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"No," Faile said "Leaving will do nothing for the ru ht, and you soed to kill me, all that would be said is that you discovered your husband’s infidelity and becaed I fail to see how that would help your position It would only encourage the ru her exasperation show through "There seems to be no way to be rid of these rumors"

Berelain studied her The woman had once promised she would take Perrin Had all but vowed it She seemed to have backed off on that, in part, recently And her eyes showed hints of worry

She realizes that she let this go too far, Faile thought, understanding Of course Berelain hadn’t expected Faile to return from Malden That hy she’d made such a bold move

Now she realized she’d overextended herself And she legitih to duel her in public

"I never wanted this, Berelain," Faile said, walking back into the tent "And neither did Perrin Your attentions are an annoyance to us both"

"Your husband did little to dissuadeyour absence, there were points where he directly encouraged me"

"You understand hi how the wo so clever in other ways

"So you claiht now, Berelain," Faile said, stepping up to her "You can fight ht, that wouldn’t end the rumors But it would end your chances at Perrin Either you’d be dead, or you’d be the woman who killed his wife

"Your other choice," Faile said,Berelain’s eyes, "is to come up with a way to destroy these rumors once and for all You caused this amble Faile couldn’t think of a way out of the situation, but Berelain was ard than she was So Faile ca she was ready to do so unreasonable Then let the woman’s impressive political acumen attack the situation

Would it work?

Faile er Her outrage at what had happened She was being beaten, frozen and hu that, Berelain had the gall to do so like this?

She held the First’s eyes No, Faile did not have asthe woman didn’t She loved Perrin Deeply, truly She would do anything to keep hi hurt

The First studied her "Very well," she said "So be it Be proud of yourself, Faile It is…rare that I takedesired"

"You haven’t said hoe could get rid of the rumors"

"There may be a method," Berelain said "But it will be distasteful"