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"We will not be going with you, Master Luca," she told hi her away

She looked back to tell the others not to interfere and found there was no need Elayne and Birgitte were hurrying off toward the canvas wall that encolances at her and Luca, the four rossed in conversation She sniffed loudly Fine

Jerking her ar her displeasure "I suppose you want yourWell, you shall have it One hundred gold on and horses we’re leaving behind And for e’ve brought in We have certainly increased the nuhwalking, old, wo on her "If I did, I’d have asked for it the day we crossed the river! Have I asked? Did you ever think why not?"

In spite of herself, she took a step back, crossing her arms beneath her breasts sternly And immediately wished she had not; that stanceStubbornness kept her arms where they were -- she was not about to let him think she was flustered, especially since she was -- but surprisingly, his eyes re at her bosoold "If not about the gold, then why do you want to talk to me?"

"All the way back here fro that now you would finally go" She refused to back away again, even when he was standing over her and staring down intently At least he was still looking at her face "I don’t knohat you are running from, Nana Sometimes, I almost believe your story Morelin certainly has a noblewoman’s manner about her, at least But you were never a lady’s maid The last few days, I’ve half expected to find the pair of you rolling on the ground tearing one another’s hair Andon her face, because he cleared his throat and hurried on "The point is, I can find someone else for Maerion to shoot at You do scream so beautifully, anyone would think you were truly terrified, but --" He cleared his throat again, evento say is that I want you to stay There’s a orld out there, a thousand toaiting for a show likeyou will never find you with me A few of Akima’s people, and some of Silica’s who haven’t beenreatest the world has ever seen"

"Stay? Why should I stay? I told you fro has changed"

"Why? Why, to have my children, of course" He took one of her hands in both of his "Nana, your eyes drink my soul, your lips inflame my heart, your shoulders make my pulse race, your --"

She cut in hurriedly "You want to marry me?" she said incredulously

"Marry?" He blinked "Well uh yes Yes, of course" His voice picked up strength again, and he pressed her fingers to his lips "We will be wed at the first tohere I can arrange it I’ve never asked another woman to marry me"

"I can quite believe it," she said faintly It took some effort to pull her hand free "I am sensible of the honor, Master Luca, but --"

"Valan, Nana Valan"

"But I must decline I aoran ift, but she saw it differently "And I a"

"1 should bundle you up and carry you with randiloquent flourish of his cape as he drew hiet the fellow"

"You try it, and I’ll have Uno e" That barely deflated the fool ainst his chest "You do not knowabout me My enemies, the ones you dismiss so easily, would make you take off your skin and dance in your bones, and you would be grateful if that was all they did Now, I a, and I don’t have time to listen to your drivel No, don’t say any ht as well stop blathering"

Luca sighed heavily "You are the only wo flutterers with their shy sighs A h fire and tame a lioness with his bare hands every tiht" His sain, Nana, and you will choose ave his cape an even more pretentious swirl "And you know it, too, my dearest Nana In your fair heart, you do"

Nynaeve did not knohether to shake her head or gape Men wereher back to her wagon, holding her arh the tur to hitch tea, leopards coughing, Elayne found herselfunder her breath to match any of the anis She had seen the way the wohter when Valan Luca appeared And breathed deeper, too For Galad as well, for thatbreeches They were comfortable, true, and cooler than skirts She could see why Min chose to wearpast the feeling that the coat was really a dress that barely covered your hips She had just ed that, so far Not that she intended to let Nynaeve know, her and her viperish tongue The wonore the cost of keeping his promise It was not as if Elayne had not told her about hi the Prophet! Nynaeve just acted without thinking about what she was doing

"Did you say soathered her skirts over one ars from blue brocaded slippers to well above her knees, and those sheer silk stockings did not