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t； I would like some information。 Where are we； if it isn't a secret here too？ This village is called Salidar？〃
〃In Altara。 The Eldar is about a mile to the west。 Amadicia is on the other side。〃 The girl put on a poor imitation of Aes Sedai mystery。 〃Where better to hide Aes Sedai than where they would never be looked for？〃
〃We should not have to hide；〃 a dark； curly…haired young woman snapped； stopping。 Min recognized her； an Accepted named Faolain； she would have expected her to be in the Tower still。 Faolain had never liked anyone or anything as far as Min knew； and had often spoken of choosing the Red Ajah when she was raised。 A perfect follower for Elaida。 〃Why did you e here？ With him！ Why did she e？〃 There was no doubt in Min's mind who she meant。 〃It is her fault we have to hide。 I did not believe she helped Mazrim Taim escape； but if she appears here with him； maybe she did。〃
〃That will be enough； Faolain；〃 a slender woman with black hair spilling down her back to her waist told the round…faced Accepted。 Min thought she knew the woman in the dark golden silk riding dress。 Edesina。 A Yellow； she believed。 〃Go about your duties；〃 Edesina said。 〃And if you mean to bring food； Tabiya； do it。〃 Edesina did not watch Faolain's sullen curtsy … the novice gave a better and scurried away … but put a hand on Logain's head instead。 Eyes on the table； he did not seem to notice。
To Min's eyes； a silvery collar suddenly appeared； snug around the woman's neck； and as suddenly seemed to shatter。 Min shivered。 She did not like viewings connected to the Seanchan。 At least Edesina would escape somehow。 Even if Min had been willing to expose herself； there was no point in warning the woman； it would not change anything。
〃It is the gentling；〃 the Aes Sedai said after a moment。 〃He has given up on wanting to live； I suppose。 There is nothing I can do for him。 Not that I am sure I should if I could。〃 The look she gave Min before leaving was far from friendly。
An elegant； statuesque woman in russet silk paused a few feet away； coolly examining Min and Logain with expressionless eyes。 Kiruna was a Green； and regal in her manner； she was a sister of the King of Arafel； so Min had heard； but she had been friendly to Min in the Tower。 Min smiled； but those large dark eyes swept over her without recognition； and Kiruna glided out of the inn； four Warders； disparate men but all with that deadly…seeming way of moving； suddenly heeling her。
Waiting for her food； Min hoped that Siuan and Leane were finding a warmer reception。
Chapter 27
（Flame of Tar Valon）
The Practice of Diffidence
〃You are rudderless；〃 Siuan told the six women facing her in six different sorts of chair。 The room itself was a muddle。 Two large kitchen tables against the walls held pens and ink jars and sand bottles in neat arrays。 Mismatched lamps； some glazed pottery and some gilded； and candles in every thickness and length stood ready to provide light at nightfall。 A scrap of Illianer silk carpet； rich in blues and reds and gold； lay on a floor of rough； weathered planks。 She and Leane had been seated across the piece of carpet from the others； in such a way that they were the focus of every eye。 Open casement windows with panes cracked or replaced by oiled silk let a breath of air stir in； but not enough to cut the heat。 Siuan told herself that she did not envy these women their ability to channel … she was past that； surely … but she did envy the way none of them perspired。 Her own face was quite damp。 〃All that activity out there is play and show。 You might be fooling each other； and maybe even the Gaidin … though I'd not count on that； were I you … but you can't fool me。〃
She wished that Morvrin and Beonin had not been added to the group。 Morvrin was skeptical of everything despite her placid； sometimes vaguely absent look； a stout Brown with gray…streaked hair who demanded six pieces of evidence before she would believe fish had scales。 And Beonin； a pretty Gray with dark honey hair and blue…gray eyes so big they constantly made her appear slightly startled … Beonin made Morvrin seem gullible。
〃Elaida has the Tower in her fist； and you know she will mishandle Rand al'Thor；〃 Siuan said scornfully。 〃It will be pure luck if she doesn't panic and have him gentled before Tarmon Gai'don。 You know that whatever you feel about a man channeling； Reds feel ten times more。 The White Tower is at its weakest when it should be at its strongest； in the hands of a fool when it must have skilled mand。〃 She wrinkled her nose； staring them in the eye one by one。 〃And you sit here； drifting with your sails down。 Or can you convince me that you are doing more than twiddling your thumbs and blowing bubbles？〃
〃Do you agree with Siuan； Leane？〃 Anaiya asked mildly。 Siuan had never been able to understand why Moiraine liked the woman。 Trying to get her to do anything she did not want to was like hitting a sack of feathers。 She did not stand up to you； or argue； she just silently refused to move。 Even the way she sat； with her hands folded； looked more like a woman waiting to knead dough than an Aes Sedai。
〃In part I do；〃 Leane replied。 Siuan gave her a sharp look that she ignored。 〃About Elaida； certainly。 Elaida will misuse Rand al'Thor； as surely as she is misusing the Tower。 For the rest； I know that you have worked hard to gather as many sisters here as you have； and I expect that you are working just as hard to do something about Elaida。〃
Siuan sniffed loudly。 On her way through the mon room she had snatched glimpses of some of those parchments being examined so assiduously。 Lists of provisions； allotments of timber for rebuilding； assignments for woodcutting and repairing houses and cleaning out wells。 Nothing more。 Nothing that looked the least like a report on Elaida's activities。 They were planning to winter here。 All it took was one Blue being captured after she had learned of Salidar； one woman being put to the question … she would not hold back much if Alviarin had charge of it … and Elaida would know exactly where to net them。 While they worried about planting vegetable gardens and having enough firewood cut before the first freeze。
〃Then that is out of the way；〃 Carlinya said coolly。 〃You do not seem to understand that you are not Amyrlin and Keeper any longer。 You are not even Aes Sedai。〃 Some had the grace to look embarrassed。 Not Morvrin or Beonin； but the others。 No Aes Sedai liked to speak of stilling； or be reminded of it； they would think it especially harsh in front of the two of them。 〃I do not say this to be cruel。 We do not believe the charges against you … despite your traveling panion … or we would not be here； but you cannot assume your old places among us； and that is a simple fact。〃
Siuan remembered Carlinya well as novice and Accepted。 Once a month she had mitted some minor offense； a small thing that earned her an extra hour or two of chores。 Exactly once each month。 She had not wanted the others to think her a prig。 Those had been her only offenses … she never broke another rule or put a foot wrong； it would not have been logical … yet she had n