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Easy enough to think of three unintended consequences； or more； and the snow might well be the least unpleasant。
As they approached the small； patched tent called the Amyrlin's Study； a shadow moved beside one of the tall wagons； and Egwene's breath caught。 The shadow became a figure who slipped back her hood enough to reveal Leane's face； then pulled back into darkness。
〃She'll keep a watch and let us know if anybody es；〃 Siuan said softly。
〃That's good；〃 Egwene muttered。 The woman could have told her in advance。 She had half been afraid it was Romanda or Lelaine！
The Amyrlin's Study was dark； but Lord Bryne stood waiting patiently inside； wrapped in his cloak； a shadow among shadows。 Embracing the Source； Egwene channeled； not to light the lantern hanging from the centerpole or one of the candles； but to make a small sphere of pale light that she suspended in the air over the folding table she used as a writing desk。 Very small； and very pale； unlikely to be noticed from outside； and quick as thought to extinguish。 She could not afford discovery。
There had been Amyrlins who reigned in strength； Amyrlins who managed an even balance with the Hall； and Amyrlins who had had as little power as she； or less upon rare occasions； well…hidden in the secret histories of the White Tower。 Several had frittered away power and influence； falling from strength to weakness； but in over three thousand years； precious few had managed to move in the other direction。 Egwene very much wished she knew how Myriam Copan and the rest of that bare handful had managed。 If anyone had ever thought to write that down； the pages were long lost。
Bowing respectfully； Bryne showed no surprise at her caution。 He knew what she put at hazard； meeting him secretly。 To a very large degree； she trusted this sturdy； heavily graying man with the bluff； weathered face； and not only because she had to。 His cloak was thick red wool； lined with marten and bordered with the Flame of Tar Valon； a gift from the Hall； yet he had made plain a dozen times in the past weeks that whatever the Hall thought … and he was not blind enough to have missed that！ … she was the Amyrlin； and he followed the Amyrlin。 Oh； he had never said so right out； but with carefully worded hints that left no doubts。 Expecting more would have been expecting too much。 There were nearly as many undercurrents in the camp as there were Aes Sedai； some strong enough to pull him down。 Several strong enough to mire her deeper than she was； if the Hall learned of this meeting。 She trusted him further than anyone except Siuan and Leane； or Elayne and Nynaeve； maybe further than any of the sisters who had sworn fealty to her in secret； and she wished she had the courage to trust him more。 The ball of white light cast weak； fitful shadows。
〃You have news； Lord Bryne？〃 she asked； stifling hope。 She could think of a dozen possible messages that might bring him in the night； each with its own set of pitfalls and snares。 Had Rand decided to add more crowns to that of Illian； or the Seanchan somehow captured still another city； or the Band of the Red Hand suddenly moved on its own instead of shadowing the Aes Sedai； or。。。
〃An army lies north of us； Mother；〃 he replied calmly。 His leather…gauntleted hands rested lightly atop his long sword hilt。 An army to the north； a little more snow； all the same。 〃Andorans； mainly； but with a goodly number of Murandians。 My deep scouts brought the news less than an hour ago。 Pelivar leads； and Arathelle is with him； the High Seats of two of the strongest Houses in Andor； and they've brought twenty more at least。 They're pushing south hard； it seems。 If you keep on as you are； which I advise against； we should meet head…on in two days； three at the outside。〃
Egwene kept her face smooth； suppressing her relief。 What she had been hoping for； waiting for； what she had begun to fear might never e。 Surprisingly； it was Siuan who gasped； and clapped a mittened hand over her mouth too late。 Bryne cocked at eyebrow at her； but she recovered quickly； putting on Aes Sedai serenity so thick you almost forgot her youthful face。
〃Do you have qualms at fighting your fellow Andorans？〃 she demanded。 〃Speak up； man。 I'm not your washwoman here。〃 Well； there was a small crack in that serenity。
〃As you mand； Siuan Sedai。〃 Bryne's tone held no scrap of mockery； yet Siuan's mouth began to tighten； her outward coolness evaporating fast。 He made her a small bow； workmanlike but acceptable。 〃I will fight whoever the Mother wishes me to fight； of course。〃 Even here； he would not be more forthing。 Men learned caution around Aes Sedai。 So did women。 Egwene thought caution had bee a second skin for her。
〃And if we don't keep on？〃 she said。 So much planning； just her and Siuan and sometimes Leane； and now she still had to feel out each step as carefully as on those icy paths outside。 〃If we stop here？〃
He did not hesitate。 〃If you have a way to bring them around without fighting； all well and good； but some time tomorrow they'll reach an excellent position to defend； one flank held by the River Armahn； the other by a large peat bog； and small streams in front to break up attacks。 Pelivar will settle in there to wait； he knows the work。 Arathelle will have her part if there's talking； but she'll leave the pikes and swords to him。 We can't reach it ahead of him； and anyway； the terrain is no use to us there； with him to the north。 If you mean to fight； I advise making for that ridge we crossed two days back。 We can reach it in good order ahead of them if we start at dawn； and Pelivar would think twice about ing at us there if he had three times the numbers he does。〃
Wriggling near…frozen toes inside her stockings； Egwene let out an annoyed sigh。 There was a difference between not letting cold touch you and not feeling it。 Picking her way carefully； not letting herself be distracted by the chill； she asked； 〃Will they talk； offered the chance？〃
〃Probably； Mother。 The Murandians hardly count； they're just there for whatever advantage they can wring out of the situation； same as their countrymen under me。 It's Pelivar and Arathelle who matter。 If I had to wager； I'd say they only mean to keep you out of Andor。〃 He shook his head grimly。 〃But they'll fight if they have to； if they must； maybe even if it means facing Aes Sedai instead of just soldiers。 I expect they've heard the same tales we have about that battle out east somewhere。〃
〃Fish guts！〃 Siuan growled。 So much for calm。 〃Half…baked rumors and raw gossip are no proof there was any battle； you lummox； and if there was； sisters wouldn't have gotten themselves mixed up in it！〃 The man truly was an occasion of sin for her。
Strangely； Bryne smiled。 He often did when Siuan showed her temper。 Anywhere else； on anyone else； Egwene would have called the smile fond。 〃Better for us if they believe；〃 he told Siuan mildly。 Her face darkened so； you might have thought he had sneered at her。
Why did a normally sensible woman let Bryne get under her skin？ Whatever the reason； Egwene had no time for it tonight。 〃Siuan； I see someone forgot to take away the mulled wine。 It can't have soured in this weather。 Warm it for us； please。〃 She did not like setting the other woman down in front of Bryne； but she had to be reined in； and this seemed the gentlest way to do it。 Really； they should not have left the silver pitcher on her table。
Siuan did not quite flinch； but from her stricken expression； quickly smoothed over； you would never have believed she washed the man's smallclothes。 Without ment she channeled slightly to reheat the wine in the silver pitcher； quickly filled two clean worked…silver cups； and handed the first to Egwene。 She kept the second； staring at Lord Bryne as she sipped and leaving him to pour for himself。
Warming her mittened fingers on her own cup； Egwene felt a flash of irritation。 Maybe it was part of Siuan's long…delayed reaction to the death of her Warder。 She still became weepy for no visible reason now and then； though she tried to hide it。 Egwene put the matter out of her head。 Tonight； that was an anthill beside mountains。
〃I want to avoid a battle if I can； Lord Bryne。 The army is for Tar Valon； not fighting a war here。 Send to arrange a meeting as soon as possible for the Amyrlin Seat with Lord Pelivar and Lady Arathelle and anyone else you think you should be present。 Not here。 Our ragged camp won't impress them very much。 As soon as possible； mind。 I wouldn't object to tomorrow； if it could be set。〃
〃That's sooner than I can manage； Mother；〃 he said mildly。 〃If I send riders out as soon as I return to camp； I doubt they can be back with an answer much before tomorrow night。〃
〃Then I suggest you return quickly。〃 Light； but her hands and feet felt cold。 And the pit of her stomach； too。 But her voice kept its calm。 〃And I want you to keep that meeting； and the existence of their army； from the Hall as long as possible。〃
This time； she was asking him to take as great a risk as she did。 Gareth Bryne was one of the best generals living； but the Hall chafed that he did not r