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His mind skittered away from memories of what had been done to him in the Pit。 He had been distilled there； remade。 But later； in Aridhol； he had been reborn。 Reborn to smite old enemies and new。
He could feel something else as he stalked the empty night hallways of the Tower； a thing that was his； stolen from him。 A sharper desire drew him at this moment than his longing for al'Thor's death； or the Tower's destruction； or even revenge against his ancient foe。 A hunger to be whole。
The heavy paneled door had thick hinges and iron straps； and a black iron lock set in it as big as his head。 Few doors in the Tower were ever locked … who would dare steal in the midst of Aes Sedai？ … yet some things the Tower accounted too dangerous to be easily accessible。 The most dangerous of all they kept behind this door； guarded by a stout lock。
Giggling softly； he took two thin； curved metal rods from his coat pocket； inserted them into the keyhole； probing and pressing； twisting。 With a slow snap； the bolt came back。 For a moment he sagged against the door； laughing hoarsely。 Guarded by a stout lock。 Surrounded by Aes Sedai power； and guarded by simple metal。 Even the servants and novices should be done with their chores at this hour； but someone still might be awake； might just wander by。 Occasional ripples of mirth still shook him as he replaced the lock…picks in his pocket and took out a fat beeswax candle； lighting the wick at a nearby stand…lamp。
He held the candle high as he closed the door behind him； peering around。 Shelves lined the walls； holding plain boxes and inlaid chests of various sizes and shapes； small figures in bone or ivory or darker material； things of metal and glass and crystal that sparkled in the candlelight。 Nothing that appeared dangerous。 Dust covered everything； even the Aes Sedai came here seldom； and they allowed no one else in。 What he was seeking pulled him to it。
On a waist…high shelf stood a dark metal box。 He opened it； revealing lead walls two inches thick； with just enough space inside for a curved dagger in a golden sheath； a large ruby set in its hilt。 Neither the gold nor the ruby； glittering dark as blood； interested him。 Hastily he spilled a little wax to hold the candle beside the box and snatched up the dagger。
He sighed as soon as he touched it； stretched languorously。 He was whole again； one with what had bound him so long ago； one with what in a very real way had given him life。
Iron hinges creaked faintly； and he darted for the door； baring the curved blade。 The pale young woman opening the door had only time to gape； to try to leap back； before he slashed her cheek； in the same motion he dropped the sheath and seized her arm； jerked her past him into the storeroom。 Putting his head out； he peered up and down the hallway。 Still empty。
He took his time about pulling his head back and shutting the door again。 He knew what he would find。
The young woman lay thrashing on the stone floor； trying and failing to scream。 Her hands clawed at a face already black and bloated beyond recognition； the dark swelling oozing down onto her shoulders like thick oil。 Her snowy skirts； banded in colors at the hem； flailed as her feet scrabbled uselessly。 He licked at a splash of blood on his hand and giggled as he picked up the sheath。
〃You are a fool。〃
He spun； dagger reaching； but the air around him seemed to turn solid； encasing him from his neck to the sole of his boots。 He hung there； on the balls of his feet； dagger extended to stab； staring at Alviarin as she shut the door behind her and leaned against it to study him。 There had been no creak this time。 The soft scraping of the dying girl's slippers on the floorstones could never have masked it。 He blinked away sweat that was suddenly stinging his eyes。
〃Did you really think；〃 the Aes Sedai went on； 〃that there would be no guard on this room； no watch kept？ A ward was set on that lock。 That young fool's task tonight was to monitor it。 Had she done as she was supposed to； you would find a dozen Warders and as many Aes Sedai outside this door now。 She is paying the price of her stupidity。〃
The thrashing behind him stilled； and his eyes narrowed。 Alviarin was not Yellow Ajah； but even so she could have made an attempt to Heal the young woman。 And she had not raised the alarm the Accepted should have； either； or she would not now be here alone。 〃You are Black Ajah；〃 he whispered。
〃A dangerous accusation；〃 she said calmly。 It was not clear to which of them it was dangerous。 〃Siuan Sanche tried to claim the Black Ajah was real when she was under the question。 She begged to tell us of them。 Elaida would not hear it； and will not。 Tales of the Black Ajah are a vile slander against the Tower。〃
〃You are Black Ajah；〃 he said in a louder voice。
〃You want to steal that？〃 She sounded as though he had not spoken。 〃The ruby is not worth it； Fain。 Or whatever your name is。 That blade is tainted so none but a fool would touch it except with tongs； or be near it for a moment longer than necessary。 You can see what it did to Verine。 So why did you e here and go straight to what you should not have known was here？ You cannot have had time for any search。〃
〃I could dispose of Elaida for you。 One touch of this； and even Healing will not save her。〃 He tried to gesture with the dagger； but could not budge it a hair； if he could have moved it； Alviarin would be dead by now。 〃You could be first in the Tower； not second。〃
She laughed at him； cool contemptuous chimes。 〃Do you think I would not be first if I had wished it？ Second suits me。 Let Elaida claim credit for what she calls successes； and sweat for her failures； too。 I know where the power lies。 Now； answer my questions； or two corpses will be found here in the morning instead of one。〃
There would be two in any case； whether he answered her with suitable lies or not； she did not mean to let him live。 〃I have seen Thakan'dar。〃 Saying that hurt； the memories it brought were agony。 He refused to whimper； forced the words out。 〃The great sea of fog； rolling and crashing in silence against the black cliffs； the fires of the forges glowing red beneath； and lightning stabbing up into a sky fit to drive men mad。〃 He did not want to go on； but he made himself。 〃I have taken the path down to the belly of Shayol Ghul； down the long way with stones like fangs brushing my head； to the shore of a lake of fire and molten rock … 〃 No； not again！ 〃… that holds the Great Lord of the Dark in its endless depths。 The heavens above Shayol Ghul are black at noon with his breath。〃
Alviarin was standing upright now； eyes wide。 Not fearful； but impressed。 〃I have heard of。。。〃 she began softly； then shook herself and stared at him piercingly。 〃Who are you？ Why are you here？ Did one of the For… the Chosen send you？ Why was I not informed？〃
He threw back his head and laughed。 〃Are the tasks given to the likes of me for the likes of you to be knowing？〃 The accents of his native Lugard were strong again； in a way it was his native city。 〃Do the Chosen confide everything in you； then？〃 Som