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buried her face in her cup. Strangely, she
    seemed to be hiding a smile.
    Pevara contented herself with shaking her head. If it had to be done, and she was certain
    it must, then clearly Elaida had to be kept in the dark. What did Javindhra have to smile
    about? Too many suspicions.
    “I’m very glad that you both agree with me,” Tsutama said dryly, leaning back in her
    chair. “Now, leave me.”
    They paused only to set down their cups and curtsy. In the Red, when the Highest spoke,
    everyone obeyed, including Sitters. The sole exception, by Ajah law, was voting in the
    Hall, though some women who held the title had managed to ensure that any vote near to
    their hearts went as they wished. Pevara was certain Tsutama intended to be one such.
    The struggle was going to be distinctly unpleasant. She only hoped she could give as
    good as she got.
    In the corridor outside, Javindhra muttered something about correspondence and rushed
    off down the white floor tiles marked with the red Flame of Tar Valon before Pevara
    could say a word. Not that she had intended to say anything, but surely as peaches were
    poison, the woman was going to drag her heels in this and leave the whole matter in her
    lap. Light, but this was the last thing she needed, at the worst possible time.
    Pausing at her own rooms only long enough to gather her long-fringed shawl and check
    the hour—a quarter of an hour to noon; she was almost disappointed that her one clock
    agreed with Tsutama’s; clocks frequently did not—she left the Red quarters and hurried
    deeper into the Tower, down into the common areas below the quarters. The wide
    hallways were well lighted with mirrored stand-lamps but almost empty of people, which
    made them seem cavernous and the frieze-banded white walls stark. The occasional
    rippling of a bright tapestry in a draft had an eerie feel, as though the silk or wool had
    taken on life. The few people she saw were serving men and women with the Flame of
    Tar Valon on their chests, scurrying along about their chores and barely pausing long
    enough to offer hurried courtesies. They kept their eyes lowered. With the Ajahs
    separated into all but warring camps, fetid tension and antagonism filled the Tower, and
    the mood had infected the servants. Frightened them, at least.
    She could not be sure, but she thought fewer than two hundred sisters remained in the
    Tower, most keeping to their Ajah quarters except for necessity, so she really did not
    expect to see another sister strolling. When Adelorna Bastine glided up the short stairs
    from a crossing corridor almost right in front of her, she was so surprised she gave a start.
    Adelorna, who made slimness appear stately despite her lack of height, walked on
    without acknowledging Pevara in any way. The Saldaean woman wore her shawl, too—
    no sister was seen outside her Ajah quarters without her shawl, now—and was followed
    by her three Warders. Short and tall, wide and lean, they wore their swords, and their
    eyes never ceased moving. Warders wearing swords and plainly guarding their Aes
    Sedai’s back, in the Tower. That was all too common, yet Pevara could have wept at it.
    Only, there were too many reasons for weeping to settle on one; instead she set about
    solving what she could.
    Tsutama could command Reds to bond Asha’man, command them not to go running to
    Elaida, but it seemed best to begin with sisters who might be willing to entertain the
    notion without being ordered, especially with rumors spreading of three Red sisters dead
    at Asha’man hands. Tarna Feir had already entertained it, so a very private conversation
    with her was in order. She might know others of a like mind. The greatest difficulty
    would be approaching the Asha’man with the idea. They were very unlikely to agree just
    because they themselves had already bonded fifty-one sisters. Light of the world, fifty-
    one! Broaching the subject would require a sister who possessed diplomacy and a