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Camelyn towered over the two wagons slowly approaching from the east, the cargo of each covered by a canvas top. The wagons, drawn by strong horses bought inside the city, rolled past farms on either side, rapidly approaching the towering wall. The reigns of each wagon was held by an Aes Sedai, her hood covering her ageless face. The sisters would arrive in the city at dusk.

Each wagon was crowded below the canvas tops. In each, two sisters sat upright, their legs stretched out parallel to the seat of the wagon. Between them, also parallel, four others lay, bound tightly by Air and blindfolded, awaiting their arrival in Tar Valon. It would not be long before they found out that the great island city was not their destination, but by then, it would be too late for them to escape. If it wasn’t too late already.

Wennelin’s eyes brushed past the prisoners laid out at her side, taking in their helplessness. Though their arms were held at their sides and their legs were bound together by Air, the One Power was not used to keep them silenced. Instead, each had a clean cloth stuffed into her mouth, along with the promise of punishment if they so much as said a word without being asked a question. If they were not asleep – and they likely were not; the wagons bounced along the road far too roughly to accommodate sleep – then they were probably trying to work out what their charges would be at the Traitor’s Court. Wennelin’s lips curved into a cruel smile at the thought. The fools had no idea what awaited them. It was not a trial, but instead thirteen Black sisters, and thirteen Myrddraal.

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Selina’s back ached from being tossed around in the back of the wagon. If her wrists and ankles were not securely bound by Air to the floor of the wagon, she would have surely fallen out by now. She was becoming suspicious of her circumstances since her arrest; Aes Sedai did not treat each other like this, not only for being accused on a crime. She had barely moved in days, and had seen less. The blindfold covering her eyes had not been removed since the wagons had been acquired, and the prisoners loaded into them like cargo. The four sisters captured in her wagon were packed tightly together, shoulder to shoulder, their fine slippers mismatching their rough linen dresses. All Selina could do was strain her ears, searching for some sort of sound to hint at what was happening around her. All she heard was the clopping of the horses’ hooves and the squeaking of the axels of the wagon wheels. She felt weaker, more helpless, than she ever had before in her life. She knew nothing of her situation, not even which of the others were prisoners, and which captors, aside from the three she saw the night she had been arrested. She did not even know how long she had been captive, though she suspected it had been about three days, judging by the amount of meals she had been force-fed and the time it would have taken to go to Camelyn, buy wagons, and return to the clearing where camp had been set up. She wondered how long it would be before she was loaded onto a boat, and whether she would even notice when the time came. Wonder was all she could do, that and hope.

As Maudin went out the gate he listened to his brother. "Well... I'm sure there will be some thing we can use to get into tear." Nodding he looked down and up the road, though they were not very far the gate was still well in view so he wasn't so nervous. "I'm sure the white tower has plenty of information.. we can go in saying we are, I don't know we could be.. oh!" Laughing lightly he smiled at a older man driving a wagon who was startled and waited till he passed. "Okay, Old man Hal from the village use to say the best lies contain truth.. so lets go to the White tower and say we are there because the Dragon Reborn came to our village and slaughtered which he did, and we can tell them we are there so they can get him. Then, theres reason enough so that we would be curious to find out."

As he looked around the path and the Carts and the gate. "Wait.. Reigner I think..we may have taken the wrong gate." Looking up and down he could not see anyone except themselves and couple more wagons going down by themselves. "Lets ask them brother.. Follow my lead.. Country Folk." Maudin Centered himself and embraced the source the Freezing waves and Molten Avalanches fought to overwhelm him as it always did, that taint made embracing the source almost not worth it... though by allot. Feeling his sense become so much greater he felt alive.

Before he was noticed he adjusted his clothes and his belt tilting them a bit and making himself go from a impressive figure to something more akin to a farmer who's on his first visit to a big town, even Faile begun to look more like a Plow horse. Riding up to the Cowled Aes Sedai Maudin smiled, "Hello my lady, my name be Elricen al'Tarva that young man back there is my brother.. umm I'm sorry to be bothering you my lady.. but we are trying to finds our way up to the White Tower.." he took a moment as if remembering something, "Tar... Velon? Did the inn keeper say it was Tar Velon?" As he talked more wagons were coming to either side Queens guard of course always patrolling.

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GT: Comandersnow
Song of Ice and Fire/WOT=Best book series EVAR!

It was becoming an all too familiar path for Javal Alyndan. A discarded back alley with denizens not much greater than the occasional beggar or desperate cut-throat, it appeared to be an unexposed blemish on the face of Caemlyn, covered by streets, manors, and droves of people who walked the main streets of the Outer City. Yet to Javal and his fellow Urchins, it was a desirable path that cut through much of this half of the city without the aid of a crossover into the sewers.

In truth, there were at least five other paths that could take Javal through the city to his destination from his start point. It was an important task that each Urchin memorize every alleyway and sewer path possible to use in Caemlyn, a task which Javal took quite seriously in his younger days.

Although there were faster ways of going through the city, it was out of necessity, convenience, and a lack of sewer crossover that this path was trudged. Javal was on an outting for business to secure a deal for the Urchins that would prove historic to the small organization of orphans. Who were once called the "garbage and insignificant filth of the city" would now be known as honorable Queen's Men. It was a time for pride for the Urchins.

It seemed however that this pride must be garnered through a constant waterfall of meetings that had persisted through the month. Among the Urchins, a quick deal was much preferred over the trivialities practiced among nobles or the richer cut of merchants. Despite his irritance at the delay of a clear decision, Javal kept up the meetings for the sake of the Urchins. As leader of them, each and every single man and woman in the Urchins was like a child or a brother to him. They deserved a place of honor and education in the city of Caemlyn.

Javal's footfalls slowed as he approached the mouth of the alley. The familiar bald Captain of the Guardsmen exchanged a nod with Javal, and begun to speak his trivial greetings and honors that many nobles desired from any man below they. After the meaningless drivel, the Guardsman spoke, "Your desire to secure education, Martial training," He sighs lightly and looks at Javal with a slight bit of disguist, "and a wing of the Queen's Guards for the Urchins has been accepted."

"You understand the terms, of course?," Creaked the Guardsman. Javal spit in his hand and snatched the other man's hand, shaking it in agreement. "Information about the city that only Urchins know. It's a deal."

After another few minutes of quick conversation as well as a grimace of disguist from the Captain, Javal left the gathering and began back through the path he had just taken. The path was empty today, yet he always knew it was monitored. Almost every back alley and sewer passing was assigned to an Urchin to be watched. This left Javal in a position of constant knowledge revolving around the darker dealings of the city.

Regardless, it was now time to return to the hideout. The Urchins would be happy to hear of this.

Zarin brushed aside his cloak, its color ever changing, hiding him from the casual passersby, and tightly gripped the sword that hung in a simple, brown scabbard at his waist. He alone had escaped the trap set by the Black Ajah. He had learned of their affiliation in hiding the night of the surprise attack. It had been a miracle of the Light that he had not charged in to save Allarelle Sedai that dangerous night. Instead, he had fled to Camelyn, hoping to get help in heading off the Black Ajah. There he had found two Aes Sedai, a Green and a Yellow; the Light truly shone upon him. He, the two Aes Sedai, and the three Warders among them were hiding behind a barn, waiting for the Black Ajah convoy to pass by, a white faced farmer wringing his hands nervously. He had given the group consent to use his land – who could resist the will of Aes Sedai? – but he plainly did not like it. The two sisters would face six Blacks, but if their plan worked – it was a simple one – the numbers would quickly turn in their favor.

Just as the first wagon came in sight, two mounted young men approached the convoy and apparently addressed one of the Blacks. It took a bold man to elect to speak to Aes Sedai, and these two had unknowingly chosen the worst sort; they seemed to get off lightly, for the sister pretended to ignore them. Two women, dressed in the simple clothes of a farmer’s wife, strode forward – wait! Zarin’s head turned quickly, and he saw only the three Warders, ready to leap into action, and the farmer, slowly backing away. The Aes Sedai meant to use the young men as a distraction, however little they were worth! For a few long moments, they were allowed to walk toward the convoy, ignored in the same fashion as the men, and then in an instant, one of them was running back towards the Warders and the other fell over stiff limbed, apparently wrapped in air. The canvas tops of one of the wagons had burst into flame. It was all the sign Zarin needed. He and the other three Warders drew their swords and dashed forward.

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Selina had been so intent trying to find hope in the words of a man outside the wagon that it took her a moment to notice that the shield between her and saidar had been removed. When she did realize that she was free, at once she threw the same sort of shield around Wennelin despite the consequences. The Dark One could have Tower law for all she cared; she would do anything to avoid being stilled. She felt many of her sisters embracing saidar among the wagons, perhaps all of them. Quickly, she removed the bonds of Air that held her and fumbled her way out of the wagon, knocking Wennelin – another sister had immobilized her – onto the ground.

Someone had set fire to the canvas of the other wagon, and Selina wove flows of Water to cool it. She was vaguely aware that two other sisters were doing the same, one at her side, the other inside the burning wagon. Before she knew it, a man had pushed her to the ground, and half a moment later, a fireball passed over both of them. She recognized her rescuer as a Warder, but before she could decide whether to thank the man – he had saved her from dreadful burns at least – he had risen to his feet and was running off to the aid of another sister.

By the time the eight previously captured Aes Sedai gathered together, the pandemonium of battle had died down and four Blacks lay bound on the ground while the other two were little more than specks in the distance heading away from Camelyn, having quickly jumped from wagon seat to horse and escaped mounted. The top of one wagon was blackened, but no longer burning. Off to the side, one sister dressed in farmer’s clothes helped another to her feet, and two Warders stood over them. The rising Aes Sedai saw the corpse not far from her and cried out shrilly before scrambling to her feet in a futile attempt to save her companion. The Gray had been joined by her own Warder; Selina did not know whether he had been captive when she was. Some of the Reds had spread out and were gathering the bound Blacks under the canvas top of the unharmed wagon, while others approached two men looking out of place nearby. Selina suspected that one of them was the man who had spoken just before the attack, but she was unsure whether or not they had been involved in the short battle. Probably not; even a Warder could do little to help in a contest between Aes Sedai.

Reigner pulled Dust back. He didnt have the same staying power of Faile. Fighting to take hold of Saldin Reigner dismounted and took up his bow. While stinging his arrow to bow string he weaved Fire in the arrow head as he had practised back home. Holding a flaming arrow he moved it to cover the closest target.

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He who laughs last thinks slowest.
Change is inevitable except from a vending machine.
I just got lost in thought. It was unfamiliar territory.
Those who live by the sword... get shot by those who don't.
He's not dead... he's electroencephalographically challenged.
Honk if you love peace and quiet.
Nothing is foolproof to a sufficiently talented fool.
Light travels faster than sound. This is why some people appear bright until you hear them speak.

Urchins were crowded shoulder to shoulder, it seemed however that the room itself seperated into two uneven halves, one consisting of the older crowd and one consisting of the younger silvertongues and lower, obviously the former having less. Endless chatter as well as laughing and friendly nudges ruled the room. Each and every single one of them knew why they were all called there; it had been the talk of the Urchins for the past few months.

Amongst the clacking tongues of the children and the grunts of older silver tongues could be heard the excited talk of recognition, real weapons, education, and other slightly imagined things which spewed forth from the younger half of the room. Regardless, excitement truly abounded throughout the room, a historical sort of excitement, the sort of thing that could happen only a few times in a man or woman's life. As the Protector Javal Alyndan entered, the room fell to a quick silence, yet not an ounce of excitement diminished. Clack tongues simply turned to crooked smiles, low grunts changed into friendly nudges and playful stares at the Protector.

Javal surveyed the silent room with a serious demeanor. Or at least it was the attempt at a serious demanor, unfortunately the whole facade cracked with a grin to reveal the jovial yet slightly more mature lad that they all had known and loved. Enamored eyes on youthful faces were entrapped by the every move of Javal where as the older half exchanged a joking comment or gesture with the man on stage. Instead of attempting to regain some sort of serious composure, Javal exchanged a few comments, joking grunts, and tales before he begun. It was truly like he was speaking in front of his family.

After a few moments of friendly joy, Javal slowly begun, " Urchins, I am sure you all know why you are here with a bunch of louts and imbeciles!" The crowd barked laughter in return to his joking statement.

Javal grinned heartily a moment before he resumed, " Our long business with the Queen's Guard is finished. We are now Queen's Men! The details are still edgy, but the main points begun firstly with education in several fields for every Urchin from the age of nine. Perhaps we may have to make a new rank, eh?" He was met with cheers and several jeers, some which jokingly remarked on the ability of the Queen's Guards.

"Several other things are also granted to the Urchins. On top of your training with a quarterstaff and other common weapons, at the age of eleven you will begin training in martial weaponry. Spears, Swords, Axes, Bows, take your pick lads. We have also been made a wing of the Queen's Guards, yet do not fret! You won't have to wear a stuffy uniform and those foolish helms for although we are a wing, we are a seperate entity. This in itself brings changes however."

The crowd was captivated by his speaking. " From the rank of Silvertongue you will now have to file a detailed report of your watch duty on the streets. Our information will be shared with the Guards... To some extent." Many of the older crowd looked at each other and nodded as they listened.

"Keep in mind that none of us will salute another man. We are Urchins, not thoughtless soldiers! More information will be revealed, but any questions for...," his voice trailed off and he fell to his knees, head down towards the floor. The crowd roared as people charged to their leader's side. Javal was deathly ill, his face turned a pale hue and he was burning to a cinder. Many of the crowd rushed to get damp clothes, others broth, others blankets. Some of the younger girls fainted from the excitement.

After the initial strike of sickness, Javal was able to stand, clearly weaker than he had been since the last time this strange sickness had impaired him. Roughly shorter than an hour later his skin had returned to a healthy color and the sweat that plagued his brow had slowed incredibly. It was a miracle he hadn't perished, let alone that he recovered so quickly. Javal shook his head a moment and dismissed the crowd with a grin in an attempt to assure them that he was fine, it was true despite the ache in his muscles.

After a few moments of protest, the crowd dispersed with downcast eyes and worried looks on their faces. They all knew about the sickness that had recently come to their leader, striking by the months and it was occuring faster. True, Javal did try to keep its existance secret, yet he failed as it had always chanced that another would see him be struck by it. A young boy, barely a silver tongue, ran into the near empty hideout.

"Javal, a disturbance at the gates! " His youthful voice shrilled. Clearly sickness was not an excuse from dirty. Javal lightly shook his head before starting his trek through the back alleys accompanied by two older silver tongues. One was stocky and skilled with hand axes, the other was lithe and good with a sling. His path was set and destination clear in mind, the east gate.

Maudin watched the battle go on and went to the side. Quietly acting the scared Farmer who was in over his head and his brother went behind a rock. In truth though he hopped the Aes Sedai didn't notice that a couple of the black sister's weren't channeling and they all thought that another one of the sister had actually shielded the black sisters. Quietly he kept an eye off to the side where the two last black sisters were riding off. His brother at his side Maudin simply weaved Air bluntly.

A Wind came up from up the road from Caemlyn and Maudin covered himself from it. "Damn ol' wind thats the kind that knocks shingles off." Hopefully no one noticed that the two black sisters had been knocked very hard off their horses by a wind that got much stronger where they were. Nothing was quite worse then flying off a galloping horse. "Well.." Maudin spoke after they had been talking idly to the people who had approached them.

"I'm afraid I'm needing to be heading off, I need to be heading to the uhm.. Tar Belon.. the white tower its fully of Aes Sedai it is a wonderful place I hear.. though I'm sure its not as pretty as everyone says.. some people say the tower itself touches the clouds.." he chuckled as if that was the most unbelievable thing in the world, ".. I doubt that much.. theres no sense in that, it'd damn take you a whole days worth of walking to get down from there, none of the less.. I'm afraid me and me brother should be heading out for the white tower.. I done figured its out the other gate."

Wheel his skittish mount around Maudin motioned for Reigner. "Brothers let get going, we got to find one of these Aes Sedai everyone says are so beautiful and all that. I would likes one of the cloaks them men are wearing makes me feel a bit woozy though." One he was sure the Aes Sedai couldn't see his face, he made a face that said, 'damn that was close'.

__________________
GT: Comandersnow
Song of Ice and Fire/WOT=Best book series EVAR!

With his free hand, Javal tied his hair behind his head. A nervous quirk, it had been developed years ago after a fight with a padfoot in a dark alley. The man thought Javal easy meat, yet after a few missed stabs and near death cuts, he was proven wrong. It was then he took advantage of the young boy's unkempt hair. After freeing himself from a grapple that nearly cost him a few silvers and his throat, he bound up his hair as surely as he had bound the fool padfoot. Today looked to be things far different than foolish padfoots.

He was greeted by the wide open gates and the light of a strange scene.

In a curt tone he spoke a single inaudible word to the silvertongue at his left. A tall lanky man with short dark hair, he sped back into the city with a grim look on his face. Jarn, a fast fellow, quick on his feet, quicker on his tongue, he could race the other side of Caemlyn if we needed. Light! With... whatever this situation is, we may need a good more urchins than three. He surveyed the scene and bit his lip as his hands worked the hilt of his sword. He wasn't here to impress men or women alike, it was now apart of his duty to address issues such as this.

Cat crosses the Courtyard, a bold stride, almost arrogant in appearance. It was one of the few blademaster forms he had learned from his instructor. In truth, the man had only known the most rudimentary of blademaster form and technique, yet he had passed it all down to Javal, and Javal had dedicated himself to the forms. Besides, it was a good way to get a serving girl on his knee, or at least he told himself. The form taken, he strode slowly towards the scene and stopped as he approached with a single burly silvertongue. It will only be a matter of time before more arrive, hopefully we won't need them.

He looked the men and the women over and decided to assume a cordial tone, yet decidedly forward, " What has happened here, by the Queen, what has happened?"

He eyed what looked to be corpses as well as the singed wagontop, his jovial looks and bull's laugh was now replaced with a sullen frown. The statement was general and to everyone there.

The sun beamed inside the guard barracks. Matthius wearily blinked his eyes awake before reaching over to his washstand and putting an eye-patch over his left eye. While the eye was perfectly intact, it covered the thick scar that ran from his eyebrow to his cheek, and in covering one eye he saved more of the odd dye he used to conceal his true eye color. Besides, many Shienarians wore eye-patches and it helped him intimidate those who needed to be. Discarding his short clothes, he pulled the padded tunic and pants on before proceeding to eat the meal left out for him. Somewhat stale bread, crumbly cheese and several olives filled his stomach and he walked down the winding staircase to the armory. The thick door slid open slowly, grinding against the thick stone flooring. Shutting the door, Matthius strolled inside and began tugging on the silvered and gilded armor of the City Watch. All but the thick helmet, because while his senses were heightened by his Gift, the eye-patch gave him a blind spot, and wearing the helmet stripped him of his powerful hearing, and his nose would be constantly overpowered by the smell of sweat. Finally, he reached over to his weapon rack and pulled the thick broadsword free of its stand. The pommel and hilt had been replaced many times over the centuries of its use within his family, but the blade itself hadn't so much as a scratch on it. The Herons shone dully in the early morning light. The sword brought back memories of home, his father, his brothers and mother all of them he missed dearly. He still remembered the hushed conversation he had had with his father after his escape from the Inquisitors.
"Son, thank the Light you are still alive! quickly now, we need to get you home and take a look at your eye-"
"No father. They are looking for me. I....I killed several of them. They won't stop now or ever until I am dead."
"Please wait! We can keep you safe! Shienar has been on the edge of the Blight for centuries, do you think the Children can beat us?"
"No. But I'm not worth it. I'm going to Tar Valon, where no Whitecloak would dare follow. I love you and our family too much to put you at risk. I'm sorry."
"If you must go, than take this."He unbuckled the thick broadsword at his waist and handed it to his son. Taking the blade in his hands, Matthius' eyes widened at the Heron spreading its wings engraved on the sheathe.
"It is yours by right, and it will serve you better as a weapon, than it would as a mantle piece. Now go. Quickly, before I change my mind." And with that, Matthius left Shienar, working at first for a merchant as a guard until they deposited him at Tar Valon. There, he purchased an eye-patch for the at that time useless eye. But his functioning eye still drew stares and sneers. At first, he worked as a tavern rough, but after a Tower Guardsmen saw him dispatch a well armed drunk he was drafted into the Guard and for a time, he was at ease. But fate had a different plan, as one day, an Aes Sedai passing them during their drilling spotted the burnished yellow he had worked so hard to conceal. Afterward he could not sneeze without an Aes Sedai seeing, and on more than one occasion he even overheard them talking about him. Resigning from the guard, he jumped on the next boat to Far Madding, as far as he could get from Aes Sedai. After getting off the boat, he went to a tavern where a fight broke out and his eye-patch was ripped. A healer walking past spoke to him of a healing method that could restore his vision. Agreeing, Matthius happily paid the fee and found himself with his vision unimpeded. But still there were odd stares and contemptful faces so he contacted a family friend in Carhien and soon he had in his possession a strange powder that changed his eye color from burnished gold to ice blue. But still, many were intimidated by the thick scar, so he donned the eye-patch once more. But soon he needed money and he knew where to look. Considering his military past, and the letter of recommendation he carried with him from the Tower Guard's commander he was easily brought him into the ranks of the City Watch. He had left Shienar a year ago, but it felt like an Age since he had seen his family. Clearing his thoughts, he belted his sword, and pulled a polesling down from the wall before walking out into the busy city streets.

Passersby strode wide of the road, walking along the edges of fences marking farmers’ fields and shooting furtive glances at the damaged wagons and the fallen women gathered side by side on the ground. The Warder’s corpse had been carried away by the other two Warders with the two Aes Sedai who had been stationed in Caemlyn following close behind. The fallen warrior would be given a proper burial in the city; his Aes Sedai was adamant that he receive as much. Once that was done, the two sisters would return to the palace to finish whatever business they had started there. The Gray and six of the Reds, including Selina, stood in a group, discussing what had to be done. Off to the side, the other Red was explaining the situation to a nervous guardsman while a few brave souls asked questions loudly, and were ignored for their trouble. The worries of peasants, and even merchants, for that matter, were beneath the notice of Aes Sedai.

“Something must be done about the Black Ajah,” said one Red, barely masking a look of shock. Other nodded at once; plainly, the Black Ajah was a greater threat to the White Tower than any man short of the Dragon Reborn could ever be. It took little time for the sisters to agree that they should return to the Tower with the captive Blacks in tow. With luck, they could be prepared for the trip back by noon the next day. They would petition the queen for supplies. “Some of us should ride ahead to Ghealdan, and see to it that the king knows why his aid will come late. Selina and Allarelle will do well, I think,” Veladra said firmly. Selina suppressed a scowl. Choosing Allarelle made sense; it would be necessary to negotiate with the king. However, Selina was sure she was chosen only because she was youngest, and she was forced to defer. It seemed as though all of the Reds were more eager to discuss the Black Ajah than to stop Logain.

Once all was discussed and settled, the Aes Sedai strode past the few onlookers arrogantly, followed by a wagon manned by guardsmen carrying the bound Black sisters. Selina wanted to glare at the other six Reds and they turned toward the palace followed by their wagon, but as always, she restrained herself. She would have to learn to get along with Allarelle and her Warder, Zarin. The thought was scalding; she had set out to capture a false Dragon and was reduced to deferring to a woman who would try her best to keep the peace until more Aes Sedai arrived, which could take months.

The sign hanging above the Queen’s Blessing depicted a man kneeling to a woman with radiant hair. Selina only glanced at it as she entered the inn. The loud shouts and laughter that filled the common room were stifled within a minute of her entrance. Few lords were comfortable around Aes Sedai, and fewer commoners. By the time the nervous innkeeper, Basel Gill, had escorted the two Aes Sedai to their rooms, even the serving maids had stopped in their tracks to stare. Selina hid her dissatisfaction concerning her room; it was comfortable enough, but she was used to better. Nonetheless, she was pleased to see Allarelle escorted off to a separate room. Selina did not know how she would deal with the woman; the days ahead would be grueling ones.