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recalling that she； too； had run like a frightened goat。
〃Wise Ones；〃 a man's voice said behind Sevanna； 〃I have been sent to ask for your judgment。〃
Instantly every woman's face regained its equanimity。 What she could not do； he had done with his very presence。 No Wise One would allow any but another Wise One to see her out of countenance。 Alarys stopped stroking her hair； which she had pulled over her shoulder。 Plainly none of them recognized him。 Sevanna thought she did。
He regarded them gravely； with green eyes much older than his smooth face。 He had full lips； but there was a set to his mouth； as if he had forgotten how to smile。 〃I am Kinhuin； of the Mera'din； Wise Ones。 The Jumai say we may not take our full share from this place because we are not Jumai； but it is because they will have less since we are two for every Jumai algai'd'siswai。 The Brotherless ask your judgment； Wise Ones。〃
Now that they knew who he was； some could not hide their dislike of the men who had abandoned clan and sept to e to the Shaido rather than follow Rand al'Thor； a wetlander and no true Car'a'carn； as they thought。 Tion's face merely went flat； but Rhiale's eyes flashed； and Meira teetered on the edge of a scowl。 Only Modarra showed concern； but then； she would have tried to settle a dispute between treekillers。
〃These six Wise Ones will give judgment after hearing both sides；〃 Sevanna told Kinhuin with a graveness to match his。
The other women looked at her； barely concealing their surprise that she intended to stand aside。 It had been she who arranged for ten times the number of Mera'din to acpany the Jumai as went with any other sept。 She really had suspected Caddar； if not of what he had done； and she had wanted as many spears around her as possible。 Besides； they could always die in place of Jumai。
She affected surprise at the others' surprise。 〃It would not be fair for me to take part since my own sept is involved；〃 she told them before turning back to the green…eyed man。 〃They will give fair judgment； Kinhuin。 And I am certain they will speak in favor of the Mera'din。〃
The other women gave her hard looks before Tion motioned abruptly for Kinhuin to lead the way。 He had to tear his eyes away from Sevanna to ply。 Wearing a faint smile … he had been staring at her； not Someryn … she watched them vanish into the mass of people moving about the manor grounds。 For all their misliking the Brotherless … and her making predictions to the man about their decision … the chances were they would decide that way。 Either way； Kinhuin would remember and tell the others of his so…called society。 The Jumai were already in her belt pouch； but anything that tied the Mera'din to her was wele。
Turning； Sevanna strode back into the trees； though not toward the stable。 Now that she was alone； she could see to something much more important than the Brotherless。 She checked what she had tucked into her skirt at the small of her back； where her shawl hid it。 She would have felt if it slipped a hair； but she wanted to touch its smooth length with her fingers。 No Wise One would dare think her less than they； once she used that； perhaps today。 And one day； it would give her Rand al'Thor。 After all； if Caddar had lied in one thing； maybe he had lied in others。
Through a blur of tears Galina Casban glared at the Wise One shielding her。 As if there were any need for the slender woman's shield。 Right then she could not have so much as embraced the Source。 Sitting cross…legged on the ground between two squatting Maidens； Belinde adjusted her shawl and gave a thin smile； as if she knew Galina's thoughts。 Her face was narrow and foxlike； and her hair and eyebrows had been bleached nearly white by the sun。 Galina wished she had crushed her skull instead of merely slapping her。
It had not been an attempt at escape； merely more frustration than she could bear。 Her days began and ended with exhaustion； every day more than the last。 She could not remember how long since they had stuffed her into that coarse black robe； the days ran together like an everlasting stream。 A week？ A month？ Maybe not that long。 Surely not more。 She wished she had never touched Belinde。 If the woman had not stuffed rags into her mouth to silence her sobbing； she would have begged to be allowed to carry rocks again； or move a pile of pebbles stone by stone； or any of the tortures they filled her hours with。 Anything rather than this。
Only Galina's head stuck out of the leather sack that hung suspended from the stout limb of an oak。 Directly beneath the sack； coals glowed in a bronze brazier； a slow burn； heating the air inside the sack。 She huddled in that sweltering heat with her thumbs tied to her toes； sweat slicking her nakedness。 Her hair clung damply to her face； and she panted； nostrils flaring for air； when she was not sobbing。 Even so； this would have been better than the endless； senseless； backbreaking labor they subjected her to except for one thing。 Before snugging the neck of the sack beneath her chin； Belinde had emptied a pouch of some fine powder over her； and as she had begun to sweat； it had begun to burn like pepper flung in the eyes。 It seemed to coat her from the shoulders down； and； oh； Light； it burned！
That she called on the Light measured her desperation； but they had not broken her for all their trying。 She would get free … she would！ … and once she did； she would make these savages pay in blood！ Rivers of blood！ Oceans！ She would have them all skinned alive！ She would。。。！ Flinging back her head； she howled； the wadded rags in her mouth muffled the sound； but she howled； and she did not know whether it was a shriek of rage or a scream for mercy。
When her howls died and her head fell forward； Belinde and the Maidens were on their feet； and Sevanna was with them。 Galina attempted to stifle her sobbing in front of the golden…haired woman； but she could as soon have plucked the sun from the sky with her fingers。
〃Listen to her whine and snivel；〃 Sevanna sneered； ing to look up at her。 Galina tried to put an equal contempt in her own stare。 Sevanna decked herself with enough jewelry for ten women！ She wore her blouse unlaced to nearly bare her bosom； except for all those mismatched necklaces； and breathed deep when men looked at her！ Galina tried； but contempt was hard to manage with tears rolling down her cheeks along with her sweat。 She shook with weeping； making the sack sway。
〃This da'tsang is tough as an old ewe；〃 Belinde cackled； 〃but I always found even the toughest old ewe was made tender if cooked slowly； with the right herbs。 When I was a Maiden； I softened Stone Dogs with enough cooking。〃 Galina closed her eyes。 Oceans of blood； to pay for。。。！
The sack lurched； and Galina's eyes popped open as it began to settle。 The Maidens had undone the rope running over the limb； and the pair of them were lowering her slowly。 Frantically she thrashed about； trying to look down； and almost began sobbing anew； with relief； when she saw that the brazier had been moved aside。 With Belinde's talk of cooking。。。 That would be Belinde's fate； Gali