Chapter Text
It was not common knowledge that the city of Far Madding had once been called Aren Mador, when it had been the capital of Essenia, one of the Ten Nations that arose after the Breaking of the World. When the Ogier began reconstructing the city following the Breaking, they had built a Waygate at Aren Mador, and it did not require the One Power to operate. Far Madding’s Guardian wards would not present a problem; Rosebud intended to use that Waygate to hasten her journey to Caemlyn to check for orders and send a pigeon of her own, but she did not plan on going directly to Cairhien from there.
Travelling the Ways was one of Rosebud’s secrets, something she did when she was on her own, or sometimes paired with Aegis. She had not made Echelon privy to the information that she knew how to use the ways, allowing them to believe that she crossed the land via ordinary means of horse and boat whenever Sunset was not there to bring them through Tel’aran’rhiod. This deception gave her weeks at a time where she could tend to her own affairs before she eventually checked in at headquarters, and if sometimes she arrived earlier than expected, Echelon never questioned her being there so soon. Rosebud was careful to keep the deficit in time to an easily explainable window in case they ever did ask. She would not lie to them, but she had a collection of half-truths ready to offer should the need arise.
Rosebud had noticed she was given a lot more freedom than some of the other agents, treated differently because she could channel, and likely because she was Aes Sedai. She was treated with a bit more of a lax hand than the others, trusted to follow her orders in broad strokes rather than narrow margins.
Aegis was often the team leader in the field, but Rosebud was something of a second, given command of the backup team when all agents were deployed, but mostly Echelon allowed her to operate alone. Only she and Aegis seemed to have privileges, perhaps because they were the senior agents and in positions of greater responsibility and trust. The other operatives, she noticed, were kept on a tighter rein.
Orphan was usually assigned to Aegis, the two of them elite death-dealers who were dangerously effective when together, and to the best of her knowledge, Orphan had never been sent on a solo mission. Aegis seemed to be mentoring the younger swordsman, perhaps preparing him for that eventuality. Sunset’s role had generally been to transport agents, and she was expected to make frequent reports in at headquarters, often working by herself but with oversight from Echelon directly. Echo was in a similar situation, usually paired with someone whenever she was sent out into the field. Rosebud had used some of the leeway she was allowed in sending Echo off alone this time. The only other operative Rosebud had knowledge of was Rhapsody, and Rhapsody was something of an enigma, the only agent who she had never seen paired with anyone, and who was rarely at headquarters.
Tonight, as she led her pale mare through the Aren Mador Waygate, Rosebud felt a small pang of anxiety. She was worried. She had never been left blind and ignorant during an operation. Sunset going missing had exposed a significant weakness with Echelon, and Rosebud was fearful over her disappearance and the fates of Aegis and Orphan. She should go sooner to Cairhien, risk arriving before she was expected, if only to assist with whatever had gone wrong and potentially rescue the other agents.
She plucked the Avendesora leaf from the carved stone door of the Waygate, and waited until the shimmering mirror-like gateway opened to her. Rosebud’s horse did not hesitate when she led the palfrey through that mirrored portal. The horse had travelled the ways many times, and by now was accustomed to the eerie darkness kept only at bay by the single lantern Rosebud lit. They began their journey, the mare’s hoofbeats making dull thuds against the crumbling stone bridges. The Aes Sedai had studied the Ogier Guiding symbols and was proficient enough to be able to navigate without the assistance of an Ogier chaperone most of the time. After examining the first Guiding inscription she turned down the path, listening for signs of Machin Shin, the Black Wind, an evil entity that inhabited the ways and manifested as wind and shadow. It had the power to drive one to madness. Something she had fortunately been able to avoid on the occasions she’d used the ways previously.
Time and distance worked differently in the Ways. One could walk for a few hours within, and upon emerging, find that they had travelled hundreds, even thousands of miles from the point at which they embarked upon their journey in the real world. Instead of wasting weeks to get to Caemlyn she would now arrive in a matter of hours. It had been early morning when she’d left Fal Dara, but when she finally stepped out of the Caemlyn Waygate, it was close to midday. She only made the stop in Andor because she’d told Echo she would do so, and in case Echelon had different orders for her. There was a message from headquarters waiting there, but it had been as she expected; return to Cairhien. At a different pigeon cote, she sent a message on business of her own and paid a gold mark to the pigeon keeper to have it sent on the spot.
Then it was back through the Caemlyn Waygate, and a new course plotted, this time for Tar Valon.
Siuan Sanche, Watcher of the Seals. The Flame of Tar Valon. The Amyrlin Seat, sat in one of the White Tower’s private gardens, one that was reserved specifically for her use. She’d chosen this one as her own, as many Amyrlins had before her, because it had a discreet means of coming and going; a secluded gate that took one down a trail which left the Tower Grounds. It was just after sunset, the stars above coming out in twinkling dots as the sky turned from purple, to dark blue, to black. Crickets chirped among the hedges and flowers, and a slight breeze rustled the branches of the trees surrounding the space which lent privacy. She embraced the source, feeling the sweetness and life suffuse her body. Even after all these years, the feeling as the power filled her was no less wondrous.
She channeled, removing the wards placed upon the garden’s hidden gate, unlocking it in expectation of a nighttime visitor. In her hand, she clutched a thin scroll of paper. It had arrived in the late afternoon, delivered directly to the balcony of the Amyrlin’s personal chambers by a special pigeon carrier. It brought news of the imminent arrival of someone she very much wanted to see. Her stomach fluttered in anticipation. She quelled the feeling with her formidable force of will. It was foolish to let her emotions jump about like a ladyfish in spring. She was the Amyrlin Seat! As if to remind herself, she adjusted the seven striped stole about her shoulders. Why had she worn it tonight? It seemed overly official in such a setting for such a secretive meeting. Perhaps she’d brought it like armour to a battle, in case there was a battle to be fought.
The quiet sound of the gate shuffling the vines and leaves around it aside as it swung on well oiled hinges made her look up. Hidden by verdant growth though it may be, this gate was well tended to, the wood and iron pristine and showing no signs of weathering. Another ward kept it so.
A small, shadowy figure stepped through, the glow of saidar around her as she took the liberty of weaving a ward against eavesdropping. The chances of anyone being able to get close enough to this garden to listen in were scant, but they needed to take every precaution considering the things they would discuss that night.
“Mother.”, the new arrival said, her voice low and soft. Into the dim light cast by the moon rising above, a small woman came closer, her riding dress of a dark green with ivory lace at the wrists and neck, her head covered by a hood of blue so dark it was nearly black, and her face hidden behind a mask of smooth metal. Her skirts swished as she approached. Siuan did not rise, but instead held out her hand, Great Serpent ring shining dully in the moonlight. The woman dropped to a knee, face turned towards the ground, and she lifted her mask so she could bestow a brief kiss upon the Amrylin’s ring. Siuan kept her voice impassive. “Daughter. Green is not your colour. Rise.”
The woman did so, and they considered each other for a long moment, the Amyrlin’s blue eyes fixed on the dark slot of the mask through which she knew the other woman was studying her in return. A smile quirked the corner of her mouth. “Must you wear that mask here?” A low laugh came from behind it, but the woman did not remove the disguise. “It’s for the best, for both of our safety.” Siuan sighed. “Very well. Sit, and tell me what you know, Rosebud.” She spoke the name with nuance, and just a little bit of sarcasm.
Rosebud did as she was told, coming to sit beside Siuan on the carved wooden seat which the Amrylin occupied, too close as would normally be proper when meeting with the Amrylin, but they were alone, and Siuan had chosen the seat specifically because it would allow them to be in close distance to one another. She felt the warmth of Rosebud’s thigh where it it rested lightly against her own. “The last I heard from you, you were on your way to Far Madding?”
“Yes, that was a few days ago. I have a feeling that something has gone terribly wrong since then.” Siuan turned her head at the worry in Rosebud’s voice. “Two agents were dispatched to Mayene. We had intelligence that there would be an attack on the First’s life, whisperings through the networks that the assassin would be a Grey Man.” At this, Siuan shifted, turning her body towards Rosebud’s, her knee dragging along the other woman’s leg so that they touched. Rosebud made no move to correct the contact. She continued, “I have not been privy to where the information came from, or who may have been behind it, but I believe it was credible information. Those agents have not been heard from, and another is missing in the field.”
Siuan frowned, brow creasing despite the agelessness of her face. “Aegis and Orphan, I assume?” The Amrylin knew as much as anyone outside of Echelon did about that clandestine organization’s structure. Rosebud was something of a double agent for the White Tower, and reported frequently to the Amrylin, keeping her informed of Echelon activity. Neither of them had been able to identify Echelon’s commanders or their intentions, though Siuan and Rosebud had their theories. They also had never assumed that Echelon did not know Rosebud was passing information to the Tower. She was Aes Sedai, after all, and perhaps Echelon did not know that they knew Echelon knew about Rosebud’s deeper loyalties. Such an organization would not have allowed the double dealing to continue unless it benefitted them in some way.
“Yes.” Was all Rosebud said, the concern in her tone growing more pronounced. Siuan comforted her. “You’d know if the worst had happened. I’m sure Aegis can handle whatever they found in Mayene.”
“I know,” Rosebud sighed, “but this is all too irregular. Echelon’s intelligence network rivals that of the Blue Ajah, and it isn’t like them to send us into situations without comprehensive briefings. Either they’re choosing to withhold the identity of the mastermind from me, or they don’t know themselves. Sunset missed her check in.” Siuan suspected that Echelon’s spy network contained many Blue Ajah informants. Or maybe the Blue Ajah’s spy network contained many Echelon informants… “I’ll see if the White Tower’s network has any information. If something significant happened in Mayene last night, surely some of our eyes and ears would know about it. We don’t have to sail the Fingers of the Dragon in the dark like two inexperienced fisher maids.” Her idioms usually drew a chuckle from Rosebud, but the woman remained somewhat despondent. “I imagine you’re expected in Cairhien next?” Siuan said.
“Yes,” Rosebud straightened her back, shifting where she sat to twist and face the Amyrlin, her thigh sliding against Siuan’s. She appeared to be looking directly into the Amyrlin’s face. “I think I should go sooner rather than later, even if it does risk letting them know I’m using the Ways. I sent Echo to find Aegis and Orphan, but she has weeks of travel ahead of her, and once she’s found them – if she finds them – there isn’t a lot she can do.” Siuan grunted her agreement. She knew of Echo as well and knew that the woman, however useful her talent, was not good for much else. She was a tool with a single purpose, to find what Echelon told her to find.
“Then you must go.” Siuan carefully hid the disappointment there, and continued on to divert focus away from her own despondence. “And what news of the other mission? Could the happenings in Mayene have anything to do with finding the Dragon Reborn?” So far, they had not been able to reason out if Echelon had any interest in locating the Dragon, if they even knew he had been born again, roughly fifteen years ago during the battle of the Shining Walls. Very few had access to that knowledge.
“It’s impossible to tell at this stage. The list of boys who could potentially be the Dragon Reborn is narrowing, but none of them should be in Mayene. Perhaps Illian – we know the Companions fought on Dragonmount – but not Mayene. I think there are better leads which point to Andor rather than the Southern nations, but I won’t discount any possibilities. Not with so much at stake.”
The Amyrlin was nodding again. Knowing for sure that the Dragon had been reborn one was thing. Finding him was another. Time was slipping by, and Light help them if the Shadow found the Dragon first. A look at the position of the stars above reminded her that they also did not have limitless hours this evening. “Is there anything I can assist with before you go?” How she wished she could rush off into the night herself! Holding the seat of the Amyrlin, though of the utmost importance, felt stifling sometimes, the walls of the White Tower often becoming like a cage of duty and responsibility. But she had been raised as Amyrlin by her peers, and it was far better than Siuan Sanche held the seat if the Dragon was soon to be revealed to the world. Better than having a Red during a time when the world will need a man who can channel.
The woman she called Rosebud paused, but when she spoke, it was with clarity. “I need Sleepweavers. At least four if you can get them, but two is enough if four are not available, and best if they don’t require use of the power to function.” Sleepweavers were ter’angreal that allowed people who lacked the Dreamwalking ability to enter Tel’aran’rhiod,. Siuan knew of a collection of such objects within the Tower’s repository.
“Do you intend to give them to Echelon?” There was an edge to Siuan’s voice. All ter’angreal were considered to be property of the White Tower, and she did not fancy turning some over to a secretive organization whose purpose was unclear.
“No,” Rosebud assured her quickly, “One would be for my use exclusively, and I intend for Ageis to have another. We need a means of instant long distance communication separate from using Sunset as a go-between. If she’s been killed, then this will be even more vital. Perhaps you should have one too.”
Rosebud spoke sense. This would give them a faster means of passing knowledge, but none of them were trained in Dreamwalking. It would not be without risks. “I shall see. Send word of your movements, and I’ll be able to let you know when I have the ter’angreal for you to collect.”
“Thank you, Mother.” Rosebud breathed gratefully. “It’s a dangerous game we’re playing, and this will give me an edge. I must go now if I’m to make it to Cairhien before tomorrow.” Siuan reached out to clasp Rosebud’s hand. “Be careful.” Those two words were an empassioned plea, emotion finally breaking through the Amyrlin’s vaunted Aes Sedai reserve. To her pleased surprise, Rosebud covered Siuan’s hand with her own, squeezing it. Her heart fluttered. “I will. I promise. I’ll return to you when I can, and maybe I’ll be able to stay a little longer next time. Farewell for now, Mother.”
She released Siuan’s hand and rose, looking back with that smooth steel mask only once as she left through the garden’s hidden exit.
Siuan Sanche, the Amyrlin Seat, heaved a shuddering breath. Years of planning and searching were coming to a head. She could feel it. In the coming months or years, the Dragon would ascend and bring about Tarmon Gai’don, the Last Battle. Siuan intended that the White Tower be prepared when he did.
“Light help us”, she whispered up at the moon and stars.
Rosebud was weary, but it was only the weariness of sleeplessness. And maybe weariness of the heart? How many times had she and Siuan parted ways over the years? Having kept awake the entire night before her journey, she was quite exhausted by now. After she had left the grounds of the White Tower, the woman took a small twist of paper from her belt pouch and opened it to eat the herbs within. It was not Medan, the stimulant blend Echelon Agents used to enhance their endurance, but a simple piece of Andilay to delay her fatigue and stop it from becoming overwhelming. Not far to go now. It was near midnight when she entered Tar Valon’s Waygate, and she planned no rest before getting to Cairhien. She could rid her mare of fatigue with the power, but her own tiredness was something she’d have to manage with herbs and stubborness of will.
In the hours before dawn, Rosebud arrived in Cairhien. The Cairhien Waygate was situated in grounds connected to a manor house belonging to Lord Barthanes Damodred, high seat of House Damodred, a position which he ascended to upon the death of King Laman Damodred, the man who had sparked the Aiel War. House Damodred had lost the Sun Throne after that, but they were still one of the most powerful houses among the noble lines of Cairhien. Rosebud adjusted the hood of her cloak, making sure her masked face was hidden. She was glad of the late hour, for she did not wish to encounter Lord Barthanes or any of his relatives. For good measure, she created a weave around herself and her horse as she mounted, an illusion of sorts that made them look indistinct in the darkness of night.
They were just outside the walls of the city of Cairhien. Not far now. Rosebud turned her mare’s head towards the city, urging her onward. Echelon kept a mansion in Cairhien, an orderly looking stone building that was unremarkable amid the rest of the city. Cairhien was built of order and clean lines, the streets laid out in neat grids with the Sun Palace at its centre.
The Foregate, a sort of slum city, had sprung up around the rigid city walls outside. It seemed diametrically opposed to the ethos of Cairhienen city planning. The Foregate was a scattering of wooden buildings, its population comprised of commoners, but it was a thriving place, full of inns, shops, taverns, and houses. One could find almost anything for sale in the Foregate.
Rosebud passed through the slumbering settlement and entered Cairhien proper. The streets here were paved, and their well organized layout helped her reach her destination directly. She rode her mare around the back yard of the grey stone mansion. This area also served as a practice yard when Aegis and Orphan were in residence, blocked from street view by high stone walls.
Echelon had few servants tending the mansion. Rosebud assumed each was carefully screened and bound by oaths to keep Echelon’s secrets. And paid well for it, she thought. There was a groom stationed at the mansion’s rear stable, dressed in neat unadorned livery that lacked any identifying marks. It was clearly a footman’s uniform, but quite plain. Rosebud dismounted as the man took her white mare, giving him a nod of thanks. He returned the acknowledgement, used to the unnerving metal masks and general reticence of the operatives. He hefted her saddlebags, passing them to her before leading the mount away.
Rosebud was allowed entrance to the mansion by another uniformed footman, who also gave her wordless acknowledgement, but took her saddlebags to bring them to the room she’d been assigned. The mansion had quarters for each agent. They were scattered across the four levels of the building to provide space and privacy, giving the operatives a chance to unmask and relax without fear of being identified.
She would be expected to report immediately, so she made her way up a staircase that was rather restrained in its décor. As was typical of Cairheinen style and architecture, the stair was all plain straight lines, but someone had added a strip of green patterned carpet to make it less severe.
The interior walls of the mansion were all dark panelled wood with mirrored lamps providing illumination during the dark hours of the night. Rosebud reached the first storey landing, and found the door which she was to knock at. She tapped a rapid pattern of raps with her knuckles upon the aged wood, and then she heard the scratchy voice of Oracle call “Enter.”
Inside, Oracle was not alone. The other member of Echelon’s command hierarchy, Paragon, was present, and both of them wore deep hooded robes to cover their clothing, metal masks within making sure their features remained anonymous. Their robes were of a charcoal grey rather than the blue-black the operatives wore. All Rosebud could really tell about the two was that one was a man, perhaps an older man judging by the sound of his voice? And the other was a woman.
“Rosebud.” Paragon acknowledged her, gesturing with a glove encased hand to where she should sit, a carved wood chair by Oracle’s desk. Oracle himself sat behind that heavy oak desk, piles of papers littering the surface in messy stacks either side of him. Paragon did not sit. She chose to stand behind Oracle’s chair, slightly to his right. “You are earlier than expected. Much earlier. Report.”
There could be no hiding that she’d come to them in an inordinately short amount of time, but until she was asked directly, Rosebud would keep the secret of how. They must have had their suspicions, but until tonight, both sides had been able to skirt around the issue.
“I have come from Far Madding. Echo and I remained on stand by for all of the last night of the Feast day. Sunset did not check in, and by sunrise I suspected something had gone amiss. I ordered Echo to ride for Mayene and seek Aegis and Oracle, while I returned here for further instructions. I left signal glyphs in Far Madding should Sunset appear there.” It was a short accounting, but there wasn’t much to report.
For the longest time Oracle and Paragon said nothing, but eventually it was Oracle who broke the silence. “You made the correct decision sending Echo onward. It will take her weeks to reach Mayene but there’s nothing to be done about that. Best to have sent her immediately. If Aegis and Orphan have left Mayene on their own, she may pick up their scent on the roads.”
Echo could detect the residue of violence, following the trail like a bloodhound, and she’d once commented that Aegis and Orphan always had a residue about them. A special protocol had been put in place regarding Echo using her talents to track down unmasked agents – she was simply not to approach, not to look, and identify herself from a distance until she’d been given the all clear, meaning that the agent she’d found had masked up if they had been going unmasked for travel.
Rosebud would have felt more comfortable with that protocol if Echo had been made to swear to follow it on an oath rod. It was far too easy for her ignore the directive if she pleased, and then someone’s anonymity would be compromised, even if it was by another agent.
It was Paragon who spoke next, her hands clasped infront of her, held at the level of her midsection, spine rigid in a pose Rosebud interpreted as filled with... tension? Anxiousness? Did the woman even know that she was betraying her state of mind with that simple posture?
“Sunset has not reported in. As you may be aware, that limits our ability to travel and communicate with our agents in the field. We have had no messages from Aegis or Orphan either. This is concerning. The current situation in Mayene is undetermined. The status of three operatives is unknown.”
“And Rhapsody?”, Rosebud prompted, half expecting Echelon would brush off her query.
“Rhapsody has sent an update from Tear.” Oracle shared the meaning of the brief message he’d received. “No plot among the High Lords and Ladies concerning Mayene was discovered. That is not to say one doesn’t exist, but Rhapsody did not uncover one. The night of the Feast went well enough inside the inner city walls. But outside? Rhapsody reports unrest among the commoners. Someone is encouraging negative sentiment towards the High Lords and Ladies – easy enough in Tear, but there’s a certain structure and organization to these attempts at fostering dissidence, and the momentum is growing. Rhapsody suspects a foreign hand at work. We have no further intelligence at this point, but I have ordered Rhapsody to remain in Tear and observe.”
She would need to share that information with the Amyrlin and ask Siuan if she knew anything about the troubles in Tear. Paragon had come from behind the desk now, and stood by Rosebud’s chair, looking down at her. The Aes Sedai was grateful that her face was hidden behind her mask; she always felt like Paragon could see her secrets, and would one day expose them. The mask was a welcome shield against scrutiny, freeing her from the need to carefully compose her own expression.
“This evening, once you have rested, you and I will leave for Mayene.” Paragon’s tone gave away nothing, but Rosebud’s heart began racing. “The situation in Mayene must be known and we must reach there as soon as possible.”
Light! The woman knew! She’d probably known all along. Rosebud had been enjoying the fantasy of Echelon’s ignorance and had begun to hope it was reality. The game was up, one of Rosebud’s secrets burned and in the open now even if Paragon had not made things explicitly clear.
“You have today to rest, see to your own affairs in Cairhien, and prepare for our journey.”
See to her own affairs in Cairhien? Was that another allusion to Paragon knowing something about Rosebud? Why would the woman play games at a time like this? At a time when things seemed dire enough for half of Echelon themselves to take the field? That had never happened before, but then they had never had three agents missing in action in the space of a single night.
“Understood.”, she bowed her head in acquiescence and spared a glance at a window. The sky outside was lightening, and she felt the full weight of her exhaustion bearing down on her. Sleep would have to be her first priority. She’d need to be sharp as she could be. The thought of spending days with Paragon made her anxious, but she could always hide behind the directive to keep silence until there was a reason to break it, and keep the woman at arm’s length the whole way.
Oracle looked up from the paper in his hands. He’d been reading continuously since Rosebud first entered the briefing room. “I shall stay behind here, in case anyone makes their way back before you can find them.” Unlike Paragon, Oracle did not wear gloves. His hands were weathered and sinewy, the bony hands of an older man. Sorting through his papers was far easier without gloves, and he must not have been bothered about revealing that small detail about himself – his age – to her at least. “Dismissed.” He said absentmindedly, already drawing another parchment sheaf towards him.
“Dimissed.” Paragon agreed, and Rosebud got to her feet wearily. She inclined her head towards both of them, but neither was paying her any attention anymore. Quietly, she left the room and sought her quarters, wondering if one of the footmen would draw her a bath before she had to be back in the saddle. It was a soothing thought.
When nightfall came, Rosebud and Paragon left Cairhien through the waygate, set on a route for Mayene. With any luck, they should arrive in the small city-state within a few days. Tear was the nearest waygate to Mayene, so they would take a ship for the last leg of their journey and arrive long before Echo would even be within sight of the coast.