My BAKA Gaidin

                      Wheel of Time Series

                           Ranma 1/2

 

Keys

*(thoughts)*

 

Chapter 5

 

             Life was never easy, it always seemed to bite him in the rear, but he was a man and he could take it like a man. Things always popped up, whether it be a mallet to the head, a "Ranma Saotome, prepare to die," or just having two or more fiancees together. Running away wouldn't solved anything, he knew that now. He ran from one and this time he was locked and shackled to another, but right now he was cherishing this moment. Why? Because Siuan was focusing on the poor fellow in front of him, rather than him.

 

             "You will answer me, Gaidin, why are the Seanchan here. Why is any of the party still here!?" Siuan didn't like being kept waiting, she always liked to know how the situation was. *Burn you Moiraine, why did you have to raise such a stubborn warder*

 

             One would usually listen in and get information that mentions either danger or running from danger, that was not on Ranma's mind right now. After all when jumping off a building became less fearful to him then missing lunch,  he felt that these certain things would be found out soon or later so what was the point.

 

             Lan, was a harden warrior. Until now he hasn't seen another warder. Ranma shivered at the face on the guy, he had all the signs of a veteran, but the face was bleak. He saw that expression before, on his travels he could remember how some old soldiers wore the face of death. They saw one too many deaths perhaps or something that had been even worse.

 

             The young warder shivered at the thought. He too was a warder now, would he end up the same way? Ranma never thought of it much, even if the path of the art could lead to such a state. He never thought it could happen to him, frankly he feared more about becoming like his pop, with all those thievery and lies.

 

             Could he just get away from this, go back to the Tendo's? *Akane...* Whether he would really see her or not, he felt comfort in that place. It was his first real home, but now... *She said it was bonded for life* He didn't want to think of it, life was a challenge and he would face every challenge like a man.

 

             *Maybe it's just him...* Like everything, there were always risks in life, and he would face them rather then run. He knew running never worked now.

 

             Lan had long ago knew how to deal with women, especially Aes Sedai. 'Never meddle with women's business.' He would adopt one of those "Yes Aes Sedai," "No Aes Sedai," and "Sorry Aes Sedai" demeanor and ride the storm. Better to let Aes Sedai deal with Aes Sedai or he would get caught in the middle.

 

             "Are you listening to me!?" Siuan could dump him in rotten fish oil about now. She knew the information would come when she met up with those two, but knowing things in advance always gave one more leverage and she needed all the advantages she can.

 

             "Yes Aes Sedai," Lan mechanically said. His attention was on the young lad, from his face, he was weighing him for information. *So Siuan picked a new warder...* Lan could tell he had potential, the grace of his casualness screamed years of training. Young, very young, yet he knew the lad could easily take down a seasoned soldier, a very rare boy. Siuan choose well, but Lan hoped she had not destroyed the boy's life by making him her warder.

 

             The veteran knew that Siuan was harsh, and would use what she could for her own gain. He might have to talk with the lad, it was not right to let a cub face a wolf and not even teach him how to pounce.

 

             An odd thing that immediately caught Lan's attention had been the lack of a weapon. Both Siuan and the boy were dirty and worn, possibly a result from battle. The fact that they were missing supplies meant something had happened. *Siuan was never one not to prepare* Still a warrior would never part with his weapon unless it was truly necessary, so how does the boy fight?

 

             Skill was not lacking, but he did not look to be a swordsman. His clothing were light and flexible, no sign of a sword belt or any place to wear a knife. Perhaps an archer, but still not quite. *What power does this boy posses?* One thing Lan could tell was the that boy was agile, the grace he causally wears was like a dance itself, if he was a swordsman there was little doubt he would float pass any attack like a bird taunting a cat.

 

             It hadn't been long before a farm came into view, it was mostly flat terran, but there was not a body in sight. Ranma could tell it was occupied, well-worn tracks could be seen and more obviously a well conditioned building. *They were hiding, but why?*

 

             He could spot others even if they were supposedly hidden. Ranma also wondered about the cloak that the warder wore, it felt almost magical as it seemed to let him fade out of view. *If I'm suppose to be a warder, I should get one too* From his left he saw another person, probably another warder for he also seemed to fade out of his sight every so often.

 

             "Ranma get yourself cleaned up, I have business," the Aes Sedai coolly told him. *She sounds like Nabiki's usual* It was more than he hoped for, maybe things will finally calm down now that she was back with her own kind... whoever they were.

 

             He causally followed Lan, it was best if he learned more of how these guys worked.

 

             "You looked like you got ran over by a cart, perhaps we can find you something less dusty." Ranma could only nod; he didn't feel very comfortable anymore in tattered, mud-filled, stiff clothing.

 

                                    < OH MY! >

 

             Siuan knew what reactions might be expected, but hers was even more surprising. Maybe it was just from being weather worn, or from dealing with Ranma, but her usual serene face dropped like a fish trying to fly.

 

             She had been expecting Elayne, Nynaeve, and Aes Sedai, not a full group of what looked like to be wilders or more precise, the Kin and Seafolk. The Seafolk were obvious with their tanned skin and exotic nose rings, but it took a bit of searching to see the red belts on the other wilders, naming them the Kin. Also there was the fact that they had been in Ebou Dar, the city of the legendary meeting place for women who were thrown or ran away from the tower. It wasn't that legendary as it had been a secret group, but some things where better kept away from the public.

 

             It wasn't as bad for Siuan because their faces hadn't done any better. She knew her appearance wasn't exactly fitting right now.

 

             "Siuan, how..." Elayne barely breathed out.

 

             "You should not be here! GO back to where you were told, this is Aes Sedai you are interrupting," a voice spoke out. It was from the Kin, Reanne.

 

             That snapped everyone out of the awkward trance, they or at least the wilders thought of her as a runaway, dirty and traveled worn walking into the wrong place at the worn time. This got Siuan very annoyed and was about to 'politely' correct them when Elayne spoke out.

 

             "Siuan Sedai, it's a surprise to see you here," Elayne quickly tried to recovered the situation, Siuan Sanche was also legendary for her lashing tongue. One thing she didn't need. It was delicate enough situation as it is to maintain the three groups.

 

             There was some major attitude changes all of a sudden with apologies and cheap excuses filling the room and one 'humf' from Nynaeve, as usual.

 

             "Siuan, what brings you here, and what happened to you? I thought The Amyrlin needed you, has something happened?"

 

             Politely as possible with Elayne as expected, but Siuan wasn't really satisfied being used to always spoken to with higher standards. She pushed that away, what was important was that she had the upper hand right now, and it would be a shame to waste it. It had been a long time since she was in control.

 

             "It has been a tiring journey, have you some supplies for me to freshen up?" Her voice and features were back to the usual cool, serene, and demanding with no hint of question. All everyone could do was comply and the game of Aes Sedai had begun with who would be able to get more information out of the other.

 

                                    < OH MY! >

 

             Ranma felt much better in clean clothes and more importantly food. He opted with light black pants and a white long sleeve shirt. His shoes had to be thrown away too, and the boots that he had donned on, while light still were heavier then he was used to. That mattered little, as both were made of light silk and he had carefully banded the helms and tucked inside the boots so it would be battle fit.

 

             Experimenting a little, he went into a light series of kicks and punches to test out any unwanted restrictions. He also noticed Lan and the other warders that was near raise an eyebrow at that.

 

             "Where did you learn that boy? You don't look Aiel, but those movements, a deadly fighting style." Lan's question now had been easily answered. *So he was an unarmed fighter* Besides what the Aiel did, bar brawling was not very effective against an armed opponent, but this kind, if you had a sword and knew how to use it, you should pray to the light that you would walk out alive. It made sense, the way he moved, the lack of any place for a weapon, they were of little use if one's hands were already enough to kill. Still he was not Aiel, he could be sure of that much, and the style was different, he had seen extensively how the Aiel fought.

 

             "I learned from my pop," Ranma answered casually "and what is an Aiel?"

 

             *So he doesn't know about Aiel. Odd, but not unheard of* Ever since the Aiel war, they had been a lot more well known, but some would much rather forget they ever existed. "Aiel are a deadly bunch."

 

             Even with those casualness of movement, he knew easily the boy had mastered something very deadly at his age, but even the Aiel had their spear and bows, he seemed to carry none. *How deadly was he?*

 

             Reading the boy's expression right, Lan knew the boy knew little of what being a warder meant.

 

             "You, young lad are pretty good, but being a warder maybe over your head. Siuan is a well seasoned Aes Sedai, perhaps she didn't fully explain to you all there is to be Gaidin."

 

             "Boy, you could say that again..." Ranma commented.

 

                                    < OH MY! >

            

             "I do hope you feel much better now Siuan. It must have been a very harsh journey. I don't know what the Amyrlin would sent you to tell us when she couldn't herself." Elayne always started out with the polite and comforting method. She was really doing well trying to be Aes Sedai, but Siuan had much more years of experience.

 

             "There's no need to be so formal, I think we've been together long enough to drop such things," she spoke casually while slipping her tea. It was quite enjoyable to have a clean dress again and having some food and tea. She was content with any, but growing up as a fisherman's daughter told her to cherish such things when she can. "There was a message requiring me go to Caemlyn, I ran into some problems, so only the light knows why I ended up here."

 

             There were only three of them, Siuan, Elayne and Nynaeve. Convenient that she didn't have to try so hard in this little game. Also dropping the name of Caemlyn had roused up her questioner, she hid it well, but Siuan knew better.

 

             "Caemlyn? Has something happened?" The best bait was one that was familiar to the fishes.

 

             "Nothing I could find out," Siuan dismissed without a hint of hesitation. "I suppose you would be heading there soon, I knew you were planning to ever since the mission. Are you going to bring this whole assortment of wilders along?" When the fish gave a tug, then you change the tide by pulling with firm power, because you now have a hold on them while they already lost theirs.

 

                                    < OH MY! >

            

             Ranma blinked a few times, "You mean they were suppose to ask you first?"

 

             "Some might not ask it in such a manner, but it is the law of Aes Sedai," Lan almost darkened with that line.

 

             Ranma thought of it a bit, she just told him and didn't seem to be too happy about it. Sort of like Akane now that he thought about it. They both hadn't liked it, being forced into engagement. *Why can't I ever have a choice, another engagement* He had to sigh at this.

 

             "Well it too late now, once you bare the duty, it is as strong as any bond." The elder warder spoke with years of experience pushed into the phrase. "Whatever the situation, never let your Aes Sedai face the danger while still living."

            

             Ranma nodded with an all too familiar understanding.

 

             "And never let them do what they think is best," a woman leaned by a wall lazily spoke out. "Aes Sedai always think they know what's best, but you must know better when she is in danger."

 

             She was an archer and very skilled from her pose, a warder ,long braided golden hair hung about her back, she seemed to always have the bow and arrow ready. She wore clothing that was battle fit,  she was a fighter, and dangerous one.

 

             Her words were true though, the times Akane would just jump in, always thinking she could handle it, and he ended up saving her. Siuan had the same trait. *Always my luck with violent women*

 

                                    < OH MY! >

 

             Siuan little game went fairly well, whatever happened in Caemlyn had sent them to little outside Ebou Dar and had found out that the two recently raised shawls, Elayne and Nynaeve, had accomplished their mission of attaining the Bowl of Winds. She had brief knowledge of how the rest of their little group came about, but more importantly the Seanchan, feared by many and ever more to one who channeled, were nearby.

 

             They used the one power as a weapon; enslaving women who channeled to become living weapons of destruction, the fact that they aren't getting well away from this area still gave her the shivers. *Burn those two little guppies that don't know when a Jellyfish's arm is tapping them on the head* Also the fact that Aes Sedai are following those two meant they had gain a large amount of respect. She knew they would do so, only a matter of time. Now was not the best of times.

 

             Siuan gave up little; the message from Caemlyn hid away her seeking of her mysterious warder. That she kept to herself, only Egwene knew the half of it.  The shock of the Asha'man kept them pondering enough to escape without the question of how someone of her power can travel to Ebou Dar.

 

             *I'm going to slap it out of that boy if I have to use a ship's paddle to do it* What he did was impossible, channeling, yet not with the signs of channeling. She should not be able to see a thing and the power that made the gate, Siuan knew that she carried no angreal--then it hit her, *I linked with him, Oh light it can't be, he can't be a male channeler and my Gaidin!* Was it even possible to link with a man, she didn't know, but the evidence was there along side with more mysteries.

 

             The group was getting ready to show the wilders how to link now. Whatever deal the two girls made, it was clearly too late. They meant to use the Bowl of Winds to change the weather and composing a link of thirteen to do it, but in the process would be teaching Aes Sedai secrets to those wilders. The world truly was changing.

 

             Siuan was not apart of the group; her power was now too low to join. They had composed of the thirteen strongest around to use the ter'angreal, it made sense, but she did not like it. It was annoying to be constantly reminded of how weak she was now compared to before. Yet she stood over to watch, at least they had given her that.

 

             The idle Aes Sedai watched with surprise, she was not so arrogant to think that Aes Sedai would know everything, but the wilder Seafolk was displaying weaves that were years more complex then what she had been taught. After a bit it finally ended, when the pattern acted up once more with the distant rumble and screaming outside.

 

                                    < OH MY! >

 

             It was some kind of winged monster, a fleet of them with someone riding it. Ranma could tell this was not a good thing, after all the other warders sprang into action, but he knew things could never be quiet for long, he almost expected another 'Ranma prepare to die' line coming up.

 

             The female warder, or so he thought, shot one down, she was an excellent archer. There were seven warders counting him, and right now everyone was readied to fight.

 

             He needed something to throw, so he kicked up a fist size rock into hand, and let it into motion. A painful hit smacked trough the creature's left wing and it went into a free falling spiral. *Well these things aren't very tough* But still he could see an army getting closer, and he knew running would be a better option, and knew the others thought the same. *Aw hell, stick an army in me would ya."

 

                                    < OH MY! >

 

             Siuan yelled, "Ranma get over here, now!" Giving a no-nonsense look, a deeper one then the usual, if that had been possible, "Get the horses and meet me down the hill, and I'm not repeating myself!" He knew it was not the time to argue, besides he was too tired for another mallet size headache, feeling she _really_ meant it now.

 

             "And Ranma, I don't want you to do what ever you did before." She had that warning look again. She was very uncomfortable with his chi attacks even though she lived in a world of magic, which was an odd thing.

 

             Ranma felt that she wanted to talk to him, but pushed it away with the danger present. He had some idea of what it was. He remembered that warders and their Aes Sedai were supposed to have no secrets. *She doesn't say a thing to me, so why should I!*

 

             "Yea, sure, whatever," muttered an already departing Ranma.

'Bend to her and her's will bend when time comes to step in front'

That had been a phrase Lan had muttered, it wasn't working.

 

             Catching a sight of Lan, he had a guess of where to get the horses. Weaving through the chaos, Lan suddenly stopped and turned towards him.

 

             In one swift motion an object flew at him and he caught it all the same. "Here, you'll need one." It was a sword with a scabbard; it looked a bit fancy, but slightly moldy, meaning it had just been just taken out of storage.

 

             "I don't need it," Ranma intoned, he never really much cared for a weapon.

 

             "Better to have something that can cut a head off of those things, you'll need it." It had been true enough; a weapon against creatures would be better. He gave a look of understanding and attached it to his side. It felt odd to have a sword by his side, but it didn't hinder much movement.

 

             The sword had some fancy decoration etched into the hilt, but little else; it was sturdy and fairly sharp, good enough. Not the time to think of such things so Ranma quickly got moving.

 

             "What took you so long!" Siuan never seemed satisfied, but complained little this time.  Getting on her horse became a spectacle, he could tell she was never meant for a horse and helping her earned him a kick to the face, standard Siuan reaction really.

 

             She had changed her clothes, this time to a much more revealing dress. It was cut for riding, but it was something that she obvious didn't like wearing. Siuan wasn't the type to flaunt and was in one of those moods. He would have chuckled if he didn't have a foot implanted in he face.

 

             The army was getting closer and Ranma unconsciously almost reached for the sword when a gate opened. *Sheesh, the bond must really be getting to me for me to use this sword* Ranma had seen it before with the black-coated sorcerers. He could feel the Siuan was very worried and anxiety raged through her. He was glad there was no cold water around, he had figured out that while being a girl everything got much more emotional and that was very bad. *Can't ya keep it to yourself, Siuan*

 

             Going through was slow, but steady, everything seemed to be going well when Siuan stopped.

 

             "What are you doing!" screamed out Siuan. At first nothing was wrong, but then he could see the opening slowly fading. That was not what was supposed to happen from the experience with the black-coats.

 

             "I'm unraveling the weave, we can't let the Seanchan get a hold of traveling," came the replied. Ranma still had no idea from the explanation.

 

             "Fool girl! We'll be killed by this!" that explained much better to him.

 

             Siuan cursed at the turn of events. *Why can't anything be easy* Unraveling a weave was dangerous, anything could happen, deadly things. Perhaps it could be used so no one could ever sense that weaving had been done, but the risk made it a fool's choice.

 

             An argument started, but it was announced too late to stop. The others were sent to move on, but for some reason Siuan stayed.

 

             "If you can do this fool thing, I might as well stay here to witness it," Ranma could only shrug, he was not leaving her. Now only the girl warder and three others were around besides him and his Aes Sedai. Everything was quiet until the archeress had fired the first shot. The army was here.

 

             Everyone had been stuck with screams of pain, but then crossbow shots returned back.

 

             "Watch out!" but it had been too late as Birgitte, Ranma thought that had been her name, and the other red haired one got hit. Then a surge of pain screamed thought his mind, but it wasn't his.

 

             Siuan clutched her arm in pain. *Damn!* Worse of all, more came. He sprang into action taking a few steps and drawing the sword in one swift motion. The hands became alive as the sword danced with the wind to slice down every crossbow bolt that even got close to him while in front of Siuan. It was the 'Tenshin Amaguriken' while using a sword. Ranma had learned it by a combination of catching chestnuts and swatting bees. Swatting mini arrows made little difference.

 

             There were some gasps, but quickly passed with the fire erupting from the hurt red haired girl's hands. Ranma quickly picked up Siuan and jumped onto the horse, much to the horse's annoyance. It seemed Ranma and the horse had an understanding though as the panic quickly died down.

 

             "Run for the crest, I can't keep this up much longer!" was screamed out. The enemy started coming through the gateway by now, but the most important thing had been to run. He was the only one not hurt, not for long though.

 

             *BOOM*

 

             A shock wave hit him unknowingly for the second time while the horse almost threw him over, the shock wave though, had. Ranma took the blunt of the fall and the sword lucky fell harmlessly to the side, all was quiet. A little pain by his standards as he propped himself up. Everyone was alive. The area where the gate was however looked like a full powered 'Perfect Shishi Hokodan' site.

 

             "What a day..." Ranma muttered to himself, the same way he mutters almost everyday.

 

                                    < OH MY! >

 

             A SD figure clasped in a cloak of pure white, with some red decorations along the edges gets pushed out. SD seems to be a little grouchy. (Boy is that an understatement)

 

             "Due too court order that enslaves me to this, I present you... ah whatever this is supposed to do!"

 

             "Seanchan, they are all weird and stuff and like to collar women to women...humm...kinky."

 

             " Elayne Trakand, self-proclaimed queen, Green Ajah, and has a tendency to sniff."

 

             "Err... _Nyna_eve_ Al'Meara, self-proclaimed Yellow Ajah, Wisdom, and has a tendency to pull her hair." 

 

             "Wilders, Aes Sedai are tame even if they don't act it, wilders are every other women that can channel."

 

             "Seafolks, Sea-folks."

 

             "Bowl of Winds, a bowl that can do winds...and some other things..."

 

             "What there is more!? Shoot me now..."            

 

                                    < OH MY! >

 

             She looked out the window from the palace of Cairhien. She could feel the winds of destiny changing. A major event had happened. The time line was still going accordingly, or how she remembered it might be. She wasn't fate, whatever she thought was 'a might' and nothing more. Still it was an advantage.

 

             Rand was coming; she had a magical tracker on certain people including him. It was much more convenient if one knew where certain influential people were. Ranma and Siuan were a different matter however, something happened when the Hiryu Shoten Ha was used. It was a blur for them now, but a little snooping would find them again.

 

             Rand came in as expected, "Moiraine, I'm leaving for Illian, I am in need of an advisor." His voice was cold, harsh. She knew full well why, but should she help with his renewal? It was a tap on the pattern that could send deadly waves on destiny. She hated working when she wasn't suppose to, but the world falling to the 'DarkOne' was not an option.

 

             "I have many things to catch up, I would rather not accompany you right now," she spoke that with the most politely, friendliest, smile.

 

             Rand took the reaction very deeply, right now she believed he would be analyzing it bit by bit, but he said nothing more. He was definitely on the brink of exploding into emotional trauma. "As you wish Moiraine."

 

             Then his mask dropped, something was wrong. "Moiraine, your face...is something wrong?"

 

             Blinking a few times she unconsciously touched the face that was not hers. "I do not know, many things are a mystery to me right now." True enough, but Rand didn't comment on this, maybe he thought it was another trick and left.

 

             Looking into the mirror, her face, Moiraine's face, was changing. The once large dark eyes now had a tint of blue... or perhaps purple, and the hair... there was also a faint tint of blue on her bangs. The face looked a bit younger, slightly, almost unnoticeable unless you knew something was wrong. *So that's it!*

 

             Realization hit her; it had been a setup. She was on another assignment, but only this time she had direct contact with events and unlike ordinary ones, she didn't know what she was suppose to do.

 

             A grim smile crossed her face, *So, I can do anything I want, carefully, but none the less, no restrictions* A brief thought that she might have to involve herself with a dark power, sparked, but paid little attention to it. *I have much to do then, first I have to get Ranma's things, then find those two* Her power wasn't really gone then, only it was buffered and slowly returning. That was why her features were slowly changing or merging into what she was. *I would have to lighten Rand up, he's still the catalyze to defeating the DarkOne and now he has one more ally, even if he doesn't know it yet*

 

             She also was going to need to prepare, it didn't matter anymore that she had to act like Moiraine, a lot of trinkets were waiting for her in the pocket space.