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Roaze rested awhether to send her to a corner as well, then brushed past Lelaine alwene "It see with the Sea Folk, Mother The Yellow eyesandears in Cairhien are ht interest him in the Atha’an Miere?"

Despite the title, Ro the Amyrlin Seat, but then, she never did There was no doubt who "that young man" was Every sister in the caon Reborn, but anyone who heard the of an unruly young lout who ht come to dinner drunk and throw up on the table

"She can hardly knohat’s in the boy’s head," Lelaine said before Egwene could open her mouth Her smile was not at all warm this time "If an answer is to be found, Romanda, it will be in Caemlyn The Atha’an Miere there are not sequestered on a ship, and I seriously doubt that high ranking Sea Folk came so far fro so for any reason It may be they have an interest in him They must knoho he is by now"

Romanda smiled back, and frost should have appeared on the tent walls "There’s hardly need to state the obvious, Lelaine The first question is how to find out"

"I was about to resolve that when you barged in, Romanda The next time the Mother encounters Elayne or Nynaeve in Tel’aran’rhiod, she can pass on instructions Merilille can discover what the Atha’an Miere want, or maybe what the boy does, when she reaches Caeular schedule, but we must work around that Merilille can meet with a Sitter in Tel’aran’rhiod when she knows" Lelaine esture; plainly, she herself was the intended Sitter "I thought Salidar ht be a suitable place"

Romanda snorted with amusement Even in that, there was no warmth "Easier to instruct Merilille than to see she obeys, Lelaine I expect she knows she faces sharp questions This Bowl of the Winds should have been brought to us for study first None of the sisters in Ebou Dar had , I believe, and you can see the result, all this hurlyburly and suddenness I have a thought to call a question before the Hall concerning everyone involved" Abruptly the grayhaired woman’s voice became smooth as butter "As I recall, you supported the choice of Merilille"

With a jerk, Lelaine drew herself up Her eyes flashed "I supported who the Gray put forward, Ronantly "How could I have iined she would decide to use the Bowl there? And to include Sea Folk wilders in the circle! How could she believe they know asweather as Aes Sedai?" Abruptly her ire slipped She was defending herself to her fiercest adversary in the Hall, her only real adversary And, no doubt worse in her view, she was agreeing with her about the Sea Folk There was no question that she did agree, but giving the fact voice was another matter

Romanda let her cold shtened her bronzecolored skirts with meticulous care as Lelaine searched for a way to turn matters about "We will see how the Hall stands, Lelaine," she said finally "Until the question is called, I think it best if Merilille does not meet with any of the Sitters involved in her selection Even a suggestion of collusion would be looked at askance I’ree I should be the one to speak with her"

Lelaine’s face paled differently She was not afraid, not visibly, yet Egwene could alainst Collusion was ale of treason, and required only the lesser consensus Likely, she could avoid that, but the arguht even increase That would cause untold problewene’s own plans bore fruit And there was nothing she could do to stop it, short of revealing what really had happened in Ebou Dar As well ask them to let her accept the sawene drew breath At least sheplace in Tel’aran’rhiod That here she met Elayne and Nynaeve, now When she did, anyway; she had not in days With Sitters popping in and out of the World of Drea anywhere you could be sure they would not appear was difficult "The next time I encounter Elayne or Nynaeve, I will pass on your instructions regarding Merilille I can let you knohen she’s ready to meet you" Which would be never, once she was done with those instructions

The Sitters’ heads whipped around, and two sets of eyes stared at her They had forgotten she was there! Struggling to keep her face s irritably, and stopped it She had to go along hat they thought of her a while longer, yet A little while longer At least she no longer felt nauseated Just angry

Into that wene’s midday meal on a clothcovered tray Darkhaired, plued to convey a proper respect without cringing Her curtsy was as siray dress, with just a touch of plain lace at the throat "Forgive , Mother, Aes Sedai I am sorry this is late, Mother, but Meri seeue in exasperation as she set the tray in front of Egwene Wandering seemed very unlike theof faults in herself as she was of those in others

Ro After all, she could hardly show too wene’s maids Especially when the wowene avoided looking at Theodrin or Faolain, both still standing dutifully in their corners like Accepted, rather than Aes Sedai theain, perhaps intias relieved when she dipped another curtsy and left with a murmured "By your leave, Mother" Chesa’s advice was always indirect enough for any sister when anyone else was present, but right then, the last thing Eganted was even a circumspect reminder to eat while her food was hot

Lelaine took up as if there had been no interruption "The i," she said firmly, "is to learn what the Atha’an Miere want Or what the boy does Maybe he wants to be their king, too" Holding out her arms, she allowed Faolain to restore her cloak, which the dark young woman did with care "You will rehts on it, Mother?" That