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bands under the ground。 The others she did not know at all； which was strange enough； but these she never allowed into the Palace except on state occasions。 Every one had opposed her during the Succession。 Elenia and Naean had wanted the Lion Throne for themselves。 What could Gaebril be thinking to actually bring them here？
〃。。。the size of our estates in Cairhien； my Lord；〃 Arymilla was saying； leaning over Gaebril； as Morgase approached。 None of them more than glanced at her。 As if she were a servant with the wine！
〃I want to speak with you concerning the Two Rivers Gaebril。 In private。〃
〃It has been dealt with； my dear；〃 he said idly； dabbling his fingers in the water。 〃Other matters concern me now。 I thought you were going to read during the heat of the day。 You should return to your room until the evening's coolness； such as it is。〃
My dear。 He had called her my dear in front of these interlopers！ As much as she thrilled to hear that on his lips when they were alone。。。 Elenia was hiding her mouth。 〃I think not； Lord Gaebril；〃 Morgase said coldly。 〃You will e with me now。 And these others will be out of the Palace before I return； or I will exile them from Caemlyn pletely。〃
Suddenly he was on his feet； a big man； towering over her。 She seemed unable to look at anything but his dark eyes； her skin tingled as。 if an icy wind were blowing through the courtyard。 〃You will go and wait for me； Morgase。〃 His voice was a distant roar filling her ears。 〃I have dealt with all that needs dealing with。 I will e to you this evening。 You will go now。 You will go。〃
She had one hand lifted to open the door of her sitting room before she realized where she was。 And what had happened。 He had told her to go； and she had gone。 Staring at the door in horror； she could see the smirks on the men's faces； open laughter on some of the women's。 What has happened to me？ How could I bee so besotted with any man？ She still felt the urge to enter； and wait for him。
Dazed； she forced herself to turn and walk away。 It was an effort。 Inside； she cringed at the idea of Gaebril's disappointment in her when he did not find her where he expected； and cringed further at recognizing the fawning thought。
At first she had no notion of where she was going or why； only that she would not wait obediently； not for Gaebril； not for any man or woman in the world。 The fountained courtyard kept repeating in her head； him telling her to go； and those hateful； amused faces watching。 Her mind still seemed fogged。 She could not prehend how or why she could have let it happen。 She had to think of something that she could understand； something she could deal with。 Jarid Sarand and the others。
When she assumed the throne she had pardoned them for everything they had done during the Succession； as she had pardoned everyone who opposed her。 It had seemed best to bury all animosities before they could fester into the sort of plotting and scheming that infected so many lands。 The Game of Houses it was called … Daes Dae'mar … or the Great Game； and it led to endless； tangled feuds between Houses； to the toppling of rulers； the Game was at the heart of the civil war in Cairhien； and no doubt had done its part in the turmoil enveloping Arad Doman and Tarabon。 The pardons had had to go to all to stop Daes Dae'mar being born in Andor； but could she have left any unsigned； they would have been the parchments with those seven's names。
Gaebril knew that。 Publicly she had shown no disfavor； but in private she had been willing to speak of her distrust。 They had had to pry their jaws open to swear fealty； and she could hear the lie on their tongues。 Any one would leap at a chance to pull her down； and all seven together。。。
There was only one conclusion she could reach。 Gaebril must be plotting against her。 It could not be to put Elenia or Naean on the throne。 Not when he has me already； she thought bitterly； behaving like his lapdog。 He must mean to supplant her himself。 To bee the first king that Andor had ever had。 And she still felt the desire to return to her book and wait for him。 She still ached for his touch。
It was not until she saw the aged faces in the hallway around her； the creased cheeks and often bent backs； that she became aware of where she was。 The Pensioners' Quarters。 Some servants returned to their families when they grew old； but others had been so long in the Palace that they could think of no other life。 Here they had their own small apartments； their own shaded garden and a spacious courtyard。 Like every queen before her； she supplemented their pensions by letting them buy food through the Palace kitchens for less than its cost； and the infirmary treated their ills。 Creaky bows and unsteady curtsies followed her； and murmurs of 〃The Light shine upon you； my Queen；〃 and 〃The Light bless you； my Queen；〃 and 〃The Light protect you； my Queen。〃 She acknowledged them absently。 She knew where she was going now。
Lini's door was like all the others along the green…tiled corridor； unadorned save for a carving of the rearing Lion Of Andor。 She never thought of knocking before entering； she was the Queen； and this was her Palace。 Her old nurse was not there； though a teakettle steaming over a small fire in the brick fireplace said she would not be long。
The two snug rooms were neatly furnished； the bed made to perfection； the two chairs precisely aligned at the table； where a blue vase in the exact center held a small fan of greenery。 Lini had always been a great one for neatness。 Morgase was willing to wager that within the wardrobe in the bedchamber every dress was arranged just so with every other； and the same for pots in the cupboard beside the fireplace in the other room。
Six painted ivory miniatures in small wooden stands made a line on the mantelpiece。 How Lini could have afforded them on a nurse's stipend was more than Morgase had ever been able to imagine； she could not ask such a question； of course。 In pairs； they showed three young women and the same three as babes。 Elayne was there； and herself。 Taking down the portrait of herself at fourteen； a slender filly of a girl； she could not believe that she had ever looked so innocent。 She had worn that ivory silk dress the day she had gone to the White Tower； never dreaming at the time that she would be Queen； only harboring the vain hope that she might bee Aes Sedai。
Absentmindedly she thumbed the Great Serpent ring on her left hand。 She had not earned that； precisely； women who could not channel were not awarded the ring。 But short of her sixteenth nameday she had returned to contest the Rose Crown in the name of House Trakand； and when she won the throne nearly two years later； the ring had been presented to her。 By tradition； the Daughter…Heir of Andor always trained in the Tower； and in recognition of Andor's long support of the Tower was given the ring whether or not she could channel。 She had only been the heir to House Trakand in the Tower； but they gave it to her anyway once the Rose Crown was on her head。
Replacing her own portrait； she took down her mother's； taken at perhaps two yea