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"But, Mother --"

The woesture of finality Not even the Lord of Fal Dara could press the Awene and Nynaeve, piercing eyes that see about herself that she wanted to keep secret Egwene took a step back, then caught herself and dropped a curtsy, wondering if that were proper; no one had ever explained to her the protocol of ht and returned the Awene’s hand and gripped as hard as Egwene did

"So these are your two, Moiraine," the Aave the barest nod, and the other Aes Sedai turned to stare at the towene sed They all looked as if they knew things, things other people did not, and it was no help at all to know that they truly did "Yes, I sense a fine spark in each of them But ill kindle frowene’s mouth felt dry as dust She had seen Master Padwhin, the carpenter back home, look at his toolsat the two of them This one for this purpose, that one for that

The Aone To horse Lord Agel like novices on a freeday To horse!"

At her command the Warders scattered to their lided away frowene and Nynaeve turned to obey, a servant appeared at Lord Agelelmar took it with a dissatisfied twist to his mouth

"With this cup from my hand, Mother, take my wish that you fare well on this day, and every "

Whatever else they said was lost to Egwene as she scray ed her skirts, the palanquin was alreadywithout rein or lead Leane rode beside the palanquin, her staff propped at her stirrup Egwene and Nynaeve brought their horses along behind with the rest of the Aes Sedai

Roars and cheers froreeted the procession, all but drowning the thunder of the drummers and the blare of the tru the White Flauard around the Aes Sedai, keeping the mass of people back; archers and pikemen, the Flame blazoned on their chests, followed behind in precise ranks The trumpets fell silent as the column wound its way out of the town and turned southward, yet the sounds of cheering frolanced back often, until trees and hills hid Fal Dara’s walls and towers

Nynaeve, riding alongside, shook her head "Rand will be all right He has Lord Ingtar and twenty lances with hi either of us can do" She glanced toward Moiraine; the Aes Sedai’s trim white mare and Lan’s tall black stallion made an odd pair off to one side by theled ard as it traveled, and it did not cover the ground quickly Even footh the Shienaran hills, not andStill, they pushed as hard as they could

Ca no stop until barely enough light remained to pitch the tents, flattened white doh to stand in Each pair of Aes Sedai from the same Ajah had one, while the Amyrlin and the Keeper had tents to themselves Moiraine shared the tent of her two sisters of the Blue The soldiers slept on the ground in their own encampment, and the Warders wrapped themselves in their cloaks near the tents of the Aes Sedai to whom they were bonded The tent shared by the Red sisters looked oddly lonely without any Warders, while that of the Greens see outside long past dark to talk with the four Warders they had brought between thewene shared with Nynaeve, taking the Wisdowene peered around the tent flap to watch She could not hear what they said, except that Nynaeve eventually erupted in anger and ca back to wrap herself in her blankets and refuse to talk at all Egwene thought her cheeks et, though she hid her face with a corner of her blanket Lan stood watching the tent fro tiain

Moiraine did not co She see with the other Aes Sedai, all but the Red sisters, drawing them aside one by one as they rode The Amyrlin allowed few stops for rest, and those short

"Maybe she doesn’t have tiwene observed sadly Moiraine was the one Aes Sedai she knew Perhaps -- though she did not like to admit it -- the only one she was sure she could trust "She found us, and we are on our way to Tar Valon I suppose she has other things to concern her, now"

Nynaeve snorted softly "I’ll believe she is done with us when she’s dead -- or we are She is sly, that one"

Other Aes Sedai cawene alht out of Fal Dara, when the tent flap was pushed aside and a pluuely distracted look in her dark eyes, ducked into their tent She glanced at the lantern hanging at the highest point of the tent, and the fla, thought she alrew brighter Moiraine had told her that one day -- when she had-- she would be able to see when another woman channeled, and to tell a wo

"I awene al’Vere and Nynaeve al’Maera Fro blood, that It sings"

Egwene exchanged glances with Nynaeve as they got to their feet

"Is this a suhed The Aes Sedai had a se of ink on her nose "Oh, s to deal with than two young woh, you never can tell You both have considerable potential, especially you, Nynaeve One day " She paused, rubbing a finger thoughtfully right atop the ink sive you a lesson, Egwene You have been poking in ahead o