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The sitting room was like a museue knife, set with four twinkling rubies, hung beside a small Cairhienin banner and a Shienar sword Each had a se knife, for instance, had been presented to Meidani for her help in settling a dispute between two houses over the death of a particularly iiven her the knife as a token of thanks

Who would have thought that the cowering woman of the dinner a feeeks back would have such a proud collection? The rug itself was labeled, the gift of a trader who had purchased it on the closed docks of Shara, then bestowed it on Meidani in thanks for healing his daughter It was of strange design, woven from what seeray fur tries The pattern depicted exotic creatures with long necks

Meidani herself sat on a curious chairthicket of branches that just happened to take the shape of a chair It would have been horribly out of place in any other room in the Tower, but it fit within these quarters, where each item was different, none of theifts received during travels

The Gray’s appearance was surprisingly different fro the dinner with Elaida Instead of the low-cut colorful dress, she wore a high-necked gown of plain white, long and tapering, cut as if to deeolden hair was up in a bun, and she didn’t wear a single glimmer of jewelry Was the contrast intentional?

"You took your tiwene said

"I didn’t want to appear suspicious before the A "Besides, I’ard you"

"I don’t care how you regardherself on an oversized oak chair, bearing a plaque that identified it as a gift froard of those who follow her, so long as she is obeyed"

"You’ve been captured and overthrown"

Egwene raised an eyebrow, aze "Captured, true"

"The Hall a the rebels will have chosen a new Amyrlin by now"

"I happen to know that they have not"

Meidani hesitated Revealing the existence of contact with the rebel Aes Sedai was a gamble, but if she couldn’t secure the loyalty of Meidani and the spies, then she was on shaky ground indeed Egwene had assuain the wohtened Meidani had been at supper But it seemed that the woman was not as easily cowed as it had appeared

"Well," Meidani said "Even if that is true, you urehead A puppet to be aze

"You have no real authority," Meidani said, voice wavering slightly

Egwene did not look away Meidani studied her, brorinkling slowly, step by step, furrows appearing across her swene’s eyes, like ait in place What she found seewene said, as if she had not just been questioned, "you will tell me precisely why you have not fled the Tower While I do believe that your spying on Elaida is valuable, you er you are in now that Elaida is aware of your true allegiance Why not leave?"

"Icannot say," Meidani said, glancing away

"I’ you as your Amyrlin"

"I still cannot say" Meidani looked down at the floor, as if asha her frustration "It is obvious that you do not understand the gravity of our situation Either you accept my authority, or you accept that of Elaida There is no round, Meidani And I promise you this: If Elaida retains the Amyrlin Seat, you will find her treatment of those she sees as traitors to be quite unpleasant"

Meidani continued to look down Despite her initial resistance, it see

"I see" Egwene rose to her feet "You’ve betrayed us, haven’t you?

Did you go to Elaida’s side before you were exposed or after Beonin’s confession?"

Meidani looked up immediately "What? No! I never betrayed our cause!" She seemed sickened, face pale, mouth a thin line "How could you think that I’d support that horrid woman? I hate what she has done to the Tower"

Well, that was straightforward enough; little roole around the Three Oaths in those statewene had difficulty believing that a Black sister would endanger herself by telling a lie that could be exposed with such relative ease

"Why not run, then?" Egwene asked "Why stay?"

Meidani shook her head "I cannot say"

Egwene took a deep breath So about the entire conversation irritated her "Will you at least tell me why you take dinner with Elaida so often? Surely it’s not because you enjoy such treatment"