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"No one called on you to speak, Maigan," the sliray said sharply "This is a trial, not a petitionYou and Admer step back Now" They obeyed, Adrayclad woman turned to Min and her coation, you ive it" There was no sy else for that matter

Min expected Siuan to speak -- she always took the lead, did the talking -- but Siuan never stirred or raised her eyes Instead, it was Leane who moved toward the table, her eyes on the ht as ever, but her usual walk -- a graceful stride, but a stride -- had becolide, with just a hint of ay to it Somehow her hips and boso; the way she moved just ees from the storone, changed to a velvety soft caress There was a light in her dark eyes, a sort of se "Penniless and lost, we took shelter in Master Ne, I know, but ere afraid of the night" A sesture, hands halfraised, the insides of her wrists to Bryne, made her seeh "The er to us really, a man who offered us his protection In these days, women alone must have a protector,of the eyes, an entreating look, said he could make a better for them "It was indeed he who attacked Master Neht’s lodging" Stepping around the side of the table, she knelt gracefully beside Bryne’s chair and gently rested the fingers of one hand on his wrist as she gazed up into his eyes A treh to set any uilty of soed with We throw ourselves on youryou,his throat roughly, he scraped back his chair, rose, and walked around the opposite end of the table froers and far their throats as their lord had done, wo under their breath Bryne stopped in front of Min "What is your narunt from Siuan and hastily added, "Serenla Min Everyone calls me Serenla, my Lord"

"Your mother must have had a premonition," he murmured with a smile He was not the first to react to the name in a like way "Do you have any statement to make, Serenla?"

"Only that I am very sorry, my Lord, and it really wasn’t our fault Dalyn did it all I ask for side Leane’s plea -- anything at all would seenificant beside Leane’s performance -- but it was the best she could find Her mouth was as dry as the street outside What if he did decide to hang the the floor Cupping a hand under her chin, he raised her eyes to his "And what is your nairl?"

With a jerk of her head, Siuan pulled her chin free and took a step back "Mara, roaned softly Siuan was plainly frightened, yet at the same time she stared at the man defiantly Min more than halfexpected her to demand Bryne let them walk away on the instant He asked her if she wished to make a statement, and she denied it in another unsteady whisper, but all the while looking at hiht be controlling her tongue, but certainly not her eyes

After a tiirl," he told Leane as he returned to his chair She joined them with a look of open frustration, and what in anyone else Min would have called a touch of petulance

"I have reached e "The cri I have heard alters the facts If three men sneak into another’s house to steal his candlesticks and one of theuilty There ive you the cost of rebuilding your barn, plus the price of six htened, until Bryne added, "Caralin will disburse the coin to you when she is content as to costs and prices Soray nodded in satisfaction "For the bump on your head, I award you one silver mark Don’t coiven you worse for drinking too reeted that, not dilares, and perhaps spurred by the tightlipped look Maigan gave her husband "I will also replace the amount of the stolen purse Once Caralin has satisfied herself as to how runtled, but they held their tongues; it was plain he had given the his elbows on the table, Bryne turned his attention to her and the other two His sloords tied her stomach into a knot "You three ork for iven, until the coin I’ve paid out is repaid tolenient If you swear an oath that satisfies uarded, you can work in my manor If not, it means the fields, where you can be under soes are lower in the fields, but it is your decision"

Frantically she racked her brain for the weakest oath thather word in any circuone as soon as a chance presented, and she did not want too heavy an oathbreaking on her conscience

Leane see, too, but Siuan barely hesitated before kneeling and folding her hands over her heart Her eyes seee had not faded one bit "By the Light and my hope of salvation and rebirth, I swear to serve you in whatever way you require for as long as you require, or may the Creator’s face turn from me forever and darkness consume my soul" She delivered the words in a breathy whisper, but they created a dead silence There was no oath stronger, unless it was the one a wo made Aes Sedai, and the Oath Rod bound her to that as surely