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White coluh marched down the sides of the Grand Hall The throne roo Clear afternoon light through the glassed caseled with the colored light through the great s set in the ceiling, where the White Lion of Andor alternated with scenes of Andoran victories and the faces of the land’s earliest queens, beginning with Ishara herself, as dark as any of the Atha’an Miere, as full of authority as any Aes Sedai No ruler of Andor could forget herself with the predecessors who had forged this nation staring down at her

One thing she feared to see -- the huge ons, that she had seen standing on the dais at the far end of the Hall in Tel’aran’rhiod It was not there, thank the Light The Lion Throne no longer rested on a tall plinth like some trophy, either, but kept its proper place upon the dais, a ilded, but sized for a woman The White Lion, picked out in moonstones on a field of rubies, would stand above the head of any wo on that throne, because, so legend said, he would know he had sealed his dooht it more likely the builders had si the white marble steps of the dais, she laid a hand on one arht to sit on it herself, not yet Not until she was acknowledged Queen But taking oaths on the Lion Throne was a custom as old as Andor She had to resist the desire to simply fall on her knees and weep into the throne’s seat Reconciled to her ht back all the pain She could not break do

"Under the Light, I will honor your mease Trakand, and try to bring only honor to House Trakand"

"I ordered the guards to keep the curious and the favorseekers away I suspected you ht want to be alone here for a tioldenhaired woth of the Grand Hall Dyelin had been one of her mother’s earliest supporters in her own quest for the throne There was ray in her hair than Elayne remembered, more lines at the corners of her eyes She was still quite beautiful A strong woman And powerful as friend or foe

She stopped at the foot of the dais, looking up "I’ve been hearing for two days that you were alive, but I didn’t really believe it until now You’ve coon Reborn, then?"

"I claiht, Dyelin, with my own hand The Lion Throne is no bauble to be accepted from a man" Dyelin nodded, as at selfevident truth Which it was, to any Andoran "How do you stand, Dyelin? With Trakand, or against? I have heard your name often on ht, with" Few people could sound as dry as she Elayne sat down on the top step, and motioned the older woman to join her "There are a few obstacles, of course," Dyelin went on as she gathered her blue skirts to sit "There have been several claimants already, as you may know Naean and Elenia, I have securely locked up On a charge of treason thatElenia’s husband is still active for her, though quietly, and Ary support of a kind, but nothing that need worry you Your real worries -- aside froon Reborn to come back -- are Aemlyn, Arathelle, and Pelivar For the o over to those three"

A very succinct list, delivered in a tone suitable for discussing a possible horse trade Naean and Elenia she knew about, if not that Jarid still thought his wife had a chance at the throne Aryoose to believe she would be accepted, whatever her support The last five na a supporter of herHouse

"So Arathelle and Aemlyn want the throne," Elayne murmured "I can’t believe it of Ellorien, not for herself" Pelivar randdaughters, none near old enough "You spoke as if they ht unite, all five Houses Behind who, Dyelin propped her chin in her hand "They seem to think I should have the throne Nohat do you intend about the Dragon Reborn? He hasn’t been back here in some time, but he can pop out of the air, it seems"

Elayne squeezed her eyes shut for aon the steps of the dais in the Grand Hall, and Dyelin was still sht for Elaida, and her halfbrother was a Whitecloak She had filled the Palace oht turn on one another at any moment, not to mention the fact that one was a Darkfriend, est threat she faced in clai one, stood behind a woman who said she supported Elayne The world was quite ht as well add her bit

"I mean to bond him my Warder," she said, and went on before the other woman could more than blink in astonish to do with the Lion Throne, however The very first thing I intend "

As she went on, Dyelin began to laugh Elayne wished she knehether it was froht over her plans or because Dyelin saw her own path to the Lion Throne beinginto Cae what a city for the looting it was In his years soldiering, he had seen o, a great city, Cairhien, after the Aiel left Strange that all these Aiel had left Caemlyn so apparently untouched, but then, if the tallest towers in Cairhien had not been burning, it old, a up, and plenty ofHe could see these broad streets full of horseive up their gold before the knife touched theirls and plued into a corner that they could hardly s and done theh, he adh If the orders that sent hione where the pickings ht not be so rich, but d