Chapter 26
"You think we wouldn't meet again, so it's pointless to get to know us?" Moiraine asked as Levi chuckled. "But you have no problem telling us about yourself?" she added. Levi replied, "I'm a bard. I love it when people listen to me — whether it's part of my story or my songs, it's a pleasure." He took out a container of water made from deer hide and drank. "Anyway, you're either on your way to train them," Levi said, pointing to the young men and the young woman who was the same age as him, "or on your way to defeat some ancient evil — what was it? The Dark One? Either way, the fate of the world is at stake, right?" he said, finally getting the name right. Of course, he knew the real reason they were traveling — one of the young ones was the reincarnation of a powerful channeler called the Dragon, fated to save the world.
They all stared at his nonchalant attitude as Moiraine smiled faintly. "You seem unbothered for someone who thinks the world is at stake," she said. Levi commented, "If the world wants to end, then let it." He mumbled something under his breath while his hand reached out toward the fireplace. "Unless you're chosen by fate, you and I can't do much to change it," Levi said, clearly just spouting nonsense as he pulled strings of fire from the fireplace and willed them into the shape of a bunch of strings forming a web. He ran his hand over them. "Unless you're strong enough to shake fate itself," he said as he exerted more pressure on the web of fire, breaking them apart.
The camp was silent for a second before Moiraine spoke to her young companions, "You need rest. We will leave at first light of dawn," as everyone found a place to sleep near the campfire, using various fabrics, hides, and fur to make crude bedding. This left Levi alone by the campfire, reading from his miniature library containing vast knowledge while discreetly channeling mana into the crystal to create mana stones. However, he didn't deplete all of his mana completely, as he still didn't trust his campfire mates that much. In fact, he didn't sleep much, spending the entire night just reading about Dracula's castle and its mechanisms. After all, that fortress of his needed building when he was able to create his pocket dimension, where he wanted his own tower to be.
The next morning, Rand woke up startled and, looking around, saw the bat. He quickly backed away and joined his friends, only to find more dead bats on the ground. "No. How did…" Rand began. "You saw them too," Egwene responded. "But it was a dream. Did you do this? Did you put this in our dreams?!" Rand accused Moiraine. "Who saw this? Who? All of you? What did you see?" Moiraine inquired. "Bats. Their necks just snapped. Right in midair. Like someone had them in their hands. I could feel the crack," Mat described.
"Was there anyone in your dream? Did anyone speak to you?" Moiraine pressed. "There was a man. Eyes like embers. He didn't say anything though," Perrin added. "If this happens again, you tell me straight away. Dreams have power. More than you know," Moiraine warned. "What does that mean?" Rand questioned, just for Levi to appear from the woods. "Nothing beats a morning shower in the river," he said as Egwene looked at him. "Thankfully, nobody tackled me this time," he added, throwing a slight jab at the girl, who coughed awkwardly as Rand looked at the interaction.
"Come. The horses are rested," Moiraine directed. "No, no, no. No! Where are we going?!" Rand demanded. "East. To the river crossing at Whitebridge," Moiraine answered. "And then?" Rand pressed further. "And then to the White Tower. I've told you this," Moiraine replied. "And then what?! Why should we trust you?! There's a place for Egwene, maybe. But what does a man do at the White Tower? Other than become an errand boy for the Aes Sedai," Rand challenged. "Go where you will then," Moiraine responded coldly. "See, how come I don't believe you'd actually let me do that?" Rand retorted.
"I've run out of patience. And time," Moiraine stated firmly. "Hah!" Lan interjected. "Well… you got a reaction out of her. Happy?" Mat commented. "Suit yourself," Egwene said dismissively. "One conversation, one conversation and you're on her side now? What did she promise you last night? That you're the one? Come on, do you really think she's any better than what's chasing us?!" Rand exclaimed. "Of course I do! Those monsters killed Nynaeve and Laila and half the people we've ever loved. Moiraine has done nothing but protect us, try to keep us safe. Don't you see how pale she's getting, how weak? She's using the One Power to keep our strength up at the cost of her own. And she does it, even with you being the stubborn bastard you are. If I were her, I'd leave you behind too," Egwene argued passionately.
"Believe it or not, I am not the type to attack right off the bat. I am pretty reasonable and easy to get along with, as long as you are, of course. Just look at how me and him are getting along," he said, pointing to Lan, who was surprised before he chuckled. "Anyways, let's get moving, shall we?" he said as he turned around. "Are you going to walk the entire journey?" asked Moiraine, as Levi chuckled. "And why would I do such a pointless task?" he smiled mysteriously before chanting in a language that terrified the group, enough for them to step back as Levi's shape suddenly morphed into that of a bird. "I can simply soar above you," he said, still in bird form.
This weirded them out for a second as they stared at him. They knew he was a powerful channeler, but seeing it in action was different. So they all mounted their horses and started to move while Levi flew from tree to tree. He was enjoying the journey so far as he watched Lan ride ahead of them to scout. As the group journeyed through the dense woods, Lan suddenly rode back to them with urgency. "Hyah! Whitecloaks," he warned. Moiraine quickly instructed, "Do not speak unless spoken to, and try to answer any question as truthfully as you can. Do not mention the White Tower or Aes Sedai. I am a lady from a fallen house. You are under my care."
Soon, a mass of people dressed in white cloaks appeared in front of them. They were approached by Bornhald, who was riding a white horse with golden armor, as he greeted them. "Good afternoon. If you would be so kind as to dismount your horses. Are you headed to Whitebridge?" he asked, as Levi watched from one of the trees. "Interesting," he thought as Moiraine replied calmly, "Yes, sir. I have a sister in the city who we... hope will let us stay." Bornhald cautioned them about the dangers on the road, mentioning wars in the south and Aes Sedai moving from the White Tower. Moiraine reassured him, "Wars and witches don't concern us, sir. We are just hoping to find a safe place to settle for the night before the light fades."