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Within an to pass more andbusy--yet their steps slowed as they watched Egwene pass Accepted in their banded dresses were far less covert; they stood at intersections, gawking as Egas led past In all of their eyes there was surprise Why was she free? They seeasn’t aware of?

"Ah, Egwene," a voice said as they passed a hallway "Excellent, you are already free I would speak with you"

Egwene turned with shock to see Saerin, the purposeful Brown Sitter

The scar on the wo than most other Aes Sedai, an air enhanced by the white locks of hair, indicating her great age Few , but Saerin was certainly one of that select group

"We are taking her to her rooms," Barasine said

"Well, I will speak to her as you do," Saerin said calmly

"She is not to--"

"You deny me, Red? A Sitter?" Saerin asked

Barasine blushed "The Amyrlin will not be pleased to hear of this"

"Then run along and tell her," Saerin said "While I discuss so al’Vere" She eyed the Reds "Give us some room, if you please"

The two Reds failed to stare her down, then backed away Egatched with curiosity It appeared that the authority of the Amyrlin-- indeed, that of her entire Ajah--was soestured, and the two of theh the hallway, the Red sisters following behind

"You take a risk being seen speaking toone’s quarters is taking a risk, these days I’ too frustrated with events to bother with niceties any seen in your company can be rather worth that risk, these days I wanted to deterwene asked, curious

"Well, I actually wanted to see if they could be pushed around Most of theyour release well They see it as aon Elaida’s part"

"She should have killed o"

"That would have been seen as a failure"

"As wene asked "Of suddenly deciding that your Mistress of Novices is to blame, a week after the fact?"

"Is that what they told you?" Saerin asked, s as they walked, her eyes forward "That Elaida ’suddenly’ cawene raised an eyebrow

"Silviana de," Saerin explained "She stood before the lot of us, before Elaida herself, and insisted that your treatment was unlawful Which, likely, it was

Even if you aren’t an Aes Sedai, you shouldn’t have been placed in such terrible conditions" Saerin glanced at Egwene "Silviana dereat deal, I should say She spoke with pride in her voice of how you’d received your punishments, as if you were a student who had learned her lesson well She denounced Elaida, calling for her to be removed as Aht " Egwene breathed "What did Elaida do to her?"

"Ordered her to take up the dress of a novice," Saerin said "Just about caused an uproar in the Hall itself" Saerin paused "Silviana refused, of course Elaida has declared that she is to be stilled and executed The Hall doesn’t knohat to do"

Egwene felt a stab of panic "Light! She mustn’t be punished! We must prevent this"

"Prevent it?" Saerin asked "Child, the Red Ajah is cruainst one another, wolves attacking their own pack If Elaida is allowed to go through with killing one of her own Ajah, whatever support she had from within the ranks will evaporate Why, I wouldn’t be surprised, when the dust settles, to see that the Ajah has undermined itself to the point that you could simply disband it and be done with thewene said "Saerin, that’s one of the proble in the first place! The White Tower needs all of the Ajahs, even the Red, to face what is co We certainly can’t afford to lose a woman like Silviana just to make a point Rally what support you can We have to move quickly to stop this travesty"

Saerin blinked "Do you really think you’re in control here, child?"

Egwene ht, no!"

"Well, then stop standing in et to work! Elaida must be removed, but we can’t let the entire Tower collapse around us while it happens Go to the Hall and see what you can do to stop this!"

Saerin actually nodded in respect before withdrawing down a side corridor Egwene glanced back at her two Red attendants "Did you hear lanced at each other Of course they’d been listening "You’ll want to go deterwene said "Why haven’t you?"

The two glanced at her with annoyance "The shield," Barasine said "We’ve been instructed to always have at least two to wene took a deep breath "If I vow not to embrace the Power until I am properly back in the custody of another Red sister, will that be enough for you?"

The two regarded her with suspicion

"I suspected as roup of novices ere standing in a side corridor, pretending to scrub the tiles on the side hile they gawked at Egwene

"You," Egwene said, pointing to one of theirl squeaked