The Great Hunt: Chapter 46

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To Come Out of the Shadow

Author: Atarah al'Norahn

Characters: Nynaeve, Elayne, Seta, Min, Egwene, Renna; Bayle Domon; Geofram Bornhald; Rand, Ingtar, Hurin.

Setting: The damane quarters in Falme; Bayle Domon's ship; outside of Falme; the streets of Falme.

Points of view: Nynaeve, Bayle Domon, Bornhald, Rand

Nynaeve's point of view

Nynaeve, dressed as a sul'dam, leads Seta, who is dressed as a damane, towards the damane quarters. Min enters the damane quarters ahead of Nynaeve, Seta and Elayne, who is dressed as a local girl. They follow Min up to the fourth floor, passing many damane and sul'dam on their way. Min leads them into Egwene's room. She seems to be hysterically happy to see them. "Oh, no. No, you are all beautiful, the most beautiful thing I've ever seen."

They free Egwene, who changes into Nynaeve's old dress while explaining to the others how the a'dam works. Nynaeve then removes the bracelet of the a'dam and places it on a peg, so as to leave Seta chained in the room. Seta begs to be let free, saying that she will not say a word, and Egwene shares her theory that sul'dam are women who can learn to channel. Seta is horrified.

Renna happens to enter the room at just this moment. At first she thinks that Nynaeve is a sul'dam who is there to link with Egwene. "What is going on here? An audience? I never gave permission for anyone else to link with my pet, Tuli." Then she sees that Egwene has been freed from the a'dam. Egwene throws the water pitcher at her and leashes her with her old a'dam. She then tries to strangle Renna. Nynaeve stops her, and Egwene cries on her shoulder. They prepare to leave the damane quarters, and leave Seta and Renna in the room, leashed.

They leave the damane quarters, and once outside they find that they are nearly hemmed in by Seanchan soldiers. Egwene, afraid that she will be leashed again, causes the street beneath the soldiers to erupt. Nynaeve tries to stop her. Someone tries to attack them with balls of fire, and Nynaeve, angered, attacks back with lightning.




Bayle Domon's point of view

Meanwhile, Bayle Domon is on his ship, waiting for Nynaeve, Elayne, Egwene and Min. His crew tries to set sail, but Domon stops them. "Spray do stay till I do say sail, Aedwin Cole!" His crew tries to convince him to leave, but Domon insists on staying. "Hurry, women, Aes Sedai or whatever you be. Hurry!"




Geofram Bornhald's point of view

Geofram Bornhald watches the lightning from outside of Falme. Bornhald sends Byar away, so that he will be able to inform his son of what has happened. The legion of the Children of the Light with Bornhald then advances towards Falme.




Rand's point of view

Rand and Ingtar are trying to hide from the Seanchan in the streets of Falme. Rand worries about Egwene, and Ingtar worries about defending themselves. Ingtar starts speaking. "I never knew what he was going to do. A pale little man you didn't seem to really notice even when you were looking at him. Take him inside Fal Dara, I was told, inside the fortress. I did not want to, but I had to do it. You understand? I had to. I never knew what he intended until he shot that arrow. I still don't know whether it was meant for the Amyrlin, or for you." At these words, Rand begins to get worried, and Ingtar continues speaking. "Human kind is being swept away everywhere. Nations fail and vanish. Darkfriends are everywhere, and none of these southlanders seem to notice or care. We fight to hold the Borderlands, to keep them safe in their houses, and every year, despite all we can do, the Blight advances. And these southlanders think Trollocs are myths, and Myrddraal a gleeman's tale. It seemed the only way. We would be destroyed for nothing, defending people who do not even know, or care. It seemed logical. Why should we be destroyed for them, when we could make our own peace? Better the Shadow, I thought, than useless oblivion, like Caralain, or Hardan, or... It seemed so logical, then."

Rand, realizing that Ingtar is a Darkfriend, is horrified. Ingtar expresses a wish to walk again in the Light. Hurin appears, and tells them that the patrol has turned aside, so it is safe to continue on. Ingtar urges Rand to go, and to take the Horn to where it belongs, while he stays to fight the Seanchan in an attempt to redeem himself. Rand agrees. "The Light shine on you, Lord Ingtar of House Shinowa, and may you shelter in the palm of the Creator's hand. The last embrace of the mother welcome you home."

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