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Jesse started at this She hadn’t realized that Adelorna had been on the twenty-second level during the fighting "Surely soeration"

Adelorna shook her head grimly "No It isn’t It sounds incrediblebut itwell, it happened All of it"

"The novices all but worship her," Ferane said "If the Sitters will not stand for someone of another Ajah, what of a woman who never picked an Ajah? A wo the very position we are discussing?"

Jesse found herself nodding But how had the young rebel gained such respect from Ferane and Adelorna?

"I am uncertain," Suana said "It seems like another rash decision"

"Didn’t you yourself say that we had to heal the Tower, no matter what the cost?" Adelorna asked "Can you honestly think of a better way to bring the rebels back to us?" She turned to Serancha "What is the best ive soht?"

"She has a point," Suana adulp "Light, but she’s right, Serancha We have to do it"

The Gray looked at each of theh to assume this woman will be led by the nose, are you? I won’t stand for this if we’re si to create another puppet That plan failed It failed miserably"

"I doubt we’ll find ourselves in that situation again," Ferane said, s faintly "This oneis not the type to be bullied Just look at how she dealt with Elaida’s restrictions"

"Yes," Jesse found herself saying, to her own surprise "Sisters, if we agree to this, it will end our drea fro up an Ath"

"I, for one," Adelorna said, "think that’s a splendid idea It’s been too long"

One by one, the others agreed

Siuan stood, unhs of a sulfed by the camp, and its shade had beco lunches There were none doing so at the ating around the tent where the Hall wasas Sheriae pavilion closed She was able to attend now that Egas back It was easy to sense when the ward against eavesdropping oven, Sealing theears

A hand fell on Siuan’s shoulder She didn’t jueneral walked with stealth, although there was no need He was going to make an excellent Warder

He stepped up beside her, hand still comfortably on her shoulder, and she allowed herself the luxury of taking just a sood beside her Like knowing that though the sky stored, your hull was caulked and your sail crafted of the strongest cloth

"What do you think she will tell them?" Bryne asked, his voice subdued

"I honestly have no idea She could call for , I suppose"

"I doubt that she will," Bryne asked "She is not the vengeful type Besides, she knows that you did what you felt you had to For her own good"

Siuan gri disobeyed, least of all the Aht that it probably won’t be in a public way, but I worry that I’ve lost the girl’s trust"

"And was it worth the cost?"

"Yes," Siuan said "She didn’t reali2e how close this band was to slipping away from her And we couldn’t know that she’d be safe within the Tower during the attack If there’s one thing ht , but one also has to act You can’t alait for certainty"

She could feel Bryne’s sood to have a Warder again She hadn’t realized howknot of eht differently fro, Bryne saw as straightforward and sio There was a helpful clarity to his way of reasoning Not that he was siret decisions he’d already made

"And what of the other costs?" Bryne added

She could feel his hesitation, his worry She turned to hi in amusement "You’re a fool, Gareth Bryne"

He frowned

"Bonding you was never a cost," she said "Whatever else happens because of this fiasco, that aspect of the night’s events were pure profit on my part"

He chuckled "Well, I’ll have to make extra certain that uts, Siuan thought She’d al unlikely that Bryne would, though "And when, precisely, are you going to make this unreasonable demand ofdown at her, rubbing his chin "You know," he said, "I think I actually understand you now, Siuan Sanche You are a woman of honor It’s just that nobody else’s require than your own requirements of yourself You owe such a self-imposed debt to your own sense of duty that I doubt anycould pay it back"

"You make me sound centered onyou to a boar again"