Fleeing From the Enemy

[Tony]

Dal ran through the woods of Amadicia barely noticing his surroundings. All he did notice were the occasional fireball screaming by his head or the eruption of dirt from a lightning bolt. His pursuers were man in black coats. But not just any men, men who can channel...just like Dal himself. Right now Dal regretted not finishing the others when he had a chance back in that villiage, but he was too damn scared to face them. So now he was stuck, running for his life for the third time in his life. He hated running. The only reason he really ran was because he was too scared to face up to what he did wrong, but now it was too late to regret decissions in the past, he had to worry about now.

Dal looked ahead and saw a thick copse of trees and ran towards it. He glanced behind himself and didn't see any of the black coated men. He jumped into the copse and landed hard on a rotting log. He was about to let out a groan when the black coated men showed up. "You, to the left. You, to the right. Search the area. He couldn't have gotten far in that short of time," one of the men said.

Sweat beaded on Dal's forhead. He could hear the crunching of old leaves and twigs on from the man who had spoken. Dal noticed a flicker of light and realized that the man was walking by the copse. The shadow of the man was drawing closer and closer to Dal. It was only a matter of time before he was on him. Dal was just about to seize the Source when one of the other men shouted something about returning back to the village. The man who spoke quickly turned around and strode out of the copse.

Dal released a breath he didn't know he was holding. Who ever these men were, they were really pissed about Dal killing their comrades. But there was something else on Dal's mind besides the death of the other three men. The Black Tower. Thoughts bubbled up to the surface. Where is this Black Tower? Can they help me with channeling? Or will they kill me for killing some of their men?

There was also the mention of the Dragon Reborn. Dal had heared the rumors while trecking across Almoth Plain about the battle of Falme and Artur Hawkwing's army coming back from across the ocean. But he had heard a new rumor in the small village in Amadicia. That the same man from Falme had taken the Stone of Tear. If he had taken the Stone and had also taken The Sword That is Not a Sword, then he must be the ture Dragon.

With that last thought Dal heaved himself up from the ground and rubbed his side where he had fallen on the log. He quitly walked out of the copse and looked around. Luckily there was no sign of the black coated men or anyone else. Dal seized the Source and wove Air around his pack so it wasn't so heavy and started hiking to his next destination, whatever that may be...

[Tony]

A low rumble started down the dusty dirt road Dal was travelling on. He turned around and could see faint traces of dust rising on the horizion. Probably from a merchan'ts train, Dal thought. He rusumed his walking staring at the countryside. There were farms, but they were too far between each other to really be part of any town. The rumble was getting louder and when Dal turned around the dust could clearly be seen. But the dust wasn't being made by a team of horses, it was being made by a group of Children. Dal just shrugged his shoulders and continued on. He had met a lot of Whitecloak patrols on this little road. They didn't bother him really. They road past not looking at anything but what was directly in front of them. Dal turned one last time to make sure how far they were away and realized they were only a hundred paces away. So Dal walked over the the far left and continued walking.

Instead of the patrol to ride past Dal like always, they surrounded him. "What's going on?" Dal asked as he turned around looking for an escape. All the men did was stare at him with disgust on their faces. Finally after a few moments that seemed like an eternity, one of the men spoke, "We're looking for a man who killed three men in a village not that far from here. You fit his discription." Dal's eye's widened. Those men in the black coats from their Black Tower. They did this. Dal was just about to seize the Source, but suddenly he felt a blow to his head and blackness rolled over him.

* * *

Dal groaned and rolled over. He put a hand to the back of his head and felt dried blood. He opened his eyes a crack and saw the inside of a tent sparsly furnished. Dal groaned again and got up. There was a lamp near by, but there was nothing to light it with and Dal didn't think he could even get in his Emptyness. Dal looked around his tent once more and went to the flap. He pushed it aside but when he took a step a hand reached in and pushed him down. Dal could feel the anger boiling inside of him. Not because he was trapped here, but because of those men in the black coats. Dal had panicked, he didn't mean to kill them. If only they'd let him explain.

Dal's thoughts stopped as a shadow approached the tent flap. The flap opened and there stood a man in a black coat with a silver sword pin on one side of his coller and a golden serpent on the other side.

[Tony]

The man looked at Dal with a blank stare. There was no way Dal could tell what he was thinking. Suddenly Dal felt the man seize the Source. There was no other way to really discribe it. The man wrapped flows of Air around two chairs and set them up facing one another. The man sat down and gestured with his hand to the other chair. Dal cautiously sat down and stared at the man. After a few moments the man opened his mouth and spoke. "I have heard that you killed three of our Dedicated in one of the villages in Amadicia."

Dal carefully choose his words and said, "That is true."

The other man stood up and clasped his hands behind his back and walked back and forth by the entrance. He stopped suddenly and turned to Dal. "You do realize," he said, "That you are very strong in the One Power. With training, you could raise through the ranks quickly. Perhaps being one of the Baijan'm'hael or Mandarb'm'hael."

Dal opened his mouth to say he didn't want to be part of their Black Tower in anyway, but the other man cut him off. "But then, if you do not go with me back to the Black Tower, you could be killed for killing some of our men. But rules can be bent," he said with an evil grin on his face.

Dal realized he was in a trap. A trap made by these flaming goat kissers. Anger started to boil in Dal. It threatened to overcome his restraint. If he did go with these men, he could learn the kill them. To learn all their weaknesses and smite them. And if he refused he could try and run and be in a constant state of fear. Fear of being found by these men.

Again Dal went to say his decision but the man interupted him again. "You do not have to choose now. I'll give you the night to decide," he said, "But remember, your decision can always lead to your death." With that last sentence the man walked out with a backward glance. Right after the man left Dal felt a shield of some sort go over the tent. Dal sighed and laid back onto a mat. He stared at the tent ceiling until sleep rolled over him.

[Tony]

Dal got up early the next morning. He was up before the first rays of sun could make his tent glow. The shield was still up, but Dal didn't know if there were gaurds out his tent flap or not. Dal took his time washing himself with a pitcher of wather. He brushed his teeth, combed his hair, dug out some clean clothes from his pack located in the corner with the rest of his stuff. In his bag on top of everything sat his medallian his parents gave him. It seemed so long ago when he fled in the night...

With a thud Dal landed on the ground. His foot must have slipped on the edge he was one. Luckily nothing was broken. Dal quickly looked around and trotted down the street. It was a quiet spring night. Not too hot nor too cold.

Dal got to the edge of town without seeing a single soul. Without paying much attention Dal gripped his medallian. It was an odd thing. It looked like a gold circle with an electric blue gem set in the middle. He had taken in to a jewler to know what kind of gem it was and the jewler had told him it wasn't a gem he had ever seen. And the gold Dal thought held the gem, wasn't gold at all. The jewler told him to go to the goldsmith and the goldsmith said it wasn't gold at all. He didn't know what it was. All Dal knew was that it was old and had been in his family for years.

Dal remembered his parents saying that the medallian always got the family out of danger. Serious danger that threatened their lives. They didn't know how, but the medallian was always present when a family member was saved.

Dal came out of his memories to the sound of someone approaching. Dal put the medallian on and faced the person who came in. It was the man who had talked to him yesterday. "Have you decided?" the man asked.

[Tsuki]

Tsuki was on the road that night for long time, she was wake for nothing that long. She searched for young man, somehow he attracted her every time she saw him. He wasn't hers tipe. Long from that but there was something in him that told her to folow him and in that last village she got part of answer on hers question: he could channel!

For the year that she was on the road to nowhere nothing attract her so much. She did not seek for her past or for glory in this times of heros but whenever she tried to hide or to run she would allways be found or catched. She saw when those men took that man and this was time for hers appearance to act on the stage.
She looked like a Doman but hers eyes and strenght were Aiels. That was something that she loved about her self , she could seduce a man for a sec and just in second sec to kill him if she wanted.

When she stepped in the camp that night every man that looked at her started to stare, but she wanted the Captain net some lower man who could channel. After couple of minutes she saw him, he wasn't anything special but she needed him to save that stupid man.
''Hello,'' she said with the sweetness smile on her face, for the second captain stare like others but within a moment he came back and said:
''Hello to you to young lady! What are you doing here?''
His eyes fly from her eyes to her lips, breasts and again to her eyes. Probably he couldn't see anything else because she was allmost his height.
''Well I can offer you one off free tents in the camp.''
''That would be nice from you! (I have him)'' she smiled and said something about hers stalian and he said that he will be allrigt. After that he folowed her to an tent that was empty.
''Thank you to your kindless Captain! And where are you going after this night?''
''To Caemlyn my lady!''
'' Oh really I a going there too, maybe I could ride whit you.''
'' I would be honored lady.''
They commute few word more and then he start sterring at her. She came close to him and kissed him. It wasn't just a kiss it was something that she had in her since she was born. She knew that he will after that kiss do anything for her, but it wasn't time yet.
'' Thank you Captain for everything,'' she said and entered the tent, he knew that he can not entered without hers promission. ''It is time to sleep,'' she thought: ''Tomorow I will help him''
In the morning she got up early much before sun and sneaked from hers tent. The boys tent was easy to find because it standed alone in one little hill. She went behind tent and set on the grass. She waited and after half an hour she heared Captain voice saying:
"Have you decided?" There was pause for couple of seconds and then : '' I will come with you.''
For Tsuki that was a sighn and after a second wholl area was under a fog and Captain was standing in the air.
'' Hi I am Tsuki! Do not ask anything just come with me!''

[Tony]

Dal thought for a moment and opened his mouth and said, "I will come with you." But before he could say anything the man in the black coat was thrused in the air. He hear and female voice from outside his tent say, "Hi I am Tsuki! Do not ask anything just come with me!" and then she bolted off. Dal spun behind him and quickly grabbed his belongings hooking his sword onto his belt and slipping his coat on. He holstered his pack, grabbed his spear and ran out the tent noticing the whole area was in a fog.

Somewhere to his left he heard the woman say, "Over here". Dal ran toward the direction of the voice, but all he saw was a wall of grey. A figure loomed in front of him. As he got nearer the figure became a man, a man in a black coat. Dal hefted his spear and ran towards the man who had his back turned to him. Within a few seconds Dal was pulling his spear from the back of the now dead man. Dal looked around, but only saw the grey wall of fog. Another shape came near and Dal hefted his spear again, he didn't dare seize the Source yet, but the figure didn't turn out to be a man, it turned out to be his rescuer, the mysterious woman.

[Tsuki]

Tsuki run from the tent to bring horses, but for the second she stop.
"I am such a foolish person,"she laugh at her self and said on loud:" Ronin come here plaese! And bring me a friend!"
Then she waited, after a couple of seconds two horses appeard, one black stalion, black as night with one white dot on his frehead he walked as nothing happened and behind him walked one brown nervous stalion, he looked like nothing of this is new to him.Tsuki approached Ronin and sad:
"You smart one, lets go I have to help someone."
Black stalion looked at he and she said:" Do not look me like that!"
She took ribbon of other horse and went on Ronin was folowing her in quiet.There was no need for searching young man but still Tsuki stoped for a second and then proced like nothing happened. One shadow was standing in the dark but she allready knew who it was, but when she came near that man was holding his spear pointed at her. She almost lift him in the air, but instead she said:
"Do not point that staf in people you could hurt someone!Here I presume that you do not have a horse," she putted ribbon in his hand and procede:"Lets go then,and do not ask me anything now!"
Man who was just going to ask her something shut his mouth and climbed on the broen stalion, and when he finished Tsuki was already on Ronin ready to go.
"Well I think we do not have anything to search for in this camp don't we? Well then lets go!"

[Tony]

The mysterious woman opened her moutch and said, "Do not point that staff in people, you could hurt someone! Here, I presume that you do not have a horse." She then tossed Dal the reigns to a brown horse. She then said, "Let's go then and do not ask me anything now!". Dal was about to ask her why she rescued him, but the thought better of that and climbed up the horse. He heard her say something and then she galloped off. Dal stuck his spear in the saddle and galloped after her.

As Dal was leaving the camp, the fog started to lift and behind him the Whitecloack camp was just getting stirred up from the rescue. Dal could feel the man in the black coat seize the Source, but then the man released it, probable thinking better not to kill Dal. Dal looked up from the camp and could see the woman ahead of him still galloping like crazy. Dal just shook his head and galloped faster to catch up to this woman. This woman who seemed to think he needed rescuing.

[Tsuki]

Tsuki made Ronin on gallop, because last thing she wanted was to be cought. She hoped that tha guy was behind her, well she could scent and that was good, but she scented something more...
"Faster onin, please go faster!"
She sounded like child seeking for help, and horse like he could understand her started to run faster then before. But after hour of galloping she withhold him.
"Stop old friend I don't want to kill you!"
"Tsuki started to look around herself and she spoted that young man on, about, five meters from her. He was looking at her like he was expecting from her to kill him.
"Do not worry I am not going to hurt you, afcorse if you atack me I will defend, but now there is no reason to be worried!"
She smiled at him, it was one of hers honest, friendly smiles that issue from desire to relieve figure that stand in puzzel what to do.
"There is one abandoned farm not far from here. I will stay there for few days to rest,and if you want you can come with me that is good place to hide from somebody!"
She was looking at him expecting the answer, but deep in side herself she knew that no mether what answer is she will have to follow him, again.
" I do not know why, and I don't want to know !He is so much different then the others," mind pass through her.

[Tony]

As they topped a rise the woman slowed her horse down and spoke to it. She turned around and stared at Dal for a few seconds and said, "Do not worry I am not going to hurt you, ofcorse if you attack me I will defend, but now there is no reason to be worried!" Dal had no notion of hurting this woman, but then, he didn't really know what expression was painted onto his face. The woman then gave Dal a smile, a smile he supposed was meant to comfort him, but it didn't.

Then the woman opened her mouth again and said, "There is one abandoned farm not far from here. I will stay there for few days to rest,and if you want you can come with me that is good place to hide from somebody!" A look crepted upon the woman's face. A look that said, He's not going to come with me. Dal was grateful the woman helped him, but he wasn't going to go with her. He had other plans to do.

[Tsuki]

Tsuki looked at him it was so certain that he will not come with her but she didn't say anything:'' It is time for him to talk not for me. I said what I have! And maybe I will say something more when he is more loose!''

For couple of seconds they just wathched each other and then the guy open his mouth.

[Tony]

"I'm afraid I will not be going with you. I am greatful you helped me, but I have other places to go, other plans to fufil. I'm sorry," Dal said to the woman. He didn't want to see the dissapointment on her face, so he turned the horse around and rode the other way.

* * *

After riding most of the day Dal came across a small village. Dal had little money, but he decided to spend it anway on a small and crampted room in the back of the inn.

Dal didn't want to be downstairs with the locals, so he went strait to bed. But he couldn't fall asleep. He layed their staring at the ceiling thinking about what happened this day. The dissapointment on the woman's face as he said he wouldn't go with her saddened him. But as he said to her, he had other places to go and other plans to fulfill.

[Tsuki]

He went like a rain in the summer he went, and she looked behind him. '' He did not want to see I am dissapointed Ronin! He is good men , but he has his way. But I promise you next time we talk with him I will know his name! Now lets go friend we have to find that farm.'' She looked again and smile was on hers face:'' He is good man!"

**************

Tsuki was going to sleep, for time that she came to farm she didn't do anything accept thinking is everything that she done right or not, and again his face was infront of her and that phrase that he told her! She could not sleep and then sound. She got out the bed and opened for source. But no one came in so she took hers sword,it was beutifull sword, blacksmith made for her when she was 15. It was long and thin sword, but made of very good steal. Many people who saw it would said that it was pick not a sword, but anyone who saw what she could done with it knew that was very strong sword in right hands. It wasn't stiff and it wasn't to easy. On the bail was notched a moon with two stars around it.
Then there was new sound, and she waited. Big rock crashed throw the door,and man came in.
''Hello Tsuki!''
He was tall much taller then her, and she knew who he is.
''What do you want? I told you I am not going with you and that is my last answer.''
'' You know that my Sedai doesn't take no for answer. ''
''I told I am not part of that and I will never be.''
She put man in the air and run off.
''Ronin come!!!! ''
Black stalion came from darkness and stand in front of her, she mount him and behind she herd voice:
''Tsuki you will never going to escape her...''
But that was it because She was allready on the Ronin and he was runing like mad. They arrive in small village for just three hours and Ronin stop in front of one inn. At once she said:
''Not here my friend he is in here!He will think that we are following him , I do not want that.''
But Ronin didn't want to move so she dismount and entered inn.

[Tony]

Dal was running through a dank and dirty corridor. Water dripping from the wall left dark stains, and the occasional torch left burn marks. But Dal hardly noticed little detail like that. He didn't know why he was running, but he was running from something or someone.

Dal came across a junction. He looked to the left and he looked to the right, but they both looked the same. Somehow he knew if he took one of them, he wouldn't make it out alive. Again he looked both ways and decided he would go to the right. Dal then booked it down the hallway as fast he could.

As Dal was running the hallway he heard heavy breathing. He knew he was breathing hard, but it came from behind him. Dal sneaked a peak over his shoulder, but he didn't see a thing. As he looked foward again, there was a dark shape ahead of him. Dal stopped immediatly and turned around. But as he turned around there was a similar dark shape.

Both of the shapes started forward with agonizingly slow steps. Dal could feel sweat beading on his foward and dripping down. There was no way out. He would have reached for a torch, but they were behind the shapes. They were getting closer and closer. Suddenly he heard a creak. A creak that sounded like it came from a door. Dal looked around for a door, but there was no door. The shapes were almost upon him when suddenly-

Dal's eye's flew open and who he saw didn't surprise him one bit. It was that woman. The same woman who rescued him from the black coated men. There was a look of surprise on her face for just a moment and then she gave him one of those smiles that tried and made him comfortable, but it didn't.

[Tsuki]

When she entered inn there was screm:
"Tsuki!!!!!"
She looked around and saw a sweet little woman, whit long blue braid and in a long dress. She was waking to her.
"Hana!!!"
When woman came near, they hugle each other, and Hana start talking.
"He is here! I gave him a good room, and I must say you leave quite evxprecion to him I think!"
"So he is ok, but you see I am not!"
Hana looked at her from her mans boots to hers eyes.
"You were channeling a lot if I can say!Well then you have a problem there is group of Asha'man here and they are searching for your friend!"
Tsuki looked at her, she was wery affraid three times in one day she was using Air, and that wasn't hers best power, and now there is six or seven Asha'mans.
"Hana I need help!"
"Well you know that I swear that i would never channekl again after that night, but I can help you whit something else. Come with me in the kitchen!"
They left common room and entred kitchen, every single woman knew Tsuki, after walking through the kitchen, some rooms and one hallway they entered small room without windows.
"These leafs should make them sleep for 24 hours and mayby longer, I will put them in theres drink, and then you can go to do rooms. His room is third on the left."
Tsuki looked at her, for her whole childhood that she spend in that Two River village Hana was allways there to help her. Hana was 7 years older then her and a year before Tsuki went away Hana run away because one event that happaned by hers mistake. Now Hana was preparing drink for those man just to help Tsuki in something that even Tsuki didn't understand. When Hana was finished she smiled at Tsuki and went whit drinks. Tsuki looked her sword and thought:
"I just hope that he is allright and that I am not going to use my power again today!"
After couple of minutes Hana went back to her.
" They are all a sleep, I will tell Oliver to bring boy to your room."

***********************

Tsuki didn't know how this plan didn't fail but now she was in her speccial room , and that man was sleeping on the bad.
"I wonder what is he dreamin? Well if I just see a little he wouldn't mind."
She concentrate and entered his dream she could see him runing, and she could see from what he was runing." Do not go to help him this is just a dream," she was saying to herself,But two figures were coming more near to him. She went to help him....
At once he was awake and she was looking at him confused, but for a second she had her smile on face (that didn't help).
"At last you are awake come on we have to hurry those leaf wouldn't last for ever you know.Oh yes I am Tsuki al'Sharde and you are?"