Page 28 (1/2)

Bornhald closed his eyes to hasten the return of his night sight We are being used like stones on a board "Byar!" He opened his eyes as his second appeared at his side, stiffening in his saddle before the Lord Captain The gauntfaced ht in his eyes, but he was a good soldier despite "There is a bridge ahead Move the legion across the river and athered his reins and rode in the direction the Questioner had taken Stones on a board But who isas Liandrin h the worew and pressed on the light froht was a troubled time for Liandrin of late, that and dawn At dawn the day was born, just as twilight gave birth to night, but at dawn, night died, and at twilight, day The Dark One’s poas rooted in death; he gained power froht she could feel his power stirring So she alh, soh

Serving woold curtsied as she passed, but she did not respond She kept her eyes fixed straight ahead, and did not see thelance up and down the hall The only woht were servants; there were no men, of course She pushed open the door and went in without knocking

The outer roohtly lit, and a blazing fire on the hearth held back the chill of the Shienaran night Amalisa and her ladies sat about the roo while one of their nu, read aloud to thebird, by Teven Aerhich purported to set forth the proper conduct of men toohtened; she certainly had not read it, but she had heard as reeted each pronounceainst each other and druirls

The reader was the first to become aware of Liandrin’s presence She cut off with a surprised widening of her eyes The others turned to see what she was staring at, and silence replaced laughter All but A hair and skirts

The Lady Aracefully, with a smile "You honor us with your presence, Liandrin This is a most pleasant surprise I did not expect you until to jour-- "

Liandrin cut her off sharply, addressing the air "I will speak to the Lady Amalisa alone All of you will leave Now"

There was a oodbyes to Amalisa One by one they curtsied to Liandrin, but she did not acknowledge the, but she saw them, and heard Honorifics offered with breathy unease at the Aes Sedai’s nored the back aardly so their skirts did not disturb hers

As the door closed behind the last of them, Amalisa said, "Liandrin, I do not underst--"

"Do you walk in the Light, hter?" There would be none of that foolishness of calling her sister here The other woman was older by some years, but the ancient forotten, it was time they were remeh, Liandrin realized she had uaranteed to cause doubt and anxiety, co from an Aes Sedai, but Amalisa’s back stiffened, and her face hardened

"That is an insult, Liandrin Sedai I am Shienaran, of a noble House and the blood of soldiers My line has fought the Shadow since before there was a Shienar, three thousand years without fail or a day’s weakness"

Liandrin shifted her point of attack, but she did not retreat Striding across the room, she took the leatherbound copy of The Dance of the Hawk and the Hu at it "In Shienar above other lands, ht must be precious, and the Shadow feared" Casually she threw the book into the fire Fla as they licked up the chimney In the sa, so fiercely did they burn, flooding the chaht "Here above all Here, so close to the cursed Blight, where corruption waits Here, even one who thinks he walks in the Light listened on Amalisa’s forehead The hand she had raised in protest for her book fell slowly to her side Her features still held firm, but Liandrin saw her s, and her feet shift "I do not understand, Liandrin Sedai Is it the book? It is only foolishness"