Consorting with Enemies

[Adrian Kane]

Arikan

Chandar.

The name held no significance for him. He was not aware of anything interesting happening in Kandor beyond the creep of the Blight.

He turned away, face still throbbing, and returned to his seat, his mood severely soured. “Here is the plan. You’re going to read every page in this book to me, and pray to your blessed Light that we find more leads.”

Jai fixed him with a blank stare, and after a few moments, turned to the front and leafed through the pages. Eventually, he sat down himself, balancing it on knee. Arikan’s watchful eye monitored his mutterings, once in a while sending it to Nythadri during the wait.

After a few pages, Jai spoke. “So far it’s pretty old or outright mundane; about the vaults or wards, men of the Tower suspected of being Darkfriends….The first few pages are from the beginning of his rule…” but then he suddenly fell silent.

He glanced at Nythadri with such a look, Arikan frowned.  “What?” He didn’t reply.  “Darkness! Speak!”

Jai cleared his throat. “The Lord Dragon and M’Hael sent Daryen into Bandar Eban to kill Gaemori. That’s why he attacked the city in stealth. It was an assassination.” He met Arikan’s eye, “and he succeeded.”

Arikan didn’t react. Like many of the Chosen, he had no word of Gaemori for many years, and he never had any reason to listen for it. Jai spoke to Nythadri while Arikan considered the meaning.

“Displacing the Seanchan was a cover. When I arrived, Daryen was already king, and she was long dead.”

Arikan interrupted.  “There are only two Chosen capable of inflicting the complexity of compulsion upon you as we witnessed. She is certainly one of them, and she was based in Bandar Eban. As are you.”

He was not ready to directly confront the Chosen, but this was a lead they could not ignore.  “Mere hours ago, Gaemori or Raviel was in Bandar Eban, and I have a feeling that Gaemori is not as dead as your M’Hael was led to believe.”

“Tomorrow I go to Bandar Eban. But not until after you bring me Elsae. She is key. Now, if you both require rest, get it, then get her.”