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"So the agreeh "I can live with that, too"

"Every city on water?" Dobraine exclaian pacing, spilling more of his wine than Min had He did not seeht alone knohat peculiar laws? I’ve traveled on a Sea Folk ship, and it is peculiar! Bare legs are not in it! And what of the custo fees, and " Suddenly he rounded on Rand He scowled at the Aes Sedai, who paid hi on roughness "They will ruin Cairhien in a year, on They will ruin any port where you allow thereed, silently, but Rand ain "Theyof this, Dobraine They didn’t say who chooses the land, so it doesn’t have to be on the water at all They’ll have to buy their food from you, and live with your lahen they leave, so they can’t be too arrogant At worst, you can collect your custooods come out of their sanctuary For the rest If I can accept it, you can, too" There was no laughter in his voice now, and Dobraine bowed his head

Min wondered where he had learned all that He sounded a king, and one who knehat he was doing Maybe Elayne had taught him

" ‘Secondly’ implies more," Rand said to the two Aes Sedai

Merana and Rafela exchanged glances, unconsciously touched skirts and shawls, and then Merana spoke, her voice not at all poon Reborn agrees to keep an ambassador chosen by the Atha’an Miere with hiara has named herself She will be accompanied by her Windfinder, her Sword froh afraid he rees to go promptly to a summons from the Mistress of the Ships, but not more than twice in any three consecutive years" She finished panting a little, trying to on Scepter flew froed it out of the air without looking His eyes were not ice anyto my heels?" he shouted "Obey sureenandwhite tassel flailing "There are a people out there ant to conquer all of us, and ht be able to do it! The Forsaken are out there! The Dark One is waiting! Why didn’t you agree I’d caulk their hulls while you were about it!"

Normally, Min tried to soothe his telared at the Aes Sedai She agreed with hiiven away the barn to sell a horse!

Rafela actually swayed before that blast, but Merana drew herself up, her own eyes old "You castigate us?" she snapped in tones as frosty as her eyes were hot She was Aes Sedai as the child Min had seen theal above queens, powerful above powers "You were present in the beginning, ta’veren, and you twisted the to you! But you left! They were not pleased to know they had been dancing for a ta’veren Somewhere, they learned to weave shields, and before you ell off their ship, Rafela and I were shielded So we could not take advantage with the Power, they said More than once, Harine threatened to hang us in the rigging by our toes until we came to our senses, and I for one believe she meant it! Feel lucky that you have the ships you want, Rand al’Thor Harine would have given you a handful! Feel lucky she didn’t want your new boots and that ghastly throne of yours as well! Oh, by the by, she foret a bellyache from it!"

Min stared at her Rand and Dobraine stared at her, and the Cairhienin’s jaw hung open Rafela stared, hersoundlessly For that reider and wider as if she were just hearing what she had said

The Dragon Scepter trembled in Rand’s fist Min had seen his fury swell near to bursting for far less She prayed for a way to avoid the explosion, and could not see one

"It sees out aren’t always the words he wants to hear" He sounded calm; Min was not about to think, sane "You’ve done well, Merana I handed you a dog’s dinner, but you and Rafela have done well"

The two Aes Sedai swayed, and for a ht collapse in puddles on the floor froed to keep the details fro her skirts unsteadily "There was no way to stop everyone learning we had reement, but we kept that much from her"

"Yes," Merana said breathlessly "She even waylaid us on the way here It’s difficult keeping anything from her, but we did We didn’t think you’d want her to " She trailed off at the stony look on Rand’s face

"Cadsuane again," he said flatly He frowned at the carved length of spearhead in his hand, then tossed it onto a chair as if he did not trust himself with it "She’s in the Sun Palace, is she? Min, tell the Maidens outside to carry a on Reborn in all haste"

"Rand, I don’t think," Min began uneasily, but Rand cut in Not harshly, but quite fir the sheepfold I intend to find out what she wants"

Min took her tied her feet to the doors She was not the only one to think this a bad idea Or at least to want to be elsewhere when the Dragon Reborn faced Cadsuane Melaidhrin Dobraine passed her on the way to the door,a hasty boith barely a pause, and even Merana and Rafela were out of the rooh theyInside the room, they did, anyway When Min put her head into the hallway, the two sisters had caught Dobraine and were scurrying along at little short of a trot

Strangely, the halfdozen Maidens who had been outside when Min entered earlier had non in number until they lined the corridor as far as she could see in both directions, tall hardfaced worays of the cadin’sor, shoufa wrapped around their heads with the long black veil hanging down A good many carried their spears and bullhide bucklers as if they expected a battle Soame called "knife, paper, stone," and the re