The Shadow Beckons

Over the years people have wondered, what had changed me so. When I returned to the Hall after one hundred and seven years, most Aes Sedai thought I was about to follow my father over to the Shadow. I was after all much like him in my youth. Some still do to this day, quoting the old saying. "The apple doesn't fall far from the tree." But those who I have gained the trust of sometimes wonder what changed me so. I remember those moments well, because most of them were too painful to ever forget. Many times I have promised to never speak of them.

  "Mr. Rosmani, come back to bed." Came a young voice from the vicinity of the bed.

  Corey shakes his head and sighs. He hated it when she called him that. He turns to the bed where a slim young blonde girl who was just barely twenty sat covering herself with the blue comforter to conceal her nakedness. "I am afraid we don't have the time, Amelia." Corey said regretfully. "If my memory serves me correctly, your first class should be starting soon.

  Her blonde head whipped around to the clock. "Blood and ashes!" she swore as she jumped out of bed, no longer worrying about covering herself.

  From the window Corey no longer admired the view of the city, his has eyes were glued to the girl running around the room snatching up her clothing that had been tossed around the room the night before in their impatience. With a small smile Corey walks over to the corner over the bed and picks up her blouse from where it had been flung. Fighting the urge to make her miss her first class and him late for his, Corey hands her blouse with more than a little regret. She thankfully takes the blouse from him and quickly flings it around here shoulders, thrusting her arms through the sleeves.

  Buttoning up the front of her blouse she moves closer to Corey and stands are her tiptoes to kiss him lightly on the mouth. "Last night was wonderful." She purred. "I will see you in lass later."

  She turns on her heal and hurries towards the bedroom door when Corey stops her in a teasing voice. "Amelia, you finished your homework for my class, right?"

  She stops at the door, with her hand on the knob and looks back at Corey with a brilliant smile. "Of course Mr. Rosmani." She said with a laugh. "I always do the homework from your class first." She then opens the door and calls back to him. "See you later Mr. Rosmani."

  "Bye." Corey says as she closes the door. Scratching his thigh he walks over to the bathroom, where he catches a glimpse of himself in the mirror from the corner of his eye. He turns his head and places a hand on his slightly protruding stomach. Scowling a little, he takes a deep breath and sucks in his stomach with his hand pushing down on it to push in further, his chest puffing up from the effort. Sighing a little and with a shake of his head he let’s out the air from his lungs, and lets out his stomach.

  "I've got to lay off the fried foods." Corey said disgustedly. Disgusted, Corey smacks his stomach lightly and walks over to the shower. A knock on his bedroom door stopped him, he wondered who it could be, and Amelia wouldn't have knocked. Looking back through the bathroom door, Corey turns and grabs a robe from a hook next to the door and throws it over his shoulders, tying the belt at his waste as he made his way to the bedroom door. Opening the door his jaw droops at the sight of a blonde woman nearly as tall as he does and with similar features.

  "I hope you don't mind me coming here." She said. "Your little flipskirt let me in on her way out. How old is she anyway? Nineteen, twenty?"

  "Twenty." Corey mumbled. "Just last night." Then getting over his surprise Corey moves away from the door to allow her entrance. "Alysa, what brings you here? I thought mother and father had you pretty well tied down in Paaren Disen playing at being a Sitter in the Hall."

  She laughs at that as she enters the room and looks around a little. "Oh, even they have to let me go from time to time. I wouldn't have had to do it if you had been a good boy and kept your Seat."

  Corey shakes his head as he closes the door. "Giving up that seat was the best thing I ever did, the Power it gave me was great, but being father's puppet wore on my nerves. Enough of that." Corey said. "What brings you here?"

  She smiles. "I heard Mierin and Beidomon are going to try accessing the new source of the Power today." She shrugs. "The Hall is all abuzz about it and the possibilities it brings. I wanted to be here when they did it." She then wrinkles her nose at Corey. "Corey, you need to take a shower. You still stink of last night activities."

  Corey snorts at that. "I was about to before you interrupted me." He walks over to the closet next to the bed, and opens it thumbing through the clothing with in.

  Alysa laughs, and walks over to over to a window and opens it for ventilation. "So, who is she?" She asked. "Not one of you’re students looking for a better grade, I hope." She then takes a chair next to the window. "I heard a rumor in Paaren Disen that you once almost had a student from each class going through your bed. Lucky for you they could never prove it."

  Corey's hand stops in the motion of choosing a shirt, then continues and pulls one out. "Her name is Amelia, and she is the only one." He said. "And yes, she is student if you must know. The Collan Daan has no rules against a student and teacher relationship. I never give my 'flipskirts', as you call; them better grades for their accomplishments in bed. However, she does think she isn't doing all that well in my class." Corey admits. "She really doesn't have anything to fear, her grade is fine."

  Alysa shakes her head in disgust. "I wonder why you haven't told her that." She said with and edge in her voice. "You're taking advantage of a students insecurities and using them for your own pleasures. You remind me a lot of father, all that matters is what you want, and nothing else."

  Corey looks at his sister, and points a finger at her angrily. "She is the one who started this, not I. I could care less for her reasons, it won't get her any special treatment. So why don't you go ride your high horse somewhere else."

  Alysa just shakes her head again. "I am sorry, you are obviously a man of strong ethics." She said sarcastically. "Pardon me for implying other wise. I am surprised you still hold your teaching position." Then she takes on a tone of sweetness. "I guess you are much better than the apprentice who once almost became the first ever non-Aes Sedai to be bound as a criminal." She then puts a hand to her face, mimicking thought. "I am wondering though, what did a rich soon to be Aes Sedai need with a Jo'car? How many did you steal before being caught anyway?"

  Corey sighs angrily. "Sometimes I wonder why you ever come to visit me. All you ever to is berate me." Gathering his clothes into his left arm he turns to the bathroom. "You will excuse me while I go and take my shower. It should give you plenty of time to think up more of my past sins."

  Corey showers quickly, wanting to be able to walk to the University this morning to help burn off the few extra pounds that he had. Out of the shower he dries off quickly and dresses, practically throwing the clothes onto his body. He exits the bathroom expecting his sister to continue with her tirade, and say how much of a screw up he actually is. Instead he sees her smiling happily while looking out of the window, still sitting on the chair she had taken. Hearing him open the door, she turned to him and smiled.

  "I am sorry Corey." She said, actually meaning it. "It isn't my place to question your lifestyle. It is just that it frustrates me, I know you and I know how great you could become, and sometimes I just feel you are wasting your potential."

  Corey just shrugs. "It is alright, your heart is in the right place." He smiles at her and laughs, releasing the tension in the room. "I just think you do it because sometimes you forget I am actually one hundred and twenty three, and not twelve and up to no good. You are getting better at it though."

  Alysa laughs at that. "Maybe that is it. But, it is my job to do it, I am your older sister after all!"

  Corey nods and laughs. "True." He said in agreement. He walks over to where his sister is sitting and helps her out of the chair. "Walk with me to the Collan Daan, there is much I would like to talk about."

  Alysa nods and lets Corey lead her out of the bedroom, then out of his apartments and down to the streets below. He chooses a walkway that was lined with Chora trees, hoping that they would give him the peace of mind that he would need for his very first class of the day. He looks over at his sister who was gazing open mouthed at a fountain that portrayed a serpentine beast from mythology called a dragon spewing water -implace of fire- at a bestial creature. Surrounding the dragon and the creature were Aes Sedai, all of them spewing water at the monster the dragon were attacking.

  "Beautiful, isn't it?" Corey asked.

  Alysa nods. "Yes, it is." she breathes in response.

  Corey smiles. "Of course it doesn't compare to some of the fountains from home and Paaren Disen, but it is grand none the less." He then puts a hand on his sister's shoulder to get her full attention. "So how is mother and father?"

  Alysa looks back at Corey. "They're fine. Mother sends her greetings and well wishing. Father is still angry you gave up your Seat in the Hall."

  Corey rolls his eyes at that and lowers his hand from his sister's shoulder. "That was over fifteen years ago, will he ever forgive and forget?"

  Alysa shrugs. "Father has a long memory, and holds grudges. As do you, you could have ended this long ago." She then shakes her head at the thought of both of their stubbornness. "Anyway, he may forget soon. He is trying to become Tamyrlin, but he is running against Lews Therin and some other man that alludes my memory. Few give him a chance against either of them."

  Corey had only met Lews Therin once, and had liked the man. "Lews is a good man." He said.

  "Yes, he is." She said, agreeing with Corey. "Also, father was caught bedding one of his Aiel servants. Many Sitters are crying foul over his lapse in etiquette."

  Corey shakes his head and laughs in frustration. "Poor father, even I am more subtle than he is. Sometimes I wonder why mother stays with him."

  "Sometimes I wonder myself." She says, then changes the subject. "So, when is the scheduled time for Mierin's project?"

  Corey looks at his watch, then up at the Sharom. "Should be anytime now."

  Just as he said that, the feel of Saidin being drawn in large amounts was in the Air, then his arms goose pimpled as Saidar was used in equal amounts. It was happening now, but as time went on, a panicked thought entered his mind, even as he walked under the Chora trees. Something was wrong, and he couldn't shake the thought. Something was wrong and he could feel it down to his bones. In a near panic he looks up to the Sharom in time to see an explosion mushroom above it. Then the large disk cracks like an egg and then descends to the earth below it. He could hear a horrified gasp from his sister at his side. Then from where the Sharom had been and eddy of darkness shot across the sky, and as it passed over Corey it drove him to his knees with dread. His hands covered his eyes, and dimly he was aware of his sister screaming his name. A foretelling took a hold of his mind, a foretelling he did not wish to see. It foretold of blood and war, and a man who would rise to prominence fighting the War, and those who would betray all for the power that was promised to them. Then finally it foretold of a madness that would take a hold of all male Aes Sedai, and the eventual breaking of the world. The foretelling alone almost drove him mad on the spot. Not wanting to believe his foretelling, Corey screams to the heavens, screaming at the very Creator he had never believed in until moments ago. A Creator he now hated.

  Alysa was at his side, her hands running over his face and shoulders. Dimly he was aware of her crying while she was trying to calm him. "Corey, oh Light, what is wrong? What is it?" She screamed. "Please answer me!”

  The scene around them was bedlam as people ran to where the Sharom had fallen. Wanting to see what had happened, and to see if anybody had survived the fall and if they could help in any way. A few would stop and ask if they were all right, but Alysa would send them off assuring them that they were in fact just fine. Finally Corey answered his sister's cries.

  "Nothing is alright." Is said strangely calm. "Evil comes, Alysa, and it brings with it death."

  "What are you talking about, Corey?" Alysa screams.

  Corey just shakes his head, unable to clear the vision from his mind. Far off he wondered if he was in shock, he knew that he was to calm considering what he had just seen. "I must go Alysa."

  "Go where, Corey." She asked, her voice not understanding.

  "I do not know, away." He said. He grasped Saidin and opened a Gateway to a place he knew not where. "Please do not follow me." With that he stepped into the gateway never to return to V'saine.

  A roar from the crowd shook the Arena, the loudest cheer he had heard all night. It had even shaken the very walls of the room Corey was sitting quietly in, below the spectators, where he was waiting on the results of the current match. Mentally Corey knew someone had won, and he suspected it had been Tel Janin, few could beat him. He could count on one hand how many men who could beat him, and only Lews Therin had been on that list. Earlier Corey had surprised himself when he had beaten Lews Therin; it had been his first time in countless matches that he had beaten the man. Corey smiles at the thought of his triumph. The sword had seemed alive in his hand, and he could do nothing wrong. He had beaten Lews Therin quickly to advance onto the Championship, and only one man stood between him and victory now. It most likely was Tel Janin, another man he had never beaten.

  Corey looked up as an old man entered the room that had been reserved for him. "Who won the match?" He asked before the old man could say anything.

  "Tel Janin won, Master Patrick." The old man answered. "He killed the man he faced. He rammed his wooden sword through the mesh of his helm, through the man's eye straight in to his brain. He was dead before a Healer could get to him. That is why the crowd screams so, the cheer for the blood Tel Janin has given them." The old man explained.

  Corey nods his head, easily responding to the name he had assumed for the competitions. He had also taken on a disguise to hide him from those who knew him, and from his family. He didn't want them to find out where he was, and what he was doing. He didn't want anybody to know the time wasn't set for that to be revealed. He knew he couldn't stop the coming war, but maybe he could change the outcome. It was all he had left to believe in. Besides, they knew he was alive and well through the messages they had sent back and forth. It was enough for now.

  "Thank you." Was all he said to the old man.

  The old man salutes him. "Your match will start in fifteen minutes, good luck Master Patrick." The old man said as he left the room, closing the door behind him.

  Corey spent the time second checking his gear, making sure his padded armor was put on correctly, and tightly strapped down, even checking his wooden practice sword for any crack that might compromise its strength. He even checked the mesh on the front of his padded helm. It was made to allow for normal vision, and guard against a slashing practice sword to prevent any major damage. It was not made to withstand somebody stabbing at it; it would be no protection at all. Corey wondered if Tel Janin had killed the man on purpose, he could think of any move that was meant to run a sword through and opponent’s eye, or even stab the face. If Tel Janin had done it on purpose, he had done it to get the cheers the bloodthirsty people of Qual would give on the first site of blood.

  Corey then thought of the crowd, and felt disgusted, he wanted no part of their blood lust. Ever since the Sha'je duels had been banned they had looked to other venues of entertainment to sate their blood lust. They came to the sword matches in the hopes of seeing someone hurt, many didn't come because it was rare for anyone to die because of an injury inflicted during the match. Corey had heard that the Sha'je duels still existed underground, held by rich and high ranking Friends of the Dark. He had never found any proof of their existence though; they kept a good lid on them if they still were being held. Few officers of the law would investigate rumor, unless they had proof to go on. So Corey had given up, knowing he would probably never find out the truth. The lust for blood didn't end in Qual though; it was all over the land, even in Paaren Disen. Wondering what Tel Janin's action would mean for the sport, Corey decided that this would be his last match. Out of respect for the man who had died tonight and for those who would likely die later. He would not be apart of something that could be twisted into something that could be used to appease the depraved. What would they call for next? Real blades? They already screamed for a man's blood.

  A cold thought entered his mind, he knew he would have enjoyed this blood sport fifties years ago. After all, at one time he had believed that nobody was forced in to anything, it would have been his or her choice. If they had died, oh well, it was a bad choice. He knew it because of his reaction when the Sha'je duels had been made illegal, at the time he had thought they should have been left up to the people to decide on. If somebody wanted to kill somebody else in a controlled atmosphere, more power to him or her. Now he couldn't imagine letting something like that exists. His father had supported the Sha'je duels, trying to block any type of ban on them. He eventually failed, and Corey was now glad of it. Sometimes he was amazed about how much he had changed, idly he wondered how much more he would change. His thoughts were interrupted when a man opened the door to announce that it was time for his match.

  Corey stood up from his chair, and picks up his sword with his left hand while holding his helm under his right arm. Exiting the room, he walks down the long hallway that leads to the ring where the match would be held. Entering the Arena Corey is met with the enthusiastic cheers from the crowd, all of them hoping that he would give them more blood. Corey half heatedly raises his helmet in response to the crowd’s applause at his arrival. They cheered louder, but they then went wild when Tel Janin made his entrance. He was their favorite, he had given them blood, and they wanted more.

  Corey entered the ring, and noticed the blood stain in the center of the ring; it was about a foot long and a little over a foot wide, marking where the defeated man had fallen. He was disgusted anew; they could have at least postponed the match out of respect for the dead. But they had not, because the crowd hungered for more blood, and they demanded to be appeased. From their cheers, Corey could tell they wanted his blood. Placing his helm on his head, Corey awaits Tel Janin's arrival into the ring. When he enters he circles the ring, he circles it waving his sword in the air driving the crowd to scream even louder, whipping them into frenzy. Then they began to chant, "Blood. Blood. Blood.”

  Tel Janin quit circling the ring and stopped before Corey, and looked at him with emotionless eyes. With a malicious smile he places his helm atop his head. A bald man wearing white enters the ring, and recited the rules of the match to them. He then reminds Tel Janin that there is no killing. In response Tel Janin just snorts his understanding to the man. Corey just shakes his head; it wouldn't be as if they would disqualify him for it, he thought angrily. The bald man then signals the match to begin.

  Mockingly, Tel Janin takes a swipe at Corey that contained no technique, which he easily defends against. In response, he glides into The Courtier Taps His Fan, sending Tel Janin reeling to avoid the match being over before it started. Corey then quickly moves into Bundling Straw to take advantage of Tel Janin being off balance. But Tel Janin responds quickly with Cat on Hot Sand. Then the two opponents began testing each other, probing for weakness and trying to out maneuver each other. Corey had set the tone, and Tel Janin was trying desperately to take it away. Lightning of Three Prongs met striking the Sparks, then Tower of Morning met Seamstress Skills. Corey seamlessly moves into The Boar Rushes down the Mountain, catching Tel Janin off guard. The strike hit him at the base of the neck where the shoulder meets the neck and he is driven to his knees wish a gasp of pain.

  The man who recited the rules returned and raised Corey's sword arm in the air, proclaiming him the winner. The crowd cheered his victory, but only half heatedly compared to Tel Janin's last victory. Corey hadn't given them blood, and they weren't happy. That night he was awarded the Heron Marked sword to proclaim him champion. When the fanfare was over, and Corey had a moment to himself he quietly slipped off into the night never to be seen again. Later some would wonder what had happened to Patrick Al'Cazar. Some would come to suspect Tel Janin had a hand in his disappearance, but there was no body every found and no reason to suspect foul play.

  Later Corey would remember and think this crime was one of the few crimes Tel Janin was actually innocent of.

  A man stripped to the waste stood before a remote cottage, a practice sword alive in his hands. Sweat glistened off of his muscular shoulders as he glided from through the sword forms, effortlessly moving from one form to the next. He seemed oblivious to the world around him as he moved fluidly from stance to stance. Off in the distance two men dressed in identical black clothing walked down the wooded path that led to the cottage. They had the look of men who were up to no good.

  Corey stops in midterm, noticing the men making their way down the path to his home. Letting his sword arm down, he turned to watch the men as they approached him. He didn't know who they where, and he definitely didn't know what they would want with him. They weren't the types of people who usually visited him. The two men made Corey a little nervous; they had an air about them that spoke of violence kept in check.

  "Excuse me." The man who looked to be the leader called out. "Would your name happen to be Corey Soren Rosmani?"

  Corey looked at the two men suspiciously. "I might be. Who wants to know?"

  The two men looked at each other and nodded. "We are friends of your fathers. He sent us to find you, he wishes to speak with you."

  Corey instantly went on guard, opening himself to Saidin ready to grasp it at a moments notice. "My father is a Friend of the Dark and calls himself a Dreadlord. I can't imagine anything I'd like to talk to him about, or hear from him." Corey then looks at the two men, sizing them up. "I don't believe I wish to talk to the two of you either. I think you should go now."

  The two men looked at each other again. The leader spoke for the both of them. "I don't think we can do that."

  Corey quirks and eyebrow at them, and prepares to grasp Saidin. He had a feeling they weren't going to leave peacefully. "I think that you can." Corey said emotionlessly. "All you have to do is turn around and walk back the way you came."

  The leader then smirks at him, Corey then feels both men grab Saidin. "I don't think that we can do that."

  Corey grasps Saidin as they channel at him and slashes the weaves destroying them before they could reach him. In response Corey then hurls fire at the two men, and then throws his practice sword at the spot the Leader of the two men was, right behind the fire. The two men easily slash Corey's fire weave, but the leader not knowing what was behind the fire is struck on the forehead by the spinning blade of the practice sword. The leader falls bonelessly backwards to the ground and doesn't even try to rise. The practice sword landing beside him.

  "The Great Lord take you!" The second man screams in a panic at Corey. He then channels all of his strength at Corey, but to no avail. Corey easily defends himself against the might of the Dreadlord. He was by far the stronger of the two, and the Dreadlord knew it as he began to back away, still hurling his might against him.

  "You first." Corey said as the man burst into flame.

  The air came alive with the screams of the burning Dreadlord as he ran around, trying in vain to put himself out. The smell of his burning flesh almost made Corey gag, even within the nothingness of the void. Taking mercy on the dying man, Corey put him out of his misery by stopping his heart with a weave of Water that burst his arteries. He then turns to the leader, and notices his chest still rising and falling as he took a breath. Taking no chances, he binds the Dreadlord with Air, and Shields him. Corey walks over to the dreadlord and kneels before him, and delves him. The Dreadlord didn't have any fatal injury, but the purple knot on his head was pretty nasty. Using the Power Corey wakes the Dreadlord, intending to get some answers from him. As soon as the Dreadlord gets his bearings he immediately begins to try and break down the Shield.

  "Stop," Corey commands. "Or I will be forced to kill you. Do you wish to join your friend in his visit to your dark master?" The Dreadlord just as quickly quit trying to break the shield. "Now, what is it my father wants with me?"

  "It isn't any real secret." The dreadlord said. "He wants you to witness the fall of Devaille and see the Power of the Shadow." The Dreadlord spat. Seeing Corey's surprise he continues. "In your little hideaway you seemed to have missed the beginning of the War. We may have failed to free the Dark One, but soon we will have complete victory. Dreadlord Rosmani wishes for you to join him."

  Without a word Corey stood up from the Dreadlord's side and lifted him with the Power. Corey opens the gateway, into a room made for incoming Aes Sedai to the Hall of Servants. He sends the Dreadlord through first and then follows after letting the gateway close behind him. Outside of the room Corey could see people running every which way, they seemed to be frightened and not sure what to do. Corey steps out into the hall and stops a man who was running by and asks him what is going on.

  "Murad Cairaldazar Rosmani has attacked Devaille, and it has fallen. We are receiving refugees now." The man said panting.

  Corey could hear the Dreadlord laugh behind him. He wishes he had gagged the Dreadlord as well. "Which rooms are they Gating into?"

  The man points down the hall. "They are coming in through the first ten rooms."

  Corey nods in thanks. "Get an Aes Sedai, I have taken a Dreadlord captive. He says he is under the command of Murad Cairaldazar Rosmani." The man runs off, eager to give this news to an Aes Sedai. Corey turns back to the captive Dreadlord and punches him right on the forehead, where the knot is. The Dreadlord's eyes roll into the back of his head as he passes out. "Goodnight." Corey says as he leaves the room.

  Corey makes his way down the hall through the throngs of running people and searches from room to room. Till now he had kept his worry in check, but seeing the condition of the refugees he began to become panicked. Last he had heard his sister had been moved to Devaille after she had given up her Seat in the Hall. He hoped his information had been old, and she had been moved to a different city, or if she had been there she had found a way to get out. About to move onto a next room, somebody quietly saying his name brought him back. It was his sister, or what was left of her. Her blood-covered face had made it hard for him to recognize her. Corey ran to her side, pushing people out of the way if need be. He kneels before her, pulling her into his arms.

  "Oh Light, what happened Alysa?" Corey cried, tears running from his eyes.

  "A Dreadlord, didn't see him, until it was to late." She gasped, blood flowing from her mouth. "Light, it hurts!"

  Corey wiped the bloody soaked and matted hair away from her face. "Don't speak Alysa, a healer is on the way. Just hold on." Corey began to rock back and forth unconsciously. "Oh Light, please hold on."

  "Corey," She said. "There is something I must tell you."

  Corey just shook his head. "No, save you strength. It can wait till later."

  She shook her head, coughing up blood. "No." She said weakly. "It can't wait,... if I wait I'll be dead. I am dying Corey,... they won't get a Healer in time to stop that." She took a gasping breath then continued. "Father tortured mother to death,.. She refused to turn.... He then used her mangled corpse.... To try and make me convince Devaille to surrender." She took another breath. "When it didn't work, he attacked." She was then caught be a fit of coughing. "Corey, don't follow father. . . . You are better than he is. . . Don't turn, . . . become what I know you can become." She coughed again. "Please Corey."

  Corey shook his head, fighting back tears. "I won't, I promise." He closes his eyes, tears flowing between his eyelids. "Please don't die, oh Light, please don't die."

  She just smiled at him one last time as the light left her eyes forever. Corey's head tilted back as he howled out his grief, cursing the Dark One for taking his family away, cursing the Creator for allowing it. When he was done howling, he held his sister close, his forehead touching hers, his tears falling on her face as he rocked her back and forth in his grief. When the Healer arrived he heard Corey promising over and over again "I will never turn, I promise.". He gently pried Corey away from his dead sister, and had her moved to the make shift morgue. When he left he saw Corey hugging himself, crying like a broken child, still promising over and over again not to turn.