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"Did we kill it?" Sareitha asked Her eyes shone bright, and she breathed hard in agitation

"Did we even hit it?" one of the Atha’an Miere growled disgustedly

"Shadon," Merilille murmured in amazement "Here! At least that proves it’s the Forsaken in Ebou Dar"

"Not Shadon," Elayne said hollowly Nynaeve’s face was a picture of anguish; she knew, too "They call it a raken It’s the Seanchan We o, Nynaeve, and take every wo or not,a da" Nynaeve nodded, slowly, painfully; Elayne thought she murmured, "Oh, Mat"

Renaile strode up with the Bowl in her ar "Some of our ships have encountered these Seanchan If they are in Ebou Dar, then the ships beat to sea My ship fights for his life, and I ao now!" And she forled uselessly, of course, flared bright for an instant then collapsed into nothing, but Elayne squeaked in spite of herself Right there in theanywhere froh to learn this hilltop!" she snapped She hoped none of the wo saidar was the fastest way to learn a place She could have made it work here, and very likely so could they "You aren’t going to aship from anywhere; I don’t think it’s even possible!" Merilille nodded, though that s to be true, and some of them actually were As well if the Sea Folk believed it proven, in any case Nynaeve, haggard and staring, was in no condition to do any leading at the ed to do heranywhere except with us, because our bargain isn’t complete; the Bowl of the Winds is not yours until the weather is right" Not precisely true unless you twisted the words of the bargain a little, and Renaile opened her ain with Matrio voluntarily where I want you to, or you go tied to a packsaddle Those were the choices you accepted So, get down this hill now, Renaile din Calon Blue Star, before the Seanchan sweep down on us with an army and a few hundred wo better than to see us collared alongside them Now! Run!"

To her astonishment, they ran

Chapter 6

(InsectLike, Horned Helmet)

Threads

Elayne ran, too, of course, holding her skirts up, and quickly took the lead on the orn dirt path Only Aviendha stayed close, though she seemed to have no idea how to run in a dress, divided or not; tired as she was, she certainly would have passed Elayne otherwise Everyone else strung out behind the track None of the Atha’an Miere would push by Renaile, and despite her silk trousers she could not ed to her chest Nynaeve had no such co for people to get out of her hen she stumbled into them whether they were Windfinders, Kinswo and catching herself, Elayne wanted to laugh despite the urgency Despite the danger Lini and hertrees from the time she elve, but it was not just the sheer pleasure of running again that ht bubble up in her middle She had behaved as a queen was supposed to behave, and it had worked exactly as it was supposed to! She had taken charge, to lead people out of danger, and they followed! Her whole life had been training for this It was satisfaction that low of pride seeh her skin like the radiance of saidar

Rounding the last curve, she pounded down the final straight beside one of the tall whiteplastered barns And her toe caught an al her arh the air No time even to yell With a thump that jarred her teeth and took all the wind out of her, she landed hard at the foot at the path, sitting right in front of Birgitte For an instant she could not even think, and when she could, little satisfaction re her hair out of her face, she tried to catch her breath as she waited for Birgitte’s cutting comment This was a chance for the other woeance, and she seldoitte heaved her to her feet even before Aviendha could reach her, and without so rin on Aviendha’s face All Elayne could feel froht an arrow nocked on a drastring itte asked "I recognized those Seanchan fliers fro My bow is the ordinary sort, today" Aviendha gave her a slight frown, and Elayne sighed; Birgitte had to learn to guard her tongue if she really intended to hide who she was

"Of course we run," Nynaeve panted, laboring down the final stretch of path "Fight or run! Fool question! Do you think we’re utter --? Light! What are they doing?" Her voice started cliht on "Alise! Alise, where are you? Alise! Alise!"

With a start, Elayne realized the farnized Maybe worse A hundred and fortyseven Kinswomen inhabited the place at present, Alise had reported, including fiftyfour redbelted Wise Woo and a nuh the city; now it looked as though every last one was running soood many of the other woreenandwhite livery dashed this way and that carrying burdens Ducks and chickens darted through the tu to the apparent confusion Elayne even saw a Warder, Vandene’s grizzled Jae jute sack!

Alise appeared as though from the air, poised and collected despite the perspiration on her face Every strand of her hair was in place, and her dress looked as if she were merely out for a stroll "There’s no need to screech," she said cal birds are, and I thought wesooner rather than later, especially with all of you galloping down the hill like the Dark One himself was after you I told everybody to collect one clean dress apiece, three changes of shift and stockings, soap,baskets, and all the coin they have That, and no et where we’re going; that will speed their feet I told those servants to gather all the food they could, too, just in case And your Warders Sensible fellows,a Warder do