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"Whenover at Ellorien, "there were some Houses it was said she’d never win over And yet she did"

"So? You already have enough support, Your Majesty You’ve had your victory"

"One of them"

She left the rest unsaid There was a debt of honor owed to House Traethening the Lion Throne It was about repairing rifts caused by Elayne’s mother while under the influence of Gaebril It was about recovering her House’s reputation, about undoing the wrongs that could be undone

Sylvase would not understand that Elayne had learned about the poor girl’s childhood; this one would not put h Seat Sylvase seeeance So long as she supported Elayne and could be guided, she would not be a liability But she would never be the strength to House Trakand that so your needs, Your Majesty?" Sylvase asked

"Well enough, I suppose," Elayne said So far, he hadn’t produced anything of value, though Elayne hadn’t given hi She was trapped in a conundruroup of Black Ajah for what seemed like forever She finally had theitte had taken the captives alive ostensibly so that they could be questioned, then tried by the White Tower But that meant they had no reason to speak; they knew their ultimate end would be execution So Elayne either had to be willing to bargain with them, or she had to let the questioner take extreh to allow these things Or that hat her teachers and tutors had explained There was no question as to the guilt of these woh to earn themselves death a dozen times over Elayne wasn’t certain how far she herself illing to descend, however, to pry their secrets free

Besides, would that actually do any good? Ispan had had so her; these were likely to have the sa useful? If only there were a way to…

She hesitated, ht occurred to her Birgitte wouldn’t like it, of course Birgitte didn’t like anything But Elayne had felt Birgitterounds of the guard posts outside

"Excusethat I absolutely irl said in a flat, alreeted--and bade good evening--to the others Conail looked bored He’d come because it had been expected of him Dyelin was her usual pleasant, yet careful, self Elayne avoided Ellorien She greeted everyone else in the rooan to walk toward the exit

"Elayne Trakand," Ellorien called out

Elayne paused, s other than calculated curiosity "Yes, Lady Ellorien?"

"Have you invited nore me?" the worew quiet