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"Fish guts," Siuan grulared at the girl, ilted and scurried away, her fa Siuan turned back to Sheriam "So what is it? Did one of the stable boys turn out to be the King of Tear?"

Sheria"

"What?" Siuan asked, glancing into the tent The seats were filled with Aes Sedai, and lanky Ash the been Sealed to the Flame?

Sheriam nodded "We found out when Ashmanaille was sent to collect from Kandor" Tributes were one of the wene’s Aes Sedai For dom had sent such donations to Tar Valon The White Tower no longer relied on that inco itself, ones that didn’t rely on outside generosity Still, tributes were never turned away, and doms still held to the old ways

Before the White Tower broke, one of Ashmanaille’s duties had been to keep track of these donations and send monthly thanks on behalf of the Amyrlin The split of the White Tower, and the discovery of Traveling, had ation and collect tributes in person The Kandori chief clerk hadn’t cared which of the two White Tower sides he supported, so long as the tribute was sent, and had been happy to deliver the e of Tar Valon had ht have gone to Elaida, instead using them to pay Bryne’s soldiers A very neat twist of fate But no sea remained calm forever

"The chief clerk was quite livid," Ashmanaille said in her no-nonsense voice " ’I already paid your ave it to a woone The woman bore a letter froive the money only to a member of the Red Ajah’ "

"This doesn’t say for certain Elaida has Traveling," Rootten to Kandor by other atewayerror and sent a scribe out after Elaida’s delegation to give them a few extra coins Thethrough a black hole in the air It stunned hiuard--but by then Elaida’s people were already gone I interrogated him myself"

"I dislike trusting the word of one roup

"The chief clerk described in detail the woman who took the money from him," Ashmanaille said "I am confident that it was Nesita Perhaps we could discover if she is in the Tower? That would give us further proof"

Others raised objections, but Siuan ceased to listen closely Perhaps this was a very clever ruse intended to distract theht! Was she the only one with a head on her shoulders?

She grabbed the nearest novice, a irl as probably older than she looked--she’d have to be, since she looked no older than nine "I need a courier," Siuan inforers Lord Bryne left at the cairl yelped, dashing away

"What was that about?" Sheria at the crowding novices "All right!" she growled "Enough gawking! If your classes are postponed because of this fiasco, then find so on this ay in ten seconds will find herself doing penance until she can’t count straight!"

That initiated aaith hurried steps Inwith Sherialanced at the an Accepted was increased freedo so Sealed to the Flame in the first place?" she asked Sheria into the large tent "It’s daunting news, if it’s true"

"This was bound to occur eventually," Siuan said, though she was nowhere near that cal"

What happened? she thought They didn’t break Egwene, did they? Light send it wasn’t her or Leane as forced to give up this secret Beonin It had to be her Burn it all!

She shook her head "Light send that we can keep Traveling secret from the Seanchan When they do assault the White Toe’ll want at least that advantage"

Sheria Most of the sisters didn’t believe Egwene’s Drea of the attack Fools--they wanted to catch the fish, but didn’t want to gut it You didn’t raise a wohtly

Siuan waited i to the conversation inside the tent Just as she was beginning to wonder if she’d need to send another novice, one of Bryne’s couriers trotted up to the tent on horseback The ill-teht black hite just above the hooves, and it snorted at Siuan as the rider pulled up short, wearing a neat unifor that creature with hi to her froe for Lord Bryne?"

"Yes," Siuan said "And you’ll see it delivered with all haste You understand me? All of our lives could depend on it"

The soldier nodded sharply

"Tell Lord Bryne" Siuan began "Tell hiht the et here"

"It shall be done"

"Repeat it back to me," Siuan said

"Of course, Aes Sedai," the slender ain "Just so you know, I have been a eneral s command for over a decade My memory--"

"Stop," Siuan interrupted "I don’t care how long you’ve been doing this I don’t care how good your memory is I don’t care if, by some twist of fate, you’ve been asked to run this very sae a thousand times before You will repeat it back to me"

"Um, yes, Aes Sedai I’m to tell the Lord General to watch his flanks Our eneet here"