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lines of those dresses should have been enough。 Most of these women showed at least a few lines on their cheeks； yet they looked like girls caught with their hands full of stolen nutbread。 All but stout Sumeko； fists planted on broad hips； who met the Aes Sedai stare for stare。 A bright glow of saidar surrounded one of their number； Kirstian； who kept glancing over her shoulder。 With a pale face perhaps ten years older than Nynaeve's； she appeared out of place among the others。 That face grew whiter every time her black eyes met those of an Aes Sedai。
Nynaeve hurried to the women who led the Kin； her face beaming encouragement； and Reanne and the others smiled with visible relief。 Marred a little； true； by the sidelong glances they directed at Lan； him they regarded as the wolf he resembled。 Nynaeve； however； was the reason Sumeko did not wilt like the rest whenever an Aes Sedai glanced in her direction。 She had vowed to teach those women that they possessed backbones； though Aviendha did not pletely understand why。 Nynaeve was Aes Sedai herself； no Wise One would ever tell anyone to stand up to Wise Ones。
However well that might be working with respect to the other Aes Sedai； even Sumeko wore a slightly fawning air for Nynaeve。 The Knitting Circle found it strange； to say the least； that women as young as Elayne and Nynaeve gave orders to the other Aes Sedai and were obeyed。 Aviendha herself found it peculiar； how could strength in the Power； something you were born with as surely as your eyes； weigh more heavily than the honor that years could bring？ Yet the older Aes Sedai did obey； and for the Kinswomen； that was enough。 Ieine； nearly as tall as Aviendha herself and almost as dark as the Sea Folk； returned Nynaeve's every glance with an obsequious smile； while Dimana； white streaking her bright red hair； ducked her head constantly under Nynaeve's eyes； and yellow…haired Sibella hid nervous giggles behind a hand。 Despite their Ebou Dari garments； only Tamarla； lean and olive…skinned； was Altaran； and not even from the city。
They parted as soon as Nynaeve came close； revealing a woman on her knees； wrists bound behind her； a leather sack covering her head； and her fine clothes torn and dusty。 She was as much the reason for their uneasiness as Merilille's frowns or the Forsaken。 Perhaps more。
Tamarla dragged the hood off； leaving the woman's thin； bead…studded braids tangled； Ispan Shefar tried to rise； and managed to reach an awkward crouch before she staggered and sank back down； blinking and giggling foolishly。 Sweat ran down her cheeks； and a few bruises from her capture marred her ageless features。 She had been treated too gently for her crimes； to Aviendha's mind。
The herbs Nynaeve had forced down the woman's throat still fogged her wits as well as weakening her knees； but Kirstian held a shield on her with every shred of the Power she could summon。 There was no chance the Shadowrunner might escape … even had she not been dosed； Kirstian was as strong in the Power as Reanne； stronger than most Aes Sedai Aviendha had met … yet even Sumeko plucked her skirts nervously and avoided looking at the kneeling woman。
〃Surely the sisters should have her； now。〃 Reanne's high…pitched voice carried； unsteady enough to belong to the Black sister Kirstian shielded。 〃Nynaeve Sedai； we。。。 we should not be guar … uh … in charge of。。。 an Aes Sedai。〃
〃That's right；〃 Sumeko put in quickly。 And anxiously。 〃The Aes Sedai should have her； now。〃 Sibella echoed her； and nods and murmurs of agreement rippled through the Kinswomen。 They believed in their bones that they stood far below Aes Sedai； very likely they would have chosen guarding Trollocs over holding an Aes Sedai。
The disapproving stares from Merilille and the other sisters changed once Ispan Shefar's face was revealed。 Sareitha Tomares； who had worn her brown…fringed shawl only a few years and still did not have the ageless appearance； glared with a disgust that should have flayed the Shadowrunner at fifty paces。 Adeleas and Vandene； hands tightening on their skirts； appeared to struggle with hatred for the woman who had been their sister and betrayed them。 Yet the stares they gave the Knitting Circle were not that much better。 They； too； knew in their hearts that the Kin stood a very long way below them。 There was much more to it than that； but the betrayer had been one of their own； and no one but they had the right to her。 Aviendha agreed。 A Maiden who betrayed her spear…sisters did not die quickly or unshamed。
Nynaeve pulled the sack back down over Ispan Shefar's head with some force。 〃You've done well so far； and you'll continue to do well；〃 she told the Kinswomen firmly。 〃If she shows signs of ing round； pour some more of that mixture down her。 It'll keep her giddy as a goat full of ale。 Hold her nose； if she tries not to swallow。 Even an Aes Sedai will swallow if you hold her nose and threaten to box her ears。〃
Reanne's jaw dropped and her eyes sprang wide； like most of her panions'。 Sumeko nodded； but slowly； and goggled nearly as much as the others。 When Kinswomen said Aes Sedai； they might have been naming the Creator。 The thought of holding an Aes Sedai's nose； even a Shadowrunner's； painted their faces with horror。
By the popping eyes among the Aes Sedai； they liked the notion even less。 Merilille opened her mouth； staring at Nynaeve； but just then Elayne reached her； and the Gray sister rounded on her instead； sparing barely a single disapproving frown for Brigitte。 It was a measure of her agitation that her voice rose rather than dropping； normally Merilille was very discreet。 〃Elayne； you must speak to Nynaeve。 Those women are confused and frightened out of their wits already。 It won't help if she upsets them even more。 If the Amyrlin Seat really does intend to allow them to go to the Tower；〃 she shook her head slowly； trying to deny that； and perhaps a great deal else； 〃if she does mean to； they must have a clear picture of their places； and … 〃
〃The Amyrlin does；〃 Elayne cut her off。 From Nynaeve； a firm tone was a fist shaken under your nose； from Elayne； it was calm certainty。 〃They will have their chance to try again； and if they fail； they still will not be sent away。 No woman who can channel will be cut off from the Tower again。 They will all be a part of the White Tower。〃
Fingering her belt knife idly； Aviendha wondered about that。 Egwene； Elayne's Amyrlin Seat； said much the same。 She was a friend； too； but she had wrapped her heart around being Aes Sedai。 Aviendha herself did not want to be part of the White Tower。 She very much doubted that Sorilea or any other Wise One did； either。
Merilille sighed and folded her hands； yet for all her outward acceptance； she still forgot to lower her voice。 〃As you say； Elayne。 But about Ispan。 We simply cannot allow … 〃
Elayne raised a hand sharply。 mand replaced mere certainty。 〃Cease； Merilille。 You have the Bowl of the Winds to watch。 That is enough for anyone。 It will be enough for you。〃
Merilille opened her mouth； then closed it again and bowed her head slightly in acquiescence。 Under Elayne's steady gaze； the other Aes Sedai bent theirs； too。 If some displayed reluctance； however small； not all did。 Sareitha hurriedly picked up the disc…shaped bundle； wrapped in layers of white silk； that had been lying by her feet。 Her arms barely went all the way around as she held the Bowl of the Winds to her bosom； smiling anxiously at Elayne as if to show that she really was keeping a close eye on it。
The Sea Folk women stared hungrily at the bundle； almost leaning forward。 Aviendha would not have been surprised to see them leap across the stones to seize the Bowl。 The Aes Sedai saw the same； plainly。 Sareitha clutched the white parcel more tightly； and Merilille actually stepped between her and the Atha'an Miere。 Smooth Aes Sedai faces tightened with the effort of remaining expressionless。 They believed the Bowl should belong to them； all things that used or manipulated the One Power belonged to the White Tower in their eyes； no matter who happened to possess them at the moment。 But there was the bargain。
〃The sun moves； Aes Sedai；〃 Renaile din Calon announced loudly； 〃and danger threatens。 So you maintain。 If you think to worm free in some fashion by delaying； think twice and again。 Try to break the bargain； and by my father's heart； I will return to the ships at once。 And claim the Bowl for redress。 It was ours from the Breaking。〃
〃You watch your tongue with Aes Sedai；〃 Reanne barked； scandalized indignation from her blue straw hat to the stout shoes peeking from beneath her green…and…white petticoats。
Renaile din Calon's mouth curled into a sneer。 〃The jellyfish I have tongues； it seems。 A surprise they can use them； though； when no Aes Sedai gave permission。〃
In an instant the stableyard was full of shouted insults flying between Kin and Atha'an Miere； 〃wilder〃 and 〃spineless〃 and growing worse； strident cries that buried Merilille's attempts to hush Reanne and her panions on one hand and soothe the Sea Folk on the other。 Several Windfinders stopped fingering the daggers thrust behind their sashes and gripped hilts instead。 The glow of saidar sprang up around first one then another of the brightly clad women。 The Kinswomen looked startled； though it did not slow their tirade； but Sumeko embraced the Source； then Tamarla； then willowy； doe…eyed Chilares； and soon every one of them and every one of the Windfinders shone while words flew and tempers boiled。
Aviendha wanted to groan。 Any moment blood would begin to flow。 She would follow Elayne's lead； but her near…sister was glaring cold fury at Windfinders and Knitting Circle alike。 Elayne had small patience with stupidity； in herself or others； and shouting insults when an enemy might be ing was the worst sort。 Aviendha took a firm grip on her belt knife； then after a moment embraced saidar； life and joy filled her to near weeping。 Wise Ones only used the Power when words had failed； but neither words nor steel would do here。 She wished she had some idea of who to kill first。
〃Enough！〃 Nynaeve's piercing shriek sliced the words short on every tongue。 Astonished faces swiveled toward her。 Her head swung dangerously； and she stabbed a finger at the Knitting Circle。 〃Stop behaving like children！〃 Although she had moderated her tone； it was by hairs。 〃Or do you mean to squabble until the Forsaken e to scoop up the Bowl and us？ And you；〃 that finger thrust at the Windfinders； 〃stop trying to wriggle out of your agreement！ You won't get the Bowl until you've met every last word！ Don't think you will！〃 Nynaeve swung round on the Aes Sedai。 〃And you。。。！〃 Met by cool surprise； her flow of words tapered off into a sour grunt。 The Aes Sedai had not joined in the shouting except to try quieting it。 None shone with the light of saidar。
That was not enough to calm Nynaeve pletely； of course。 She tugged fiercely at her hat； plainly still full of anger she wanted to loose。 But the Kinswomen were staring at the paving stones in red…faced chagrin； and even the Windfinders appeared a little abashed … a little … muttering to themselves yet refusing quite to meet Nynaeve's glare。 The glow winked out around one woman after another； until only Aviendha still held to the Source。
She gave a start as Elayne touched her arm。 She was getting soft。 Letting people sneak up on her； jumping at a touch。
〃This crisis seems to be weathered；〃 Elayne murmured。 〃Perhaps it's time to go before the next breaks out。〃 A touch of color in her cheeks was the only sign that she had ever been angry。 And a bit in Birgitte's； the two reflected one another in some ways since the bonding。
〃Past time；〃 Aviendha agreed。 Much longer； and she would be a milk…hearted wetlander。
Every eye followed as she walked out into the open space in the center of the stableyard； to the spot she had studied and felt until she knew it with her eyelids closed。 There was a joy in holding the Power； a joy in working saidar； that she could not have put into words。 To contain saidar； to be contained by it； was to seem alive beyond any other time。 A delu