December 16th, 2005 Christina
“Oh, Karistina, this is exquisite!”
“The girls will be so pleased to be able to make their garments now!”
These were only a few of the exclamations directed at Karistina when she finally appeared through the gateway with wagons in tow. The first had come from Aime, who was pleasantly surprised with the quality of the linens for her new dresses. The second came from Tiana, who was most likely grossly overestimating the enthusiasm of the girls who could now be clothed in novice white. Not all of the novices had white garments that readily identified them as novices, and now that more cloth was available for the purpose of clothing them, those girls who had been able to blend into the crowd would certainly now be called upon to run more errands and take care of more menial tasks for the Sisters.
“Thank you again,” Aime said, turning to carry her purchases to her tent. After running from the Tower to Salidar, and then traveling with a rebel camp, most Sisters’ dresses were in poor condition. The Domani in Aime was more than a little excited at the prospect of having proper clothing again.
“You’re welcome,” Karistina replied with a smile, though her reply was received by Aime retreating back. The smile faded quickly when Aime’s absence revealed a scowling Luka.
That had been the day she returned. It wasn’t until now that Luka finally approached Karistina to discuss what had him displeased this time.
“A word in private, Aes Sedai,” Luka asked flatly. He knew that her trip was partly a ruse to meet with Tomas, and it was no secret that he disapproved. Aime may have puzzled out that Karistina had contrived some way to see Tomas, but she did not share her Warder’s disapproval. She did a remarkable job of ignoring her Warder’s bad mood through their bond.
“As you wish, Warder,” Karistina replied, though much more pointedly. She made no move to accommodate Luka or his conversation as she made her way to see the Green Sitters with an armload of important paperwork.
Luka closed more of the distance between them, assuming the stance Tomas had told her was called Cat Crosses the Courtyard, or some such thing. “I know you saw him.”
“Him?” she said in a flighty voice. “Oh yes. Him. Why in the Light should that concern you?”
“Do you care nothing for the safety and well-being of your Sisters?”
“Excuse me?” She actually turned to look at him now. Of all the nerve…
“Any contact with - a man like him - endangers you and everyone here. ‘Rumor has it’ that the Dragon isn’t at all pleased with Aes Sedai right now. How long before someone finds out who he is going to visit? And where? It wouldn’t take much more to put together where we are. I don’t think I need to tell you what could happen if the Dragon decided to exact his revenge -”
“No such thing is going to happen.” A long silence followed as she fussed with the papers she was carrying. “The Dragon knows full well that not all Aes Sedai are serving the same interests. Besides, you don’t think he could find us right now, if he wanted? He was childhood friends with the Amyrlin. Don’t think he wouldn’t be able to locate us. I’m sure he has more pressing concerns right now, like fighting off madness and preparing for the Last Battle.”
“Like someone else we know?” Luka said, snidely.
Karistina glared at him. “He is not yet showing any signs of madness. And he can prepare for the Last Battle the same way the rest of us are. By biding time and remaining wary. Now, if you’ll excuse me…”
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December 16th, 2005 Christina
Things were pretty much normal when Tomas arrived back at the Black Tower. Well, as normal as things could be with hundreds of men learning to channel nearby, and the threat that any day they could all go mad. Add to that the continuing construction of the wall surrounding what used to be just an everyday, small farm and the completion of a grand palace for the M’hael. And, of course, that the aforementioned M’hael was none other than the false Dragon Mazrim Taim… other than those points, things were normal. But they were about to get a lot less normal.
It all started the day after Tomas got back from Karistina’s manor in Saldaea. That was the day Taim’s palace was finished. Tomas settled into his tent, after telling the new “recruits” where to go, and settled in to take a small nap. Just as sleep was about to overtake him, Canler burst into his tent rambling something fierce. Tomas was afraid Canler had already gone mad, but then he said something that actually made sense. The M’Hael was giving private lessons in his palace to those who were wearing the Sword and the Dragon. Tomas wondered just exactly was learned in those lessons, but after shooing Canler out of his tent, he fell asleep without thinking anything else on the subject.
The next day saw something very remarkable in these days of oppressive heat. It started to rain. If the Dark One was behind the horrible heat of the past few months, then Tomas did not want to see what might have made him change his mind. It started out small enough. Tomas was working the forms on the practice field surrounded by other men with their practice blades whirling when he felt the first warm drop hit his face. If it weren’t for the fact that he didn’t sweat much anymore, Tomas would’ve sworn it was his own perspiration. Then, another drop landed on his head, followed by another. Nothing large, just a slow drizzle. Soon enough, though, when it became time for the Afternoon meal, the rain had increased to a steady beating on the tent roof. A wind from the north sent a few droplets through the tent flap’s crease and a chill in the air. By nightfall, the air had a definite bite to it. It was almost as if winter were suddenly making up for all the time lost to the encroaching summer.
Tomas awoke shivering to find a fine blanket of snow outside his tent. It was a good thing his new accommodations were almost finished, for he did not wish to sleep in a tent in this weather any longer. It was his turn to take the morning patrol with a young Soldier, and he took the opportunity to work on his fire starting abilities. It took a lot more than the ability to use Fire strongly to make a good fire last. Han took the time to gaze around at the scenery. Andor really was beautiful in the winter, covered in a blanket of snow. As it was, they both passed by a set of tracks before they realized that they were being followed. A man’s labored steps could be heard attempting to circle around them, and a grunt sounded from somewhere else. Saidin already raged through Tomas, and he could feel Han filling himself quickly, but before any blows could be struck a figure walked out of the forest. Suddenly, with that face staring back at him, Tomas was very grateful he was not involved with the capture of Logain Ablar…
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December 16th, 2005 Christina
After whiling away a good part of the morning in the bedroom, Karistina and Tomas took to the streets of Maradon proper with Jerr and Meeghan. They had, after all, said they would be traveling for the purposes of trade and recruiting. Though Tomas was held by no such oaths, Karistina was most certainly bound to her word.
“Father’s been doing quite well,” Jerr was saying as they made their way to the storefronts of the merchants he was friendliest with. “One of his associates decided to dry his ice peppers in the sun and grind them up like spices. With all of the crops going rotten, it was a way to salvage what was left, and people seem just as eager to buy the dried peppers as they were the fresh ones. With this endless summer heat, a little extra flavor helps to cover up the taste of whatever else might have gone bad in the storerooms. Some merchants were reluctant to dry their peppers, but not father. By drying them, he can bring wagon loads all the way to Tear without them spoiling, and that’s precisely what he intends to do. He should be a day or two away from Tear by now.”
“I wish I knew exactly where he was,” Karistina said. “He’d have an even greater edge if I could shorten the whole journey to a handful of days for him. When he next arrives home, you’ll tell him to wait for me before journeying out again, won’t you?”
While Jerr bargained for foodstuffs, tools, and more of the practical items on Karistina’s list, Meeghan walked Karistina through some of the better clothiers and jewelers. While not precisely in the market for more jewelry, Karistina was easily talked into purchasing some yards of silks for fine dresses along with the plain linens that would serve to make many new garments in novice white.
“If winter ever came, I’d show you where to find the finest furs,” Meeghan said to her as they perused a collection of shoes. Karistina decided she could use a new pair. Or two. “The finest furs, at least, that can be found while Jassap Rajem is out of town with his wares.” She smiled sincerely; she took honest pride in the quality of business done by her husband’s family.
Tomas had gone off on his own, popping in and out of inns and taverns. He asked around for men who would follow the Lord Dragon in battle. Meeting up with the ladies as they were meeting up with Jerr, Tomas informed them that he had found a few dozen men who would be meeting him at a specified location just before sunset.
“I think two or three of them show some real promise,” Tomas said, meaning that they might be able to channel, though the extent of which would not be known without testing and training. Tomas planned to Travel with the entire group to the Black Tower, then separate the men accordingly. At this time tomorrow, a few of those men would realize they were in for something much more than they thought they had bargained for. These men had survived the ravaging done by Mazrim Taim. They loathed and despised him, and now they would be calling him M’hael.
The sun well past its zenith now, their tasks had been performed. The goods Karistina needed were set to be delivered to the estate before sunset, which wasn’t more than two hours away.
“I think we accomplished quite a bit,” Meeghan said. “Are you certain you can’t stay longer, sister? I would like to sit and chat with you some time about our husbands.”
Karistina laughed. “I would like that a lot, Meeghan. But we’ll have to put that off until another time. I do need to return to my other Sisters; they are expecting me tonight.”
Tomas, taking Karistina’s hand, added his own comment. “We would both like to stay, but duty does call. I believe we shall see you, though, at this same time next week. Isn’t that what we had planned, my wife?”
Sighing, she replied. “Yes, this time next week. Ten days that may seem like forever. But we will return, and we won’t need to spend nearly so much time in town as this first occasion. We will have more time for family then.”
When they had again reached the estate, Debara did her best to convince her daughter and new son-in-law to stay. She was still plenty wary of Tomas, but held her tongue on the matter so as not to spoil the parting with Karistina.
As sunset approached, Karistina walked with Tomas out in the garden.
“It does take time to walk from here to there, my love,” Tomas said. “The men may not wait if I am not there, and I cannot risk that.” He stroked her cheek with the back of his hand. “You know I don’t like this any more than you do.”
“I know,” she said softly. “It won’t be like this every time, once we get used to it. A week apart is more bearable than the uncertain number of weeks it could be…”
Tomas kissed her forehead, then her lips. “Your wagons are just arriving. And I believe you have a supper to get to before you leave.”
“I wish you could stay for supper…”
“As do I.” He kissed her again, a kiss that ended much too soon for either of them. “Until next week, my love.”
“Until next week.”
Karistina let Tomas walk away. She would not follow him to the front gate where the groom had readied his horse. It would be harder to let him go if she did.
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December 16th, 2005 Christina
“Tell me, Tomas. Do you take good care of my Karistina?”
Swallowing loudly around a mouthful of bacon, Tomas shot a furtive look at his wife. She felt more than amused through the bond, and Tomas could recognize the look on her face. He was quite alone in this little battle. “Well, you know…” he stalled, looking for words. Thanking the Light that Warders and Asha’man were not required to take the Three Oaths as well, he lied quickly, “Since certain things have happened to send Karistina and I away from the Tower, we haven’t been able to see each other very much. I try and keep myself busy with my training, and she has pressing duties south of where my training camp is.”
Debara’s knife hitting the plate brought all eyes to her as she pressed, “What sort of training requires you to be so far away from your own wife? It must be important to keep you away for any period of time.”
I’m afraid I’m going to go mad and kill your daughter, probably would’ve been the wrong answer at that point in time, but Karistina put a halt to everything with a simple, “Enough, Mother.” Debara looked like she wanted to say something more, but Karistina continued, “Tomas handles me well, and he’s the only man who has ever made me happy. His duties just keep him farther away than we would like, which is why we require the use of that room you set aside for us. Which is where we’re going to retire to for a little while, if you’re done skinning my husband alive.” Jerr and Meeghan shared a look over their forks, but Debara’s face turned a deep crimson, almost as if she were about to explode. Tomas felt a sudden surge of triumph from Karistina as she rose from the table, “Come, Tomas, let us go.”
When they were safely out of sight down the hallway, Tomas turned to the woman striding so purposefully next to him, curiosity getting the better of him, “What was that all about?”
Without warning she leapt into his arms, almost knocking the both of them to the ground. She laughed so hard, Tomas wondered if the taint could travel through their bond. “I’ve never been able to tell off my mother like that,” she said finally after fighting back her laughter. “And in your arms like this, suddenly I’m feeling forward as a farm girl at harvest.” Having met a few Saldaean farm girls in his life, Tomas carried his wife as quickly as possible back to the room they came in from. It was amazing that none of his buttons ripped off on the way.
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December 16th, 2005 Christina
Karistina sat there wondering whether or not she should try to help Tomas dig himself out of the hole he’d gotten into. She couldn’t lie, of course, but there was certainly something she could’ve said to take the heat off of her husband. But then again, it was her mother’s right to ask him pretty much any question she chose. She’d let him flounder a bit more before she tried to step in.
“If your father was a soldier,” Debara said to Tomas, “your mother must have often been away at his side.”
“Oh no,” Tomas replied. “She wasn’t like all the other soldiers’ wives. She was a baker.”
Karistina watched her mother nod thoughtfully. “That would explain why it would seem you kept close to her apron strings.” Debara turned to her daughter. “My dear, they made this man a Warder? Your Warder?”
“He was trained with a sword, mother. He wasn’t nearly as sheltered as I was.” Does she forget how protected I was here? “I think he exaggerates when he says he had never seen an Aes Sedai before going to the Tower with me.”
She smiled at Tomas, and he smiled uneasily back. Jerr was smirking at Tomas, most likely remembering when he had to meet Meeghan’s parents. He had been too eager to return to the estate and the fine art of bookkeeping.
“So anyhow,” Debara said. “You have married my daughter, and there isn’t much to be done about it now - except, perhaps, to kill you.”
Meeghan chortled in her seat, and Tomas would have choked if his food had made it into his mouth instead of falling in his lap. Debara, of course, was joking. There wasn’t much hint of a smile on her face, but Karistina knew it was there. She’d gotten an odd sense of humor from having lived for so many years with her father, who had an even odder one.
“Oh mother,” Karistina replied, trying to stay with the joke. “You know you could never kill Tomas. You must have heard enough about the Warder bond to know how terribly it would affect me.”
“You’re right,” Debara replied. “I could never do that to my only daughter. Tomas, I guess that makes you my favorite son-in-law. Just as Meeghan is my favorite daughter-in-law.” It was well enough to say that when you only had one. Meeghan was grinning from ear to ear. “Tell me, Tomas. Do you take good care of my Karistina?”
Tomas looked at Karistina for a little guidance, but he was on his own here.
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December 16th, 2005 Christina
“Your house is lovely,” Tomas said, sitting down in front of a steaming plate of bacon and eggs. His stomach growled at the smells presented in front of him. “It’s too bad your husband couldn’t be here with us.”
“Yes,” Debara said, lifting a forkful of egg to her mouth and looking through her lashes at him. Their greeting in the hallway earlier had been, well, awkward to say the least. He had greeted her with as much formality as he could muster after Karistina sprung her news upon him, but she had avoided looking into his eyes. Her greeting was nothing more than a brief nod of her head, more suited for a queen to a farmer. Tomas grinned anyway and pulled his wife closer, earning only a slight intake of breath. He had seen Aiel Wise Ones at Dumai’s Wells, but he thought that Debara could hide her feelings better than all of them combined. “So,” she started, “How did you meet my daughter?”
“Uh…” Tomas stumbled over the right way to say it. He had been a cutpurse at the time, and for some strange reason he didn’t think Debara would approve of that.
“What’s the matter, Karistina,” her brother Jerr said from across the maple wood table, “did you catch yourself a shy one?” Jerr was the youngest brother in the Rajem household at only twenty years old. His wife, sitting next to him, reached over and smacked him upside the head.
“Forgive my husband, Tomas,” she said, the accents of Shienar strong in her otherwise musical voice. “I haven’t taught him proper manners yet.”
“Thank you, Meeghan,” he said, thinking fast. “My father was a soldier in the army,” the best lies stuck as close to the truth as possible. “When he and my mother died in a Trolloc raid, I was left to fend for myself.”
Karistina piped in, only slightly disapproving of the lie, “We met in a small town called Pigeon Covey while I was on my way to the White Tower. He stole,” Tomas coughed loudly, choking on a small piece of bacon, “Are you all right my love?” she asked, genuine concern flowing through the bond, as well as a faint touch of amusement. Tomas composed himself quickly, swallowing the offending bacon down with a gulp of wine. “He stole my heart the very first time I lay eyes on him.”
Tomas thanked the Light for loop holes in the First Oath, and continued, “She, of course didn’t tell me this, nor where we were going until much later. Peace, but I almost ran away when she first told me we were headed for the Tower.”
Her mother looked up from her plate, “Now why would you do that?” she asked.
“Because he thought…” Karistina began. Tomas broke in, not quite trusting the size of the loop hole.
“I thought all Aes Sedai were gigantic witches. Even though I was from Saldaea, I had never seen one before, so all I had to go on were rumors.” Karistina chuckled, amusement growing stronger through the bond.
“That’s strange…” her mother commented, “a soldier’s son never seeing an Aes Sedai before. Your mother must’ve been sheltering you.”
“Yes, well…” This was not going well…
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December 16th, 2005 Christina
Tomas and his beautiful wife laughed as he picked her up swirled her around the room set aside for them. “I’m on an official recruitment trip,” he giggled - giggled! - happily. She laughed at his tone, answering, “I’m here to gather supplies.” They smiled, two children once again a hairsbreadth away from getting caught shirking on their duties. One day a week can’t hurt anything…
“I hear voices in there, Karistina,” a new voice called from the hallway. “Is it safe?”
The bond flashed a brief crimson of embarrassment, then suddenly a faint trickle of worry crept in. “My darling, that is my mother, Debara. She…” Karistina hesitated, seeming to search for the words, “She knows about you. Now, now, my darling Warder…” she added in hastily to soothe the anger and betrayal that she must have felt through the bond, “She’s agreed to keep your secret safe. You’ve got nothing to worry about from her.”
Yeah, Tomas thought while trying to put a lid on his frustration, nothing to worry about except an overprotective mother…
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December 16th, 2005 Christina
Excited like a child, Karistina had Traveled from the camp the previous day before sunrise. She had told her Sisters, truthfully of course, that she would be visiting her family in Saldaea, but that she would also see what her father and the other merchants could offer up in trade. Supplies for the entire camp were divided as best they could be, but everyone had their own needs and wants. Karistina had more than a short list of items she would try to bring back for herself and her fellow travelers.
When she had first arrived, she was a fair distance from civilization. The capital city of Maradon was surrounded by sprawling towns on its outskirts; there was far greater safety from Trolloc raids closer to the city walls. Karistina traveled alone, save for Twilight. Journey into the Borderlands or not, she didn’t want Luka or anyone else tagging along for this trip.
It had taken the better part of a day to reach one of the small towns where she could bed down for a few hours’ rest. But from there, it was two or three hours to her family’s estate, and Twilight could keep a quick pace for that length of time. If it hadn’t been too dark to see her hand in front of her face, she would’ve continued on without stopping in the first place! The road was mostly empty in the dim light of the pre-dawn, which made travel that much faster. This first trip would be the only time such a journey would be necessary, if things went as planned.
And now, she was here. It was still before dawn, and her family’s estate was in front of her. A successful merchant, her father had afforded an impressive expanse of land with several outbuildings flanking the manor house. Karistina was met at the gate by a servant. Shortly after, she received a hearty welcome from the rest of the Rajem household. They were early risers to begin with, so they had been quick to rouse when word came that Karistina was there.
Her father, Jassap Rajem, was out of town, headed south to sell his wares. But her mother, Debara, welcomed Karistina alongside her siblings.
“Peace, it’s wonderful to see you,” Debara exclaimed. “But to arrive so early, you must have ridden through the night!”
“You’ve gotten big!” That was from her younger brother.
Her mother fussed over her dusty cloak, calling for a servant to draw a nice hot bath. She complimented her daughter on her fine dress and her beautiful necklace.
“It was a wedding gift from Tomas,” Karistina told her. “Isn’t it precious?”
Debara smiled, but it quickly turned into a face ripe with motherly concern. “Where is Tomas? We’re so happy to see you after all this time, but I wish we could meet this man you have married. I hope he is as worthy of you as you seem to think he is.”
Mothers, Karistina thought. I could have gray hair, and she’s still be looking out for me. “Actually, mother, that’s something I’d like to speak with you about.”
Debara seated herself several paces away from the copper bathtub that had been prepared for Karistina; it took little time at all for the bath to be prepared because the servants had already been heating water to get ready for the day.
Mother and daughter spoke plainly. Karistina could use the Power to Travel, and she wished a room that could be set aside for this purpose, one where no servants would enter. Hesitating only a moment, she also told her mother that Tomas could Travel the same way. She didn’t even need to ask for this to be kept private; it was understood. Debara was glad to be finally meeting her daughter’s husband, but was more than a little wary about the fact that he could channel. It wasn’t so long ago in her mind that Mazrim Taim had been causing havoc up here. Karistina did her best to quiet her mother’s fears; Tomas would not harm her or any member of her family.
There was an unoccupied guest bedroom with a sitting room that would be set aside for Karistina and Tomas. Karistina set it in her mind exactly where she could open her gateway without ruining any of the beautiful furniture. She only needed to study the room for a little while, having remembered playing in this room in her childhood. Karistina smiled, remembering that she used to hide in here when she wanted to avoid her lessons, but was always discovered quickly, hiding under the bed. She would be able to Travel to and from this place without difficulty.
Dawn was just bringing the sun over the horizon when Karistina hugged her mother and opened the gateway to the place where she and Tomas first met. Instructing Debara to leave the room because of the dangers of an opening gateway upon her return, Karistina smiled and stepped through into the open air of the place called Pigeon Covey.
I wonder if he’s as eager as I am. She walked a little further off from where her gateway winked out, so as not to get caught standing in the wrong place when he arrived. I hope he’ll be able to get away…
It was only a matter of minutes before that vertical slash appeared, opening finally to reveal Tomas in plain woolens. Even though Tomas had chosen to appear unassuming, Karistina was glad for the bath she had taken, which had given her the opportunity to change into a pleasing blue dress slashed with white. It was tasteful enough to escape disapproval from her mother, but attractive enough to catch her husband’s eye.
Off to the side a bit, Tomas had not noticed her, though he had to know she was close by. She came up behind him and gave a little smile. “Well, hello there, stranger.”
Tomas spun around, sudden elation rushing into him - and her. “Beloved.” It was the only word he was able to speak before they became swept up in a kiss.
“Everything has been arranged,” Karistina said when the kiss finally ended. She opened a gateway for the two of them. “Tomas, it’s time to meet my family.”
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December 16th, 2005 Christina
It’s amazing how quickly tens days pass, if you’ve got something at the end to look forward to. Out of the entire week that Tomas spent waiting for the day to visit Karistina, there were really only two highlights. The first was more of a disappointment than a highlight, really. At Roll Call the other day, Mazrim Taim announced the names who would be moving up for their performances at Dumai’s Wells. Most of the Soldiers who went were to be raised to the dedicated, but only a few of the Dedicated were being raised to full Asha’man. Tomas was not one of them. With a curt, “That is all,” Taim stepped down of the dais and went back to the place where his palace was being constructed.
He was only slightly surprised when, yesterday, Canler stuck his head through the tent flaps. “You’re going to see her today, aren’t you?”
That was the surprise. “How do you know about that…?” Tomas asked suspiciously.
“Well…” Canler began, cocking his head to the side so very much like a Brown, “All this time you’ve been here at the Tower, and never once have you volunteered for a recruitment trip. Now, one week after your wife left, you’ve volunteered for a foray into Saldaea… alone, no less. Logically, one of you, if not both, are from that area. So I ask you again, you’re going to meet her there, aren’t you?
Maybe he’s more like a White than a Brown… “You’re absolutely right, Canler,” Tomas admitted with a laugh. “Listen… I appreciate what you’ve done for us so far. I hate to ask you this, though… If I’m not back in the appropriate time… you’ll cover for me, won’t you? I don’t know what will happen, or if she’ll try and get me to stay with her, or if I’ll have to make an appearance with her sisters, or what. Only time will tell…”
It was Canler’s turn to laugh, “Listen to you, talking about secret rendezvous like some love-struck young farm boy… Of course I’ll cover for you. I’ll make sure Da never gets wind of his son stealing the apple pie from the window either.” They both laughed as Tomas unburied his color-shifting Warder cloak and packed it into his saddlebags.
And so it was, on the dawn of that tenth day, Tomas opened his gateway and Traveled to a place only about a mile from a fly-speck village called Pigeon Covey. It was here that Tomas had wandered to when he was orphaned, and it was in these streets that he first met a striking - literally - young lass named Karistina. He stood in the town square, which was really just a small patch of sun-dried grass not too far from the only inn in the village. His Warder cloak and Asha’man coat were packed into his saddlebags on Swift, who was tied to a tree in the forest. Tomas didn’t want to impress anyone today in his plain, woolen clothes. The Borderlands were never very warm, but in this unnatural weather, the air was almost oppressive. The only thing that kept it from being oppressive was a slight breeze that actually felt a little cool.
“Well, hello there, stranger…” a soft voice called to him from behind. He smiled, recognizing the voice, and the feelings through their bond, and turned to meet his reason for living…
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December 16th, 2005 Christina
Scouts from the army traveling with the rebels had announced the arrival of Karistina and Luka well ahead of time, though Aime had needed them not to feel Luka’s presence. She had ridden to greet them when they, at last, approached.
With the greeting and niceties out of the way, the inevitable question came from Aime’s lips, now amidst the company of more Sisters, “What in the Light befell you while you were away? Is everything all right with Tomas? Luka, I feared something terrible might have befallen the both of you…”
Luka traded glances with Karistina. They had agreed that she would speak. “Aime,” she began, “let it be enough to know that any - discontent you may have felt through your bond with Luka was animosity between him and Tomas. Tomas is among fighting men who are not friendly toward Aes Sedai, and Luka feared this had much changed Tomas to the point of harming even myself, his wife. Though Tomas would never harm me, the two of them had a bitter fight. Twice, in truth, did your Luka injure my Tomas in duel. The second time, it took powerful Healing to keep Tomas alive. Let us leave it at that; there was much ill between them when we departed.”
Later, when Luka had ridden further off with Germain and Jaicon, Karistina would tell Aime more of the personal details. Yes, she and Tomas had reconciled. No, Tomas could not yet return. Though they had made their personal amends, “duty is heavier than a mountain.” Custom dictated that Aime would not pry any further than Karistina was willing to share, but Aime seemed content with what she was told, anyhow.
“I do wish this weather would break,” Aime said at one point. “Do you think they will succeed, the ones who were sent off to Ebou Dar by the Amyrlin?”
“The Light willing,” Karistina replied. Aime had since caught her up on the latest news of the camp. “We can only hope that they spoke the truth about this bowl they seek.” It seemed madness to suggest that any Aes Sedai could lie about anything, but these Sisters had been raised, as the Amyrlin herself, without swearing on the Oath Rod. “We can only hope it is not simply some folly of girls wishing to prove themselves worthy…”
To think, the hope of the world for the end of this endless summer - it all rested upon a small band headed by two half-trained Aes Sedai who hadn’t even sworn the Oaths! It must seem a great adventure for them.
But all of this was at the back of Karistina’s mind. She wondered if Tomas had read her letter. He had to have read it by now. What was he thinking? Would he be able to get away to meet with her in Saldaea? She would have to Travel ahead of him, of course. It would be good to see her family again. She hadn’t seen them since she left home to become a Novice, and it had been months since they’d communicated by pigeon. And now, she would see them in a matter of days!
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