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aught in their own thoughts。 Lord Bryne sat his saddle easily； the mist of his even breath forming a light frost on his faceguard； yet Egwene could see him calmly marking terrain in his mind。 In case he had to fight over it。 Siuan rode so stiffly that she would be sore long before reaching their destination； but she stared north as though she could already see the lake； and sometimes she nodded to herself； or shook her head。 She would not have done that unless she was uneasy。 Sheriam knew no more of what was to e than the Sitters did； yet she appeared even more nervous than Siuan； shifting constantly in her saddle and grimacing。 Anger shone in her green eyes； too； for some reason。
Close behind the banner came the entire Hall of the Tower in double column； wearing embroidered silks and rich velvets and furs and cloaks with the Flame large on the back。 Women who seldom wore more ornaments than the Great Serpent ring were decked today in the finest gems the camp's jewelry caskets could supply。 Their Warders made a more splendid display simply by wearing their color…shifting cloaks； parts of the men seemed to vanish as the disquieting cloaks swirled in the stiff breeze。 Servants followed； two or three for every sister； on the best horses that could be found for them。 They might have passed for lesser nobility themselves if a number had not been leading pack animals； every chest in the camp had been ransacked to outfit them in bright colors。
Perhaps because she was one of the Sitters without a Warder； Delana had brought Halima along； on a spirited white mare。 The two rode almost knee…to…knee。 Sometimes Delana would lean toward Halima to speak privately； though Halima appeared too excited to listen。 Supposedly； Halima was Delana's secretary； but everyone believed it a case of charity； or possibly friendship； however unlikely； between the dignified； pale…haired sister and the hot…natured； raven…haired country woman。 Egwene had seen Halima's hand； and it had the unformed look of a child's just learning her letters。 Today； she was in garments as fine as any sister's； with gems that easily equaled Delana's； who must have been their source。 Whenever a gust opened her velvet cloak； she displayed a shocking amount of bosom； and she always laughed and took her time about gathering it around her again； refusing to admit that she felt the cold any more than the sisters did。
For once； Egwene was glad of all the gifts of clothing she had been given； allowing her to surpass the Sitters。 Her green…and…blue silk was slashed with white and worked with seed pearls。 Pearls even decorated the backs of her gloves。 At the last minute a cloak lined with ermine had been provided by Romanda； and a necklace and earrings of emeralds and white opals by Lelaine。 The moonstones in her hair came from Janya。 The Amyrlin had to be resplendent today。 Even Siuan appeared ready for a ball； in blue velvets and cream lace； with a wide band of pearls at her throat and more laced through her hair。
Romanda and Lelaine led the Sitters； riding so closely behind the soldier bearing the banner that he glanced over his shoulder nervously and sometimes edged his horse nearer the riders ahead of him。 Egwene managed not to look back more than once or twice； yet she could feel their eyes pressing between her shoulder blades。 Each thought her tied in a neat bundle； but each had to be wondering whose cords had done the binding。 Oh； Light； this could not go wrong。 Not now。
Other than the column； little moved in all that snow…covered landscape。 A broad…winged hawk wheeled overhead against the cold blue sky for a time before winging eastward。 Twice Egwene saw black…tailed foxes trotting in the distance； still in their summer fur； and once； a large deer with tall forked antlers ghosted away and vanished amid the trees。 A hare； starting up right under Bela's hooves and bounding off； made the shaggy mare toss her head； and Siuan yelped and grabbed at the reins as if she expected Bela to bolt。 Of course； Bela only gave a reproachful snort and plodded onward。 Egwene's tall roan gelding shied more； and the hare had not gone near him。
Siuan began grumbling under her breath after the hare scampered away； and it took quite some time before she eased Bela's reins。 Being on a horse always made her grumpy … she traveled in one of the wagons whenever possible … but she was seldom this bad。 There was no need to look further than Lord Bryne； or her fierce glances at him； to know why。
If he noticed Siuan's looks； he gave no sign。 The only one not in fine array； he looked as he always did； plain and slightly battered。 A rock that had weathered storms and would outlast more to e。 For some reason； Egwene was glad he had resisted their efforts to dress him in finer garb。 They truly did need to make an impression； yet she thought he made an excellent one as he was。
〃It's a fine morning to be in the saddle；〃 Sheriam said after a time。 〃Nothing like a good ride in the snow to clear the head。〃 Her voice was not low； and she cut her eyes at the still…muttering Siuan with a tiny smile。
Siuan did not say anything … she hardly could do that in front of so many eyes … but she did give Sheriam a hard look that promised sharp words for later。 The fire…haired woman twisted away abruptly with very close to a wince。 Wing； her dappled gray mare； pranced a few steps； and Sheriam settled her down with almost too firm a hand。 She had shown little gratitude to the woman who had named her Mistress of Novices； and like most in that position； she found reasons to blame Siuan。 It was the only flaw Egwene had found in her since the swearing。 Well； she had protested that； as Keeper； she should not have to take orders from Siuan the way the others who had sworn did； but Egwene had seen right away where that would lead。 This was not the first time Sheriam had tried to plant a barb。 Siuan insisted on handling Sheriam herself； and her pride was too fragile for Egwene to deny the request unless matters got out of hand。
Egwene wished there were some way to make more speed。 Siuan went back to her grumbling； and Sheriam was obviously thinking of something else to say that would not quite bring a rebuke。 All that muttering and cutting of eyes began to find their way under Egwene's skin。 After a while； even Bryne's levelheaded poise began to wear。 She found herself thinking of things she might say that would shake his aplomb。 Unfortunately … or perhaps fortunately … she did not believe anything could。 But if she had to wait much longer； she thought she might burst from sheer impatience。
The sun climbed toward midday； the painfully slow miles passed behind； and at last one of the riders ahead turned and raised his hand。 With a hasty apology to Egwene； Bryne galloped forward。 It was really more of a lumber through the snow for his sturdy bay gelding； Traveler； but he caught up to the outriders； exchanged a few words； then sent them on through the trees and waited for Egwene and the others to reach him。
As he fell in beside her once more； Romanda and Lelaine joined them。 The two Sitters barely acknowledged Egwene's presence； fixing Bryne with the cool