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She examined the book。 The Way of the Light； by Lothair Mantelar。 Opening it； she read at random。 〃Therefore abjure all pleasure； for goodness is a pure abstract； a perfect crystalline ideal which is obscured by base emotion。 Pamper not the flesh。 Flesh is weak but spirit is strong； flesh is useless where spirit is strong。 Right thought is drowned in sensation； and right action hindered by passions。 Take all joy from tightness； and rightness only。〃 It seemed to be dry nonsense。
Min smiled at Gawyn； and even managed a titter。 〃So many words。 I fear I know little of books； my Lord Gawyn。 I always mean to read one … I do。〃 She sighed。 〃But there is so little time。 Why； just fixing my hair properly takes hours。 Do you think it is pretty？〃 The outraged startlement on his face nearly made her laugh； but she changed it to a giggle。 It was a pleasure to turn the tables on him for a change； she would have to see if she could do it more often。 There were possibilities in this disguise she had not considered。 This stay in the Tower had turned out to be all boredom and irritation。 She deserved some amusement。
〃Lothair Mantelar；〃 Gawyn said in a tight voice； 〃founded the Whitecloaks。 The Whitecloaks！〃
〃He was a great man；〃 Galad said firmly。 〃A philosopher of noble ideals。 If the Children of the Light have sometimes been。。。 excessive。。。 since his day； it does not change that。〃
〃Oh； my。 Whitecloaks；〃 Min said breathlessly； and added a little shudder。 〃They are such rough men； I hear。 I cannot imagine a Whitecloak dancing。 Do you think there is any chance of a dance here？ Aes Sedai do not seem to care for dancing either； and I do so love to dance。〃 The frustration in Gawyn's eyes was delightful。
〃I do not think so；〃 Galad said； taking the book from her。 〃Aes Sedai are too busy with。。。 with their own affairs。 If I hear of a suitable dance in the city； I will escort you； if you wish it。 You need have no fear of being annoyed by those two louts。〃 He smiled at her； unconscious of what he was doing； and she suddenly found herself breathless in truth。 Men should not be allowed smiles like that。
It actually took her a moment to remember what two louts he was talking about。 The two men who had supposedly asked for Elmindreda's hand in marriage； nearly fighting each other because she could not make up her mind； pressing her to the point of seeking sanctuary in the Tower because she could not stop encouraging them both。 Just the entire excuse for her being there。 It's this dress； she told herself。 I could think straight if I had on my proper clothes。
〃I've noticed the Amyrlin speaks to you every day；〃 Gawyn said suddenly。 〃Has she mentioned our sister Elayne？ Or Egwene al'Vere？ Has she said anything of where they are？〃
Min wished she could black his eye。 He did not know why she was pretending to be someone else； of course； but he had agreed to help her be accepted as Elmindreda； and now he was linking her to women too many in the Tower knew were friends of Min。 〃Oh； the Amyrlin Seat is such a wonderful woman；〃 she said sweetly； baring her teeth in a smile。 〃She always asks how I am passing the time； and pliments my dress。 I suppose she hopes I'll make a decision soon between Darvan and Goemal； but I just cannot。〃 She widened her eyes； hoping it made her look helpless and confused。 〃They are both so sweet。 Who did you say？ Your sister； my Lord Gawyn？ The Daughter…Heir herself？ I do not think I've ever heard the Amyrlin Seat mention her。 What was the other name？〃 She could hear Gawyn grinding his teeth。
〃We should not bother Mistress Elmindreda with that；〃 Galad said。 〃It is our problem； Gawyn。 It is up to us to find the lie and deal with it。〃
She barely heard him； because suddenly she was staring at a big man with long dark hair curling around slumped shoulders； wandering aimlessly down one of the graveled paths through the trees； under the watchful eyes of an Accepted。 She had seen Logain before； a sad…faced； once…hearty man； always with an Accepted for panion。 The woman was meant to keep him from killing himself as much as to prevent his escape； despite his size； he truly did not seem up to anything of the latter sort。 But she had never before seen a flaring halo around his head； radiant in gold and blue。 It was only there for a moment； but that was enough。
Logain had proclaimed himself the Dragon Reborn； had been captured and gentled。 Whatever glory he might have had as a false Dragon was far behind him now。 All that remained for him was the despair of the gentled； like a man who had been robbed of sight and hearing and taste； wanting to die； waiting for the death that inevitably came to such men in a few years。 He glanced at her； perhaps not seeing her； his eyes looked hopelessly inward。 So why had he worn a halo that shouted of glory and power to e？ This was something she had to tell the Amyrlin。
〃Poor fellow；〃 Gawyn muttered。 〃I cannot help pitying him。 Light； it would be a mercy to let him end it。 Why do they make him keep on living？〃
〃He deserves no pity；〃 Galad pronounced。 〃Have you forgotten what he was； what he did？ How many thousands died before he was taken？ How many towns were burned？ Let him live on as a warning to others。〃
Gawyn nodded； but reluctantly。 〃Yet men followed him。 Some of those towns were burned after they declared for him。〃
〃I have to go；〃 Min said； getting to her feet； and Galad was instantly all solicitude。
〃Forgive us； Mistress Elmindreda。 We did not mean to frighten you。 Logain cannot harm you。 I give you my assurance。〃
〃I。 。 。 Yes； he's made me feel faint。 Do excuse me。 I really must go lie down。〃
Gawyn looked extremely skeptical； but he scooped up her basket before she could touch it。 〃Let me see you part of the way； at least；〃 he said； his voice oozing false concern。 〃This basket must be too heavy for you； dizzy as you are。 I'd not want you to swoon。〃
She wanted to snatch the basket and hit him with it； but that was not how Elmindreda would react。 〃Oh； thank you； my Lord Gawyn。 You are so kind。 So kind。 No； no； my Lord Galad。 Do not let me encumber both of you。 Do sit down here and read your book。 Do say you will。 I just could not bear it； otherwise。〃 She even fluttered her eyelashes。
Somehow she managed to ensconce Galad on the marble bench and get away； though with Gawyn right beside her。 Her skirts were an irritant； she wanted to pull them up to her knees and run； but Elmindreda would never run； and never expose so much of her legs except when dancing。 Laras had lectured her severely on that very point； one time running； and she would nearly destroy the image of Elmindreda pletely。 And Gawyn。。。 ！
〃Give me that basket； you muscle…brained cretin；〃 she snarled as soon as they were out of Galad's sight； and pulled it away from him before he could ply。 〃What do you mean by asking me about Elayne and Egwene in front of him？ Elmindreda never met them。 Elmindreda does not care about them。 Elmindreda doesn't want to be mentioned in the same sentence with them！ Can't you understand that？〃
〃No；〃 he said。 〃Not since you won't explain。 But I am sorry。〃 There was hardly enough repentance in his voice to suit her。 〃It is just that I am worried。 Where are they？ This news ing upriver about a false Dragon in Tear makes me no easier in my mind。 They are out there； somewhere； the Light knows where； and I keep asking myself； what if they are in the middle of the sort of bonfire Logain made out of Ghealdan？〃
〃What if he isn't a false Dragon？〃 she asked cautiously。
〃You mean because the stories in the streets say he's taken the Stone of Tear？ Rumor has a way of magnifying events。 I will believe that when I see it； and in any case； it will take more to convince me。 Even the Stone could fall。 Light； I don't really believe Elayne and Egwene are in Tear； but the not knowing eats at my belly like acid。 If she is hurt。。。〃
Min did not know which 〃she〃 he meant； and suspected he did not either。 In spite of his teasing； her heart went out to him； but there was nothing she could do。 〃If you could only do as I say and…〃
〃I know。 Trust the Amyrlin。 Trust！〃 He exhaled a long breath。 〃Do you know Galad has been drinking in the taverns with Whitecloaks？ Anyone can cross the bridges if they e in peace； even Children of the bloody Light。〃
〃Galad？〃 she said incredulously。 〃In taverns？ Drinking？〃
〃No more than a cup or two； I'm sure。 He would not unbend more than that； not for his own nameday。〃 Gawyn frowned as if unsure whether that might be a criticism of Galad。 〃The point is that he is talking with Whitecloaks。 And now this book。 According to the inscription； Eamon Valda himself gave it to him。 'In the hope you will find the way。' Valda； Min。 The man manding the Whitecloaks on the other side of the bridges。 Not knowing is eating Galad up； too。 Listening to Whitecloaks。 If anything happens to our sister； or to Egwene。。。〃 He shook his head。 〃Do you know where they are； Min？ Would you tell me if you did？ Why are you hiding？〃
〃Because I drove two men mad with my beauty and cannot make up my mind；〃 she told him acidly。
He gave