Eddie

   Eddie struggled to regain consciousness.  He was in some weird kind of limbo
where he knew who and what he was, but he couldn't get his body to work.  He
could see a light in the distance that he knew was his Bond.  If he could
anchor himself to that light, he could pull himself out.  Mightily, he threw
himself for it and caught it. 

   Groaning, Eddie turned over.  He was in a dank, dark cell, clad in only his
pants, and there were cuts and bruises all over him.  He could barely breathe.
Damn.  I think a bunch of my ribs are broken.  Hope none of them pierced a
lung.  He looked around him, and straight into the eyes of the ugliest man he
had ever seen.  Behind him were two Aes Sedai.  "Wha-?"  Eddie began, and had
to stop as his voice cracked.  He tried again.  "Where am I?  And what do you
want with me?"
   The shorter of the two Aes Sedai grinned evilly.  "You are exactly where
you should be, Darkfriend.  In a cell.  And Fenigor here,"  she indicated the
small ugly man, "is going to see that you get all the treatment you deserve.
Now, we have some questions, and you can answer them the hard way, or the
harder way.  Either way, you're gonna have some pain."
   "You must  be a Red," Eddie said.  The slap didn't catch him by surprise,
so he managed not to flinch.  "I'll take that as a 'yes'.  So, what
information do you want?  The secret 'rites' of us evil Darkfriends?  Well,
you're wasting your time.  We aren't Darkfriends."
   The taller Aes Sedai spoke for the first time.  "You will be made to talk.
We have no need to play banter games with you.  We have time before yourtrial."
   "Trial, eh?  Well, that sounds like fun.  I'm guessing there's no chance I
will be acquitted?  Didn't think so.  Well, do your worst."
   And they did.  As the two Aes Sedai barraged him with questions about the
Purple Tower, their whereabouts, and their affiliation with the Dark One, the
torturer used every means necessary to help them.  Acid, electricity, leeches,
pincers, hot tongs, figs, mice (sorry, couldn't resist).  Eddie concentrated
on keeping the pain from the part of his mind that held the Bond.  If Li were
to feel this, she would come for him, no matter what, and he couldn't have
that.  He didn't tell them anything, even when he was delirious with pain.  
   Eventually, after an hour, two days, who knew, the Aes Sedai gave up.  They
left him in the "tender" mercies of Fenigor.  The most infuriating thing was
that the man didn't seem to take any pleasure in his work.  He just seemed to
regard Eddie as a puzzle that needed solving.  
   Then Fenigor left.  Eddie was left in the cell to spit up blood and think
about all the people he was going to leave behind.  He wished he could see his
mother again.  And others. "You give up so easily, human?  And after I blocked
the worst of the pain?  You should know that the Aes Sedai hold you in a new
respect because of your resistance.  That serves my purpose.  And your own."
 Starting, Eddie sat up on his cot.  Groaning at the pain, he tried to find
the source of the voice that had been plaguing him for days.   Who are you?
Why have you been talking to me?  I need some answers, damn you!  But there
was no answer.  Groaning, Eddie tried to rest as best he could.  He knew there
would be little enough time for it.

   Eddie was kicked awake.  Turning over, he saw Fenigor standing there with two
guards holding shackles.  They dragged him to his feet and held him while his
aching body protested the movement by refusing to hold his weight.  They
clapped the shackles on and dragged him out of his cell.  
   They took him to another room, an empty room with just a drain in the
middle.  They threw Eddie into the middles of the room and threw buckets of
icy water on him.  As the water hit his cuts, Eddie started screaming.  He
curled himself into a ball, and tried to find solace in unconsciousness.  But,
it wouldn't come.  Eventually, the cascade of water stopped and he was again
pulled to his feet.  They dragged him out of the "washroom" and down acorridor.
   After 20 minutes or so of stumbling, Eddie found himself above ground in
the White Tower.  He remembered it from his time here.  If he recalled
correctly he was being led to the Traitor's Court.  He didn't like this one
bit.  He felt at his Bond, tentatively, and knew that Li was worried about
him, and that she was thinking definite evil thoughts about a certain gholam.
Well, I guess I can't help her anymore.  She's on her own now.  It was good
while it lasted.  Drawing strength from thoughts of his Bondmate, Eddie
struggled to stand up straight.  His muscles screamed in protest, but he
gritted his teeth and forced them to move as he wanted.  He would not come
into his trial like a beggar.  He would do so as what he was.  Gaidin.
Tai'shar Tear.  Warder.  Blademaster.  Whatever they did, they wouldn't take
his pride.  With a new determination, Eddie strode with the guards.  He
instinctively stepped into Cat Crosses the Courtyard.  It was a fitting way to
go to his doom.  They hadn't even given him the honor of clothing him again,
and he was still in only his pants. So be it.  He would wear his ugly bruises
and cuts as a badge of honor.  A reminder to them that they hadn't broken him.
   Striding into the court behind his guards, Eddie was struck by the noise
crashing around the Court.  Every seat he could see was occupied, and there
were women standing in the aisles.  Warders lined the edges, guns held ready.
Eddie sneered at the reminder of the fall of once noble Warders into gun-
toting mercenaries.  As he was led in, the noise stopped and hundreds of eyes
stared at him like he was refuse.  He held his head high, and walked into the
center of the Court.  He faced the Amyrlin and gave his best bow, hampered
only a little by the shackles.  "My, I didn't realize I was so popular,
Mayadi.  I must say I'm flattered."  He gave her his most insolent smile.
   She returned it with the slightest of chill grins.  "It isn't everyday that
we get to witness the trial of one who used to be the highest of us.  You now
stand before us accused of treason and being a Darkfriend.  Quite a way to
fall from Head of the Warders, don't you think, Eddie?"
   "You know I hated the way the Warders were going.  All you did was
countermand all my orders.  Still, we had some good times, didn't we, Mayadi?
Well, so be it.  Let's get on with this farce."
   "Aye.  Why don't we?"  She stood.  "Sisters, Accepted, Novices, Warders,
and all, we are gathered here today to condemn this man, Eddie Suraman Gaidin
for treason and being a Darkfriend.  We have evidence that proves this without
question, and will now show said evidence.  Sister."  She looked to the Red
who was sitting on her left.  The Red got up, bowed to the Amyrlin, and
sneered at Eddie.  She turned, picked up a video cassette and inserted it into
a VCR.  A big screen across the room lifted into view and an image of Eddie
and Dav carving their way into the White Tower to rescue Jen came up.  There
was murmuring as Eddie and Dav killed various people, including Aes Sedai.
They watched as they disappeared into the Tower through the hole Dav had
blown, and came out again with a bruised Jen.  They watched as Dav started
balefiring Accepteds and Eddie clubbed him over the back of the head and
headed out with Dav on his shoulder.  They saw Eddie get shot, but struggle on
with Dav.  Then, the tape ended.
   Eddie looked around at all the hostile faces looking at him, all the calm
yet fiery Aes Sedai faces, all the Accepted trying hard to emulate their
superiors, and all the Novices looking as though they wanted to be sick.  He
looked at all this and did the only thing he could think of.  He grinned.
"Sorry about the mess.  Next time I'll clean up after myself."
   Whips of Power barraged him from every side.  He fell under their pressure,
and screamed.  It only lasted a few seconds, but it seemed like an eternity.
Afterwards, he struggled back to his feet and once again stood tall.
   Mayadi was livid.  She didn't show it, but he could tell.  "You, who used
to be my friend, have fallen far.  You disgust me.  There is no further need
for evidence.  On this alone you will be convicted and hung.  That is the
sentence for lowly traitors and Darkfriends."
   "Aye, I know the punishment, Mayadi.  Well, I just hope I don't soil
myself.  I know you aren't going to believe me, but I regret what has happened
between our Towers.  If you had just let us live in peace, none of this would
have happened.  But I guess you just couldn't do that, could you?  You never
could handle competition."
   With an angry gesture, the Amyrlin motioned for the gallowss to be brought
in.  "For the crime of treason, you will be killed.  For being a Darkfriend,
you will be hung.  This is the pronouncement of the Amyrlin Seat and the Hall
of the Tower.  May it take a long time, Eddie."
   "I was already convicted before I was even brought in, wasn't I?  Can't
even give a fair trial.  So be it.  Good bye, Mayadi.  You will never control
people as you would like.  And that will eventually be your downfall."
   Rough hands grabbed Eddie from behind and dragged him up the gallow steps.
He stumbled on the top one, and went down to one knee.  He looked up at Mayadi
and asked her one final question.  "Did you capture any more of the people I
came with?"
   "That you will never know, Eddie.  I don't think that will matter to you in
Death's hands."
   "Damn you, you bitch, tell me!"  She just smiled at him.  Eddie started to
struggle when he felt a hand on his back.  He looked around and into the eyes
of Agelmar Minova, his closest friend in the Warders, and the only one who had
been better than he.  
   "Come, lad, nothing else you can do now.  Best you die with your dignity."
   "It was you who clubbed me, Agelmar?  Why?  I thought we were friends."
   "We were lad, and are.  But I have my job to do.  I don't know anything
else.  I'm too old to have followed you on your path.  So, now I am forced to
help in the killing of my best friend.  I'm sorry, Eddie."
   Moved by the compassion he saw in his oldest friends eyes', Eddie nodded.
"As you say, Agelmar.  Best I die with dignity.  Good bye, my friend.  You
were the best thing that came of my experience in the White Tower.  "  And
with that, he walked over to the trap door and allowed the noose to be placed
over his neck.  As the bag slipped down, Eddie had one last glance for Mayadi.
He winked.  She started, then looked ill.
   Suddenly not feeling so bad, Eddie cast his thoughts to Li.  I'm sorry I
failed, Li.  Don't mourn me and don't try to avenge me.  I knew what I was
doing.  Have a good life.  Turning back to his fate, Eddie smiled.   He heard
Mayadi start the count, and then he heard Agelmar from his left shoulder.
"The Light shine on you, and the Creator shelter you.  The last embrace of the
mother welcome you home.  Good bye, lad."
   The last thing he felt was the door opening and a sense of free fall.
Then, his breath was lost and his world closed around him.


Sredny

   Haplo kneeled and she approached, reaching out her hand to bond him. From the
shadows Sredny fired, splattering her brains. She walked up to her bike,
laughing and saying what a bad as she was. Sredny watched as the bike blew up
when she started it. She smiled and offered him a cigerette, Sredny grinned,
grabbed her arm, broke it off, then shoved it down her throat.
      Sredny awakened to cold as though he were being channeled at and Lia
shaking him and chattering like a typical female. Snorting, he shook his head
and try'd to make out just what she was saying. Before he had a chance to
answer her, she invented some cruel torture, blazing. . .them. . .out of his
speakers. Snarling, Sredny changed the station to something other than them,
he  then oozed around the car, shattering all the weaves there. He reformed
into his coat and guns, and stared at her..
      "That was totally uncalled for. Sit down and shut up, or so help me I
will throw you in the trunk." Muttering and trying to clear his head he idly
listened to the radio 
 Prescribing your pleasure from dusk till dawn, the rock & roll doctor is
always on.  Rock and Roll doctor, youre on the air
 "Yeah I'm going to the Aerosmith concert and I was wondering what kind've
drugs I should take."
 "Well youre gonna want to stay away from from uppers, when those guitars
start feeding back you're gonna start clawing your face off, I suggest some
mild depressants, Alchohal or maybe some qualudes." 
 Snorting, he swithed the station till he found actual music, within seconds
he identified it as Beehtoven's 4th. Not his greatest but it would do. 
 "All right, in answer to your questions, you are in my ferrarri, were heading
to the rondevous at Tear, and I didn't do anything to your warder."
       She stared at him. "Might I suggest you go ahead and yell Liar! Bastard
Gholam! If you've done anything I'll rip you to pieces! It makes things much
easiar if you let out a good share of rage and anger now."
       She continued to stare at him. he idly wondered if he could get her to
say "I don't want to." and sulk. He was betting he could, but decided against
it. Sighing he resigned himself to explaining and having her not believe him.
"I did nothing to yuor warder. I was going off to find you two when I head an
explosion sound off to the side. i went to investigate and found his sword. He
made me promise that if anything happened to him I'd take care of you, so I
took it so I could prove to you so you wouldn't insist on staying and
searching, plus so that if I hopefully met him on the way to finding you, I
could return it. When I came to meet you, I had just gone through a crowded
wood so I had my guns out in case anyone lept at me. I saw you, opened my
mouth, and the net\xt thing I know I'm one step away from being barbecued
gholam."
        She opened her mouth, anbd from the tone that hung in the air and the
look on her face, he knew it was either going to be berating him for being an
idiot or saying she didn't believe him and would do everything in her power to
kill him. Sighing, he used air to gag her. and threw her into the back seat.
"Eddie just said to keep you from harm and from some fool rescue attempt. We
both need healing, so were going to Tear. If you decide to think you might
consider why i would be going to meet the others if i was a traitor, or why
your still alive." Sighing, he released the gag, and slid the shield up
between himself and the back seat. The doors auto locked, so that only he
could reopen them. Sighing he thought back. Shit he thought once more. It
really shouldn't be like this.


Lia

    Lia felt a strange tremor run through her.. It was much like when she had
felt Vree needed help....  Someone else needed help now.. but who..
Liagala..??  No.. it wasn't strong enough to belong to a sister...  but it was
coming from her still....   Strange... 
      The other Purples were heading down the tower.. and Haplo was leading
them He seemed to quickly forget about her lately...   There was something
different about him....  more scars over that Heartrune of his...  Someday,
Lia decided she needed to find information about Hap's people so she could
figure at least his damn runes out....  
      Lia caught the attention of Sonja and Lissette, Flashing Maiden handtalk
at them that she was leaving.. and she wanted them with her.. they laughed and
slipped away from the group... 
      Tamane saw the handtalk and recognized it...   Ah.. So the scary women
could speak the handtalk could they...  Well...  
      The tree women loaded their bikes with supplies... and coasted away from
the rest of the purples.. only then starting the bikes and blasting off the
opposite way.. The purples would hear them, but likely assume Lia got bored...
again...  Patty was safe now...  so Lia no longer had to worry about her...
but there were others...  
      Lia felt movement in her saddlebag and looke down to see Nightwind
Poking his head out..  You run like the wind.
      no Love.. this is modern technology.. don't hop out.

    Lia, Sonja and Lissette Rode with a quickness, first scouting the area to be
sure the purples would be safe...  Then Off... Lia called through her headset
"Sonja, Lissette, the trouble must begin at the White Tower...  It always
begins there... "   
    "Shall we end it then..?  " Lissette called back... 
    "Methinks we shall"  Laughed Sonja and they rode Warp 15 to the White
Tower....


Eddie

   Eddie felt himself floating.  He knew his body was dying, but he couldn't
feel it.  It was like he was not a part of that world anymore.  He started up
towards the waiting embrace he could sense just beyond his sight.  It was the
welcome he had always wondered about.  It wasn't the hell he had been
expecting, but it seemed like a warm and safe place to spend eternity.  This
would be good.  He stretched up towards the waiting light.  Suddenly, he was
snatched back forcibly.

   Eddie came back to his body with a scream of rage.  He found himself once
again aching all over, and he could barely breathe through his bruised
windpipe.  Crouching at the bottom of the gallows, he looked up to see Agelmar
standing there, his sword out, yelling down at him.  
   "I couldn't do it, lad.  I couldn't let them kill you.  Here's your stuff.
Now hurry!  We don't have time.  I know you're hurt, but we need to move,
lad."  With that, he hurled a bundle down to Eddie.
   Still groggy, Eddie caught the offered bundle and undid it.  Inside was his
color-shifting cloak, one of his swords (Where the hell was the other one?),
and his two rings.  Putting them both on, he immediately felt better.  One
would save him from the Power, the other from despair.  
   Donning his cloak, he leaped, grabbed the edge of the hole, and lifted
himself into pandemonium.  Agelmar was fighting with the guards on the
gallows, his sword a blur.  Accepted were helping to clear the court of
Novices, and Aes Sedai were preparing for battle.  The Gaidin were already
moving towards the gallows, and readying themselves for a fight.  Eddie sprung
up behind the one remaining guard already on the scaffold, and took his head
off quickly.  He locked eyes with Agelmar, and smiled.  Agelmar returned it, 
then pivoted smoothly to run through the first of the advancing Warders.  Eddie 
spun himself, and engaged the first of them to reach him.  He had trained most 
of these men, and they had almost to a man been bad pupils.  
   He made short work of the first wave, then felt his ring go cold as someone
channeled at him.  Smiling grimly, Eddie glanced over his shoulder. Agelmar
was frozen, obviously held in Air, and open to attack.  Cursing, Eddie spun,
dove, and came up next to his friend.  Driving his ringed hand through the
shield, he laid his hand on Agelmar's arm, and the flows disappeared.  "Always
loved that ring of yours, lad." Agelmar smiled, and returned to the fight.  
   Back to back, they fought their way towards the exit.  A few times Eddie
had to stop and put his hand on Agelmar's arm to ward off Power wrought
obstacles.  But, with the surrounding Gaidin, the Aes Sedai couldn't get a
clear bead on them, and that's probably what saved their lives that day.
Eddie took a bunch of hits because, even if they weren't as skilled, the
Gaidin had numbers on their side.  Eddie's older wounds were still very much a
liability, but adrenaline was giving him the strength to go on.  He felt
Agelmar behind him, puffing hard.  We need to get out of here, now!  I don't
think we're going to make it.  There are too many of them.  Evidently Agelmar
had the same thought, because he said over his shoulder, "Well, laddie, it was
good fighting beside you one last time.  And for something I actually believe
in this time, friendship."
   Blocking a sword and returning a thrust, Eddie was glad that at least this
order of his had been followed.  All the Gaidin had trained with and carried
swords.  If they had all carried guns, they would be dead a hundred times
over.  The ones who DID carry guns couldn't get a clear shot into the melee.
"Aye, my friend.  One last fight with the best of friends.  Looks like you
saved me from being hanged only to die beside me.  But, I thank you."  
   "I don't think so, human.  You won't die while I am in you.  I have taken a
liking to you.  We shall see what we shall see.  When I give the signal, be
ready to run for the exit."  Eddie almost lost his head when that voice boomed
into his mind, but he managed to turn the sword at the last instant and leave
the would-be killer with his guts in his hands.  He shouted over his shoulder,
"Agelmar!  Be ready to run for the exit when I say so.  All right?"
   "What are ya doin', lad?  Anything I should know about?"
   "I have no idea, but I guess we'll find out together."  "Now, Human!  I
have Shielded the channelers in the room, and the Gaidin willl give you no
more trouble.  But, I can only hold this for a few seconds.  I suggest you use
them to advantage."  As the voice boomed into his head, Eddie had already
tapped Agelmar and was heading for the exit.  Sprinting, they were almost
there when he heard Mayadi scream behind him.
   "EDDIE!!!!!  I will NOT let you get away from justice!!!!!  Know that I
will hunt you!!!"
   Turning, Eddie looked into the eyes of his old friend.  "Then it begins,
Mayadi."  Snapping into a salute, Eddie bowed to the Amyrlin Seat.  "Good
bye."  Spinning, he followed Agelmar out of the room at top speed.  The doors
boomed closed behind them. 

   They had been running for what seemed like hours.  Only their intimate
knowledge of the layout of the Tower had kept them out of the hands of their
pursuers.  Eddie had found some suitable clothes along the way, and was now
feeling much better.  Even though his adrenaline had worn off, and he ached
with every movement.  
   They turned the corner into the almost deserted Brown section, and started
up the stairs.  "Are you sure she will help you, Eddie?  You have been
condemned by the Tower."
   Eddie laughed, barely checking his grunt of pain.  "She probably hasn't had
her head out of her room in the past week, Agelmar.  You know Caralaine better
than that.  She was my only other friend here.  She wil help.  Come on, before
they track us."
   Moving up the hall, color-shifting cloaks churning behind them, they made
their way up to the rooms.  Eddie stopped at the only occupied one in this
wing, and knocked.  Loudly.  He knew that was the only way of getting the
Brown to answer.  Even so, they had to wait nearly five minutes before the
door cracked open.  Standing there, her head in a book, not even looking up,
was Caralaine.  She was a small woman, dressed in drab brown wool, her red
hair in a haphazard bun, her eyes behind a pair of glasses.  "Yes?  I didn't
order anything.  What do you want?"
   "I see you haven't changed, Car.  Have any help for an old friend?"  Eddie
smiled down on her.
   Starting, she looked up from her book.  Green eyes widened, and she broke
out in a smile.  "Eddie!", she said, giving him a hug.  "I'd heard you were to
be put on trial!  I wouldn't involve myself in such a farce.  Darkfriend
indeed.  Obviously they don't know you.  How are you?  And Agelmar!  You don't
visit enough since Eddie left us.  Come in, come in!"  She ushered them into
her rooms.  
   Same old Caralaine, Eddie thought.  She never talks unless you can pry her
away from her books, then she doesn't stop.  Smiling, he looked around at her
rooms.  They looked the same as they had before he left.  Clutter was
everywhere.  Stacks of books, computer printouts, clothes, all strewn about
the room.  "We don't have much time, Car.  Agelmar freed me, and we really
need some help.  I'm about to drop from the torture and the fighting.  I'm not
going to lie to you.  If you help us, you'll be signing a death warrant.  It's
your choice.  I won't hold it against you if you don't help."
   She waved the matter away.  "Phaw.  How could I not help you?  For the
short time you were here, you were my best student.  Come, come, let me see.
Oh, and don't forget to remove that ring of yours.  Gives me the most
frightful headaches.  Come on, both of you."
   Leading them into her rooms, she kept a running commentary of her latest
research ("Computers, marvelous things") and discoveries ("A way to use the
Power to actually fly!  Think of it.  You just push yourself away from the
earth.  Marvelous!" [That's for you, Li.]).  Eddie and Agelmar just looked at
each other, smiling.  They well remembered Caralaine's rambling from years
gone by.  
   When they were in her sitting room, Caralaine made them both take off their
shirts so she could look at their wounds.  Muttering to herself, she took
Eddie's head in her hands.  With a start, Eddie felt the familiar tingle of
Healing.  "Good thing it doesn't use the patients' strength anymore.  All the
cuts you have, you'd be on your back for days.  Wonderful person, that
Nynaeve.  Discovered so much."  She opened her eyes after the Healing and
gasped.  She stared at Eddie's neck, confusion written plainly.  "Now, why
didn't that Heal?  Let me try again.  Laying her hands on Eddie again, she
channeled.  She opened her eyes.  "What is going on?"
   "What, Car?  What won't Heal?" Eddie asked, a little afraid.
   "Go look in the mirror, Eddie.  I must Heal Agelmar."  And she bent to Heal
the grizzled warrior.
   Curious, Eddie went over to the stand mirror in the corner and looked in.
His eyes widened with shock.  There, blazing across his throat, was the mark
of the hangman.  He had a livid scar from the rope running around his neck.
It didn't hurt, but it looked horrible.  Swallowing, Eddie turned back to the
two of them.  "Well, as long as it doesn't hurt, I guess I can take it.  Now,
as good as it was to see you, Car, Agelmar and I have to get out of-"
   He broke off as there was a pounding at the door.  Slipping his ring on,
Eddie slipped his sword out of it's scabbard, and took up a flanking position
on the door with Agelmar.  Caralaine called out, "Who is it?"
   "You know very well who it is and what we want, Caralaine Sedai!  There was
a ban on channeling while the fugitives were uncaught, and channeling was felt
from your room.  Now, hand over the two and you won't be Stilled.  Maybe."
   "Sarantha," Caralaine hissed.  "Of course it would be her.  Come on, you
two.  We're getting out of here."  Quickly, she made her way over to a dark
corner of the room.  Swinging back a tapestry, she revealed a door.  "Come,
come.  This is so the servants don't have to go all through the Tower to bring
me food.  Leads right to the kitchens.  Let's go.  And Eddie, this 'Purple
Tower' I have heard so much about better have good computers."  With that, she
swung the door open and started down.  
   Smiling, Eddie left after her.  He was glad his two best friends would be
coming to join the Purple Tower.  It would feel even more like home.  Back in
the room, there was a pounding on the door, and Eddie heard, through the
closed door, a string of curses.  Catching up to Caralaine, Eddie whispered
into her ear.  "Won't they find us?  Surely they aren't going to believe we
just disappeared."
   "I channeled just enough of the Power to make them think I had woven a
gateway.  They will think we Gated out.  I expect we will have a rather easy
time getting out now."  With a smile, she turned back to the stairs.
   Chuckling to himself, he shared a smile with Agelmar and continued down the
stairs.   

   It took forever, but they eventually made their way out of the White Tower,
and into the surrounding woods.  As Caralaine had predicted, they met little
resistance on the way.  
   They stooped to rest about three miles from the Tower.  "Now, tell me,
Eddie.  How is Liagala?  As I remember, she was the reason you left the White
Tower.  Is she doing all right?"
   Sighing, Eddie nodded.  "She's doing fine, Car.  We're Bonded now.  And
she's going to be pissed when she sees me next."
   Laughing, she looked fondly up at Eddie.  "I'd always wished you would Bond
me one day, Eddie.  Ah well.  I'm too old, and you too active to fit my
lifestyle.  Guess I'll have to find someone else."  She cast a glance at
Agelmar, who cleared his throat and looked around.
   Chuckling, Eddie got up and started them out again.  They were going to
have to find a place to buy a car, and they were going to have to catch up to
everyone else.  He just hoped nothing too bad had happened to the rest.  He
felt at his Bond for the first time since before he was hanged, and
Eddie...couldn't feel it!!  Panicked, he desperately felt at the part of his
mind that held his Bond.  Nothing!  What is going on?  Eddie thought
frantically.  He turned to Car and Agelmar.  "Something is VERY wrong, guys.
We have to go.  NOW!"  And he sprinted off through the woods, leaving the
other two to follow as they could.