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s is something known only to a few； child； even in the Tower。 You should not learn it now； if ever； but I will tell you。 There is … a weakness in being able to channel。 That we learn to open ourselves to the True Source means that we can be opened to other things。〃 Egwene shuddered。 〃Calm yourself； child。 It is not so easily done。 It is a thing not done； so far as I know … Light send it has not been done！ … since the Trolloc Wars。 It took thirteen Dreadlords … Darkfriends who could channel … weaving the flows through thirteen Myrddraal。 You see？ Not easily done。 There are no Dreadlords today。 This is a secret of the Tower； child。 If others knew； we could never convince them they were safe。 Only one who can channel can be turned in this way。 The weakness of our strength。 Everyone else is as safe as a fortress； only their own deeds and will can turn them to the Shadow。〃
〃Thirteen；〃 Egwene said in a tiny voice。 〃The same number who left the Tower。 Liandrin； and twelve more。〃
Sheriam's face hardened。 〃That is nothing for you to dwell on。 You will forget it。〃 Her voice climbed to a normal volume。 〃The third time is for what will be。 The way back will e but once。 Be steadfast。〃
Egwene stared at the glowing arch； stared at some far distance beyond it。 Liandrin and twelve others。 Thirteen Darkfriends who can channel。 Light help us all。 She stepped into the light。 It filled her。 It shone through her。 It burned her to the bone； seared her to the soul。 She flashed incandescent in the light。 Light help me！ There was nothing but the light。 And the pain。
Egwene stared into the standing mirror； and was not sure whether she was more surprised by the ageless smoothness of her face or the striped stole that hung around her neck。 The stole of the Amyrlin Seat。
The way back will e but once。 Be steadfast。
Thirteen。
She swayed； caught at the mirror and almost toppled it and herself to the blue…tiled floor of her dressing chamber。 Something is wrong； she thought。 The wrongness had nothing to do with her sudden dizziness； or at least that was not what felt wrong。 It was something else。 But she had no idea what。
There was an Aes Sedai at her elbow； a woman with Sheriam's high cheekbones but dark hair and concerned brown eyes； and the hand…wide stole of the Keeper on her shoulders。 Not Sheriam； though。 Egwene had never seen her before； she was sure she knew her as well as she knew herself。 Haltingly； she put a name to the woman。 Beldeine。
〃Are you ill； Mother？〃
Her stole is green。 That means she was raised from the Green Ajah。 The Keeper always es from the same Ajah as the Amyrlin she serves。 Which means if I'm the Amyrlin … if？ … then I was Green Ajah； too。 That thought shook her。 Not that she had been Green Ajah； but that she had to reason it out。 Light； something is wrong with me。
The way back will e bu。。。 The voice in her head trailed away to finish in a buzz。
Thirteen Darkfriends。
〃I am well； Beldeine；〃 Egwene said。 The name felt strange on her tongue； it felt as if she had been saying it for years。 〃We mustn't keep them waiting。〃 Keep who waiting？ She did not know； except that she felt infinitely sad about ending that wait； endlessly reluctant。
〃They will be growing impatient； Mother。〃 There was a hesitation in Beldeine's voice； as if she felt the same reluctance as Egwene； but for a different reason。 Unless Egwene missed her guess； behind that outer calm； Beldeine was terrified。
〃In that case； we had best be about it。〃
Beldeine nodded； then took a deep breath before crossing the carpet to where her staff of office； topped with the snowdrop White Flame of Tar Valon； stood propped beside the door。 〃I suppose we must； Mother。〃 She took up the staff and opened the door for Egwene； then hurried ahead so that they made a procession of two； Keeper of the Chronicles leading the Amyrlin Seat。
Egwene noticed little of the corridors they took。 All her attention was directed inward。 What is the matter with me？ Why can't I remember？ Why is so much of what I。。。 almost remember wrong？ She touched the seven…striped stole on her shoulders。 Why am I half sure I'm still a novice？
The way back will e but on… This time it ended abruptly。
Thirteen of the Black Ajah。
She stumbled at that。 It was a frightening thought； but it chilled her to the marrow beyond fear。 It felt … personal。 She wanted to scream； to run and hide。 She felt as if they were after her。 Nonsense。 The Black Ajah has been destroyed。 That seemed an odd thought； too。 Part of her remembered something called the Great Purge。 Part of her was sure no such thing had happened。
Eyes fixed ahead； Beldeine had not noticed her stumble。 Egwene had to lengthen her stride to catch up。 This woman is scared to her toenails。 What in the Light is she taking me to？
Beldeine stopped before tall； paired doors； their dark wood each inlaid with a large silver Flame of Tar Valon。 She wiped her hands on her dress； as if they were suddenly sweaty； before opening one door and leading Egwene up a straight ramp of the same silver…streaked white stone that made Tar Valon's walls。 Even here it seemed to shine。
The ramp let into a large； circular room under a domed ceiling at least thirty paces high。 A raised platform ran around the outer edge of the room； fronted by steps except where this ramp and two others came out； spaced equally around the circle。 The Flame of Tar Valon lay centered in the floor； surrounded by widening spirals of color； the colors of the seven Ajahs。 At the opposite side of the room from where the ramp entered； a high…backed chair stood； heavy and ornately carved in vines and leaves； painted in the colors of all the Ajahs。
Beldeine rapped her staff sharply on the floor。 There was a tremor in her voice。 〃She es。 The Keeper of the Seals。 The Flame of Tar Valon。 The Amyrlin Seat。 She es。〃
With a rustle of skirts； shawled women on the platform got up from their chairs。 Twenty…one chairs in groupings of three； each triad painted and cushioned in the same color as the fringe on the shawls of the women who stood before them。
The Hall of the Tower； Egwene thought as she crossed the floor to her chair。 The Amyrlin Seat's chair。 That's all it is。 The Hall of the Tower； and the Sitters for the Ajahs。 I've been here thousands of times。 But she could not remember one of them。 What am I doing in the Hall of the Tower？ Light； they'll skin me alive when they see。。。 She was not sure what it was they would see； only that she prayed they did not。
The way back will e but…
The way back will…
The way…
The Black Ajah waits。 That； at least； was whole。 It came from everywhere。 Why did no one else seem to hear it？
Settling in the chair of the Amyrlin Seat … the chair that was also the Amyrlin Seat … she realized she had no idea what to do next。 The other Aes Sedai had seated themselves when she did； all but Beldeine； who stood beside her with the staff； swallowing nervously。 They all seemed to be waiting on her。
〃Begin；〃 she said finally。
It seemed to be enough。 One of the Red Si