Towers of Midnight

  Aybara. Galad also took fifty Children as guards, riding in formation behind him.

  A pavilion was set up by the time they arrived. Flat topped and simple, it had four poles stretching the brownish gray canvas. There was a small square table under it, accompanied by two chairs.

  Aybara sat on one side of the table. He stood up as Galad approached; today, the large man wore a green coat and brown trousers both well crafted but plain and had that hammer slung at his waist. The clothes had an earthy sensibility to them. No, this was not a man of palaces, but a man of fields and forests. A woodsman who had risen to be a lord.

  A pair of Two Rivers men stood at the back of the pavilion, holding powerful Two Rivers longbows. They were said to be independent farmers and herdsmen of old, sturdy stock. And they had chosen this Perrin Aybara to lead them.

  Galad walked toward the pavilion. Byar and Bornhald joined him, though the other fifty remained mounted outside.

  Unlike their last meeting, there were Aes Sedai here, three whom he could spot. A short Cairhienin woman; a slim, pleasant-looking woman in a simple dress; a stocky woman whose numerous braids meant she was likely from Tarabon. They stood with the group of Aiel women in shawls, guarded by a handful of Maidens of the Spear. Well, those Aiel did give credence to the claim that Aybara had been sent by the Dragon Reborn.

  Galad rested his hand casually on the pommel of his sword, looking over the pavilion's other occupants.

  And then he froze. A strikingly beautiful woman stood behind Aybara's chair. No, not beautiful, gorgeous. Lustrous black hair streamed down past her neck; it seemed to shine. She wore a red gown, thin enough to accentuate her form and deeply cut enough to expose swelling bosom.

  And those eyes. So dark, with long beautiful lashes. He seemed . . . pulled toward them. Why hadn't this woman come last time?

  "You appear surprised," Aybara said as he sat back down. He had a gruff voice. "The Lady First is here at the Lord Dragon's command, as I am. Didn't you notice the flag of Mayene above my forces?"

  "I . . ." Galad snapped his mouth closed, executing a bow to the woman. Berelain sur Paendrag Paeron? She was said to be a marvelous beauty, but those tales did her little justice. Galad tore his eyes from her and forced himself to take the seat opposite Aybara. He had to concentrate on his foe.

  Those golden eyes were as unsettling as he remembered. So strange to look into. Yes, this man couldn't be anything other than Shadowspawn.

  Why would so many follow such a creature? Why would she follow such a creature?

  "Thank you for coming," Aybara said. "Our last meeting was hasty. We'll do it proper, this time. You should be made aware that this woman beside me is Alliandre Maritha Kigarin, Queen of Ghealdan, Blessed of the Light, Defender of Garens Wall." So, that stately, dark-haired woman was the current Queen of Ghealdan. Of course, with the unrest here lately, there were probably a half-dozen people trying to claim the throne. She was pretty, but completely overshadowed by Berelain.

  Perrin nodded toward a third woman. "This is Faile ni Bashere t'Aybara, my wife and cousin to the Queen of Saldaea." Aybara's wife regarded Galad with suspicion. Yes, she was obviously Saldaean, by that nose. Bornhald and Byar hadn't known of her royal connections.

  Two monarchs in the tent, and both behind Aybara. Galad rose from his seat and gave a bow to Alliandre to match the one he'd given Berelain. "Your Majesty."

  "You're very polite, Lord Captain Commander," Berelain said. "And those were elegant bows. Tell me, where did you receive such training?"

  Her voice was like music. "In the court of Andor, my Lady. I am Galad Damodred, stepson of the departed Queen Morgase and half-brother of Elayne Trakand, the rightful Queen."

  "Ah," Perrin said. "About time I put a name to you. Wish you'd said that last time."

  Berelain stared into his eyes, and she smiled, looking as if she wanted to step forward. She caught herself, however. "Galad Damodred. Yes, I thought I recognized something in your face. How is your sister?"

  "I hope she is well," Galad said. "I have not seen her in some time."

  "Elayne's fine," Perrin said gruffly. "Last I heard which was only a few days back she'd secured her claim to the throne. I wouldn't be surprised if she's looking to marry Rand by now. If she can pull him away from whatever realm he's conquering."

  Behind Galad, Byar hissed softly. Had Aybara intended insult by indicating a relationship between Elayne and the Dragon Reborn? Unfortunately, Galad knew his sister all too well. She was impulsive, and she had shown an unseemly fascination with young al'Thor.

  "My sister may do as she wishes," Galad said, surprised at how easily he contained his annoyance at both her and the Dragon Reborn. "We are here to discuss you, Perrin Aybara, and your army."

  Aybara leaned forward, laying two hands on the table. "We both know this isn't about my army."

  "What is it about, then?" Galad asked.

  Aybara met his gaze with those unnatural eyes of his. "It's about a pair of Children of the Light I killed two years back. Now every time I turn around, it seems that there is a group of you snapping at my heels."

  It wasn't often that a murderer was so open about what he had done. Galad heard the rasp of a sword being drawn behind him, and raised a hand. "Child Bornhald! You will control yourself!"

  "Two Children of the Light, Shadowspawn?" Bornhald spat. "And what of my father?"

  "I had nothing to do with his death, Bornhald," Aybara said. "Geofram was killed by the Seanchan, unfortunately. For a Whitecloak, he seemed like a reasonable man, though he was planning to hang me."

  "He was to hang you for the murders you just confessed to," Galad said calmly, shooting a glance at Bornhald. The man snapped his sword back in its sheath, but his face was red.

  "They weren't murders," Aybara said. "They attacked me. I fought back."

  "That is not what I have heard," Galad said. What game was this man playing? "I have sworn testimony that you were hiding underneath a cleft in the rock. When the men asked you to come out, you jumped out screaming and attacked them without provocation."

  "Oh, there was provocation," Aybara said. "Your Whitecloaks killed a friend of mine."

  "The woman who was with you?" Galad asked. "From what I hear, she escaped safely." He'd been shocked when Bornhald had mentioned that name. Egwene al'Vere. Another woman who seemed to prefer dangerous company.

  "Not her," Perrin said. "A friend named Hopper. And after him, a companion of his. They were wolves."

  The man was condemning himself further! "You make friends of wolves, known to be creatures of the Shadow?"

  "Wolves aren't of the Shadow," Aybara said. "They hate Shadowspawn as much as any man I've known."

  "And how do you know this?"

  Aybara said nothing further. There was more there. Byar said this man seemed able to command wolves, run with them, like a wolf himself. That testimony was part of what had persuaded Galad that battle was the only recourse. It seemed that Byar's words had not been exaggeration.

  But there was no need, yet, to dwell on that. Aybara had admitted to murder. "I don't accept the killing of wolves as something to exonerate you," Galad said. "Many hunters slay wolves who attack their flocks or threaten their lives. The Children did nothing wrong. Your attack on them, therefore, was unprovoked murder."

  "There was far more to it than that," Aybara said. "But I doubt I'll convince you of that."

  "I cannot be convinced of something that isn't true," Galad said.

  "And you won't leave me alone, either," Aybara said.

  "We are at an impasse, then," Galad said. "You have confessed to crimes that I, as a servant of justice, must see righted. I cannot walk away. You see why I felt further parley was useless?"

  "What if I were willing to stand trial?" Perrin asked.

  Aybara's bold-nosed wife rested a hand on his shoulder. He reached up and laid his hand on it, but did not turn away from Galad.

  "If you will come and accept punishment from us for wh
at you've done . . ." Galad said. It would mean execution. Surely the creature wouldn't give himself up.

  At the back of the pavilion, a group of servants had arrived and were preparing tea. Tea. At a war parley. Obviously Aybara had little experience with this kind of thing.

  "Not punishment," Aybara said sharply. "A trial. If I am proven innocent, I go free and you the Lord Captain Commander instruct your men to stop hounding me. Especially Bornhald and that one behind you who growls like a pup seeing his first leopard."

  "And if you are proven guilty?"

  "That depends."

  "Don't listen to him, my Lord Captain Commander!" Byar said. "He promised to give himself to us once before, then betrayed his word!"

  "I did not!" Aybara said. "You did not fulfill your part of the bargain!" "I "

  Galad slapped the table. "This is useless. There will be no trial."

  "Why not?" Aybara demanded. "You talk of justice, but won't offer me a trial?"

  "And who would judge it?" Galad asked. "Would you trust me to do so?"

  "Of course not," Perrin said. "But Alliandre can. She's a queen."

  "And your companion," Galad said. "I mean her no insult, but I fear she would acquit you without hearing evidence. Even the Lady First would not be adequate though I would, of course, trust her word, I fear that my men would not."

  Light, but that woman was beautiful! He glanced at her for a moment, and found her blushing as she regarded him. It was faint, but he was sure he saw it. He found himself blushing as well.

  "The Aes Sedai, then," Aybara said.

  Galad tore his eyes away from Berelain and looked at Aybara, giving him a flat stare. "If you think that a judgment by one from the White Tower would satisfy my men, you know little of the Children of the Light, Perrin Aybara."

  Aybara's eyes grew hard. Yes, he knew that. It was too bad. A trial would have been a tidy end to this. A serving woman approached the table with two cups of tea, but there was no need. This second parley was over.

  "You're right, then," Aybara said, looking frustrated. "This meeting was pointless."

  "No," Galad said, stealing another glance at Berelain. "Not pointless for me." He knew more of Aybara's strength; that would help him in battle. Beyond that, it had been right to delay fighting for a short time to make certain it was needed. There was still plenty of light in the day for the fighting to proceed.

  But . . . what of that woman . . . the Lady First? He forced himself to look away. It was difficult.

  Galad stood, and bowed to Alliandre, then to Berelain. He moved to leave.

  Then he heard a gasp. Oddly, it came from the serving woman who had brought the tea. Galad glanced at her. It was Morgase.

  Galad froze, completely still. He'd been trained by swordmaster after swordmaster never to let his surprise overwhelm him, but at that moment, their careful training was for naught. That was his stepmother. That red-gold hair he had tugged as a child. That face, so beautiful and strong. Those eyes. Those were her eyes.

  A ghost? He had heard the stories. Manifestations of the Dark One's evil returning the dead to life. But nobody else in the pavilion seemed uneasy, and this woman was too real. Hesitantly, Galad reached out and touched the apparition on the cheek. The skin was warm.

  "Galad?" she said. "What are you doing here? How "

  She cut off as he seized her in an embrace, causing those around him on both sides to jump in surprise. She jumped, too. She lived! How?

  I killed Valda, Galad thought immediately. Killed him for the death of my mother. Who is not dead. I have done evil.

  No. Valda had deserved to die for the assault on Morgase. Or was that part true? He had spoken to Children sure that it was, but they'd also been sure she was dead.

  He would sort that out later. Right now, he needed to stop embarrass-

  ing himself in front of his men. He released his stepmother, but she kept hold of his arm. She looked dazed. He had rarely seen her that way.

  Perrin Aybara had stood up and was watching them with a frown. "You know Maighdin?"

  "Maighdin?" Galad asked. She wore a simple dress and no jewelry. Was she trying to hide as a servant? "Aybara, this is Morgase Trakand, Defender of the Realm, Protector of the People, High Seat of House Trakand. She is your queenl"

  That brought a stillness to the pavilion. Aybara scratched at his beard thoughtfully. His wife watched Morgase with eyes wide, either shocked or angry.

  "Maighdin," Aybara said, "is this true?"

  She lifted her chin, staring Aybara in the eyes. How could they not see the Queen in her?

  "I am Morgase Trakand," she said. "But I have renounced my throne in favor of Elayne. Before the Light, I will never again claim the crown."

  Galad nodded. Yes. She must have feared that Aybara would use her against Andor. "I'm taking you back to my camp, Mother," Galad said, still watching Aybara. "Then we can discuss the way you were treated by this man."

  She turned level eyes on Galad. "An order, Galad? Have I no say in the matter?"

  He frowned, leaning in and speaking in a whisper. "Does he have others captive? What leverage does he have over you?"

  She shook her head and replied softly, "This man is not what you think he is, Galad. He's rough-cut, and I certainly don't like what he's doing to Andor, but he is no friend of the Shadow. I have more to fear from your . . . associates than from Perrin Aybara."

  Yes, she did have reason to distrust the Children. Good reason. "Will you come with me, my Lady? I promise you that you may leave and return to Aybara's camp at any time. Whatever you suffered from the Children in the past, you will be safe now. I vow this."

  Morgase gave him a nod.

  "Damodred," Aybara said, "wait a moment."

  Galad turned, laying his hand on his sword pommel again. Not as a threat, but a reminder. Many of those in the pavilion had begun to whisper. "Yes?" Galad asked.

  "You wanted a judge," Aybara said. "Would you accept your mother in that position?"

  Galad didn't hesitate. Of course; she'd been a queen since her eighteenth

  nameday, and he had seen her sit in judgment. She was fair. Harsh, but fair.

  But would the other Children accept her? She'd been trained by the Aes Sedai. They'd see her as one of them. A problem. But if it gave a way out of this, perhaps he could make them see the truth.

  "I would," Galad said. "And if I vouched for her, my men would as well."

  "Well," Aybara said, "I'd accept her, too."

  Both men turned to Morgase. She stood in her simple yellow dress, looking more a queen by the moment. "Perrin," she said, "if I sit in judgment, I will not temper my decisions. You took me in when we needed shelter, and for that I am appreciative. But if I decide that you have committed murder, I will not hold back my decision."

  "That will do," Aybara said. He seemed sincere.

  "My Lord Captain Commandet," Byar said softly in Galad's ear, sounding fervent. "I fear this would be a farce! He's not said he would submit to punishment."

  "No, I have not," Aybara said. How had he heard those whispers? "It would be meaningless. You think me a Dárkfriend and a murderer. You wouldn't accept my word on taking punishment, not unless I was in your custody. Which I won't allow."

  "See?" Byar said, more loudly. "What is the point?"

  Galad met Aybara's golden eyes again. "It will give us a trial," he said, growing more certain. "And legal justification. I'm beginning to see, Child Byar. We must prove our claims, otherwise we are no better than Asunawa."

  "But the trial will not be fair!"

  Galad turned to the tall soldier. "Are you questioning my mother's impartiality?"

  The gaunt man froze, then shook his head. "No, my Lord Captain Commander."

  Galad turned back to Aybara. "I ask Queen Alliandre to grant that this trial be legally binding in her realm."

  "If Lord Aybara requests it, I will." She sounded uncomfortable.

  "I do request it, Alliandre," Perrin said. "But only
if Damodred agrees to release all of my people that he's holding. Keep the supplies, but let the people go, as you promised me you would before."

  "Very well," Galad said. "It will happen once the trial begins. I promise it. When will we meet?"

  "Give me a few days to prepare."

  "In three days, then," Galad said. "We hold the trial here, in this pavilion, in this place."

  "Bring your witnesses," Aybara said. "I'll be here."

  CHAPTER 27

  A Call to Stand

  I am not opposed to questioning the Lord Dragon, Egwene read from the letter as she sat in her study. Indeed, the more absolute a man's power becomes, the more necessary questioning becomes. However, know that I am not a man who gives his loyalty easily, and I h ave given my loyalty to him. Not because of the throne he provided me, but because of what he has done for Tear.

  Yes, he grows more erratic by the day. What else are we to expect from the Dragon Reborn? He will break the world. We knew this when we gave him our allegiance, much as a sailor must sometimes give his loyalty to the captain who steers his ship straight for the strand. When an unnavigable tempest rises behind, the strand is the only option.

  Still, your words bring me concern. The destruction of the seals is not something we should undertake without careful discussion. The Lord Dragon charged me with raising him an army, and I have done so. If you provide the gateways you have promised, I will bring some troops to this meeting place, along with the loyal High Lords and Ladies. Be warned, however, that the Seanchan presence to my west continues to weigh heavily upon my mind. The bulk of my armies must remain behind.

  High Lord Darlin Sisnera, King of Tear beneath the rule of the Dragon Reborn Randal'Thor

  Egwene tapped the sheet with one finger. She was impressed Darlin had committed his words to paper, rather than sending a messenger with them memorized. If a messenger fell into the wrong hands, his words could always be denied. Convicting a man of treason based on the testimony of one messenger was difficult.