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The Aes Sedai thrust the dagger into the box and snapped the lid down, letting out a loud sigh as it clicked shut "A filthy thing," she said

As soon as the dagger was hidden, Mat’s shriek cut off, and he collapsed as if low surrounding Aes Sedai and table winked out

"Done," the A "It is done"

Soed visibly, and sweat beaded on more than one brow Anaiya pulled a plain linen handkerchief from her sleeve and wiped her face openly The cooleyed White dabbed alard lace

"Fascinating," Verin said "That the Old Blood could flow so strongly in anyone today" She and Serafelle put their heads together, talking softly, but with estures

"Is he Healed?" Nynaeve said "Will he live?"

Mat lay as if sleeping, but his face still had that hollowcheeked gauntness Egwene had never heard of a Healing that did not cure everything Unless just separating hiht!

"Brendas," the Amyrlin said, "will you see that he is taken back to his room?"

"As you command, Mother," the cooleyed woman said, her curtsy as emotionless as she herself seemed When she left to summon bearers, several of the other Aes Sedai left, too, including Anaiya Verin and Serafelle followed, still talking to one another too quietly for Egwene to ht?" Nynaeve demanded Sheriam raised her eyebrows

The Amyrlin Seat turned toward them "He is as well as he can be," she said coldly "Only tioth’s taint for so long who knohat effect it will have on him? Perhaps none, perhaps er is broken Now he needs rest, and as otten into hi, Mother?" Elayne asked, then hastily added, "If I ave the youngon the table a quizzical look He had notseemed easier, the rise and fall of his chest one, I would say The Old Blood coain"

"It was not all about a battle," Nynaeve said "I heard him say Aes Sedai That was no battle Mother," she added belatedly

For a moment the Amyrlin seemed to consider, perhaps what to say, perhaps whether to say anything "For a time," she said finally, "I believe the past and the present were one He was there, and he was here, and he knee were He coain" ’I am a free man, Aes Sedai I am no Aes Sedai meat’ That is what he said"

Leane sniffed loudly, and sorily under their breath