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Upon reaching the entrance to the Grand Hall of the Sun, Elayne’s Andoran Guards the outer hallway Elayne took a deep breath, then strode into the throne rooroup of ten Blue-streakedat the sides of the room, and the Sun Throne sat on its blue ilded wood, but was surprisingly unassu Perhaps that hy La Avendoraldera itself as a material Elayne walked up to the dais, then turned as the Cairhienin nobility entered, her supporters first, then the others, ranked according to the coe by the day, if not the hour

Birgitte eyed each one who entered, but the Cairhienin werelike Ellorien’s audacity in Andor She was a patriot, if one who frustratingly continued to disagree with Elayne In Cairhien, one did not do such things

Once the crowd had stilled, Elayne took a deep breath She’d considered a speech, but her ht her that sometimes, decisive action made for the best speech Elayne ht her arly, but the Warder was eyeing the throne "Wait aone to another, and Lorstruitte," Elayne said, blushing, "is this really necessary?"

Birgitte ignored her, prodding at the seat’s cushion Light! Was the Warder determined to embarrass her in every possible situation? Surely the--

"Aha!" Birgitte said, yanking so from the pillowed cushion

Elayne started, then stepped closer, Lorstru up a small needle, tipped black "Hidden in the cushion"

Elayne paled

"It was the only place they knew you’d be, Elayne," Birgitte said softly She knelt down and began prodding for rown flushed "I will find who did this, Your Majesty," he said in a low voice A dangerous voice "They will knorath"

"Not if they knowover the needle

"Obviously an assassination atteon, Your Majesty," Lorstrum said in a louder voice, for the benefit of the audience "None would dare try to kill you, our beloved sister fro him That expression of hers said to everyone in the room that she would put up with this ruse, intended to save his face As her strongest supporter, the sha to let him save face would cost hiht, she hated this game But she would play it And she would play it well

"Is it safe?" she asked Birgitte