The Gathering Storm

'I didn't ask if it was important, girl,' Cadsuane said briskly. 'I asked you to repeat yourself. Out with it.'

Min sighed. Nobody could humiliate one more soundly than an Aes Sedai, for they did it without malice. Moiraine had explained it to Min once in simple terms: Most Aes Sedai felt it was important to establish control when there was no great conflict, so that if a crisis did happen, people would know where to look.

It was very frustrating.

'I said,' Min repeated, 'that a passage is wrong. I'm reading commentary on the Karaethon Cycle. Sajius claims that this line about the three becoming one speaks of the unification of three kingdoms beneath the Dragon's banner. But I think he's wrong.'

'And why,' Cadsuane said, 'is it that you think you know more than a respected scholar of the prophecies?'

'Because,' Min said, bristling, 'the theory doesn't make sense. Rand only really holds one crown. There might have been a good argument here if he hadn't given away Tear to Darlin. But the theory doesn't hold any longer. I think the passage refers to some way he has to use Callandor.'

'I see,' Cadsuane said, turning yet another page in her own book. 'That is a very unconventional interpretation.' Beldeine smiled thinly, turning back to her embroidery. 'Of course,' Cadsuane added, 'you are quite right.'

Min looked up.

'It was that very passage that led me to investigate Callandor' Cadsuane continued. 'Through a great deal of searching I discovered that the sword could only be used properly in a circle of three. That is likely the ultimate meaning of the passage.'

'But that would imply that Rand had to use Callandor in a circle sometime,' Min said, looking at the passage again. He'd never done so, as far as she knew.

'It would,' Cadsuane said.

Min felt a sudden thrill. A hint, perhaps. Something that Rand didn't know, that might help him! Except . . . Cadsuane had already known it. So Min hadn't discovered anything of real import after all.

'I should think,' Cadsuane said, 'that an acknowledgment is due. Bad manners are not to be tolerated, after all.'

Beldeine looked up from her needlework, face dark. Then, unexpectedly, she stood and left the room. Her Warder, the youthful Asha'man Soldier Karldin, followed quickly from the side chamber, crossing the room with the Aes Sedai and following Beldeine out into the hallway outside. Cadsuane gave a sniff, then turned back to her book.

The door closed, and Nynaeve eyed Min before returning to her pacing. Min could read a lot in that glance. Nynaeve was annoyed that nobody else seemed nervous. She was frustrated that they hadn't found some way to listen in on Rand and Tarn's conversation. And she was obviously terrified for Lan. Min understood. She felt similarly about Rand.

And . . . what was that vision that was suddenly hovering above Nynaeve's head? She was kneeling over someone's corpse in a posture of grief. The viewing was gone a moment later.

Min shook her head. That hadn't been a viewing she could interpret, so she let it pass. She couldn't waste her time trying to unravel all of those. For instance, the black knife that spun around Beldeine's head recently could mean anything.

She focused on the book. So ... Rand was to use Callandor as part of a circle, then? The three becoming one? But for what reason and with whom? If he was to fight the Dark One, then it didn't make sense for him to be in a circle with someone else in control, did it?

'Cadsuane,' she said. 'This is still wrong. There's more here. Something we haven't discovered.'

'About Callandor}' the woman asked.

Min nodded.

'I suspect so as well,' Cadsuane replied. How odd to hear her being frank! 'But I haven't been able to determine what. If only that fool boy would revoke my exile, we could get on with more important—'

The door to Cadsuanes room slammed open, causing Merise to jump in shock. Nynaeve hopped back from the door—it had nearly hit her.

Standing in the doorway was a very angry Tarn al'Thor. He glared at Cadsuane. 'What have you done to him?' he demanded.

Cadsuane lowered her book. 'I have done nothing to the boy, other than to encourage him toward civility. Something, it seems, other members of the family could learn as well.'

'Watch your tongue, Aes Sedai,' Tarn snarled. 'Have you seen him? The entire room seemed to grow darker when he entered. And that face— I've seen more emotion in the eyes of a corpse! What has happened to my son?'

'I take it,' Cadsuane said, 'that the reunion did not go as hoped?'

Tam took a deep breath, and the anger seemed to suddenly flow out of him. He was still firm, his eyes displeased, but the rage was gone. Min had seen Rand take control of himself that quickly, before things had started to go wrong in Bandar Eban.

'He tried to kill me,' Tam said in a level voice. 'My own son. Once he was as gentle and faithful a lad as a father could hope for. Tonight, he channeled the One Power and turned it against me.'

Min raised her hand to her mouth, feeling a panicked terror. The words brought back memories of Rand looming over her, trying to kill her.

But that hadn't been him! It had been Semirhage. Hadn't it? Oh, Rand, she thought, understanding the pain she'd felt through the bond. What have you done?

'Interesting,' Cadsuane said, her voice cold. 'And did you speak the words I prepared for you?'

'I began to,' Tam said, 'but I realized that it wasn't working. He wouldn't open up to me, and well he shouldn't. A man using an Aes Sedai script with his own son! I don't know what you did to him, woman, but I recognize hatred when I see it. You have a lot to explain to—'

Tam cut off as he was suddenly lifted into the air by unseen hands. 'You recall, perhaps, what I said about civility, boy?' Cadsuane asked.

'Cadsuane!' Nynaeve said. 'You don't need to—'

'It's all right, Wisdom,' Tam said. He looked at Cadsuane. Min had seen her treat others like this, including Rand. He had always grown frustrated, and others she did it to were prone to bellowing.

Tam stared her in the eyes. 'I've known men who, when challenged, always turn to their fists for answers. I've never liked Aes Sedai; I was happy to be rid of them when I returned to my farm. A bully is a bully, whether she uses the strength of her arm or other means.'

Cadsuane snorted, but the words had irked her, for she set Tam down.

'Now,' Nynaeve said, as if she'd been the one to defuse the exchange, 'perhaps we can get back to what is important. Tam al'Thor, I'd have expected you of all people to handle this better. Didn't we warn you that Rand had grown unstable?'

'Unstable?' Tam asked. 'Nynaeve, that boy is right near insane. What has happened to him? I understand what battle can do to a man, but. . . .'

'This is irrelevant,' Cadsuane said. 'You realize, child, that might have been our last opportunity to save your son?'

'If you'd explained to me how he regarded you,' Tam said, 'it might have gone differently. Burn me! This is what I get for listening to Aes Sedai.'

'This is what you get for being wool-headed and ignoring what you are told!' Nynaeve interjected.

'This is what we all get,' Min said, 'for assuming we can make him do what we want.'

The room fell still.

And suddenly Min realized that through their bond, she could feel Rand. Distant, to the west. 'He's gone,' she whispered.

'Yes,' Tam said, sighing. 'He opened one of those gateways right on the balcony. Left me alive, though I could