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Still, Far Dareis Mai business was none of hers Aviendha had told her so gently but firmly Adelin and Enaila had been little short of rude about it, and a wiry, whitehaired Maiden named Sulin had actually threatened to haul her back to the Wise Ones by her ear Despite her efforts to persuade Aviendha to stop addressing her as "Aes Sedai," it had been irritating to find that after walking a fine line of uncertainty toward her, the rest of the Maidens had co just another pupil of the Wise Ones Why, they would not even let her past the door of the Roof unless she claimed to be on an errand

The quickness hich she heeled Mist on through the crowd had nothing to do with acceptance of Far Dareis Mai justice, or her unco her, no doubt ready to lecture if they thought she intended to interfere It even had little to do with her dislike of Isendre She did not want to think about her glimpse of the woman’s dreams, just before Cowinde had cos being done to the wo dark and evil laughing as it watched her run No wonder Isendre looked haggard Egwene had started up out of her sleep so quickly that Cowinde had ju a hand on her shoulder

Rand was in the street in front of the Maidens’ Roof, wearing a shoufa against the coold e open halfway down the front His belt had a new buckle, an elaborate thing shaped like a Dragon He really was beginning to think a great deal of hi beside Jeade’en, his dappled stallion, he was talking with the clan chiefs and so in Rhuidean

Jasin Natael, nearly at Rand’s heels, with his harp on his back and holding the reins of a saddled ht from Master Kadere, was evenhis black coat, and spills of white lace at his neck and cuffs Even his boots orked in silver where they turned down at the knee The gleeleemen were odd folk

The h their belt knives were swene knew they could all handle a spear if called to; they had sorace of their brothers who carried the spear The woode blouses and full woolen skirts, head scarves and shaere ai’shain -- and Aviendha -- Aiel woold and ivory, silver and gemstones, so Aiel traders, though, the woht part of what Rand was telling the traders " give the Ogier stonemasons a free hand on some of what they build, at least On as much as you canto re for Ogier to rebuild Rhuidean That was good Much of Tar Valon was Ogier work, and where they were left to their own devices their buildings were enough to take the breath away

Mat was already up on his gelding, Pips, with his widebri on his stirrup As usual, his highcollared green coat looked slept in She had avoided his dreaave Mat a roguish grin that seemed to embarrass hiwene sniffed I know very hat he was drea about, thank you very much! She only reined in beside him to look around for Aviendha

"He told her to be quiet, and she did," he said as she halted Mist He nodded toward Moiraine and Lan, she in pale blue silk, gripping the reins of her white reat black warhorse Lan atching Moiraine intently, expressionless as always, while she looked ready to burst with i hi to do -- sounded toit for the hundredth time -- and he said, ’I’ve decided, Moiraine Stand over there and be quiet till I have time for you’ Like he expected her to do as she was told And she did Is that stea out of her ears?"

His chortle was so pleased, so aht hiht there in front of everybody Instead she sniffed again, loudly enough to let hiave her a wry, sidelong look, and chuckled again, which did nothing for her temper

For a moment she stared at Moiraine, perplexed The Aes Sedai had done as Rand told her? Without protest? That was like one of the Wise Ones obeying, or the sun rising at ht She had heard about the attack, of course; rus that left footprints on stone had been all over thisShe could not see what that could have to do with this, but aside fro she knew of, and not enough to produce this reaction Nothing could produce it, that she could think of Doubtless Moiraine would tell her it was none of her concern, but one way or another she would worry it out She did not like not understanding things

Spotting Aviendha, standing on the bottouided Mist around to the other side of the crowd near Rand The Aiel wo at him as hard as the Aes Sedai did, but with absolutely no expression She kept turning the ivory bracelet on her wrist over and over, apparently without realizing it Somehow or other that bracelet was part of the difficulty the wowene did not understand; Aviendha refused to talk about it, and she could not just ask soht embarrass her friend Her own flaift froift had been the silver necklace the other woman wore, which Master Kadere claimed was a Kandori pattern called snowflakes She had had to ask Moiraine for enough money, but it had seemed appropriate for a woman ould never see snow Or would not have if she was not leaving the Waste; small chance that she could return before winter

Whatever that bracelet as confident she could puzzle it out eventually

"Are you all right?" she asked As she leaned out of her highcantled saddle, her skirts shifted till her legs showed, but she was concerned enough with her fr