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at if they fail to send regular reports from now on； they will wish they had never been born。 Include the information from the Macura woman。〃 Her mouth twisted around that last。
The name made Alviarin shift uneasily； too； and no wonder。 Ronde Macura's nasty little infusion was something to make any sister unfortable。 Forkroot was not lethal … at least you woke； if you drank enough to sleep … but a tea that deadened a woman's ability to channel seemed aimed too directly at Aes Sedai。 A pity the information had not been received before Galina went； if forkroot worked on men as well as it seemed to on women； it would have made her task considerably easier。
Alviarin's ill ease lasted only a moment； a mere instant and she was all self…possession again； unyielding as a wall of ice。 〃As you wish； Mother。 I am sure they will leap to obey； as of course they should。〃
A sudden flash of irritation swept Elaida like fire in dry pasture。 The fate of the world in her hands； and petty stumbling blocks kept rising beneath her feet。 Bad enough that she had rebels and recalcitrant rulers to handle； but too many Sitters still brooded and grumbled behind her back； fertile ground for the other woman to plow。 Only six were firmly under her own thumb； and she suspected as many at least listened closely to Alviarin before they voted。 Certainly nothing of importance passed through the Hall unless Alviarin agreed to it。 Not open agreement； not with any acknowledgment that Alviarin bore a shred more influence or power than a Keeper should； but if Alviarin opposed。。。 At least they had not gone so far as to reject anything Elaida sent them。 They simply dragged their feet and too often let what she wanted starve on the floor。 A pitifully small thing for which to be happy。 Some Amyrlins had bee little more than puppets once the Hall acquired a taste for rejecting what they put forward。
Her hands clenched； and a tiny crackle came from the strip of paper。
The ring has been placed in the bull's nose。
Alviarin looked as posed as a marble statue； but Elaida no longer cared。 The shepherd was on his way to her。 The rebels would be crushed and the Hall cowed； Alviarin forced to her knees and every fractious ruler brought to heel； from Tenobia of Saldaea； who had gone into hiding to avoid her emissary； to Mattin Stepaneos of Illian； who was trying to play all sides at once again； trying to agree with her and the Whitecloaks； and with al'Thor for all she knew。 Elayne would be placed on the throne in Caemlyn； without her brother to get in the way and with a full knowledge of who had set her there。 A little time back in the Tower would make the girl damp clay in Elaida's hands。
〃I want those men rooted out； Alviarin。〃 There was no need to say who she meant； half the Tower could talk of nothing but those men in their Black Tower； and the other half whispered about them in corners。
〃There are disturbing reports； Mother。〃 Alviarin looked through her papers once more； but Elaida thought it was only for something to do。 She did not pluck out any more pages； and if nothing else disturbed the woman for long； this unholy midden outside Caemlyn must。
〃More rumors？ Do you believe the tales of thousands flocking to Caemlyn in answer to that obscene amnesty？〃 Not the least of what al'Thor had done； but hardly cause for worry。 Just a pile of filth that must be safely cleared before Elayne was crowned in Caemlyn。
〃Of course not； Mother； but … 〃
〃Toveine is to lead； this task belongs properly to the Red。〃 Toveine Gazal had been fifteen years away from the Tower； until Elaida summoned her back。 The other two Red Sitters who had resigned and gone into a 〃voluntary〃 retreat at the same time were nervous…eyed women now； but unlike Lirene and Tsutama； Toveine had only hardened in her solitary exile。 〃She is to have fifty sisters。〃 There could not be more than two or three men at this Black Tower actually able to channel； Elaida was certain。 Fifty sisters could overwhelm them easily。 Yet there might be others to deal with。 Hangers…on； camp followers； fools full of futile hopes and insane ambitions。 〃And she is to take a hundred … no； two hundred … of the Guard。〃
〃Are you certain that is wise？ The rumors of thousands are certainly madness； but a Green agent in Caemlyn claims there are over four hundred in this Black Tower； A clever fellow。 It seems he counted the supply carts that go out from the city。 And you are aware of the rumors Mazrim Taim is with them。〃
Elaida fought to keep her features smooth； and barely succeeded。 She had forbidden mention of Taim's name； and it was bitter that she did not dare … did not dare！ … impose the penalty on Alviarin。 The woman looked her straight in the eyes； the absence of so much as a perfunctory 〃Mother〃 this time was marked。 And the temerity of asking whether her actions were wise！ She was the Amyrlin Seat！ Not first among equals； the Amyrlin Seat！
Opening the largest of the lacquered boxes revealed carved ivory miniatures laid out on gray velvet。 Often just handling her collection soothed her； but more； like the knitting she enjoyed； it let whoever was attending her know their place； if she seemed to give more attention to the miniatures than to what they had to say。 Fingering first an exquisite cat； sleek and flowing； then an elaborately robed woman with a peculiar little animal； some fantasy of the carver； almost like a man covered in hair； crouched on her shoulder； at length Elaida chose out a curving fish； so delicately carved that it seemed nearly real despite the aged yellow of the ivory。
〃Four hundred rabble； Alviarin。〃 She felt calmer already； for Alviarin's mouth had thinned。 Just a fraction； but she savored any crack in the woman's fa？ade。 〃If there are that many。 Only a fool could believe that more than one or two can channel。 At most！ In ten years； we have found only six men with the ability。 Just twenty…four in the last twenty years。 And you know how the land has been scoured。 As for Taim。。。 〃 The name burned her mouth； the only false Dragon ever to escape being gentled once in the hands of Aes Sedai。 Not a thing she wanted in the Chronicles under her reign； certainly not until she decided how it should be recorded。 At present the Chronicles told nothing after his capture。
She stroked her thumb along the fish's scales。 〃He is dead； Alviarin； else we would have heard from him long since。 And not serving al'Thor。 Can you think he went from claiming to be the Dragon Reborn to serving the Dragon Reborn？ Can you think he could be in Caemlyn without Davram Bashere at least trying to kill him？〃 Her thumb moved faster on the ivory fish as she reminded herself that the Marshal…General of Saldaea was in Caemlyn taking orders from al'Thor。 What was Tenobia playing at？ Elaida held it all inside； though； presenting a face as calm as one of her carvings。
〃Twenty…four is a dangerous number to speak aloud；〃 Alviarin said with an ominous quiet； 〃as dangerous as two thousand。 The Chronicles record only sixteen。 The last thing needed now is for those years to rear up again。 Or for sisters who know only what they were told to learn the truth。 Even those you brought back hold their silence。〃
Elaida put on a bemused look。 So far as she knew； Alviarin had learned the truth of those years only on being raised Keeper； but her own knowledge was more personal。 Not that Alviarin could be aware of that。 Not for certain； anyway。 〃Daughter； whatever es out； I have no fear。 Who is going to impose a penance on me； and on what charge？〃 That skirted truth nicely； but apparently it impressed the other woman not at all。
〃The Chronicles record a number of Amyrlins who took on public penance for some usually obscure reason； but it has always seemed to me that is how an Amyrlin might have it written if she found herself with no choice except … 〃
Elaida's hand slapped down on the table。 〃Enough； daughter！ I am Tower law！ What has been hidden will remain hidden； for the same reason it has for twenty years … the good of the White Tower。〃 Only then did she feel the bruise beginning on her palm； she lifted her hand to reveal the fish； broken in two。 How old had it been？ Five hundred years？ A thousand？ It was all she could do not to quiver with rage。 Her voice certainly thickened with it。 〃Toveine is to lead fifty sisters and two hundred of the Tower Guards to Caemlyn； to this Black Tower； where they will gentle any man they find able to channel and hang him； along with as many others as they can take alive。〃 Alviarin did not even blink at the violation of Tower law。 Elaida had spoken the truth as she meant it to be； with this； with everything； she was Tower law。 〃For that matter； hang up the dead as well。 Let them be a warning to any man who thinks of touching the True Source。 Have Toveine attend me。 I will want to hear her plan。〃
〃It will be as you mand； Mother。〃 The woman's reply was as cool and smooth as her face。 〃Though if I may suggest； you might wish to reconsider sending so many sisters away from the Tower。 Apparently the rebels found your offer wanting。 They are no longer in Salidar。 They are on the march。 The reports e from