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g about。 She told us to go to bed and be quick about it。〃 Unconsciously she stroked the blue fringe on her shawl。 New Aes Sedai almost always wore their shawls more often than they needed to； so Siuan said。
Giving them a smile she hoped was weling； Egwene took her place behind the small table。 Carefully； the chair tilted for a moment anyway； until she reached down and pulled the leg straight。 An edge of folded parchment peeked out from beneath the stone inkwell。 Her hands twitched toward it； but she made them be still。 Too many sisters saw little need for courtesy。 She would not be one of those。 Besides； these two had a claim on her。
〃I am sorry for your difficulties； daughters。〃 Made Aes Sedai by her decree on being raised Amyrlin； they faced the same predicament as she； but lacking the added shield of the Amyrlin's stole； small shield that that had proved。 Most sisters behaved as though they were still only Accepted。 What went on inside the Ajahs was seldom known outside； but it was rumored that they truly had had to beg admittance； and that guardians had been named to oversee their behavior。 No one had ever heard the like； but everyone took it for fact。 She had done them no favor。 Another thing that had been necessary； though。 〃I will speak to Tiana。〃 It might do some good。 For a day； or an hour。
〃Thank you； Mother；〃 Theodrin said； 〃but there is no need to bother yourself。〃 Still； she also touched her shawl； hands lingering。 〃Tiana wanted to know why we were up so late；〃 she added after a moment； 〃but we didn't tell her。〃
〃There was no need for secrecy； daughter。〃 A pity they had not found a witness； though。 Moghedien's rescuer would remain a shadow half…glimpsed。 Always the most frightening sort。 She glanced at the tiny corner of parchment； itching to read it。 Maybe Siuan had discovered something。 〃Thank you both。〃 Theodrin recognized a dismissal and made her manners to go； but stopped when Faolain remained where she was。
〃I wish I had held the Oath Rod already；〃 Faolain told Egwene in tones of frustration； 〃so you could know what I say is true。〃
〃This isn't the time to bother the Amyrlin；〃 Theodrin began； then folded her hands and turned her attention to Egwene。 Patience blended with something else on her face。 Clearly the stronger of the two in the Power； she always took the lead； yet this time she was prepared to step back。 In aid of what； Egwene wondered。
〃It isn't the Oath Rod that makes a woman Aes Sedai； daughter。〃 Whatever some believed。 〃Speak the truth to me； and I will believe it。〃
〃I don't like you。〃 Faolain's mop of dark curls swayed as she shook her head for emphasis。 〃You must know that。 You probably think I was mean when you were a novice； when you came back to the White Tower after running away； but I still believe you didn't get half the punishment you should have。 Maybe my admitting it will help you know I speak the truth。 It isn't as though we have no choice even now。 Romanda offered to take us under her protection； and so did Lelaine。 They said they'd see we were tested and raised properly as soon we return to the Tower。〃 Her face grew angrier； and Theodrin rolled her eyes and broke in。
〃Mother； what Faolain is fumbling all around without getting to the point is that we didn't attach ourselves to you because we had no choice。 And we didn't do it in gratitude for the shawl。〃 She pursed her lips as if thinking that raising them Aes Sedai in the manner Egwene had was not really a gift to inspire much gratitude。
〃Then why？〃 Egwene asked； leaning back。 The chair shifted； but held。
Faolain jumped in before Theodrin could more than open her mouth。 〃Because you are the Amyrlin Seat。〃 She still sounded angry。 〃We can see what happens。 Some of the sisters think you're Sheriam's puppet； but most believe Romanda or Lelaine tells you where and when to step。 It is not right。〃 Her face was twisted in a scowl。 〃I left the Tower because what Elaida did wasn't right。 They raised you Amyrlin。 So I am yours。 If you will have me。 If you can trust me without the Oath Rod。 You must believe me。〃
〃And you； Theodrin？〃 Egwene said quickly； schooling her face。 Knowing how the sisters felt was bad enough； hearing it again was。。。 painful。
〃I am yours； too；〃 Theodrin sighed； 〃if you'll have me。〃 She spread her hands disparagingly。 〃We are not much； I know； but it looks as though we are all you have。 I must admit I was hesitant； Mother。 Faolain is the one who kept insisting we do this。 Frankly。。。 〃 She settled her shawl again unnecessarily； and her voice firmed。 〃Frankly； I do not see how you can win out over Romanda and Lelaine。 But we are trying to behave as Aes Sedai； even though we aren't really； yet。 We will not be that； Mother； whatever you say； until the other sisters see us as Aes Sedai； and that won't happen until we have been tested and have sworn the Three Oaths。〃
Plucking the folded scrap of parchment out from under the inkwell； Egwene fingered it while she thought。 Faolain was the driving force behind this？ That seemed as unlikely as a wolf befriending the shepherd。 She suspected 〃dislike〃 was a mild word for what Faolain felt for her； and the woman must know Egwene hardly saw her as a potential friend。 If they had accepted either Sitter's arrangement； mentioning the offer might be a good means of disarming her suspicions。
〃Mother；〃 Faolain said； and stopped； looking surprised at herself。 It was the first time she had addressed Egwene so。 Drawing a deep breath； she went on。 〃Mother； I know you must have a hard time believing us； since we've never held the Oath Rod； but … 〃
〃I wish you would stop bringing that up；〃 Egwene said。 It was well to be careful； but she could not afford to refuse every offer of help for fear of plots。 〃Do you think everybody believes Aes Sedai because of the Three Oaths？ People who know Aes Sedai know a sister can stand truth on its head and turn it inside out if she chooses to。 Myself； I think the Three Oaths hurt as much as they help； maybe more。 I will believe you until I learn you've lied to me； and I will trust you until you show you don't deserve it。 The same way everybody else does with one another。〃 e to think of it； the Oaths did not really change that。 You still had to take a sister on trust most of the time。 The Oaths just made people warier about it； wondering whether and how they were being manipulated。 〃Another thing。 You two are Aes Sedai。 I don't want to hear any more about having to be tested； or hold the Oath Rod； or any of it。 Bad enough you have to face that nonsense without parroting it yourselves。 Have I made myself clear？〃
The two women standing on the other side of the table murmured hastily that she had； then exchanged long looks。 This time； it was Faolain who appeared indecisive。 Finally； Theodrin glided around to kneel beside Egwene's chair and kiss her ring。 〃Under the Light and by my hope of salvation and rebirth； I； Theodrin Dabei； swear fealty to you； Egwene al'Vere； to faithfully serve and obey on pain of my life and honor。〃 She looked at Egwene questioningly。
It was all Egwene could do to nod。 This was no part of Aes Sedai ritual； this was how noble swore to ruler。 Even some rulers did not receive so strong an oath。 Yet no sooner had Theodrin risen with a relieved smile than Faolain took her place。
〃Under the Light and by my hope of salvation and rebirth； I； Faolain Orande。。。 〃
All that she could have wished for and more。 From any other sisters； at least； who were not just as likely to be sent to fetch another's dustcloak if the wind rose。
When Faolain finished； she remained kneeling； but stiffly upright。 〃Mother； there is the matter of my penance。 For what I said to you； about not liking you。 I will set it myself； if you wish； but it is your right。〃 Her voice was as rigid as her posture； yet not at all fearful。 She looked ready to stare down a lion。 Eager to； in fact。
Biting her lip； Egwene nearly laughed aloud。 Keeping her face smooth took effort； maybe they would take it for a hiccough。 However much they claimed they were not really Aes Sedai； Faolain had just proved how much of one she was。 Sometimes sisters set themselves penances； in order to maintain the proper balance between pride and humility … that balance was much prized； supposedly； and the only reason given usually … but certainly none sought to have one imposed。 Penance set by another could be quite harsh； and the Amyrlin was supposed to be harder in this than the Ajahs。 Either way； though； many sisters made a haughty display of submission to the greater will of the Aes Sedai； an arrogant showing of their lack of arrogance。 The pride of humility； Siuan called it。 She considered telling the woman to eat a handful of soap just to see her expression … Faolain had a mean tongue … but instead。。。
〃I don't hand out penance for telling the truth； daughter。 Or for not liking me。 Dislike to your heart's content； so long as you keep your oath。〃 Not that anyone except a Darkfriend would break that particular oath。 Still； there were ways around almost anything。 But weak sticks were better than none； when you were fending off a bear。
Faolain's eyes widened； an