Chapter Five

The Shadow Awaits

Ktanos’s feet hurt from all the walking they did as they searched the city of Salidar. Master Gil said they were looking for a specific inn that was known to welcome friends of the dark. It was there they would send a message and request an audience with Bao the Wyld. 

Salidar is a small village in Altara. It is one or two miles inland from the River Eldar, on the border with Amadicia. It has been abandoned since the Whitecloak War some forty years before, along with other Altaran border villages. Salidar was a small town surrounded by a forest and filled with stone houses built on low hills. There were three large buildings in Salidar, all previously inns. 

Compared to other places it felt cramped here and Ktanos was worried that he might have his pocket picked if he were not careful. He made sure he kept a tight grip on his purse strings. He tried his best to get close to anyone though it was hard in the crowded streets. 

“We’re here,” Master Gil announced as they reached an inn called The Wild Hog. It looked worn and run down as if it had somehow managed to stay standing after trying to be burnt down. 

They quickly entered and the stale air smelled of body order and spilled ale. The floor was clear of any clutter but had the look of not being washed. A couple of places had the look of a drink that was spilled and left to dry. 

A couple of patrons were busy tossing dice while a bartender was behind his bar cleaning a mug with a dirty rag. Master Gill approached him and whispered something to him. The bartender’s face went pale and he scurried off while Master Gil chose a table away from everyone else to sit at. 

“Why this place? It looks… horrible compared to other inns we’ve passed.” Ktanos asked quietly. He turned his head as he heard some cursing from the men gambling. the winner was proudly scooping up his winnings while the others swore and cursed at the winner’s luck. 

“You’ll learn soon enough not to be fooled by appearances. What you see is just a front to hide the real inn. This is just to keep certain people away while we work from the shadows.” Master Gil explained. 

The bartender and another gentleman entered from a room behind the bar and the stranger approached them. He was younger than Master Gil and he wore a dark forest green colored suit that nobility might wear. He hugged on his coat irritably as he approached. 

“Greetings friends,” He said as he discreetly made a hand gesture to them. Master Gil nodded and offered a seat to the noble. He wrenched a smile as he quickly refused. Ktanos noticed that as Master Gil rested his hand on the table he was making the same gesture. Ktanos looked closely trying to memorize what it looked like in case he needed to do it in the future. 

“What brings you to my humble establishment?” He asked softly. 

“I have a new recruit with a special ability. He is eager to join us and to learn to better use his ability.” Master Gil explained. 

“You can’t be serious. You’re asking to meet with the most influential man in Salidar because a boy can do tricks?!” 

“I think friend,” Master Gil started to say.

“Lord Taririr.” 

“Well Lord Taririr, please inform Bao the Wyld that Gil Dava’Col is here.” Master Gil replied with a smile and Lord Taririr’s face became as white as the Bartender’s had. He quickly ran off towards the back again. 

“Why are they all afraid of you? Every Time you mention your name everyone becomes scared.” Ktanos asked.

“I have a high position among the Atha'an Shadar. Though I’ve fallen out of service with The Great Lord of The Dark, my name is well known.” Master Gil replied. Lord Taririr eventually came back bowing politely as he approached. 

“Lord Bao will see you. He has asked that I show you to a private audience chamber.” Master Gil and Ktanos rose from their seats and followed Lord Taririr through a dor behind the back of the bar. 

Through that door the decorum of the building completely changed and it no longer looked like the grubby inn from the previous room. The hallway they walked looked like the hallway of a palace as fresh paint and luxurious rugs decorated the place. 

Golden frames surrounded the painting that hung on the walls and the scent of incense filled the hallway. The scent was a sweetened musky scent often called The Blood of Dragons. Ktanos looked at the rugs and wondered if he should remove his boots to avoid ruining them. 

They were led to a spacious room that had antique furniture with various animals carved as decorations along the sides. The furniture was made of redwood mostly but there were some other darker colors to the cabinets placed against the walls. 

Golden candlesticks surrounded the room brightening up the place more than the sun shining through the windows. In the center on a circular pattern rug were two identical chairs that were turned to face each other. A small table was next to one of the chairs and Master Gil sat at the chair opposite that one. 

“Do you remember everything I told you?” Master Gil asked him as they waited for their host to arrive. 

“Yes sir,” 

“Good. Leave all the talking to me because Lord Bzao is not the type of person to be trifled with.” Master Gil said and Ktanos was about to sit in the other chair when Master Gil cleared his throat and Ktanos thought better of it. It felt as if they had waited an hour before a gentleman entered and viewed them without saying a word. 

He was a tall and slender man with black hair brushed to the side of his left eye. The hair was cut neat but passed his bangs on his forehead. His eyes were cold and he carried the air that he would not hesitate to cut either of their throats if given the option. 

Ktanos saw a glow around him as if the light of the sun was being absorbed into him. It was dazzling to look at and other elements seemed to dance around him but they paled by comparison compared to the glowing light around him. 

His frown turned into a small grin as he saw the looks that Ktanos was giving him. As if they shared a secret that only they knew. Master Gil seemed oblivious of the glow and Ktanos embraced the Source wondering if the man could see such a glow around him as well. 

Ktanos felt Saidin flood into him and it filled his belly with the pleasure as if he had eaten his favorite food but that pleasure turned sour as the taint made the meal taste spoiled. The man chuckled as he stared at him. 

“A pleasure to see you again, Bao.” Master Gil replied and he rose slightly and extended his hand but he stopped as if he had just froze in place. 

“There much better,” Bao said as he sat and ignored Master Gil’s frozen shape. Ktanos walked over and poked Master Gil. He felt no different than usual and Ktanos was wondering what was done to him. 

“No need to fear lad, I’ve used a few waves that I know so that we can speak without any distractions. Now tell me, what is your name?” 

“Ktanos, sir.” He said and he watched Master Gil in fear he was going to be struck for speaking when he was told to remain silent. 

“Ktanos, so tell me how long have you been able to channel?” Bao asked. Ktanos hesitated and looked at Master Gil as if waiting for him to respond. “Is there a problem?” Bao asked as he watched as Ktanos released the Source. Bao also released Saidin and Ktanos saw the glow that surrounded Bao vanish. 

“No one has taught you how to channel yet I take it.” Bao said as he saw the confusion on Ktanos’ face. 

“No sir. Master Gil told me that he should be the one to speak.” Ktanos replied softly.

“I’m not interested in HIM at the moment, lad. Only you. I take it you are the reason he came here despite the exile The Great Lord put upon him.” Bao asked and Ktanos nodded. 

“So tell me Ktanos, why have you come to me of all people? Why are you among the Atha’an Shadar?” 

“Master Gil said he knew someone that could teach me how to channel and if I served The Great Lord of the Dark. That Serving the Great Lord would stop me from going mad and save me from the Aes Sedai.” Ktanos said. 

“Ah, I can understand that because the thought that Aes Sedai might take away the ability to channel is a frightening thing. I can help you but the question is: Why should I?” Bao asked as he grinned evilly at him. Ktanos stood there speechless and wished that Master Gil would respond. He seemed to know the right thing to say in these situations. 

“Well?” Bao asked impatiently. 

“Because I think The Great Lord of The Dark needs every channeler he can get. Especially to overcome the Aes Sedai! Here you have me that’s willing to learn but if you don’t want my help then I’ll go back to the Light and do what I can on my own.” Ktanos finally replied as he tried picking his words carefully. 

He had no idea what this man was like but his history with his former slave master had taught him how careful he needed to be with those with more power over him. Since he could channel he was sure he knew how to make weaves that would hurt him worse than anything that Dav’AlTor had ever done to him. 

“Good answer. There might be hope for you yet but understand that you are merely a tool for the Dark One to use. If a tool breaks or loses its usefulness, it is quickly and firmly replaced. Understand?”

“Yes sir,” Ktanos replied after he swallowed hard. 

“Now fill yourself with Saidin and show me what you know how to do.” Bao ordered. Ktanos struggled to control Saidin as it entered him. He became momentarily distracted as he saw the light surrounding Bao the Wyld again. 

Ktanos stomach hurt as the sour taste of Saidin filled it but he began to weave the elements in the same manner he had when he unlocked his cage and chains. Now that he had been practicing the weaves he found it was becoming easier to do and could almost weave without having to think about it. 

Bao watched him closely and soon figured out what he was weaving. The weave itself used quite a bit of earth to it. This told him that Ktanos probably would be better gifted in earth weaves. Bao began to create weaves and showed them to Ktanos in order for him to learn them. He had to do this multiple times before he was able to grasp the concept but one he did he learned the new weaves easily. 

He learned Weaves that would let him cover his tracks in case someone tried to follow him and another weave that made the blade of his dagger glow with a white flame making it more deadly but not harming the metal in any way. This could work as a makeshift candle if needed. 

Lastly he learned he could take a stone and by mixing Fire in with the Earth elements the stone would become unstable and explode at anything it was thrown at. Bao showed him how to load the stone into a sling then cast the weave so that whatever the stone hit would be struck by the explosion. 

Although it seemed weak now he thought that he could make the explosion more intense if he could channel more energy into it. Right now he was not strong enough but he thought that with a little work he could get better. All of the weaves he learned seemed to be like that except for the one he used to unlock locks. 

“That’s all for today, I’ll teach you more after you complete your first mission.” Bao the Wyld said as Ktanos saw the light of Saidin vanish from him. 

“A mission?!” Ktanos asked, wondering why he was allowed to go on a mission just after being trained. He did not even have time to practice the new weaves he learned. 

“Remember your oaths, boy! You swore to serve and obey and so you shall. As we speak what is left of an army of trollics is following three boys and their protectors. The trollics have someone called “The Dark One’s Hound” and he has the ability to track them. 

The last report I heard was that they had entered Shadar Logoth and had managed to escape but not before being scattered. I want you to track them down and send me word of your findings. 

On a more personal note your companion Gil is to… fall in battle somehow during this mission. I don’t care how or why but Gil Dav'alCol is to die during this mission. This is a direct command from The Great Lord and you don’t want to displease him.” Bao ordered and Ktanos looked at Master Gil wondering what he was going to do. Master Gil had helped him out so much but now he was to kill the only friend he ever had? Was this the painful price it cost to serve the Dark Lord? 

“Shadar Logoth?” Ktanos asked, never hearing of the place before. Bao the Wyld raised an eyebrow as he looked at the lad. He then what on to explain the history of Shadar Logoth. 

Shadar Logoth, translated Place Where the Shadow Waits, or simply The Shadow's Waiting, was once Aridhol, a great city which destroyed itself during the Trolloc Wars by becoming as dark and evil as the Shadow against which it fought. Now Mashadar, a shapeless evil which manifests as a pale white fog, haunts the city. Shadowspawn will only enter at great compulsion, as Mashadar is drawn to things of the Shadow like the attraction between opposite poles of a magnet. The city is lethal to all who enter, however; any who take even a pebble will be tainted by that evil, and will eventually spread it like an illness. It is said Shadar Logoth is dangerous under daylight, but deadly at night.

Aridhol was the capital of the nation of the same name during the Trolloc Wars. The city and the nation fought valiantly against the forces of the Shadow but the king at the time, Balwen Mayel, was doubtful of the Light's hopes of victory and fell into despair. A mysterious man named Mordeth came to the city at some point during the war and won the king's favor, becoming his most trusted counselor. Mordeth advised that the city withdraw in on itself and that they had to become harder, become as cruel and merciless as their enemies. 

Corrupted by Mordeth's influence and the King's will, the people changed their battlecry to, "The victory of the Light is all," reflecting the zeal they devoted to the fight against the Shadow to the exclusion of all else, and they uttered it more frequently as their deeds became worse and worse. It soon came to be that the people had become so dark and feared that many would prefer to see the arrival of Trollocs than soldiers from Aridhol.

This descent into darkness continued, and their zeal led to people becoming distrusting of one another, with families and friends turning on one another for unfounded suspicions. Eventually every man, woman, and child of Aridhol slew each other in a single night. In their demise, they left the vileness of their deeds behind in the very foundations of the city and Mashadar was born, an evil almost as great as the Shadow itself.

In the latter days of the Trolloc Wars, a Shadow army - Trollocs, Dreadlords, Darkfriends, and Myrddraal camped in the ruins of Aridhol. The next day, they did not come out. Men were sent to find out what had occurred. They found pieces of weaponry and armor, and walls streaked with blood and pleas to the Dark One to save them written in blood in the Trolloc tongue. When they later returned, they found nothing. All the walls had been scoured clean, and the weapons and armor were gone! After the revealing of Mashadar, men named the city Shadar Logoth, the "Place where the Shadow Waits."

Ktanos nearly turned white upon hearing the history of what befell Aridhol and wondered how could three boys his age manage to survive such a place? The thing that really bothered him was that he knew he had to enter Shadar Logoth if he hoped to find the trail they had taken. 

This would also allow him to get rid of Master Gil because he was sure that if left alone there, the evil of  Mashadar could easily overtake his former friend, he hoped. He doubted he could bring himself to kill Master Gil himself but he thought he might be able to arrange an accident should he need to. 

“Lad? Lad!” Master Gil shouted and it took Ktanos a second to realize whatever had frozen Master Gil had worn off. 

“Sorry,” He replied sheepishly as he saw that Bao the Wyld was ignoring him. He suddenly wondered if he had just been frozen just as Master Gil had. 

“What happened?” Ktanos whispered.

“Bao the Wyld has given us a mission. As HE said this is a test to test your loyalty to The Shadow and The Great Lord of the Dark.” Master Gil learned in close as Bao seemed distracted and whispered harshly to Ktanos. “I can’t believe you were daydreaming this whole time!” 

“Gentlemen, if you’ll excuse me. You have your orders.” Bao said as he rose and casually left the room. Ktanos had a sneaking suspicion that the message held a double meaning for him. 

“I’m sorry I don’t know what happened. What did he say?” Ktanos asked as he wondered if he had been put under whatever had affected Master Gil. Or had they both been hypnotized at the exact same time. 

“Are you mad?! Daydreaming while he gave us orders to find the three boys The Dark One wanted. We must hurry because they are getting dangerously close to a place called Shadar Logoth. If you knew of that place you’d realize how foolish you’ve been today. The Great Lord of the Dark is willing to test you and if you fail the price of failure is death!” Master Gil replied.

“Was that all he said?” Ktanos asked. His voice had a slight edge to it and wondered if Bao the Wyld had asked Master Gil to kill him also. He knew very little about Friends of the Dark but after hearing Bao the Wyld ask him to kill Master Gil. He would not be surprised if Master Gil had been ordered to kill him also! 

Pitting them against each other to see who would be the victor! No doubt IF Master Gil had been asked to kill him then he would keep it secret just like Ktanos was going to keep it secret that he was ordered to kill Master Gil. 

“He ordered us to find three boys because one may have one of the cuendillar discs that seals the Dark One’s prison. It’s unclear if he stole it or maybe inherited it, but we need that if we ever hope to free The Dark One.” Master Gil explained. Ktanos listened carefully and when he did not hear Master Gil mention killing him then he knew that it had been ordered for Master Gil to do that to him. 

The Great Seals are seven cuendillar discs, each bearing the ancient symbol of the Aes Sedai (a white teardrop and a black teardrop conjoined). They are the size of a man's hand and serve as a focus point for the actual seals which hold the Dark One in his prison.

When the forces of the Shadow were about to overrun the forces of Light and defeat seemed only months away, Lews Therin Telamon and the Hundred Companions decided to execute their dangerous plan to reseal the Bore that allowed the Dark One to touch the earth. They, together with a bodyguard of ten thousand warmen, Traveled to Shayol Ghul to execute their plan, sealing away the Dark One and the thirteen Forsaken. Strictly speaking, the discs themselves are not seals, but are as focus points, or anchors, for the seals. However, in common usage they are referred to as Seals.

The other point was that Bao the Wyld never mentioned anything about a Seal being in the possession of one of them. It would make sense why the trollics were hunting them. He could always take the Seal and use it as leverage and merely say he had no idea he needed to get the Seal. He was only ordered to lure Master Gil and kill him after they found the boys. 

“Do we have to enter Shadar Logoth?” Ktanos asked, hoping to convince Mater Gil to enter there. It would be easier to kill him if he let the deadly city do it for him. He was a little fearful about his own life but he thought the weaves, he was taught by Bao the Wyld, would help him escape. 

“If we’re lucky then we can follow their tracks without entering the city.” Master Gil replied. Ktanos was glad he was taught a weave to hide tracks so he could force them to enter the city. It was simple enough to do and he made a mental note to try and remember which way they ran so he could follow after he disposed of Master Gil. 

he felt a sudden pang of sorrow at the thought that he had to get rid of Master Gil. After everything he did for him, Ktanos could not believe how easy it was to think about killing him. The trouble was the thought of learning more about Saidin was addictive.

He wanted to learn more and become stronger and Master Gil seemed to stand in his way. He needed to obey Bao in order to get him to teach him more. Plus Master Gil was considered an enemy to The Great Lord of the Dark and to get in with the Shadow, then Master Gil needed to go. 

On the other hand for all he knew then Master Gil may be planning to kill him anyway. He really knew nothing about the man other than he would do anything to find the ones that killed his son. Would The Great Lord of the Dark offer him the answers at last if he killed Ktanos as a test of loyalty? 

He knew he had to kill Master Gil if he wanted to keep himself from dying at the man’s hands. 

“Do they have horses?” Ktanos asked as he tried to keep Master Gil from guessing his true motives. 

“That’s a good question. I heard they had been using river boats to get away so I doubt it because it will cost quite a bit to transport horses. 

“Can we get horses or anything before we chase after them?” Ktanos asked.

“I doubt it. I think Bao the Wyld wants to test us to see what we are capable of. If you really want to learn to channel then you need to prove how loyal you are to the Shadow.” Master Gil said and his words struck a deep chord with Ktanos. This proved to him that he needed to carry out his mission and that Master Gil was not to return from it. 

Regret was burrowing into him like tiny worms and no matter how hard he rationalized it; it was still a choice that he was not sure he could make. He still owed Master Gil a lot and the thought he could never repay him was troubling. Even worse was the thought that he was paying kindness with betrayal. 

Would he ever be able to look at himself in the mirror again?! 

                                                                                             To Be Continued...