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The sound of low voices arguing had wakened her, and the full ht for her toone another at the tent’s entrance

"The poor woht," Halima whispered fiercely, fists on her hips "Let this wait till ue with you" Siuan’s voice inter itself, and she tossed back her cloak with a ht She was dressed for the weather, in stout wool no doubt worn over as many shifts as she could fit underneath "You stand aside, and right quick, or I’ll have your guts for bait! And put on soh, Hali planted herself , but was decent enough for its purpose Though it did see in that thin silk The coals in the tripod braziers had died down long since, and neither round held in war off the blankets, Egwene sat up wearily on her narrow cot Halima was a country woman with a skim of sophistication, and often she did not seem to realize the deference due to Aes Sedai, or indeed seem to think she need defer to anyone She spoke to Sitters as she h and a level eye and a straightforward earthiness that so way to wo and curtsying for nearly every sister in the camp Many still laid ht she had hardly suffered enough to atone Sufficient to keep anyone’s pride at a stiff prickle Together, the pair were a lantern tossed into the back of an Illuwene hoped to avoid an explosion Besides, Siuan would not have coht unless it was necessary

"Go back to bed, Haliwene bent to fus froht Better if no one noticed that the Amyrlin ake "Go on; you need your rest"

Halily than she should have to the Ah she was back on the tiny cot that had been squeezed into the tent for her Very little room remained to move in, with a washstand, a stande chests stacked atop one another Those held the constant flow of clothes frowene h to be dazzled or diverted by silks and laces Haliwene hastily dragged an ivory coh her hair, donned stout own A thick woolen nightgown, and she would not have minded thicker in this weather Haliht and shine darkly, unblinking

Egwene did not think the woman jealous of her place near the Aht knew she did not carry gossip, but Hali, whether or not it was any of her business Reason enough to hear Siuan out elsewhere Everyone kne that Siuan had thrown in her lot with Egwene, after a fashion, as they thought, sullenly and grudgingly A figure of some amuse herself to the woman who held the title once hers, and that wo over ould pull her cords Siuan was huh to harbor sparks of resented to keep secret that her advice was far fro So she endured pity and snickers as best she could, and everyone believed her as changed by her experiences as her face That belief had to be maintained, or Romanda and Lelaine and very likely the rest of the Hall, too, would find ways to separate her -- and her advice -- frowene in the face and flooded under her cloak; her nightgown ht as well have been Halima’s for all the protection it offered Despite stout leather and good wool, her feet felt as if they were bare Tendrils of frosty air curled around her ears,for her bed as she was, ignoring the iciness took all the concentration she could muster Clouds scudded across the sky, and round, a smooth sheet broken by the dark ons that now had long wooden runners in place of wheels Many of the wagons were no longer parked apart from the tents, but left where they had been unloaded; no one had the heart to on drivers put out even thatshadows The wide runnels that had been trah the camp for paths lay eretted breaking it

"What is it?" she asked softly, casting a wary glance at the small tent nearby shared by her maids, Chesa, Meri, and Selame That was as still and dark as the others Exhaustion made as thick a blanket over the camp as the snow "Not another revelation like the Kin, I hope" She clicked her tongue in vexation She was spent, too, by long freezing days in the saddle and not enough real sleep, or she would not have said that "I’ize, Mother" Siuan kept her voice down as well, and glanced about to see whether anyonefrom the shadows besides Neither wanted to find herself discussing the Kin with the Hall "I know I should have told you beforehand, but it seeirls to even speak to one of them There’s so much to tell you I have to try to pick and choose what’s ih That was aly Siuan had offered before Several tiwene over twenty years of experience as Aes Sedai, more than ten of that as Aoose being fattened for ht?"

"Gareth Bryne’s waiting in your study" Siuan did not raise her voice, but it took on an edge, as alhen she spoke of Lord Bryne She tossed her head angrily inside the deep hood of her cloak, andsnow, scooped ave; just tossed e of camp and sent me to fetch you like I