Chapter 24 | Far from the Tower
Notes: Nesta's first mission. Here we go!
- around 8k words
Nesta woke up, feeling warmth at her back, strong arms snug around her waist, her hand splayed possessively just beneath her ribs. The steady rise and fall of Liandrinâs breath stirred soft strands of her golden hair that had fallen across the girl's cheek, tickling her skin. She tried to move a little, but Liandrin only pulled her tighter in response.
The Aes Sedai's entire body pressed into hers from behind, and the length of her body molded perfectly to Nestaâs curves. There was something achingly tender in how Liandrinâs body was on top of her, not oppressive, but protective. She let herself sink into it, every inch of her molding back into her loverâs embrace. Her usual restlessness was gone, smothered by the safety.
Liandrin made a sleepy, grumbling noise behind her. âYouâre thinking too loudly.â
Nesta smiled softly. âHow would you know?â
âI always know when youâre planning something.â Liandrin murmured, her voice thick with sleep. âAnd youâre wriggling. Stop it.â
âI wasnât planning anything.â Nesta said sweetly, then shifted again, just enough to test how firmly she was being held.
Liandrinâs arm locked tighter around her waist. âDonât you dare.â
âI was just going to get up.â
âYouâre not allowed.â Liandrinâs lips brushed the curve of her neck. âIâm keeping you, pet.â
A chuckle slipped from Nesta. âYou say that like Iâm a blanket.â
âYouâre warmer than one.â Liandrin muttered, her voice still drowsy but firm. âAnd mine.â
Nesta turned in her arms then, propping herself up on her elbow, their noses nearly brushing. âPossessive this early?â she teased.
Nesta leaned in and kissed the tip of her nose. âSo sweet.â
Liandrin rolled suddenly, catching Nesta off guard and pinning her beneath with a triumphant smirk. Her thighs straddled the girlâs hips in an easy motion, her hands pinning Nestaâs wrists above her head with ease. âGot you, love.â she purred.
Nestaâs pulse quickened beneath the weight of her. She could feel every inch of Liandrinâs body pressing down, her hips firm and unapologetic. And yet it wasnât just heat or tension that held her in place, but more the ease in Liandrinâs touch and the playful edge in her eyes. There was no threat here, only the delicious press of power and trust between them.
Liandrin leaned down, her golden hair falling forward. âStill think youâre getting out of bed without saying good morning properly?â
Nesta gasped in mock outrage. âThis is so unfair. Sneaky attacks before breakfast are forbidden.â
âShow me where it says that.âÂ
âIâll write it down myself.â Nesta bucked her hips with a grin, catching Liandrin off balance, and twisted with stubbornness, managing to roll them halfway. For a heartbeat, she was on top, but Liandrinâs strength surged, her arms locking around Nestaâs waist as she flipped them back over with a low growl.
She stared up into Liandrinâs blue eyes, the world narrowing to their shared heat and breath. Slowly, she lifted her hands to thread her fingers into the tangled fall of hair. Her thumb brushed across her cheek, those sharp, delicate lines she adored so much. And then she pulled her down into a kiss. It started fierce, but it softened with every passing second. The kiss deepened into something delicate that pulled them even closer.
Nestaâs hands roamed down Liandrinâs back, nails tracing over scars she now knew by heart. She felt every shift of muscle, every flutter of breath, and when Liandrinâs weight settled more fully on her, she arched up into the press of it, savoring the warmth.
Carefully, she slid her hands lower, guiding Liandrin back up toward the pillows, her own body trailing after. She kissed down her collarbone, then lower. âLet me.â
Liandrin let herself be moved, her heart ached unbearably full. Nestaâs lips found the top of one breast, and she paused there, just breathing her in. Her mouth moved with gentle slowness, as she kissed the swell and curve, savoring the softness. She licked delicately, then sucked at the skin just above her nipple, and felt Liandrin shudder beneath her.
When her lips closed around one of Liandrinâs nipple, her tongue circling with care, Liandrin gasped and arched up into her mouth. Nesta hummed softly, letting the vibration roll through both of them. She lingered there, switching sides, her kisses, a worship not just of body but of trust.
She whispered between kisses, her voice hoarse, âI love every part of you.â Her hands moved with reverence, thumbs brushing over Liandrinâs ribs and hips as if to remind her, that she is safe now. Both of them.
Only when Liandrinâs eyes fluttered shut and her body melted beneath her, Nesta began to move lower, trailing more kisses, tasting the smooth expanse of her stomach, the softest parts of her that she handled with protective care.
She took her time, her fingers squeezing the supple flesh of her thighs before spreading them wider, exposing her completely. The scent of Liandrinâs arousal was thick in the air, and she groaned against her skin.
Finally, she buried herself between them. She devoured her, tongue dragged through slick heat, savoring every shuddering gasp it tore from Liandrinâs lips. The moment her tongue flicked over clit, Liandrin cried out, fingers twisting violently in blonde hair.
Nesta moaned against her, loving the way Liandrinâs body responded to her mouth, to her tongue, how she trembled with each stroke and shivered with each kiss. She loved the way Liandrin tried to stay quiet and failed, loved the way her thighs began to quake, the way her breathing turned ragged.
âI could stay here forever.â She murmured between kisses, her voice thick with awe, her mouth wet.
Liandrinâs back arched, "NestaâŠ" Her voice was a wrecked whisper, her thighs clamping around the girl's head. Her moans turned wild, her hips grinding down, chasing her release.
But Nesta only worshipped her deeper, the rhythm of her tongue finding a steady pace that made Liandrin's heart beat quicker. Her hands moved up to womanâs waist, holding her with pure gentleness, as if even in this moment of pleasure, she needed her to feel held.
When Liandrin finally came, she cried out Nestaâs name. Her body shook, her back arching as her release hit her hard, deep and shuddering. And Nesta didnât stop until she was wrung dry, until every last tremor had been taken from her. Only then did she pull back, licking her lips with a satisfied smirk, watching the way Liandrinâs chest heaved, her skin glistening with sweat.
She climbed up her body, kissing her stomach, her breasts, her throat, and finally her lips. Liandrin pulled her into a breathless kiss, as if to say everything she couldnât find words for.
âI love you, my Lioness.â she whispered.
Nesta pressed her forehead to hers. âYouâre my everything.â
They stayed wrapped in each other. Liandrinâs arms circled her waist tightly, anchoring herself to the only person who had ever made her feel whole.Â
She pressed her face into the crook of Nestaâs neck, her golden hair spilled messily across her shoulder and chest. She sighed quietly, her body relaxing inch by inch, surrendering to the peace sheâd never dared to hope for, when she realized, This is what safety feels like.
Not solitude, but the stubborn presence of someone who chose her again and again. âI like this.â she murmured, her voice low and rough.
Nesta kissed her in response. âThen weâll have more mornings like this. As many as you want.â
The sun had climbed higher by the time Nesta stepped into the courtyard, a breeze stirred her unbound hair, carrying the scent of blooming roses. She still tasted Liandrin on her lips and the warmth of that morning wrapped around her like a second skin.
She didnât notice Tsutama until the Red Ajahâs leader stepped into her path with the precision of a drawn blade. âNesta, Sister.â Tsutama said. Her brown eyes locked on blue ones. âWalk with me.â
A command, not a suggestion. Nesta fell into step beside her. âSomething wrong, Tsutama Sedai?â
âNot wrong.â Tsutama replied.
Birds chirped from the trees. Servants passed quietly in the distance. âYouâve proven your strength. But now you need a real test, away from the Towerâs protections.â
âWhat kind of test?â Nesta slowed slightly.
âThereâs a mission. Shadowspawn have been reported near the remnants of an old Ogier-built settlement west of Shienar. A merchant caravan spoke of Waygate residue. Subtle signs, but enough to raise concern.â She kept walking, hands clasped behind her back. âYouâll travel with Alanna Sedai and three others. Reds and Greens.â
Nesta stopped walking entirely. âAnd Liandrin?â
Tsutama halted as well. âLiandrin will not be joining you.â
âWhy?â Nesta asked, her voice low but firm.
âBecause this is your test. Not hers.â Tsutama turned fully to face her. âYou lean on her too much. That comfort is a shield youâre not ready to carry into battle. I need to know you can stand alone, without her voice in your ear.â
âDo you think Iâll break?â
âI think youâre still learning where your limits are.â Tsutamaâs tone softened. âAnd this mission will help you find them.â
Nestaâs hands curled into fists at her sides. âYouâre using me to see if I snap.â
âIâm giving you a chance to prove you wonât.â
A silence settled between them, tense but not hostile. Tsutama stepped closer, eyes narrowing. âNot all lessons are learned within the Towerâs walls. Some must be felt in the bones, far from the safety of home.â
Nesta held her gaze. âWhen do we leave?â
âAfter the midday bell.â Tsutama answered. âBe in the stables by then.â
âToday?â Nesta blinked.
âThereâs no time like the present.â The words were calm, but final. She turned and walked away without another word, her crimson skirts whispering against the stone.
Nesta remained where she was for a moment longer, the world tilting beneath her feet. Her heart beat faster now, not from fear exactly, but from the sharp clarity of being thrown into motion. Five days of ride, a ruined settlement, shadowspawn, and no Liandrin.
âThen Iâd better go pack.â she said quietly to herself, before turning toward the Tower with purpose in her step.
Nesta opened the door to their chambers, the morning light had changed. It felt colder now, slicing across the bed where they'd tangled just hours ago. The warmth of that closeness had faded, replaced by something heavier.
Liandrin stood near the wardrobe, already half-dressed for the day. Her hair was tied back, precise. She didnât turn when Nesta entered, only her shoulders rose and fell with a controlled breath.
âAre you leaving?â Nesta asked softy.
Liandrinâs voice came flat, stripped bare. âTower business. A merchant in the city under suspicion of harboring Shadow sympathies. They want a presence there.â
âYou were going to leave without saying goodbye.â
Liandrinâs fingers froze mid-buckle. The chill of the metal suddenly felt too cold against her skin, or perhaps it was her own blood, rushing backward in her veins. âI was going to write a note.â she offered stiffly, and it was such a weak lie that she winced hearing it leave her lips.
âYouâre a terrible liar when it matters.â Nestaâs mouth twitched, something sad in the corner of her smile. âTsutama found me and she told me Iâve been assigned to a mission.âÂ
Liandrin stiffened. âWhat kind of mission?â
âInvestigating corrupted Waygate residue. There have been merchant reports near the Mountains of Mist.â She swallowed. âAlannaâs leading and three others are coming too.â
âYouâre going without me.â Liandrinâs voice was low, barely more than a whisper, but still sharp.
âI leave after lunch.âÂ
Liandrinâs jaw tensed, as if she were biting back all the things she wanted to say, You shouldnât go. They donât deserve you. I should be with you.
But she only nodded once.
âTsutama wants to see if I can work with other Ajahs and Sisters.â Nesta cut in gently. âIf I can survive without you at my side.â
âShe sends you on your first field mission without the one person who knows your limits. Who knows how you fight, how you think.â She laughed, sharp and bitter. âOf course she does.â
âShe wants to see if I can stand on my own.â Nesta said.
âShe knows damn well you can.â Liandrin snapped. âBut she doesnât want that, she wants to see what happens when no oneâs there to pull you back.â
Nesta moved toward her, voice steady despite the ache in her chest. âMaybe, but Iâm going.â
Liandrin stared at her for a moment. Then she exhaled roughly and stepped back, pacing a few feet away. Her voice trembled with restrained fury, but it wasnât anger aimed at Nesta. It was fear, buried deep but undeniable. Her hands clenched and unclenched at her sides. She could still remember the last mission she had been sent on without enough support.
âI should be going with you.â she said hoarsely. âI should be the one watching your back.â
âI know.â Nesta said, stepping closer, âBut Iâll come back. I swear it.â
Liandrin didnât say it aloud, but the thought beat wildly in her chest, She is mine to protect.
And now they were sending her out into the unknown, where shadowspawn walked and ancient magics stirred, and Liandrin would be here, caged within the Towerâs walls, powerless to stop any harm that might come.
âYou donât get to promise that.â she said, a tremor finally breaking through her control. âNo one can.â
Nesta lifted a hand and cupped her cheek. âThen Iâll make it true anyway.â
Liandrin leaned into her touch. âI donât know how to do this.â she admitted, her voice cracking again. âIâve never waited. Not for anyone.â
âIâll come back, Lia.â she managed a soft smile.Â
Liandrinâs lips parted, but no sound came. She looked at Nesta the way someone looked at the only light in a storm. Then, abruptly, she pulled her into a crushing hug. Her arms wrapped tight around her back, her hand pressing flat against Nestaâs shoulder blades as if she could hold her in place.
 âWeâll be alright.â Nesta said gently.
Liandrin searched her face, and kissed her quickly, almost angry with love. When she pulled away, her hand came up and touched the red choker around Nestaâs throat. âRemember your strength and my love.â
Nesta covered Liandrinâs hand with her own. âThank you.âÂ
The older woman closed her eyes for a moment. When she opened them, they shimmered, and she pressed her forehead to Nestaâs. âCome back to me, please.âÂ
âI will.â Nesta whispered back, but her voice caught in her throat.
Liandrin nodded, though her hand lingered a moment longer on the choker before she stepped away. Slowly, as if her body didnât want to obey, she walked out, the door clicking shut behind her.
Nesta stood there in the quiet, her fingers drifting up to touch the choker. She let herself feel the weight of it, not just the stones, but everything it meant. Everything it reminded her of. And when she finally moved, it was toward her travel pack, because no matter how heavy her heart felt now, she wouldnât go into that forest carrying fear. She would only carry Liandrinâs love.
The sun filtered weakly through the trees overhead, casting speckled light across the forest trail. Eight riders moved in loose formation, five Aes Sedai and three warders. Nesta rode in silence for a while, fingers loose on the reins, her eyes tracking the movement of the Sisters ahead. Alanna had slowed her horse to ride beside her, their pace steady and unhurried as they navigated a more stable stretch of terrain. One of her warders, Ihvon scouted ahead with another from the Green Ajah, while Maksim lingered closer to Alannaâs right shoulder, his attention scanning the trees.
âYouâre quiet.â Alanna said gently, brushing a stray leaf from her shoulder. âThat can be a gift on a journey like this. But it can also be a burden.â
Nesta gave a small huff of amusement. âIs that your way of asking if Iâm brooding?â
Alanna smiled, her eyes warm. âI wouldnât presume. But I am curious what stirs behind that careful expression of yours.â
Nesta arched a brow but didnât look at her directly. âIs this your method? Drawing people out with kindness?â
Alanna chuckled, brushing a hand over her horseâs neck. âIâve found kindness often does what pressure cannot. Especially with someone whoâs spent their life being told to silence their fire.â
Nesta hesitated. The forest felt too still and quiet. And yet Alannaâs presence was grounding. Not in the way Liandrinâs was, consuming and possessive, but more calmer.
âI didnât think Iâd miss her this much.â she admitted at last, her voice low. âItâs only been four days.â
âSheâs in your blood now.â Alanna said softly. âThat sort of bond doesnât care about distance.â
Nestaâs fingers tightened briefly on the reins. âTsutama said this was a test for me.â she muttered, glancing ahead to where the other three Sisters rode in silence. âI donât know if itâs a punishment or a chance.â
Alanna tilted her head. âMaybe both. Thatâs how we grow, isnât it?â
Nesta looked over at her then. âYou talk like someone whoâs been broken before.â
âI have and I survived.â Alanna said without hesitation. âSo will you.â
âWhy this group?â Nesta asked, glancing toward the trees.
"Tsutama didnât tell you?â
âShe told me enough, that I needed to prove myself.â Nesta replied. âThat I needed to be seen outside the Tower.â She paused. âBut she left Liandrin behind.â
Alanna didnât respond at first. Her eyes watched the path ahead, thoughtful. âSometimes those who care for us most canât be the ones to test us or save us.â
Nesta didnât like that answer, but she didnât argue with it either.
Unexpectedly, the Green Sister changed the subject. âWhat were you doing before we left?â
Nesta hesitated. The truth was too vulnerable and precious. âReading old texts on Waygates.â she lied smoothly.
And the moment the words left her mouth, something inside twisted sharply. Her throat tightened, the lie had come so easily. She kept her expression still, her posture unshaken, but inwardly, the tremor ran deep. There was no flicker of pain, no warning shudder from the Oaths. Just silence.
Alanna didnât look suspicious, but Nesta felt the weight of her own deceit like a fresh bruise forming beneath the surface. Her hand brushed her thigh, calming herself. But her mind spun elsewhere, Lanfearâs voice echoed in her thoughts, You bonded yourself in more ways than one. When you gave her your oath, something claimed you too.
Ahead, Alannaâs warders exchanged a quiet gesture, scanning the forest. The other Sisters rode silently now, more alert. The deeper they traveled into this forgotten wood, the more the trees seemed to lean inward, shadows stretching long beneath their hooves.
Nesta took a breath, then another. Whatever she had become, whatever rules she had bent or broken there was no turning back. She clutched the reins tighter, and rode on.
The forest around them seemed quieter now. The fire crackled softly in the stillness of the night, throwing flickering shadows across the circle of scattered packs. Nesta settled herself on a log near the fire, pulling her crimson cloak tighter around her shoulders against the cool night air. Alanna was already there, sitting cross-legged, her green cloak draped loosely over her knees. Her dark hair caught the firelight, and her eyes shone with a calm confidence that felt steadying.
âYou ride well.â she said, breaking the comfortable silence. âYou must have spent a lot of time in the saddle before the Tower.â
Nesta smiled. âI try. Horses are good company, unlike some people.â Her tone was teasing, and Alannaâs lips twitched in a smile.
âSome people.â Alanna echoed, arching an eyebrow. âYou mean the kind that sends you on missions?â She glanced around at the other Sisters.
Nesta laughed softly. âThat too, but no, some people are just hard to read. Like you. You donât say much, but when you do, it counts.â
âThatâs fair.â Alanna shrugged. âIâm not one for nonsense.â
âNeither am I.â Nesta replied. She hesitated, then added, âI wasnât sure what to expect from this mission or from you. But itâs good, a bit easier than I thought.â
Alanna shifted, nodding thoughtfully. âI feel the same. Weâve both got histories that make trusting tricky. But out here, away from the Towerâs politics, itâs simpler. Just us and the forest.â
âIâm glad youâre here.â
Alanna smiled, warmth flickering in her eyes. âAnd Iâm glad youâre more open now.â
âMaybe this mission wonât be so bad after all.â
She gave her a knowing look. âWeâll watch each otherâs backs. Thatâs what matters.â
Nesta nodded, feeling a calm certainty settle inside her. For the first time since leaving the Tower, she felt she had an ally. And not just in duty, but in friendship.
Alannaâs eyes gleamed with curiosity, catching the firelight. âSo how did a girl from Caemlyn end up in the White Tower? Thatâs a long road.â
Nestaâs gaze drifted toward the flames. The warmth of the fire licked at her cheeks, but the heat did nothing to chase away the chill of memory. âA man tried to hurt me. I didnât even mean to use the Power. At the end no one could prove anything.â
Alannaâs expression sobered. The teasing gleam faded, replaced with more gentleness and understanding. âAnd someone saw that power for what it was.â
âA Blue Sister was passing through. She heard whispers, asked questions. She looked at me like she knew exactly what Iâd done.â Nesta gave a bitter smile. âShe didnât ask if I wanted to leave, just said it was time.â
âItâs hard, being torn out of your world like that. No time to grieve it. Just the Tower and its rules.â
âI didnât understand what I was becoming. I just knew I wasnât the girl who packed herbs in her fatherâs shop anymore.â Nesta admitted.
âIt must have been quite the moment.â Alanna said with a crooked grin, trying to lift the weight from the air. âYouâve got that spark, though.â
Nesta laughed softly, grateful for the shift in tone. âSometimes I wonder if itâs a curse more than a gift.â
The Green Aes Sedai reached out and nudged her shoulder friendly. âDonât talk like that, Nesta. Youâve made it this far, and youâre stronger than you know.â
âItâs easier to be strong when you have someone to rely on.â Nesta looked at her sidelong, the glow of the fire dancing in her blue eyes.
Alanna tilted her head, her smile deepening with something warmer than amusement. âThen youâre lucky youâve got me.â
The girlâs lips curved, and for once, the smile felt easy. âAh, so sure itâs about you.â
They both laughed, and the tension in Nestaâs chest loosened. The fire popped, sending a sudden spray of sparks dancing into the stars above. Around them, the warders murmured quietly, and for the first time since setting out, Nesta felt less like a stranger among them.
The world changed around the girl, Telâaranârhiod. One moment, she was asleep by the dying campfire, wrapped in her cloak and the next, the distant breathing of the other Sisters and Warders vanished. She stood in a familiar forest, yet it all felt different. Her eyes flicked upward, no moon, only a yawning sky. She didnât remember willing herself here. But someone had pulled her.
Lanfear appeared behind her, as if she had always been there. Moon-pale, wrapped in a gown of onyx that trailed behind her like shadows incarnate. She tilted her head, her bright eyes fixed on Nesta. âYouâre far from your Tower now, little flame.â
Nesta didnât startle, she turned slowly. âYou always find me when I least expect it, Lanfear.â
The Forsaken stepped closer, gaze moving over her. âAnd yet you never truly expect me.â She paused, then added more softly, âI came to see how you're doing. Your dreams have changed a bit.â
Nestaâs throat tightened. âItâs a simple mission.â
âSimple?â Lanfear arched a brow. âStrange dreams and corrupted Waygates. You call that simple?â
Nesta didnât answer, a gust of wind stirred her hair, and she realized she had shaped this version of herself, still clothed in confidence, but there was something beneath it. Doubt.
Lanfearâs hand rose gently and she brushed a lock of blonde hair behind Nestaâs ear. âYour power grows, but youâre still leashing it like a good pet.â she murmured. âWhy?â
âItâs not just mine to unleash. There are oaths, the laws.â
âLaws.â Lanfear echoed, a ghost of a smile playing on her lips. âYou already bent one, didnât you? Lied to a Sister and felt the ripple of it inside you twisting.â Her voice dropped softly, âHow did that feel?â
A flicker of shame passed through Nestaâs chest, but it wasnât the lie that haunted her. It was how easy it had been. She hated the question, hated the way Lanfearâs gaze cut through her, and yet, somehow, she didnât want to leave. There was a strange comfort in the woman's presence. âI didnât mean to.â she said, unsure if it was an excuse or a confession.
Lanfearâs hand fell to her shoulder, resting there. âThereâs more in you. You feel it, donât you? The shift in your weaves. The way saidar listens too closely, obeys too quickly.â
âI donât understand it yet.â Nesta admitted.
The Forsakenâs eyes dropped and her fingers moved, brushing the choker at Nestaâs throat. âLiandrin.â Lanfear said, almost to herself. Her voice thickened, wrapped in a bitterness Nesta didnât expect. âShe gave you this, claimed you in the way she could. Itâs beautiful, in its way. A collar made of devotion.â
The weight of the choker had always felt warm to her, a reminder of who she belonged to. Not in weakness, but as a choice, a vow made with open eyes. Sheâd let Liandrin place it around her neck and if Liandrin had asked for her life in that moment, she mightâve given it.
Lanfear's eyes lifted, sharp and soft all at once. âYou bonded yourself in more ways than one, little flame." Her thumb traced the curve of the red stones. âAnd yet...â
âAnd yet?â Nesta whispered.
âThere is something tragic about loving someone in the shadows.â Lanfear said, voice distant now. âWhatever burns too brightly, always ends in ash.â
Nesta stared at her. âIs that what yours ended in?â
Lanfear smiled then, âMine never ended.â
The world around them flickered, the dream beginning to fray. The fire of the real camp tugged at her and Lanfearâs hand slid away. âBe careful, Nesta.â
The ruins of the Ogier settlement lay silent beneath the heavy ancient trees, their gnarled roots twisting like the fingers of forgotten giants clutching at the earth. Weathered stone walls, broken pillars, and moss-covered statues spoke of a time long past. Nestaâs boots crunched on a bed of fallen leaves, the sound unnaturally loud in the oppressive quiet.
Around her, the Sisters moved with practiced precision. Alannaâs sharp eyes scanned every carved rune and scar on the stonework, while another Green and two Red exchanged cautious whispers. Warders prowled the perimeter, hands never far from their weapons.
Nesta paused beside a shattered circle etched into the earth, the remains of a Waygate long silent. The faint shimmer of residual power pulsed erratically in the air like a heartbeat struggling to survive. She knelt, fingertips brushing the corrupted stone.
Alanna crouched beside her, her brow furrowed in concentration. âThis isnât just simple energy.â she said quietly. âItâs corrupted with the Shadowâs mark.â
A chill ran down Nestaâs spine. âThis place feels wrong.â
The group tightened their formation, steps deliberate but cautious. Every snap of twig or rustle of leaves set their nerves on edge. The forest seemed unnaturally still, the usual chorus of birds and insects conspicuously absent. When suddenly, a guttural roar ripped through the stillness, a sound so raw and brutal it seemed to shake the very air. Monstrous Trollocs lunged from the darkness like living nightmares, twisted beasts with snarling maws, claws tearing at the air, eyes wild with bloodlust.
âStand your ground!â Alanna called, voice sharp and commanding.
Nestaâs hands moved instinctively, weaving saidar with intensity. Flames erupted from her fingertips, lashing out, searing the closest Trollocâs flesh. The beast roared in agony, staggering back.
The battle ignited into chaos. Branches snapped and splintered as the Trollocs surged forward, their guttural screams echoing like thunder. Nestaâs Power surged wildly, her weaves were untamed. Each strike was brutal, savage, but beautiful in its force.
Her Red Sisters gasped, faces flushed with adrenaline and awe as Nesta unleashed the full fury of her strength. Yet Alannaâs gaze was sharp and wary, flicking from one chaotic weave to another. The girlâs Power roared fiercely but still dangerously unpredictable.
Suddenly, a scream split the battleâs roar, and a Green Sister staggered, clutching a deep, ragged wound in her side where a Trollocâs claw had raked her. Her warder was instantly there to protect her.
âLink with me, Nesta!â Alannaâs voice cut through the chaos.
Nestaâs breath caught, but she reached out with her own Power, and their flows tangled, crackling with energy. The surge hit her like wildfire, heat and light igniting every nerve, every muscle. Her body trembled under the force, but she held firm, channeling the combined power with growing control.
Together, their weave exploded, lightning and flame, that tore through the remaining Trollocs in a storm of destruction. The beasts screamed, blood mixing with ash and leaves as they fell one by one.
When the last Trolloc fell, silence crashed down over the clearing. Smoke curled from scorched underbrush, and the air shimmered with the fading echo of violent weaves. Nestaâs breath came in sharp, shallow gasps, her hands still trembling with the lingering charge of Power.
Alanna stepped toward her. âAre you hurt?â she asked, not waiting for an answer. Her hands hovered, gently caught Nestaâs shoulders, inspecting her with a practiced but urgent touch.
âIâm fine.â Nesta managed, though her voice was hoarse and her limbs weak from the channeling.
Alannaâs hands lingered a moment longer than necessary, her eyes studying her face, as if seeking a truth beyond the body. âThat power.â she said at last, voice low and taut with something that wasnât quite accusation, but wasnât comfort either. âIt didnât feel like saidar alone. There was something else in it.â
The words sliced through the haze of victory. Nesta froze, because she had felt it too. Something beneath the surface, curling and twisting with the light. Her weaves had come faster, like instinct took the reins. Not uncontrolled, but still different.
Her mind reeled back to Lanfearâs words. Youâre still leashing it like a good pet.
Nestaâs hand drifted unconsciously to the choker at her throat, fingers brushing over the smooth red stones. It pulsed faintly with warmth, or maybe that was just memory.
âI donât know what you mean.â she said calmly, but even she could hear the hollowness in it.
Alanna didnât push. She simply watched her a beat longer, then nodded slowly. âWeâll talk later.â she said, softer this time. âGet some water, you burned through a lot of strength.â
Nesta nodded numbly, but her gaze lingered on the blackened clearing and the stench of scorched flesh. Whatever was happening inside her, Lanfear was right. It was growing and she wasnât sure how much longer she could pretend not to notice.
The road back to the Tower was quieter, the horses shifted restlessly on the narrow trail, hooves clopping on the ground, their breaths fogging in the chill morning air. The group had paused to water the horses near a stream, letting the beasts rest while the Sisters stretched their legs.
Nesta stood a little apart, arms crossed, gazing down at the rippling water. Behind her, voices murmured. Warders checking supplies, a Red Sister muttering a healing weave over a sore ankle of another Red Sister. The tension had finally begun to bleed away, but it clung in places, like bruises yet to bloom.
Alanna approached quietly, brushing a strand of wind-blown hair behind her ear. âYou are still on edge.â she said with a small smile. âBut your mind is somewhere else.â
Nesta didnât turn. âThereâs always more waiting, isnât there? Another mission, another threat, another challenge.â
âTrue.â Alanna stepped up beside her. âBut you should let yourself feel what we did. We succeeded, Nesta. Against odds that wouldâve killed lesser groups.â
Nesta looked down at her own hands. âIt didnât feel like a victory at the time. It was just survival.â
Alanna huffed a soft laugh. âThatâs what most victories feel like in the real world.â
They stood in silence for a moment before Nesta finally asked, âDo you think the Waygate will hold?â
Alanna glanced sideways at her. âIt will, the Red Sisters were able to seal the corrupted fissure with your added strength.â
Nesta tensed but nodded. âI could feel something in that place. Like it remembered how it was supposed to be and it just needed a nudge.â
"Everything worked out. We sealed the rot and we did what we came for.â
Nesta finally turned to look at her. âDo you think the Tower will be pleased?â
Alanna smiled faintly, but there was something else behind it. âTheyâll be impressed. But theyâll watch you now even more. You channeled too much for the others not to notice.â
âSo I should be careful.â Nestaâs gaze flicked away.
âCareful, yes, but not afraid. You were born for this.â Alanna smiled and bumped her shoulder against Nestaâs. âCome on. Letâs not make the others wait. Theyâll get grumpy if we donât start moving soon.â
Nesta took one last look at the stream, then followed her back to the group, the chill in her bones less from the air now and more from the realization of what she was becoming.
The gates of the White Tower loomed ahead, their ancient stone bathed in amber torchlight. The sound of hooves clattered across the courtyard stones as the group returned at last. All of them bone-weary and weather-beaten from the long ride home.
Nesta sat tall in the saddle, though her spine ached from days in the saddle and her hands were stiff from cold reins. Her crimson coat was dulled by travel.
She looked straight ahead, even as her eyes flicked nervously to the assembled crowd waiting at the base of the stairs. A few Sisters gathered, but one figure stood slightly apart. Liandrin.
Her hair was down, loose and gleaming in the torchlight, the golden strands brushing the deep red of her gown. She looked like she had come here from her chambers. Her arms were folded, but her posture betrayed the tension in her shoulders. She didnât move, didnât speak. Just watched.
Nesta dismounted slowly, her legs stiff and sore. The ground felt too solid beneath her boots after so long in motion. She handed her reins to a waiting stablehand and gave a curt nod to Alanna and the others.
Liandrinâs gaze swept over her from head to toe. No wounds, no visible blood. But she saw the careful way Nesta walked. The slight stiffness in her neck, the subtle wince as she shifted her weight.
She had imagined a hundred versions of this moment over the past ten nights. The silence of her quarters had become a torment, each hour without news coiling tighter in her chest. She hadnât slept more than a few hours at a time. Her nights were spent pacing, her mind replaying every danger that couldâve taken Nesta away. She had never waited for anyone in her life. And it had been agony.
Nesta stopped a few paces away, dust clinging to her coat, her hair mussed from wind and days without care. She met Liandrinâs gaze, and for a heartbeat, her weariness melted into something gentler. Her lips twitched into a tired smile. âMissed me?â
Liandrin didnât answer right away. Her arms remained folded across her chest, her face unreadable, but her blue eyes flicked over Nesta with something too sharp to be indifference. Her silence stretched just a beat too long and Nestaâs smile finally faltered.
The answer was yes. A scream of yes, clawing inside Liandrin's throat. But instead she said, âGet inside. You look like youâre going to collapse.â
Nesta blinked. Her heart gave a small, absurd lurch. She should have expected it. Shouldâve known better than to think Liandrin would meet her with anything close to softness in public. And still, that answer hit harder than sheâd anticipated. Not even, youâre safe, or you made it back. Just an order, as if Nesta had done something wrong by returning in the late evening and alive.
âIâm fine.â she said firmly. But her own lie tasted bitter.
Liandrin narrowed her eyes. âYouâre stiff and you're hiding a limp. Donât tell me youâre fine.â The words came out like scolding. But beneath them, buried deep was fear.
At that moment, Nesta noticed the faint shadows beneath Liandrinâs eyes, the uncharacteristic slump in her posture. She didnât argue, only stepped closer. The edge of her coat brushed her loverâs arm as she passed. Close enough that Liandrin could feel the warmth radiating from her body. Close enough that the scent of travel and forest and Nestaâs skin curled around her.
Liandrin didnât follow right away. She lingered behind for a bit longer, her jaw clenched. She had imagined this moment so many times and every version had ended in loss. But Nesta had come back.
The door to their chambers clicked shut behind them with a soft finality. Nesta didnât say a word. She moved through the familiar space, not looking back at Liandrin. Her boots were shed near the threshold, her coat unfastened with aching fingers.Â
Liandrin remained near the door, her spine taut, arms still crossed, watching. She didnât trust herself to move. Every instinct screamed at her to go to Nesta, to touch her, to speak, to fall to her knees and admit the bone-deep relief flooding her body. But all that came out was silence.
The ache of waiting hadnât left her. Not after all the sleepless nights, the false starts, the sudden turns in the corridor when footsteps approached and she thought, even hoped, that it might be Nesta. It had worn her thin in a way she hadnât expected, hadnât been prepared for.
She had always waited for no one. Always stood alone. Always dictated the rules. But Nesta had taken that control and shattered it, piece by piece, just by existing.
But now she saw every detail. The exhaustion in Nestaâs posture. The stiff, careful way she walked, like her muscles had locked into the saddle after so many days of riding. The faint, grim line around her mouth that said she was pushing through pain without complaint. It made Liandrinâs jaw clench in helpless fury. She wanted to lash out and to cradle her at the same time. But most of all, she wanted to close the space between them and just breathe.
And yet she didnât move. Because fear was winning, whispering that if she let down her guard, if she showed what more than ten days of silence and shadows had done to her, Nesta would see too much. And Liandrin couldnât bear that kind of exposure.
Nesta didnât need to speak to know she was being watched and held at armâs length by a woman whoâd spent more than ten days pacing these very floors, waiting. And now that she was back, whole, bruised but unbroken, she could feel the storm still lingering behind Liandrinâs silence. But she wouldnât push.
So she knelt down and began to draw the bath herself, sleeves rolled up, face calm. The water sluiced in with a steady, echoing rhythm, steam slowly unfurling into the air. Her back was to Liandrin purposefully. Not in punishment, but in quiet understanding. If Liandrin wanted to speak, she would. And until then, Nesta gave her space to do so.
Behind her, Liandrin hadnât moved an inch. She should have said something, anything. She should have embraced Nesta at the gates, or even brushed a strand of dust-matted hair from her cheek. But she hadnât.
She hated how deeply the fear had sunk into her bones, leaving her sleep-deprived and on edge. And now Nesta was here, not demanding affection. Not angry or accusing. Just quiet.
Liandrin swallowed and finally stepped forward, slow and hesitant. Her voice, when it came, was roughened by exhaustion. âYou didnât even look at me.â
Nesta paused, her hand resting on the rim of the tub. She didnât turn, but her voice was soft, gentle. âI did and you know it.â
The sound of the water sloshing was the only answer for a moment, until Liandrinâs boots struck the stone floor in two sharp steps closer. âYou looked right through me.â she snapped, harsher now.
Nesta turned her head slightly, not all the way, just enough for Liandrin to see the side of her face. âI looked at you, Lia. You were so distant. I didnât know if you wanted me to come closer.â
Liandrin blinked, stunned. âWhat?â
âYou shut me out the second I stepped off that horse.â Nesta said, still not turning fully.
Liandrin flinched, as if struck. Her hands clenched at her sides. This time she snapped, louder. âDo you think I...â Her breath caught, voice catching between fury and vulnerability. âDo you have any idea what itâs like to sit here and not know if youâd ever come back?â
Nesta finally turned fully, the heat of the bath forgotten. âI had a mission.âÂ
Liandrin let out a bitter laugh. âYes, of course. A mission.â Her eyes were gleaming now, bright with a rage that barely masked the pain beneath. âAnd I was here. Left to rot in my own skin while you were out there. Bleeding for the Tower.â
She took another step, her voice cracking. âI could barely sleep, Nesta. I couldnât breathe.â
Nestaâs heart clenched, the words digging into her like thorns. âLiandrin...â
âI hate this feeling.â Liandrin hissed, her voice shaking. âI hate that I had to wait for you.â
Nestaâs expression softened, her lips parting in a breathless exhale. âBut you did and I am here now.â
âI couldnât do anything else!â Liandrin barked, and her voice finally cracked completely. âI didnât know what else to do except wait and hope!â
She stopped abruptly, breathing hard. Her fists trembled at her sides, fingers curling in and out as if caught between lashing out and holding on. The silence after her outburst hung heavy in the chamber. Her chest rose and fell in quick, shallow gasps, and her eyes were glassy and afraid.
Nesta didnât hesitate, she crossed the space between them in a few quiet steps. One hand rose slowly and she brushed her fingertips along Liandrinâs sharp cheek. Her voice softer than it had been all evening. âIâm here, Lia.â she said simply.
Liandrinâs eyes fluttered shut. She stood perfectly still, like something cornered, too proud to crumble. âI donât know how to do this.â she whispered. âI donât know how to wait. I am not used to miss somebody so much it makes me sick.â
âYou donât have to know how.â Nesta replied, unwavering. âJust let yourself feel it. Iâm not going anywhere.â
Liandrin exhaled sharply, like her lungs had been bound for days and only now remembered how to breathe. A single shuddering breath tore from her chest, and then another, quieter, more broken. Her arms came up desperately. She reached for Nesta like sheâd been drowning and finally found her air.
And Nesta caught her. She stepped into Liandrinâs arms and pulled her close. There was no teasing in her touch, no hesitation. Just warmth and safety. Liandrin buried her face in Nestaâs shoulder, and her hands clung tightly to the back of her clothes.
Nesta tilted her head slightly, her lips brushing against Liandrinâs temple, then her lips. A soft, reverent kiss. âI love you and I missed you.âÂ
Liandrin blinked rapidly, eyes wet but unspilled. âI thought Iâd ruined it.â she murmured. âThe way I acted...â Her throat closed on the words. âI was angry, but not at you, just afraid. Iâve never had to wait like that. I never wanted someone to return so badly I thought Iâd lose my mind.â her voice cracked, and she looked away.
âI understand it.â Nesta said gently.
Liandrinâs shoulders sagged. âIâm sorry, love.â she breathed.
âJust let me in when it gets too heavy.â
The bath water had long since begun to steam, the air around them warmed by it. And Nesta shifted slightly, brushing her fingers over Liandrinâs hand, then gently stepping back. âI should get in before it cools.â
âIâll help.â Liandrin started, a step forward already instinctive.
But Nesta shook her head with a soft smile. âJust sit with me."
Liandrin hesitated for a heartbeat, then nodded, backing slowly to the chair near the mirror. Nesta turned back to the tub and began to undress.
âLet me.â she said, already rising. Her voice was steadier now, but gentler, stripped of command.
Nesta paused, surprised but not resisting, and let Liandrin come closer. The womanâs hands were warm, careful as she reached for the ties of the shirt.
âI was angry that youâve been out there for so long.â Liandrin murmured as she slid the fabric away. âWithout me.â
âYou are angry.â Nesta replied, a soft huff of amusement.
âYes.â Liandrinâs mouth twitched, just faintly. âAnd still I would have burned the world down if you hadnât returned.â
âI wouldâve found my way back to you regardless.â
Nesta stepped out of the remaining clothes and lowered herself into the warm bath. The heat seeped into her aching limbs, making her sigh. She leaned back against the curve of the tub, letting her eyes close. The journey back had left her feeling carved out, her body sore.
She heard the sound of soft rustling and then the subtle shift of fabric as Liandrin moved again. When Nesta opened her eyes, Liandrin was kneeling beside the bath, sleeves rolled up, a cloth in hand.
âI can do it myself.â Nesta said softly.
âI know, pet.â Liandrin dipped the cloth into the water, wrung it out, and reached out.
It moved gently over her skin in slow strokes. Liandrin said nothing at first, each movement of her hands felt like a worship. She washed Nestaâs arms, her neck, her collarbone, and the top of her back.
Liandrin dipped the cloth again, wringing it out carefully. She swept it down Nestaâs spine next, her voice finally breaking the hush between them, âWhat happened out there?â
Nesta closed her eyes for a moment, letting the warmth soak into her words before answering. âThe Waygate was as the reports said, wrong. Tainted, twisted somehow. And Trollocs were drawn to it.â She paused, tilting her head slightly as Liandrin moved to her side. âWe didnât even have time to set up camp before they came.â
Liandrinâs fingers brushed over her hip, her cloth pausing as if her body flinched at the memory. âWere you afraid?â she asked quietly.
âYes, but not in the way I expected.â Nesta said. âI knew what to do. But Alanna noticed something strange.â
âWhat do you mean?â The question was sharp, but Liandrinâs hands remained tender as she ran the cloth along Nestaâs tigh.
âWhen we linked, she said it didnât feel like saidar alone. She flinched from me.â Nestaâs voice lowered. âI felt it too. Like something else stirred inside my weaves.â
Liandrinâs hands stilled, cloth resting against Nestaâs skin. âYou didnât tell her?â
âOf course not.â Nesta turned her head to look at her. âYouâre the only one who knows it. Iâd never risk by saying too much.â
Liandrin finished the last of the rinsing in silence, standing up as she reached for a towel. Her movements were reverent as she helped Nesta rise from the bath, wrapping her in warm fabric. The towel moved against damp skin as she dried her arms, then moved behind her, drawing it up along her back and shoulders.
Liandrin didnât answer right away. She held the towel around Nestaâs shoulders for a moment longer. âDonât thank me. Just stay with me.â
Nesta turned in the towel, still damp and flushed from the heat, and cupped Liandrinâs cheek in her hand. âIâm not going anywhere.â she said softly. âNot tonight. Not ever.â
Liandrinâs eyes fluttered shut again, and she leaned into the touch this time. Their room was dimly lit now, and Nesta dried herself fully, pulling on the soft shirt left on the nearby chair. And Liandrin changed too.
When they finally slipped into bed, Nesta reached for her first. Liandrin came willingly, curling close, fitting herself against her chest with a sigh that sounded like surrender.
For a while, they lay in silence. Nestaâs fingers idly traced slow circles on Liandrinâs back, feeling her tension slowly ebb away under her touch. The older womanâs breathing evened out.
âI couldnât sleep without you.â Liandrin admitted, barely louder than a breath. âEvery night felt like my heart was bleeding.â
Nesta pressed a kiss to her forehead. âI felt it too.â she whispered. âBut weâre here.â
Liandrinâs hand found Nestaâs beneath the sheets, twining their fingers together tightly. âPromise me, Lioness.â she murmured. Her voice was almost too soft to catch, but Nesta heard every syllable. She heard the fear behind them, the vulnerability Liandrin never showed to anyone else.
âI promise, Lia.â she said, her thumb brushing gently over Liandrinâs knuckles.
âI love you.â Liandrin whispered.
"I love you so much too.â
Liandrin exhaled shakily, her eyes stung, but she didnât cry. She just let herself feel it. The safety, the warmth and Nestaâs arms wrapped around her. âSleep well, my Lioness.â she murmured.
âGoodnight, my love.â Nesta whispered, holding her tighter.
Wrapped together in the quiet dark, they drifted into sleep.