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e brazier had been moved aside。 With Belinde's talk of cooking。。。 That would be Belinde's fate； Galina decided。 Tied to a spit and turned over a fire until her juices dripped！ That to begin！
With a thud that made Galina grunt； the leather bag hit the ground and toppled over。 As unconcerned as if they were handling a sack of potatoes； the Maidens tumbled her out onto the brown weeds； sliced the cords that held her thumbs and toes； plucked the gag from between her teeth。 Dirt and dead leaves stuck to the sweat coating her。
She very much wanted to stand； to meet them all eye…to…eye and glare…for…glare。 Instead； she rose only as far as hands and knees； then dug her fingers into the mulch of the forest floor； dug her toes in。 Any further； and she would not be able to stop her hands from flying to soothe her red； flaming skin。 Her sweat felt like the juice of ice peppers。 All she could do was crouch there and quiver； try to work some moisture back into her mouth and daydream of what she would do to these savages。
〃I believed you were stronger than this；〃 Sevanna said above her in thoughtful tones； 〃but perhaps Belinde is right。 Perhaps you are soft enough； now。 If you swear to obey me； you can stop being da'tsang。 Perhaps you will not even have to be gai'shain。 Will you swear to obey me in all things？〃
〃Yes！〃 The hoarse word flew from Galina's tongue without hesitation； though she had to swallow before speaking more。 〃I will obey you！ I swear it！〃 And so she would obey。 Until they gave the opening she needed。 Was this all that had been necessary？ An oath she would have made the first day？ Sevanna would learn what it was like to hang over hot coals。 Oh； yes； she。。。
〃Then you will not object to swearing your oath on this；〃 Sevanna said； tossing something down in front of her。
Galina's scalp crawled as she stared at it。 A white rod like polished ivory； a foot long and no thicker than her wrist。 Then she saw the flowing marks carved into the end toward her； numerals used in the Age of Legends。 One hundred eleven。 She had thought it was the Oath Rod； somehow stolen from the White Tower。 That also was marked； but with the numeral three； which some thought stood for the Three Oaths。 Maybe this was not what it seemed。 Maybe。 Yet no hooded viper from the Drowned Lands coiled there could have frozen her so still。
〃A fine oath； Sevanna。 When did you intend to tell the rest of us？〃
That voice jerked Galina's head up。 It could have pulled her eyes away from a hooded viper； too。
Therava appeared among the trees leading a dozen cold…faced Wise Ones。 When they stopped behind her； confronting Sevanna； every woman present except for the Maidens had been there when Galina was sentenced to wear the black robe。 A word from Therava； a short nod from Sevanna； and the Maidens departed swiftly。 Sweat still oozed from Galina； but suddenly the air seemed cold。
Sevanna glanced at Belinde； who avoided her eye。 Sevanna's lip curled； half sneer； half snarl； and she planted fists on hips。 Galina did not understand where she found the nerve； a woman who could not channel at all。 Some of these women possessed not inconsiderable strength。 No； she could not afford to think of them only as wilders if she was to escape and have her revenge。 Therava and Someryn were stronger than any woman in the Tower； and any of them could have been Aes Sedai easily。
But Sevanna faced them defiantly。 〃It seems you rendered justice quickly；〃 she said in a voice dry as dust。
〃The matter was simple；〃 Tion replied calmly。 〃The Mera'din received the justice they deserved。〃
〃And they were told they received it in spite of your attempt to sway us；〃 Rhiale added with some heat。 Sevanna nearly did snarl at that。
Therava would not be diverted from her purpose； though。 In one swift step she reached Galina； gripped a handful of her hair and jerked her up to her knees； bent her head back。 Therava was not the tallest of these women by at least a head； yet she loomed taller than most men； staring down with a hawk's eyes； driving away every thought of revenge or defiance。 The white streaks touching her dark red hair only made her face more manding。 Galina's hands clenched into fists on her thighs； nails digging into her palms。 Even the burning of her skin paled under that stare。 She had daydreamed about breaking every one of these women； making them plead for death； laughing as she denied their begging。 About every one except Therava。 At night； Therava filled her dreams and all Galina could do was try to flee； the only escape was to wake screaming。 Galina had broken strong men and strong women； but she stared up at Therava wide…eyed and whined。
〃This one has no honor to shame。〃 Therava almost spat the words。 〃If you want her broken； Sevanna； let me have her。 When I am done； she will obey without the need for your friend Caddar's toy。〃
Sevanna spoke up heatedly； denying friendship with this Caddar； whoever he was； and Rhiale barked that Sevanna had brought him to the others； and others began arguing about whether the 〃binder〃 would work any better than the 〃traveling box。〃
A small part of Galina's mind seized on mention of the traveling box。 She had heard it spoken of before； longed to lay hands on it if only for a moment。 With a ter'angreal that enabled her to Travel； however imperfectly it seemed to work； she would be able to。。。 Even hope of escape could not stand against thoughts of what Therava would do to her if the others decided to give in to the woman's request。 When the hawk…eyed Wise One loosed her hair to join the argument； Galina hurled herself at the rod； landing flat on her belly。 Anything； even having to obey Sevanna； was better than being handed over to Therava。 If she had not been shielded； she would have channeled to operate the rod herself。
No sooner did her fingers close on the smooth rod than Therava's foot came down on it hard； trapping her hands painfully against the ground。 None of the Wise Ones so much as glanced at her where she lay writhing； trying futilely to pull free。 She could not make herself pull too hard； dimly she could recall making rulers pale with fear； but she did not dare disturb this woman's foot。
〃If she is to swear；〃 Therava said； staring hard at Sevanna； 〃it should be to obey all of us here。〃 The others nodded； some voicing agreement； all but Belinde； and she pursed her lips thoughtfully。
Sevanna stared back just as hard。 〃Very well；〃 she acceded finally。 〃But me first among us。 I am not only a Wise One； I speak as the clan chief。〃
Therava smiled thinly。 〃So you do。 Two among us first； Sevanna。 You and I。〃 Not a whisper of defiance faded from Sevanna's face； but she nodded。 Grudgingly。 Only then did Therava move her foot。 The light of saidar surrounded her； and a flow of Spirit touched the numerals at the end of the rod in Galina's hands。 Just as was done with the Oath Rod。
For an instant； Galina hesitated； flexing mashed fingers。 It felt the same as the Oath Rod； too； not quite like ivory； not quite like glass； distinctly cool on her palms。 If it was a second Oath Rod； it could be used to