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Arathelle continued as if she had not noticed, but Egwene doubted that "At worst We have heard reports of Aes Sedaitheir way into Andor in secret, and Tower Guards Ruht be a better word, but they come from many places None of us would like to see a battle between Aes Sedai in Andor"

"The Light preserve and protect us!" Donel burst out, redfaced Paitr nodded encouragee of his seat, and Cian looked ready to jump in herself "No one wants to see it here, either!" Donel spat "Not between Aes Sedai! For sure, we’ve heard what happened out east! And those sisters --!"

Egwene breathed a little more easily when Arathelle stepped on him firmly "If you please, Lord Donel You will have your turn to speak" She turned back to Egwene -- to the Sitters oncehi She herself looked quite undisturbed, si the that they should be seen as she saw the That is the worst we fear, if the tales are true And also if they are not Aes Sedaisecretly in Andor, with Tower Guards Aes Sedai with an arh the White Tower has seeet, only for the rest of us to learn later it was aiine even the White Tower going this far, but if ever there was a target you ht twist yourselves into a knot for, it’s the Black Tower" Arathelle shivered slightly, and Egwene did not think it was the cold "A battle between Aes Sedai ht ruin half of Andor"

Pelivar sprang to his feet "The plain of it is, you h, but no less firm than Arathelle’s "If I must die to defend my lands and my people, then better here than where my lands and people die, too"

He subsided at Arathelle’s soothing gesture, sinking back into his chair Hardeyed, he did not look mollified Aereement with him, as did her squarefaced husband

Donel stared at Pelivar as though he had never had this thought either, and he was not the only one Soue out loud until others quieted them Sometimes with a shaken fist Whatever had possessed these people to join forces with the Andorans?

Egwene drew breath A rosebud, opening to the sun They had not acknowledged her as the A her as was possible without pushing her aside! -- yet they had given her everything else she could have wished for Cal her to naotiations She hoped their sto which of theotiations There could be none

"Elaida," she said levelly, eyeing Arathelle and the seated nobles in turn, "is a usurper who has violated what lies at the very heart of the White Tower I am the Aed to sound, how cool But not as surprised as she once would have been The Light help her, she was the Ao to Tar Valon to remove Elaida and try her, but that is the White Tower’s business, and none of yours except to know the truth This socalled Black Tower also is our business; men who can channel have always been the White Tower’s affair We will deal with them as we choose, when the time is ripe, but I assure you, that time is not now More importantthe Sitters behind her An actual shifting on benches and the crisp swishing of divided skirts being adjusted At least soested that the Black TowerNot one believed there could be more than a dozen or so men there at most, no matter what they heard; after all, it simply was not possible that hundreds of ht have been the realization that Egas not going to name either Ro a hint of soain, and Donel drew hi for it but to press on There never had been

"I understand your concerns," she continued in the same fore call to arive you this assurance as the A, and then ill leave Murandy, but ill not cross the border into Andor Murandy will be troubled by us no more after that, and Andor will not be troubled at all I’m certain," she added, "the Murandian lords and ladies here will be happy to supply our wants in exchange for good silver We will pay fair prices" There was no pointthe horses and supply trains

The Murandians, looking around uneasily, appeared decidedly torn in any case There was coin to be e, but on the other hand, who could haggle successfully hatever an are offered? Donel actually see su the onlookers More than wene

She wanted to look over her shoulder The silence froht ahead and gripping her skirts as if to keep herself looking forward bySheriaally, calwene needed to irl they saw before them, and hear a woman with the reins of power firmly in hand If they were not in her hands now, they would be! She firmed her voice "Mark me well I have made my decision; it is for you to accept it Or face what surely will cousted to a brief howl, rattling the canopy, tugging at garhtened her hair cal nobles shivered and twitched their cloaks around them, and she hoped their shivers caed looks with Pelivar and Ae They believed she was ue! Even so, Egwene very