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was somersaulting head…over…heels through the air。 No time even to yell。 With a thump that jarred her teeth and took all the wind out of her； she landed hard at the foot at the path； sitting right in front of Birgitte。 For an instant she could not even think； and when she could； little satisfaction remained。 So much for queenly dignity。 Brushing her hair out of her face； she tried to catch her breath as she waited for Birgitte's cutting ment。 This was a chance for the other woman to play the older and wiser sister with a vengeance； and she seldom let an opportunity pass。
To Elayne's surprise； Birgitte heaved her to her feet even before Aviendha could reach her； and without so much as the faint grin on Aviendha's face。 All Elayne could feel from her Warder was a sense of。。。 focus； she thought an arrow nocked on a drawn bowstring might feel that way。 〃Do we run or fight？〃 Birgitte asked。 〃I recognized those Seanchan fliers from Falme； and truth for true； I suggest running。 My bow is the ordinary sort； today。〃 Aviendha gave her a slight frown； and Elayne sighed； Birgitte had to learn to guard her tongue if she really intended to hide who she was。
〃Of course we run；〃 Nynaeve panted； laboring down the final stretch of path。 〃Fight or run！ Fool question！ Do you think we're utter …？ Light！ What are they doing？〃 Her voice started climbing and kept right on。 〃Alise！ Alise； where are you？ Alise！ Alise！〃
With a start； Elayne realized the farm was boiling as badly as it had when Careane's face was recognized。 Maybe worse。 A hundred and forty…seven Kinswomen inhabited the place at present； Alise had reported； including fifty…four red…belted Wise Women sent out days ago and a number of others who had been passing through the city； now it looked as though every last one was running somewhere； and a good many of the other women； too。 Most of the Tarasin Palace servants in their green…and…white livery dashed this way and that carrying burdens。 Ducks and chickens darted through the tumult； flapping and squawking； adding to the apparent confusion。 Elayne even saw a Warder； Vandene's grizzled Jaem； trot by with his wiry arms wrapped around a big jute sack！
Alise appeared as though from the air； poised and collected despite the perspiration on her face。 Every strand of her hair was in place； and her dress looked as if she were merely out for a stroll。 〃There's no need to screech；〃 she said calmly； planting hands on hips。 〃Birgitte told me what those big birds are； and I thought we might be leaving sooner rather than later； especially with all of you galloping down the hill like the Dark One himself was after you。 I told everybody to collect one clean dress apiece； three changes of shift and stockings； soap； mending baskets； and all the coin they have。 That； and no more。 The last ten to finish will do the washing…up till we get where we're going； that will speed their feet。 I told those servants to gather all the food they could； too； just in case。 And your Warders。 Sensible fellows； most of them。 Surprisingly sensible； for men。 Does being a Warder do something to them？〃
Nynaeve stood there with her jaw hanging； ready to issue orders and none left to give。 Emotions played across her face too fast to catch。 〃Very good；〃 she mumbled finally。 And sourly。 Suddenly she brightened。 〃The women who aren't Kin。 Yes！ They have to be … 〃
〃Calm yourself；〃 Alise broke in； making a soothing gesture。 〃They are already gone； for the most part。 Mainly those with husbands or families they're worried about。 I couldn't have held those back had I wanted。 But a good thirty think those birds really are Shadowspawn； and want to stay as close to Aes Sedai as they can get。〃 A sharp sniff said what she thought of that。 〃Now； you just gather yourself。 Drink some cool water； not too fast。 Put a little on your face。 I have to keep an eye on things。〃 Casting her eye over the bustle； everybody running in bounds； Alise shook her head。 〃Some would slack off if Trollocs were ing over the hill； and most of the noblewomen never really do get used to our rules。 For sure； I'll need to remind two or three before we go。〃 With that； she waded serenely back into the turmoil of the farmyard and left Nynaeve gaping。
〃Well；〃 Elayne said； brushing her skirt； 〃you did say she was a very capable woman。〃
〃I never said that；〃 Nynaeve snapped。 〃I never said 'very。' Hmmph！ Where did my hat get to？ Thinks she knows everything。 I'll wager she doesn't know that！〃 She flounced off in a different direction than Alise。
Elayne stared after her。 Her hat？ She would have liked to know where her own hat had gone to … it was a beautiful thing … but really！ Maybe being in a circle working that much of the Power； using an angreal doing it； had unsettled Nynaeve's wits temporarily。 She still felt a trifle odd； herself； as though she could pluck little bits of saidar out of the air around her。 In any case； she had other matters to worry about right then。 Like being ready to get away before the Seanchan descended。 From what she had seen in Falme； they really might bring a hundred damane； or more； and based on the little Egwene would let herself say of her captivity； most of those women really would be eager to help collar others。 She said that what had turned her stomach most had been the sight of damane from Seanchan laughing with their sul'dam； fawning and playing with them； well…trained hounds with their affectionate handlers。 Egwene said some of the women collared in Falme had been that way； too。 It made Elayne's blood run cold。 She would die before letting them put that leash on her！ And she would as soon let the Forsaken have what she had found as the Seanchan。 She went running to the cistern； Aviendha at her side breathing almost as hard as she was herself。
It seemed Alise really had thought of everything； though。 The ter'angreal were already stowed away on the packhorses。 The unsearched panniers remained full of jumbled odds and ends and the Light knew what； but those she and Aviendha had emptied now bulged with coarse sacks of flour and salt； beans and lentils。 A handful of stablefolk minded the packanimals instead of running about with their arms full。 Doing Alise's bidding； no doubt。 Even Birgitte went trotting off at the woman's call with no more than a rueful grin！
Elayne lifted canvas covers to examine the ter'angreal as well as she could without unloading them again。 Everything appeared to be there； a bit tumbled together in two panniers； not enough to fill them； but nothing broken。 Not that anything short of the One Power itself could break most ter'angreal； yet even so。。。
Aviendha took a seat cross…legged on the ground； blotting sweat from her face with a large； plain linen handkerchief that seemed very much at odds with her pretty silk riding dress。 Even she was beginning to show weariness。 〃What are you muttering about； Elayne？ You sound like Nynaeve。 This Alise has only saved us the trouble of packing those things ourselves。〃
Elayne colored faintly。 She had not meant to speak aloud。 〃I just don't want anyone handling them who doesn't know what they are doing； Aviendha。〃 Some ter'angreal could trigg