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An Aes Sedai is calardless of the situation Egwene lowered her hands fro, and she had not planned to But if she had, what if she had been forced to face a situation like this? Would she have broken? Proven herself unworthy of the , I see," Mesaana said "Well, that can be changed These a’dahtfully wonderful in bringing them to my attention, even if she did so accidentally Pity she died before I could place one on her neck"

Pain shot through Egwene’s body, like fire beneath her skin Her eyes watered frohed while being beaten She had been captive before, in the White Tower itself, and captivity had not stopped her

But this is different! The larger part of her was terrified This is the a’dam! I cannot withstand it!

An Aes Sedai must, the quiet piece of her replied An Aes Sedai can suffer all things, for only then can she be truly a servant of all

"Now," Mesaana said "Tell wene controlled her fear It was not easy Light, but it was hard! But she did it Her face beca it power over her

Mesaana hesitated, frowning She shook the leash, and wene

She wene said calhedien made a mistake She accepted the a’dam"

"What are you--"

"In this place, an a’dawene said "It is only a piece of metal And it only will stop you if you accept that it will" The a’dalanced at it as it dropped to the ground with a rew still, then cold as she looked up at Egwene Impressively, she did not panic She folded her arwene aze

"You are still a child," Mesaana said "You think that you can best ine You are what, twenty years old?"

"I awene said

"An Amyrlin to children"

"An Awene said "Thousands of years of trouble and chaos Yet most of your life, you lived in a time of peace, not strife Curious, that you should think yourself so strong when much of your life was so easy"

"Easy?" Mesaana said "You know nothing"

Neither broke her gaze Egwene felt soainst her, as it had before Mesaana’s will, de her subservience, her supplication An attewene thought

Mesaana was strong But strength in this place was a ainst her But Egwene had defeated the a’dam She could resist this