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ingail died。 Fortunate for Morgase； Taringail's death。 I do not suppose she ever learned he meant her to die and himself to be Andor's first king。 But we were speaking of Thom Merrilin； a man who； it was said； could play the Game of Houses in his sleep。 It is a shame that such a man calls himself a simple gleeman。 But such arrogance to keep the same name。〃
Thom masked his shock with an effort。 How much did she know？ Too much if she knew not another word。 But she was not the only one with knowledge。 〃Speaking of names；〃 he said levelly； 〃it is remarkable how much can be puzzled out from a name。 Moiraine Damodred。 The Lady Moiraine of House Damodred； in Cairhien。 Taringail's youngest half…sister。 King Laman's niece。 And Aes Sedai； let us not forget。 An Aes Sedai aiding the Dragon Reborn since before she could have known that he was more than just another poor fool who could channel。 An Aes Sedai with connections high in the White Tower； I would say； else she'd not risk what she has。 Someone in the Hall of the Tower？ More than one； I'd say； it would have to be。 News of that would shake the world。 But why should there be trouble？ Perhaps it's best to leave an old gleeman tucked away in his hole in the servants' quarters。 Just an old gleeman playing his harp and telling his tales。 Tales that harm no one。〃
If he had managed to stagger her even a fraction； she did not show it。 〃Speculation without facts is always dangerous；〃 she said calmly。 〃I do not use my House name； by choice。 House Damodred had a deservedly unpleasant reputation before Laman cut down Avendoraldera and lost the throne and his life for it。 Since the Aiel War； it has grown worse； also deservedly。〃
Would nothing shake the woman？ 〃What do you want of me？〃 he demanded irritably。
She did not as much as blink。 〃Elayne and Nynaeve take ship for Tanchico today。 A dangerous city； Tanchico。 Your knowledge and skills might keep them alive。〃
So that was it。 She wanted to separate him from Rand； leave the boy naked to her manipulations。 〃As you say； Tanchico is dangerous now； but then it always was。 I wish the young women well； yet I've no wish to stick my head into a vipers' nest。 I am too old for that sort of thing。 I have been thinking of taking up farming。 A quiet life。 Safe。〃
〃A quiet life would kill you； I think。〃 Sounding distinctly amused； she busied herself rearranging the folds of her skirt with small； slender hands。 He had the impression she was hiding a smile。 〃Tanchico will not； however。 I guarantee that； and by the First Oath； you know it for truth。〃
He frowned at her despite his best efforts to keep his face straight。 She had said it； and she could not lie； yet how could she know？ He was sure she could not Foretell； he was certain he had heard her disavow the Talent。 But she had said it。 Burn the woman！ 〃Why should I go to Tanchico？〃 She could do without titles。
〃To protect Elayne？ Morgase's daughter？〃
〃I have not seen Morgase in fifteen years； Elayne was an infant when I left Caemlyn。〃
She hesitated； but when she spoke her voice was unrelentingly firm。 〃And your reason for leaving Andor？ A nephew named Owyn； I believe。 One of those poor fools you spoke of who can channel。 The Red sisters were supposed to bring him to Tar Valon； as any such man is； but instead they gentled him on the spot and abandoned him to the。。。 mercies of his neighbors。〃
Thom knocked his chair over standing up； then had to hold on to the table because his knees were shaking。 Owyn had not lived long after being gentled； driven from his home by supposed friends who could not bear to let even a man who could no longer channel live among them。 Nothing Thom did could stop Owyn not wanting to live； or stop his young wife from following him to the grave inside the month。
〃Why。。。 ？〃 He cleared his throat roughly； tried to make his voice less husky。 〃Why are you telling me this？〃
There was sympathy on Moiraine's face。 And could it be regret？ Surely not。 Not from an Aes Sedai。 The sympathy had to be false as well。 〃I would not have done； had you been willing to go simply to help Elayne and Nynaeve。〃
〃Why； burn you！ Why？〃
〃If you go with Elayne and Nynaeve； I will tell you the names of those Red sisters when I see you next； as well as the name of the one who gave them their orders。 They did not act on their own。 And I will see you again。 You will survive Tarabon。〃
He drew an uneven breath。 〃What good will their names do me？〃 he asked in a flat voice。 〃Aes Sedai names； wrapped in all the power of the White Tower。〃
〃A skilled and dangerous player of the Game of Houses might find a use for them；〃 she replied quietly。 〃They should not have done what they did。 They should not have been excused for it。〃
〃Will you leave me； please？〃
〃I will teach you that not all Aes Sedai are like those Reds； Thom。 You must learn that。〃
〃Please？〃
He stood leaning on the table until she was gone； unwilling to let her see him sink awkwardly to his knees； see the tears trickling down his weathered face。 Oh； Light； Owyn。 He had buried it all as deeply as he could。 I couldn't get there in time。 I was too busy。 Too busy with the bloody Game of Houses。 He scrubbed at his face testily。 Moiraine could play the Game with the best。 Wrenching him around this way； tugging every string he had thought perfectly hidden。 Owyn； Elayne。 Morgase's daughter。 Only fondness remained for Morgase； perhaps a little more than that； but it was hard to walk away from a child you had bounced on your knee。 That girl in Tanchico？ That city would eat her alive even without a war。 It must be a pit of rabid wolves； now。 And Moiraine will give me the names。 All he had to do was leave Rand in Aes Sedai hands。 Just as he had left Owyn。 She had him like a snake in a cleft stick； damned however he writhed。 Burn the woman！
Looping the embroidery basket's handle over her arm； Min gathered her skirts with her other hand and strolled out of the dining hall after breakfast in a gliding pace； her back straight。 She could have balanced a full goblet of wine on her head without spilling a drop。 Partly that was because she could not take a proper stride in her dress； all pale blue silk with a snug bodice and sleeves and a full skirt that would drag its embroidered hem on the ground if she did not hold it up。 It was also partly because she was sure she could feel Laras's eyes on her。
A glance back proved her right。 The Mistress of the Kitchens； a wine cask on legs； was beaming after her approvingly from the dining hall doorway。 Who would have thought the woman had been a beauty in her youth； or would have a place in her heart for pretty； flirtatious girls？ 〃Lively；〃 she called them。 Who would have suspected she would decide to take 〃Elmindreda〃 under her stout wing？ It was hardly a fortable position。 Laras kept a protective eye on Min； an eye that seemed to find her anywhere in the Tower grounds。 Min smiled back and patted her hair； now a round black cap of curls。 Burn the woman！ Doesn't she have something to cook； or some scullion to yell at？
Laras waved to her； and she waved in retu