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n long enough。 If I stay this close to you； it may be noticed。 Have you anything more to tell me？ Or to ask？ Make it quick； Daughter。〃
〃What is Callandor； Mother？〃 Nynaeve asked。
This time it was the Amyrlin who forgot herself； half turning toward Nynaeve before jerking herself back。 〃They cannot be allowed to have that。〃 Her whisper was barely audible； as if meant for her own ears alone。 〃They cannot possibly take it； but。。。〃 She took a deep breath； and her soft words firmed enough to be clear to Nynaeve； if to no one two paces further away。 〃No more than a dozen women in the Tower know what Callandor is； and perhaps as many outside。 The High Lords of Tear know； but they never speak of it except when a Lord of the Land is told on being raised。 The Sword That Cannot Be Touched is a sa'angreal； girl。 Only two more powerful were ever made； and thank the Light； neither of those was ever used。 With Callandor in your hands； child； you could level a city at one blow。 If you die keeping that out of the Black Ajah's hands … you； and Egwene； and Elayne； all three … you'll have done a service to the whole world； and cheap at the price。〃
〃How could they take it？〃 Nynaeve asked。 〃I thought only the Dragon Reborn could touch Callandor。〃
The Amyrlin gave her a sideways look sharp enough to carve the roasts on the spit。 〃They could be after something else；〃 she said after a moment。 〃They stole ter'angreal here。 The Stone of Tear holds nearly as many ter'angreal as the Tower。〃
〃I thought the High Lords hated anything to do with the One Power；〃 Nynaeve whispered incredulously。
〃Oh； they do hate it； child。 Hate it； and fear it。 When they find a Tairen girl who can channel； they bundle her onto a ship for Tar Valon before the day is done； with hardly time to speak goodbyes to her family。〃 The Amyrlin's murmur was bitter with memory。 〃Yet they hold one of the most powerful focuses of the Power the world has ever seen； inside their precious Stone。 It is my belief that is why they have collected so many ter'angreal … and indeed； anything to do with the Power … over the years； as if by doing so they can diminish the existence of the thing they cannot rid themselves of； the thing that reminds them of their own doom every time they enter the Heart of the Stone。 Their fortress that has broken a hundred armies will fall as one of the signs the Dragon is Reborn。 Not even the only sign； just one。 How that must rankle their proud hearts。 Their downfall will not even be the one great sign of the world's change。 They cannot even ignore it by staying out of the Heart。 That is where Lords of the Land are raised to High Lords； and where they must perform what they call the Rite of the Guarding four times a year； claiming that they guard the whole world against the Dragon by holding Callandor。 It must bite at their souls like a bellyful of live silverpike； and no more than they deserve。〃 She gave herself a shake； as if realizing she had said far more than she had intended。 〃Is that all； child？〃
〃Yes； Mother；〃 Nynaeve said。 Light； it always es back to Rand； doesn't it？ Always back to the Dragon Reborn。 It was still an effort to think of him that way。 〃That's all。〃
The Amyrlin shifted her stole again； frowning at the frenzied scurry in the kitchen。 〃I'll have to set this aright。 I needed to speak to you without delay； but Laras is a good woman； and she manages the kitchen and the larders well。〃
Nynaeve sniffed； and addressed her hands on the spit handle。 〃Laras is a sour lump of lard； and too handy with that spoon by half。〃 She thought she had muttered it under her breath； but she heard the Amyrlin chuckle wryly。
〃You are a fine judge of character； child。 You must have done well as the Wisdom of your village。 It was Laras who went to Sheriam and demanded to know how long you three are to be kept to the dirtiest and hardest work； without a turn at lighter。 She said she would not be a party to breaking any woman's health or spirit； no matter what I said。 A fine judge of character； child。〃
Laras came back into the kitchen doorway then； hesitating to enter her own domain。 The Amyrlin went to meet her； smiles replacing her frowns and stares。
〃It all looks very well to me； Laras。〃 The Amyrlin's words came loud enough for the entire kitchen to hear。 〃I see nothing out of place； and everything as it should be。 You are to be mended。 I think I will make Mistress of the Kitchens a formal title。〃
The stout woman's face fluttered from uneasiness to shock to beaming pleasure。 By the time the Amyrlin swept out of the kitchen； Laras was all smiles。 Her frown returned； though； as she looked from the Amyrlin's departing back to her workers。 The kitchen seemed to leap into motion。 Lams' grim stare settled on Nynaeve。
Turning the spit again； Nynaeve tried smiling at the big woman。
Laras' frown deepened； and she began tapping her spoon on her thigh； apparently forgetting that for once it had been used for its intended purpose。 It left smears of soup on the white of her apron。
I will smile at her if it kills me； Nynaeve thought； though she had to grit her teeth to do it。
Egwene and Elayne appeared； twisting their faces and scrubbing their mouths with their sleeves。 At a stare from Laras； they dashed to the spit and resumed their labors。
〃Soap；〃 Elayne muttered thickly； 〃tastes horrid！〃
Egwene trembled as she spooned juice from the dripping pan over the roasts。 〃Nynaeve； if you tell me the Amyrlin told us to stay here； I will scream。 I might run away for real。〃
〃We leave after the washing up is done；〃 she told them； 〃just as quickly as we can fetch our belongings from our rooms。〃 She wished she could share the eagerness that flashed in their eyes。 Light send we aren't walking into a trap we can't get out of。 Light send it so。
Chapter 30
（Dice）
The First Toss
After Nynaeve and the others left him； Mat spent most of the day in his room； except for one brief excursion。 He was planning。 And eating。 He ate nearly everything the serving women brought him； and asked for more。 They were more than happy to oblige。 It was bread and cheese and fruit he asked for； and he piled winter…wrinkled apples and pears； wedges of cheese and loaves of bread inside the wardrobe； leaving empty trays for them to take away。
At midday he had to endure a visit from an Aes Sedai … Anaiya； he seemed to remember her name was。 She put her hands on his head and sent cold chills through him。 It was the One Power； he decided； not simply being touched by an Aes Sedai。 She was a plain woman despite her smooth cheeks and Aes Sedai serenity。
〃You seem much better；〃 she told him； smiling。 Her smile made him think of his mother。 〃Even hungrier than I expected； so I hear； but better。 I am informed you are trying to eat the larders bare。 Believe me when I say we will see you have all the food you need。 You do not have to worry that we'll let you miss a meal before you are fully well again。〃
He gave the grin he used on his mother when he especially wanted her to believe him。 〃I know you won't。 And I do feel better。 I thought I might see