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ely her mouth would be stopped permanently long before a trial。
She told herself to stop thinking like that。 I'll make it in； and I'll make it out。 The Light burn Rand al'Thor for getting me into this！
Three or four Accepted； women Min's age or perhaps a little older； were circulating through the round room； speaking softly to the petitioners。 Their white dresses had no decoration except for seven bands of color at the hem； one band for each Ajah。 Now and again a novice； a still younger woman or girl all in white； came to lead someone deeper into the Tower。 The petitioners always followed the novices with an odd mix of excited eagerness and foot…dragging reluctance。
Min's grip tightened on her bundle as one of the Accepted stopped in front of her。 〃The Light illumine you；〃 the curly…haired woman said perfunctorily。 〃I am called Faolain。 How may the Tower help you？〃
Faolain's dark； round face held the patience of someone doing a tedious job when she would rather be doing something else。 Studying； probably； from what Min knew of the Accepted。 Learning to be Aes Sedai。 Most important； however； was the lack of recognition in the Accepted's eyes； the two of them had met when Min was in the Tower before； though only briefly。
Just the same； Min lowered her face in assumed diffidence。 It was not unnatural； a good many country folk did not really understand the great step up from Accepted to full Aes Sedai。 Shielding her features behind the edge of her cloak； she looked away from Faolain。
〃I have a question I must ask the Amyrlin Seat；〃 she began； then cut off abruptly as three Aes Sedai stopped to look into the entry hall； two from one archway and one from another。
Accepted and novices curtsied when their rounds took them close to one of the Aes Sedai； but otherwise went on about their tasks； perhaps a trifle more briskly。 That was all。 Not so for the petitioners。 They seemed to catch their breaths all together。 Away from the White Tower； away from Tar Valon； they might simply have thought the Aes Sedai three women whose ages they could not guess； three women in the flush of their prime； yet with more maturity than their smooth cheeks suggested。 In the Tower； though； there was no question。 A woman who had worked very long with the One Power was not touched by time in the same way as other women。 In the Tower； no one needed to see a golden Great Serpent ring to know an Aes Sedai。
A ripple of curtsies spread through the huddle； and jerky bows from the few men。 Two or three people even fell to their knees。 The rich merchant looked frightened； the farm couple at her side stared at legends e to life。 How to deal with Aes Sedai was a matter of hearsay for most； it was unlikely that any here； except those who actually lived in Tar Valon； had seen an Aes Sedai before； and probably not even the Tar Valoners had been this close。
But it was not the Aes Sedai themselves that halted Min's tongue。 Sometimes； not often； she saw things when she looked at people； images and auras that usually flared and were gone in moments。 Occasionally she knew what they meant。 It happened rarely； the knowing … much more rarely than the seeing； even … but when she knew； she was always right。
Unlike most others； Aes Sedai…and their Warders…always had images and auras； sometimes so many dancing and shifting that they made Min dizzy。 The numbers made no difference in interpreting them； though； she knew what they meant for Aes Sedai as seldom as for anyone else。 But this time she knew more than she wanted to； and it made her shiver。
A slender woman with black hair falling to her waist； the only one of the three she recognized … her name was Ananda； she was Yellow Ajah … wore a sickly brown halo； shriveled and split by rotting fissures that fell in and widened as they decayed。 The small； fair…haired Aes Sedai beside Ananda was Green Ajah； by her green…fringed shawl。 The White Flame of Tar Valon on it showed for a moment when she turned her back。 And on her shoulder； as if nestled among the grape vines and flowering apple branches worked on her shawl； sat a human skull。 A small woman's skull； picked clean and sun…bleached。 The third； a plumply pretty woman halfway around the room； wore no shawl； most Aes Sedai did not except for ceremony。 The lift of her chin and the set of her shoulders spoke of strength and pride。 She seemed to be casting cool blue eyes on the petitioners through a tattered curtain of blood； crimson streamers running down her face。
Blood and skull and halo faded away in the dance of images around the three； came and faded again。 The petitioners stared in awe； seeing only three women who could touch the True Source and channel the One Power。 No one but Min saw the rest。 No one but Min knew those three women were going to die。 All on the same day。
〃The Amyrlin cannot see everyone；〃 Faolain said with poorly hidden impatience。 〃Her next public audience is not for ten days。 Tell me what you want； and I will arrange for you to see the sister who can best help you。〃
Min's eye flew to the bundle in her arms and stayed there； partly so she would not have to see again what she had already seen。 All three of them！ Light！ What chance was there that three Aes Sedai would die on the same day？ But she knew。 She knew。
〃I have the right to speak to the Amyrlin Seat。 In person。〃 It was a right seldom demanded … who would dare？ … but it existed。 〃Any woman has that right； and I ask it。〃
〃Do you think the Amyrlin Seat herself can see everyone who es to the White Tower？ Surely another Aes Sedai can help you。〃 Faolain gave heavy weight to the titles as if to overpower Min。 〃Now tell me what your question is about。 And give me your name； so the novice will know who to e for。〃
〃My name is。。。 Elmindreda。〃 Min winced in spite of herself。 She had always hated the name； but the Amyrlin was one of the few people living who had ever heard it。 If only she remembered。 〃I have the right to speak to the Amyrlin。 And my question is for her alone。 I have the right。〃
The Accepted arched an eyebrow。 〃Elmindreda？〃 Her mouth twitched toward an amused smile。 〃And you claim your rights。 Very well。 I will send word to the Keeper of the Chronicles that you wish to see the Amyrlin Seat personally； Elmindreda。〃
Min wanted to slap the woman for the way she emphasized 〃Elmindreda；〃 but instead she forced out a murmured 〃Thank you。〃
〃Do not thank me yet。 No doubt it will be hours before the Keeper finds time to reply； and it will certainly be that you can ask your question at the Mother's next public audience。 Wait with patience。 Elmindreda。〃 She gave Min a tight smile； almost a smirk； as she turned away。
Grinding her teeth； Min took her bundle to stand against the wall between two of the archways； where she tried to blend into the pale stonework。 Trust no one； and avoid notice until you reach the Amyrlin； Moiraine had told her。 Moiraine was one Aes Sedai she did trust。 Most of the time。 It was good advice in any case。 All she had to do was reach the Amyrlin； and it would be over。 She could don her own clothes again； see her friends； and leave。 No more need for hiding。
She was relieved to see that the Aes Sedai had gone。 Three Aes Sedai dying on one day。 It was impossible； that was the only word。 Yet it was going to happen。 Nothing she said or did could change it … when she knew what an image meant； it happened … but she had to tell the Amyrlin about this。 It might even be as important as the news she brought from Moiraine； though that was hard to believe。
Another Accepted came to replace one already there； and to Min's eyes bars floated in front of her apple…cheeked face； like a cage。 Sheriam； the Mistress of Novices； looked into the hall … after one glance； Min kept her gaze on the stone under her feet； Sheriam knew her all too well … and the red…haired Aes Sedai's face seemed battered and bruised。 It was only the viewing； of course； but Min still had to bite her lip to stifle a gasp。 Sheriam； with her calm authority and sureness； was as indestructible as the Tower。 Surely nothing could harm Sheriam。 But something was going to。
An Aes Sedai unknown to Min； wearing the shawl of the Brown Ajah； acpanied a stout woman in finely woven red wool to the doors。 The stout woman walked as lightly as a girl； face shining； almost laughing with pleasure。 The Brown sister was smiling； too； but her aura faded like a guttering candle flame。
Death。 Wounds； captivity； and death。 To Min it might as well have been printed on a page。
She set her eyes on her feet。 She did not want to see any more。 Let her remember； she thought。 She had not felt desperation at any tune on her long ride from the Mountains of Mist； not even on the two occasions when someone tried to steal her horse； but she felt it now。 Light； let her remember that bloody name。
〃Mistress Elmindreda？〃
Min gave a start。 The black…haired novice who stood before her was barely old enough to be away from home； perhaps fifteen or sixteen； though she made a great effort at dignity。 〃Yes？ I am。。。。 That is my name。〃
〃I am Sahra。 If you will e with me … 〃 Sahra's piping voice took on a note of wonder … 〃the Amyrlin Seat will see you in her study now。〃
Min gave a sigh of relief and followed eagerly。
Her cloak's deep ho