Foreward:

For years the Children of the Light have had their up and downs. They've gained and lost power and lands. They've fought for survival and for the light. They've gone head to toe with Seanchan and Aes Sedai, even attacking the White Tower head on. Two men have led the Children through their most turbulent times, one fell out while the other seeks to bring greater glory than any Lord Captain Commander has before him. Years have passed and now these two juggernauts are about to go head to head for leadership of the Children of the Light. Who will win? What will happen to the defeated? What will be the future of the Light following men in white?

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The scratch of the quill on parchment filled the large office, echoing off the pristine, white walls decorated with tapestries. They depicted great moments in the long history of the Children of the Light, the most recent showing an army of white surrounding an enormous white tower. That battle had been a hard blow on the tower as well as the Children, but it showed that the Light favored them and that Aes Sedai weren't as omnipotent as many people believed, though Yu already knew that.

Yu Watase. Lord Captain Commander of the Children of the Light. The White Scourge. Former Warder of the White Tower and Squadleader of the Vron'd'Sedai. He had lived most of his life around Aes Sedai, he had seen them at their strongest and at their weakest. He knew personally how vulnerable the tower could be and now here he sat as head of the one organization that could cause them the most harm. The one that DID cause them harm. His men had little love for the so called witches. Yu was impartial. He didn't hate them, but he had no love for them as he once did. They had looked down on him, the man sworn to protect each and every woman who wore the shawl. They showed him indifference and treated him as a child rather than a man, a protector. That had been the straw that broke the camels back. He did not seek their destruction as his predecessors had, not yet anyway.

The years had been hard on the former warder. His long, black hair was streaked mostly white, showing his age and the stress of his position. Wrinkles marked his face, dark bags formed under his eyes. Once, when he was younger, he had been a powerfully built man, now he weighed far less. No one took him for granted though and those who did soon learned that age and hardship had not lessened his skills with the sword he always wore at the hip. If anything, the years had made him a better swordsman, more ruthless. He had seen the horrors of his war and he had his fair share of enemies.

Most people viewed the Children of the Light with disgust, though not to their faces. In the past years the Children had attacked the White Tower and forcibly made Almoth Plain their new home after they were forced to flee Amadacia. Once Yu had come to power it had started to go to his head. He craved more. As a Warder he bowed down to the Aes Sedai, as Lord Captain Commander he bowed to no one. His first goal was to swell his ranks. To accomplish this he had begun a war of conquest in the west. His men had invaded, conquered, and recruited men from the whole of Almoth Plain than Arad Doman and most recently Saldaea. The eyes of the world were shifted to the west, to the Children of the Light. No longer did those eyes show disgust, now they showed fear and Yu was far from finished.

The parchment before him, which Yu was writing his signature was another surrender by the last fighting force in Saldaea. Now he had control of two countries.

A knock sounded at the door and after being told to enter, Yu's secretary entered. Barrius was a young man in his mid twenties, but he had proved to be a valuable source of information. The man's face wore a slight frown, that did not bode well.

“Lord Captain Commander,” Barrius said as he bowed, fist on heart. “I have some troubling news.”

Was there any news not troubling these days? Between the war and the countless assassination attempts, Yu found that little troubled him these days. “What is it?”

“I have some news about our informants in Tarabon...”

Yu cut the man off. “If this is another threat from the Seanchan telling us to stop reinforcing our lines at their borders I will not hear of it. You know the threat they pose to us and I will not let them overtake us again!”

Barrius shook his head. “It's not that my lord. I said the news is about the informants themselves. They've gone quiet. I have not gotten a report in weeks. That's not the only unsettling news. Men have begun deserting. More the closer to Tarabon you look. I'm afraid somethings going on down there.”

Yu tapped his lips as he thought. Tarabon. Children of the Light deserting. Of course, it all made sense now. He started to laugh, a loud, rasping laugh that caused Barrius to back away slightly.

“Do we still have eyes on him? Is he still being watched? I must know!” Yu said once his laughter had supsided.

“Eyes on who?”

“Isn't it obvious? Think! Tarabon? Children deserting in large numbers? That is nearly unheard of. No. Only one person down there could do this.”

“Is it the Seanchan?” Barrius asked, his face a mask of confusion.

“Jotaro.”

Aelwen stepped through the heavy curtains of his working tent into the cool morning sunshine instantly confronted by the clean scent of fresh air not tinged by sweat or fresh blood. Turning to the pail of water set on a large stool Aelwen washed the slowly cooling blood off his hands in the cold water. Working on the move is never constructive turning to dry his hands on the course linen that sat beside the stool Aelwen could not help but sneer at the soldiers standing guard over the tent. The guards straightened as his eyes touched them and Aelwen resisted the temptation to read the action as nefarious, nodding to his lieutenant Maxius Kelt to instruct him to remove the prisoner Aelwen turned to leave. Sighing at the sound of the young man a lad really being carried away Aelwen headed to the smaller tent to the left of the Hand of the Lights working tent which stored personal effects whilst they worked. The small mirror that rested on the central pole in the small tent caused a smile to play across Aelwen’s face as he entered the tent it clearly identified his clean tunic and pants Not a spot of blood. I still have it. Glancing away from the mirror angrily Aelwen cursed himself for his vanity collecting his white tabard Aelwen slung it across his shoulders before returning to the mirror.

Silently Aelwen attached his golden knots of rank both across his shoulders and below his red Sheppard’s crook emblazoned across the sun. Aelwen’s hands trailed across the sun and crook reverently, he was carrying out the lights work and it brought a smile to his unlined face. Aelwen’s good humour slipped as the young man being carried away once again began to scream Light I hate working on children. Aelwen was reminded of the agonies that working for the light inflicted on the spirit of those who carried out its work. Aelwen had been gentle to begin with using mind games, conversation tricks and allusions to get the boy to talk but to no avail he would not break his silence. With a heavy heart Aelwen had brought out the knives and with a deft hand had crisscrossed the young mans back till it ran with blood and the boy shrieked in agony. Aelwen muttered prayers to the light throughout the procedure and he once again muttered a quick pray as he straightened a crooked knot, sadly when your enemy was the Shadow all means for gathering information were needed.

Ultimately the agony inflicted on the boy had been met with a reward there was no army of darkfriends over the next hill simply the boys home village of Marchs Helt. The fool of a boy had sneaked into the camp intent on some form of mischief but had been found almost immediately, the boy claimed he had wanted to hold a sword which seemed innocent. Many claim the mundane when they harbor the guilt of the tainted the boy was far too silent for my taste. What is in this village of his? If Aelwen found the time and could secure soldiers from Jotaro he would investigate the reason behind the boys silence, hopefully his silence was just loyalty but no stone could be left unturned. Aelwen’s face darkened at the thoughts that rose to confront him, anyone could preach innocence but before the light all would be revealed, Boy from March Helt please only have maintained silence out of the love of your family and I will never have to meet your mother. Aelwen would rule that the boy suffer the punishment of trespassing he would receive ten straps and would be sent on his way to return to his family. Aelwen tried to repress the guilt he felt over taking a knife to the young lad but his silence had been too circumspect.

Aelwen swept out of his tent the previous emotions left behind like the bloody pail of water. Aelwen’s mind was turned forward to the Light and the mission he was here to do. Things had changed in the world in the last year more then Aelwen would have hoped he had left for a mission in the black hills with a small group of soldiers and a few trusted questioners only to be halted half way there by news of invasion and the collapse of the children. After a rough few months Aelwen had finally found a remnant of the children free from the slave chains of the Seanchan. Aelwen slowed slightly as his mind turned to the Seanchan all who touched the power were fools but at least the witches claimed to have tenants these Seanchan with there damane were darkfriends. Women who could channel should be killed not chained and used to draw upon the very power of the light to do so was sacrilege, the witches were to be used to end the last battle the war they created and then the remnant would be exterminated. Casting a pray of thanks to the Light for his conviction and direction Aelwen resumed walking towards the tent of Jotaro the commander of the encampment and the rebel Children of the Light, the man he had originally been instructed to watch.

Aelwen felt little concern for the fact that soon he would be branded a rebel originally he had been sent to establish a set of scouts to keep an eye on an ambitious member of the children. Jotaro was legendary and Aelwen had been impressed when he had first met the man, that respect had turned to awe when Jotaro revealed the direction of his purpose on Almoth Plain. The Light works in mysterious ways. Aelwen had seen to the conversion of the other spys he was aware of nothing could prevent the path to the light Jotaro had. Aelwen would confess only to himself that the promise of power through Jotaro had some claim to his loyalty the Hand of the Light had to be used to hunt true darkfriends not to torture simple peasants. We must cast the sin from the peasant’s betters and like a true faithful hound they will cast out those of their ilk sworn to the dark. Aelwen barely remembered what it was like not to be a member of the Hand of the Light but the bits he remembered as the son of a Amadician noble was the capacity for sin and the temptation of the Shadow endemic in the nobility. Jotaro would allow Aelwen to direct the Hand of the Light to cast out the betters who had fallen to the dark the one with the temptations of money and the power bred into them before the peasants had to be dealt with. To often peasants were attacked as they were the easiest to secure, question and convict. Shaking his head to dispel the thought Aelwen headed past the rows of neatly arranged tents towards the heart of the camp.

The tent that Aelwen paused before was a modest affair of startling, bright white emblazoned with the sunburst of the Children of Light Aelwen could not help but smile at the sight. The low born need their leaders to demonstrate their might. Aelwen paid no attention to the salutes he received as he entered the chambers he was here for one purpose, to see on man.

“Jotaro.”

Aelwen said with a salute and a slight nod of his head. Whatever the man may think I am important to his status and he would be wise to remember me when we succeed. Aelwen failed to note the looks of rage that crossed the other Children of Light’s faces in the tent, he was to busy imagining the power associated with his new position to care.

“Lord Captain Commander I have news on the boy that found his way into our encampment. I believe he is nothing but a fool duped into youthful foolishness by the dull wit common of peasants. Although I request soldiers to return the boy to his village a short ride from here to investigate suspicions I have to his sincerity.”

Aelwen smiled at the sick looks that crossed the faces of the other Children in the presence of Jotaro, if Jotaro felt anything he hid it behind the smooth mask he wore.

“I believe a few hundred children and twenty of the Questioners under my command could accompany me to the village of March Helt and investigate my concerns.”

Aelwen turned and gestured for a serving man to bring him some wine he could not contain his slight anger when the servant looked to Jotaro before bringing him the wine.

“Strange company you keep anyone can fall to the Shadow my good friend.”

Aelwen stared at the serving man and watched the blood drain from his face quickly as he bowed and presented Aelwen with a goblet of warmed wine.

“Then again the Light works it will in strange ways perhaps we see Shadows only where the darkness casts itself upon the Light?”

“Indeed. But I think that this adventure of yours is worthy of my interest prepare to ride my Lord Inquisitor.”

Aelwen started in surprise at Jotaro’s declaration, What was the man playing? Does he truly believe I would abandon him now? True Aelwen would move on to better pastures if Jotaro began to fade but his path seemed to be blessed by the light for now and that assured Aelwen’s loyalty. Smiling at Jotaro in consent his mind turned to the selection of twenty Questioners he would bring they must all be seasoned warriors and loyal to Aelwen. Nodding his head as Jotaro commanded he be ready to ride within the hour Aelwen swept from the tent to gather the necessary men to be prepared to ride.

*
With the young man tied across the saddle of the horse closest to Aelwen and his group of questioners in the centre of column of Children they approached March Helt. The village was unassuming but the way that the young men guarding the flock of sheep had rushed back towards the village leaving one boy to guard the flock had aroused Aelwen’s interest. Turning to his left Aelwen observed Jotaro on his black stallion the man surveyed the scene and appeared to be content for Aelwen to command the soldiers. Barking a few orders Aelwen ordered the children to fan out and surround the village keeping each other in sight. With his twenty Questioners flanking him and Jotaro keeping close Aelwen entered the town of March Helt.

The village was like all villages in the region built on sculpted hills with stone streets and gutters to direct the heavy rains away. The houses were typical for the region made of dark slate and placed to get water off the roof and down to the gutters. The village had only one inn and as Aelwen approached the village from the south he spotted a windmill a mile or so from the village proper. The village only had one street with a sizeable inn beside the lush green. As Aelwen, the Questioners, Jotaro and his followers rode into the village proper there were confronted by an impromptu welcoming committee.

The villagers had gathered into two distinct groups one being led by an old man and the other being led by a homely women who was surrounded by what appeared to be her nervous family and a few of the village elders.

“Martha Helt your ilk will damn us before the light!”

The wizened old man screamed at the proud looking women who lead the smaller of the two groups. Martha Helt visibly wilted as the Questioners entered the village green where the villagers where assembled.

“Damned before the Light you say good sir and what is your meaning?”

Aelwen drew of his riding gloves as he talked, flexing his fingers as he spoke to get the blood to flow. Raising his head to greet the bewildered eyes of the old man before him Aelwen waited for him to break.

“I meant nothing my Lord nothing at all it was just a figure of speech Martha Helt is a fine women.”

“Is that so? Maxius!”

Aelwen watched the face of Matha Helt as Maxius brought forth the young man from earlier this morning the women’s face lost all colour when she saw the blood stained rag draped across the boys back, the remains of his shirt. A gasp echoed from the surrounding villages and a young women standing behind Martha began to sob.

“My good people this boy was caught trespassing and evading the judgment of the Light he has committed no crime punishable by death but he will be strapped according to the law of the Light. The wounds you see across his back are punishment for his silence do you see how the light must always get its answers?”

Aelwen dismounted and noted the way that many in the village drew back or clutched there children to them. Looking at two of the Questioners Aelwen nodded for them to step forward and take the boy down from the horse and support them between themselves. Maxius stepped forward and handed Aelwen a thick leather strap. The boy began to sob even before the first stroke landed across his legs. After the second strap he had begun to scream, his screams continued as Aelwen strapped the boy eight more times. Lowering his arms Aelwen turned back to the crowd and found what he was looking for fear, they would be malleable now.

“Now my friends what is the breach of the Light that I sensed this boy harbored?”

The old man struggled with himself for a moment before his shoulders slumped and fear glazed his eyes.

“Ask them my Lord we want none of there trouble I walk in the Light.”

The old man pointed to Martha and the folk surrounding her. Martha’s face flushed with rage before draining to a deathly white. Indicating that the Questioners should lower the boy to the ground Aelwen turned back to the now scared Martha Helt.

“Mistress Helt it seems you have been named? What dark deed will you confess to or shall we be forced to listen to the lies of your fellow villagers? Perhaps this flesh of your flesh,” Aelwen indicated to the young man whimpering on the ground “ can encourage you to speak?”

Matha Helt appeared to struggle with herself before firming her shoulders and straightening her back, defiantly she stared at Aelwen her eyes briefly swept the crowd and scorn filled them.

“Crime? What crime? I have but help others and this is how I am rewarded accusations of serving the Shadow. Sad is it that popinjays wearing white and spouting religious zeal can come and mar the purity of a community that has lasted for almost two hundred years. As village wisdom I ask why you bring sickness of the mind to this wholesome village?”

One of the Questioners started forward his eyes filled with rage, Aelwen gestured him back with a flick of his wrist. This woman seems enamored, great prestige, the wisdom I assume?

“So you say you do not serve the dark and yet those behind you seem reassured only that you have said it so perhaps they would better answer my queries. Maxius the boys mother please.”

The sobbing women stared in fright her hands clutching at her husband as she was wrenched forward by two Questioners. Aelwen watched the terror that flooded Martha’s face. So I have your family will you break? There was no mistaking the women as being Martha’s daughter she had the same earthy peasant beauty that Martha had only more stunning for the loveliness of her youth. Aelwen noted the rich red lips, curling brown hair and lightly sun kissed skin that would call to all men.

“Name yourself women and save yourself the pain.”

“Helda Jeeps.” She sobbed.

“Ah Helda don’t be afraid I will not harm you if you but answer my questions.” Helda’s eyes swung to her mother and Aelwen reached out and gently grabbed her face. “No my dear look at me, see the white I wear and understand I serve the light. I did not want to harm your boy and I do not want to harm anyone here speak and confess whatever sin seems to hold you down.”

Helda appeared to struggle with herself before she looked into Aelwen’s eyes defiantly and spat in his face. Calmly Aelwen backhanded her pretty face and watched as Helda crumpled to the floor weeping and spitting blood from her split lip. Aelwen grabbed the sharp knife that rested at his hip with a quick gesture he sent his Questioners to block the family from Helda and requested two hold the girl between them. Turning the sobbing Helda so that her back was facing the assembled villagers Aelwen sliced a patch from the back of her dress revealing her shoulder blades to the villagers.

“Will you continue your silence Helda Jeeps accused in the light?”

“The light burn your eyes you son of a goat.” Helda screamed her mouth foaming with bloody spittle.

Aelwen deftly sliced across the very tips of the bone and winced as Helda screamed in agony. The assembled crowd groaned in protest and Aelwen listened to Helda’s husband arguing with his mother and law begging her to speak. As Aelwen lifted his hand and flourished the knife appearing to choose the next part of Helda’s flesh he would mark, her husband roared and turned on his mother in law.

“You fool! Your own daughter and for what some obligation none of us ever held. Light women listen to her screams!”

Aelwen calmly turned to witness Martha Helt’s resolve crumble and she began to weep, Aelwen nervously eyed the now silent assembled villagers. Martha looked at Aelwen with such venom that he instinctively reached for his sword at his waist.

“Fine Joseff I will speak though the Light damn me for what I am about to do.”

Aelwen ushered the Questioners to regroup and stand back from the Helt family and a few villagers who had been loudly protesting. Finally the dark secret of March Helt to come out, at last.

“My late husband was the innkeeper and miller of our small community, he liked to keep pigeons and would loan them to a few merchants who passed by. Sadly my Eric passed on few years back but we still cared for the birds after all we had not seen any of the merchants from Tarabon for a long time what harm would the birds do?”

As Martha paused to take a heaving breather Aelwen felt the burn of excitement could she be talking about what he thought she was?

“A few days ago a women came on a fine palfrey alone and garbed in the finest woolens I have ever seen. She came to see why the pigeons had not been coming naturally we explained the situation she said she would take the birds with her and that we would be paid for out trouble. I accepted of course three gold crowns for ten birds? The women prepared to depart late in the evening even after we had begged her to stay overnight in the inn.”

Aelwen was filled with zeal. Yes, yes, yes he was startled when Martha pointed at the young lad lying on the ground bleeding.

“The women had been adamant that she would be fine and we left it be for all intents she could have had guards outside of the village and who were we to question the goings on of others. The lad, Tobias was too curious though, a trait which has caused this trouble,” Martha gestured to the villagers and the Whitecloaks assembled. “What the lad saw was terrifying and tragic, the women she attempted to open a flashing point or something when a hare darted out and startled her palfrey. The flashing light exploded loudly killing the horse and sending the women flying from her horse, Tobias said she landed badly and when he rushed to retrieve me I could tell that he was speaking the truth. Something happened to her though something strange, the wounds she sustained were dire but she weeps all the time now when she is conscious and weakly clutches at her head begging in mumbles and murmurs for death. Strange thing is she has gotten younger since I first saw her but that must be the lights doing as she has begun to heal.”

Martha had clearly forgotten who she was talking to and her eyes widened as she realised how through she had been in telling the story. Aelwen smiled widely and triumphantly the boy had led him to a prize few Questioners ever received. Hastily Aelwen ordered the boy and women be carried to their desperate family. Aelwen was desperate to get the witch.

“Mistress Helt where is the women now? Answer quickly and face a kind recommendation from me.”

Martha stared in horror fully comprehending that her answer would possibly save herself and those she loved but at the same time would condemn an injured woman to a slow death. Aelwen would have pitied her choice had the women in question not also been a witch. What damage had she done in this place? Can we say that the peasants were not influenced unsavorily by the workings of her foul power? I will recommend a stern but fair punishment.

“Mother give it up we cannot protect her now we have to help us.” Helda pleaded to her mother her arms wrapped tightly about her son who was being clutched by his father fiercely. Martha stared hopelessly forward clearly feeling the weight of her family and her position of village wisdom weighing heavily upon her.

“Martha you did the lights work but for the love of your family just tell them and let them take the blasted women.” The old man stepped forward his hands drawn into tight pale fists, he stepped closer to Martha concern on his face. “My Lord,” The old man said turning to face Aelwen. “I will swear on my eternal salvation that Martha Helt and all those behind her are people who walk in the light take her silence as care the Helt family has sheltered and cared for so long it is all they know.”

Murmurs rose from the crowd behind the old man as others stepped forward to swear that those opposite them were loyal to the light. The Questioners stirred and Aelwen shook his head slightly. You can swear old man but I will interpret the information the light sends.

“Naturally good man I will take your testimonials but actions speak louder then words.” Aelwen said with what he hoped was a friendly grin his eyes boring into Martha.

Martha held out for a moment longer before her shoulders slumped with defeat weakly she told Aelwen that the Aes Sedai was upstairs in the inn just to the right of the village green. Aelwen nodded and moved forward his eyes intent on the inn before him, by the sounds of it the women had cut herself off from the power but Aelwen could not be certain, dimly he was aware of Jotaro following behind him. Aelwen was almost up the stairs when he found the weak Aes Sedai crawling towards the slightly ajar back door, she tried to rise weakly staring horrified at his white cloak. Smiling widely he almost laughed when the women gurgled a half stifled shriek, bending forward Aelwen calmly backhand the Aes Sedai to the ground. Wiping his hands to dispel the feel of the creature’s foul skin Aelwen turned to Jotaro.

“My Lord I think we have found a gem, the peasants are of no consequence we could set them to the Questioners but personally I feel a good birching ought to settle out the populace any tongues that loosen then may cause follow up investigations. I believe now is the time to turn control over to the leader of the Children my role is and ever shall be advisor and expert at the finer arts of communication.” Aelwen looked at the sobbing Aes Sedai. “Besides it is a pleasure to carry out the lights justice two thousand years in the waiting.”

This time the Aes Sedai managed to shriek.