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ld sweat all the hours until Second Even。 She had to know she was pretty； if short of beautiful； and if he rebuffed all the young women she sent； perhaps it was because he wanted one with another fifteen or so years。 And she would be certain she did not dare say no to the man who held Cairhien in his fist。 By tonight； she should be amenable； should stop this idiocy。 Aviendha would very likely slit the throat of any woman she found in his bed； besides； he had no time for all these easily frightened doves thinking to sacrifice themselves for Cairhien and Colavaere。 There were too many problems to deal with； and no time。
Light； what if Colavaere decides it's worth the sacrifice？ She might。 She was easily cold…blooded enough。 Then I'll have to see that it's cold with fear。 It would not be difficult。 He could sense saidin like something just beyond the edge of sight。 He could feel the taint on it。 Sometimes he thought that what he felt was the taint in him； now； the dregs left by saidin。
He found that he was glaring at Asmodean。 The man seemed to be studying him； face expressionless。 The music resumed again； like water babbling over stones； soothing。 So he needed soothing； did he？
The door opened without a knock； admitting Moiraine； Egwene and Aviendha together； the younger women's Aiel garb framing the Aes Sedai's pale blue。 For anyone else； even Rhuarc or another chief still near the city or yet another delegation of Wise Ones； a Maiden would have entered to announce them。 These three the Maidens sent on in even if he was taking a bath。 Egwene glanced at 〃Natael〃 and grimaced； and the tune became lower； and for a moment intricate； perhaps a dance； before settling to what might have been the sighing of breezes。 The man wore a twisted smile； directed at his harp。
〃I'm surprised to see you； Egwene；〃 Rand said。 He swung his leg over the arm of the chair。 〃What is it … six days you've been avoiding me？ Have you brought me more good news？ Has Masema sacked Amador in my name？ Or have these Aes Sedai you say support me turned out to be Black Ajah？ You notice I don't ask who they are； or where。 Not even how you know。 I don't ask you to divulge Aes Sedai secrets； or Wise Ones' secrets； or whatever they are。 Just give me the driblets you're willing to dole out； and let me worry whether what you don't care to tell me will stab me in the night。〃
She looked at him calmly。 〃You know what you need to know。 And I will not tell you what you do not need to know。〃 That was what she had said six days ago。 She was as much Aes Sedai as Moiraine； for all one wore Aiel garb and the other pale blue silk。
There was nothing calm about Aviendha。 She moved to stand shoulder…to…shoulder with Egwene； green eyes flashing； back so straight it might have been iron。 He was half surprised Moiraine did not join them； so they could all three glare at him。 Her vow of obedience left a startling amount of room； it seemed； and the three seemed to have bee close since his argument with Egwene。 Not that it had been much of an argument； you could not argue very well with a woman who watched with cool eyes； never raised her voice； and after one refusal to answer declined even to acknowledge your question again。
〃What do you want？〃 he said。
〃These came for you in the last hour；〃 Moiraine said； extending two folded letters。 Her voice seemed to fit Asmodean's chime…like tune。
Rand rose to take them suspiciously。 〃If they're for me； how did they e into your hands？〃 One was addressed to 〃Rand al'Thor〃 in an exact； angular hand； the other to 〃The Lord Dragon Reborn〃 in script flowing yet no less precise。 The seals were unbroken。 A second look made him blink。 The two seals seemed to be the same red wax； and one bore the impression of the Flame of Tar Valon； the other a tower overlaid on what he recognized as the island of Tar Valon。
〃Perhaps because of where they came from；〃 Moiraine replied； 〃and from whom。〃 It was no explanation； but it was as much as he would get unless he demanded more。 Even then he would have to prod her through every step。 She kept her vow； but in her own way。 〃There are no poison needles in the seals。 And no traps woven。〃
He paused with his thumb against the Flame of Tar Valon … he had not thought of either … then broke it。 Another Flame in red wax stood beside the signature； Elaida do Avriny a'Roihan in a hasty scrawl above her titles。 The rest was in the angular hand。
There can be no denial that you are the one prophesied； yet many will try to destroy you for what else you are。 For the sake of the world； this can not be allowed。 Two nations have bent knee to you； and the savage Aiel as well； but the power of thrones is as dust beside the One Power。 The White Tower will shelter and protect you against those who refuse to see what must be。 The White Tower will see that you live to see Tarmon Gai'don。 None else can do this。 An escort of Aes Sedai will e to bring you to Tar Valon with the honor and respect you deserve。 This I pledge to you。
〃She doesn't even ask；〃 he said wryly。 He remembered Elaida well for having met her only once。 A woman hard enough to make Moiraine seem a kitten。 The 〃honor and respect〃 he deserved。 He would wager that the escort of Aes Sedai just happened to number thirteen。
Passing Elaida's letter back to Moiraine； he opened the other。 The page was covered in the same hand that had addressed it。
With respect； I humbly beg to make myself known to the great Lord Dragon Reborn； whom the Light blesses as savior of the world。
All the world must stand in awe of you； who has conquered Cairhien in one day as you did Tear。 Yet be wary； I beseech you； for your splendor will inspire jealousy even in those not toiled in the Shadow。 Even here in the White Tower are the blind who cannot see your true radiance； which will illumine us all。 Yet know that some rejoice in your ing； and will delight to serve your glory。 We are not those who would steal your luster for ourselves； but rather those who would kneel to bask in your brilliance。 You shall save the world； according to the Prophecies； and the world shall be yours。
To my shame； I must beg you to let no one see these words； and to destroy them when once read。 I stand； naked of your protection； among some who would usurp your power； and I cannot know who around you is as faithful as I。 I am told that Moiraine Damodred may be with you。 She may serve you devotedly； obeying your words as law； as I will； yet I cannot know； for I remember her as a secretive woman； much given to plotting； as Cairhienin are。 Yet even if you believe she is your creature； as I do； I beg you to keep this missive secret； even from her。 My life lies beneath your fingers； my Lord Dragon Reborn； and I am your servant。
Alviarin Freidhen
He read it through again； blinking； then handed it to Moiraine。 She barely scanned the page before giving it to Egwene； who had her head over the other letter with Aviendha。 Perhaps Moiraine already knew what they contained？
〃A good thing you gave your oath；〃 he said。 〃The way you used to be； keeping everything back； I might have been ready to susp