Page 21 (1/1)
"What man?" Nynaeve de the horses, and that, with the tight frown she directed at everyone iht Perhaps she was Careane’s gelding accidentally nudged her with a shoulder, and she swatted the blue dun’s nose
"A servant," Merilille said disave, Altaran servants are an independent lot Or perhaps her son; that boy is too curious by half"
The sisters around her nodded, and Careane said, "One of the Forsaken would hardly have stood and watched You said so yourself" She was patting her gelding’s neck and frowning accusingly at Nynaeve -- Careane was one of those who gave her horse the sort of affectionat Nynaeve, and Nynaeve took the words for her, too
"Maybe it was a servant, and maybe it was Beslan Maybe" Nynaeve’s sniff said she did not believe it Or that she wanted them to believe she did not; she could tell you to your face that you were a blind idiot, yet let anyone else say it, and she would defend you until she went hoarse Of course, she did not seem ready to decide whether she liked Aviendha, but she definitely did not like the older Aes Sedai She tugged her hat alht, and her froept across them, then started over "Whether it was Beslan or the Dark One, there’s no call to stand here all day We need to get ready and move on to the farm Well? Move!" She clapped her hands sharply, and even Vandene gave a little start
There was little preparation left to do when the sisters moved their horses away Lan and the other Warders had not sat on their heels once they realized there was no danger Soateway before Aviendha disposed of it, but the rest stood with the three dozen or so packhorses, occasionally glancing at the Aes Sedai, clearly wondering what ht produce next The Windfinders were all h expecting their horses to bolt any ht So were the Knitting Circle, with a good deal race, unconcerned that their skirts and petticoats were pushed up past their knees, and with Ispan still hooded and tied across a saddle like a sack She could not possibly have sat upright on a horse, yet even Su about her, Nynaeve looked ready to tonguelash everybody into doing what they had already done, but only until Lan handed her the reins of her pluift of a better horse from Tylin Her hand treed color as she sed the anger she had been about to unleash When he offered a hand for her foot, she stared at hi what he was about, then colored again when he boosted her to her saddle Elayne could only shake her head She hoped she did not turn into an idiot when she ray mare and the yellow dun Aviendha rode, but she seemed to understand that Elayne wanted a private ith Aviendha She nodded alelding, and rode to where the other Warders aiting They greeted her with nods and began discussing solances directed at the sisters, the "so care of Aes Sedai whether Aes Sedai wanted care taken or not Including herself, Elayne noted grih Aviendha stood fiddling with her horse’s reins, staring at the anireasy pots Very likely, Aviendha saw s to ride
Snugging her green riding gloves, Elayne casually shifted Lioness to block the to Adeleas or Vandene ently She had to be very careful here, as careful as with any ter’angreal "They’re old enough to know ht suspect There has to be a reason you’ve been having trouble with Traveling" That was ait Aviendha alinning Careful Aviendha was far ht be able to help"
"How can they?" Aviendha stared stiffly at the saddle on her gelding "They cannot Travel How could any of them kno to help?" Abruptly her shoulders sluly, unshed tears glistened in her green eyes "That isn’t the truth, Elayne Not the whole truth They cannot help, but You are ht to know They think I panicked at a servant If I ask for help, it must all come out That I Traveled once to run from a man, a man I hoped into be caught How could I let them know such shame? Even if they really could help, how could I?"
Elayne wished she did not know About the catching part, at least About the fact that Rand had caught her Snatching the flecks of jealousy that suddenly were floating through her, she pushed them into a sack and stuffed it into the back of her head Then she juood measure When a woman plays the fool, look for the man That was one of Lini’s favorites Another was, Kittens tangle your yarn,for both She drew a deep breath "No one will know froure out how" Not that there was much she could think to do Aviendha was re hoeaves were formed, much quicker than she herself
Aviendhaa bit , Elayne, and he was no servant" Looking Elayne right in the eye, she added, "He frightened me" An admission she likely would have made to no one else in the world
"We’re safe fro Lioness to follow Nynaeve and Lan fro In truth, it very likely had been a servant, but she would never tell that to anyone, Aviendha least of all "We’re safe, and in a few more hours, ill reach the Kin’s farain" Well, somewhat The sun seemed lower than it had in the stableyard, but she knew that was only iained a