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〃The Laurel Crown is prettier than some；〃 Cadsuane said with a faint smile。 Her hair ornaments swayed whenever the wind rose； and small wisps flailed about her bun； but the only notice she took was to catch her embroidery hoop just before it was blown from the table。 〃I prefer that name。 But you can't expect me to be impressed by crowns。 I've paddled the bottoms of two reigning kings and three queens。 Not sitting rulers； you understand； once I was done with them； not for a day or so； but it did get their attention。 You can see why crowns don't impress me； though。〃
Rand eased his jaw。 Grinding his teeth would not help。 He widened his eyes； hoping he looked insane instead of simply furious。 〃Most Aes Sedai avoid the Sun Palace；〃 he told her。 〃Except for those who have sworn fealty to me。 And those I hold prisoner。〃 Light； what was he to do with those？ As long as the Wise Ones kept them out of his hair； all was well enough。
〃The Aiel seem to think I should e and go as I please；〃 she said absently； eyeing the hoop in her hand as if thinking of taking up her needle again。 〃A matter of some trifling help I gave some boy or other。 Though why anyone but his mother should think him worth it； I can hardly say。〃
Rand made another effort not to grind his teeth。 The woman had saved his life。 Her and Damer Flinn between them； and plenty of others in the bargain； Min among them。 But he still owed Cadsuane something for that。 Burn her。 〃I want you to be my advisor。 I'm King of Illian now； and kings have Aes Sedai advisors。〃
She gave his crown a dismissive glance。 〃Certainly not。 An advisor has to stand and watch her charge make a muddle much too often to suit me。 She also has to take orders； something I am particularly bad at。 Won't someone else do？ Alanna； perhaps？〃
Despite himself； Rand sat up straight。 Did she know about the bond？ Merana had said it was hard to keep anything from her。 No； he could worry later about how much his 〃faithful〃 Aes Sedai were telling Cadsuane。 Light； he wished Min could be wrong for once。 But he would believe himself breathing water； first。 〃I。。。 〃 He could not make himself tell her that he needed her。 No halter！ 〃What if you didn't have to swear any oaths？〃
〃I suppose that might work；〃 she said doubtfully； peering at her cursed stitchery。 Her eyes rose to his。 Considering。 〃You sound。。。 uneasy。 I don't like to tell a man he's afraid even when he has reason to be。 Uneasy over a sister you haven't turned into a tame lapdog snaring you in some fashion？ Let me see。 I can make you a few promises； perhaps they will set your mind at rest。 I expect you to listen； of course … make me waste my breath； and you'll yelp for it … but I won't make you do what I want。 I won't tolerate anyone lying to me； certainly … that's another thing you'll find decidedly unfortable … but I don't expect you to tell me the deepest yearnings of your heart； either。 Oh； yes。 Whatever I do； it will be for your own good； not mine； not the good of the White Tower； yours。 Now； does that ease your fears？ Pardon me。 Your unease。〃
Wondering whether he was supposed to laugh； Rand stared at her。 〃Do they teach you how to do that？〃 he demanded。 〃Make a promise sound a threat； I mean。〃
〃Oh； I see。 You want rules。 Most boys do； whatever they say。 Very well。 Let me see。 I cannot abide incivility。 So you will be properly civil to me； to my friends； and my guests。 That includes not channeling at them； in case you haven't guessed； and holding your temper； which I understand is memorable。 It also takes in your。。。 panions in those black coats。 A pity if I had to spank you for something one of them did。 Does that suffice？ I can make more； if you need them。〃
Rand set his cup down beside the chair。 The tea had gone cold as well as bitter。 Snow was beginning to pile up in drifts beneath the windows。 〃I'm the one who's supposed to go mad； Aes Sedai； but you already are。〃 Rising； he strode for the door。
〃I do hope you haven't tried to use Callandor；〃 she said placently behind him。 〃I have heard it's vanished from the Stone。 You managed to escape once； but you might not twice。〃
He stopped short； looking over his shoulder。 The woman was pushing that bloody needle through the cloth stretched on her hoop！ The wind gusted； swirling snow around her； and she did not even lift her head。 〃What do you mean； escape？〃
〃What？〃 She did not look up。 〃Oh。 Very few even in the Tower knew what Callandor is before you drew it； but there are surprising things hidden in musty corners of the Tower Library。 I went rummaging some years ago； when I first had the suspicion you might be suckling at your mother's breast。 Just before I decided to go back into retirement。 Babes are messy things； and I could not see how to find you before you stopped dripping at one end or the other。〃
〃What do you mean？〃 he demanded roughly。
Cadsuane looked up then； and with her hair flung about and snow settling on her dress； she looked a queen。 〃I told you I cannot abide incivility。 If you ask for my help again； I expect you to ask politely。 And I will expect an apology for your behavior today！〃
〃What do you mean about Callandor？〃
〃It is flawed；〃 she replied curtly； 〃lacking the buffer that makes other sa'angreal safe to use。 And it apparently magnifies the taint； inducing wildness of the mind。 So long as a man is using it； anyway。 The only safe way for you to use The Sword That Is Not a Sword； the only way to use it without the risk of killing yourself； or trying to do the Light alone knows what insanity； is linked with two women； and one of them guiding the flows。〃
Trying not to hunch his shoulders； he strode away from her。 So it had been not just the wildness of saidin around Ebou Dar that had killed Adley。 He had murdered the man the moment he sent Narishma for the thing。
Cadsuane's voice pursued him。 〃Remember； boy。 You must ask very nicely； and apologize。 I might even agree； if your apology sounds truly sincere。〃
Rand barely heard her。 He had hoped to use Callandor again； hoped it would be strong enough。 Now only one chance remained； and it terrified him。 He seemed to hear another woman's voice； a dead woman's voice。 You could challenge the Creator。
Chapter 28
（Snakey Square）
Crimsonthorn
It hardly seemed the setting for the explosion Elayne feared。 Harlon Bridge was a village of moderate size； with three inns and enough houses that no one had to sleep in a hayloft。 When Elayne and Birgitte went downstairs to the mon room that morning； Mistress Dill； the round innkeeper； smiled warmly and offered as much of a curtsy as her size allowed。 It was not just that Elayne was Aes Sedai。 Mistress Dill was so pleased that her inn was full； what with the roads snowpacked； that she bobbed at nearly everyone。 At their entrance； Aviendha hastily gulped the last of her breakfast bread and cheese； brushed a few crumbs from her green dress； and snatched up her dark cloak to join them。
Outside； the sun was just peeking over the horizon； a low dome of pale yellow。 Only a few clouds marred a beautiful blue sky； and they were w