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he New City along wide； slush…filled streets bustling with people and carts and wagons。 Shopkeepers stood in their doorways and gaped。 Wagon drivers reined in their teams to stare。 Towering Aielmen and tall Maidens eyed them from every corner； it seemed。 The people seemed to take no notice of the Aiel； but Elayne did。 She loved Aviendha as she did herself； more； but she could not love an army of armed Aiel walking Caemlyn's streets。
The Inner City； ringed by towered walls of silver…streaked white； was a remembered delight； and Elayne finally began to feel that she was ing home。 The streets followed the curves of the hills； and every rise presented a new vista of snow…covered parks and monuments laid out to be seen from above as well as up close； of brightly tiled towers shining with a hundred colors in the afternoon sun。 And then the Royal Palace itself was before them； a confection of pale spires and golden domes and intricate stonework traceries。 The banner of Andor waved from nearly every prominence； the White Lion on red。 And from the others； the Dragon Banner or the Banner of Light。
At the tall gilded gates of the Palace； Elayne rode forward alone in her travel…stained gray riding dress。 Tradition and legend said women who first approached the Palace in splendor always failed。 She had made clear that she had to do it alone； yet she almost wished Aviendha and Birgitte had succeeded in overruling her。 Half the two dozen guards in front of the gates were Aiel Maidens； the others men in blue helmets and blue coats with a red…and…gold Dragon marching across the chest。
〃I am Elayne Trakand；〃 she announced loudly； surprised at how calm she sounded。 Her voice carried； and across the great plaza people turned from staring at her panions to stare at her。 The ancient formula rolled from her tongue。 〃In the name of House Trakand； by right of descent from Ishara； I have e to claim the Lion Throne of Andor； if the Light wills it so。〃
The gates opened wide。
It would not be that easy； of course。 Even possession of the Palace was not enough to hold the throne of Andor by itself。 Passing her panions into the care of an astonished Reene Harfor … and very pleased to see that the graying First Maid； round and as regal as any queen； still had the Palace in her capable hands … and a coterie of servants in red…and…white livery； Elayne hurried to the Grand Hall； the throne room of Andor。 Alone； again。 This was not part of the ritual； not yet。 She should have been going to change into the red silk with the pearl…worked bodice and white lions climbing the sleeves； but she felt pelled。 This time； not even Nynaeve tried to object。
White columns twenty paces high marched down the sides of the Grand Hall。 The throne room was empty； still。 That would not last long。 Clear afternoon light through the glassed casements in tall windows along the walls mingled with the colored light through the great windows set in the ceiling； where the White Lion of Andor alternated with scenes of Andoran victories and the faces of the land's earliest queens； beginning with Ishara herself； as dark as any of the Atha'an Miere； as full of authority as any Aes Sedai。 No ruler of Andor could forget herself with the predecessors who had forged this nation staring down at her。
One thing she feared to see … the huge monstrosity of a throne； all gilded Dragons； that she had seen standing on the dais at the far end of the Hall in Tel'aran'rhiod。 It was not there； thank the Light。 The Lion Throne no longer rested on a tall plinth like some trophy； either； but kept its proper place upon the dais； a massive chair； carved and gilded； but sized for a woman。 The White Lion； picked out in moonstones on a field of rubies； would stand above the head of any woman who sat there。 No man could feel at his ease sitting on that throne； because； so legend said； he would know he had sealed his doom。 Elayne thought it more likely the builders had simply made sure a man would not fit on it easily。
Climbing the white marble steps of the dais； she laid a hand on one arm of the throne。 She had no right to sit on it herself； not yet。 Not until she was acknowledged Queen。 But taking oaths on the Lion Throne was a custom as old as Andor。 She had to resist the desire to simply fall on her knees and weep into the throne's seat。 Reconciled to her mother's death she might be； but this brought back all the pain。 She could not break down now。
〃Under the Light； I will honor your memory； Mother；〃 she said softly。 〃I will honor the name of Morgase Trakand； and try to bring only honor to House Trakand。〃
〃I ordered the guards to keep the curious and the favor…seekers away。 I suspected you might want to be alone here for a time。〃
Elayne turned slowly to face Dyelin Taravin； as the golden…haired woman walked the length of the Grand Hall。 Dyelin had been one of her mother's earliest supporters in her own quest for the throne。 There was more gray in her hair than Elayne remembered； more lines at the corners of her eyes。 She was still quite beautiful。 A strong woman。 And powerful as friend or foe。
She stopped at the foot of the dais； looking up。 〃I've been hearing for two days that you were alive； but I didn't really believe it until now。 You've e to accept the throne from the Dragon Reborn； then？〃
〃I claim the throne by my own right； Dyelin； with my own hand。 The Lion Throne is no bauble to be accepted from a man。〃 Dyelin nodded； as at self…evident truth。 Which it was； to any Andoran。 〃How do you stand； Dyelin？ With Trakand； or against？ I have heard your name often on my way here。〃
〃Since you claim the throne by your own right； with。〃 Few people could sound as dry as she。 Elayne sat down on the top step； and motioned the older woman to join her。 〃There are a few obstacles； of course；〃 Dyelin went on as she gathered her blue skirts to sit。 〃There have been several claimants already； as you may know。 Naean and Elenia； I have securely locked up。 On a charge of treason that most people seem willing to accept。 For the time being。 Elenia's husband is still active for her； though quietly； and Arymilla has announced a claim； the silly goose。 She's getting support of a kind； but nothing that need worry you。 Your real worries … aside from Aiel all over the city waiting for the Dragon Reborn to e back … are Aemlyn； Arathelle； and Pelivar。 For the moment； Luan and Ellorien will be behind you； but they might go over to those three。〃
A very succinct list； delivered in a tone suitable for discussing a possible horse trade。 Naean and Elenia she knew about； if not that Jarid still thought his wife had a chance at the throne。 Arymilla was a goose to believe she would be accepted； whatever her support。 The last five names were worrying； though。 Each had been as strong a supporter of her mother； as had Dyelin； and each led a strong House。
〃So Arathelle and Aemlyn want the throne；〃 Elayne murmured。 〃I can't believe it of Ellorien； not for herself。〃 Pelivar might be acting for one of his daughters； but Luan had only granddaughters； none near old enough。 〃You spoke as if they might unite； all five Houses。 Behind whom？〃 Th