rs。 And no men among them。 A man might well have been remarked。 〃I think she has run away； Chesa。〃
〃Why； that wicked woman！〃 Chesa exclaimed。 〃I always said she had a mean mouth and a sneaking eye。 Slinking away like a thief after you took her in。 She'd be starving by a road； if not for you。 No gratitude at all！〃
She followed all the way back to the tent where Egwene slept； nattering on about wickedness in general； the thanklessness of 〃Marigan〃 in particular； and how that sort should be handled； which seemed to jump between switching them till they settled down and tossing them out before they could run away； tucked around cautions that Egwene check her jewelry to be sure it was all still there。
Egwene barely heard。 Her mind spun。 It could not have been Logain； could it？ He could not have known about Moghedien； much less e back to rescue her。 Could he？ Those men Rand was gathering； those Asha'man。 Rumor in every village carried whispers of Asha'man and the Black Tower。 Most of the sisters tried to pretend they were unaffected by dozens of men who could channel gathering in one spot … the worst of the tales had to be inflated； rumor always exaggerated … but Egwene's toes wanted to curl under with fright whenever she thought of them。 An Asha'man could have。。。 But why？ How would he have known； any more than Logain？
She was trying to avoid the only reasonable conclusion。 Something far worse than Logain e back； or even Asha'man。 One of the Forsaken had freed Moghedien。 Rahvin was dead by Rand's hand； according to Nynaeve； and he had killed Ishamael as well； or so it seemed。 And Aginor and Balthamel。 Moiraine had killed Be'lal。 That left only Asmodean； Demandred and Sammael among the men。 Sammael was in Illian。 No one knew where the others were； or any of the women who survived。 Moiraine had done for Lanfear too； or they had done for each other； but all the other women were still alive； so far as anyone knew。 Forget the women。 It had been a man。 Which？ Plans had been laid long since in case one of the Forsaken struck at the camp。 No one sister here could equal any of the Forsaken by herself； but linked in circles was another matter； and any Forsaken who stepped into their camp would find circles forming on every side of him。 Or her。 Once they realized who she was。 The Forsaken showed no signs of agelessness； for some reason。 Maybe it was some effect of being connected to the Dark One。 They。。。
This was dithering。 She had to start thinking clearly。
〃Chesa？〃
〃。。。 look like you need your head rubbed for the ache again is what； is what you。。。 Yes； Mother？〃
〃Find Siuan and Leane。 Tell them to e to me。 But don't let anyone hear you。〃
Grinning； Chesa dropped a curtsy and scampered out。 She could hardly avoid knowing the currents that swirled around Egwene； yet she found all the plotting and scheming fun。 Not that she knew more than surface； and little enough of that。 Egwene did not doubt her loyalty； but Chesa's opinion of what was exciting might change if she learned the depth of those swirls。
Channeling the oil lamps inside the tent alight； Egwene blew out the lantern and set it carefully in a corner。 Maybe she had to think clearly； but she still felt as if she was stumbling in the dark。
Chapter 9
（Flame of Tar Valon）
A Pair of Silverpike
Egwene was sitting in her chair … one of the few real chairs in the camp； with a little plain carving like a farmer's best armchair； roomy and fortable enough that she felt only a touch of guilt about taking up valuable wagon space for it … she was sitting there trying to pull her thoughts together when Siuan swept aside the entry flaps and ducked into the tent。 Siuan was not happy。
〃Why in the Light did you run off？〃 Her voice had not changed with her face； and she chided with the best even when she did it in respectful tones。 Barely respectful。 Her blue eyes remained the same； too； they could have done for a saddlemaker's awls。 〃Sheriam brushed me aside like a fly。〃 That surprisingly delicate mouth twisted bitterly。 〃She was gone almost as soon as you were。 Don't you realize she handed herself to you？ She certainly does。 Her； and Anaiya and Morvrin and the lot of them。 You can be sure they'll spend tonight trying to bail water and patch holes。 They could manage it。 I don't see how； but they might。〃
Almost as the last word left her mouth； Leane entered。 A tall； willowy woman； her coppery face was as youthful as Siuan's； and for the same reason； she also was more than old enough to be Egwene's mother； in truth。 Leane took one look at Siuan and threw up her hands as much as the roof of the tent would allow。 〃Mother； this is a foolish risk。〃 Her dark eyes went from dreamy to flashing； but her voice had a languorous quality even when she was irritated。 Once； it had been brisk。 〃If anyone sees Siuan and me together this way … 〃
〃I don't care if the whole camp learns your squabbling is a fraud；〃 Egwene broke in sharply； weaving a small barrier against eavesdropping around the three of them。 It could be worked through with time； but not without detection； so long as she held the weave instead of tying it off。
She did care； and perhaps she should not have called them both； but her first half…coherent thought had been to summon the two sisters she could count on。 No one in the camp so much as suspected。 Everyone knew the former Amyrlin and her former Keeper detested one another every bit as much as Siuan detested being tutor to her successor。 Should any sister uncover the truth； they might well find themselves doing penance for a long time to e； and not an easy one … Aes Sedai appreciated being made fools of even less than other people； kings had been made to pay for that … but in the meanwhile their supposed animosity resulted in a certain leverage with the other sisters； including Sitters。 If they both said the same thing； it must be so。 Another incidental effect of being stilled was very useful； one no one else knew about。 The Three Oaths no longer held them； they could lie like wool merchants； now。
Schemes and deceptions on every side。 The camp was like some fetid swamp where strange growths sprouted unseen in mists。 Maybe anywhere Aes Sedai gathered was like that。 After three thousand years of plotting； however necessary； it was hardly surprising that scheming had bee second nature to most sisters and only a breath away for the rest。 The truly horrible thing was that she found herself beginning to enjoy all the machinations。 Not for their own sake； but as puzzles； though no twisted bits of iron could intrigue her a quarter so much。 What that said about her； she did not want to know。 Well； she was Aes Sedai； whatever anyone thought； and she had to take the bad of it with the good。
〃Moghedien has escaped；〃 she went on without pause。 〃A man removed the a'dam from her。 A man who can channel。 I think one of them took the necklace away； it wasn't in her tent； that I saw。 There might be some way to find it using the bracelet； but if there is； I don't know it。〃
That took the starch right out of them。 Leane's legs gave way； and she dropped like a sack onto the stool Chesa sometimes used。 Siuan sat down on the cot slowly； back very straight； hands very still on her knees。 Incongruously； Egwene noticed that her dress had tiny blue flowers embroidered in a wide Tairen maze around the bottom； a band that made the divided skirts seem one when she was still。 Another band curved beingly across the bodice。 Concern for her clothes； that they be pretty instead of just suitable； was certainly a small change； looking at it one way … she never took it to extremes … yet in another； it was as drastic as her face。 And a puzzle。 Siuan resented the changes； and resisted them。 Except for this one。
Leane； on the other hand； in true Aes Sedai fashion embraced what had changed。 A young woman again … Egwene had overheard a Yellow exclaiming in wonder that both were prime childbearing age； by everything she could find … she might never have been Keeper； never have had any other face。 The very image of practicality and efficiency became the ideal of an indolent and alluring Domani woman。