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"Our oaths are to the lands we protect," Easar said

"As you wish," Rand said, rising "I once gave you an ultiret that, but I remain your only path to the Last Battle Without ues from those lands you swore to protect" He nodded to each of them, then helped Min to her feet "Tomorrow, Ito go to Shayol Ghul and break the re seals on the Dark One’s prison Good day"

Cadsuane didn’t rise She sat, sipping her tea The four seemed astounded Well, the boy certainly had picked up an understanding of the draoing to do what?"

Rand turned "I’ to ‘break what he must break’ as your own prophecy says I must You cannot stop me, not when those words prove what I will do Earlier, I stepped in to prevent Maradon fro It was near to it, Tenobia The walls are shattered, your troops bloodied With help, I was able to save it Barely Your countries need you And so, you have two choices Swear to ht in your place"

Cadsuane sipped her tea That was going a little too far

"I’ll leave you to discuss h, before you start your deliberation, could you send for someone on my behalf? There is a ize to hio speak with the sisters waiting outside; she knew a few of them, and needed to feel out the others She didn’t worry about what the Borderlanders would decide Al’Thor had thee this one

One ht, but she hoped that they were ready

Chapter 52

Boots

Elayne settled herself in Glimmer’s saddle The mare was one of the prizes of the royal stable; she was of fine Saldaean stock with a brilliant white mane and coat The saddle itself was rich, the leather triold It was the sort of saddle you used when parading

Birgitte rode Rising, a tall dun gelding, also one of the fastest in the royal stables The Warder had chosen both horses She expected to have to run

Birgitte wore one of Elayne’s foxhead copies, though it had a different shape, a thin silver disc with a rose on the front Elayne carried another wrapped in cloth inside her pocket

She’d triedher dresser on fire She was having a great deal of difficulty without the original to study Her drea all of her personal Guards withless and less possible, unless she soain

Her honor guard fell into itte in the Queen’s Plaza She was bringing only a hundred soldiers--seventy-five Guards of twenty-five Guardswoone without those hundred if she’d been able to get aith it She couldn’t afford to be seen as a conqueror

"I don’t like this," Birgitte said