Consorting with Enemies

[Jay Carpenter]

Jai

The touch at his waist pulled him near. The aroma of Nythadri’s soap and the cool touch of still-damp hair promised a reason to forget about Bandar Eban, Tar Valon, and the whole bloody continent between the two cities. Resolve kept him from curling his arms around her and tucking them in for the rest of his life, though. He found himself peering toward the north as if he could see the responsibility on the edge of the horizon. People needed help in Tar Valon, and for once, he might be able to lend actual aid. He hadn’t contemplated the notion of visiting home — people who did not need his help — but with Arikan’s resurrection, the plots of Forsaken, and the fall of the Tower, there was the sense of a calm before battle. One that Nythadri would sense wrap itself around his heart as sure as if the horizon was full of Shadowspawn and nothing else. He truly was calm, and perhaps the bond had something to do with it, but perhaps it was because of the rekindled sense of purpose.

“I don’t see a reason why we’d run into them,” he replied as he brought his focus back to her and they resumed their walk. Soon, they were back in the privacy of sleeping quarters, and the remnants of earlier stole a few moments of appreciation while he listened. The tousled blankets… darkfriends…. watery footprints… Elsae as a key, but to what?  Discarded robes… Eleanore, that’s right, Nythadri holds another bond.

“Well,” he breathed in resolve, “If she is with Eleanore and she’s somewhere safe, I say the world can spare us the chance to sleep.” He tugged her hand and did not release until she was nestled in his arms in bed. The last thing she would see was half a smile and a whispered promise to let her sleep.. at least a little.