The Aes Sedai seemed to understand what Loial meant, but remained silent. Loial stared at the ground, rubbing his nose with a thick finger as if ashamed of his outburst. No one wanted to break the silence.
"The knowledge is yours, Loial. The Ways are our only chance at safety—the only path that might delay the Shadow's advance, even if only briefly. But that is a story for you to tell."
The Ogier did not seem any more comfortable. He shifted uneasily in his chair before beginning.
"The Ways were created by men who used the Power after it had already been tainted by the Shadow. About a thousand years ago, during what you humans call the War of the Hundred Years, the Ways began to change. At first, so slowly that no one truly noticed. They became colder, damper, darker. Then darkness fell over the bridges. Some who entered were never seen again. Travelers said they were watched... by the shadows."
For a moment, there was only silence—except for the purring of the cat by Moiraine's chair and the crackling fire as it spit sparks. Then Nynaeve burst out in a fit of anger:
"And you expect us to follow you into that place? Are you insane?"
"What would you choose, then?" Moiraine asked softly.
"Humankind and Ogier—all living things are at war with the Shadow," she said. "Most of the world doesn't even know it yet. And most of the few who do think they're fighting battles, when they're only skirmishes. While the world refuses to face the truth, the Shadow may already be on the brink of victory. There is enough power in the Eye of the World to free him from his prison. If he has found a way to use the Eye to his advantage..."
"We don't have much choice, it seems," Rand finally said. "I could fly us there, but we wouldn't make it in time. Besides, my creatures need a specific route. If we can use the Ways, it's our best option."
"I suppose Egwene and I don't have much choice either," said Nynaeve.
Moiraine nodded.
"Even so, you have as much choice as the boys. You may stay here and head to Tar Valon once the rest of us have left."
"Stay behind?" Egwene exclaimed. "Let you all take the risks while we hide under the covers? Not a chance!"
"Then our choices are made," declared Moiraine. "Now that we've made them, we must decide what to do next... and how."
They planned late into the night. Moiraine led most of the discussion, with Loial providing guidance about the Ways, but she listened attentively to every suggestion and question.
"I need you to stay here," Rand told Helena, who had been helping everyone in the library.
She looked at him in surprise—then in fury.
"Why? I've been with you this whole time, and now you want to leave me behind?"
"Hey, silly girl, I'm not abandoning you. It's just… it's not safe for you. We'll meet again once I activate the flame-flow—through the fireplace in the inn to somewhere near the border."
"I know that's not it," she said, eyes filling with tears. "You're just saying that to leave me behind. You won't activate any fireplace. I know the dangers, and I know you don't want me to take the risk… but I need to be there. I need to be with you."
"No. The decision is final. You're not coming. I need you to stay. Train. Improve your skills. You have many gifts—but no time to develop them. Use this time to understand yourself. You are the heiress of two extremely powerful Houses... and yet you don't know how to wield either legacy."
Now crying openly, she replied:
"Then why didn't you let me go with my mother? If you were going to leave me behind, at least I would've started my training in Tar Valon... and I wouldn't be alone."
"Leave Elayne out of this. You know why you can't go there. You have obligations to the magic, and now my problems are just dragging you down. You're not learning anything at this pace. You need a controlled environment."
The argument was interrupted by Egwene.
"Who's Elayne? Your mother?"
For a moment, Rand stared at her in silence before deciding to speak the truth.
"The Daughter-Heir of the throne of Andor. She... also adopted Helena."
Egwene's eyes narrowed, burning.
"If you can't take anything seriously for more than a minute, Rand al'Thor, then we have nothing more to talk about."
He watched in disbelief as she turned away, stiff and silent, joining Moiraine and the others by the table to hear what the Warden was saying. When Rand turned back to look for Helena, she was already gone. He decided not to follow her.
Rand yawned as he left the room, dragging his feet along with the others in search of a hot bath and a bed. The bath seemed to wash away all his tension.
"Lily," Rand called.
"You summoned me, young master?" replied the house-elf by his side, bowing slightly.
"When I leave, I want you to block all of Helena's escape routes. She'll try to follow me, but she mustn't come. Let her enter Salazar's private library… she needs to learn more about her magic. That… thing will awaken soon. She needs to care for him."
"But master... what if she uses the phoenix?"
"Don't worry. I've already spoken to it. The phoenix won't leave her side—but it won't take her far either."
"But the creature you've prepared for her… it's dangerous, even as a hatchling," Lily said, visibly uneasy.
"I know. But only she can control a basilisk. It's part of her heritage."
Rand stood up slowly, water still dripping from his body.
"Now go fetch the potions I requested from the goblins. I want my supplies full before the journey."
As if she had never been there, the elf vanished with a soft magical snap. Rand sank back into the tub. Once he was done, he returned to the bedroom, blew out the candle, and lay down. He was still worried about Helena when sleep finally came.
From the very first moment, Rand knew it was a dream—but not a normal one. It was one of those dreams, the kind that blurred the lines between worlds. He stood facing a wooden door, dark, cracked, and splintered. The air was cold, damp, and heavy, reeking of decay. In the distance, the sound of dripping water echoed through puddles on the stone floor.
His Occlumency was fully active now. He raised his head and stared at the solitary mirror before him. His reflection was still blurred, but not as much as before. He could almost make out his own features. If he squinted hard enough… he could almost say who he was.
"You've hidden from me long enough," said a voice.
Where he had once been alone, now Ba'alzamon stood before the windows. When he spoke, flames filled his eyes and mouth—like burning caverns.
"Interesting… you can still reach me in dreams. You must've struggled to get in here, didn't you?" said Rand with a provocative smile.
Ba'alzamon laughed—a deep sound, coming from within the fire.
"You and your little secrets. Every time we face each other, you think you can defy me."
"'Every time'? I've only just met you."
Rand smiled again, as if Ba'alzamon's presence were merely an inconvenience.
"Kneel!" Ba'alzamon commanded, pointing at the ground. "Kneel and acknowledge me as your master!"
Rand burst out laughing.
"Seriously? You're asking that here, in my domain? Or do you think you're in my mind because you're powerful? No, Ba'alzamon… you're here because I allowed it. And now I can do something few ever dared."
Without waiting for a reply, Rand began activating his mental defenses. The dreamscape shifted—Ba'alzamon was now bombarded with a barrage of spells. Though they didn't seem to affect him immediately, Rand knew that attacks on the soul, especially against powerful entities, required persistence.
Every time Ba'alzamon tried to retaliate, the scene shifted again, always favoring Rand. He kept casting spell after spell. Cracks began to appear in the enemy's form. After several more rounds of attacks, Ba'alzamon finally shattered—disappearing into flame.
But victory came at a cost.
Rand felt a searing pain just before everything went dark. When his body hit the ground, the impact jolted him awake. Still dazed, he fought to rise from the darkness of the dream, trying to swim his way back to consciousness.