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own there has a fine crop。 I don't say any of it is true； of course； but。。。 〃 It was odd； seeing him so hesitant。 〃Mother； one tale that caught them up on the road is that Rand al'Thor has gone to the White Tower and sworn fealty to Elaida。〃
For a moment Myrelle and Siuan looked much alike； blood draining from their faces as they envisioned catastrophe。 Myrelle actually swayed in her saddle。 For a moment Egwene could only stare at him。 Then she startled herself； and the others； by bursting out laughing。 Daishar danced in surprise； and settling him on the rocky slope settled her nerves as well。 〃Lord Bryne；〃 she said； patting the gelding's neck； 〃that isn't so； believe me。 I know it for a fact； as of last night。〃
Siuan heaved an instant sigh； and Myrelle was only a heartbeat behind。 Egwene felt like laughing again； at their expressions。 So incredibly relieved they were wide…eyed。 Children who had been told the Shadowman was not under the bed。 Aes Sedai calm indeed。
〃That's good to hear；〃 Bryne said flatly； 〃but even if I sent away every man down there； the tale will still reach my ranks。 It will go through the army like wildfire crossing these hills。〃 That cut her mirth short。 That could be disaster； left alone。
〃I will have sisters announce the truth to your soldiers tomorrow。 Will six Aes Sedai who know of themselves be enough？ Myrelle； here； and Sheriam。 Carlinya and Beonin； Anaiya and Morvrin。〃 Those sisters would not like having to meet with the Wise Ones； but they would not be able to refuse her； either。 Would not want to； really； to stop this tale spreading。 Should not want to； at least。 Myrelle's tiny wince was followed by a resigned twist of her mouth。
Leaning an elbow on his helmet； Bryne studied Egwene and Myrelle。 He never so much as peeked at Siuan。 His bay stamped a hoof on the rocks； and a covey of some sort of dove with bright blue wings whirred into the air from beneath bushes a few paces away； making Daishar and Myrelle's roan start skittishly。 Bryne's mount did not stir。 He had heard of the gateways； without doubt； though he surely knew nothing of what they were … Aes Sedai did keep secrets by habit； and had some hope of keeping that one from Elaida … and he certainly knew nothing at all about Tel'aran'rhiod … that vital secret was easier to guard with no manifestations anyone could see … yet he did not ask how。 Perhaps he was accustomed to Aes Sedai and secrets by now。
〃So long as they say the words straight；〃 he said at last。 〃If they hedge even a hair。。。 〃 His stare was not an attempt to intimidate； just to drive the point home。 He seemed satisfied by what he saw in her face。 〃You do very well； it appears； Mother。 I wish you continued success。 Set your time for this afternoon； and I will e。 We should confer regularly。 I will e whenever you send for me。 We should begin making firm plans how to put you on the Amyrlin Seat once we reach Tar Valon。〃
His tone was guarded … very likely he still was not entirely sure what was going on； or how far he could trust Myrelle … and it took her a moment to realize what he had done。 It made her breath catch。 Maybe she was just being too used to the way Aes Sedai shaded words； but。。。 Bryne had just said the army was hers。 She was sure of it。 Not the Hall's； and not Sheriam's； hers。
〃Thank you； Lord Bryne。〃 That seemed little enough； especially when his careful nod； his eyes steady on hers； seemed to confirm her belief。 Suddenly she had a thousand more questions。 Most of which she could not ask even were they alone。 A pity she could not take him into her confidence pletely。 Caution until you're sure； and then a little more caution。 An old saying that applied very well to any dealings that brushed against Aes Sedai。 And even the best men would talk things over with their friends； perhaps especially when things were supposed to be secret。 〃I'm sure you have a thousand details to see to； what's left of the morning；〃 she said； gathering her reins。 〃You go on back。 We will ride a little more。〃
Bryne protested； of course。 He almost sounded like a Warder； talking of the impossibility of watching every way at once and how an arrow in the back could kill an Aes Sedai as quickly as it could anyone else。 The next man who told her that； she decided； was going to pay for it。 Three Aes Sedai were surely the equal of three hundred men。 In the end； for all his grumbles and grimaces； he had no choice but to obey。 Donning his helmet； he started his horse down the uneven slope toward the merchant train； instead of back the way they had e； but that was even better from her point of view。
〃Will you lead the way； Siuan；〃 she said when he was a dozen strides below。
Siuan glared after him as though he had been badgering her the whole time。 With a snort； she tugged her straw hat straight； wheeled her mare around … well； dragged her around … and heeled the stout animal to a walk。 Egwene motioned Myrelle to follow。 Like Bryne； the woman had no choice。
At first Myrelle directed sidelong glances at her； plainly expecting her to bring up the sisters sent to the White Tower； plainly gathering excuses for why they had to be kept secret even from the Hall。 The longer Egwene rode in silence； the more uneasily the other shifted in her saddle。 Myrelle began wetting her lips； fine cracks spreading in that Aes Sedai calm。 A very useful tool； silence。
For a time the only sounds were their horses' hooves and the occasional cry of a bird in the brush； but as Siuan's direction became clear； angling a little west from the path back to the camp； Myrelle's shifting increased until she might have been sitting on nettles。 Maybe there was something to those bits and pieces Siuan had gathered after all。
When Siuan took another turn westward； between two misshapen hills that bent toward each other； Myrelle drew rein。 〃There。。。 There is a waterfall in that direction；〃 she said； pointing east。 〃Not very large； even before the drought； but quite pretty even now。〃 Siuan stopped too； looking back with a small smile。
What could Myrelle be hiding？ Egwene was curious。 Glancing at the Green sister； she gave a start at a single bead of perspiration on the woman's forehead； glistening in the shadow just at the edge of her wide gray hat。 She most certainly wanted to know what could shake an Aes Sedai enough to make her sweat。
〃I think Siuan's way will offer even more interesting sights； don't you？〃 Egwene said； turning Daishar； and Myrelle seemed to fold in on herself。 〃e along。〃
〃You know everything； don't you？〃 Myrelle muttered unsteadily as they rode between the leaning hills。 More than one drop of sweat decorated her face now。 She was shaken to her core。 〃Everything。 How could you。。。？〃 Suddenly she jerked upright in her saddle； staring at Siuan's back。 〃Her！ Siuan's been your creature from the beginning！〃 She sounded almost indignant。 〃How could we have been so blind？ But I still don't understand。 We were so circumspect。〃
〃If you want to keep something hidden；〃 Siuan said contemptuously over her shoulder； 〃don't try to buy coin peppers this far south。〃
What in the world were coin peppers？ And what were they talking about？ Myrelle shuddered。 It was a measure of how upset she was that Siuan's tone brought no quick snap to put the other woman in her places。 Instead； she licked her lips as though they were suddenly very dry。
〃Mother； you have to understand why I did it； why we did it。〃 The frantic edge to her voice was fit for confronting half the Forsaken； and her in her shift。 〃Not just because Moiraine asked； not just because she was my friend。 I hate letting them die。 I hate it！ The bargain we make is hard on us； sometimes； but harder on them。 You must understand。 You must！〃
Just when Egwene thought she was about to reveal everything； Siuan halted her round mare again and faced them。 Egwene could have slapped her。 〃It might go easier with you； Myrelle； if you lead the rest of the way；〃 she said coldly。 Disgustedly； in fact。 〃Cooperation might mean mitigation。 A little。〃
〃Yes。〃 Myrelle nodded； hands working incessantly on the reins。 〃Yes； of course。〃
She looked on the point of tears as she took the lead。 Siuan； falling in behind； appeared relieved for just an instant。 Egwene thought she herself was going to burst。 What bargain？ With whom？ Letting who die？ And who was 〃we〃？ Sheriam and the others？ But Myrelle would have heard； and exposing her own ignorance hardly seemed advisable at this point。 An ignorant woman who keeps her mouth shut will be thought wise； the saying went。 And there was another： Keeping the first secret always means keeping ten more。 There was nothing for it but to follow； holding everything in。 Siuan was going to get a talking…to； though。 The woman was not supposed to be keeping secrets from her。 Grinding her teeth； Egwene tried to appear patient； unconcerned。 Wise。
Almost back to the road the camp was on； a few miles to the west； Myrelle led the way up a low flat…topped hill covered with pine and leatherleaf。 Two huge oaks kept anything else from growing in the wide depression on the crown。 Beneath thick intertwined branches stood three peaked tents of patch