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Kings； in Andor； and she had vanished … but a vast amount of news and rumor passed through Lugard with the merchants' wagon trains。 There might be eyes…and…ears for other Ajahs here； it would be well to remember that。 Caution gets the boat home； she reminded herself。
This woman fit the description of Duranda Tharne perfectly； and surely no other inn could have a name so vile； but why had she responded as she did when Siuan identified herself as another agent of the Blue？ She had to risk it； Min and Leane； in their own fashion； were growing as impatient as Logain。 Caution got the boat home； but sometimes boldness brought back a full hold。 At the worst； she could knock the woman over the head with something and escape out the back。 Eyeing the woman's width and height； and the firmness of her thick arms； she hoped that she could。
A plain door in the corridor that led to the kitchens opened into a sparsely furnished room； a desk and one chair on a scrap of blue carpet； a large mirror on one wall； and surprisingly； a short shelf with a few books。 As soon as the door was shut behind them； diminishing if not cutting off the noise of the mon room； the big woman rounded on Siuan； fists planted on ample hips。 〃Now； then。 What do you want with me？ Don't bother giving me a name； I don't want to know； whether it's yours or not。〃
A little of the tension oozed out of Siuan。 Not the anger； though。 〃You had no right to treat me in that manner out there！ What did you mean forcing me to …！〃
〃I had every right；〃 Mistress Tharne snapped； 〃and every necessity。 If you'd e at opening or closing； as you're supposed to； I could have hustled you in here and none the wiser。 Do you think some of those men wouldn't be wondering if I escorted you back here like a long…lost friend？ I can't afford to have anyone wondering about me。 You're lucky I didn't make you take Susu's place on the table for a song or two。 And you watch your manner with me。〃 She raised a wide； hard hand threateningly。 〃I've married daughters older than you； and when I visit them； they step right and talk proper。 You e Mistress Snip with me； and you'll be learning why。 Nobody out there will even hear you yelp； and if they did； they wouldn't interfere。〃 With a sharp nod； as if that were settled； she put fists on hips again。 〃Now； what do you want？〃
Several times during the onslaught Siuan had tried to speak； but the woman rolled over her like a tidal wave。 That was not something she was accustomed to。 By the time Mistress Tharne was done； she quivered with anger； both hands held her skirts in a white…knuckled grip。 She held on to her temper every bit as hard。 I am supposed to be just another agent； she reminded herself firmly。 Not the Amyrlin anymore； just another agent。 Besides； she suspected that the woman might carry out her threat。 This was something else still new to her； having to be wary of someone under her eye just because they were larger and stronger。
〃I was given a message to deliver to a gathering of those we serve。〃 She hoped Mistress Tharne took the strain in her voice for being cowed； the woman might be more helpful if she thought Siuan properly intimidated。 〃They were not where I was told to find them。 I can only hope you know something to help me find them。〃
Folding her arms under a massive bosom； Mistress Tharne studied her。 〃Know how to hold your temper when it suits； eh？ Good。 What's happened in the Tower？ And don't try denying you e from there； my fine haughty wench。 Your message has courier writ large all over it； and you never got that snooty manner in a village。〃
Siuan drew a deep breath before answering。 〃Siuan Sanche has been stilled。〃 Her voice did not even tremble； she was proud of that。 〃Elaida a'Roihan is the new Amyrlin。〃 She could not keep a hint of bite out of that； however。
Mistress Tharne's face showed no reaction。 〃Well； that explains some of the orders I've gotten。 Some of them； maybe。 Stilled her； did they？ I thought she'd be Amyrlin forever。 I saw her once； a few years ago in Caemlyn。 At a distance。 She looked like she could chew harness straps for breakfast。〃 Those impossible scarlet curls swung as she shook her head。 〃Well； done's done。 The Ajahs have split； haven't they？ Only thing that fits； my orders； and the old buzzard stilled。 The Tower's broken； and the Blues are running。〃
Siuan ground her teeth。 She tried telling herself the woman was loyal to the Blue Ajah； not to her personally； but it did not help。 Old buzzard？ She's old enough to be my mother。 And if she was； I'd drown myself。 With an effort； she made her voice meek。 〃My message is important。 I must be on my way as soon as possible。 Can you help me？〃
〃Important； is it？ Well； I'm doubting it。 Trouble is； I can give you something； but it's up to you to cipher it out。 Do you want it？〃 The woman refused to make this any easier。
〃Yes； please。〃
〃Sallie Daera。 I don't know who she is or was； but I was told to give her name to any Blue who came around looking lost； so to speak。 You may not be one of the sisters； but you carry your nose high enough for one； so there it is。 Sallie Daera。 Make of it what you will。〃
Siuan suppressed a thrill of excitement and made her face dejected。 〃I never heard of her； either。 I'll just have to go on looking。〃
〃If you find them； you tell Aeldene Sedai I'm still loyal； whatever's happened。 I've worked for the Blues so long； I wouldn't know what to do with myself else。〃
〃I will tell her；〃 Siuan said。 She had not known that Aeldene was her replacement controlling the Blues' eyes…and…ears； the Amyrlin； whatever Ajah she came from； was of all but part of none。 〃I suppose you need some reason for not hiring me。 I really cannot sing； that should do。〃
〃As if it mattered to that lot out there。〃 The big woman quirked an eyebrow and grinned in a way Siuan did not like。 〃I'll think of something； wench。 And I'll give you a bit of advice。 If you don't climb down a rung or two； some Aes Sedai will take you down the whole ladder。 I'm surprised it hasn't been done already。 Now； go on。 Get out of here。〃
Hateful woman； Siuan growled in her head。 If there was a way to manage it； I'd have her doing penance till her eyes popped。 The woman thought she deserved more respect； did she？ 〃Thank you for your help；〃 she said coolly； making a curtsy that would have graced any court。 〃You have been too kind。〃
She was three steps into the mon room when Mistress Tharne appeared behind her； raising her voice in a laughing shout that cut through the noise。 〃A shy maiden； that one！ Legs white； and slender enough to set you all drooling and she bawled like a baby when I told her she'd have to show them to you！ Just sat right down on the floor and cried！ Hips round enough for any taste； and she。。。〃
Siuan stumbled as the tide of laughter rose； never quite drowning out the woman's recitation。 She managed another three steps； face red as a beet； then fled at a run。
In the street； she paused to get her breath back and let her heart stop pounding。 That horrible old harridan！ I should。。。 ！ It did not matter what she should do； that disgusting wo