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Seanchan's。 What it was to be Aes Sedai。
〃There's no need to keep Gareth Bryne at arm's length；〃 Siuan said suddenly。 〃The man's a walking tribulation； it's true。 If he doesn't count as penance for my lies； being flayed alive wouldn't do。 One of these days； I'll box his ears every morning and twice at evenings； on general principle； but you can tell him everything。 It would help； if he understood。 He's taking you on trust； and it ties his stomach in knots； wondering whether you know what you're doing。 He doesn't let on； but I see。〃
Suddenly； pieces clicked in Egwene's mind like a blacksmith's puzzle ing undone。 Shocking pieces。 Siuan was in love with the man！ Nothing else made sense。 Everything she knew between them altered。 Not necessarily for the better。 A woman in love often put her brains on the shelf when she was around the man in question。 As she herself was all too well aware。 Where was Gawyn？ Was he well？ Was he warm？ Enough of that。 Too much； in light of what she had to say。 She put on her best Amyrlin's voice； sure and in mand。 〃You can box Lord Bryne's ears or bed him； Siuan； but you will watch yourself with him。 You will not let slip things he mustn't know yet。 Do you understand me？〃
Siuan jerked stiffly erect。 〃I'm not in the habit of letting my tongue flap like a torn sail； Mother；〃 she said heatedly。
〃I'm very glad to hear it； Siuan。〃 Despite their looking only a few years apart； Siuan was old enough to be her mother yet at that moment Egwene felt as though their ages had been reversed。 This might be the first time that Siuan had ever had to manage with a man not as Aes Sedai； but as a woman。 A few years of thinking I loved Rand； Egwene thought wryly； a few months of dangling by my toes for Gawyn； and I know all there is to know。
〃I think we're done here；〃 she went on； slipping an arm through Siuan's。 〃Almost。 e。〃
The walls of the tent had seemed little protection； yet stepping outside brought a renewed assault by winter's teeth。 The moonlight was almost bright enough to read by； reflected off the snow； but that glow seemed cold。 Bryne had vanished as if he had never been。 Leane appeared long enough to say she had seen no one； her slimness swallowed in layers of wool； then hurried off into the night looking about her。 No one knew of any connection between Leane and Egwene； and everyone thought Leane and Siuan were practically at daggers' points。
Gathering her cloak as best she could one…handed； Egwene focused on ignoring the icy chill as she and Siuan walked in the opposite direction from Leane。 Ignoring the chill； and keeping an eye out for anyone who happened to be out。 Not that anyone who was outside now was likely to be there by happenstance。
〃Lord Bryne was right；〃 she told Siuan； 〃about it being better if Pelivar and Arathelle believed those stories。 Or at least if they were uncertain。 Too uncertain to fight； or do anything except talk。 Do you think they would wele a visit from Aes Sedai？ Siuan； are you listening to me？〃
Siuan gave a start； and stopped staring into the distance ahead of them。 She had been walking ahead without missing a step； but now she slipped and nearly sat down in the frozen path； barely regaining her balance in time to keep from pulling Egwene down。 〃Yes； Mother。 Of course I'm listening。 They might not be exactly weling； but I doubt they'll turn sisters away。〃
〃Then I want you to wake Beonin； Anaiya； and Myrelle。 They are to ride north inside the hour。 If Lord Bryne expects a reply as soon as tomorrow evening； time is short。〃 A pity she had not found out exactly where this other army was located； but asking Bryne might have roused suspicion。 Finding it should not be too hard for Warders； and those three sisters had five between them。
Siuan listened in silence to her instructions。 Not only those three were to be rooted out of their sleep。 e dawn； Sheriam and Carlinya； Morvrin and Nisao would all know what to say over breakfast。 Seeds had to be planted； seeds that could not have been placed earlier for fear of them sprouting too soon； but now they had all too little time to grow。
〃It will be a pleasure to haul them out of their blankets；〃 Siuan said when she was done。 〃If I have to tramp around in this。。。 〃 Releasing Egwene's arm； she started to turn away； then stopped； her face serious； even grim。 〃I know you want to be a second Gerra Kishar … or maybe Sereille Bagand。 You have it in you to match either。 But be careful you don't turn out to be another Shein Chunla。 Good night； Mother。 Sleep well。〃
Egwene stood watching her go； a cloak…shrouded figure sometimes skidding on the path and muttering angrily almost loud enough to make out。 Gerra and Sereille were remembered as among the greatest Amyrlins。 Both had raised the influence and prestige of the White Tower to levels seldom equaled since before Artur Hawkwing。 Both controlled the Tower itself； too； Gerra by skillfully playing one faction in the Hall against another； Sereille by the sheer force of her will。 Shein Chunla was another matter； one who had squandered the power of the Amyrlin Seat； alienating most of the sisters in the Tower。 The world believed that Shein had died in office； close on four hundred years ago； but the deeply hidden truth was that she had been deposed and sent into exile for life。 Even the secret histories treaded lightly in certain areas； yet it was fairly obvious that； after the fourth plot to restore her to the Amyrlin Seat was uncovered； the sisters guarding Shein had smothered her in her sleep with a pillow。 Egwene shivered； and told herself it was the cold。
Turning； she began making her slow way back to her tent alone。 Sleep well？ The fat moon hung low in the sky； and there were hours yet till sunrise； but she was not sure she was going to be able to sleep at all。
Chapter 16
（Flame of Tar Valon）
Unexpected Absences
Before the sun made a rim on the horizon the next morning； Egwene convened the Hall of the Tower。 In Tar Valon； that would have been acpanied by considerable ceremony； and even since leaving Salidar they had held to some despite the difficulties of travel。 Now； Sheriam simply went from Sitter's tent to Sitter's tent while it was still dark to announce that the Amyrlin Seat had called the Hall to Sit。 In fact； they did not sit at all。 In the grayness just before true sunrise； eighteen women stood in a semicircle on the snow to hear Egwene； all bundled against the cold that misted their breath。
Other sisters began appearing behind them to listen； only a few at the start； but when no one told them to leave； the group thickened and spread out to a soft buzz of talk。 A very muted buzz。 Few sisters would risk bothering a lone Sitter； much less the entire Hall。 The Accepted in banded dresses and cloaks who had appeared behind the Aes Sedai were quieter； of course； and even quieter the gathering novices who had no chores； though there were a good many more of them。 The camp now held half again as many novices as sisters； so many that few possessed a proper white cloak and most made do with a simple white skirt instead of a novice dress。 Some sisters still believed they should go back to the old ways and let girls seek them out； but most regretted the lost years； when Aes Sedai numbers dwindled。 Egwene herself almost shivered whenever she thought of what the Tower could have been。 This was one change not even Siuan could object to。
In the midst of all the gathering； Carlinya came around the corner of a tent and stopped short at the sight of Egwene and the Sitters。 Normally posure to her toenails； the White sister gaped； and her pale face reddened before she hurried away； looking back over her shoulder。 Egwene stifled a grimace。 Everyone was too concerned with what she herself was about this morning to have noticed； but sooner or later； someone was going to； and wonder。
Flinging back her delicately embroidered cloak to reveal the narrow blue stole of the Keeper； Sheriam made Egwene as much of a formal curtsy as her bulky garments allowed before taking a place at her side。 Wrapped in layers of fine wool and silk； the flame…haired woman was the very picture of equanimity。 At Egwene's nod； she took one step forward to intone the ancient formula in a clear； high voice。
〃She es； she es！ The Watcher of the Seals； the Flame of Tar Valon； the Amyrlin Seat。 Attend you all； for she es！〃 It seemed a little out of place here； and besides； she was already there； not ing。 The Sitters stood in silence； waiting。 A few frowned impatiently； or fiddled restlessly with cloaks or skirts。
Egwene pushed back her own cloak； uncovering the seven…striped stole draped around her neck。 These women needed any reminder she could give that she was indeed the Amyrlin Seat。 〃Everyone is weary from travel in this weather；〃 she announced； not quite so loudly as Sheriam； but loud enough that everyone could hear。 She felt a tingle of anticipation； an almost lightheaded thrill。 It was not much different from being queasy。 〃I have decided to stop here for two days； perhaps three。〃 That brought heads up and sparked interest。 She hoped Siuan was in the listening cr