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As she stalked away from them through the gloom； toward the doors of the stable； an unpleasant thought suddenly occurred to her。 She was alone with these women。 How far could she trust them； now？ Desaine's death remained all too vivid in her mind； the Wise One had been。。。 butchered。。。 using the One Power。 By the women behind her； among others。 The thought twisted her belly tight。 She listened for the faint rustle of straw that would announce feet following her and heard nothing。 Were they just standing there watching？ She refused to look over her shoulder。 Keeping the same slow pace required only a little effort … she would not display fear and shame herself！ … yet when she pushed one of the tall doors open on its well…oiled hinges and stepped into bright midday light； she could not stop from drawing a relieved breath。
Efalin was pacing outside； shoufa draped around her neck； bow cased on her back； spears and buckler in hand。 The gray…haired woman turned abruptly； the worry on her face fading only a little at sight of Sevanna。 The leader of all the Shaido Maidens； and she let her distress show！ She was not Jumai； but she had e with Sevanna using the excuse that Sevanna spoke as the chief until a new chief of the Shaido could be chosen。 Sevanna was sure that Efalin suspected that would never happen。 Efalin knew where the power lay。 And when to keep her mouth closed。
〃Bury him deeply and hide the grave；〃 Sevanna told her。
Efalin nodded； signaling the Maidens ringing the stable to their feet； and they vanished inside behind her。 Sevanna studied the building； with its sharp…peaked red roof and blue walls； then turned to the field in front of it。 A low stone fence with a single opening； right before the stable； enclosed a circle of hard…packed dirt perhaps a hundred paces across。 The wetlanders had used it for training horses。 Why it had been placed so far from everything else； surrounded by trees so tall that Sevanna still sometimes stared at them； she had not thought to ask the former owners； but the isolation served her purposes。 The Maidens with Efalin were those who had captured the Seanchan。 No one not here knew he existed。 Or would know。 Were the other Wise Ones talking in there？ About her？ In front of the Maidens？ What were they saying？ She would not wait on them or anyone！
They came out of the stable just as she started off toward the forest； Someryn and the others； and followed her into the trees arguing among themselves about the Seanchan； and Caddar； and where the rest of the Shaido had been sent。 Not about her； but then； they would not where she could listen。 What she did hear made her grimace。 There were over three hundred Wise Ones with the Jumai； and it was the same whenever three or four started talking。 Where were the rest of the septs； and had Caddar been a spear hurled by Rand al'Thor； and how many Seanchan were there； and even did they really ride lizards？ Lizards！ These women had been with her from the first。 She had guided their feet step by step； but they believed they had helped plan every move； believed they knew the destination。 If she was losing them now。。。
The forest gave way to a huge clearing that could have swallowed the circle back at the stable fifty times over； and Sevanna felt ill temper slipping away as she stopped to look。 Low hills rose to the north； and mountains a few leagues beyond them were capped with clouds； great masses of white streaked with dark gray。 She had never seen so many clouds in her life。 Closer at hand； thousands of Jumai went about the day's work。 The ring of hammer on anvil rose from blacksmiths； and sheep and goats were being slaughtered for the evening meal； their bleating mixed with the laughter of the children as they ran at play。 Given more time to prepare for their flight from Kinslayer's Dagger than the other septs； the Jumai had brought the flocks gathered in Cairhien； and added to them here。
Many people had set up their tents； but there was no need。 Colorful structures nearly filled the clearing like a large wetlander village； tall barns and stables； a large forge and the squat roofs that had sheltered servants； all painted red and blue； surrounding the great roof itself。 The manor house that was called； three floors high beneath a dark green tile roof； all of it a paler green trimmed with yellow； atop a broad man…made stone hill ten paces tall。 Jumai and gai'shain climbed the long ramp that led to the great building's door and walked the ornately carved balconies that ringed it。
The stone walls and palaces she had seen in Cairhien had not impressed her half so much。 This one was painted like a wagon of the Lost Ones； but even so； marvelous。 She should have realized that with so many trees； these people could afford to build anything of wood。 Could no one but she see how fat this land was？ More white…clad gai'shain scurried about their tasks than any twenty septs had ever had before； nearly half as many as there were Jumai！ No one plained about making wetlanders gai'shain anymore。 They were so docile！ A wide…eyed young man in rough…sewn white hurried past clutching a basket； gaping at the people around him and stumbling over the hem of his robe。 Sevanna smiled。 That one's father had called himself the lord of this place and blustered that she and her people would be hunted down … by children； of all things！ … for this outrage； yet now he wore white and worked as hard as his son； as did his wife and his daughters and his other sons。 The women had possessed many fine gems and beautiful silks； and Sevanna had only taken the first pick for herself。 A fat land； so soft it oozed rich oils。
The women behind her had stopped short to talk among themselves at the edge of the trees。 She caught what they were saying； and it turned her mood again。
〃。。。 how many Aes Sedai fight for these Seanchan；〃 Tion was saying。 〃We must learn that。〃 Someryn and Modarra murmured agreement。
〃I do not think it matters；〃 Rhiale put in。 At least her contrariness extended to the others； too。 〃I do not think they will fight unless we attack them。 Remember； they did nothing until we moved against them； not even to defend themselves。〃
〃And when they did；〃 Meira said sourly； 〃twenty…three of us died。 And more than ten thousand algai'd'siswai did not return either。 Here； we have little more than a third of that number even counting the Brotherless。〃 She soaked the last word in scorn。
〃That was Rand al'Thor's work！〃 Sevanna told them sharply。 〃Instead of thinking what he did against us； think what we can do when he is ours！〃 When he is mine； she thought。 The Aes Sedai had been able to take and hold him as long as they had； and she had something the Aes Sedai had not； else they would have used it。 〃Remember instead that we had the Aes Sedai beaten until he took their side。 Aes Sedai are nothing！〃
Once again her effort to strengthen their hearts produced no visible effect。 All they could remember was that the spears had been broken trying to capture Rand al'Thor； and they with them。 Modarra might have been staring into the grave of all her sept； and even Tion frowned uneasily； doubtless recalling that she； too； had run like a frightened goat。
〃Wise Ones；〃 a man's voice said behind Sevanna； 〃I have been sent to ask for your judgment。〃
Instantly every woman's face regained its equanimity。 What she could not do； he had done with his very presence。 No Wise One would allow any but another Wise One to see her out of countenance。 Alarys stopped stroking her hair； which she had pulled over her shoulder。 Plainly none of them recognized him。 Sevanna thought she did。
He regarded them gravely； with green eyes much older than his smooth face。 He had full lips； but there was a set to his mouth； as if he had forgotten how to smile。 〃I am Kinhuin； of the Mera'din； Wise Ones。 The Jumai say we may not take our full share from this place because we are not Jumai； but it is because they will have less since we are two for every Jumai algai'd'siswai。 The Brotherless ask your judgment； Wise Ones。〃
Now that they knew who he was； some could not hide their dislike of the men who had abandoned clan and sept to e to the Shaido rather than follow Rand al'Thor； a wetlander and no true Car'a'carn； as they thought。 Tion's face merely went flat； but Rhiale's eyes flashed； and Meira teetered on the edge of a scowl。 Only Modarra showed concern； but then； she would have tried to settle a dispute between treekillers。
〃These six Wise Ones will give judgment after hearing both sides；〃 Sevanna told Kinhuin with a graveness to match his。
The other women looked at her； barely concealing their surprise that she intended to stand aside。 It had been she who arranged for ten times the number of Mera'din to acpany the Jumai as went with any other sept。 She really had suspected Caddar； if not of what he had done； and she had wanted as many spears around her as possible。 Besides； they could always die in place of Jumai。
She affected surprise at the others' surprise。 〃It would not be fair for me to take part since my own sept is involved；〃 she told them before turning back to the green…eyed man。 〃The