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She knew it for aher ency Even the Warders looked at her, and the Aes Sedai She had never before knohat it felt like for someone who lacked the Power to have those eyes turned on theth She felt naked, her verythat Aes Sedai could not read thoughts, she still wanted to confess before they listed her lies and crimes She hoped that her face was not like Leane’s, redcheeked and wideeyed

"You knohy he is here" Sheriam’s voice was calmly certain "Both of you do And you do not want to confront hih so that you would have us kill hi" Nuhel ad and Davraht, I think, and Pedron Niall will surely no be of use to you If Rodel Ituralde do be alive, he do be mired somewhere in what do remain of Arad Doman" He raised his thick thumb "And that do leave Gareth Bryne"

"Do you think that ill need a great captain, then?" Sheriam asked quietly

Nuhel and Arinvar did not look at one another, but Siuan still had the feeling that they had exchanged glances "It is your decision, Sheriam," Arinvar replied just as quietly, "yours and the other sisters, but if you mean to return to the Toe could use him If you intend to reazed at Nuhel questioningly, and he nodded

"It seeht, Siuan," Anaiya said wryly "We have not fooled the Gaidin"

"The question is whether he will agree to serve us," Carlinya said, and Morvrin nodded, adding, "We must make him see our cause in such a way that he wishes to serve It will not help us if it becomes known that we killed or iun"

"Yes," Beonin said, "and we must offer him the rewards that will bind him to us firmly"

Sheriam turned her eyes on the two , but bring hiaze firreen stare that had novices’ knees knocking before a as said "Now You will tell us exactly why Gareth Bryne is here"

There was no choice If they caught her in even the tiniest lie, they would begin to question everything Siuan took a deep breath "We took shelter for the night in a barn near Kore Springs, in Andor Bryne is the lord there, and"

Chapter 28

(Bull)

Trapped

A Warder in a graygreen coat approached Bryne as soon as he rode Traveler past the first stone houses of the village Bryne would have known thehim walk two strides, even without all the Aes Sedai faces staring at hiht were so es behind said Ailron meant to claim this bank of the River Eldar, which meant the Whitecloaks did Aes Sedai could defend theood er tell how long a stump had been exposed to air, this place had been buried in the forest two otten herself into? He was sure he would find her here; village ether, especially when one of them asked directions to a town abandoned since the Whitecloak War

The Warder, a big man with a broad face, an Illianer by his beard, planted hielding and bowed "Lord Bryne? I am Nuhel Dromand If you will come with me, there are those who do wish to speak with you"

Bryne dis them behind his sword belt as he studied the town The plain buffcolored coat he wore noas ray silk he had started in; that, he had given away Aes Sedai and Warders, and others, watched him silently, but even those who had to be servants did not look surprised And Dromand knew his name His face was not unknown, but he suspected ents, it did not alter the oath they had taken "Lead on, Nuhel Gaidin" If Nuhel was surprised at the address, he did not show it

The inn that Dromand took him to -- or what had been an inn once -- had, the look of headquarters for a can, all bustle and scurry That is, if Aes Sedai had ever con He spotted Serenla before she did hi man as very likely Dalyn When she did see him, her chin dropped almost to the table, and then she squinted at hi her eyes Dalyn appeared to be asleep with his eyes open, staring at nothing None of the Aes Sedai or Warders seeh, but Bryne would have wagered his manor and lands that any one of the servants combined He should have turned and ridden away as soon as he realized as in this village

He took careful note as he made his bohile the Warder introduced him to the six seated Aes Sedai -- only a fool was careless around Aes Sedai -- but his ainst the wall beside the freshswept fireplace and looking chastened The y Do hie Mara was frightened, too -- terrified out of her skin, he would say -- but those blue eyes still e to suit a lion

"We are pleased to greet you, Lord Bryne," the flahtly pluh toon her finger "Will you tell us what brings you here?"

"Of course, Sheriam Sedai" Nuhel stood at his shoulder, but if any wo froine who He was sure that they knew already, and watching their faces while he told the tale confir be seen that they did not want seen, but at least one of them would have blinked when he spoke of the oath if they had not known beforehand

"A dreadful story to relate, Lord Bryne" That was the one called Anaiya; ageless face or not, she looked more like a happy, prosperous farmwife than an Aes Sedai "Yet I am surprised that you followed so far, even after oathbreakers" Mara’s fair cheeks flushed a furious red "Still, a strong oath, one that sh