Ooc- So welcome to the pilot of Gaidin and I's brainchild. It may seem confusing at first, but bear with us and allow at least three or four posts to establish the plot and premise. Lots of twists are in store so, enjoy!

---

Drips of water could be heard throughout the basement jailhouse slicing through the deafening silence. The almost mildew free walls and shinning bars were blatant signs of the dungeon's un-use but ready upkeep. He was sure that it had been at least twenty or more years since the last prisoner was brought down here. However, Jasin noted that they did send servants and housemaids to clean it periodically. It was the only way to explain the nigh pristine condition of the place, even for a corridor in the White Tower. Checking the food that lay on the tray, a bowel of mutton a few slices of cheese and a roll of bread, to see if it was hot enough. The chilled wine was of the more expensive brands, some of the best that he had ever seen. It all seemed a bit ostentatious for a prisoner, though, considering for whom they were for, it now seemed not nearly enough.

The cellblock was unguarded, either through the arrogance or ignorance on the part of the Tower, most were even open, though at least not the specific cell he was looking for--something that left him flabbergasted to say the least. Sliding the tray through the a small gap in the bar for food he peered up into the room to the woman that sat cross-legged on her cot, seemingly in deep meditation. He put the wine through the bars separately. She wasn't what Jasin was expecting. Short cut brown hair tapered at just below her ears with a tanned oval, but thin, face much younger than he thought it would be. Her azure dress still seemed very much prim and proper, in spite of the slight mess it had become over the few days she was down here. It spread across her bedding evenly. She was every bit Aes Sedai even in captivity. She shifted a bit, maybe to become more comfortable and finally spoke after a time.

"So, I see I will not be receiving a trial." She said matter-of-factly.

She was a smart bird. Though, Jasin wondered if she was as cold as he had heard. He could feel a smile spreading across his face in spite of himself. "Not in the sense you're thinking."

Opening her eyes she looked over Jasin with more than a pinch of annoyance though at the same time measured him. Her brown eyes held no mirth in them whatsoever." The actions I took were just for the situation. I do not regret them and given the same situation I would do so again with the information I was given."

"Ever the stubborn bull?"

She scoffed. "I'm not one for regrets, boy. In my position it is a trait that is needed."

"Fair enough." He shrugged. "Everybody ends up there at least once, even the Amyrlin Seat. The question is, where does the story end?"

"Isn't that why you're here? The crescendo of the drama that has become my life. Are you not my assassin?"

"On the contrary, my group wants to offer you a position."

"Group?"

"We don't exactly have a name... we just handle the characters that are less than savory wherever we go."

"Assassins..." It came out as almost a whisper but still held an edge that made Jasin visibly blink.

"After a fashion. Sometimes preferred methods just don't work."

"Funny, that's the same schlock the whitecloaks seem to be privy to." The edge in her voice seemed to grow sharper with each word. If Jasin didn't know that there were other Aes Sedai holding a Shield over her he would have thought she was holding onto the Power. "Allow me to entertain this filthy tirade; why me?"

Gaining back his composure was a quick remedy, though he was sure she didn't notice it at all. "Methods don't change much, I've learned." Another nonchalant shrug reinforced his cover. "Often the difference is in the 'why' we do it. And you... let's just say you've demonstrated a willingness to do what you see as necessary for the future."

"Flattering." She said flatly. "So, this is a breakout then? You would have me flee and leave my people behind to kill for the betterment of the future? Even if it costs me my people's future?"

Jasin simply sat down and let her mull over the offer. Nothing else could or would be said. The decision was up to her. If he couldn't get her to join, well there were other candidates, even here. Though it would be a shame to have come all the way down here for nothing. Not to mention a waste of a perfectly good disguise.

After a time, she spoke, with the hardened edge replaced by somberness. "There aren't many of us. Maybe 120, if not less and with none being born for the past thirty or so years... its bleak. As far as anyone can guess, I was one of the last channelers born. Then, I kill the M'Hael in cold blood. The Whitecloaks and the Seanchan are hunting us... annihilating us and I murder Jardam because of rumor. Bloody rumor! But what choice was there? I had intel that he was trading our hideouts for... He was a traitor and so I did what I had to..."

"And your source... ."

"My source? My Keeper, Tamerlane Visse... why?"

"Our sources point to her giving you that information for not-so-savory reasons. And she's positioned to inherit your power."

"What? Tamerlane was the one who helped me get to the Seat. She's done nothing but help me as we tried to round up all of our brothers and sisters to Tar Valon... She... used me like a flamming pawn."

"A well placed pawn is more powerful than the Queen. I think we should put you back on the board, Mother."

"You have your deal," there was a certain sense of resignment in her voice, as if she didn't want to leave her Tower, but had no other choice. "I'll follow you and yours but I want Tamerlane."

"That can be arranged" Jasin walked over to the main entryway, pulling a leather package from a pocket, lock-picks that he always carried with him. "It's a little like what I went through a few months ago," he said with some sympathy as he pulled to picks out and started playing with the lock. "The new sense of purpose helps, you can believe that."

Once he heard the satisfying click, Jasin pulled out two hand crossbows he held under the pseudo-girth that made up most of his disguise, and a bottle of...something. "Now, which Aes Sedai out there is the weakest."

"You're not going to kill one," she all but growled, barely leaving the original 'boy' affectation from earlier.

"Never the plan," he told her as he loaded the crossbows. That done, he held up the vial, "Mainly for the warders, but it'll effect them all. That gives me about a half minute to put one of these in the stronger Aes Sedai--" she stared at him threateningly. Rolling his eyes he further explained himself, "IN SUCH A WAY that they're in extreme pain, but no threat against life. They drop their shields, you handle the last."

"And you?"

"Let's just say, all things being equal, you have until I handle the guards or creativity will be required, Mother. Start fighting the shield once I start fighting, and close your eyes until you hear the noise." She nodded, her eyes closed.

"Fine... Myra Nelson is the weakest... you'll know her once you see her. And one thing..."

"Jasin, Mother."

"Jasin... do not call me Mother, we both know that that title is a memory. Call me Mai."

Bottle in his right hand, Jasin closed distance to the door to the guardroom. He peaked through, to see the same three Aes Sedai, two Warders, and two Tower Guard. The Guard had a nervous feel to them, as if they didn't spend much time around those they were with now. The Warders had a relaxed, but alert feel to them. As close as you could get to catching them by surprise. The Aes Sedai, three Reds if he guessed by their attitudes, were in a casual argument amongst themselves. The light-haired one seemed...meek. If such a word could be applied to an Aes Sedai. It fit. She was the one Mai pointed out as the weakest.

Jasin knocked loudly on the door. "Yea?" one of the guards answered.

"The prisoner's done eating," he answered as if he belonged.

"Alright," the other guard answered with a boredom that said he'd gotten somewhat used to the Aes Sedai presence. "I'm comin'."

The deadbolt slid out of place, and the door opened in, axles turning smoothly. A second, and Jasin had his opening. Pushing just slightly forward, he brought his foot up into the guard's gut, catching him completely by surprise and leaving him gasping for air, doubled over. Casually, he tossed the small glass bottle over the Guard to land on the center of the table the Aes Sedai shared, the looks of surprise already appearing. Spinning behind the door, he shut his eyes and covered his ears against what was coming. A bright thump sounded through the wall. For all he had closed his eyes, his vision still went white, but only for a second instead of minutes.

Stepping around the door, pulling the crossbows, he aimed as he heard two swords being drawn. The red-haired and brown-haired Aes Sedai, he had no clue as to their names, all of them, were blindly feeling around, stumbling to their feet. The Warders were standing still where the guards stumbled around much like the Aes Sedai. They had their eye closed, listening for movement with purpose. He took aim at the one with red hair, her back to him, and fired. She screamed when the bolt pierced her kidney. The other, more lucky, faced Jasin, and was shot in the stomach for her troubles instead.

Shoving the first guard out of his way, he threw the crossbows at the two warders as the two turned to him. Rushing the first, he threw a quick light jab for the throat before the sword could be brought to bear, leaving the heavy-set man gasping for breath before grabbing the stool near the door and swinging it around, shattering it on his head, knocking him out.

He turned as the table was flipped over to the side by the other Warder, vision returned. Jasin rushed him before he could move more than a step, grabbing the sword arm before he could swing. He turned and spun, yanking the Warder with him, over his shoulder and sending him flying. He never landed. Everything went silent, the first Warder almost barely awake as he recovered from the blow to the head, the second, floating in mid-air. The stumbling guards and Aes Sedai, all frozen. He turned to see Mai standing in the door.

"Shields down, then? Well, here's some good news. You feel no pain. You will go straight to the Infirmaries. Remember nothing of what transpired here... and every time you hear the words 'ward', 'argue', or 'kitten' you will sick up uncontrollably for three days."

"... Okay... Wasn't expecting that..." Jasin said after Mai sat them down and walked out the door toward what could only be the infirmaries. "What did you do to them, Compulsion?"

"Compulsion?" It was almost an indignant scoff. As if she was insulted that he would even accuse her of using the Weave. "No, something a little more... deep. You wouldn't understand even if I explained it. Let's just say I never liked my jailers."

"The Whitecloaks have grown rather adept, to say nothing of the Seanchan," Mai explained curtly as Jasin shut and locked the door to Tamarlane's quarters in the Tower after they broke in. "A Gaidin will check the quarters. You will have to handle him." The room was dark, he could hear her almost shuffling around as they avoided using light in any way, dealing with only the ambience of the moonlight. Jasin gave her a look that she didn't see in the dim light. The almost-paranoia of survival had taken over for the Tower in this world.

"It almost reminds me of...me," Jasin commented as they entered the bedroom. It was cleanly disorganized, almost as if she knew only one person other than her would ever see this room. This was her haven, and she wasn't as worried about its appearance as she would the outer study.

"You? Hardly." Mai asked bluntly as she let Jasin direct her to behind the armoire with most of Tamarlane's dresses.

"I worked for the Tower once," he answered, moving to the dark corner. She could only hear his whisper from the darkness now as they waited. "It wasn't pleasant. I spied on the Darkfriends for them. To do that I had to take the oath." There was a hatred for what he had been and what he had done seeping through his whisper now. She didn't interrupt, "I had to be one of them. I made it up to the Seventh Circle. Deep cover. No breaks. I burned out, wondering if the next person I met was the one that knew who I was and was there to kill me."

"What happened?" she finally asked.

"They found me, the people we work for," he added. "They figured out what I was, and they got me out. Gave me the same offer I gave you." Before she could say anything, he cut her off, "Quiet."

A second later they heard the outer door to the quarters open, and a minute later close. Another door opened and closed, this time in comparatively rapid time. The other room. Next was the bedroom they were in. Jasin froze completely as the doorhandle turned, sliding steadily open after a shove from the Gaidin outside. Step by silent step the long shadow entered, followed by the man, hand on his sword hilt. Jasin held his breath, almost letting out a sigh of relief when he turned to the window to check it first. Tamarlane screamed a warning she cut off just as quickly with grunt of concentration. It was enough for the Gaidin.

Jasin took a running leap over a chair as his sword left its scabbard with a scrape, he turning toward Mai. A split second later, his eyes went wide as his attention shifted to Jasin. It was too late, but he tride to bring the sword to bear as he turned anyway. Colliding with him as he landed, Jasin had his wrist in both hands and they slammed into the wall. His off hand came up behind the blade, hitting Jasin's nose with a crack. Once, twice, three times. He could feel the blood dripping down his face, but he took the punches, controlling the sword arm of the Gaidin.

As he swung for a fourth time, Jasin finally managed to bring the sword arm up and out, twisting it hard, the sword falling to the floor. He twisted and spun, pulling the Gaidin around, and tripping him up with his foot, forcing him face down to the floor. Knee in his back, he forced the arm up, hard. The man groaned at the pain, Jasin pushed harder. Harder still. There was a loud, unnerving pop as the arm was yanked from its socket.

He let the arm go, grabbing the sword, he stood, point at the mans spine. "It's in your best interest to not move," he warned. He turned to Mai, to see a look of extreme focus. Tamarlane had the same look. They were still figuring out what was what here. It stretched on. It was probably only a matter of minutes, but it felt an hour, and finally Mai smiled with satisfaction as Tamarlane gave a look of determined resignation.

"A rather noisy affair, but I've stopped her from alarming the other Sisters within the Tower, but they will feel me channeling and be here in very short order."

The tension in the Gaidin's body faded as he stopped waiting for the opening that would let him surprise Jasin. Once more with his foot on the man's back, Jasin tossed the sword to Tamarlane's bed. "Do what you will," he said, wincing as he set his nose, breathing in painfully. "So long as--"

"Hush now, the adults are talking." Mai snided while she turned her attention back to the subdued woman. "Tamerlane?"

"Keldrin?"

"I will ask only once. Why?"

"Isn't it simple to figure out?" Tamerlane answered with a bit of an annoyed edge to her. Like Mai should have known all along. "Power. The Seat. I wanted the Aes Sedai for my new army."

She looked to Jasin with concern, but seeing no aid there, quickly replaced it with a serene mask. It would seem that the Aes Sedai of this world showed emotions instead of burrying them under a false pretense. "How... unoriginal, even for you."

"You seemed to fall for the ruse eagerly... Mother."

"You'd have given anything."

"Anything."

"That can be arranged."

Jasin watched as Tamarlane shuddered and grabbed the door frame, eyes going wide. With fear or anger, he couldn't tell. Maybe both. Her hands were white with the vise-like grip. They slipped. He winced as she fell to her knees, not catching herself. The sobs started as she turned in on herself, eyes squeezed shut, arms wrapped around her head, as if to protect herself from something. She curled herself into a ball, as if trying to hide, not even aware she was out in the open.

Without warning, Mai took the few paces to the door. "It's done," she said as she stepped over the weeping Aes Sedai. "We need to leave."

"Remind me never to get on your bad side," he muttered loudly enough to be heard as he stepped over Tamarlane to follow.

Like all castles and keeps, the White Tower had to take its deliveries somewhere. The foodstuffs, the ink, the paper, the weapons and armor, it all came in through the same place. And the Tower didn't want it coming throught the main entries. The recieving area was a maze of random products. All that had been recorded by the clerks was what had been delivered, and where in the room it was stacked. The workers later would move it to more specialized storage in specific locations in the Tower.

As much as this helped them, it was a danger not worth it, but unavoidable. It was a convenient exit, and anyone guarding this place would know it. They were standing outside the main doors to the room, a tall, wide arch cable of allowing large crates that may be necessary through. He could hear the Tower Guard muttering about being called back to late duty on their offshift. Mai stood next to him, silent in her calm. Finally, she said after her eyes closed for a second, "I sense no ability."

He nodded, and they waited. Minutes past, and at a point Mai glared at him in question. He just shook his head for her to be silent. They waited some minutes longer. Finally, the Bannerman in charge of the guard at this exit muttered an order, "You three, the time's come, patrol the room."

There were mutters of discontent, but they eventually faded as they left the records office. There as shuffling about, and a shift as one of the records books was opened. The Bannerman was perusing out of boredom, it wasn't his normal watch station. On his toes, Jasin silently turned the corner and stalked in. The Bannerman was the only one in the room, and he heard the swish of Mai's dress as she peaked around the corner to watch. Quickly, he was up behind him, brought his fist down hard on the back of the man's head. Jasin caught him in his arms as he collapsed, and lowered him to the ground, checking the steadiness of his pulse.

"Alright," he whispered as Mai walked up behind him. "Just stay with me, and stay quiet. If you need to channel, keep it light." Jasin led her into the maze, and at a quick walk they took turns leading to the perimeter. Each corner, there was a pause, and they continued. About halfway out, the pause lasted, and the partial quiet echo of the steps grew near. As they grew still nearer, Jasin tensed slightly and then whipped around suddenly, arm lashing out in a clothesline. The guard crashed to the floor, and Jasin paused and heard one of the others shouting out a question. "Straight for the exit," he said pulling out a throwing knife. "Back to me. We'll go slow enough."

Their speed slowed as he led her around the corner, but they went straight down the wall of the room heading toward the exit. She followed him at the slow pace, steady, quickly understanding they were covering each other's backs. There were some running steps behind them that slid to a stop, but then suddenly went silent for what was no apparent reason. Air. A guard came around in front of them by a few rows, sword in hand, and Jasin's arm whipped out, sending the knife flying out for his leg where the leather armor didn't cover. The man collapsed to his knees with a loud grunt, and Jasin's hand flew again, this knife embedding itself deep in his sword arm, sending the blade clanging to the floor. The man cursed in pain in the few seconds it took them to get to him, and Jasin kicked him in the head, knocking him out.

"Must you be so violent?"

"I'm no Ash'aman," he answered with a barely noticable sarcasm. "I do have some control over whether I kill someone or not, though."

"Asha'what?"

"Male channelers...It'll make more sense later."

They came around the last corner, the exit was clear of guards, but was shut and barred. "Open the door for us," he said as he looked back down the central aisle. The roome was eerily silent with what they'd had to deal with, but that must have been all the Guard stationed there. The silence lasted only so long as the screeching scrapes took to echo around the room as she literally grabbed half the large door and pulled it open to the side just far enough for them to get through. They entered the city at a run and kept it up for some blocks, but slowed to a walk once they were a distance from the Tower. They walked like they belonged, and none of the patrolling guards bothered them.

The bridge was a different story. One of the East Bridges, it had the same handful the store room had, it's standard complement. The Bridge unit paid attention, though. They had a reason to look closely, where the patrols saw only two people not breaking the law. The Bridges were closed. Their eyes went wide when they recognized Mai, and they froze. "Don't give a mind to us," she said with a seriousness. "We're just passing through." As they crossed she finally asked, "Where are we going?"

"Eastern forests, about ten miles out past the bridge town," Jasin told her matter of factually.

"The Portalstone?!" She said with a shock that said she'd not quite believed the possibility. Jasin just nodded, and she shook her head just slightly as they kept moving.

They passed through the town, the guards asked no questions. They passed the fields, and into the forest. It was relatively thick, but the trees were not as tall as they could be. Some had been cut down and saplings replanted for use years later. But a few miles in, the wildness seemed like it returned. The trees were more random and natural in their layout. Some ways in, there was an unexpected, random clearing. In the center of the clearing, a tall seemingly marble post surrounded by steps. Up the side was hundreds of symbols, seemingly random.

"Step up," he said as he led by example, taking a place right next to the portalstone as he rolled his sleeve back from a benign looking silver bracelet. He closed his eyes in concentration as Mai took a position opposite him. The bracelet lit up after a matter of seconds, lighting up the entire clearing as if it were dawn. And suddenly, it disappeared, the world going a relative dark as a seemingly plain room surrounded the portalstone with some number of plain looking doors surrounding them.

"What is this place?" was all she could ask, this time with some small amount of trepidation creeping through her voice.

Jasin smiled as he took the steps down and looked up at her, "Welcome, Mai Elizabeth Keldrin, to the End of Time."

Episode 1: Time's Reaper

---

The air was heavy with the smell of salt and fish. A mixture common of a thriving port city that Mai Keldrin wasn't accustomed to. Here, in what Jasin told her was Mayene, the sun shone bright in the cloudless sky and the echoing cries of seagulls rang in her ears was a stark contrast to what she knew as the lost country of Tear. Where she was from, this entire landmass, and much of Tear, was underwater, sunken by Duinthor Marridrin as a show of force during their War of Power. It was refreshing to see what this place would become without the interference of Aes Sedai and War. Shifting uncomfortably in her saddle, Mai tried hard not to grunt for the fifteenth time while on this mare--Nell was its name, though she could really care less, as long as she could get off soon. This marked the first time she had ever rode a horse and if she had any say, it would be her last. How did people ride these beast?

Taking her attentions from the discomforting ride and beautiful scenery, Mai peered over at Jasin, the man that saved her from a death sentence and brisked her into a world of insanity and alternate worlds. Standing at least three heads taller than her, he was lean but very solid, a man that was constantly. He had a handsome face with a lightly colored goatee of brown that matched his cleanly cut hair. The perpetually relaxed state of his face and demeanor would scream aloofness, but in Jasin's case it was more of a calming trait that could be mistaken for charming if you didn't know him. Being with him, she supposed was a better alternative than execution. Though, sometimes she wondered if the things they had to do to fulfill their missions would catch up with them sooner rather than later. Thoughts of leaving her Keeper, Tamerlane Visse, in that comatose state haunted her during the nights and the realization that in doing what had to be done she lost a piece of herself in the process. Jasin reassured her that what they were doing--righting the courses of worlds for the sake of the Pattern--was the altruistic thing. She believed him on some level, but that didn't totally absolve her of her doubts.

We're doing the right thing here, she thought to herself. We have to be...

Jasin cleared his throat, knocking her out of her inner thoughts and apparently also from her boring a hole through his skull with her staring. It was hard for her not to blush in embarrassment, but she pulled it off and refocused on staying upright on this beast. How long was she staring at him anyway? It wasn't like her to just drift off into herself like that. This had her more shaken than she originally thought it would seem.

Jasin gave her a look of what seemed to be understanding, though it could come off as haughty for the lack of care he usually displayed. "Why we do what we do is no less true," he told her quietly as they rode on down the street. "But like all of us, you've got to figure out for yourself how you can do the job and be what you want to be." He nodded at the city guard in a gesture for her, "We don't have the law guiding us that these people still do. If we don't figure out our own for ourselves, things spiral out of control."

Did he go through this too? How did he cope with the decisions that he had to make?

"I don't need a lesson in ethics and morals, Jasin." She said more than a little annoyed that he was able to figure her out fairly quickly. "Just tell me why we're here in this wonderfully fragrant city."

That's right Mai, snap at the one person that knows what you're going through right now. Marvelous job dear, at this rate you two will be bunk buddies forever...

Jasin pulled a folded piece of paper from his saddlebag and handed it over to her. "All we get is a name and where they are." As Mai took the note and started to read the contents, he continued, "From there, we observe."

"A woman named Falira, at the Outer Harbor Inn?" Mai read more to herself than to Jasin. "And this is how you found me? A piece or paper?"

"We had Tamarlane's name for that."

Mai's eyes narrowed a bit as she looked to Jasin once more. So, the target wasn't her after all? Then why did he chose her for this mission? Was there some ulterior motive? Whatever the reason, she would find out eventually. "So she's going to destroy this world?"

"The scale we deal with is not always so large. And we don't know if it's her, only that she is involved."

"Your regular needle in a haystack moment." Mai rolled her eyes and gave the parchment back to Jasin. So, this entire operation was built on the art of flying by the seats of one's pants. If there was doubt in Mai before, now it was overfilling her. What if it was Tamerlane that was supposed to be saved from her? Or millions of other possibilities? No. Jasin knows what he's doing. You owe him your life, so the least you can do is give him your trust. However, trust was a fragile thing and Mai's had been shattered not ever three weeks ago. Could she fully trust a stranger with something as important as this? The Amyrlin in her said no, but Mai, the woman, said she could and she would. For now. "I'm sorry for my earlier outburst, Jasin. I'm just... on edge. This is all so new to me and this world is so... different."

"It was nothing," Jasin said in a manner that meant more, 'it is forgiven, thus it never happened'. "I've wondered what who gives us the names may know, but I want no bias either. This may seem to start like classic theft: We observe the person, we learn more, and act based on it."

"Well, at least you have a formula for this." Looking up, Mai noted that they were finally here and graciously dismounted her mare and prayed never to see it again. Looking past the overly adorned sign, she saw a large thatched roof building painted to match the sea, complete with ocean trimmings such as giant seashells and fish decorating it. It seemed a bit--extremely--ostentatious, but they weren't here to judge a building, they were here to judge a woman who may or may not be key to this entire mission. She just hoped that she didn't have to repeat what she did in her home-world here. "So, how are we supposed to find her? Ask and look completely suspicious or wait until you hear her name in conversation?"

Jasin dismounted and held up a hand for her. "Well, my Lady, I am a disgruntled servant who will spend what time he can in the common room. You will take advantage of the inn's resources they have on hand for the nobility."

"Nobility? Don't people hate Aes Se... people like me in this world?"

"You have your lives, they have theirs," Jasin said with his normal indifferent shrug. She was starting to hate that shrug. "What gold you will pay, they will gladly take for services provided."

"... Right..." This was so very strange. "Let's just get this over with... "

She took his hand down, and Jasin led her to the inn, holding the door open for her. Mai took the role of Amyrlin once again, striding past Jasin in every regal way disregarded him as soon as she crossed the threshold. The common room was most of the floor with a very expensively stocked bar off to the side and gaming tables to the other. Already some servants were taking up their time their at the bar, limited only to the bottom shelf. A few whispers from one of the serving girls and already the older woman minding the bar waved her off as she rounded it, making her way across the room to them. "My Lady," she said in greeting. "What can I do for you? A room? A meal?"

"Hardly, though I suppose you will do. What do you know of a woman named Falira?"

"Fal? She's a server here. Did she slight you my Lady? If so I can repay whatever she has..."

"Enough." She hated being this snobby, but she still wasn't sure how this world worked. It would be better to simply cut to the chase than to ramble on and insult these people more so than she was now. "I will handle my own affairs, just bring her to the table where that young man is sitting." She pointed to Jasin and then dismissed the barkeep altogether as she made her way back to Jasin. He seemed lost in searching the room, gathering all the information that he could and filing it away for later. "You wouldn't believe..."

"She's a servant girl here."

"How... but... I just..."

"Her name was called several times as I made my rounds. This was simpler than I originally expected it to be."

"I hate you."

"Join the club. Now, get back in character here she comes."

Falira had to suppress an urge to hum a merry melody under her breath as she dried one glass after the other. There wasn`t that much to do in the kitchen this early in the evening and no need to hurry. Kitchen shifts usually made a nice change from the noisy common room. Doing hers now meant she would be serving later when things got hectic and as she had the last three nights she was looking forward to that, too.

“How long will he stay?”, Milaine asked with a small smile. The tall, blackhaired woman still seemed torn between amusement and disapproval. Falira sighed, her happiness dampened for a moment.
“He`s leaving tomorrow.” And very likely she would never see Geldan again. With her and men, it was always that way. Somehow, spending greater amounts of time with a man made her attraction fade like mist in the sun.

“I`m sorry”, Milaine said. Her slightly uncertain tone made clear that this was what she thought she should say, without actually being sorry.
“It`s all right. I knew he would leave. This was never meant to last”, Falira replied with a shrug.

Milaine just shook her head. Even though she bit back the words this time, Falira knew what the woman would like to say. As a young woman without family, Falira ought to be more careful of her reputation instead of feeding all the prejudices about serving girls. Admittedly, she had affairs from time to time with men traveling through Mayene and most of them she came to know in the Outer Harbour Inn. What Milaine could not understand was that there would never be a family life for Falira. And Falira could not explain to her, could never explain why her inability to truly fall in love was a blessing, why she led her life the way she did.

“It`s time for me to get out in the front”, Falira said a moment later, referring to the common room. She hated the uncomfortable silence, hated the disapproval radiating from Milaine. What right did the woman have to judge? Falira put down the last clean mug, careful not to set it hard on the stack, and untied the apron, revealing the dark blue dress she wore beneath. All serving girls wore the same, a simple measure of the innkeeper to make sure none of them showed more or less cleavage than she deemed appropriate.

Quickly, she ran her fingers through her shoulder-length, dark blonde hair. A pity they had no mirrors here.
“You look fine”, Milaine said, her voice still somewhat cool. Falira took a deep breath, forcing herself not to get angry. There was no point in arguing with someone with whom one had to work every day.

“Thanks.” Years of working as a serving girl had taught her to smile at far more disagreeable persons. With a bright smile – and now actually humming under her breath – she left the kitchen. Her spirits rose considerable as she entered the common room. Life was a fleeting thing and time too precious to waste with being angry.

“There you are, Fal”, Saranne greeted her as Falira reached the bar. The slender innkeeper almost always had a smile for her girls. “Some of the men already asked for you. Though Geldan isn`t here yet, I´m afraid”, she added with a twinkle in her eyes. When Falira had begun to work here almost two years ago, Falira had found out that Saranne and she entirely agreed on a prohibition of affairs with regular customers. That sort of thing could lead to trouble all too easily.

“I know, he`ll be here in an hour or two. Are there any orders?” With a sweeping movement Saranne put two mugs of beer on the counter. “For Saven and Daron.” Falira nodded and took them. Later in the evening, merchants and minor nobles would stop by, ordering wine, mead or even cocktails while trying their luck at the gaming table, but this early hour belonged to the normal people.

“I vow, that stallion loves the taste of human flesh”, Daron grumbled half angry, half exasperated as Falira came within earshot.
“You`ve still got problems with that horse?”, Falira asked while setting the mugs on their table. Daron snorted.
“You might say that. I swear, he`s growing worse every day”, the horse trainer said with some heat in his voice. Saven rolled his eyes.
“As if you didn`t enjoy the challenge, Daron.”

“Not that one. I swear, he must have the Dark One somewhere in his lineage. He has kicked another stable boy today, so hard that the boy`s going to be bruised for weeks.”
“Fal, please”, Saven almost begged. “Make him talk about something else before I give in to the temptation and throttle him. I`m sick of horse talk.”

“Well”, Falira said slowly, pretending to ignore Daron`s indignant reaction. “I`ve always found that men and horses have a lot in common. If that stallion of yours won`t listen no matter what you do, I`ve just got one piece of advice for you.” She leaned to them, lowering her voice conspiratorially. “Geld him.”

Both men flinched and Falira couldn`t help grinning at the almost horrified reaction.
“Excuse me, there are other guests I must see to.”
“You know, the better I know you the scarier you are”, Daron muttered before she left. About one year ago he had showed some interest in her, but she had always fended him off. The attraction had faded into friendship and by now, Falira was certain Daron was quite glad about that.

Moving around in the common room, occasionally taking a short break to chat with the regulars she knew, made time pass quickly. She was just bringing two glasses of wine to a small group of merchants when Saranne laid a hand on her shoulder, her face unusually serious. Almost worried.

“The Lady over there wants to talk to you. Came striding in and directly asked for you. Doesn`t seem happy, though”, Saranne whispered into Falira`s ears, taking the glasses out of Falira`s hands. Falira`s gaze followed Saranne`s discreet head movement through the room until she saw the woman and the man sitting at a table, talking to each other. Now that Falira was paying attention, she felt as if someone had hit her in the stomach. The woman could channel. Strongly even for an Aes Sedai.

Had the White Tower finally found her? Or was it the Black Ajah? Her blood was rushing in her ears. There was no point in trying to escape; she wouldn`t make it out of the room unseen.
A squeeze on her arm made her blink at Saranne.
“Now go to her. Don`t worry; I`ll keep an eye on you.”

Suppressing a fit of hysterical laughter – what in the Light could Saranne do against an Aes Sedai? – Falira managed a nod. Her breath came faster than normal, but she could not slow her breathing down. Her own ability to channel was hidden by an inverted weave, one of the weaves none but Aes Sedai should know. Hardly a concern, though; the woman who had taught her was dead. Murdered.

Ever since she had managed to flee out of the Tower, Falira had feared they would find her. And now an Aes Sedai was here, asking for her. She should never have used her real name.
The thoughts tumbled through her head and were dismissed as irrelevant for the moment. No matter which Ajah this woman belonged to, Falira ought to beg forgiveness on her knees. As she walked towards the pair, she realized this was entirely beyond her. She could not so easily give up what she had become: a simple serving girl.

The Aes Sedai stared at her as she came close. That piercing gaze, the haughty air marked her as Aes Sedai as sure as her face did. Yet Saranne had called her a Lady, which meant the Aes Sedai had not revealed what she was. Play dumb, Falira thought desperately. Pretend I`m not the runaway she seeks. My name isn`t that unsual.

“You wanted to speak to me, my Lady?”, Falira asked with a small curtsy.

A week of nothing. Though it left him bored in the common room, most of the time, as he kept an eye on their serving girl, it was work Jasin was used to. Mai, on the other hand, was getting used to the idea that sometimes they were going to have to wait around for something to happen. It could've been worse, the local lords had taken the bait that she was a foreign Lady travelling the Westlands, and she'd been invited to a few parties over the week. She was upstairs now, preparing for one such function now.

Jasin froze when he turned to glance at the woman that walked in. The common room froze, there was something about her. She had the ageless look of the Aes Sedai of the world, but the sheer darkness of the hair clashed with the blue eyes. It made the shade seem more unnatural than it already was. She looked around the room, and his eye twitched just slightly when the look passed over him. When none of the serving girls approached, she all but shouted, "Innkeeper!"

There was a slight clatter, Jasin barely heard as he wasn't paying attention. A tray of something being set down. The kitchen door was shoved open against the wall, not a slam, but just so as the rather large innkeeper came out at speed. She took the food she served seriously, that much was obvious. "My La--" she started but cut herself off. "Aes Sedai! What can the Outer Harbor Inn do for you?"

"A room," she answered, a certain deadpan annoyance seeping through her tone. "Your best," she added, as if that should be obvious, but she didn't trust the innkeeper.

He sat there, holding his mug at a slight angle in front of him as if he was about to take a sip. He watched, still, as one of the innkeeper herself led the Aes Sedai...Mai...up the stairs. There was an inpatience to her step as the older and larger innkeeper could only take the stairs so quickly. Nonetheless, she couldn't just have one of the girls take care of this honor. She had to do it herself. He sat there watching the stairs for a few seconds after they were out of sight, then he shook his head sharply, taking a sip of the ale.

Jasin turned back to his ale, staring at the counter for a few minutes. He sipped at his drink occasionally. Mostly he just stared, trying to shake off the itch between his shoulders that had just appeared when he saw that...woman. Things were different, he wasn't sure what yet, but the mannerisms were the same. The gait was there. The self-assuredness. He swirled the ale around in the mug as he pulled out a few copper coins one by one and stacked them on the counter in front of himself. A few extra, and he upended the mug, drinking what little was left in a few large gulps.

He couldn't help but notice that he didn't get up until he'd flexed his foot, just so, checking that the knife down the back of his boot was secure before he stood up. He didn't usually do that. Usually it was only the knives up his sleeves. He checked those as well, walking between the tables for the main stairwell up to the rooms. At the second floor, he paused, looking down the hall, rooms down either side. He shook his lightly, and continued up at a faster pace. On the third floor he made his way down to the suite they'd been given. Well, the suite that Mai had been given. He had a small room across from it, one of the many along that side of the hall for those not as affluent as the nobles or merchants that stayed on the side with the suites. He knocked.

He entered when bidden, and stood there for a few seconds in thought after shutting the door behind him. Mai continued her preparation for the party some noble or another was hosting, which she'd been invited to. "You're here," he finally announced with a quiet nervousness.

He could see her look at his reflection in the mirror, not bothering to turn around. "What? Of course I'm--" she cut herself off when she saw how he looked at her. The curious nervousness that showed on his face. "What," was all she said, more of a demand. A reasonable one.

"You are here." he repeated, taking the empty chair to the side of the dresser. Her eyes followed him in the mirror, head turning to the side so she was still looking at him. "The you of this world. You have different hair, different eyes. She's younger, by looks anyway. And..." he let out a slow breath, thinking. "The way she held herself. The way she carried herself. She's..." A pause as he thought of the right words. "She'll kill on a whim. And nobody could stop her."

"Less than a whim," Mai answered after a few seconds of silence.

"How?"

She rolled her eyes, "You're someone who can break an Aes Sedai prisoner out of the deepest Tower Dungeon with three Aes Sedai and Gaidin in your way. You'll start a fight in the Amyrlin's own quarters." Mai went back to preparing for the party. "She's..." she paused awkwardly. "I'm...whatever. You're just on edge." She paused in her preparations again, and closed her eyes, as if trying to get a feel for something. As a matter of routine, she masked her ability to channel, mostly thanks to having to deal with the Seanchan Empire in her world. There wasn't a danger here. She winced at the end as she opened here eyes again. "She's in the suite above us. There's something...different about her ability. I can't say what."

She looked at Jasin again, only to see him sitting there, eyes closed in his own world of concentration, breathing slowly. She waited a few seconds, and then she asked, "What changes for us? She's obviously what we're here to deal with."

Jasin opened his eyes at the question. The nervousness was gone, the focus was back. He was running down scenarios in his head, but he didn't have to think about his answer. It was like the last few minutes had never happened. "Nothing changes," he answered. He looked her up and down as she nodded and started her preparations again. "You two look different enough that even to the careful observer you're only sisters decades apart in age. If we don't draw attention to it, she won't notice. She's got bigger things on her mind."

"How do you know this?" Mai asked curiously.

"Why are we here?" he asked as if to prod her mind in the right direction. "When someone like her comes to a place like this, there's always a pretty important reason. This isn't Caemlyn." He stood and started for the door. "We follow her. We watch her. We learn her habits. I want to know how she takes her bloody tea; but that starts tomorrow. For now go to the party. Enjoy yourself; it's your last night before it all becomes real for you. I'm going back to the End of Time to get something arranged just in case we need it."

"Wait, what do you mean it bec--" she managed to blurt out just as the door shut behind him.