hand to the side of his head. “Light, Egwene. You can still do it, like the sister I never had—tie my mind in knots and have me raving at you and loving you at the same time.”

“I need you,” Rand said softly to them. “The land itself needs you. You argue; I knew that you would, but we no longer have time for arguments. Know this. You cannot talk me out of my designs. You cannot make me obey you. No force of arms, nor weave of the One Power, can make me face the Dark One for you. I must do it of my own choice.”

“Don’t do this,” she said. “Don’t throw it all away.” “It cannot be helped.” “Yes it can! All you have to do is stop being such a Light-burned, wool-headed, stubborn fool for once!” Egwene drew herself back. How could she have spoken to him as if they were back in Emond’s Field, at their beginning? Rand stared at her for a moment. “Well, you could certainly stop being a spoiled, self-certain, unmitigated brat for once, Egwene.” He threw up his arms. “Blood and ashes! This was a waste of time.” He was very nearly right. Egwene didn’t notice someone new entering the tent. Rand did, however, and he spun as the flaps parted and let in light. He frowned at the interloper. His frown died as soon as he saw the person who entered. Moiraine.

Moiraine hesitated beside Nynaeve. Perrin couldn’t catch Nynaeve’s scent right then. That seemed ominous to him. Oh, Light. Here it comes … Nynaeve enfolded Moiraine in a powerful embrace. Moiraine stood for a moment, smelling distinctly shocked, hands out to the sides. Finally, she returned the embrace in a somewhat maternal way, patting Nynaeve on the back. Nynaeve released her, pulling back, then wiped a tear from her eye. “Don’t you dare tell Lan about this,” she growled.

“These demands are unfair,” Gregorin said. “He requires us to keep our borders as they are!” “‘He shall slay his people with the sword of peace,’” Moiraine said, “‘and destroy them with the leaf.’”

There can be no health in us, nor any good thing grow,’” Moiraine quoted, “‘for the land is one with the Dragon Reborn, and he one with the land. Soul of fire, heart of stone.’” She looked to Gregorin. “‘In pride he conquers, forcing the proud to yield.’” To the Borderlanders. “‘He calls upon the mountains to kneel…’” To the Sea Folk. “‘… and the seas to give way.’” To Perrin, then Berelain. “‘… and the very skies to bow.’” To Darlin. “‘Pray that the heart of stone remembers tears…’” Then, finally, to Elayne. “‘… and the soul of fire, love.’ You cannot fight this. None of you can. I am sorry. You think he came to this on his own?”

“Don’t be a child, Rand al’Thor,” the woman said, striding up to place her finger on the document. “You have toh.” “I left you out of it,” Rand protested. “I trust you, and all of the Aiel.” “The Aiel aren’t in it?” Easar said. “Light, how did we miss that!” “It is an insult,” Aviendha said. Perrin frowned. She smelled very serious. From any other Aiel, he’d expect that sharp scent to be followed by a pulled-up veil and a raised spear. “Aviendha,” Rand said, smiling. “The others are about to hang me for putting them in it, and you are angry for being left out?” “I demand my boon of you,” she said. “This is it. Place the Aiel in your document, your ‘Dragon’s Peace.’ We will leave you otherwise.”

“Rand, don’t you see?” Perrin said. “The solution.” Rand frowned at him. “The Aiel,” Perrin said. “The tool that needs to be used. A treaty that needs to be enforced…” Rand hesitated, then grinned widely. “You’re a genius, Perrin.”

“This is very sudden,” Rhuarc said. “Welcome to the dinner party,” Elayne added, still staring daggers at Rand. “Try the soup.” Oddly, she smelled proud. Strange woman.

“Light, he’s grown clever,” Faile whispered beside Perrin. “Do you realize what he did?” “What?” Perrin said, scratching his beard. “He brought with him all he knew would support him,” Faile whispered. “The Borderlanders, who would sign practically anything to garner help for their homelands. Arad Doman, which he helped most recently. The Aiel … well, all right, who knows what the Aiel will do at a given time? But the idea stands. “Then he let Egwene gather the others. It’s genius, Perrin. That way, with her bringing this coalition against him, all he really had to do was convince her. Once he swayed her to his side, the others would look foolish to stand apart.”

“May the last embrace of the mother welcome you home,” Lan said softly. “Don’t look at me that way, Lan,” Andere said. “We all knew what this was going to be when we … when we joined you.” “That is why I tried to stop you.” Andere scowled. “I—” “Peace, Andere,” Lan said, rising. “What I wished was selfish. I came to die for Malkier. I have no right to deny that privilege to others.”

The air ahead to the left split with a sudden vertical slash. A gateway three dozen paces wide—as large as Lan had ever seen—opened as if into the sun itself. From the other side, the brightness spilled out, exploded out. Charging men in full armor burst from the gateway, falling into place at Lan’s flank. They flew the flag of Arafel. More gateways. Three, then four, then a dozen. Each broke the field in coordination, charging horsemen bursting forth with lances leveled, flying the flags of Saldaea, Shienar, Kandor. In seconds, his charge of six thousand had become a hundred thousand.