14 A Memory of Light by Robert Jordan

Author:Robert Jordan
Language: eng
Format: mobi
Tags: Adventure
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

Perrin nodded, then waved to Gaul.

“We are not staying?” he asked.

“There is too much happening,” Perrin said. “Time moves too slowly here. I don’t want the war to

pass us by.”

Besides, there was still the matter of whatever Graendal was doing.

Considerations

I don’t like fighting beside those Seanchan,” Gawyn said softly, coming up beside Egwene.

CHAPTER

26

She didn’t like it either, and she knew he would be able to sense that from her. What could she say?

She couldn’t turn the Seanchan away. The Shadow had brought the Sharans to fight under its banner.

Egwene, therefore, would have to use what she had. Anything she had.

Her neck itched as she crossed the field to the meeting place about a mile or so east of the ford in

Arafel. Bryne had already arrayed most of her forces at the ford. Aes Sedai could be seen atop the

hills just south of the ford, and large squadrons of archers and pikemen were positioned below them

on the slopes. The troops were feeling fresher. The days Egwene’s force had spent retreating had

relieved some of the pressure of warfare, despite attempts by the enemy to make them commit to

combat.

Egwene’s chances depended on the Seanchan joining the battle and engaging the Sharan channelers.

Her stomach twisted. She had once heard that in Caemlyn, unscrupulous men would throw starving

dogs into a pit together and bet on which one would survive the ensuing fight. This felt the same to

her. The Seanchan damane were not free women; they could not choose to fight. From what she’d

seen of the Sharan male channelers, they were little more than animals themselves.

Egwene should be fighting the Seanchan with every breath, not allying with them. Her instincts

rebelled as she approached the gathering of

Seanchan. The Seanchan leader demanded this audience with Egwene. The Light send it would be

quick.

Egwene had received reports on this Fortuona, so she knew what to expect. The diminutive Seanchan

Empress stood atop a small platform, watching the battle preparations. She wore a glittering dress whose train extended a ridiculous distance behind her, carried by eight da’covale, those servants in the horribly immodest clothing. Various members of the Blood stood in groups, waiting with careful

poses. Deathwatch Guards, hulking in their near-black armor, stood like boulders around the

Empress.

Egwene approached, guarded by her own soldiers and much of the Hall of the Tower. Fortuona had

first tried to insist that Egwene come to visit her in her camp. Egwene had, of course, refused. It had

taken hours to reach an agreement. Both would come to this location in Arafel, and both would stand

rather than sit so that neither could give the impression of being above the other. Still, Egwene was

irritated to find the woman waiting. She’d wanted to time this meeting so they both arrived at the

same moment.

Fortuona turned from the battle preparations and looked at Egwene. It appeared that many of Siuan’s

reports were false. True, Fortuona did look something like a child, with that slight build and delicate

features. Those similarities were minor. No child had ever had eyes so discerning, so calculating.

Egwene revised her expectations. She’d imagined Fortuona as a spoiled adolescent, the product of a

coddled lifetime.

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