It had been a while since she had come back. Her hair was nearly its usual color, and she wore her Great Serpent ring once again. Her red shawl had been a part of her shoulders everywhere she went after she left Far Madding. Saidar was back, and so was her identity. In waking hours, she was herself again, but in sleep... She thought she was getting past this, but perhaps she was going about it the wrong way.
Glancing out the window, Torianin saw that the moon had nearly sunken under the horizon again. Dawn would be coming soon. There was no sense in trying to get back to sleep now. She could feel that Erishar was still asleep through her bond with him. The pain from Dezan's severed one was still there, but she was becoming numb to it as time went on. The world was quiet.
With a sigh, she got out of her bed and began to dress. Her room felt stagnant right now. Even with the lavish furnishings and her personal things, she was having trouble breathing here. Now ready, she patted her skirts, as if dust would flow out of them. She nudged the silver belt in place and adjusted her ring. Taking a deep red cloak, she decided to take a stroll through the Tower Grounds.
The night air was cool, but not biting. The Grey Tower was peaceful. She slowly picked her way through the courtyards, a small spere of light hovering above her hand. Of course, after such a lengthy mission, she was glad to be back. She was glad to have her daughter with her, and she was glad that Erishar had survived. Her small family meant the world to her, which was part of the reason Dezan's death hurt as badly as it did. She hadn't known her second Warder for nearly as long as her first, but he was still her trusted Gaidin, until the very end.
- Spoiler: show