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Egwene nodded thoughtfully "Have Silviana brought here, to the Hall of the Tower, immediately"
Tesan’s brorinkled "Mother, I don’t think this is the tiwene hissed, then turned to face the Hall "One who coht," she pronounced in a firm voice
Saerin relaxed "Who comes before the Hall of the Tower?"
"One who cowene responded She stared at each of the Sitters A firm hand She would have to be firm They needed leadership
"Who comes before the Hall of the Tower?" Saerin finished
"One who cowene said, "obedient and hu only to accept the will of the Hall"
The cere to the waist to prove she was a woht of Gaho had clearly thought she should bring hi to the event
"Who stands for this wowene had to reh the broken as chill on her skin "And pledges for her, heart for heart, soul for soul, life for life?"
Yukiri, Seaine and Suana stood quickly "I so pledge," each of thewene had experienced this ceremony, she had been in shock At each step, she’d been terrified she’d make an error Worse, she’d been terrified that it would all turn out to be a ruse or a one As the ritual questions were asked--as Egwene stepped forward three steps and knelt on the smooth floor, repainted by Elaida’s order with only six colors spiraling out of the h the po These women were terrified As had been the women in Salidar The Amyrlin Seat was a force of stability, and they reached for it
Why had she been chosen? Both times, it seemed the saree upon There were sroup But they were the s rivals off of the Seat Either that, or they were the s up to take leadership And, perhaps, there were some who smiled because they weren’t the ones who had to take the Seat Its recent history had been fraught with danger, dissension, and two draht the wo idiots She was more experienced now, and hopefully wiser as well She could see that they hadn’t been fools They’d been Aes Sedai--covering their fear by being overly cautious, yet brazen at the sa fall Taking a risk, but not putting the the same They covered their fear with smooth faces and acts of control When the tias not surprised that all eleven rose to their feet Not a single dissent There would be no foot washing during this ceremony
No, she was not surprised They knew that there was no other option, not with an arood as dead The Aes Sedai thing to do was act as if there had never been any argument The consensus must be reached
Saerin looked surprised that nobody had chosen to remain seated, if only to prove that she would not be bullied In fact, wene suspected that they were regretting their decision to stand up so quickly One could gain so the only person who rewene to wash her feet and ask for perled the woman out, and earned her the dislike of the new Awene needed no guidance, and none was offered She rose and strode across the hall, her slippered feet silent on the painted stone of the Fla shawls, blowing across Egwene’s bare skin It said soth of the Hall that they had chosen toview out of the far wall
Saerin an to button Egwene’s bodice with careful fingers, then reverently lifted the Amyrlin’s stole from the Seat It was the one with all seven colors, recovered frowene for ait
"Are you certain you want to bear this weight, child?" Saerin asked in a very soft voice This was not part of the cerewene’s reply was almost a whisper "Elaida cast it aside when she tried to slice it and divide it as she wished I took it up and have carried it since I would bear it to ht be why you deserve it," she said "I doubt anything in the histories will compare to the days ahead I suspect that, in the future, scholars will look back on our days and judge the ofitself"
"Then it’s a good thing the world has us, isn’t it?" Egwene asked
Saerin hesitated, then nodded "I suppose it is at that" She raised the stole and set it upon Egwene’s shoulders "You are raised to the Amyrlin Seat!" she declared, the voices of the other Sitters joining in, "In the glory of the Light, that the White Tower wene al’Vere, the Watcher of the Seals, the Flaard the group of women, then sat down in the chair She felt as if she had returned ho journey The world bowed beneath the stress of the Dark One’s touch, but it felt a little ht--a little ed thee, with Saerin at the very end One at a time they curtsied deeply before her, asked her per and stepped aside As they did so, Egwene noticed that Tesan had finally returned She peeked in to be certain everyone was dressed, then returned a uards with the Flawene suppressed a sigh They’d brought Silviana in chains, it appeared
After kissing her ring, the Sitters returned to their chairs There was some little h with Egas A for this moment
Noas time for sowene said
Reluctantly, the soldiers outside the roo The Sitters turned with confused expressions
"Silviana Brehon!" Egwene declared, standing up "You may approach the Amyrlin Seat"
The soldiers stepped aside and allowed Silviana to enter Her red dress had once been fine, but she had not been well treated by Elaida’s confinement Her black hair--normally kept in a bun--was instead coarsely braided Her dress was rumpled, the knees dirty And yet her square face was serene
Surprisingly, she knelt before Egwene after walking across the roo
The Sitters watched, confused that Egwene had broken the ceremony "Mother," Yukiri finally asked "Is this the best tiithdrew her hand fro Silviana and looked directly at Yukiri, then turned her gaze across the waiting Sitters "You all bear a great deal of shame," she said
Stiff-faced Aes Sedai raised eyebrows and opened eyes wider They see beside hers
"This," Egwene said, gesturing toward the broken wall "You bear responsibility for this" She pointed at Silviana, still kneeling "You bear responsibility for this You bear responsibility for the way our sisters regard one another in the halls, and you bear responsibility for letting the Tower re in division Many of you bear responsibility for that division on the first place!