An unbreakable bond

Chapter 23

Lan felt the cold air on his wet back, which was telling him that the blade would kill him any second. He didn't look at Moiraine or Nynaeve. He didn't want any of them to worry any more than they already did. Of course, he wished that he would have been able to kill Kaslian – and this Valda – for hurting Moiraine and for torturing him, but at least his Aes Sedai would live.

'Rand, Perrin, Egwene, and Loial are still out there. Maybe they come back with some help. Siuan will be able to take care of Moiraine.'

"NO!" Moiraine's scream made his heart ache, but for the first time, he was glad that their bond was masked. He didn't want her to feel his death.

Suddenly, he felt a weave of air, which hit the wooden construct he was on pretty hard, as well as the two standing men. Kaslian went down, while Valda was thrown against the wall of the tent, which tore under the pressure. When he felt the heat of a flame on his hands, he noticed that the ropes were on fire. One look at Nynaeve, and he saw that her ropes were burning as well. From the corner of his eyes, he noticed a movement, and his eyes widen when he saw Moiraine, who was standing up from the chair. The remains of her burned restraints fell on the ground. She wasn't angry anymore. His Aes Sedai was furious! The wind was moving around her in circles, which made her look like a vengeance goddess. He had never seen her like that!

She moved her hands and one second later, Lan felt how his wounds started to heal. She has connected to the source again! Without saying anything, Moiraine passed her warder and moved to Valda, who was still lying on his back and groaning. With the lift of her hand, she moved the books on his desk and threw them on the questioner, who covered his head quickly. "You like to torture people? Well, why don't you play with me a little?" Another lift and Valda's silverware came flying at him. At the last second, he rolled to his side, and they got stuck in the ground.

"Lan." Nynaeve's hands were free and the young woman was holding her head, but she was already on her knees. Obviously, Moiraine didn't just heal him. She was also healing Nynaeve. This way, she would be able to walk on her own.

Lan wanted to go to her, but his back was still healing and the pain was terrible. He reached out his hand to her – the burning around his wrists was also healing – when he noticed that Kaslian was back on his feet. The angry man threw a deadly look at Moiraine's back, then he pulled out a dagger and turned to Lan.

"If she thinks that I won't fulfill my promise just because she can channel again, then she doesn't know me at all! You will die, warder!"

Lan tried to push himself up to have a better position, but the air was pushing him down, while Kaslian came for him. "Leave him alone!" Nynaeve grabbed Kaslian's cloak, but she wasn't strong enough to hold him in place. The Whitecloak freed his cloak from her grasp, then he faced Lan again when he was suddenly hit in the face by a flying chest, which sent him back to the ground. This time, Kaslian didn't stand up. The air on Lan's back disappeared and he turned his head to Moiraine. Their eyes met for a second before she returned her attention to Valda. But the warder had seen enough. She was still pissed, but the most important thing had been visible on her cheek. Her cheek was glowing, which meant that she was drawing too much from the One Power.

'I have to stop her or she'll burn out.'

Nynaeve grabbed Moiraine's serpent ring, which Kaslian had lost during his fall. "We have to leave before the rest of the whitecloaks arrive." Swaying, she walked to another chest of Valda, took Lan's tunic, and returned to the warder, who was getting back on his feet as well. His strength was coming back, while the last wounds were closing.