The One... Or Two?

The White Tower

Two weeks passed and the outer wounds healed. Secily continued on before coming to an oddly familiar view of a misty mountain like home beyond Tar Valon. A part of her couldn't help but wonder what it would be like to venture up the mountain instead of facing an unknown future and unfamiliar emotions.

She'd gotten worse on her own. She never channeled yet was more paranoid than ever. So, wandering the marketplace, her eyes jerked around like a frightened cat. She stuck her head down and took cover wherever she could.

As it turned out, the market was so busy because there was a celebration. The Aes Sedai were returning and the man who'd been in the cage still was. Had the camp gotten her warning of scouts?

The Aes Sedai propped on the thrones behind him looked well. They weren't focusing on the man, but the celebration. Stepin was pulling an empty horse, looking hopeless. He didn't even notice the redhead he passed. People from windows threw food at the man, others shouted threats to him. His eyes caught on something and he looked up. The red Sedai from camp was pelted in the face and Secily covered her smile. The (false or no?) Dragon moved to the edge of his cage, looked up, and laughed darkly.

Secily followed his gaze and saw her twin... and a grim-looking Mat. She waited for the parade to end before crossing the road, following the retreating figures down twisting alleys until she clapped her hand on Rand's shoulder. He swung around, his arm jerking out to circle with him. She ducked the reaction, giggling when she stood back up. "Well, fuck me then," she quipped.

Rand stared at her in awe, as if unable to comprehend her presence. "By the Light." He wrapped his arms around her shoulders. "Oh, thank the Light you're safe." He pulled back urgently. "Where's Egwene? And Perrin?"

Secily smiled and nodded, taking his chin in her hand. "On their way, I anticipate. It is very unlikely that we were both wrong about how Egwene would react."

Mat, a few feet down, was staring at her through squinted eyes. "Sis?" he called.

Secily stepped toward him, another smile forced onto her face. "But of course, my darling. As if I would ever leave you alone with my brother for more than a month or two. May I see your tongue?" She reached for his mouth.

Mat suddenly lunged at her, teeth bared as he hissed, "Don't touch me!" She held his shoulders firm and he came back to his senses. "I'm sorry. I'm sorry."

The redhead girl took his face between her palms. "Shh... It's ok." She turned to a stressed-looking Rand. "Have you established a resting place?"

Rand nodded. The twins escorted the exhausted thief back to their room (assuring the innkeep she was just visiting).

Once getting him firmly on his bed, Secily ran her hand down Mat's greasy hair. "Get some rest, love. You look like you need it so it must be bad."

He laughed before rolling away and drifting off.

Rand led her outside, and the two of them walked into an empty corridor.

"What has happened to him?" Secily asked lightly, not placing blame. Needing answers.

Rand let out a weighted sigh. "I think he can channel."

Secily stopped. They'd just witnessed what happened to male channelers. She looked through the window, in at Mat. "Have you seen it?" she asked, once again no weight behind it.

Rand sat on a bench, bent over. "No, but he's losing himself. I know Moiraine said we should come to her at the White Tower. I don't know if we can trust her," he explained, looking to his twin. She who doubted all, feared all. She would understand, and her face said she did, even as she wanted to trust the Sedai. "We saw what the Aes Sedai did to the false Dragon."