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A skinny young fellow with a dripping nose renewed the already dead coals in the braziers … the Amyrlin got more warmth than most； but that was not a great deal … and he stumbled over his own boots and gaped at Egwene in a manner quite gratifying after the two Sitters。 Sheriam appeared to ask whether Egwene had any further instructions； of all things； and then seemed to want to stay。 Perhaps the few secrets she knew made her nervous； her eyes certainly darted uneasily。
That was the lot； and Egwene was not sure whether it was because no one bothered the Amyrlin without cause； or because everyone knew the real decisions were made in the Hall。
〃I don't know about this report of soldiers moving south out of Kandor；〃 Siuan said as soon as the tentflap fell behind Sheriam。 〃There's just the one； and Borderlanders seldom go far from the Blight； but every fool knows that； so it's hardly the kind of tale anyone would make up。〃 She was not reading from a page； now。
Siuan had managed to keep very tenuous control of the Amyrlin's network of eyes…and…ears so far； and reports； rumors； and gossip flowed to her in steady streams； to be studied before she and Egwene decided what to pass on to the Hall。 Leane had her own network； to add to the flow。 Most of it was passed on … some things the Hall had to know； and there was no guarantee that the Ajahs would pass on what their own agents learned … but it all had to be sieved for what might be dangerous； or serve to divert attention from the real goal。
Few of those streams carried anything good； of late。 Cairhien had produced any number of rumors of Aes Sedai allied with Rand； or； worse； serving him； yet at least those could be dismissed out of hand。 The Wise Ones would not say much at all about Rand or anyone connected to him； but according to them； Merana was awaiting his return； and certainly sisters in the Sun Palace； where the Dragon Reborn kept his first throne； were more than seed enough to grow those tales。 Others were not easily ignored； even when it was hard to know what to make of them。 A printer in Illian asserted that he had proof Rand had killed Mattin Stepaneos with his own hands and destroyed the body with the One Power； while a laborer on the docks there claimed she had seen the former King carried； bound and gagged and rolled in a rug； aboard a ship that had sailed in the night with the blessings of the captain of the Port Watch。 The first was far more likely； but Egwene hoped none of the Ajahs' agents had picked up the same tale。 There were already too many black marks against Rand's name in the sisters' books。
It went on like that。 The Seanchan seemed to be taking a firm hold in Ebou Dar； against very little resistance。 That might have been expected in a land where the Queen's true rule ended a few days' ride from her capital； yet it was hardly heartening。 The Shaido seemed to be everywhere； though word of them always came from someone who had heard from someone who had heard。 Most sisters seemed to believe the scattered Shaido were Rand's work despite the Wise Ones' denials； carried by Sheriam。 No one wanted to probe the Wise Ones' supposed lies too closely； of course。 There were a hundred excuses； but no one was willing to meet them in Tel'aran'rhiod except the sisters sworn to Egwene； and they had to be ordered。 Anaiya dryly called the encounters 〃quite pact lessons in humility；〃 and she did not seem at all amused。
〃There can't be that many Shaido；〃 Egwene muttered。 No herbs had been added to the second batch of charcoal； which was dying down in faint embers； and her eyes ached from the smoke that hung thin in the air。 Channeling to get rid of it would disperse the last warmth； too。 〃Some of this must be bandits' work。〃 After all； who could tell a village emptied by people fleeing brigands from one emptied by Shaido？ Especially at third hand； or fifth。 〃There are certainly enough bandits around to account for some of it。〃 Most calling themselves Dragonsworn； which was no help at all。 She worked her shoulders to loosen a few of the knots in her muscles。
Abruptly she realized that Siuan was staring at nothing so intently that she appeared ready to slip off of her stool。 〃Siuan； are you falling asleep？ We may have worked most of the day； but it's still light out。〃 There was light at the smoke hole； though it did appear to be fading。
Siuan blinked。 〃I'm sorry。 I've been thinking about something lately； and trying to decide whether to share it with you。 About the Hall。〃
〃The Hall！ Siuan； if you know something about the Hall …！〃
〃I don't know anything；〃 Siuan cut in。 〃It's what I suspect。〃 She clicked her tongue in annoyance。 〃Not even suspect； really。 At least； I don't know what to suspect。 But I see a pattern。〃
〃Then you had best tell me about it；〃 Egwene said。 Siuan had shown herself very skilled at detecting patterns where others saw only a jumble。
Shifting on her stool； Siuan leaned forward intently。 〃It's this。 Aside from Romanda and Moria； the Sitters chosen in Salidar are。。。 they're too young。〃 Much had changed in Siuan； but speaking of other sisters' ages clearly made her unfortable。 〃Escaralde is the oldest； and I'm sure she isn't much past seventy。 I can't be certain without going into the novice books in Tar Valon； or her telling us； but I'm as sure as I can be。 It isn't often the Hall has held more than one Sitter under a hundred； and here we have nine！〃
〃But Romanda and Moria are new；〃 Egwene said gently； resting her elbows on the table。 It had been a long day。 〃And neither is young。 Maybe we should be grateful the others are； or they might not have been willing to raise me。〃 She could have pointed out that Siuan herself had been chosen Amyrlin at less than half Escaralde's age； but the reminder would have been cruel。
〃Maybe；〃 Siuan said stubbornly。 〃Romanda was certain for the Hall as soon as she showed up。 I doubt there's a Yellow would dare speak against her for a chair。 And Moria。。。 She doesn't cling to Lelaine； but Lelaine and Lyrelle probably thought she would。 I don't know。 Mark me； though。 When a woman is raised too young； there's a reason。〃 She took a deep breath。 〃Including when I was。〃 The pain of loss flashed across her face； the loss of the Amyrlin Seat certainly； maybe of all the losses she had suffered。 It was gone almost as soon as it came。 Egwene did not think she had ever known a woman as strong as Siuan Sanche。 〃This time； there were more than enough sisters of proper age to choose from； and I can't see five Ajahs deadlocking on all of them。 There is a pattern； and I mean to pick it out。〃
Egwene did not agree。 Change hung in the air whether Siuan wanted to see it or not。 Elaida had broken custom； e very close to breaking law； in usurping Siuan's place。 Sisters had fled the Tower and let the world know of it； and that last certainly had never happened before。 Change。 Older sisters were more likely to be tied to the old ways； but even some of them had to see that everything was shifting。 Surely that was why younger women； more open to the new； had been chosen。 Should she order Siuan to stop wasting her time with this？ Siuan had enough else to do。 Or would it be a kindness to let her continue？ She wanted so deeply to prove that the change she saw was not really occurring at all。
Before Egwene could make a decision； Romanda ducked into the tent and stood holding the tentflap open。 Long shadows stretched across the snow outside。 Evening was ing fast。 Romanda's face was as dark as those shadows。 She fixed Siuan with a stern gaze and snapped one word。 〃Out！〃
Egwene gave an infinitesimal nod； but Siuan was already on her feet。 She missed a step； then all but ran from the tent。 A sister who stood where Siuan did was expected to obey any sister of Romanda's strength in the Power； not just a Sitter。
Throwing down the tentflap； Romanda embraced the Source。 The glow of saidar surrounded her； and she wove a ward against eavesdropping around the inside of the tent without so much as a pretense of asking Egwene's permission。 〃You are a fool！〃 she grated。 〃How long did you think you could keep this a secret？ Soldiers talk； child。 Men always talk！ Bryne will be lucky if the Hall doesn't put his head on a pike。〃
Egwene stood slowly； smoothing her skirt。 She had been waiting for this； but she still needed to be careful。 The game was far from played out； and everything could still turn against her in a flash。 She had to pretend innocence； until she could afford to stop pretending。 〃Must I remind you that rudeness to the Amyrlin Seat is a crime； daughter；〃 she said instead。 She had been pretending so long； and she was so close。
〃The Amyrlin Seat。〃 Romanda strode across the carpets to within arm's reach of Egwene； and by her glare； the thought of reaching more crossed her mind。 〃You're an infant！ Your bottom still remembers the last switching it had as a novice！ After this； you'll be lucky if the Hall doesn't put you in a corner with a few play pretties。 If you want to avoid that； you will listen to me； and do as I tell you。 Now； sit down！〃
Egwene seethed inside； but she sat。 It was too soon。
With a sha