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lord's own ground。
In the front hall Egeanin left Domon at the door and spoke to a servant。 A local man； judging by the full sleeves of his shirt and the spirals embroidered across his chest； Domon believed he caught the words 〃High Lord。〃 The servant hurried away； returning finally to lead them to what was surely the largest room in the house。 Every stick of furniture had been cleared out of it； even the rugs； and the stone floor was polished to a bright gleam。 Folding screens painted with strange birds hid walls and windows。
Egeanin stopped just inside the room。 When Domon tried to ask where they were and why； she silenced him with a savage glare and a wordless growl。 She did not move； but she seemed on the point of bouncing on her toes。 She held whatever it was she had taken from his ship as if it were precious。 He tried to imagine what it could be。
Suddenly a gong sounded softly； and the Seanchan woman dropped to her knees； setting the silk…wrapped something carefully beside her。 At a look from her； Domon got down as well。 Lords had strange ways； and he suspected Seanchan lords might have stranger ones than he knew。
Two men appeared in the doorway at the far end of the room。 One had the left side of his scalp shaved； his remaining pale golden hair braided and hanging down over his ear to his shoulder。 His deep yellow robe was just long enough to let the toes of yellow slippers peek out when he walked。 The other wore a blue silk robe； brocaded with birds and long enough to trail nearly a span on the floor behind him。 His head was shaved bald； and his fingernails were at least an inch long； those on the first two fingers of each hand lacquered blue。 Domon's mouth dropped open。
〃You are in the presence of the High Lord Turak；〃 the yellow…haired man intoned； 〃who leads Those Who e Before； and succors the Return。〃
Egeanin prostrated herself with her hands at her sides。 Domon imitated her with alacrity。 Even the High Lords of Tear would no demand this； he thought。 Out of the corner of his eye； he saw Egeanin kissing the floor。 With a grimace； he decided there was a limit to imitation。 They can no see whether I do or no anyway。
Egeanin suddenly stood。 He started to rise as well； and made it as far as one knee before a growl in her throat and a scandalized look on the face of the man with the braid put him back down； face to the floor and muttering under his breath。 I would no do this for the King of Illian and the Council of Nine together。
〃Your name is Egeanin？〃 It had to be the voice of the man in the blue robe。 His slurring speech had a rhythm almost like singing。
〃I was so named on my sword…day； High Lord；〃 she replied humbly。
〃This is a fine specimen； Egeanin。 Quite rare。 Do you wish a payment？〃
〃That the High Lord is pleased is payment enough。 I live to serve； High Lord。〃
〃I will mention your name to the Empress； Egeanin。 After the Return； new names will be called to the Blood。 Show yourself fit； and you may shed the name Egeanin for a higher。〃
〃The High Lord honors me。〃
〃Yes。 You may leave me。〃
Domon could see nothing but her boots backing out of the room； pausing at intervals for bows。 The door closed behind her。 There was a long silence。 He was watching sweat from his forehead drip onto the floor when Turak spoke again。
〃You may rise； trader。〃
Domon got to his feet； and saw what Turak held in his long…nailed fingers。 The cuendillar disk shaped into the ancient seal of the Aes Sedai。 Remembering Egeanin's reaction when he mentioned Aes Sedai； Domon began to sweat in earnest。 There was no animosity in the High Lord's dark eyes； only a slight curiosity； but Domon did not trust lords。
〃Do you know what this is； trader？〃
〃No； High Lord。〃 Domon's reply was as steady as a rock； no trader lasted long who could not lie with a straight face and an easy voice。
〃And yet you kept it in a secret place。〃
〃I do collect old things； High Lord； from times past。 There do be those who would steal such； did they lay easy to hand。〃
Turak regarded the black…and…white disk for a moment。 〃This is cuendillar； trader … do you know that name？ … and older than you perhaps know。 e with me。〃
Domon followed the man cautiously； feeling a little more sure of himself。 With any lord of the lands he knew； if guards were going to be summoned； they already would have been。 But the little he had seen of Seanchan told him they did not do things as other men did。 He schooled his face to stillness。
He was led into another room。 He thought the furniture here had to have been brought by Turak。 It seemed to be made of curves； with no straight lines at all； and the wood was polished to bring out strange graining。 There was one chair； on a silk carpet woven in birds and flowers； and one large cabinet made in a circle。 Folding screens made new walls。
The man with the braid opened the doors of the cabinet to reveal shelves holding an odd assortment of figurines； cups； bowls； vases； fifty different things； no two alike in size or shape。 Domon's breath caught as Turak carefully set the disk beside its exact twin。
〃Cuendillar；〃 Turak said。 〃That is what I collect； trader。 Only the Empress herself has a finer collection。〃
Domon's eyes almost popped out of his head。 If everything on those shelves was truly cuendillar； it was enough to buy a kingdom； or at the least to found a great House。 Even a king might beggar himself to buy so much of it； if he even knew where to find so much。 He put on a smile。
〃High Lord； please accept this piece as a gift。〃 He did not want to let it go； but that was better than angering this Seanchan。 Maybe the Darkfriends will chase him now。 〃I do be but a simple trader。 I want only to trade。 Let me sail； and I do promise that … 〃
Turak's expression never changed； but the man with the braid cut Domon off with a snapped； 〃Unshaven dog！ You speak of giving the High Lord what Captain Egeanin has already given。 You bargain； as if the High Lord were a … a merchant！ You will be flayed alive over nine days； dog； and … 〃 The barest motion of Turak's finger silenced him。
〃I cannot allow you to leave me； trader；〃 the High Lord said。 〃In this shadowed land of oath…breakers； I find none who can converse with a man of sensibilities。 But you are a collector。 Perhaps your conversation will be interesting。〃 He took the chair； lolling back in its curves to study Domon。
Domon put on what he hoped was an ingratiating smile。 〃High Lord； I do be a simple trader； a simple man。 I do no have the way of talking with great Lords。〃
The man with the braid glared at him； but Turak seemed not to hear。 From behind one of the screens； a slim； pretty young woman appeared on quick feet to kneel beside the High Lord； offering a lacquered tray bearing a single cup； thin and handleless； of some steaming black liquid。 Her dark； round face was vaguely reminiscent of the Sea Folk。 Turak took the cup carefully in his long…nailed fingers； never looking at the young woman； and inhaled the fumes。 Domon took one look at the girl and pulled his eyes