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Elayne stopped dead "What do you think of how I am dressed?"

"It allows freedom of movement," the other woood that your botto on furiously, Elayne tugged the coat doith sharp yanks Nynaeve’s tongue had nothing on Birgitte’s She really should have required some oath of obedience, or at least some show of proper respect She would have to reht up to her, wearing a sour expression as if she were driven alreen sequins, the palehaired Seanchan woe bull s’redit as his head pushed the heavy wagon holding the blacke A horse handler in a shabby leather vest held the wagon tongue; steering the wagon around to where its horses could be hitchedhis tail and now and then giving a hoarse cough that sounded like the beginning of a roar

"Cerandin," Elayne said, "I must speak to you"

"In a ray ani ible

"Now, Cerandin We have little time"

But the woman did not halt the s’redit and turn until the horse handler called out that the wagon was in position Then she said impatiently, "What do you need, Morelin? I have e; this dress is not for traveling" The ani patiently behind her

Elayne’s , Cerandin"

"Yes, I know The riots Such things should not be allowed If this Prophet thinks to harm us, he will learn what Mer and Sanit can do" She twisted to scratch Mer’s wrinkled shoulder with her goad, and he touched her shoulder with his long nose A "trunk," Cerandin called it "Sorolm for battle, but s’redit properly used --"

"Be quiet and listen," Elayne said firnity, with the Seanchan wo aside with her ar to say so "I do notship thisIn a few hours, ill be beyond the Prophet’s reach forever"

Cerandin shook her head slowly "Few river craft can carry s’redit, Morelin Even if you’ve found one that can, ould they do? What would I do? I do not think I can earn as much by hwalking and Maerion shooting her bow And I suppose Thole No No, it is better if we all remain with the show"

"The s’redit will have to be left behind," Elayne admitted, "but I am sure that Master Luca will take care of the, Cerandin There’s no , there are those ould like to learn about" She was conscious of the horse handler, a lanky felloith an incongruously bulbous nose, standing close enough to listen "About where you came from MuchLeering By turns at Birgitte’s bosorin turned sickly and he scuttled back to his duties

Cerandin was shaking her head again "I am to leave Mer and Sanit and Nerin to be cared for by men who are afraid to come near them? No, Morelin We will stay with Master Luca You, too It is led you were the day, you ca a deep breath, Elayne stepped closer No one but Birgitte was close enough to overhear, but she did not want to take foolish chances "Cerandin, hterHeir of Andor One day, I will be Queen of Andor"

Based on the woman’s behavior the first day, and even more on what she had told theh to quell any resistance Instead, Cerandin looked her straight in the eye "You clai her lips, she eyed Elayne’s breeches "You are a very good highwalker, Morelin With practice, you h to perform before the Es in their place"

For a moment, Elayne’s mouth worked soundlessly Cerandin did not believe her! "I have wasted quite enough time, Cerandin"

She reached for the wo bodily if necessary, but Cerandin caught her hand, twisted, and with a wideeyed yelp Elayne found herself on tiptoe, wondering whether her wrist would break before her aritte just stood there, arms folded under her breasts, and had the nerve to raise an eyebrow questioningly!

Elayne gritted her teeth She would not ask for help "Releaseshe did not sound quite so breathy "I said, release me!"

Cerandin did, after a moment, and stepped back warily "You are a friend, Morelin, and alill be You could be a lady, one day You have the manner, and if you attract a lord, he may take you for one of his asa Asa soht, Morelin I oad for Mer to curl his trunk around, and the big animal let her lead him ponderously away

"Cerandin," Elayne said sharply "Cerandin!" The palehaired woreat lot of help you were," she growled, and stalked off before the other woht her up and fell in at her side "From what I hear, and what I’ve seen, you have spent considerable ti the woman she has a backbone Did you expect ain?"

"I was not trying to do any such thing," Elayneway frooes, and there are some ould not treat her kindly if they learned where she came froitte said dryly "But then, perhaps you taught her that, too? Perhaps she was helpless before you found her" Elayne’s stare see doarm steel

"You just stood and watched her You are supposed to be lance, but several of the horse handlers ducked their heads away "My Warder You are supposed to help me defend myself whe