The Gathering Storm

"Then why drink it?" Gawyn asked.

"It's supposed to improve my health," Bryne grumbled. Before Gawyn could ask further, the large general continued, "So are you going to make me throw you in the stocks before you'll tell me why you decided to fight your way into my command post?"

Gawyn stepped forward. "Gareth. It's Egwene. They have her."

"The White Tower Aes Sedai?"

Gawyn nodded urgently.

"I know." Bryne took another drink, then grimaced again.

"We have to go for her!" Gawyn said. "I came to ask you for help. I intend to mount a rescue."

Bryne snorted softly. "A rescue? And how do you intend to get into the White Tower? Even the Aiel couldn't break into that city."

"They didn't want to," Gawyn said. "But I don't need to take the city, I just need to sneak a small force in, then get one person out. Every rock has its cracks. I'll find a way."

Bryne set his cup aside. He looked at Gawyn, firm, weathered face an icon of nobility. "But tell me this, lad. How are you going to get her to come out with you?"

Gawyn started. "Why, she'll be happy to come. Why wouldn't she?"

"Because she's forbidden us to rescue her," Bryne said, clasping his hands behind his back again. "Or so I've been able to gather. The Aes Sedai tell me little. One would think they'd be more trusting toward a man they depend on to run this siege of theirs. Anyway, the Amyrlin can communicate with them somehow, and she's instructed them to leave her be."

What? That was ridiculous! Obviously, the Aes Sedai in camp were fudging the facts. "Bryne, she's imprisoned! The Aes Sedai I heard talking said that she's being beaten daily. They'll execute her!"

"I don't know," Bryne said. "She's been with them for weeks now and they haven't killed her yet."

"They'll kill her," Gawyn said urgently. "You know they will. Perhaps you parade a fallen enemy before your soldiers for a time, but eventually you have to mount his head on a pike to let them know he's dead and gone. You know I'm right."

Bryne regarded him, then nodded. "Perhaps I do. But there's still nothing I can do. I'm bound by oaths, Gawyn. I can't do anything unless that girl instructs me to."

"You'd let her die?"

"If that's what it takes to keep my oath, then yes."

If Bryne was bound by oath . . . well, he'd sooner hear an Aes Sedai tell a lie than see Gareth Bryne break his word. But Egwene! There had to be something he could do!

"I'll try to get you an audience with some of the Aes Sedai I serve," Bryne said. "Perhaps they can do something. If you persuade them that a rescue is needed, and that the Amyrlin would want it, then we'll see."

Gawyn nodded. It was something at least. "Thank you."

Bryne waved indifferently. "Though I should see you in the stocks. For wounding three of my men, if nothing else."

"Have an Aes Sedai Heal them," Gawyn said. "From what I've heard, you've no lack of sisters to bully you."

"Bah," Bryne said. "I can rarely get them to Heal anyone unless the soldier's life is threatened. I had a man take a bad spill while riding the other day, and I was told that Healing would only teach him to be reckless. 'Pain is its own lesson,' the blasted woman said. 'Perhaps next time he won't see fit to make sport for his friends while riding.' "

Gawyn grimaced. "But surely they'll make an exception for those men. After all, an enemy did do the wounding."

"We'll see," Bryne said. "The sisters rarely visit the soldiers. They've their own business to be about."

"There's one in the outer camp now," Gawyn said absently, glancing over his shoulder.

"Younger girl? Dark hair, without the ageless face?"

"No, this was an Aes Sedai. I could tell because of the face. She was kind of plump, with lighter hair."

"Probably just scouting for Warders," Bryne said, sighing. "They do that."