tle more than half that when Mat brought it to Salidar hunting her and Elayne。
Bryne merely shrugged。 〃I gather recruits as I go； and so does he。 Not as many； but some men have notions about serving Aes Sedai。〃 More people than not would have been distinctly uneasy； saying that to three sisters； he said it with a wry smile。 〃Besides； it seems the Band has a certain reputation from the fighting in Cairhien。 The tale is； Shen an Calhar never loses； whatever the odds。〃 That was what drove men to join； here as back in Altara； the thought that two armies must mean a battle。 Trying to stand aside might end as hard as choosing the wrong side； at best there would be no pickings for neutrals。 〃I've had a few deserters to my ranks from Talmanes' newlings。 Some seem to think the Band's luck is tied up in Mat Cauthon and can't be there without him。〃
Something close to a sneer twisted Myrelle's lips。 〃These fool Murandians' fears are certainly useful； but I did not think you were a fool； too。 Talmanes follows us because he fears we might turn against his precious Lord Dragon； but if he truly intended to attack； don't you think he would have by now？ These Dragonsworn can be dealt with once more important matters are done。 municating with him； however。。。！〃 Giving herself a shake； she managed to regain her serenity。 On the surface； at least。 Her tone could still have scorched wood。 〃You mark me； Lord Bryne。。。 〃
Egwene let Myrelle's words pass her by。 Bryne had looked at her when he mentioned Mat。 The sisters thought they knew the situation with the Band； and Mat； and did not think on it much； but Bryne apparently did。 Tilting her head so the brim of her hat obscured her face； she studied him from the corner of her eye。 He was oath…bound to build the army and lead it until Elaida was brought down； but why had he sworn？ Surely he could have found some lesser oath； and it surely would have been accepted by sisters who only thought to use all those soldiers as a Foolday mask to frighten Elaida。 Having him on their side was forting； even the other Aes Sedai seemed to feel that。 Like her father； he was the sort of man who made you believe there was no cause for panic whatever the situation。 Having him oppose her； she realized suddenly； might be as bad as having the Hall against her； and never mind the army。 The one approving ment Siuan had ever had of him was that he was formidable； even if she did try to change her remark immediately to mean something else。 Any man Siuan Sanche thought formidable was one to be mindful of。
They splashed across a tiny stream； a rivulet that barely wet the horses' hooves。 A bedraggled crow； feeding on a fish that had stranded itself in water too shallow to swim； fluttered its tattered wings on the edge of flight； then settled back to its meal。
Siuan also was studying Bryne … the mare made much easier going when she forgot to saw at the reins or dig her heels in at just the wrong moment。 Egwene had asked her about Lord Bryne's motives； but Siuan's own tangled connection to the man left her little except acid when it came to him。 She either hated Gareth Bryne to his bootsoles or loved him； and imagining Siuan in love was like imagining that crow swimming。
The ridgeline where the Band's soldiers had been showed only cockeyed lines of dead conifers now。 She had not noticed them going。 Mat had a reputation as a soldier？ Crows swimming did not e close。 She had believed he manded only because of Rand； and that had been hard enough to swallow。 Believing because you think you know is dangerous； she reminded herself； eyeing Bryne。
〃。。。 should be flogged！〃 Myrelle's voice still burned。 〃I warn you； if I hear that you've met with this Dragonsworn again。。。！〃
Rain washing over that boulder as far as Bryne was concerned； or so it seemed。 He rode easily； occasionally murmuring 〃Yes； Myrelle Sedai〃 or 〃No； Myrelle Sedai〃 without any hint of distress and without lessening the watch he kept on the countryside。 No doubt he had seen the soldiers leave。 However he mustered the patience … Egwene was sure fear was no part of it … she was in no mood to listen to that。
〃Be quiet； Myrelle！ No one is going to do anything to Lord Bryne。〃 Rubbing her temple； she thought of asking one of the sisters back in the camp for Healing。 Neither Siuan nor Myrelle had much ability there。 Not that Healing would do any good if it was just lack of sleep and worry。 Not that she wanted whispers spreading that the strain was growing too great for her。 Besides； there were other ways to deal with headaches than Healing； although not here。
Myrelle's mouth tightened only for an instant。 With a toss of her head； she turned her face away； color in her cheeks； and Bryne suddenly appeared absorbed in examining a red…winged hawk wheeling off to their left。 Even a brave man could know when to be discreet。 Folding its wings； the hawk plummeted toward unseen prey behind a stand of bedraggled leatherleafs。 Egwene felt that way； swooping on targets she could not see； hoping she had chosen the right one； hoping there was a target there。
She drew breath； wishing it were steadier。 〃Just the same； Lord Bryne； I think it's best you don't meet Talmanes again。 Surely you know as much of his intentions as you need by this time。〃 Light send Talmanes had not said too much already。 A pity she could not send Siuan or Leane to caution him； if he would take it； but given feelings among the sisters； she might as well risk going to see Rand。
Bryne bowed in his saddle。 〃As you mand； Mother。〃 There was no mockery in his tone； there never was。 He had obviously learned to school his voice around Aes Sedai。 Siuan hung back； frowning at him。 Perhaps she could dig out where his loyalties lay。 For all her animosity； she spent a great deal of time in his pany； much more than she absolutely had to。
With an effort； Egwene kept her hands on Daishar's reins； away from her head。 〃How much further； Lord Bryne？〃 Keeping impatience from her voice was more difficult。
〃Just a little way； Mother。〃 For some reason； he halfway turned his head to look at Myrelle。 〃Not far； now。〃
Increasingly； farms dotted the region； as many clinging to hillsides as on the flats； though the Emond's Fielder in Egwene said that made no sense； low gray stone houses and barns； and unfenced pastures with a few slat…ribbed cows and sad…looking black…tailed sheep。 Not all had been burned by far； only one here and one there。 Supposedly the burnings were to let the others know what would happen if they did not declare for the Dragon Reborn。
At one farm； she saw some of Lord Bryne's foragers with a wagon。 That they were his was plain as much by the way he eyed them and nodded as by the lack of a white pennant。 The Band always flaunted itself； aside from the banners； some had of late taken to wearing a red scarf tied around the arm。 Half a dozen cattle and maybe two dozen sheep lowed and baaed under the guard of men on horseback； and other men toted sacks from barn to wagon past a slump…shouldered farmer and his family； a sullen lot in dark rough woolens。 One of the little girls； wearing a deep bonnet like the others； had her face pressed to her mother's skirts； apparently crying。 Some of the boys had their fists clenched； as if they wanted to fight。 The farmer would be paid； but if he could not really spare what was taken； if he had had a mind to resist close on twenty men in breastplates and helmets； those burned farms would have given him pause。 Quite often Bryne's soldiers found charred corpses in the ruins； men and women and children who had died trying to get out。 Sometimes the doors and windows had been sealed up from outside。
Egwene wondered whether there was any way to convince the farmers and villagers that there was a difference between the brigands and the army。 She wanted to； very much； but she did not see how； short of letting her own soldiers go hungry until they deserted。 If the sisters could see no difference between the brigands and the Band； there seemed no hope for the country folk。 As the farm dwindled behind them； she resisted the urge to twist around in her saddle and look back。 Looking would change nothing。
�