The Fires of Heaven: Chapter 48

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Author: Ehlana Taravin

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Leavetakings


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Point of View: Nynaeve

Setting: Valan Luca's circus - Near Samara, Samara

Characters: Nynaeve, Elayne, Birgitte, Thom, Juilin, Galad, Ragan, Valan Luca, Agni Neres, Aludra, Petra, Kin, Bari and Latelle

Summary

Nynaeve is in her wagon, packing her belongings, after changing from her circus costume into a plain, gray woolen dress. She packs the twisted stone ring, Lan's signet ring, her gold Great Serpent ring, the gems Amathera gave to her, some pouches of herbs and a small mortar and pestle to prepare them, and finally the letters-of-rights and three of the six purses. She also takes one of the letters that authorize the bearer to do whatever she wishes in the name of the Amyrlin. She decides to leave the a'dam and the box containing the other Dreamworld ter'angreal to Elayne. She also packs most of her clothes, but regrets having to leave some behind. She uses Luca's red dress to pack the Dark One's Seal; she can't bring herself to touch it because of the evil feeling coming from it.

Elayne comes in looking very upset. She packs the a'dam, Birgitte's silver arrow, the other two Dreamworld ter'angreal (sleeping woman amber plaque and the iron disc) and the rest of the money. Elayne also manages to pack all of her clothes and belongings, leaving almost nothing behind. The tension is high between Elayne and Nynaeve.

Outside, the men have already packed everything and they are ready to go. Birgitte is outside, also ready to go.

The people from the circus come to wish them all goodbye; some offer to escort them to the city but they are relieved when their offer is denied. Luca gives Nynaeve flowers and professes his undying love to her, embarrassing her and making her furious at both him and Lan.

The group head out for Samara, with Galad leading, flanked by Thom and Juilin, and the Shienarans in a long file to either side. The women walk in the middle. The men are all very nervous and keep fiddling with their weapons. However, the walk to the town is uneventful.

When they reach Samara they are greeted by the sight of burning houses, corpses hanging from various places and bodies on the ground. The only sounds are glass shards breaking under their feet and the buzz of the faraway mobs.

The group runs into one of the mobs and has to fight their way to the docks. The men manage to hold the mob, but it is Galad who finally breaks through them. Thom, Juilin and most of the Shienarans are wounded. Galad is untouched. When they reach the docks Galad speaks to the Whitecloaks and they let the group in.

A small crowd is huddled near the docks, under white-cloaked guards; nearly a dozen men, old, ragged and bruised, and twice as many women, most with children and babies. The sight wrenches Nynaeve's heart. She makes the captain, Neres, agree to take them on his ship as well.

Galad tells Nynaeve and Elayne that he only paid for half the travel costs (as far as Boannda) because Captain Neres over-charged the traveling fee and he doesn't have enough money to pay for the entire trip.

Nynaeve thanks Galad for his efforts; she still can't understand how he could have started a war in Samara to keep a promise.

Galad tells Nynaeve and Elayne to stay away from Rand. Nynaeve wonders if Galad suspects that they have no intention of going to Caemlyn, but dismisses the idea.

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