“You are tickling me you rascal! Fortune prick me if I don’t wring your neck” a feminine voice could be heard in the back storage room.

The voice belonged to Haylinne Ambrose, the daughter of the shopkeeper, a girl of fifteen. The raven hair girl stood laughing, her pale face lit up with the shop’s bright lights and her storm cloud grey eyes full of joy. Beside her stood a tow headed young man, Devon Griten, her best friend and only 19. With a wry smile Haylinne pretended to walk away from Devon, knowing his green eyes were still boring into her. As stately as any woman she had ever seen, the slim girl turned around, “Now young lad, perhaps you have something else to attend to?” her face was solemn and emotionless, chin high and proud.

Devon’s eyes widened, “You look like one of them stone washed Aes Sedai!” his mouth twisted in almost hatred. “Its sickening that a girl like you is such an amazing actress, alright enough with it then, you will never have to be one of THEM!” he spat on the ground causing Haylinne’s eyes to catch fire again. Running towards him she tackled her best friend pushing him down upon the floor and knocking the wind from him. “Never never never will I be one those wretched women! Never, their eyes are wicked and they are all evil temptresses!” Haylinne giggled, now losing the fight as Devon came up from beneath her and pinned both her arms down to the ground. “Perhaps you are an evil temptress Haylinne Ambrose, as tempting as they come, but never one of them” he spoke quite huskily and leaned in, kissing the girl feverishly upon the lips.

“Ill never be one of them Devon I promise” Haylinne murmured, bright light fell over her closed eyes, illuminating the inside of her eyelids. Opening her eyes again, Haylinne’s mouth dropped open only to see her father standing in the shop door way with a rather angry look upon his black bearded face. “Haylinne Ambrose raise this moment lass” his stern voice nearly shook the walls of the store. Devon rolled off of Haylinne and began to dust himself off and found his voice.

“I apologize sir, your daughter and I were only having a bit of fun…I…” Devon was quickly cut off, “I am sure your father has something for you to attend to Griten, leave us now” Vik Ambrose spoke coldly, his words knifing Devon to the core. Nodding, the strong blonde youth exited the store without so much as a word or look to Haylinne, who was still on the ground. “Get UP Haylinne as I bid you” her father roared angrily, shutting the door to the store behind him, making sure Devon was out of range.

Rising warily Haylinne’s eyes took in her father. His look and demeanor was so different than usual, perhaps something had happened? “Father, I apologise, I finished everything early and Devon…” her father waved a hand to silence his daughter. “Come back to the count room with me daughter and quiet until I address you further” floor boards nearly shaking from the anger radiating from Master Ambrose, the girl followed timidly, smoothing the invisible wrinkles in her green dress and tugging a bit at her raven hair which had come undone from its clasps.

Sitting across from her father in the room the pair used to count the day’s expenditures and income, Haylinne folded her slim hands in her lap, looking with questioning eyes at her father whose face had become paler than its usual. “Daughter, listen to me, since your mother died you have helped me run this store, you have helped me succeed in becoming one of the wealthiest merchant shopkeepers this side of Illian. I have thanked you countless times for this and let you do as you please after your days work, have I not?” his dark eyes bid an expected answer from Haylinne.

Nodding Haylinne acknowledged it to be true, her father was a very just man who had not only taught her himself but allowed her to take courses from her former Nurse. She had had days off to play with the other girls and horse around with Devon. Master Ambrose was never a cruel father, still Haylinne sat on guard to what he could be thinking.

“Haylinne, there comes a time when one must listen to what others say. No I am not saying people have been criticizing your work young lady” a flicker of a smile came upon the man’s face, “not that at all. I am …honestly daughter I forbid you to see Devon Griten again, ever” he finished, his eyes burning like smoldering coals.

Haylinne rose from her chair with a cry, “how can you father? He did nothing more than kiss me! You know plenty of men do worse during the day with their crude words! I am but a girl, you cannot simply forbid me from my friends when I have no crime committed!” her words were full of emotion, throwing them strongly at her father, whipping her sudden anger across the table. Face flushed Haylinne caught herself and tried to lower herself into the chair almost embarrassed at her behaviour.

“Daughter, do not throw anger at me until you have heard an explanation. Understand I would not do this to you without reason! You are old enough now to understand that some people are not kind like we. Some folks mask their true essence beneath fine clothes and tend to it that they seem to be on our level, that is not the case daughter. Devon Griten’s father is evil. This I see with my own eyes. He is a liar, a cheater and a man of the blackest soul and I fear his son is the same Haylinne” Vik Ambrose concluded finally, his eyes full of rage.

Haylinne sat quiet for a moment, taking in her father’s words…a feeling started to bubble inside her like none other. “Not Devon” she spoke quietly in a low voice. “Not Devon father” rising, her clenched fists shaking and her eyes wild with passion, “Not he” almost bidding her father to rise against her. Staring almost through the man who had raised her, the only person she knew to explain how her mother was, Haylinne felt the book case behind him start shaking. Her eyes were now stormclouds filled with lightning, seemingly possessed as she angrily refused to believe and acknowledge that her father held Devon in a poor light.

“Haylinne sit down, you look sick. I speak the truth daughter!” her father roared before her. “Master Griten has killed his own daughter! Slain her in the square as if it were nothing. He is to go before the Council of Nine before the fifth day!” he begged, as if this information would change his daughter’s demeanor. “I know Devon is in on it as he is concealing the weapons! Do you KNOW WHY Master Griten killed his daughter? Do you know Haylinne? “ The book case kept shaking and a book teetered from the edge as if it were ready to fall. Haylinne was still risen, anger boiling inside her like nothing else. “No father Devon is not” she whispered as if in a threat. Master Ambrose continued, hardly audible beneath the shaking of the book case.

“He killed her because she could do things, make things grow and was going to Tar Valon to study with those women Haylinne! She was going to be an Aes Sedai Haylinne because she could…..” his last words were inaudible as the entire book case rumbled a last time before it fell to pieces, as if a giant man had pulled apart the fine working apart with his bare hands.

Haylinne fell into her chair. “Not Devon…no” she whispered a last time before blackness came to her.

It was no more than four days later as Haylinne was walking from the shop to the center square of town when she heard a masculine voice behind her. “Haylinne! Haylinne Ambrose!! Wait up!” knowing it was Devon, Haylinne ignored him, walking slowly away, her arms curled around a wicker basket in which she was to obtain fruit. Defiantly, even accompanied by a bit of pain, the girl continued on, walking as regally as one has ever seen a noble woman. The light caught her hair which fell loose down past her should blades, illuminating the jet black sheen of it. Devon Griten stopped dead in his tracks. “Haylinne!” he sputtered one more time, throwing up his hands in defiance. Turning back around, dejected and confused, Devon began to walk back home.

Haylinne’s heart wrenched for a moment and turned around to see the retreating back of her friend. “Devon…” she called weakly only to clap her free hand over her mouth and turn back to her path. Devon Griten had amazing hearing and ran to her side in a flash. His bronzed skin seemingly darker beneath a white lace up tunic, grasping at Haylinne’s arm he forced her to a stop. “Hayl what is wrong with you?” he spoke in his low voice, “why have you been avoiding me?” he finished, his emerald green eyes filled with concern.

“Leave me” Haylinne spoke coolly, tugging herself away from him. “Let me go Devon” her voice was even colder now as he wouldn’t let go. “I want to know what I did to betray you enough that you would refuse to talk to me, or even look at me! I am sorry, if it was the kiss, I stepped out of line but I don’t mistake, I know you feel for me…or maybe felt for me in that instant Haylinne! Haylinne stop tugging away from me, we look as if we are going to make a scene. Come on!” Devon pleaded in whispers to the girl, who, at that moment had resumed the look of four nights ago.

“Devon Griten if you do not remove your grasp I shall make a scene and reveal you for the evil spawn that you are. Go back to your games and leave…me….ALONE!” Haylinne finished her command with a rise of anger in her voice. Devon let go immediately of her arm, startled at her sheer coldness. Pulling his hand back to his face, to check whether it still had skin upon it, he was sure her icy words and projection through the skin had surely deformed him. Turning back towards him, Haylinne looked, her eyes shining with anger, fury spewing from within her, “Do not ever, for as long as you live, come near me again unless in insanity I bid you Devon Griten. While I did love you at one time, I hate you now with a hate stronger than I have ever felt. You are a horridly evil person just like your father” with that Haylinne picked up her skirts and moved away from the man whose fist had become clenched.

Cupping his hand over his mouth, Devon shouted out of anger, “You are one of them aren’t you Haylinne! You are no better than a flaming Aes Sedai!! You are a wretched witch!” Devon ran in the other direction as fast as he could, perhaps his father had been right, those women were nothing but cold horrid beings that must be done away with.

Haylinne’s heart stopped. “he knows” she breathed and ambled back as quickly as she could to the nearest door way in the shade to cool herself. Fanning herself with her hands, Haylinne bid the horror that rose from her to stop. It was like bile, rising up inside of her throat. “He knows!” she spat, swaying with fear. “I must go to father” Haylinne nearly cried and flung herself back into the streets, quivering like a scared horse.

Nine hours later Haylinne sat in her bedroom, still quivering at the thought of someone knowing that she was more similar to the famed Aes Sedai than most would think just by looking at her. Most people saw raven haired, pretty little Haylinne Ambrose, Vik’s daughter who tended the shop in her fashionable clothes and had an amazing set of grey eyes. “How did he know! He told me he hates them and he must have been part of the plan to kill his sister….his own sister for being like me. Maybe that kiss was just….” Haylinne flung her self down and began to sob wretchedly like a child who has lost her favorite toy or something of the like.

A noise startled Haylinne after while of crying. It was as if tapping was going on at her window. Moving over a bit to the small circular window, Haylinne looked around and knew no one could possibly have climbed near three stories to her window…unless..Haylinne looked down and saw a black cloaked figure upon a horse moving back and forth from her house, throwing pebbles.

“Devon” Haylinne breathed and then tore herself from the window knowing the conflict that would soon result. “I love him…do I go….he hates Aes Sedai and he knows that is what I will become.” She whispered, her eyes closed. “light blast me if I don’t try,,,” Quickly dressing in a simple dress of dark blue cut for riding and equipping herself with a matching cloak Haylinne grabbed her dagger and ran downstairs, quietly, as not to wake her father. “I can do this, I must face him” she thought quietly.

Cool air rushed up to meet Haylinne, the nights of summer always were cool. Pulling up her hood she walked silently passed Devon to get her horse reined and then jumped up on the great mare barebacked, Without waiting to speak to Devon she began to ride out of Illian. The blackness in front of Haylinne cleared to smoky blueness before her journey was over. Desperate to get as far from Illian as she could at that point the girl didn’t stop until an hour out and her horse was covered in sweat. Leading her to a stream, Haylinne dismounted and waited for Devon.

He came shortly behind her, Haylinne had always ridden a bit faster than he ever could urge a horse. Standing with her arms crossed beneath the cloak, by the time Devon had arrived tears were streaming down Haylinne’s face. Devon let his horse next to Haylinne’s and threw his arms around her. Burying her face into his neck, Haylinne let her sobs escape. Devon’s eyes began to water, holding such a fragile beauty in his arms and knowing what had to happen.

Kneeling down, Devon took one of Haylinne’s hands in his. “Haylinne I am so sorry for calling you what I did today. You just reminded me of my sister and…” his eyes dropped to the ground, “she is gone now. To the White Tower…to become one of them. I am sure you have already heard that though” his voice was not quite as angry as one would have expected yet it still caught Haylinne off guard. Her eyes searched his, wanting to believe him but still had this horrible feeling clawing at her insides.

“Your father killed her Devon….” She spoke quietly, pulling her hand back from his and wrapping her cloak back around herself. “She is dead and I believe you had a part in it” from Haylinne’s eyes poured tears, she tried to tilt her head back and avoid crying more but couldn’t help the pain that sliced her organs, most importantly-her heart.

Devon knelt, looking at the girl in awe. Raising his hand to heart, he swore, “My father did nothing of the sort…Haylinne…” his eyes betrayed him as he cast them downward. “He had nothing to do with the accident” it was the second time he had lied that night and even doing so it was a near vomitious experience.

Haylinne turned her face from Devon, confirming that she did indeed know what his father, Master Griten had done to his sister. One last tear poured down her face before she felt that funny feeling starting to well up inside her. It was the same bubbling sensation, which had accompanied the book shelf disaster four nights prior. “Oh Light” Haylinne spoke, staggering slightly as the feeling was more than just overwhelming. “Oh Light” she spoke again this time. “Why ME!” the girl cried into the air as if trying to contact the creator, “Why must you damn me to be the one who will die?!” She screamed into the skies and really expecting an answer.

Devon stood up, almost shaking, “Who are you talking to Haylinne?” for a moment he just stared at her face, His green eyes taking in her near convulsing figure. Nothing had clicked at that point for him, Devon was under the impression that she was just suffering from pain, knowing his father had indeed had something very well to do with the accident just outside of Illian the other night. “Haylinne, let me hold you. I am sorry…I …I don’t know how to explain this to you” he knelt again, this time beside the girl who was shivering. Shaking her head Haylinne found it hard to speak for a moment as Devon reached his hand around behind her back.

“Don’t touch me Devon! Please!” Haylinne screamed, biting her lip so hard she tasted blood, the coppery taste reminding her of what death must taste like. “Just get away!” she pushed herself up, anger bubbling that feeling again, as if fueling it. “Stay away” Haylinne pleaded with her voice, her eyes and hands. “Don’t come near me any more. I should never have done this Devon” she began to sob in anger, “don’t you see? Don’t look at me like I am insane! You might as well kill me too!” Haylinne turned from him again, a slight gust of wind which had picked up blowing her hood back and her hair began streaming behind her.

Devon tried to approach her again and but stopped. “Its okay Haylinne, it needed to be done. You will never be like that! We can get married in a year, you are old enough now. Things will be fine. I cant help what my…what she was. You know what they do to girls there. It is better that she was slain…removed from this world before she was made into a puppet there in Tar Valon!” Devon spoke without emotion, simply further emphasizing his hate for the Aes Sedai and all the folks surrounding them. Trying again to come towards Haylinne Devon stopped a few paces from her, reaching out slightly.

“Please come to me Hayl I promise everything will be fine. My father is going before the Council of Nine but surely they will not find him guilty of anything. We can go on as per usual and have all the fun we used to. Remember when we promised never to grow up Hayl? We don’t have to! I will buy us a house far from Illian and we will live happily and you wont have to work…” Devon was cut off. Haylinne had spun to face him with such anger in her eyes that he just shut his mouth.

“No. Devon. We. Shant” were the only words the man heard before he was knocked from his feet as if by an invisible force. Hayline started walking towards him, the wind in her hair, blowing it back to reveal her as if she were insane. She kept backing Devon, and he kept falling, it was an ugly repetition till Devon was run back into a tree.

“Don’t you see Devon? I am just as she! Don’t you see what I can do?” with that Haylinne imagined pushing upon the man’s chest as if to hold him. An imaginary hand pushing him, and knowing he would stay. Haylinne continued, “I can do the things your sister could. I can make things move and shake and even make grown men fall” the last was a lie before that night. “I can hurt you and I know that if you have your way you and your horrid father will have me dead. Worse you will burn the shop and kill my father, leaving me to face you on my own. Knowing full well you will kill me just like you killed HER! THEN DO IT!” Haylinne screamed, her cloak blowing off her and beneath where her horse stood. Chest nearly bared by the low cut dress, Haylinne walked close to Devon.

With a strange look of lost innocence, she was no longer the girl Devon had kissed the night before. Grabbing her dagger from her waist, Haylinne brought it up so that it glinted in the moonlight. Devon flinched as if she would take a stab at him. “I would never kill you fool. It is you who shall slay tonight. If you have such a hate for my breed then why don’t you just do it. You claim to have love for me but I bet that it is gone now!” Haylinne pushed herself forward and kissed Devon with everything she had and more while amplified by her flickering hold on the One Power, unbeknownst to her. The kiss went on for quite some time as Devon couldn’t resist. He did love the shop keeper’s daughter, and for a moment, forgot what he had seen.

While Haylinne had kissed Devon, her supposed hold upon him had vanished and almost immediately he realized, as soon as his green eyes and her grey eyes locked that he was no longer being held. Pushing Haylinne away, Devon stood a pace from the tree, looking at where Haylinne was sprawled on the ground. A part of him wanted to help her but another part rose anger inside of him, hating every inch of Haylinne’s gorgeous essence.

“You are one of THEM!!” Devon pointed an accusing finger at the girl before him. “You are going to be like they are aren’t you? Why you Haylinne?” the man who had loved her fiercely for years screamed into the darkness. Haylinne barely moved, waiting for the blow that would surely occur.

“I am sorry Devon” was all she could say to his advancing figure. Closing her eyes waiting for the dagger she had brought to put her to the inevitable end, Haylinne had one fleeting thought of her mother.

“I am not going to kill you Haylinne” with those words she opened her eyes. “I couldn’t if I tried” she watched as he set down her dagger and extended his hand. Putting hers in his, Haylinne was hoisted up. The pair stood, their hands within one another’s simply searching each other’s eyes.

“I am so sorry Devon. I ..” Haylinne began, half angry that she even had to apologies and half sad that it was evident that it was not wanted.

“Haylinne you cannot help what you are, I do not think…but I cannot go one knowing you. If my father found out about you Haylinne…things, they wouldn’t be as they are now. There wouldn’t be a life any longer for us to have…he would kill you and I…I might be forced to “ Devon stopped speaking suddenly as he noted a tear fall from Haylinne’s eye. It wrenched at his heart. Reaching up and tenderly wiping it away, Devon noticed her flinch. “I would never want to see you hurt Haylinne. I don’t want to watch you suffer. This is why we must never speak again after tonight. I will always watch you from a far but someday my father will know…and until he is gone, you are in danger. You are in absolute danger and there is nothing I can do about it. “ Devon pulled away from Haylinne, and then moved forward again.

Haylinne’s eyes were closed, summoning that bubbling feeling inside her to go away. A spreading of warmth flowed through her body as Devon’s hand caressed her face and pulled her in for another kiss. It was the last though because Haylinne pulled away first. “So it must be Devon” she had gathered up all composure to tear herself from the man she thought she knew. “I should be going on again now…but we will need an agreement” Haylinne went to grab her cloak, shivering while doing so. Wrapping the cloak around herself, Haylinne moved close to Devon again, so close that she could almost feel his breath in the chill of the night air. Looking up to the skies as if for guidance, she saw nothing but the stars.

“You know my path now. I have avoided it but my father knows now as well and I must go. I trust that if I agree to stay away from you, you will not let my secret be known?” she spoke coldly, letting her emotions sink away inside of herself.

Devon reigned in his emotions which he was brimming with as well. “Haylinne Ambrose, I loved you and it will take years for me to forget you but so long as my father lives…I cannot see you again. Perhaps one day I will come and seek you but I fear the wrath that will follow if I do it sooner. I swear to you Haylinne that I will not seek you until that day nor will I endanger you. I will miss you and think of you often. Perhaps one day you will receive a notice from me. Until then, I bid you with the best Fortune and pray the Creator doesn’t leave you in the position of being caught again” with this, Devon pulled his horse to him again, saddled himself and kicked the beast in the flanks to leave. Before Haylinne could blink, Devon was a mere speck in the dust behind him. Sighing, Haylinne turned, without a tear and bid her horse to take her home.

Days hardly passed that Haylinne didn’t see Devon. She would go to the shop and unlock the door and be sure she saw him watching her. Without a flinch, the girl would enter, and some had a hard time at recognizing her. It seemed that within a day or so Haylinne had lost some of her girlishness and become harder. At fifteen it was almost as if she surpassed the ages of some of her friend’s mothers. Haylinne would work, often getting stops in by her father who would often find it hard to look her in the eye. Her heart broke everytime she watched him calculate how to run the shop alone for the summons had already been sent to Tar Valon for one of the Aes Sedai to come for her.

One afternoon was a note upon the shop door:

Haylinne do not turn around just yet but once you are done please turn and look to your left. After you spot me please come to me and let me tell you a great secret. –Devon

Haylinne’s suspicions rose quite high before slowly turning. In the deserted early morning street it was easy to see Devon’s shining blonde hair. Posed nonchalantly with his arms crossed and a half lazy smile so signature to Devon Griten, was he. Haylinne suspicious still, walked forward slowly, her intelligence telling her not to. Behind Devon was a building and she thought she saw for a moment the pale face of his father with a more than hideously evil smile upon his face. Stopping abruptly Haylinne backed the fifteen paces she had taken, tossing the note onto the street.

“Father!” she called hoarsely, “Please saddle my horse for me…I need to take a trip if possible” she lowered her voice, smiling towards Devon. His face rendered confusion but Haylinne’s smile assured him, “Let me grab my horse, Ill be right there” she knew she was being set up. Turning and going back into the shop, Haylinne locked the door behind her and grabbed the dagger behind the counter. “Father” she spoke quietly knowing he was no where near to hear, “I am sorry I have not been the best to you. I am sure you can find someone to replace me but” Haylinne struggled to keep her emotions level. With a shaking hand she wrote upon a receipt and stored it in the hollowed book in the back room:

Father. You were right…imminent danger awaited me all along and now I go to do the work I know you so hate. You can find me there. With Love H

Leaving this note, knowing her father would know without its words…Haylinne left through the trap door of the shop leading underground to the stable where her horse was. Knowing Devon was expecting her to show at any moment, Haylinne mounted and turned her horse towards the front of the building, to confront Devon. She knew he had turned against her and that by riding to him it would only give him the notion she was oblivious. Knowing her skill at riding prevailed his…there was hardly an edge of doubt in her mind.

“Kill me if you must Devon. I care not” were her last words before charging, not to Devon but to the direction of Tar Valon. “Follow me Devon, I bid you!” she screamed loudly, knowing he could hear her.

EPILOGUE

Devon rode hard, his mare hardly able to keep the pace he forced her to. “I will get her” he gritted his teeth and rode hastily on, knowing not if he would actually. “Father was right, these women need to be taken down” he spat, whipping his mare on further, to ride harder towards the tiny speck Haylinne had become. It was his mission now, his mission to take her down and to kill her for the seduction she had placed upon him would be eternal. “Haylinne Ambrose if not today and if not tomorrow…I shall have you” he laughed twistedly, his mare’s legs buckling beneath him.