A Crown of Swords: Chapter 26

The Irrevocable Words

Atarah al'Norahn

Characters: Morgase, Breane, Lini, Tallanvor, Basel Gill, Lamgwin, Suroth, Thera, Balwer

Setting: Amador

Morgase is lying in her bed, thinking about how she gave in to Eamon Valda; she is disgusted with herself and thinks that she has found the truth borders of her courage in Valda's bed.

Breane and Lini enter her room, and Breane tells Morgase not to be a coward. Morgase is afraid that the men know what has happened, but Breane replies that she and Lini have not told them.

Tallanvor enters with Basel Gill and Lamgwin. Basel Gill tells the women that he saw something like a large bird land on top of the South Barracks, and that people climbed down off of it. Lini is angry that they have disturbed Morgase over some bird, but then Tallanvor sees something land atop the North Barracks.

Morgase gets up and goes to the window. After watching for awhile, she sees yet another shape land, and people climb off of it. She is convinced that it must be Shadowspawn.

There is a flash of light and a big boom, and Morgase knows that the One Power is being used. Now she thinks that it is Aes Sedai, but Tallanvor thinks that "more likely it's some of those men, those Shamin or whatever they call themselves." He says that he can get Morgase out of the Fortress of the Light while there is so much commotion, but Lini refuses to let him take Morgase out into the battle.

They all wait for a long time, and eventually some soldiers come for Morgase. They are Seanchan, but she doesn't know this as she has never seen Seanchan before. She is taken from her room, alone, and led to the audience chamber. On the way, she sees Taraboner soldiers as well, and is shocked.

The High Lady Suroth greets her, and proceeds to tell her about damane. She also tells Morgase that the Seanchan have taken over Tarabon, and intend to do the same in Amadicia. Morgase replies that Tarabon was a divided nation, and that it will not be so easy for the Seanchan to take over the rest of the nations.

Morgase receives another shock and is horrified when she finds out that one of the servants that Suroth has with her is Amathera, the former Panarch of Tarabon, and that one of the damane used to be Aes Sedai. Suroth tells Morgase that Morgase can rule Andor under the Empress, if she swears the Seanchan oaths, and then dismisses her.

When Morgase returns to her rooms, it is to learn that the men are out trying to find information. Morgase wanders over to the window and begins to think. She has two options: she can aid the Seanchan in taking over Andor, or she can rid Suroth of her lever by jumping out the window and killing herself. She thinks, however, that the Queen of Andor should not die so, and then says the words that symbolize her relinquishment of the throne. "Under the Light, I relinquish the High Seat of House Trakand to Elayne Trakand. Under the Light, I renounce the Rose Crown and abdicate the Lion Throne to Elayne, High Seat of House Trakand. Under the Light, I submit myself to the will of Elayne of Andor, her obedient subject." Lini and Breane do not hear her. However, when Lini and Breane realize that she was thinking about suicide, they are astounded, and the three of them begin to bicker.

The men return, and with them is Sebban Balwer, who was Pedron Niall's secretary until he died. Balwer tells Morgase that he can get them all out of Amador. It seems that the Seanchan allow remarkable freedom to those who swear their oaths. He has received a pass that allows him to take up to ten people out of Amador. Morgase accepts his offer.

Balwer gets them all out of Amador, and Morgase wonders what kind of life she will make for herself without a throne.

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