Nathrangking

I watch in shock as scene after scene meld into one another. I'm disoriented as I fall through these memories? Finally, I stop and darkness surrounds me. I pitch forward and fall. A spike of raw fear tears into me as my powers fail to respond. No winds come to break my fall. No additional light pushes away the shadows. I call to my blades as in the past, but they don't come. I force in a deep breath. I unsteadily rise to my feet. Tremors wrack my body. "By the ancient gods Winter what have you done." My whisper echoes for a moment in the dark, before a response from behind me constricts my throat. "Is the mighty Nathrangking scared?" The mocking tone hangs in the air bringing ice and cold to the chamber. I quickly turn toward the voice which separates flesh from bone. My eyes go wide as I see the violet eyes before me. "You cannot be here." "I can't? Well that's a problem then, because we are trapped here together traitor."

I have never read the wheel of time and now I totally want to. Interesting is putting it mildly. I'm not surprised that a theme like that was included. He really does reach deep into his theological toolbox and make use of such concepts. The Dalinar arc in Oathbringer really drove this home for me the third bondsmith oath of "I will take responsibility for what I have done. If I must fall, I will rise each time a better man" is such a powerful concept. The not being locked in a constant cycle by your past is one tied heavily to the Jewish concept of atonement and the Day of Atonement. All of this being said I think that a similar thing is going on with Renarin's actions in the chapter. What if his illumination is not merely showing an ideal Moash, but rather Moash as he truly wishes to be. Beyond the hate and what have you perhaps Moash wishes to be the man that Renarin showed him. However, he holds himself back and perhaps his fear was in knowing that he is fully capable of being that person, but the required effort to work on himself scares him.

An Ice cream cake would be good.

How exciting! *Wins.*

*Wins.*

*Wins.*

*Wins.*

It's a pity in any case. *Wins.*

I have. I believe. I thought I did anyway.

*Wins on birthday.*

How did you meet grandma? Gold like this is hard to find.

I win.

I make no move on Winter. Hostile minds are not to be trifled with. "Are you done with me Winter? The girl cannot help you. Let her go. I am what you desire. My knowledge. My power. The secrets of the Mindscape that I hold."

"I'll get her back stay here." I descend into my mindscape and find the connection between myself and Fox. I move through space as my will takes me to her. I appear before them. "We are not done Winter."

I turn to Queen. "Go! Keep her safe!"

I see the metal hand grab Fox. I growl and let out a bellow which causes the winds to blast the being holding on to Fox in the back with heavy hammer blows. "You will not have her. I grab the metal hand and pull all of the heat from it in a flash. It flash freezes and with a bellow I shatter it with a sing strike of my fist. "Queen get her out of here!" I push Fox toward Queen. I call my blades back and at the speed of light I impale Winter on my blades. Not waiting for him to recover I release the blades still formed and deliver two devastating blows to his head with my fists. I quickly grab him by his throat and toss him aside.

I open my mind to her and in an instant the burden of one became the burden of two. I stagger for a moment, but I remain standing. "Hold on Fox." My voice echoes as the pain and the memories rage as a storm. With a single powerful push of will I manifest a vast chamber. It is not a prison of any kind it is a place that the memories recognize they slow as they come to rest as they fill the chamber I form another and another. Each one becomes part of a magnificent palace. Each one a building block. Gently I transition this structure into her mind. "Fox you are their mistress. Command this palace to be what you will." I feel the emotions fighting back. I push back against them harder. As hard as they attack me I strike back harder. "Take my hand Fox and make them yours. Embrace them, but let them be commanded by your will. They serve you. They will only truly obey you." Mentally I reach out to her. I strain under the attack, but I don't buckle. I fill her mind with a warm light.

Maybe.

What's for dinner? The door is unlocked, but it was just painted.

I can see the turmoil boil behind her eyes. It was a look I recognized from long ago. I will not lose this one! I rest my hand on her shoulder and the winds carry her words into the very depths of my mind. "Don't you see Fox you are in control. You have the power to control your destiny. It is the experiences that we have lived which shape us. They don't control us though we control them Fox. You are a survivor Fox. I will not allow the past to harm you ever! Together we can beat back that which would destroy you. This is not a battle that you must fight alone. To give in to the pain or even numbness is to give it power over you and to make it your master. It has not beaten you. It never will. It speaks lies to you Fox. Words are a cheap thing remember that. Can you trust the unproven lies that call on you to give in. If you truly believe that I am lying to you then take the knife that I gave you and kill me with it. That is the only way that I will ever let anything happen to you. We cannot give who we are in service of fear. If we do then we are truly lost." A single tear runs down my face. My mind is ablaze memories suppressed rush up. I gaze into her eyes. "Don't allow all that you have survived for be thrown away. Giving in is not freedom. It is a prison which promises much, but only takes."

*Winner.*

"Listen to me Fox. You are not alone anymore. Your prison can be broken. I have sworn an oath to you I can no more break it than I can stop the flow of time. I am bound by the sacred bond of the ancient gods. I will die if I break my word. I am betting it all on you. If I lie then I will be no more. I know the kind of pain that you live with every day. I have failed others before, but I will not fail you. Don't give strength to your jailer break free. Live so that those that you have lost will know peace at last. Let them rest Fox. Rise and stand with me. Be free of your shackles. Let me bear part of your burden."

I turn back toward Fox and see something slightly different about her. It seems as though a decision has been reached. "You don't need to shoulder the pain alone. I don't know what you have been through each experience is unique as a snowflake. You may have had others abandon you and do you harm, but I swear as an immortal that we..." I pause for a moment knowing well what I'm about to do. "I swear by my immortal names that I shall never abandon you until my dying day." A slight glow appears and then vanishes. "We will stand by you Fox. What has been done is done. Now is a new age." I smile again. I inject true warmth into it letting emotion emerge from beyond the wall where it had hidden.

"I suspect not, they went underground long ago. Though some mortals have been visited by them throughout the centuries. Welcome to our band."

I eye the newcomer. "I assure you that I am no dream. I know a little of your realm. I have had the privilege of being close confidants with some of the gods of your world."