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She felt an anxiety she couldn’t quite define Why was she so on edge? It wasn’t unco

But wene She was ahad awakened her unexpectedly, she would have dealt with it, then returned to calm Siuan’s worries But she hadn’t, despite Siuan’s waiting for what had see his stiff gray trousers and uniforh collar, olden epaulets on the shoulders

A frenzied voice called frolanced at her, then turned toward the tent flaps "Come!"

A youthful soldier with neat black hair pushed into the tent and gave a quick salute He didn’t apologize for coeneral trusted them to awake him if there was need "My Lord," theon in the city"

" ’So,’ Tijds?" Bryne asked

"The scouts aren’t certain, rilasses aren’t ht near the Tower, like an Illuminator’s show Dark shadows in the air"

"Shadon?" Bryne asked, pushing out of the tent With the globe of light, Siuan and the soldier followed The moon would be barely a sliver, and with those perpetual clouds, it was difficult to see anything at all The tents of the officers were slu banks of black on black around thehts were the watchfires of the guards at the palisade entrance

"They could be Shadon,after Bryne "Stories tell of creatures of shadow that fly in such a way But the scouts aren’t certain what they’re seeing The flashes of light are there for sure, though"

Bryne nodded, heading toward the watchfires "Alert the night guard; I want them up and armored, just in case Send runners to the city fortifications And bring me more information!"

"Yes, lanced at Siuan, his face illu above her hand "Shadoouldn’t dare attack the White Tower," he said "Not without a substantial ground assault waiting, and I sincerely doubt that there are a hundred thousand Trollocs hiding in what little cover these plains offer So what in the blazes is going on?"

"Seanchan," Siuan said, a pit of ice forwene predicted it"

He nodded "Yes They ride Shadon, so beasts," Siuan said, "not Shadon Egwene said that they’re called raken"

He eyed her doubtfully, but said only, "What would round assault in tandem?"

Siuan shook her head She’d always assumed that a Seanchan strike at the White Toould uessed that the attack was still

Bryne turned toward his watchfires, which were blazing higher in the night, tossing light across the front of the palisade Inside the ring of wood, officers were rousing, calling to neighboring tents La as they attack Tar Valon, they are no proble her out," Siuan said suddenly, surprising herself

Bryne spun toward Siuan, into the light of her globe His chin was shadowed by evening stubble "What?"

"Egwene," Siuan said "We need to go in for her This will provide a perfect distraction, Gareth! We can go in and grab her before anyone is the wiser"

He eyed her

"What?"

"You gave your word not to rescue her, Siuan" Light, but it felt nice to hear him use her name!

Focus! she scolded herself "That doesn’t er and needs help"

"She doesn’t want help," Bryne said sternly "We need to make certain our own force is safe The Aht I could care for ottoward the distant spire of Tar Valon She could just faintly see a burst of light along the spire, illuwene speaks of the Seanchan, she always shivers Very little upsets her--not the Forsaken, not the Dragon Reborn Gareth, you don’t knohat the Seanchan do to woo for her"

"I will not be a party to this," he said stubbornly

"Fine," Siuan spat Fool man! "Go take care of your men I think I know so toward a tent just inside the palisade

Egwene steadied herself against the wall of the hallway as the entire Tower shook again The very stones quivered Flakes of , and a loose tile fell from the wall and shattered into a dozen shards on the floor Nicola screawene