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"And took it again," Pevaraup the slim rod, she channeled a little Spirit into one end while ht, I vow to speak no word that is not true Under the Light, I vow to ht, I vow not to use the One Power as a weapon except against Shadon, or in the last defense of my life, the life of rimace over the part about Warders; new sisters bound for the Red often did "I am not a Darkfriend I hope that satisfies you" She showed Zerah her teeth, but whether in smile or snarl was hard to say

Seaine retook the Oaths in turn, each producing a slight momentary pressure everywhere from her scalp to the soles of her feet In truth, the pressure was difficult to detect at all, with her skin still feeling too tight fro that Pevara had a beard or that the streets of Tar Valon were paved with cheese had been strangely exhilarating for a tiled -- but hardly worth the disco had not really see that she was not of the Black twisted her tongue -- a vile thing to be forced to deny -- but she handed Zerah the Oath Rod with a decisive nod

Shifting on her bench, the slender wo convulsively The pale lantern light made her appear ill She looked frohtened on the Rod, and she nodded

"Exactly as I said," Pevara growled, channeling Spirit to the Rod again, "or you’ll be swearing until you have it right"

"I vow to obey the two of you absolutely," Zerah said in a tight voice, then shuddered as the oath took hold It was always tighter at the first "Ask me about the Black Ajah," she de the Rod "Ask me about the Black Ajah!" Her intensity told Seaine the answer even before Pevara released the flow of Spirit and asked the question, co utter truth "No!" Zerah practically shouted "No, I am not Black Ajah! Now take this oath fro her elbows on the table She certainly had not wanted Zerah to answer yes, but she had been sure they had found the other woman out in a lie One lie found, or so it had see Howover her shoulder froed to sleep

Pevara stabbed an accusing finger at the woman "You told people that you caain "I did," she said slowly "I rode down the bank of the Erinin to Jualdhe Now free me of this oath!" She licked her lips

Seaine frowned at her "Goldenthorn seeds and a red cockleburr were found on your saddlecloth, Zerah Goldenthorn and red cockleburr can’t be found for a hundred miles south of Tar Valon"

Zerah leaped to her feet, and Pevara snapped, "Sit down!"

The woman dropped onto the bench with a loud s No, shaking Her mouth was clamped shut, otherwise Seaine was sure her teeth would have been chattering Light, the question of north or south frightened hera Darkfriend

"From where did you start out," Seaine asked slowly, "and why --?" She one roundabout -- which plainly she had -- just to hide which direction she came from, but answers burst from Zerah’s mouth

"From Salidar," she squealed There was no other word for it Still clutching the Oath Rod, she writhed on her bench Tears spilled froo and fixed on Pevara Words poured out, though her teeth truly did chatter now "I ccame to ain, so they’ll ddepose Elaida and the TTower can be whole again" With a wail she collapsed into open as she stared at the Red Sitter

"Well," Pevara said Then again, litter in her dark eyes was far from the mischief Seaine remembered as novice and Accepted "So you are the source of that ru to stand before the Hall and reveal it for the lie it is! Adirl!"

If Zerah’s eyes had been wide before, they bulged now The Rod dropped from her hands to roll across the tabletop, and she clutched her throat A choking sound ca mouth Pevara stared at her in shock, but suddenly Seaine understood

"Light’s mercy," she breathed "You do not have to lie, Zerah" Zerah’s legs thrashed beneath the table as if she were trying to rise and could not get her feet under her "Tell her, Pevara She believes it’s true! You’ve commanded her to speak the truth and to lie Don’t look at e appeared on Zerah’s lips Her eyelids fluttered Seaine gathered calave the order so apparently you ht in front of us"

"She’s a rebel" Pevara’s mutter invested that ith all the scorn it could hold But then she sighed "She hasn’t been tried, yet You don’t have to lie girl" Zerah toppled forward and lay with her cheek pressed against the tabletop, gulping air bethimpers

Seaine shook her head in wonder They had not considered the possibility of conflicting oaths What if the Black Ajah did not , but replaced it with one of their own? What if they replaced all Three with their own oaths? She and Pevara would need to go very carefully if they did find a Black sister, or they ht have her fall dead before they knehat the conflict was Perhaps first a renunciation of all oaths -- no way to go about itwhat Black sisters swore -- followed by retaking the Three? Light, the pain of being loosed fro put to the question Maybe not short of it at all But certainly a Darkfriend deserved that and asping wohtest touch of pity on her face "When she stands trial for rebellion, I intend to sit on her court"

"When she is tried, Pevara," Seaine said thoughtfully "A pity to lose the assistance of one we know isn’t a Darkfriend And since she is a rebel, we need not be overly concerned about using her" There had been a number of discussions, none to a conclusion, about the second reason for leaving the new oath in place A sister sworn to obey could be compelled -- Seaine shifted uneasily; that sounded entirely too close to the forbidden vileness of Co as you did not er, whether she wished to or not "I cannot think they would send only one," she went on "Zerah, how many of you came t