Kyler comes into the inn after meeting with Rose. The woman was a wealth of information about the happenings in the City. He nods in greeting to Arena. "Hello Arena Sedai. I hope the morning finds you well."

Arena turns her head at movement at the door and nods to Kyler, "Well enough to press on, Asha'man Kyler." She watches him for a moment, intrigued by and unsure about his formality.

Kyler walks over to the bar and orders a glass of water. "Finding anything new?"

Arena sips at her drink and shakes her head, "Not nearly enough. Yourself?"

Kyler shakes his head, "The same. I wish the shadow would falter so we can destroy some of them."

Arena indicates the stool next to her, "Join me in a brandy?" The Red is letting herself go slightly more than she ever does, which is still not much. "It takes at least a little of the weight of the world off."

Kyler nods, "I would love to."

Arena makes the appropriate gestures at the barmaid and then finally yields to the need to rub at her temples and the bridge of her nose. "I have pages and pages of notes that go...nowhere. They should at least have led me to *someone* by now."

Kyler nods, "I think they are excellent at hiding here in Tar Valon."

"I'm to the point where I'm about ready to dangle myself out there as bait just so we can make some sort of headway against this particular lunatic and whatever hold he might have on this island."

Kyler arches an eyebrow, "That would be extremely dangerous thing for you to do. Who would notice you were missing until a day or two has passed?"

Arena sighs and waves a hand, "I know, it's just so frustrating. I'm accustomed to diligence having some sort of reward to it, rather than more mystery."

Kyler nods, "I know; I feel the same. I'm very frustrated. I wish we could catch a break.”

Arena takes an unusually long sip of brandy instead of savoring it. "How is J - Mother's guest?" She flicks her eyes to a pair of Accepted at a table, close but not right upon them, then returns her brown stare to Kyler. "Have you determined any relationship yet?"

Kyler shakes his head, "It is the opinion of Jaxon and the Amyrlin that Jendaia has been tampered with."

"'Tampered with?' That sounds both ominous and ...sterile. To what end, do they suppose?"

Kyler shrugs, "I don't know."

Arena frowns, "Light, maybe I will do something foolish and reckless, if only so good people can walk with their heads up again. You'd notice if I was missing, wouldn't you?" She gives a half-smile to show that she's more-or-less joking, and drains her brandy.

Kyler nods, "I would, Too bad you aren't bonded. That would at least make it possible to try and find you."

Arena chuckles, "Yes, well, a Red may only take on an Asha'man, so unless you're volunteering, I don't see that there's much chance of that." She grins at the absurd idea of a Warder.

Kyler looks at Arena thoughtfully as he sips his drink. "So would you be willing?"

Arena shrugs, "I never gave much thought to a Bond, honestly. Never saw much need. Lately..." She trails off, pauses, tilts her head at the big Arafellin. "You're serious?"

Kyler grins, "Yes." He takes another sip as he watches her.

Arena blinks, then waves to the barmaid to refill her drink, something she has probably never done before, at least not with so strong a beverage. "I - " She closes her jaw and thinks for a long moment.

Kyler chuckles and finishes off his drink and sits there watching her.

"Why?" The Red finally manages.

Kyler shrugs, "Why not? I mean we both hunt darkfriends. We work well together, at least i feel that we do. Unless you don't want to, that is ok too. I don't want to put any pressure on you."

Arena nods, then blinks and takes a sip of brandy, a concept of terrible practicality occurring to her. She speaks slowly, choosing her words carefully, "I was not entirely sarcastic when I said earlier that I would consider sacrificing myself to the greater cause - this Nerdith seems to choose only women of some vulnerability. A Brown who shies away from her own Power, a mild-mannered Yellow, half-trained children." She pauses, watching his response.

“A dangerous idea. Especially with Nerdith involved." He pauses considering, "It might lead us to him. I am afraid for you."

"Someone so laid out for him could have certain hidden advantages to her favor. Say, perhaps, an imperviousness to pain, or an embedded command." She blinks rapidly, her breathing has also increased, though her color has paled more than a little.

"You have thought about this for a while now haven't you?"

Arena takes a sip of brandy, beginning to feel curiously detached. She watches her hand tremble ever so slightly. "I suppose on some level I have pondered the component possibilities for some time, but I never considered it a fleshed-out idea until now. If what I understand of the two-sided nature of Bonds is true, it is not without risk for you, either.”

Kyler nods, "That is true, but you stand a much higher chance of survival with a bond than without."

"And an even higher chance if the bond is unrestricted." She stares fully at him, speaking as plainly as she dares in so public a space. Light, what had gotten into her, behaving as recklessly as a Green?

Kyler nods, "It is up to you. You will put much more on the line with this plan."

Arena glances around, "We can't talk any more here."

Kyler nods and stands, "Where?"

Arena glances around and takes his hand, gazing up at him in what she hopes will be interpreted as feminine interest in a man. "You said you once kept a room here?"

Kyler smiles and nods, "Of course." He leads her up the stairs.

Arena sees a barmaid glance their way and deliberately walks closer to the Asha'man than is required. Once inside the room she steps away from him and Wards it against sound and eavesdropping. "I hope you realize you'll be keeping your trousers on," she winks at him and clouds the window with a flow of Air.

Kyler laughs, "Yes, I suspected as much"

Arena considers a moment, then ties off her weave, deciding that to hold it would invite more suspicion than the mere fact of its existence. This plan, such as it was, could only work if it remained utterly secret. "I feel I have to tell you that this whole idea scares the wits out of me."

Kyler smiles and nods, "I'm sorry, I don't want to scare you. We do not have to do this."

Arena shakes her head, "Somebody should, and I trust you, and it seems you trust me, so why not us? The Asha'man's compulsory bond has enormous potential in a situation like this, we on the side of the Light would be foolish not to exploit it."

Kyler nods, "I have been bonded but I have never done it myself. I know how to do it. So let me be clear, You want me to bond you?"

Arena takes a deep breath, "I want you to use Logain's Bond on me, yes, and then - this part we should work out - forbid me to feel the pain of torture, or command me to nearly die at Nerdith's hand and then rise and strike him down. I don't know, war and assassination is not my forte. Then I will go as far out of my way to make myself a target as I must; I'll paint myself in stripes if that's what it takes."

Kyler looks at her studying her carefully for a long moment. "Are you sure you wish me to do this? It is not as if I won't but that extra little bit I can not undo without fully releasing you."

Arena smiles wanly, still pale, "No, but I don't see another way with as much chance of success. Of course, we will only be successful if we are smarter than Nerdith."

Kyler takes a deep breath and lets it out then steps closer to Arena and smiles, "I know only one way to do this."

Arena holds up her hand, "Perhaps we should figure out just what the plan is while I'm still fully capable of disagreeing?"

Kyler nods, "All right." He steps back to give her more space.

Arena lets out her breath and sets down the foot she'd almost stepped back with. "What are the most likely attacks we should defend against? Compulsion seems to be common, and yet I should seem to obey."

"Yes he can use compulsion at will it seems. He also can use it to make a woman want him if you know what I mean. If he takes a woman he wants to dominate her in every way." Kyler walks over to the bed looking at the wall. Finally he looks at her, "Might as well have a seat while we discuss this." he points her to the chair near the bed.

Arena shivers slightly, bravery slipping against the cold face of reality. She nods woodenly, sitting where indicated; her right leg juts out at an odd angle but she turns so it's under the bed, out of the way. "If I am both shielded and physically restrained as ...the Yellow was, my only hope is to remain with him and remain alive long enough for you, and presumably others, to find me."

Kyler nods wondering at why she would want to take this chance. The man was pure evil, forcing his intentions on women and making them do things that went against their nature. Suddenly he knew for a fact that Nerdith had done those things to Jendaia. He had to have forced compulsion on her and it damaged her. Probably beyond healing. The bloody man needed to die.

Arena nods, seeing a change come over Kyler's face as he fully comprehends, "It has to be done, and to control it I must surrender to it. The possibility of burning out is always present, every time I embrace. This is a job for a Red and no other: there is no doubt he misuses the One Power."

Kyler sighs; the only way get to this man was to set a woman as bait. A man would just be killed outright but a woman, especially an Aes Sedai would be a tantalizing tidbit for him. "I know, but I do not have to like it. I know it is what you and your sister Reds have done for thousands of years, went against men who could channel. I....I just fear for any woman, let alone one that I like."

Arena chuckles, "I fear for myself. But not as much as I fear for the state of this Tower if he remains unchecked. That there has not been rioting is due largely to tradition - there is that much fear around. Now help me focus: aside from protection from Compulsion - but the appearance of it - and some way to survive dozens of knives, what else will I need?"

Kyler looks at her, "He loves just torture in general, so it could be anything."

Arena swallows, composure rather abandoned at this point. "It's my thinking that this should remain a secret, just between us. Anything he could use as leverage he would use, correct? So I should probably forget we have such an arrangement until such time as I need to know again. Unless you think him knowing about this Bond would make it better for our objectives?"

Kyler shakes his head, "If he knew who you were bonded to, he might do things to you things I can not predict just because of me. It may be too dangerous for you to be bonded to me. The man has a hated of me and will do anything he can to hurt me." He sits down on the bed thinking that this might not be a good idea at all. Just because Nerdith hated him so much.

"So tell me to forget this conversation ever took place, to ignore the feeling of the Bond between us. That's why I want the controlling bond; you tell me, I do. That's the beauty of it. Tell me to go along with what he says but not succumb to his Compulsion and I will - my wits will be intact. Instruct me to do whatever it takes to stay alive with him and I will do it. That's the point of the Bond that man developed. I can survive, and provide you the location you need to strike."

Kyler sighs and looks at her, "Only if you are confortable with being bonded to me. Unlike him, I do not force anything on a woman."

Arena stifles a sigh and summons up her dusty feminine wiles, laying her hand on his arm, "I am comfortable with the idea that you may be our hope of victory - your own rank and your position inside the Amyrlin's confidence suggest that. I trust you to do what is right, even to the point of submitting my free will to you. I trust you will respect my sacrifice and use my life to end Nerdith Xavier's grip on the White Tower and my sisters."

Kyler lays his hand over hers, "I will do what I can to keep both Towers free and ready to face the Last Battle. But they both must be there or I fear the world will suffer.”

Arena nods, "Then shall we do this thing? I'm afraid I will lose my nerve entirely before long."

Kyler nods and moves to kneel beside the chair, he gently places both hands on her head as he seizes saidin, ever so gently he kisses her as he weaves the bonding.

Arena stiffens, the physical touch so foreign to her; but it is nothing beside the alienness of saidin, the otherness of Kyler suddenly blooming in her mind. She gasps at the suddenness of it all, of the abrupt realization that she will no longer ever be alone.

Kyler leans back and smiles, the familiar feeling of another so close. He softly says, “Well now you know."

Arena laughs, "Is it always so...abrupt? And perhaps we should test it out. But please...be careful what you say to me." She mentally prods at the bundle of sensation that is Kyler.

Kyler grins and shrugs, "Like what?"

Arena shakes her head, "Tell me to clean up or something; but I'd rather not meet this Nerdith fellow until we've tested this out a little."

Kyler nods, "Arena, Go make the bed."

Arena gets up abruptly and starts making the bed. She's halfway through saying, "You'll have to do better than that," when she realizes what she's doing. When she is finished straightening the sheets, she's unsure whether to laugh or glare and makes a halfhearted stab at both.

Kyler nods, "Go sweep the floor and you are not allowed to channel."

Arena does glare, now, as she goes into the hall, fetches a broom from the closet, and returns. Her brown eyes grow steadily colder as she sweeps. "Is your room clean enough, now, Kyler, or shall I do the window as well?"

Kyler puts both hands up, "You wanted me to test it. That is what I am doing"

Arena takes a few deep breaths to steady herself. "I know. I just didn't expect it...Even as a Novice I felt some degree of control over my own life and decisions."

Kyler feels bad for it, "I really am sorry. When this is over I will release you from it."

Arena nods, "I did insist on this. I do still believe it's our best chance. I will control my reactions from now on, I'm sorry."

"I know, but this is why I did not want to ever bond someone like this.”

Arena nods, "It would certainly be...uncomfortable to wear this bond if it were forced on."

Kyler frowns, "what did you have in mind?”

Arena frowns to match, "I don't know, exactly," she glances around the room. "Tell me I can't feel pain in my left arm?"

Kyler nods, "You will not feel pain in your left arm."

Arena nods, hefts her staff in her right hand, and thwacks herself in the left forearm as hard as she can. Though she flinches at the swing, the impact doesn't cause a blink. She looks down at her arm, watching the red spot form and gradually darken.

Kyler winces but watches, "Anything?"

"Peculiar. I felt the impact, and I can see that I don't want to know what this feels like...but..." She presses her thumb into the spot to demonstrate the lack of sensation.

Kyler nods, "Do you think it will work?"

Arena shakes her head, still staring at her purpling arm, "I have no idea. This suggests my reasoning is sound; I suppose it will depend on the wording of the commands. We might hope for a bit of luck, also. What does the bond tell you about this, can you feel it?"

"It appears you felt nothing."

Arena frowns, "That won't do; how will you know I need help?"

Kyler frowns, "Perhaps there is something else. What if I told you that the only pain you could feel was like a pinprick."

Arena thinks, "Possibly, but still; how would you know? I suppose the emotions would be a clue, but I understand that fades with distance?"

"What if we could minimize the pain but allowed you to feel fear?"

"How close would we have to be for you to know? Does the bond always feel like this, or...?" They nearly speak over each other with urgency.

“If I couldn't feel you within the city itself I could follow till I was close enough."

Arena nods, overwhelmed for a moment by the magnitude of what's she's done and what she's agreed to do; indeed that she thought of it and volunteered for it. "I won't willingly leave the city, then. If i must, if my Ajah sends me, I will find a way to get word to you."

Kyler frowns, "I meant if he takes you out of the city I would be able to follow."

"But if I were coming and going routinely, there would be a lag in your understanding of whether I was taken or if I took myself. Pardon me if I am looking to my own self-interest here; this is all rather new to me."

Kyler smiles, "Perhaps a demonstration is in order?"

Arena tilts her head, "How do you mean?"

"Shall I show you how the bond works?"

Arena ducks her head and nods, "I never imagined myself in this situation. On either side. I still don't quite believe..." She prods at the space in her mind where he is again.

Kyler nods, and stands, "I'll be right back." He turns and opens a gateway to Arafel and steps through and lets it close, the bond leaps from close to far away. He turns and faces the direction Arena is in and smiles to himself.

Arena gasps, focusing on the bond. She turns toward Kyler's direction and fights the urge to start walking in his direction, instead focusing on the things she can and cannot tell about him.

Kyler opens another gateway about half the distance back to Tar Valon and steps through

Arena turns slightly, unconsciously reorienting herself toward her new bondmate. It was still a struggle not to travel toward him, but she could discern now that the impulse was her own; that part of her mind where he lived wanted to be closer to him, to maximize the flow of sensory information and emotion between them.

Kyler again opens a gateway half the distance again and steps through

Arena thinks she could probably Travel to a spot near him; he is close enough for her to approximate distance. It will have to be Skimming though. The thought forms, but she does not embrace, frowning instead at her inability to do so.

Kyler opens a gateway and steps back into the room with her. "Did that help?"

Arena nods, "It did. I even thought to join you that last time. Please restore my ability to channel." She speaks civilly only through act of will, she is both frightened and angry at the prohibition.

Kyler sighs and nods, "I'm sorry, You may channel."

Arena embraces and sends a current of Air around the room just to prove she could. "Thank you. As I said earlier: please be careful with what you say, I have no defense against a careless word or a forgotten command." She releases saidar and takes a moment to just think. "I understand a bit better, now, what the Bond is capable of."

Kyler nods, "I will try and be careful." he shakes his head, "This part of the bond I am not used to."

Arena nods, "And you are not Aes Sedai, trained to carefully consider each word you speak." She glances at the pair they make, how she has unconsciously adjusted herself so they both fit in the small room more seamlessly. "How...how am I supposed to hide this?" She indicates her spatial relationship to him. "Even leagues away my thoughts and actions pivoted around you."

Kyler nods, "You will get used to this. You should act and be the Aes Sedai you were before the bond."

Arena shifts, subtly rearranging herself to be separate from her surroundings, physically closing herself off to Kyler. After a moment she grins, "That's one way to do it."

Kyler smiles, "Good. .. now what?"

Arena glances down at her bruised arm, pondering it once more. "I'm not sure I quite know what to do with this. I think there's something to the notion, but..."

Kyler nods, "May I take care of that for you?"

Arena shrugs, smirking, "I can't feel it; but it could be difficult to explain away." She ponders, trying to figure out the correct application of the sensory prohibition.

Kyler nods and Heals her with his limited skill, then sits back down on the bed. He was almost afraid to say much for fear of saying something that could become bothersome.

Arena sighs, "I suppose we'll need a few days to get used to things, and come up with the right combination of orders, before I go putting myself on display, a tempting morsel for Nerdith to claim." She shivers a little in spite of her dispassionate tone.

"Good Idea. I suppose we should return to our respective duties. You now know how to find me anytime you need me."

"Good night, then." She releases the Wards and the covering on the window, surprised to see just how late the hour has grown. She holds saidar for a moment, learning the room, before opening up a Gateway to her own rooms in the Tower. She steps through and gives her Asha'man an inscrutable look as she tries to sort out what this all means to her.

Kyler watchers her go and continues to stare out the window pondering just what he had gotten himself into.

The following day, Arena consults with the bond, trying to discern where Kyler is right now. Above. Probably in Mother's office. That could be a problem, but not insurmountable. She begins the long trek up the Tower.

Kyler was sitting in Jascha's study while the woman worked on reports. He remembered all too well what that was like. She was coming closer so he stood and excued himself from the room. Stepping out of the study he passed through Brev's office as well and into the hallway. He moved a suitable distance down away from the door then leaned against the doorway waiting on Arena to arrive.

Arena finally arrives; the Tower is large even for women with normal strides. She takes a minute to examine Kyler, comparing the information of her eyes with the detail the Bond gives her. Very curious. She glances around and sees no one near, but takes no chances. "Ah, Kyler, I had hoped to find you up here. I came up with something I thought you might want to look at. It didn't seem appropriate to trust it to another hand."

Kyler nods, "Would you like to go some place more private?"

"That would probably be wise." She leads the way to a small meeting room one floor below the Amyrlin's Study. Closing the door, she sets up the same eavesdropping and soundproofing Wards she'd used last time they met. Let her sisters think she couldn't keep her hands off the man; it was safer than the truth. She hands him a slip of paper. "It seems I don't sleep much any more, so I did some thinking."

Kyler takes the note and reads. When he finishes he looks up at her and then re-reads it again. "Sounds like you did a lot of thinking."

"I'm accustomed to sleeping several hours at a stretch, and I recently found myself with extra time." She smiles grimly. "Do you think it's enough? I'm sure there's some dire contingency I've not thought about."

Kyler wasn't extremely happy about this whole idea since they had decided to do it. He was already worried about her and she hadn't even left yet. He was to used to being the one who went into harm's way. Without taking his eyes off the paper he asked her, "Are you sure about this?”

Arena gives him a long look, "Do you have a better idea?"

Kyler sighs, "No I don't and I wish I did."

Arena nods, "Then I'm as sure as I'm going to get." Which is not to say she is not scared half out of her mind.

Kyler fought the urge to touch her, thinking she probably would not appreicate it. Instead he folded the paper and then crossed his arms. "Blood and bloody ashes" he mumbled.

Arena softens herself as much as she dares, and steps closer, pressing the folded paper into his hand. "You don't have to say it today. Think about it; your history with this situation is longer than mine. Change what you feel appropriate. We can't wait forever, but we can wait to get your conscience straight." The existence of his conscience reinforces her conviction that she's made the right choice.

Kyler looks at her, but dosen't move, "No, I want you, no I need you to be comfortable with the words and what they mean. You are the one who will have to survive this madman until I can bring help." He smiles a little and looks away from her, "I guess I am too used to being the one who goes to face the Shadow. It is odd for me to be the one this time who stays behind."

Arena nods, "And I am used to pulling strings and negotiating legislation, I have left the city this many times in my life," she holds up one handful of fingers. "We all do what is required of us." She uses brave words to bolster her courage.

"That doesn't mean I have to like it."

Arena laughs softly, "If I thought you would like it the idea never would have left my mouth."

Kyler looks back at her and smiles slightly, "Yes well if I liked it I'd be no better then him." He wanted to hug her or something....but he was respecting the fact that she was a Red, and as such was not known for allowing men to do such. It was hard but finally he nodded, "All right, when do you want to do this?"

Arena taps a finger against Kyler's crossed arms. "I don't bite; you're like a cat on the prowl here. You used to be somewhat at ease around me. If we do this and I forget, I'm going to be hurt and confused if you behave this way toward me."

Kyler nods and tries to relax a little. He uncrossed his arms, "Sorry I'm just, worried is all. I'll try and go back to being more normal. It's just hard is all."

Arena nods, looks at him, nods again. "The passage of time is not going to make me more committed to this, it'll just give me more time to think of excuses not to." She gasps, "Oh, Light, what a ninny. If I forget that we had these conversations I'll forget to make myself a target. You'll have to embed that." She scratches one eyebrow, searching for anything else she's missed.

Kyler nods, "I havent told Jascha yet about this. She may decide to lock us both up for this idea."

Arena stiffens, grasping his arm, "I don't speak against the Amyrlin Seat, but the fewer people that know, the safer we are. Someone very close to her leaked about the Novice Ball, by your own admission."

Kyler sighs, "I know, but she will eventally find out. I will come after you and I will have to tell her why I am leaving. She won't like it."

Arena trembles ever so slightly, "It's not hers to like or dislike, only to let you go when you must, and aid you if she wants to win. There is nothing wrong with what we are doing, Kyler, not as long as we choose it for ourselves."

Kyler reaches out and takes her hand giving it a squeeze as he looks her in the eyes. "I will be there when you need me. I will find you."

Arena nods, and returns the hand squeeze, "I know you will." She stares into his eyes, trying to convey the trust she has that this is their only option, no matter how unnerved she is by the idea.

Kyler lets out a breath, "So are we ready?"

Arena takes a deep breath herself, "It will still be the right thing to do, even if I don't remember that this exists." She tilts her chin up and stares Kyler full in the face. "I'm ready."

Kyler smiles and leans down kisses her cheek. As he pulls back he whispers, "For luck" He pulls out the paper she had given him and begins to read what she had written, even remembering to add in the part about making herself a target. He even added in a safe word to make her remember if he needed her to remember. When he finished he just stood there looking at her. She was still there in his head and that reassured him.

For several minutes, the Red stood there with eyes glazed over, her mind rearranging itself in accordance with his instructions. Not sure he should leave her alone, Kyler gates to his room at the inn and lays her on his bed. “Sleep until morning,” he murmurs, and she does.

”Until I tell you to remember, or you hear me say “Glass Sword,” you will forget that this bond exists, and you will forget that we had any conversations about the concept, but you will still obey these commands I give you. The sensation of me in your mind will not cause you wonder or concern unless I am grievously wounded or ill, at which time you will seek me out if you are in a position to do so.

“You will only feel a shadow of pain when Nerdith – or any minion of his – attacks or tortures you, just enough so that your reaction is appropriate.

“You will behave as if Compelled by Nerdith if he attempts Compulsion on you, but you will not actually succumb to the weave, remaining in control of your thoughts, able to act if needed. If a moment comes when he is vulnerable and you have a good opportunity, you will abandon the pretense and strike, with any necessary combination of weapons and the Power.

“Starting tomorrow, you will make yourself a target for Nerdith, exploiting everything you know about him to attract his attention without seeming to do so.”