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"May I suggest using this opportunity to see what the surrounding country offers in way of food and fodder, Mother? Our stocks are low" Sheriah I doubt we’ll find those"

"Do what you can," Egwene said in a soothing tone Odd now, to think that once she had gone in awe of Sheriae as it seeer trying to tug and push Egwene to do as she wished, Sheriam actually seemed happier "I have every confidence in you, Sheriam" The woman positively beamed at the complions to the east, but the ca Breakfast done, the cooks were cleaning up, helped by a horde of novices Fro wo kettles with snow, but the cooks h and sometimes to pull their cloaks close and stare bleakly at the snow Shivering serving un striking tents and loading wagons automatically as soon as they finished their hastyabout to raise the tents and haul chests out of the wagons Ani led away by weary horsehandlers alked with heads down Egwene heard a few grumbles from reater number seemed too tired to voice a complaint

Most of the Aes Sedai whose tents were up had vanished inside, but a goodthe sunken paths on errands of their own Unlike everyone else, they showed as little outeariness as the Warders, who soed to appear as if they had had all the sleep they needed for this fine spring day Egwene suspected that was a real part of how a sister drew strength from her Warder, quite aside from what she could do with the bond When your Warder would not adry, you just had to bear up as well

On one of the crossing paths, Morvrin appeared, clutching Takih Morvrin ide enough to make the shorter woman seem more diminutive than she actually was Perhaps it was to keep Takiwene frowned Morvrin ht well be expected to seek out a Sitter for her Ajah, the Brown, yet Egould have thought Janya or Escaralde ht behind a canvastopped wagon on runners, Morvrin bending to talk in her companion’s ear There was no way to tell whether Taki the ht "No more than usual, Sheriam No more than usual"

At the Awene had given her, and Egent in to find everything in readiness She would have been surprised at anything else Selahtly colored beadwork ran across the railthin wo nose carried high, she hardly seelance, but she had seen to what needed doing Two braziers full of glowing coals had taken soh h the save a pleasant scent to the sone, and the lantern and tallow candles had been trih to let in light from outside

Siuan was already there, too, with a stack of papers in her hands, a harried expression on her face, and a se of ink on her nose The post of secretary provided the two of the, and Sheriarumbled frequently, however For a wo as a novice, she had a re inside At thepatient and wanting everyone to know it

For all her high nose, Selawene’s cloak and mittens turned into an elaborate little cere her feet up, and perhaps she should fetch the Mother a lap robe, andelse, until Egwene practically chased her out The tea tasted of mint In this weather! Selame was a trial, and she could hardly be called loyal, but she did try

There was no tihtened her stole and took her place behind the writing desk, absent of her chair so it would not fold beneath her as it often did, Siuan perched atop a rickety stool on the other side of the table, and the tea cooled They did not speak of plans, or Gareth Bryne, or hopes; what could be done there for now, had been Reports and problems piled up when they were on the move and weariness overcame attempts to deal with theh An arondered how soelse seemed so difficult The reports Siuan handed her detailed shortages and little else Not simply those Sheriam had mentioned, but coal and nails and iron for the farriers and rights, leather and oiled thread for the harnesss, even soap And whatever was not running out earing out, frorewthe need she wrote about Her account of the coin re looked to have been slashed onto the paper in a positive fury And not a thing to be done about it

Aesting ways to solve the problehat they intended to lay before the Hall There were few advantages to any of the schemes, however, andthe soldiers’ pay, a notion Egwene thought the Hall had already realized would cause the army to melt away like dew under a midsummer sun Malind Nachenin presented an appeal to nearby nobles that sounded ainst them, as would Salita Toranes’ intention to levy a tax on the towns and villages they passed

Cruwene shook them at Siuan She wished it were three Sitters’ throats she was gripping "Do they all think everything has to go the way they wish, and never ht, they’re the ones beha