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I will crawl！ I am a worm； and you are the sun！ Oh； please！ Please！ Please！〃
Shiaine stifled words if not whimpers by putting a hand over the Aes Sedai's mouth。 〃How do I know you won't fail again； Falion？ You have failed before； and Moridin left your punishment to me。 He gave me another； do I need two of you？ I may give you a second chance to plead your case； Falion … perhaps … but if I do； you will have to convince me。 I will expect true enthusiasm。〃
Falion began screaming pleas again； making extravagant promises； the moment Shiaine's hand moved； but soon enough she was reduced to wordless shrieks and tears as the gag was replaced； the nail driven through the strap again； and Jaichim's funnel placed above her gaping throat。 The hulking man stood another cask on the table beside her head。 The Aes Sedai seemed to go mad； bulging eyes rolling； flinging herself about below the table till it trembled。
Hanlon was impressed。 An Aes Sedai must be harder to break than a plump merchant or his round…cheeked daughter。 Still； she had had the help of one of the Chosen； it seemed。 Realizing that Shiaine was looking at him； he stopped smiling down at Falion。 His first rule in life was never to offend those the Chosen set above him。
〃Tell me； Hanlon；〃 Shiaine said； 〃how would you like to put your hands on a queen？〃
He licked his lips in spite of himself。 A queen？ That he had never done。
Chapter 29
（Dragon）
A Cup of Sleep
〃Don't be an utter woolhead； Rand；〃 Min said。 Making herself remain seated； she crossed her legs and kicked her foot idly； but she could not keep exasperation out of her voice。 〃Go to her！ Speak to her！〃
〃Why？〃 he snapped。 〃I know which letter to believe； now。 It's better this way。 She's safe； now。 From anyone who wants to strike at me。 Safe from me！ It's better！〃 But he stalked up and down in his shirtsleeves between the two rows of chairs in front of the Dragon Throne； his fists white…knuckle hard； glaring to beat the black clouds beyond the casements that were laying a new blanket of snow on Cairhien。
Min exchanged looks with Fedwin Morr； who stood by the sun…carved doors。 The Maidens now let anyone who was not an obvious threat walk in unannounced； but those Rand did not want to see this morning would be turned away by the husky boy。 He wore the Dragon and Sword on his black collar； and Min knew he had already seen more battles … more horror … than most men three times his age； yet he was a boy。 Today； casting uneasy glances at Rand； he seemed younger than ever。 The sword on his hip still looked out of place； to her。
〃The Dragon Reborn is a man； Fedwin；〃 she said。 〃And like any man； he's sulking because he thinks a woman doesn't want to see him again。〃
Goggling； the boy jerked as if she had goosed him。 Rand stopped to scowl at her sullenly。 All that kept her from laughing was knowing that he was hiding pain as real as any stab wound。 That； and the sure knowledge that he would be as hurt if she had done what had been done。 Not that she would ever have the chance to rip down his banners； but the point applied。 Rand had been stunned at first by the news Taim brought from Caemlyn at dawn； but as soon as the man left； he had stopped looking like a poleaxed bull and started。。。 This！
Standing； she adjusted her pale green coat； folded her arms beneath her breasts； and confronted him directly。 〃What else can it be？〃 she asked calmly。 Well； she tried for calm； and almost made it。 She loved the man； but after a morning of this； she wanted to box his ears soundly。 〃You haven't mentioned Mat twice； and you don't know whether he's even alive。〃
〃Mat's alive；〃 Rand snarled。 〃I'd know if he was dead。 What do you mean I'm …！〃 His jaw clenched as if he could not make himself say the word。
〃Sulking；〃 she provided。 〃Soon； you'll be pouting。 Some women think men are prettier when they pout。 I'm not one of them。〃 Well； enough of that。 His face had darkened； and he was not blushing。 〃Haven't you twisted yourself into knots to make sure she got the throne of Andor？ Which is hers by right； might I add。 Didn't you say you wanted her to have Andor whole； not ripped apart like Cairhien or Tear？〃
〃I did！〃 he roared。 〃And now it's hers； and she wants me out of it！ Good enough； I say！ And don't tell me again to stop shouting！ I'm not …！〃 He realized that he was； and clamped his teeth shut。 A low growl came from his throat。 Morr set to studying one of his buttons； twisting it back and forth。 He had been doing a lot of that this morning。
Min kept her face smooth。 She was not going to slap him； and he was too big for her to spank。 〃Andor is hers； just as you wanted；〃 she said。 Calmly。 Almost。 〃None of the Forsaken are going after her now she's torn your banners down。〃 A dangerous light appeared in those blue…gray eyes； but she pressed on。 〃Just as you wanted。 And you can't believe she's siding with your enemies。 Andor will follow the Dragon Reborn； and you know it。 So the only reason for you to be in a snit is because you think she doesn't want to see you。 Go to her； you fool！〃 The next part was the hardest to say。 〃Before you can say two words； she'll be kissing you。〃 Light； she loved Elayne almost as much as she did Rand … maybe as much； in a very different way … but how was a woman to pete with a beautiful golden…haired queen who had a powerful nation at her beck and call？
〃I am not。。。 angry；〃 Rand said in a tight voice。 And started pacing again。 Min considered kicking him square in the bottom。 Hard。
One of the doors opened to admit leathery white…haired Sorilea； who brushed Morr aside even as he was looking to see whether Rand wanted her allowed entry。 Rand opened his mouth … angrily； whatever he chose to claim … and five women in thick black robes damp with melted snow followed the Wise One into the room； hands folded； eyes down； and deep hoods not quite hiding their faces。 Their feet were wrapped in rags。
Min's scalp prickled。 To her eyes； images and auras danced and vanished and were replaced around all six women； just as around Rand。 She had been hoping he had forgotten those five were alive。 What in the name of the Light was that wicked old woman doing？
Sorilea gestured once in a clatter of gold and ivory bracelets； and the five hastily arranged themselves in a line atop the golden Rising Sun set in the stone floor。 Rand strode along that row； stripping back hoods； baring faces that he stared into cold…eyed。
Every one of the black…robed women was unwashed； her hair lank and dirty with sweat。 Elza Penfell； a Green sister； met his gaze eagerly； a strangely fervent look on her face。 Nesune Bihara； a slender Brown； studied him as intently as he did her。 Sarene Nemdahl； so beautiful even in her dirt that you thought her agelessness must be natural； appeared to be holding to her White Ajah coolness by a fingernail。 Beldeine Nyram； too new to the shawl to have the ageless features； essayed an uncertain smile that melted under his stare。 Erian Boroleos； pale and almost as lovely as Sarene； flinched； then visibly forced herself to look into that frigid gaze。 Those last