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"Perhaps," Egwene said, speaking softly "But doesn’t it strike you odd that--after all of these years--soRare Talents see I doubt that Elayne’s Talent will remain unique What if one of the Wise Ones or Sea Folk manifest it?"

The other three sat quietly, troubled

"It still isn’t right to give up, Mother," Yukiri finally said "With effort, we could bring the Wise Ones and Windfinders under control"

"And the Asha’wene said softly, unable to keep a hint of discoreal and sa’angreal created for h we cannot use them? What if there are Asha’man who learn to create objects of Power? Will we force the they create to us? Could we enforce that?"

"I…" Yukiri said

Leane shook her head "She’s right, Yukiri Light, but she is"

"The world as it was cannot be ours any longer," Egwene said softly, not wanting the Wise Ones to overhear "Was it ever? The Black Tower bonds Aes Sedai, the Aiel no longer revere us, the Windfinders have hidden their best channelers froerent If we try to hold too tightly to all of this, ill either beco upon how successful we are I accept neither title

"We will lead them, Yukiri We must become a source that wohtly, by bringing their channelers to train with us and by sending our s they are best at"

"And if they are saying the sa over at the Wise Ones, ere speaking in hushed tones on the far side of the room "If they try to play us as we play them?"

"Then we have to play the best," Egwene said "All of this is secondary, for now We need unity against the Shadow and the Seanchan We have to--"

A frazzled-looking Siuan appeared in the rooed on one side "Mother! We need you!"

"The battle has begun?" Egwene said, urgent To the side, the Wise Ones perked up

"It has," Siuan said, panting "It happened right off Mother, they didn’t come to eavesdrop! They attacked"

Perrin streaked across the land, covering leagues with each step He needed to take the spike someplace away from Slayer Perhaps the ocean? He could--