Page 24 (1/1)
Elayne’s face tightened Other things The bargain with the Sea Folk hat Adeleas meant "You may ride with the others," she said coolly
Adeleas ument She just inclined her head and let her horse fall back Her small smile never altered a whit The older Aes Sedai accepted that Nynaeve and Elayne stood above thewene’s authority at their backs, but the truth was, that changed little beyond the surface Perhaps nothing They were outwardly respectful, they obeyed, and yet
After all was said and done, Elayne, at least, was Aes Sedai at an age when most initiates of the Tower still wore novice white and very few had reached the Accepted And she and Nynaeve had agreed to that bargain, hardly a display of wisdo the Bowl, but twenty sisters going to the Atha’an Miere, subject to their laws, required to teach anything the Windfinders wanted to learn and unable to leave until others came to replace theuests, allowed to learn whatever they wished, leave whenever they wished Those alone would wene as well, yet the rest Every last one of the older sisters thought she would have found a way around ain Perhaps they really could have Elayne did not believe it, but she was not sure
She did not say anything to Aviendha, but after a few moments, the other woman spoke "If I can serve honor and help you at the same time, I do not care whether it serves some Aes Sedai end" She never seemed to take it in that Elayne was also Aes Sedai, not co had to be done to temper the Sea Folk Merilille and the others had displayed a re would that last? Nynaeve ht explode, once she actually turned her attentions to the Windfinders Matters had to be kept as s as possible, but if the Atha’an Miere went on believing they could stare down any Aes Sedai, there would be trouble Life was ined back in CaehterHeir So much more complicated since she entered the Tower
"Just don’t be too emphatic," she said softly "And please have a care There are twenty of the to happen before I could help you" Aviendha gave her a grin with a good bit of wolf in it and drew her dun e of the stones to wait for the Atha’an Miere
Froh the trees was Aviendha riding next to Kurin, speaking quite cal at the Sea Folk woh Kurin seemed to stare at her with considerable astonishment When Aviendha thu her reins -- she would never be a horsewoman -- Kurin rode forward to speak with Renaile, and a short tirily sent Rainyn to the head of the column
The most junior of the Windfinders sat her horse even nore on Elayne’s other side just as she ignored the s around her dark face "Renaile din Calon Blue Star," she said stiffly, "demands that you snub in the Aiel worinned toothily at her, and Rainynat least a little, because her cheeks reddened beneath the sheen of sweat
"Tell Renaile that Aviendha is not Aes Sedai," Elayne replied "I will ask her to be careful," no lie there; she had, and would again, "but I can’t " On impulse, she added, "You kno Aiel are" The Sea Folk had some very odd ideas of how the Aiel were Rainyn stared wideeyed at a stillgrinning Aviendha, her face going gray, then jerked her horse around and galloped back to Renaile, bouncing in her saddle
Aviendha gave a pleased chuckle, but Elayne wondered whether the whole notion had been a ood thirty paces between them, she could see Renaile’s face swell up at Rainyn’s report, and the others began to buzz like bees They did not look frightened, they looked angry, and the glares they directed at the Aes Sedai ahead of therew baleful Not at Aviendha, at the sisters Adeleas nodded thoughtfully when she saw that, and Merilille just barely failed to hide a smile At least they were pleased
If that had been the only incident during the ride it would have taken the edge off any enjoyinning shortly after leaving the clearing, the Knitting Circle had made their way forward to Elayne one by one, all but Kirstian, and no doubt she would have come too had she not been ordered to keep Ispan shielded One by one they ca ties They certainly ht out for what already had been denied, but they found other paths
"It occurred to htly, "that you ently Who can say what else she was up to in the city besides trying to find the storeroo conversation, but from time to ti it "I’m sure we’ll take over an hour to reach the far, perhaps two, and you certainly don’t want to waste two hours The herbs Nynaeve Sedai gave her make her quite talkative, and I’ht s Ispan could wait and would Light, did they really expect anyone to ask questions riding through forests on paths that barely deserved the na to herself
"Forgiveness, Elayne Sedai," Chilaresto her accent Her green straw hat iveness, if I intrude" She did not wear the red belt of a Wise Wooldsmith, and Eldase supplied lacquerware to theseller, while Reanne herself arranged shipping for small traders Some worked at simple tasks -- Kirstian ran a tiny weaver’s shop, and Dih a prosperous one -- but then, in the course of their lives, they had all followed many crafts And used many names "Ispan Sedai appears to be unwell," Chilares said, shifting uneasily in her saddle "Perhaps the herbs are affecting her ht It would be terrible if anything happened to her Before she can be questioned, I , you know " She trailed off, blinking those big brown eyes nervously As well she ht, with Su