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Why had those four, out of the hundreds of Aes Sedai in the caation? Was it mere coincidence? It stretched plausibility But what did it mean, then? Had sowene? If so, why not send Siuan? Was this perhaps Sherias before her execution, but this hadn’t been one of the with those Asha’man The Black Toould need to be dealt with

"Mother," Lelaine said, drawing her attention back The Blue didn’t glance at her rival "I have other news"

Rowene said

"Sheriareal used for dreawene deer slip out

"Sheriam was Keeper, Mother," Lelaine said quickly "We kept the ter’angreal together, as is custouard Butwell, what reason would those guards have had to turn Sheria to tell us?" Egwene asked "This theft could not have been kept hidden for long"

"I don’t know, Mother," Lelaine said, shaking her head "The guards said that Sheriareal This was just last night"

Egwene clenched her teeth, thinking of Sheriam’s final spilled confessions The theft of the ter’angreal had been far fro tidbit she’dhad been awene doubted that Siuan’s hidden copy would be useful as a template It was already flawed; copies of it would likely be more imperfect

"Mother," Lelaine said, more softly "What of Sheriam’sother claim?"

"That one of the Forsaken is in the White Tower, iwene said Sheriareal to thisperson

Lelaine and Ro forward, as if speculation were too daunting

"Yes, I suspect that she is right," Egwene said "They infiltrated not only our camp, but the aristocracies of Andor, Illian and Tear Why not the White Tower as well?" She didn’t add that Verin’s book confirmed the presence of one of the Forsaken It seemed best to keep the extent of Verin’s notes secret

"I wouldn’t worry about it too wene said "With the assault on the Tower, and our return, it seems likely that the Forsaken--whoever she is--will find it prudent to slip away and find an easier target for her sche"

Lelaine and Romanda didn’t seee of the Aes Sedai caroup of soldiers and one Sitter from each of the Ajahs, other than the Blue and Red There wasn’t a Blue because Lelaine was the only one re in camp; the reason there wasn’t a Red was obvious This was part of why Egwene had chosen to wear red, a subtle hint that all Ajahs should be represented in the action they were about to take It was for the good of all

As Egwene ain, at a respectful distance Where had he co As she mounted, so did he, and as she turned to ride out of camp with Lelaine, Romanda, the Sitters and the soldiers, Gawyn followed at a safe distance Egasn’t certain what to do with hiround tra behind Egwene e their camp, and she held to it, ready eaves should so the ride She still didn’t trust that Elaida wouldn’t use a gateway to interfere with the assault True, the false Amyrlin probably had her hands full with the aftermath of the Seanchan attack But expectations like that one--assuwene captured in the first place She was A, but she knew that an end had co out as she saw fit She could have been killed, rather than captured, all those weeks ago The Salidar rebellion would have floundered, and Elaida would have continued as Amyrlin

So it was that her force rode up to the battle lines outside the village of Darein The White Tower still s fro the white spire Even from a distance, the scars of the Seanchan attack were evident on the building Blackened holes, like spots of corruption on an otherwise healthy apple The Tower alroan as she looked at it It had stood for so long, had seen so much Now it had been wounded so deeply that it still bled a day later

And yet it stood Light bless the toward a sun hidden by clouds above It stood defiant of those ould break it, within and without

Bryne and Siuan waited for Egwene at the back of the areneral, with te piece of ar, made of lines And beside him Siuan, the di enough to be Bryne’s granddaughter, for all the fact that they were near the sawene approached, and Bryne saluted His eyes were still troubled He seewene bore hirievance He was ato protect foolhardy Siuan and Gawyn, then Bryne was to be cowene joined theether Had Siuan finally admitted her attraction to the race to Bryne now It was slight enough that she could have just been seeing things, but coupled with the relationship between the two

"You’ve taken another Warder, at last?" Egwene asked Siuan

The woman narrowed her eyes "Aye," she said