[Lev Talumin]

Lev stepped through the gateway into the dim light of flickering torches. His black coat blended into the shadows behind him as the gateway vanished. There was no one around, for which he was thankful. He had selected this as the best time to make the trip, as there would be fewer eyes to see his presence. He would be seen by someone, of course. There was no point believing that anything went unnoticed in the White Tower, but as always, Lev wished to err on the side of caution. There would be those who might see his presence here as a threat, or worse, as an apology.

The balance must be restored. That was what Jole had said in the meeting earlier. Well, if it could be called a meeting. It had been little more than a tense, whispered discussion between the surviving senior Asha’man. Both Jole and Alek had been adamant. Xanthe had not said anything, but stayed close to Lev the entire time, for which he had been grateful. Despite the Healing, his limbs still felt as if they had been crushed. They hurt even now. Both Jole and Xanthe had tested him, and found nothing wrong. Jole had suggested that it might be illusory pain, which sometimes remained. Lev hoped it would dissipate soon. It had made the meeting difficult to follow. Still, a consensus had been reached, and Lev had come to Tar Valon.

He made his way through the Tower swiftly. He had been here many times, and knew the way to the Amyrlin’s Quarters. Usually, however, Lev had been half a step behind another Asha’man, rather than walking down these halls by himself. He had not been to the White Tower since the coup that had deposed the previous M’Hael. This was going to be first time Lev had spoken to the Amyrlin since the events in Cairhien that had cost the Tower her last Keeper of the Chronicles.

Lev reached the outer office and knocked softly. The door opened, revealing the new Keeper with a cold expression. Lev inclined his head to her and slipped inside the outer office. The door clicked behind him, and Lev waited as the Keeper went to inform the Amyrlin of his arrival. Glancing at his sleeve, he brushed some soot off, and was startled to find the cuff stiff. Closer examination showed that a good portion of the cuff had blood soaked through it, which broke off in dark brown flakes as Lev touched if. The M’Hael frowned. I changed my coat, didn’t I? It’s been at least longer than a day since the battle, I must have found time to get another coat, I’m certain of it. A memory of pulling debris off corpses with his hands because he was too exhausted to channel floated across his mind.

He shrugged. At least I managed to sleep before coming here. Xanthe had insisted, and had half carried Lev to a makeshift bed. She had been asleep when he had awoken, but two Dedicated had stood watch over them both. They claimed to be acting under her orders. Lev had dismissed them and watched Xanthe sleep, until it had become time to undertake this trip.

The door to the inner office swung open. “The Amyrlin will see you now,” the Keeper addressed Lev brusquely. He nodded again, perfunctorily. Stepping into the inner office, his eyes immediately found the Amyrlin. He walked to stand before her desk and gave a straight-backed bow.

“Mother, there is much we must speak of.”