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A trumpet sounded faintly from outside。 A moment later a gong rang inside； and shouted orders drifted down the hall。 Men in steel caps appeared for a moment down the hallway； running。
〃Maybe we will not have to worry about guards on her door；〃 Elayne said。 The riot had begun in the streets。 Rumors spread by Thom and Juilin to gather the crowd。 Domon's sailors to egg them on。 She regretted the necessity； but the disturbance would pull most of the guards out of the palace； maybe all with luck。 Those people out there did not know it； but they fought in a battle to save their city from the Black Ajah and the world from the Shadow。 〃Egeanin should go with you； Nynaeve。 Your part is the most important。 If one of us needs someone to watch her back； it is you。〃
〃I've no need for a Seanchan！〃 Shouldering her duster like a pike； Nynaeve strode off down the hall。 She really did not move like a servant。 Not with that militant stride。
〃Should we not be about our own task？〃 Egeanin said。 〃The riot will not hold attention pletely for long。〃
Elayne nodded。 Nynaeve had passed out of sight around a corner。
The stairs were narrow and hidden in the wall； to keep servants as unseen as possible。 The corridors on the second floor were much as those on the first； except that double…pointed arches were almost as likely to give onto a stone…latticed balcony as onto a room。 There seemed to be far fewer servants as they made their way to the west side of the palace； and none more than glanced at them。 Wonderfully； the hallway outside the Panarch's apartments was empty。 No guards in front of the wide； tree…carved doors set in a double…peaked frame。 Not that she had meant to retreat had there been guards； no matter what she had told Nynaeve； but it did make things simpler。
A moment later she was not so sure。 She could feel someone channeling in those rooms。 Not strong flows； but definitely the Power being woven； or maybe a weave maintained。 Few women knew the trick of tying a weave。
〃What is the matter？〃 Egeanin asked。
Elayne realized she had stopped。 〃One of the Black sisters is in there。〃 One； or more？ Only one channeling； certainly。 She pressed close to the doors。 A woman was singing in there。 She put her ear to the carved wood； heard raucous words； muffled yet clearly understandable。
〃My breasts are round； and my hips are too。
I can flatten a whole ship's crew。〃
Startled； she jerked back； porcelain dishes sliding on the tray under the cloth。 Had she somehow e to the wrong room？ No； she had memorized the sketch。 Besides； in the entire palace the only doors carved with the tree led to the Panarch's apartments。
〃Then we must leave her；〃 Egeanin said。 〃You can do nothing without warning the others of your presence。〃
〃Perhaps I can。 If they feel me channel； they will think it is whoever is in there。〃 Frowning； she bit her lower lip。 How many were there？ She could do at least three or four things at once with the Power； something only Egwene and Nynaeve could match。 She ran down a list of Andoran queens who had shown courage in the face of great danger； until she realized it was a list of all the queens of Andor。 I will be queen one day； I can be as brave as they。 Readying herself； she said； 〃Throw open the doors； Egeanin； then drop down so I can see everything。〃 The Seanchan woman hesitated。 〃Throw open the doors。〃 Elayne's own voice surprised her。 She had not tried to make it anything； but it was quiet； calm； manding。 And Egeanin nodded； almost a bow； and immediately flung open both doors。
〃My thighs are strong are strong as anchor chain。
My kiss can burst …〃
The dark…braided singer； standing wrapped in flows of Air to her neck and a soiled； wrinkled Taraboner gown of red silk； cut off short as the doors banged back。 A frail…appearing woman； lounging in pale blue of a high…necked Cairhienin cut on a long padded bench； ceased nodding her head to the song and leaped to her feet； outrage replacing the grin on her fox…shaped face。
The glow of saidar already surrounded Temaile； but she did not have a chance。 Appalled at what she saw； Elayne embraced the True Source and lashed out hard with flows of Air； webbing her from shoulders to ankles； wove a shield of Spirit and slammed it between the woman and the Source。 The glow around Temaile vanished； and she went flying across the bench as if she had been struck by a galloping horse； eyes rolling up into her head； to land unconscious on her back three paces away on the green…and…gold carpet。 The dark…braided woman gave a start as the flows around her winked out of existence； felt at herself in wondering disbelief as she stared from Temaile to Elayne and Egeanin。
Tying off the weave holding Temaile； Elayne hurried into the room； eyes searching for others of the Black Ajah。 Behind her； Egeanin closed the doors after them。 There did not seem to be anyone else。 〃Was she alone？〃 she demanded of the woman in red。 The Panarch； by Nynaeve's description。 Nynaeve had mentioned something about a song。
〃You are not。。。 with them？〃 Amathera said hesitantly； dark eyes taking in their dresses。 〃You are Aes Sedai also？〃 She seemed willing to doubt that despite the evidence of Temaile。 〃But not with them？〃
〃Was she alone？〃 Elayne snapped； and Amathera gave a little jump。
〃Yes。 Alone。 Yes； she。。。〃 The Panarch grimaced。 〃The others made me sit on my throne and speak the words they put into my mouth。 It amused them to make me sometimes give justice； and sometimes pronouncements of horrible injustice； rulings that will cause strife for generations if I cannot put them aright。 But her！〃 That full…lipped little mouth opened in a snarl。 〃Her they set to watch over me。 She hurts me for no reason except to make me weep。 She made me eat an entire trayful of white ice peppers and would not let me drink a drop until I begged on my knees while she laughed！ In my dreams she hoists me to the top of the Tower of Morning by my ankles and lets me fall。 A dream； but it seems real； and each time she lets me fall screaming a little nearer the ground。 And she laughs！ She makes me learn lewd dances； and filthy songs； and laughs when she tells me that before they leave she will make me sing and dance to entertain the …〃 With a shriek like a pouncing cat she threw herself across the bench onto the bound woman； slapping wildly； pummeling with her fists。
Egeanin； arms folded in front of the doors； seemed ready to let it go on； but Elayne wove flows of Air around Amathera's waist。 To her surprise she was able to lift her off the already senseless woman and set her on her feet。 Perhaps learning how to handle those heavy weavings from Jorin had increased her strength。
Amathera kicked at Temaile； turning her glare on Elayne and Egeanin when her slippered feet missed。 〃I am the Panarch of Tarabon； and I mean to dispense justice to this woman！〃 That rosebud mouth had a very sulky look。 Had the woman no sense of herself； of her position？ She was equal to the king； a ruler！
〃And I am the Aes Sedai who has e to rescue you；〃 Elayne said coolly。 Realizing she still held the tray； she set it on the floor hurriedly。 The woman seemed to be having enough trouble seeing beyond the white servants' dresses without that。 Temaile's face was quite red； she would wake to bruises。 No doubt fewer than she deserved。 Elayne wished there was a way to take Temaile with them。 A way to bring even one to justice in the Tower。 〃We have e … at considerable risk！ … to take you out of here。 Then you can reach the Lord Captain of the Panarch's Legion； and Andric and his army； and you can chase these women out。 Perhaps we will be lucky enough to take some of them for trial。 But first we must get you away from them。〃
〃I do not need Andric；〃 Amathera muttered。 Elayne would have sworn she almost said 〃now。〃 〃There are soldiers of my Legion around the palace。 I know this。 I have been allowed to speak to none of them； but once they see me； and hear my voice； they will do what must be done； yes？ You Aes Sedai cannot use the One Power to harm。。。〃 She trailed off； scowling at the unconscious Temaile。 〃You cannot use it as a weapon； at least； yes？ I know this。〃
Elayne surprised herself by weaving tiny flows of Air； one to each of Amathera's braids。 The braids lifted straight up into the air； and the pouty…mouth fool had no choice but to follow them up on tiptoe。 Elayne walked her that way； on tiptoe； until the woman stood right in front of her； dark eyes wide and indignant。
〃You will listen to me； Panarch Amathera of Tarabon；〃 she said in icy tones。 〃If you try to walk out to your soldiers； Temaile's cronies may very well tie you up in a bundle and hand you back to her。 Worse； they will learn that my friends and I are here； and that I will not allow。 We are going to creep out of here； and if you will not agree to that； I'll bind and gag you and leave you beside Temaile for her friends to find。〃 There had to be some way to take Temaile； too。 〃Do you understand me？〃
Amathera nodded slightly； held up as she was。 Egeanin made an approving sound。
Elayne loosed the flows； the woman's heels dropped to the car