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〃As you say； Aes Sedai。〃 He made another slight bow without really turning from Egwene。 Like Siuan； he was tied to her openly now； at least so far as the Hall was concerned。 If only they did not know how tightly。 If only she could be sure how tightly。 〃One thing more； Mother；〃 he went on。 〃Talmanes is there at the lake； too。 There are about a hundred of the Band on the east side。 Not enough to cause trouble even if he wanted to； and small chance he would； I think。〃
Egwene merely nodded。 Not enough to cause trouble？ Talmanes alone might be enough！ She tasted bile。 It … could … not … go … wrong … now！
〃Talmanes！〃 Lelaine exclaimed； serenity shattering。 She must have been as much on edge as Egwene。 〃How did he find out？ If you've included Dragonsworn in your scheming； Lord Bryne； you truly will learn what going too far means！〃
Right on top of her； Romanda growled； 〃This is disgraceful！ You say you've only learned of his presence now？ If that's so； your reputation is puffed up like a boil！〃 Aes Sedai calm was a thin layer for some today； it seemed。
They continued in that vein； but Bryne rode on； only murmuring the occasional 〃As you say； Aes Sedai；〃 when he had to say something。 He had received worse in Egwene's hearing this morning； and reacted no more。 It was Siuan who finally snorted； and then blushed crimson when the Sitters looked at her in surprise。 Egwene almost shook her head。 Siuan was very definitely in love。 And she very definitely needed talking to！ For some reason； Bryne smiled； but that might just have been because he was no longer the object of the Sitters' attention。
Trees gave way to another open space； larger than most； and there was no more time for frivolous thoughts。
Aside from a wide rim of tall brown reeds and cattails poking through the snow； nothing named this a lake。 It could have been a big meadow； flat and very roughly oval in shape。 Some distance from the treeline； on the frozen lake； stood a large blue canopy on tall poles； with a small crowd of people milling about it and dozens of horses held by servants behind。 The breeze ruffled a bright thicket of pennants and banners； and carried muffled shouts that could only have been orders。 More servants darted about hastily。 Apparently； they had not been there long enough to finish their preparations。
Perhaps a mile away the trees began again； and the feeble sunlight glinted off metal there。 Quite a lot of metal； stretching the length of the far shore。 To the east； almost as close as the pavilion； the hundred men of the Band made no effort at concealment； standing beside their mounts just short of where the cattails began。 A few of them pointed when the flag of Tar Valon appeared。 The people at the pavilion stopped to look。
Egwene did not pause before riding out onto the snow…covered ice。 She did imagine herself a rosebud opening to the sun； though； that old novice exercise。 She did not actually embrace saidar； but the calm that came was very wele。
Siuan and Sheriam followed； and the Sitters with their Warders； and the servants。 Lord Bryne and the bannerman were the only two soldiers who went。 Shouts rising behind her told of Uno putting his armored horsemen into position along the shoreline。 The more lightly armored men were arrayed to either side； those not off guarding against treachery。 One reason the lake had been chosen was that the ice was thick enough to hold a fair number of horses； but not hundreds； much less thousands。 That cut down on the chance of chicanery。 Of course； a pavilion beyond bowshot was not beyond the range of the One Power； not if it could be seen。 Except that the worst man in the world knew himself safe from that unless he threatened a sister。 Egwene exhaled sharply； and began acquiring calm all over again。
A proper greeting for the Amyrlin Seat should have had servants rushing forward with warm drinks and cloths wrapped around hot bricks； and the lords and ladies themselves to take reins and offer a kiss in token of Abram。 Any visitor of rank at all would have had the servants； but no one stirred from the pavilion。 Bryne himself dismounted and came to hold Daishar's bridle； and the same lanky young man who had e with fresh charcoal the day before ran to hold Egwene's stirrup。 His nose still dripped； but in a red velvet coat only a little too large for him and a bright blue cloak； he outshone any of the nobles who stood staring from under the canopy。 They appeared to be in stout woolens for the most part； with not much embroidery and very little silk or lace。 Likely they had had to scramble to find suitable clothes once the snows began； and them already on the march。 Though the simple truth was that the young man might have outshone a Tinker。
Carpets had been laid to floor the pavilion； and braziers lit； though the breeze carried away heat and smoke alike。 Chairs stood in two facing lines for the delegations； eight in each。 They had not expected so many sisters。 Some of the waiting nobles exchanged looks of consternation； and a number of their servants actually wrung their hands； wondering what to do。 They need not have。
The chairs were a mismatched miscellany； but they were all alike in size； and none was noticeably more worn or battered than another。 None had noticeably more or less gilded carving。 The lanky young man and a number of others trotted in and under the frowns of the nobles； without so much as a by…your…leave； carried those meant for Aes Sedai out into the snow； then rushed to help with unloading the packhorses。 Still； no one spoke a word。
Quickly； seats were set up sufficient for the entire Hall； and Egwene。 Only simple benches； though polished till they gleamed； but each stood on a wide box covered with cloth in the color of the Sitter's Ajah； in a long row as wide as the canopy。 The box placed in front； for Egwene's bench； was striped like her stole。 There had been a great flurry of activity in the night； beginning with finding beeswax for polish and good cloth of the right colors。
When Egwene and the Sitters took their places； they sat a foot higher than anyone else。 She had had her doubts about that； but the lack of any word of wele had settled those。 The meanest farmer would have offered a cup and a kiss to a vagabond on the Feast of Abram。 They were not supplicants； and they were not equals。 They were Aes Sedai。
Warders stood behind their Aes Sedai； and Siuan and Sheriam flanked Egwene。 The sisters ostentatiously flung back cloaks and tucked gloves away to emphasize that the cold did not touch them； a sharp contrast to the nobles clutching their own cloaks close。 Outside； the Flame of Tar Valon lifted in the stiffening breeze。 Only Halima； lounging beside Delana's chair on the edge of the gray…covered box； at all spoiled the grand image； and her big green eyes stared at the Andorans and Murandians so challengingly that she did not spoil it much。
There were a few stares when Egwene took the seat in front； but only a few。 No one really looked surprised。 I suppose they've heard all about the girl Amyrlin； she thought dryly。 Well； there had been queens younger； including queens of Andor and Murandy。 Calmly； she nodded； and Sheriam gestured to the line of chairs。 No matter who had arrived first or provided the pavilion； there was no doubt who had called this meeting。 Who was in charge。
Her action was not well received； of course。 There was a moment of silent hesitation while the nobles cast their minds about for some way to regain an equal footing； and no few grimaces as they realized it could not be done。 Grim…faced； eight of them sat down； four men and four women； with much angry gathering of cloaks and adjusting of skirts。 Those of lesser rank stood behind the chairs； and clearly there was little love lost between Andoran and Murandian。 For that matter； the Murandians； men and women alike； muttered and jostled one another for precedence as fiercely as they did their 〃allies〃 from the north。 The Aes Sedai received a good many dark looks as well； and a few folk spared scowls for Bryne； who stood off to one side with his helmet under his arm。 He was well known on both sides of the border； and respected even by most of those who would have liked to see him dead。 At least； that had been the case before he turned up leading the Aes Sedai's army。 He ignored their acid glares as he had the Sitters' acid tongues。
Another man did not join with either party。 A pale man； less than a hand taller than Egwene； in a dark coat and breastplate； he wore the front of his head shaved； and there was a long red scarf tied around his left arm。 His deep gray cloak had a large red hand worked on the breast。 Talmanes stood opposite Bryne； leaning against one of the pavilion's poles with an arrogant casualness； and watched without revealing a hint of his thoughts。 Egwene wished she knew what he was doing there。 She wished she knew what he had said before she arrived。 In any case； she had to speak with him。 If it could be managed without a hundred ears listening。
A lean； weathered man in a red cloak； sitting in the middle of the row of chairs； leaned forward and opened his mouth； but Sheriam fore