New God(wheel of time)

Chapter 9: Whispers in the PatternBaerlon was a city unlike anything the boys from Emond's Field had ever seen. The stone buildings towered above them, their windows glowing with lamplight, and the streets thrummed with the footsteps of merchants, travelers, and watchmen making their rounds. Even this far from the grand capitals of the world, the air carried the hum of countless lives moving in tandem.

But to him, the city meant little.

He walked through the streets with an ease that belied his unknown origins, his silver eyes reflecting the flickering lights of the torches lining the roads. He did not marvel at the scale of Baerlon as the others did, nor did he seem overwhelmed by the crowd. Instead, there was something unsettling in the way he moved—as if the world adjusted itself around him rather than the other way around.

Moiraine noticed it keenly.

The Pattern itself resisted him, shifting subtly in ways she could not fully grasp. She had seen how ta'veren shaped the world, bending fate around them like threads drawn toward a loom. But he was different. He was not woven into the Pattern at all. He walked outside of it, untouched yet undeniably present.

And yet, he was here. The Wheel had allowed him into its design. Why?

Lan led them through the streets with the practiced efficiency of a man always expecting danger. The boys, though exhausted, kept close to one another, their awe subdued by a weariness that settled in their bones. Egwene, however, kept stealing glances at the silver-eyed youth, curiosity flickering behind her hesitation.

When they finally reached The Stag and Lion, relief washed over them. The warmth of the common room, the scent of roasted meat and spiced cider, and the simple comfort of a roof over their heads brought an ease none had realized they needed.

Lan handled the arrangements quickly, and they were soon ushered into their rooms. The innkeeper, stout and practiced in his manner, paid them little mind once the coin had exchanged hands.

Moiraine stood in the doorway, her eyes resting on the boy who should not exist. "Rest while you can," she instructed, her voice calm but firm. "We will not remain here long."

Rand, Perrin, and Mat exchanged uneasy glances before nodding. Egwene hesitated, looking as if she wanted to speak, but the weight of the day stilled her tongue.

As they settled in, Moiraine watched the silver-eyed youth for a moment longer. What are you?

For the first time in many years, an Aes Sedai did not have an answer.