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The dark…haired Ghealdanin woman did not hesitate in laying hands to Moghedien's head。 Liandrin sneered to herself； as the glow surrounded Chesmal； concern painted Chesmal's handsome face； and Temaile's delicate； foxlike features were contorted with pure fright and worry。 So faithful； they were。 Such obedient lapdogs。 Moghedien lifted up onto her toes； head flung back； eyes wide； she shook； breath rushing from her gaping mouth as if she had been plunged into ice。
In moments it was done。 The glow around Chesmal disappeared； and Moghedien's heels settled to the blue…and…green patterned carpet。 Without Temaile's support； she might have fallen。 Only a part of the strength for Healing came from the Power； the rest came from the person being Healed。 Whatever wound had caused all that bleeding would be gone； but Moghedien was surely as weak as if she had lain in bed an invalid for weeks。 She pulled the fine gold…and…ivory silk scarf from Temaile's belt to wipe her mouth as the woman helped her turn toward the bedchamber door。 Weak； and her back turned。
Liandrin struck as hard as she ever had； with everything she had puzzled out of what the woman had done to her。
Even as she did； saidar seemed to fill Moghedien like a flood。 Liandrin's probe died as the Source was shielded from her。 Flows of Air picked her up and slammed her against the paneled wall hard enough to make her teeth rattle。 Spread…eagled； helpless； she hung there。
Chesmal and Temaile exchanged confused glances； as if they did not understand what had occurred。 They continued to support Moghedien as she came to stand in front of Liandrin； still calmly wiping her mouth on Temaile's scarf。 Moghedien channeled； and the blood on her shift turned black and flaked away； falling to the carpet。
〃Y…you do not understand； Great M…mistress；〃 Liandrin said frantically。 〃I only wished to help you to have the good sleep。〃 For once in her life； slipping back into the accents of a moner did not concern her in the least。 〃I only …〃 She cut off with a strangled gagging as a flow of Air seized her tongue； stretching it out between her teeth。 Her brown eyes bulged。 A hair more pressure； and。。。
〃Shall I pull it out？〃 Moghedien studied her face； but spoke as if to herself。 〃I think not。 A pity for you that the al'Meara woman makes me think like Semirhage。 Otherwise； I might only kill you。〃 Suddenly she was tying off the shield； the knot growing ever more intricate； until Liandrin lost the twists and turns pletely。 And still it went on。 〃There；〃 Moghedien said finally in tones of satisfaction。 〃You will search a very long time to find anyone who can unravel that。 But you will have no opportunity to search。〃
Liandrin searched Chesmal's face； and Temaile's； for some sign of sympathy； pity； anything。 Chesmal's eyes were cold and stern； Temaile's shone； and she touched her lips with the tip of her tongue and smiled。 Not a friendly smile。
〃You thought you had learned something of pulsion；〃 Moghedien went on。 〃I will teach you a bit more。〃 For an instant Liandrin shivered； Moghedien's eyes filling her vision as the woman's voice filled her ears； her entire head。 〃Live。〃 The instant passed； and sweat beaded on Liandrin's face as。 the Chosen smiled at her。 〃pulsion has many limits； but a mand to do what someone wants to do in their inmost depths will hold for a lifetime。 You will live； however much you think you want to take your life。 And you will think of it。 You will lie weeping many nights； wishing for it。〃
The flow holding Liandrin's tongue vanished； and she barely paused to swallow。 〃Please； Great Mistress； I swear I did not mean …〃 Her head rang and silvery black spots danced before her eyes from Moghedien's slap。
〃There are。。。 attractions。。。 to doing a thing physically；〃 the woman
breathed。 〃Do you wish to beg more？〃
〃Please； Great Mistress …〃 The second slap sent her hair flying。
〃More？〃
〃Please …〃 A third nearly unhinged her jaw。 Her cheek burned。
〃If you cannot be more inventive than that； I will not listen。 You will listen instead。 I think what I have planned for you would delight Semirhage herself。〃 Moghedien's smile was almost as dark as Temaile's。 〃You will live； not stilled； but knowing that you could channel again； if only you found someone to untie your shield。 Yet that is only the beginning。 Evon will be glad of a new scullery girl； and I am sure the Arene woman will want to have long talks with you about her husband。 Why； they will enjoy your pany so much that I doubt you will see the outside of this house during the years to e。 Long years in which to wish that you had served me faithfully。〃
Liandrin shook her head； mouthing 〃no〃 and 〃please〃； she was crying too hard to force the words out。
Turning her head to Temaile； Moghedien said； 〃Prepare her for them。 And tell them they are not to kill or maim her。 I want her always to believe she might escape。 Even futile hope will keep her alive to suffer。〃 She turned away on Chesmal's arm； and the flows holding Liandrin to the wall vanished。
Her legs gave way like straw； crumpling her to the carpet。 Only the shield remained； she hammered at it futilely as she crawled after Moghedien； trying to catch the hem of her shift； sobbing brokenly。 〃Please； Great Mistress。〃
〃They are with a menagerie；〃 Moghedien told Chesmal。 〃All of your searching； and I had to find them myself。 A menagerie should； not be too difficult to locate。〃
〃I will serve faithfully；〃 Liandrin wept。 Fear turned her limbs to water； she could not crawl fast enough to catch up。 They did not even look back at her； scrabbling across the carpet after them。 〃Bind me； Great Mistress。 Anything。 I will be the faithful dog！〃
〃There are many menageries traveling north；〃 Chesmal said； eagerness to negate her failure filling her voice。 〃To Ghealdan； Great Mistress。〃
〃Then I must to Ghealdan；〃 Moghedien said。 〃You will procure fast horses and follow …〃 The bedchamber door closed on her words。
〃I will be the faithful dog；〃 Liandrin sobbed in a heap on the carpet。 Lifting her head； she blinked tears away to see Temaile watching her； rubbing her arms and smiling。 〃We could overwhelm her； Temaile。 We three together could …〃
〃We three？〃 Temaile laughed。 〃You could not overwhelm fat Evon。〃 Her eyes narrowed as she studied the shield fastened to Liandrin。 〃You might as well be stilled。〃
〃Listen。 Please。〃 Liandrin swallowed hard； trying to clear her voice； but it was still thick； if burning with urgency； when she went on at frantic speed。 〃We have spoken of the dissension that must rule among the Chosen。 If Moghedien hides herself so； she must hide from the other Chosen。 If we take her and give her to them； think of the places we could have。 We could be exalted above kings and queens。 We could be Chosen ourselves！〃
For a moment … one blessed； wonderful moment … the child…faced woman hesitated。 Then she shook her head。 〃You have never known how high to lift your eyes。 'Who reaches for the sun will be burned。' No； I think that I will not be burned for reaching too high。 I think that I will do as I a