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Min's eye flew to the bundle in her arms and stayed there； partly so she would not have to see again what she had already seen。 All three of them！ Light！ What chance was there that three Aes Sedai would die on the same day？ But she knew。 She knew。
〃I have the right to speak to the Amyrlin Seat。 In person。〃 It was a right seldom demanded … who would dare？ … but it existed。 〃Any woman has that right； and I ask it。〃
〃Do you think the Amyrlin Seat herself can see everyone who es to the White Tower？ Surely another Aes Sedai can help you。〃 Faolain gave heavy weight to the titles as if to overpower Min。 〃Now tell me what your question is about。 And give me your name； so the novice will know who to e for。〃
〃My name is。。。 Elmindreda。〃 Min winced in spite of herself。 She had always hated the name； but the Amyrlin was one of the few people living who had ever heard it。 If only she remembered。 〃I have the right to speak to the Amyrlin。 And my question is for her alone。 I have the right。〃
The Accepted arched an eyebrow。 〃Elmindreda？〃 Her mouth twitched toward an amused smile。 〃And you claim your rights。 Very well。 I will send word to the Keeper of the Chronicles that you wish to see the Amyrlin Seat personally； Elmindreda。〃
Min wanted to slap the woman for the way she emphasized 〃Elmindreda；〃 but instead she forced out a murmured 〃Thank you。〃
〃Do not thank me yet。 No doubt it will be hours before the Keeper finds time to reply； and it will certainly be that you can ask your question at the Mother's next public audience。 Wait with patience。 Elmindreda。〃 She gave Min a tight smile； almost a smirk； as she turned away。
Grinding her teeth； Min took her bundle to stand against the wall between two of the archways； where she tried to blend into the pale stonework。 Trust no one； and avoid notice until you reach the Amyrlin； Moiraine had told her。 Moiraine was one Aes Sedai she did trust。 Most of the time。 It was good advice in any case。 All she had to do was reach the Amyrlin； and it would be over。 She could don her own clothes again； see her friends； and leave。 No more need for hiding。
She was relieved to see that the Aes Sedai had gone。 Three Aes Sedai dying on one day。 It was impossible； that was the only word。 Yet it was going to happen。 Nothing she said or did could change it … when she knew what an image meant； it happened … but she had to tell the Amyrlin about this。 It might even be as important as the news she brought from Moiraine； though that was hard to believe。
Another Accepted came to replace one already there； and to Min's eyes bars floated in front of her apple…cheeked face； like a cage。 Sheriam； the Mistress of Novices； looked into the hall … after one glance； Min kept her gaze on the stone under her feet； Sheriam knew her all too well … and the red…haired Aes Sedai's face seemed battered and bruised。 It was only the viewing； of course； but Min still had to bite her lip to stifle a gasp。 Sheriam； with her calm authority and sureness； was as indestructible as the Tower。 Surely nothing could harm Sheriam。 But something was going to。
An Aes Sedai unknown to Min； wearing the shawl of the Brown Ajah； acpanied a stout woman in finely woven red wool to the doors。 The stout woman walked as lightly as a girl； face shining； almost laughing with pleasure。 The Brown sister was smiling； too； but her aura faded like a guttering candle flame。
Death。 Wounds； captivity； and death。 To Min it might as well have been printed on a page。
She set her eyes on her feet。 She did not want to see any more。 Let her remember； she thought。 She had not felt desperation at any tune on her long ride from the Mountains of Mist； not even on the two occasions when someone tried to steal her horse； but she felt it now。 Light； let her remember that bloody name。
〃Mistress Elmindreda？〃
Min gave a start。 The black…haired novice who stood before her was barely old enough to be away from home； perhaps fifteen or sixteen； though she made a great effort at dignity。 〃Yes？ I am。。。。 That is my name。〃
〃I am Sahra。 If you will e with me … 〃 Sahra's piping voice took on a note of wonder … 〃the Amyrlin Seat will see you in her study now。〃
Min gave a sigh of relief and followed eagerly。
Her cloak's deep hood still hid her face； but it did not stop her seeing； and the more she saw； the more she grew eager to reach the Amyrlin。 Few people walked the broad corridors that spiraled upward with their brightly colored floor tiles； and their wall hangings and golden lamp stands … the Tower had been built to hold far greater numbers than it did now … but nearly everyone she saw as she climbed higher wore an image or aura that spoke to her of violence and danger。
Warders hurried by with barely a glance for the two women； men who moved like hunting wolves； their swords only an afterthought to their deadliness； but they seemed to have bloody faces； or gaping wounds。 Swords and spears danced about their heads； threatening。 Their auras flashed wildly； flickered on the knife edge of death。 She saw dead men walking； knew they would die on the same day as the Aes Sedai in the entry hall； or at most a day later。 Even some of the servants； men and women with the Flame of Tar Valon on their breasts； hurrying about their work； bore signs of violence。 An Aes Sedai glimpsed down a side hallway appeared to have chains in the air around her； and another； crossing the corridor ahead of Min and her guide； seemed for most of those few strides to wear a silver collar around her neck。 Min's breath caught at that； she wanted to scream。
〃It can all be overwhelming to someone who's never seen it before；〃 Sahra said； trying and failing to sound as if the Tower were as ordinary to her now as her home village。 〃But you are safe here。 The Amyrlin Seat will make things right。〃 Her voice squeaked when she mentioned the Amyrlin。
〃Light； let her do just that；〃 Min muttered。 The novice gave her a smile that was meant to be soothing。
By the time they reached the hall outside the Amyrlin's study； Min's stomach was churning and she was treading almost on Sahra's heels。 Only the need to pretend that she was a stranger had kept her from running ahead long since。
One of the doors to the Amyrlin's chambers opened； and a young man with red…gold hair came stalking out； nearly striding into Min and her escort。 Tall and straight and strong in his blue coat thickly embroidered with gold on sleeves and collar； Gawyn of House Trakand； son of Queen Morgase of Andor； looked every inch the proud young lord。 A furious young lord。 There was no time to drop her head； he was staring down into her hood； right into her face。
His eyes widened in surprise； then narrowed to slits of blue ice。 〃So you are back。 Do you know where my sister and Egwene have gone？〃
〃They are not here？〃 Min forgot everything in a rising flood of panic。 Before she knew what she was doing she had seized his sleeves； peering up at him urgently； and forced him back a step。 〃Gawyn； they started for the Tower months ago！ Elayne and Egwene； and Nynaeve； too。 With Verin Sedai and。。。。 Gawyn； I。。。 I。。。。〃
〃Calm yourself；〃 he said； gently undoing her grip on his coat。 〃Light！ I didn't mean to frighten you so。 They arrived safely。 And woul