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The city was just ahead, walls still blackened froht with the Shaido Elayne could sense Birgitte’s tension as the gateway vanished behind The Kin around Elayne embraced the Source, and Alise wove an unfa of troops It itte’s anxiety was contagious, and Elayne found herself holding her reins in a tight grip as Glimmer moved forward The air was drier here in Cairhien, with a faint dusty scent to it The sky was overcast

The Cairhienin troops forroup of Andorans in white and red Most of the Cairhienin forces were foot, though there was so lances pointed high into the air Allher captive

Lorstrum moved his bay stallion closer to Elayne’s outer ranks Guybon glanced at her, and she nodded, so the captain allowed him to approach

"The city is nervous, Your Majesty," Lorstruitte was still careful to keep her mount between his and Elayne’s "There are…unfortunate ru your ascension"

Ruht, before you decided to support ainst your troops?"

"I hope they will not" He eyed her froreen He wore a black coat that went down to his knees and slashes of color across it all the way down, to denote his House It was the type of clothing he’d wear if going to a ball That projected a sense of confidence His force wasn’t seizing the city, it was escorting the new queen with an honorary parade "It is unlikely that there will be armed resistance But I wanted to warn you"

Lorstru him, but he also accepted that manipulation She would have to keep a careful watch on him in the years to coht lines and fortified towers Though so the place to Caeh the northern gates, the River Alguenya to their right

Croaited inside Lorstrum and the others had done their ell There were cheers, probably started by carefully placed courtiers As Elayne entered the city, the cheers grew louder That surprised her She had expected hostility And yes, there was some of that--the occasional thrown piece of refuse, hurled froht a jeer here and there But eway, lined with the rectangular buildings Cairhienin favored, she realized that perhaps these people had been waiting for an event like this Talking of it, spreading tales Some of those tales had been hostile, and those hat Norry had reported But they now seen of worry than hostility Cairhien had been too long without a on seerew Cairhien was a wounded city The burned and broken reate outside Cobbles had been torn up to be thrown from the walls The city had never fully recovered from the Aiel War, and the unfinished Topless Towers--syn, but woefully forlorn in appearance--were a lofty declaration of that fact

That bloody Gae that? The people around her sounded hopeful, as if they knehat a twisted mess their nation had become One could sooner take away an Aiel’s spears than cut the craftiness out of the Cairhienin, but perhaps she could teach the as they had a throne worth that loyalty

The Sun Palace stood at the exact center of the city Like the rest of the city, it was square and angular, but here the architecture gave a sense of i, despite the broken here the attempt on Rand’s life had taken place

More nobles waited here, standing on covered steps or in front of ornate carriages Wooide hoops, the men in neat coats of dark colors, caps on the heads Many looked skeptical, and soitte a satisfied s Nobody expected me to ride to the palace escorted by a Cairhienin ar She was still tense--and probably would be until Elayne returned to Caemlyn

Tomen stood at the foot of the steps, one a pretty woman with bells in her hair, the other with curly hair and a face that did not seem Aes Sedai, for all the fact that she had been one for years That was Sashalle Anderly, and the other woowa From what Elayne’s sources had been able to determine, these tere as close to "rulers" as the city had in Rand’s absence She’d corresponded with both, and found Sashalle re She’d offered Elayne the city, but had i it were two different things

Sashalle stepped forward "Your Majesty," she said forhts and claim to this land All formal control he had over the land is ceded to you, and the position of steward over the nation is dissolved May you rule in wisdoally from horseback, but inside she seethed She’d said she didn’tthis throne, but it wasn’t like she wanted her nose rubbed in it Still, Sashalle seeh froe measure self-created

Elayne and her procession disht that it would be as easy as that to give her the throne? He’d stayed in Cairhien long enough to kno they sche a procla powerful nobles support her directly should be enough to do it

Their procession made its way up the steps They entered, and each of those supporting her brought a sht her entire force; it was crowded, but she didn’t intend to leave any behind

The inner hallere straight, with peaked ceilings and golden tri Sun emblazoned each door There were alcoves for riches to be displayed, but many were empty The Aiel had taken their fift