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Across the roowene, al "I’ was important," it see a red dress with full sleeves, uncut garnets tri a satisfied sing food Why had Elaida called a dinner of Sitters? Was this an atteed her?

"Ah, good," Elaida said, noticing Egwene "You’ve finally arrived Coh the roo notice of her Some seemed confused, others wene realized so could easily undo all that she’d worked for

If the Aes Sedai here saw her subserviently waiting on Elaida, Egould lose integrity in their eyes Elaida had declared that Egas cowed--but Egwene had proven otherwise If she bent to Elaida’s will here, even a little, it would be seen as proof

Light burn the wowene had been working to influence? Was it siwene joined the false Amyrlin at the head of the table, and a servant handed her a crystal pitcher of glistening red wine "You are to keep my cup full," Elaida said "Wait there, but don’t come too close I’d rather not have to smell the soot on you frowene clenched her jaw S? Doubtful From the side, she could see the satisfaction in Elaida’s eyes as she sipped her wine Then Elaida turned to Shevan, who sat in the chair to Elaida’s right The Broas a lanky woular face, like a person htful as she studied her hostess

"Tell me, Shevan," Elaida said "Do you still insist on those foolish talks with the rebels?"

Shevan responded "The sisters iven a chance to reconcile"

"They’ve had their chance," Elaida said "Honestly, I expected edly, without a whit of understanding how the real world works Why, even Meidani agrees with me, and she’s a Gray! You kno they are"

Shevan turned away, see more disturbed than before Why did Elaida invite theatched, the Red turned her attention to Ferane, and complained to her about Rubinde, a Sitter from the Green who also resisted Elaida’s efforts to end the talks As she spoke, she raised her cup to Egwene, tapping it Elaida had barely taken a few sips

Egwene ground her teeth, filling the cup The others had seen her do labor before--why, she’d cracked walnuts for Ferane This wouldn’t ruin her reputation, not unless Elaida forced her to abase herself somehow

But as the point of this dinner? Elaida didn’t seeether If anything, she was prying those rifts wider, the way she was disreed with her Occasionally, she would have Egwene refill her cup, but it never had rooan to understand This dinner wasn’t about working with the Ajahs It was about bullying the Sitters into doing as Elaida felt they should And Egas si to the others how much power Elaida had--she could take someone that others had named Amyrlin, put a novice dress on her and send her to penance every day

Egwene felt herself grow angry again Why could Elaida always stir her emotions? Soup boere reht, a hint of cinnaiven dinner, but she felt too sick to care about eating

No, she thought, steeling herself / will not end this early, like last tier than hercomments to the others, sometimes with intent, sometimes with apparent unawareness The others steered the talk away froely overcast skies Eventually, Shevanwith Aiel far to the south

"The Seanchan again?" Elaida said with a sigh "You needn’t worry about them"

"My sources say otherwise, Mother," Shevan said stiffly "I think we need to pay close attention to what they are doing I have had some sisters ask this child about her experience with thes they do to Aes Sedai"

Elaida laughed a tinkling, gerate!" She glanced at Egwene "Have you been spreading lies for your friend, the fool al’Thor? What did he tell you to say about these invaders? They are working for hiwene didn’t respond

"Speak," Elaida said, gesturing with her cup "Tell these wo lies Confess or I’ll have you in penance again, girl"

The penance she would take for not speaking would be better than suffering Elaida’s rage at contradicting her Silence was the path to victory

And yet, as Egwene glanced down the long ht white Sea Folk porcelain and flickering red candles, she saw five pairs of eyes studying her She could see their questions Egwene had spoken boldly to them when alone, but would she hold to her assertions now, faced by the wene’s life in her hands?

Was Egwene the Aht hu that she had been wrong Silence wouldn’t lead to victory, not in front of these wo to like how this proceeds

"The Seanchan are not working for Rand," Egwene said "And they are a severe danger to the White Tower I have spread no lies To say otherould be to betray the Three Oaths"

"You haven’t taken the Three Oaths," Elaida said sternly, turning toward her

"I have," Egwene said "I’ve held no Oath Rod, but it isn’t the Rod that makes my words true I have spoken the words of the oaths inforcing ain I am a Dreamer, and I have Dreamed that the Seanchan will attack the White Tower"

Elaida’s eyes flared for a ripped her fork until her knuckles whitened Egwene held her eyes, and finally Elaida laughed again "Ah, stubborn as ever, I see I shall have to tell Katerine that she was right You’ll have penance for your exaggerations, child"

"These wowene said calmly "And each time you insist that I do, you lower yourself in their eyes Even if you disbelieve my Dream, you must admit that the Seanchan are a threat They leash wo thereal I have felt the collar on htmares"

The room fell still

"You are a foolish child," Elaida said, obviously trying to pretend that Egas no threat She should have turned to look at the eyes of the others If she had, she’d have seen the truth "Well, you have forced iveness Right now Otherwise, I will lock you away alone Is that what you want? Don’t think that the beatings will stop, however You’ll still get your daily penance, you’ll just be thrown back into your cell after each one Now, kneel and beg forgiveness"

The Sitters glanced at one another There was no backing doene wished it hadn’t coht