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They cli ramps and entered another of the White Tower’s white-walled hallways,to receive the Dragon Reborn, then she’d do it there Tisting turns later--past mirrored stand-lamps and stately tapestries--they entered one last hallway and froze

The floor tiles here were the color of blood That wasn’t right The ones here should have been white and yellow These glistened, as if wet

Chubain inhaled sharply, hand going to his sword hilt Saerin raised an eyebrow Siuan was tempted to barrel onward, but these places where the Dark One had touched the world could be dangerous Sheattacked by the tapestries

The two Aes Sedai turned and walked the other way Chubain lingered for a moment, then hurried after It was easy to read the tension in his face First the Seanchan, and now the Dragon Reborn himself, coh the hallways, theyin the saht have argued that was because of the news of the day, but the truth was that many still held to their distrust of other Ajahs Another reason to curse Elaida Egwene had been working hard to reforge the Tower, but one couldn’t mend years’ worth of broken nets in one month

They finally arrived at the Hall of the Tower Sisters clustered in the wide hallway outside, divided by Ajah Chubain hurried to speak with his guards at the door, and Saerin entered the Hall proper, where she could ith the other Sitters Siuan reing Egwene had a new Keeper to replace Sheriareat deal of sense--the wo her had helped forge the two halves of the Tower back together But Siuan had harbored a swene had soso capable on her own--that she was relying on Siuan less and less

That was a good thing But it was also infuriating

The familiar hallways, the scent of freshly washed stone, the echoing of footsteps…When last she’d been in this place, she’d coer

She had no ain The Last Battle was upon the with the squabbles of the Blue Ajah as they reintegrated into the Tower She wanted to do what she’d set out to do, all those years before with Moiraine Shepherd the Dragon Reborn to the Last Battle

Through the bond, she felt Bryne arrive before he spoke "Now, there’s a concerned face," he said, piercing the hallway’s dozens of hushed conversations as he walked up behind her

Siuan turned to him He was stately and remarkably calase Trakand, then sucked into Aes Sedai politics, then told he was going to be leading his troops on the front lines of the Last Battle But that was Bryne Serene to a fault He soothed her worries just by being there

"You came faster than I’d assumed you’d be able to," she said "And I do not have a ‘concerned face,’ Gareth Bryne I’m Aes Sedai My very nature is to be in control of s"

"Yes," he said "And yet, the more time I spend around the Aes Sedai, the more I wonder about that Are they in control of their ee? If one is always concerned, one will always look the sa to look through the hallway full of Aes Sedai and Warders "I was already returning to the Toith a report when your ruffly

"They’re nervous," he said "I don’t think I’ve ever seen the Aes Sedai like this"

"Well, can you blame us?" she snapped

He looked at her, then raised a hand to her shoulder His strong, callused fingers brushed her neck "What is wrong?"