The Gathering Storm

"Blood and bloody ashes!" Bryne exclaimed. The general rarely cursed. "I knew that the person leading those raids against me was too well informed. And here I was, looking for a leak among my officers!"

"It doesn't matter now."

"I'll judge that," Bryne said. "You've been killing my men. Leading raids against me!"

"Leading raids against the rebels," Gawyn said, turning hard eyes on Bryne. "You may blame me for bullying my way into your camp, but do you honestly expect me to feel guilty for helping the White Tower against the force besieging it?"

Bryne fell silent. Then he nodded curtly. "Very well. But that makes you an enemy commander.'

"No longer," Gawyn said. "I've left that command."

"But—"

"I helped them," Gawyn said. "I no longer do. Nothing I see here will return to your enemies, Bryne. I swear it on the Light."

Bryne didn't respond immediately. They passed tents, likely for the high officers, approaching the palisade wall. "Very well," Bryne said. "I can trust you haven't changed enough to break your word."

"I wouldn't turn against that oath," Gawyn said harshly. "How could you think that I would?"

"I've had experience with unexpected renunciations of oaths lately," Bryne said. "I said I believe you, lad. And I do. But you still haven't explained why you didn't return to Caemlyn."

"Egwene was with the Aes Sedai," Gawyn said. "As far as I knew, Elayne was as well. This seemed a good place to be, although I wasn't certain I liked Elaida's authority."

"And what is Egwene to you?" Bryne asked softly.

Gawyn met his eyes. "I don't know," he admitted. "I wish I did."

Strangely, Bryne chuckled. "I see. And I understand. Come, let's find this Aes Sedai you think you saw."

"I did see her, Gareth," Gawyn said, nodding to the guards as they passed out the gates. The men saluted Bryne, but watched Gawyn as they would a blacklance. As well they should.

"We shall see what we find," Bryne said. "Regardless, once I get you a meeting with the Aes Sedai leaders, I want your word that you'll go back to Caemlyn. Leave Egwene to us. You need to help Elayne. It's your place to be in Andor."

"I could say the same of you." Gawyn surveyed the teeming followers' camp. Where had the woman been?

"You could," Bryne said gruffly. "But it wouldn't be true. Your mother saw to that."

Gawyn glanced at him.

"She put me out to pasture, Gawyn. Banished me and threatened me with death."

"Impossible!"

Bryne looked grim. "I felt the same way. But it is true nonetheless. The things she said . . . they stung, Gawyn. That they did indeed."

That was all Bryne said, but from him, it spoke volumes. Gawyn had never heard the man offer a word of discontent about his station or his orders. He had been loyal to Morgase—loyal with the kind of steadfastness a ruler could only hope for. Gawyn had never known a man more sure, or a man less likely to complain.

"It must have been part of some scheme," Gawyn said. "You know Mother. If she hurt you, there was a reason."

Bryne shook his head. "No reason other than foolish love for that fop Gaebril. She nearly let her clouded head ruin Andor."

"She'd never!" Gawyn snapped. "Gareth, you of all people should know that!"

"I should," Bryne said, lowering his voice. "And I wish I did."

"She had another motive," Gawyn said stubbornly. He felt the heat of anger rise within him again. Around them, peddlers glanced at the two, but said nothing. They probably knew not to approach Bryne. "But now we'll never know it. Not now that she's dead. Curse al'Thor! The day can't come soon enough when I can run him through."

Bryne looked at Gawyn sharply. "Al'Thor saved Andor, son. Or as near to it as a man could."