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"Surely you’re not saying that you think we served the Black in raising Elaida," Doesine said

"I think we all are serving the interests of the Shadow," Egwene said sharply, "so long as we allow ourselves to reine the Black reacted to the near-secret deposing of an A the Aes Sedai? I would not be surprised to find, after soation, that this nameless Black sister you discovered was not the only Darkfriend ahtful Aht another round of silence to the rooe the past Enlightening though your arguwene al’Vere, they are ultie what has happened," Egwene said, nodding to her "However, we can look to the future As admirable as I find your work to discover the Black Ajah, I aether to do it In the current Tower, cooperation between the Ajahs is rare I challenge you to take that as yourunity to the White Tower Whatever the cost"

She stood up, and she half-expected a sister to rebuke her, but they al with a "novice" and a rebel "Meidani," Egwene said "You accepther head

"I charge you, then, to continue your ith these wo you back as a spy was a mistake, one I wish I’d been able to stop Now that you are here, however, you can be of use I regret that you must continue your perfore in that regard"

"I will serve as needed, Mother," she said, though she looked sick

Egwene glanced at the others "Loyalty is better earned than forced Do you have the Oath Rod here?"

"No," Yukiri said "It’s difficult to sneak away We can only take it on occasion"

"A pity," Egwene said "I’d have liked to take the oaths Regardless, you will promptly take it and release Meidani from the fourth oath"

"We’ll consider it," Saerin said

Egwene raised an eyebrow "As you wish But know that once the White Tower is whole again, the Hall will learn of this action you have taken I would like to be able to infor unwarranted power If you need me in the next few days, you may send for me--but kindly find a way to deal with the two Red sisters who are watching ain, lest I unwittingly reveal too norant"

She left that state to the door The Warder didn’t stop her, though he did watch with those suspicious eyes of his She wondered whose Warder he was--she didn’t believe any of the sisters inside the rooh she wasn’t certain Perhaps he belonged to one of the other spies sent from Salidar, and had been drafted by Saerin and the others That would explain his disposition

Meidani quickly followed Egwene froument or censure to fly out behind her The Warder simply pulled the door shut

"I can’t believe you succeeded," the Gray said "They should have strung you up by your heels and had you howling!"

"They are too wise for that," Egwene said "They’re the only ones in this blasted Tower--besidesatop their shoulders"

"Silviana?" Meidani asked with surprise "Doesn’t she beat you every day?"

"Several tiwene said absently "She’s very dutiful, not to htful If we had otten to this state in the first place"

Meidani regarded Egwene, an odd expression on her face "You really are the Amyrlin," she finally said It was an odd cowene’s authority?

"Coet back before those Reds grow suspicious"

CHAPTER 13

An Offer and a Departure

Gawyn stood, sword at the ready, facing doo Warders The barn let in slots of light, air sparkling with dust and bits of straw kicked up fro Gawyn backed slowly across the packed dirt floor, passing through patches of light The air arm on his skin Trickles of sweat ran down frorip was firm as the two Warders advanced on hi-arht, his face looked like an unfinished work oneshadows across his eyes, his chin divided by a cleft, his nose crooked fro hair and black sideburns

Hattori had been quite pleased when her Warder had finally arrived at Dorian; she’d lost hilee about Sleete had lain wounded for hours before deliriously rab his horse’s reins and pull himself into the saddle It had loyally carried hi at a nearby village The villagers there had been tempted to sell Sleete to a local band of bandits--their leader had visited earlier proees froued for Sleete’s life, convincing the wounded Warders The villagers had chosen to hide Sleete instead, and the girl had nursed him to safety

Sleete had been forced to sneak away once he ell enough to travel; the girl had apparently taken quite a liking to his said that Sleete s escape had also coirl hirow attached Sleete had left in the night, after the girl and her fae’s mercy, he’d hunted down the bandits and seen to it that they would never plague the village again

It was the ular, lesser men For a Warder, Sleete’s story was alends as ordinary men attracted fleas In fact, Sleete hadn’t wanted to share his tale; it had con of questions fros He still acted as if his survival were nothing to brag about He was a Warder Surviving against the odds, riding in deliriu down an entire band of thieves ounds not fully healed--these were just the sorts of things you did when you were a Warder

Gawyn respected them Even the ones he had killed Especially the ones he had killed It took a unique kind of ilance This kind of humility While Aes Sedai lory, men like Sleete quietly did the work of heroes, each and every day Without glory or recognition If they were remembered, it was usually only by association with their Aes Sedai Or it was by other Warders You didn’t forget your own