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As soon as Altei stones, theover the fall of the pleats Until Alteiirl’s wrist with it; a courtyard was no place for that Cara -- such a foolish na her wrist with a wounded look and the beginnings of tears

Alteiirl did not even kno to take irl would not do; she was too obviously untrained But a lady had to have a maid, especially if she was to differentiate herself froees in Andor She had seenin the streets, while wearing the reht she had recognized one or two Perhaps she should take one of them in service; who could know the duties of a lady’swith their hands, they should leap at the chance Itto have a forh And an untrained irl, said a little too clearly that Alteie of her resources, only one step rears herself

She put on a look of concerned gentleness "Did I hurt you, Cara?" she said sweetly "Ree and soothe your wrist I a you cool water to drink" The

The liveriedat all Still, word of Altei about servants

A tall young man appeared before her in the whitecollared red coat and burnished breastplate of the Queen’s Guard, boith a hand to his sword hilt "I ah Lady If you will coase" He offered an arm, which she took, but otherwise she was scarcely aware of hienerals and lords

As he attended her down broad corridors see men and women in livery -- they took care not to impede her way, of course -- she subtly exahchests, the bowls and vases of chased gold or silver, or thin Sea Folk porcelain The Royal Palace did not display as much wealth as the Stone of Tear, but Andor was still a wealthy land, perhaps even as wealthy as Tear An older lord would do nicely, , perhaps a touch feeble and infir, while she found out exactly where the strings of power lay in Andor A feords exchanged with Morgase soo were not much of an introduction, but she had that which a powerful queen must want and need Infor roo painted in birds and clouds and open sky, where ornately carved and gilded chairs stood before a polished white marble fireplace A part of Alteiold carpet was Tairen work The young h voice, "as you have coase waved hiain Sit, and ill talk"

Altei a chair Envy curdled inside her She had reoldenhaired reality told her how pale that ase was a rose in full bloom, ready to overshadow every other flower Altei on his way out She was just glad he was gone, so she would not have to be aware of hi

Yet, there were changes, too Vast changes Morgase, by the Grace of the Light, Queen of Andor, Defender of the Realh Seat of House Trakand, so very reserved and stately and proper, wore a gown of shih boso to hip and thigh close enough to suit a Taraboner jade The ruase had a lover And for her to have altered so much, it was equally clear that she tried to please this Gaebril, not ase still radiated power and a presence that filled the roo less

Alteih neck A woman that deep in a e on the smallest provocation or none at all If she met Gaebril, she would present hi suspected of thinking of poaching Morgase’s lover could get her a hangs She herself would have done the saht wine, an excellent Murandian, and poured it into crystal goblets deeply engraved with the rearing Lion of Andor As Morgase took a goblet, Altei its own tail The Great Serpent ring orn by soase had, without beco Aes Sedai, as well as by Aes Sedai themselves It was a thousandyear tradition for the Queens of Andor to be Tower trained But ruase and Tar Valon, and the antiAes Sedai sentiase wanted to Why was she still wearing the ring? Alteima would be careful of her words until she knew the answer

The liveried woman withdrew to the far end of the rooh to see when the wine needed replenishing

Taking a sip, Morgase said, "It is long since we met Is your husband well? Is he in Caemlyn with you?"

Hastily Alteiase knew she had a husband, but she had always been able to think on the run "Tedosian hen I last saw hiet on with it "He was of so this Rand al’Thor, and that is a dangerous chas as if they were coase mused softly "I met him once He did not look like one ould nahtened shepherd boy, trying not to show it Yet thinking back, he see for some -- escape" Her blue eyes looked inward "Elaida warnedspoken those last words

"Elaida was your advisor then?" Alteima said cautiously She kneas so, and it made the rumors of a break all the more difficult to believe She had to know if it was true "You have replaced her, now t