Chapter Text
Liandrin threw her weight around, trying to make it as difficult as possible for the two hulking Seanchan guards to drag her along. Their heavy bronze helmets shielding their faces. Although she was petite, her fierce efforts forced the guards to grip her tighter, lest she escape. She was being pulled into a courtyard that sat below a towering sandstone palace.
Just as a string of insults was readied on her tongue, the Aes Sedai was thrown down in the centre of the barren courtyard. Her hands went out to catch herself, brown clay dust coating her palms.
Disgusted, Liandrin brushed her hands off against her skirts as a pair of fine red silk slippers stepped into view. Her stomach dropped as she recognised the woman standing over her.
It was Suroth Sabelle Meladarath, Seanchan Noble and High Lady of Asinbayar and Barsabba. She was also a Darkfriend. The last time the two women had seen each other they had exchanged threats.
“I see that I shall be the first to uphold my end of our bargain.” Suroth smiled beneath a metallic veil that covered the upper half of her face. A stocky woman in leather armor, a sul’dam, Liandrin realised , bowed to her Lady and presented her with a golden collar. The matching bracelet around her own wrist. The a’dam. The barbaric leash used to control women who could channel the One Power.
“No! Wait!” Liandrin frantically scurried backwards on all fours.
“All marath’damane must be collared and tamed.” Suroth said proudly. With a single flick of her fingers, she summoned the guards to force Liandrin to kneel at her feet once more. Liandrin grunted as they held her arms behind her back, bending her into a submissive posture.
“You do not understand. I can no longer channel.”
“Do not presume to tell me what I do and do not understand, witch.” Suroth reached down and the collar clasped itself around Liandrin’s throat.
The desire to let Saidar fill her was overwhelming and the world erupted. Liandrin’s ears felt like they were bursting as shooting pain ripped through her body. The sul’dam she was linked to was struggling to stay on her feet. Suroth looked between them in shock and confusion. The sul’dam was trying to force Liandrin to touch the Source, the shield unyielding.
“Control your damane, Ayasha.”
“High Lady, something is wrong.” The sul’dam fought to stay upright. “There is a barrier. It hurts Ayasha to probe it. The One Power cannot be channeled through this damane. Something rages inside her. Volatile and violent, High Lady.” Those who served were expected to speak of themselves in the third person as a sign of respect.
“What is wrong with you?” Suroth tugged the front of the collar, forcing Liandrin’s chin upwards, her eyes flooding with tears.
“Moghedien!” Liandrin sobbed. “It was Moghedien, the Chosen! The Forsaken! Take it off me! Please, take it off!”
The sul’dam beside Suroth dropped to one knee, grunting in pain but attempting to remain quiet.
“Remove it.” Suroth reluctantly ordered, her expression foul. Ayasha stumbled closer and reached for the a’dam. The moment it was released from Liandrin’s neck, both women felt a weight lifted off them and the pain subsided to a dull ache.
The sul’dam dropped to her knees with her forehead pressed to the ground at the High Lady’s feet. Seemingly begging for forgiveness from her mistress.
“Leave my sight.” Suroth dismissed her with venom in her voice. Liandrin pawed her throat, staring at the woman above her. It seemed to enrage her further. “Answer me properly this time. What is wrong with you?”
“I’m as good as stilled!” Liandrin exclaimed. “Moghedien made sure of it.”
“Explain.” Suroth hissed, furious that she had been unable to claim this prize.
“You would not understand.” Liandrin scoffed.
“You are a slow learner.” Suroth struck her across the mouth, the blow knocking Liandrin onto her side. “You do not decide what I can comprehend. You have been severed from the One Power.”
“No, no, it is a shield.” Liandrin stuttered and sniffled. “I can feel the Source at the edge of my grasp but I cannot touch it. It is like breathing with water in your lungs, never able to take full breaths. Moghedien promised I would spend the rest of my life searching for someone powerful enough to release me. I have had enough. Suroth, I beg you, kill me now.”
Suroth’s lips pulled back into a vile sneer.
“You are a fool to think I would allow your suffering to end this day, Liandrin. Death is too good for you. I think I shall keep you alive in spite of this odd severance from the One Power. Blonde hair and blue eyes. An exotic thing like you will be a fine addition to my collection. You shall not be wasted in death when I might enjoy you a little longer.”
“I will never serve you.” Liandrin hissed defiantly.
“You are not the first imperious da’covale I have tamed and you will not be the last.” Suroth said, looking at Liandrin as if she were her next meal. “And you will discover quickly that my temper is short.”
Furious and desperate, Liandrin hurled herself forwards. As her fingers grasped Suroth’s silk skirt, hands seized her and a blade pressed to the side of her neck.
With a single hand gesture, Suroth spared Liandrin’s life. The guards pulled the Aes Sedai up so her legs hung limply beneath her.
“You will serve, or I will have pieces of you removed until you are a useless pulp.” Suroth snatched one of Liandrin’s hands in both of her own. Liandrin strained against the guardsman’s vice-like grip. Drawing lines along Liandrin’s fingers with her two accent nails, both over an inch in length, Suroth continued. “I start with the knuckles. With each offence I shall take one from you. My fellow High Lords believe that ten is too many chances, but I find that between two and six fingers is when the spirit breaks.”
Liandrin thrashed, her face blanching with fear. “Think on that, da’covale, before you misbehave.” Their faces inches apart, Liandrin could not see the High Lady’s eyes through her veil. Suroth dragged two fingers beneath Liandrin’s jaw as she gave her next command. “I want my new shae groomed before she is brought to my chambers.”