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Seonid went stiffer by the ith indignation, and her lip curled well before he finished "You promised?" she sneered "You think Aes Sedai need your protection? You --?"

"Enough," Edarra said quietly, and Seonid’s jaw snapped shut, though her handsher skirts

"What makes you think ould kill her, Perrin Aybara?" Janina asked curiously Aiel seldom showed much on their faces, but the others frowned at him or looked with open incredulity

"I kno you feel," he replied slowly "I’ve known since I saw you with the sisters after Dumai’s Wells" He was not about to explain that he had smelled their hatred, their contempt, every time a Wise One looked at an Aes Sedai back then He did not smell it now, but no one couldThat did not one, only that it had sunk deep, maybe into the bone

Delora snorted, a sound like linen ripping "First you say they must be coddled because you need them, and now because they are Aes Sedai and you have promised to protect them Which is truth, Perrin Aybara?"

"Both" Perrinmoment, then eyed each of the others in turn "Both are true, and I lances, the sort where every flicker of an eyelid held a hundred words and noof necklaces and readjusting of tied shawls, they appeared to reach agreement

"We do not kill apprentices, Perrin Aybara," Nevarin said She sounded shocked at the idea "When Rand al’Thor asked us to apprentice theht it was just to make them obey us, but we do not speak empty words They are apprentices, now"

"They will reree they are ready to behair over her shoulder "And they are treated no differently than any others"

Edarra nodded over her winecup "Tell hiar, Seonid Traighan," she said

The kneeling wo Nevarin and Marline’s short speeches, gripping her skirt until Perrin thought the silkwith Edarra’s instructions "The Wise Ones are right, whatever their reasons I do not say this because they wish it" She drew herself up again, s her features with a visible effort A touch of heat still flared in her voice, though "I saw the work of socalled Dragonsworn before I ever met Rand al’Thor Death and destruction, to no purpose Even a faithful dog ins to foaruht of the man after that? You swore fealty to Rand; you know that isn’t what he wants! What about that ‘thousands will die if you fail’?" Light, if Masuri felt the same, then he had to put up with Aes Sedai and Wise Ones for nothing! No, worse He would have to guard Masema from them!

"Masuri knows Masema for rabid as well as I," Seonid replied when he put the question to her All of her serenity had returned She regarded him with a cool, unreadable face Her scent was sharply alert Intent As if he needed his nose, with her eyes fixed on his, big and dark and bottoon Reborn, and the best service I can give hih that rulers know Masema supports him; worse if they see hiet close enough to Maseain an Aes Sedai whirled words about like a top, made it seem she had said black when she meant white Then the Wise Ones added their bit