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il of Nine； and Lord Brend they called him who refused to admit the Forsaken were loose； but Rand knew him。 With Lews Therin's memory； he knew Sammael's face； knew him to the bone。
〃What does Dyelin Taravin intend with Naean Arawn and Elenia Sarand？〃 Dorindha asked。 〃I confess I do not understand this shutting people away。〃
〃What she does there is hardly important；〃 Davram said。 〃It is her meetings with those Aes Sedai that concern me。〃
〃Dyelin Taravin is a fool；〃 Melaine muttered。 〃She believes the rumors about the Car'a'carn kneeling to the Amyrlin Seat。 She will not brush her hair unless those Aes Sedai give her permission。〃
〃You mistake her；〃 Deira said firmly。 〃Dyelin is strong enough to rule Andor； she proved that at Aringill。 Of course she listens to the Aes Sedai … only a fool ignores Aes Sedai … but to listen is not to obey。〃
The wagons that had been brought from Dumai's Wells would have to be searched again。 The fat…little…man angreal had to be there somewhere。 None of the sisters who escaped could have had a clue what it was。 Unless； perhaps； one had stuck a souvenir of the Dragon Reborn in her pouch。 No。 It had to be in the wagons somewhere。 With that； he was more than a match for any of the Forsaken。 Without it。。。 Death； destruction and madness。
Suddenly what he had been hearing rushed forward。 〃What was that？〃 he demanded； turning from the ivory…inlaid table。
Surprised faces turned toward him。 Jonan straightened from where he had been slouching against the doorframe。 The Maidens； squatting easily on their heels； suddenly appeared alert。 They had been talking idly among themselves； even they were wary around him now。
Fingering one of her ivory necklaces； Melaine shared a decided look between Bael and Davram； then spoke before anyone else。 〃There are nine Aes Sedai at an inn called The Silver Swan； in what Davram Bashere calls the New City。〃 She said the word 〃inn〃 in an odd way； and 〃city〃 as well； she had only known them from books before ing across the Dragonwall。 〃He and Bael say we must leave them alone unless they do something against you。 I think you have learned about waiting for Aes Sedai； Rand al'Thor。〃
〃My fault；〃 Bashere sighed； 〃if fault there is。 Though what Melaine expects to do； I can't say。 Eight sisters stopped at The Silver Swan almost a month ago； just after you left。 Now and then a few more e or go； but there are never more than ten at one time。 They keep to themselves； cause no trouble； and ask no questions that Bael or I can learn。 A few Red sisters have e into the city； as well； twice。 Those at The Silver Swan all have Warders； but these never do。 I'm sure they are Reds。 Two or three appear； ask after men heading for the Black Tower； and after a day or so； they leave。 Without learning much； I'd say。 That Black Tower is as good as a fortress for holding in secrets。 None of them has made trouble； and I would rather not trouble them until I know it is necessary。〃
〃I didn't mean that；〃 Rand said slowly。 He sat down in a chair opposite Bashere； gripping the carved arms till his knuckles hurt。 Aes Sedai gathering here； Aes Sedai gathering in Cairhien。 Happenstance？ Lews Therin rumbled like thunder on the horizon about death and betrayal。 He would have to warn Taim。 Not about the Aes Sedai at The Silver Swan … Taim certainly knew already； why had he not mentioned it？ … about staying away from them； keeping the Asha'man away。 If Dumai's Wells was to be an end； there could be no new beginnings here。 Too many things seemed to be spinning out of control。 The harder he tried to gather them all in； the more there were and the faster they spun。 Sooner or later； everything was going to fall； and shatter。 The thought dried his throat。 Thom Merrilin had taught him to juggle a little； but he had never been very good。 Now he had to be very good indeed。 He wished he had something to wet his throat。
He did not realize he had spoken that last aloud until Jalani straightened from her crouch and strutted across the room to where a tall silver pitcher stood on a small table。 Filling a hammered silver goblet； she brought it back to Rand with a smile； her mouth opening as； she proffered it。 He expected something rude； but a change came over her face。 All she said was； 〃Car'a'carn；〃 then went back to her place with the other Maidens； so dignified it seemed she was imitating Dorindha； or maybe Deira。 Somara gestured in handtalk； and suddenly every Maiden was red…faced and biting her lips to keep from laughing。 Every Maiden but Jalani； who was just red…faced。
The wine punch tasted of plums。 Rand could remember fat sweet plums from the orchards across the river when he was young； climbing the trees to pick them himself。。。 Tilting his head back； he drained the goblet。 There were plum trees in the Two Rivers； but no orchards of them； and certainly not across any river。 Keep your bloody memories to yourself； he snarled at Lews Therin。 The man in his head laughed at something； giggling quietly to himself。
Bashere frowned at the Maidens； then glanced at Bael and his wives； all impassive as stone； and shook his head。 He got on well with Bael； but Aiel in general mystified him。 〃Since no one is bringing me any drink；〃 he said； rising； and went to pour his own。 He took a long swallow that wet his heavy mustaches。 〃Now； that's cooling。 Taim's way of enrolling men seems to sweep up every fellow who'd like to follow the Dragon Reborn。 He has delivered a goodly army to me； men who lack whatever it is your Asha'man need。 They all talk wide…eyed about walking though holes in the air； but none has been anywhere near the Black Tower。 I'm trying out a few thoughts young Mat had。〃
Rand waved that away with the empty goblet。 〃Tell me about Dyelin。〃 Dyelin of House Taravin would be next in line for the throne should anything happen to Elayne； but he had told her he was having Elayne brought to Caemlyn。 〃If she thinks she can take the Lion Throne； I can find a farm for her； too。〃
〃Take the throne？〃 Deira said incredulously； and her husband laughed out loud。
〃I have no understanding of wetlander ways；〃 Bael said； 〃but I do not think that is what she has done。〃
〃Far from it。〃 Davram carried the pitcher over to pour more punch for Rand。 〃Some lesser lords and ladies who thought to curry favor proclaimed for her at Aringill。 She moves quickly； Lady Dyelin。 Within four days she had the two leaders hanged； for treason to the Daughter…Heir Elayne； and ordered another twenty flogged。〃 He chuckled approvingly。 His wife sniffed。 Likely she would have had the road lined with gibbets all the way from Aringill to Caemlyn。
〃Then what was that about her ruling Andor？〃 Rand demanded。 〃And imprisoning Elenia and Naean。〃
〃They are the ones who tried to claim the throne；〃 Deira said； dark eyes sparkling angrily。
Bashere nodded。 He was much calmer。 〃Only three days ago。 When word arrived of Colavaere's coronation； and the rumors from Cairhien that you had gone to Tar Valon began to sound more real。 With trade beginning again； there are so many pigeons in the air between Cairhien and Caemlyn； you could walk on their backs。〃 Putting the pitcher back； he returned to his chair。 〃Naean proclaimed for the Lion Throne in the morning； Elenia before midday； and by sunset Dyelin； Pelivar and Luan had arrested them both。 They announced Dyelin as Regent the next morning。 In Elayne's name； until Elayne returns。 Most of the Houses of Andor have declared support for Dyelin。 I think some would like her to take the throne herself； but Aringill keeps even the most powerful careful of their tongues。〃 Closing one eye； Bashere pointed at Rand。 〃You； they do not mention at all。 Whether that is good or bad； it will take a wiser head than mine to say。〃
Deira offered a cool smile； looking down that nose of hers。 〃Those。。。 lickspittles。。。 you allowed to make free of the palace have all fled the city； it seems。 Fled Andor； some of them； according to rumor。 You should know； they were all behind either Elenia or Naean。〃
Rand carefully set his full goblet on the floor beside his chair。 He had only let Lir and Arymilla and the rest remain in order to try pushing Dyelin and those who supported her into cooperation with him。 They would never have left Andor to the likes of Lord Lir。 With time and Elayne's return； it might yet work。 But everything was whirling faster and faster； whirling away from his fingers。 There were a few things he could control； though。
〃Fedwin； there； is an Asha'man；〃 he said。 〃He can bring messages to me in Cairhien； if there's need。〃 That with a glare for Melaine； who returned the blandest sort of look。 Deira studied Fedwin as she might a dead rat some overeager dog had dropped on her rug。 Davram and Bael were more considering； Fedwin tried to stand straighter under their gaze。 〃Don't let anyone know who he is；〃 Rand went on。 〃No one。 That's why he isn't wearing black。 I am taking two more to Lord Semaradrid and High Lord Weiramon tonight。 They'll have need when they face Sammael in the Doirlon Hills。 I will be busy chewing on Cairhien for a while yet； it seems。〃 And maybe Andor； too。
〃Does this mean you will send th