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et her do was another chance to touch saidar； to feel the Power flowing through her。 She hated the things Renna and the other sul'dam made her do； but she was sure that she could handle much more of the Power now than she could before leaving Tar Valon。 She certainly knew she could do things with it that no sister in the Tower had ever thought of doing； they never thought of tearing the earth apart to kill men。
〃Perhaps you won't have to worry about any of it much longer；〃 Min said； grinning。 〃I've found us a ship； Egwene。 The captain has been held here by the Seanchan； and he is about ready to sail with or without permission。〃
〃If he will take you； Min； go with him；〃 Egwene said wearily。 〃I told you I'm valuable； now。 Renna says in a few days they're sending a ship back to Seanchan。 Just to take me。〃
Min's grin vanished； and they stared at each other。 Suddenly Min hurled her rock at the pile on the table； scattering them。 〃There has to be a way out of here。 There has to be a way to take that bloody thing off your neck！〃
Egwene leaned her head back against the wall。 〃You know the Seanchan have collected every woman they've been able to find who can channel even a speck。 They e from all over； not just from here in Falme； but from the fishing villages； and from farming towns inland。 Taraboner and Domani women； passengers off ships they've stopped。 There are two Aes Sedai among them。〃
〃Aes Sedai！〃 Min exclaimed。 By habit she looked around to make sure no Seanchan had overheard her saying that name。 〃Egwene； if there are Aes Sedai here； they can help us。 Let me talk to them； and … 〃
〃They can't even help themselves； Min。 I only talked to one … her name is Ryma； the sul'dam don't call her that； but that's her name； she wanted to make sure I knew it … and she told me there is another。 She told me in between bouts of tears。 She's Aes Sedai； and she was crying； Min！ She has a collar on her neck； they make her answer to Pura； and she can't do anything more about it than I can。 They captured her when Falme fell。 She was crying because she's beginning to stop fighting against it； because she cannot take being punished anymore。 She was crying because she wants to take her own life； and she cannot even do that without permission。 Light； I know how she feels！〃
Min shifted uneasily； smoothing her dress with suddenly nervous hands。 〃Egwene； you don't want to 。。。 Egwene； you must not think of harming yourself。 I will get you out somehow。 I will！〃
〃I am not going to kill myself；〃 Egwene said dryly。 〃Even if I could。 Let me have your knife。 e on。 I won't hurt myself。 Just hand it to me。〃
Min hesitated before slowly taking her knife from its sheath at her waist。 She held it out warily； obviously ready to leap if Egwene tried anything。
Egwene took a deep breath and reached for the hilt。 A soft quiver ran through the muscles of her arm。 As her hand came within a foot of the knife； a cramp suddenly contorted her fingers。 Eyes fixed； she tried to force her hand closer。 The cramp seized her whole arm； knotting muscles to her shoulder。 With a groan； she sank back； rubbing her arm and concentrating her thoughts on not touching the knife。 Slowly； the pain began to lessen。
Min stared at her incredulously。 〃What 。。。？ I don't understand。〃
〃Damane are not allowed to touch a weapon of any kind。〃 She worked her arm； feeling the tightness go。 〃Even our meat is cut for us。 I don't want to hurt myself； but I could not if I did want to。 No damane is ever left alone where she might jump from a height … that window is nailed shut … or throw herself in a river。〃
〃Well； that's a good thing。 I mean 。。。 Oh； I don't know what I mean。 If you could jump in a river； you might escape。〃
Egwene went on dully； as if the other woman had not spoken。 〃They are training me； Min。 The sul'dam and the a'dam are training me。 I cannot touch anything I even think of as a weapon。 A few weeks ago I considered hitting Renna over the head with that pitcher； and I could not pour wash water for three days。 Once I'd thought of it that way； I not only had to stop thinking about hitting her with it； I had to convince myself I would never； under any circumstances； hit her with it before I could touch it again。 She knew what had happened； told me what I had to do； and would not let me wash anywhere except with that pitcher and bowl。 You are lucky it happened between your visiting days。 Renna made sure I spent those days sweating from the time I woke to the time I fell asleep； exhausted。 I am trying to fight them； but they are training me as surely as they're training Pura。〃 She clapped a hand to her mouth； moaning through her teeth。 〃Her name is Ryma。 I have to remember her name； not the name they've put on her。 She is Ryma； and she's Yellow Ajah； and she has fought them as long and as hard as she could。 It is no fault of hers that she hasn't the strength left to fight any longer。 I wish I knew who the other sister is that Ryma mentioned。 I wish I knew her name。 Remember both of us； Min。 Ryma； of the Yellow Ajah； and Egwene al'Vere。 Not Egwene the damane； Egwene al'Vere of Emond's Field。 Will you do that？〃
〃Stop it！〃 Min snapped。 〃You stop it right this instant！ If you get shipped off to Seanchan； I'll be right there with you。 But I don't think you will。 You know I've read you； Egwene。 I don't understand most of it … I almost never do … but I see things I am sure link you to Rand； and Perrin； and Mat； and … yes； even Galad； the Light help you for a fool。 How can any of that happen if the Seanchan take you off across the ocean？〃
〃Maybe they're going to conquer the whole world； Min。 If they conquer the world； there's no reason Rand and Galad and the rest could not end up in Seanchan。〃
〃You ninny…headed goose！〃
〃I am being practical；〃 Egwene said sharply。 〃I don't intend to stop fighting； not as long as I can breathe； but I don't see any hope that I'll ever have the a'dam off me； either。 Just as I don't see any hope that anyone is going to stop the Seanchan。 Min； if this ship captain will take you； go with him。 At least then one of us will be free。〃
The door swung open； and Renna stepped in。
Egwene jumped to her feet and bowed sharply； as did Min。 The tiny room was crowded for bowing； but Seanchan insisted on protocol before fort。
〃Your visiting day； is it？〃 Renna said。 〃I had forgotten。 Well； there is training to be done even on visiting days。〃
Egwene watched sharply as the sul'dam took down the bracelet； opened it； and fastened it again around her wrist。 She could not see how it was done。 If she could have probed with the One Power； she would have； but Renna would have known that immediately。 As the bracelet closed around Renna's wrist a look came onto the sul'dam's face that made Egwene's heart sink。
〃You have been channeling。〃 Renna's voice was deceptively mild； there was a spark of anger in her eyes。 〃You know that is forbidden except when we are plete。〃 Egwene wet her lips。 〃Perhaps I have been too lenient with you。 Perhaps you believe that because you are valuable now； you will be allowed license。 I think I made a mis