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〃It would have to be Tarabon and Arad Doman；〃 Moiraine said； and shook her head。 〃They have squabbled over Almoth Plain for nearly three hundred years； but it has never e to open blows。〃 She looked at Liandrin； Aes Sedai were supposed to throw off all their old loyalties to lands and rulers； but few did so pletely。 It was hard not to care for the land of your birth。 〃Why would they now … ？〃
〃Enough of idle talk；〃 the honey…haired woman broke in angrily。 〃For you； Moiraine； the Amyrlin waits。〃 She took three quick strides ahead of the others and threw open one of a pair of tall doors。 〃For you； the Amyrlin will have no idle talk。〃
Unconsciously touching the pouch at her waist； Moiraine went past Liandrin through the doorway； with a nod as if the other woman were holding the door for her。 She did not even smile at the white flash of anger on Liandrin's face。 What is the wretched girl up to？
Brightly colored carpets covered the anteroom floor in layers； and the room was pleasantly furnished with chairs and cushioned benches and small tables； the wood simply worked or just polished。 Brocaded curtains sided the tall arrowslits to make them seem more like windows。 No fires burned in the fireplaces； the day was warm； and the Shienaran chill would not e until nightfall。
Fewer than half a dozen of the Aes Sedai who had acpanied the Amyrlin were there。 Verin Mathwin and Serafelle； of the Brown Ajah； did not look up at Moiraine's entrance。 Serafelle was intently reading an old book with a worn； faded leather cover； handling its tattered pages carefully； while plump Verin； sitting cross…legged beneath an arrowslit； held a small blossom up to the light and made notes and sketches in a precise hand in a book balanced on her knee。 She had an open inkpot on the floor beside her； and a small pile of flowers on her lap。 The Brown sisters concerned themselves with little beside seeking knowledge。 Moiraine sometimes wondered if they were really aware of what was going on in the world； or even immediately around them。
The three other women already in the room turned； but they made no effort to approach Moiraine； only looked at her。 One； a slender woman of the Yellow Ajah； she did not know； she spent too little time in Tar Valon to know all the Aes Sedai； although their numbers were no longer very great。 She was acquainted with the two remaining； however。 Carlinya was as pale of skin and cold of manner as the white fringe on her shawl； the exact opposite in every way of dark； fiery Alanna Mosvani； of the Green； but they both stood and stared at her without speaking； without expression。 Alanna sharply snugged her shawl around her； but Carlinya made no move at all。 The slender Yellow sister turned away with an air of regret。
〃The Light illumine you all； Sisters；〃 Moiraine said。 No one answered。 She was not sure Serafelle or Verin had even heard。 Where are the others？ There was no need for them all to be there … most would be resting in their rooms； freshing from the journey … but she was on edge now； all the questions she could not ask running through her head。 None of it showed on her face。
The inner door opened； and Leane appeared； without her gilt…flamed staff。 The Keeper of the Chronicles was as tall as most men； willowy and graceful； still beautiful； with coppery skin and short； dark hair。 She wore a blue stole； a hand wide； instead of a shawl； for she sat in the Hall of the Tower； though as Keeper； not to represent her Ajah。
〃There you are；〃 she said briskly to Moiraine； and gestured to the door behind her。 〃e； Sister。 The Amyrlin Seat is waiting。〃 She spoke naturally in a clipped； quick way that never changed； whether she was angry or joyful or excited。 As Moiraine followed Leane in； she wondered what emotion the Keeper was feeling now。 Leane pulled the door to behind them； it banged shut with something of the sound of a cell door closing。
The Amyrlin Seat herself sat behind a broad table in the middle of the carpet； and on the table rested a flattened cube of gold； the size of a travel chest and ornately worked with silver。 The table was heavily built； its legs stout； but it seemed to squat under a weight two strong men would have had trouble lifting。
At the sight of the golden cube Moiraine had difficulty keeping her face unruffled。 The last she had seen of it； it had been safely locked in Agelmar's strongroom。 On learning of the Amyrlin Seat's arrival she had meant to tell her of it herself。 That it was already in the Amyrlin's possession was a trifle； but a worrisome trifle。 Events could be outpacing her。
She swept a deep curtsy and said formally； 〃As you called me； Mother； so have I e。〃 The Amyrlin extended her hand； and Moiraine kissed her Great Serpent ring； no different from that of any other Aes Sedai。 Rising； she made her tone more conversational； but not too much so。 She was aware of the Keeper standing behind her； beside the door。 〃I hope you had a pleasant journey； Mother。〃
The Amyrlin had been born in Tear； of a simple fisherman's family； not a noble House； and her name was Siuan Sanche； though very few had used that name； or even thought of it； in the ten years since she had been raised from the Hall of the Tower。 She was the Amyrlin Seat； that was the whole of it。 The broad stole on her shoulders was striped in the colors of the seven Ajahs； the Amyrlin was of all Ajahs and of none。 She was only of medium height； and handsome rather than beautiful； but her face held a strength that had been there before her elevation； the strength of the girl who had survived the streets of the Maule； Tear's port district； and her clear blue gaze had made kings and queens； and even the Captain mander of the Children of the Light； drop their eyes。 Her own eyes were strained； now； and there was a new tightness to her mouth。
〃We called the winds to speed our vessels up the Erinin； Daughter； and even turned the currents to our aid。〃 The Amyrlin's voice was deep； and sad。 〃I have seen the flooding we caused in villages along the river； and the Light only knows what we have done to the weather。 We will not have endeared ourselves by the damage we've done and the crops we may have ruined。 All to reach here as quickly as possible。〃 Her eyes strayed to the ornate golden cube； and she half lifted a hand as if to touch it； but when she spoke it was to say； 〃Elaida is in Tar Valon； Daughter。 She came with Elayne and Gawyn。〃
Moiraine was conscious of Leane standing to one side； quiet as always in the presence of the Amyrlin。 But watching； and listening。 〃I am surprised； Mother；〃 she said carefully。 〃This is no time for Morgase to be without Aes Sedai counsel。〃 Morgase was one of the few rulers to openly admit to an Aes Sedai councilor； almost all had one； but few admitted it。
〃Elaida insisted； Daughter； and queen or not； I doubt Morgase is a match for Elaida in a contest of wills。 In any case； perhaps this time she did not wish to be。 Elayne has potential。 More than I have ever seen before。 Already she shows progress。 The Red sisters are swollen up like puff…fish with it。 I don't think the girl leans to their way of thinking； but she is