Egwene held up her hand, staying any attacks by her soldiers. The procession rode directly up to the Tower Guard fortification. A moment later, a woman in a gray dress stepped out in front of the road block, accompanied by a single Warder. Egwene squinted, trying to make out the woman's features, and Bryne hastily handed her his spyglass. Egwene accepted it thankfully, but had already recognized the woman. Andaya Forae, one of the new Sitters to the Hall chosen after the split. Gray Ajah. That implied a willingness to negotiate.
The glow of power surrounded the woman, and Siuan hissed, causing several nearby soldiers to raise their bows. Again Egwene held up a hand. "Bryne," she said sternly, "I will
"Stand down, men!" Bryne bellowed. "I'll have your hides if you so much as nock an arrow!" The men snapped their bows back down from the ready.
The distant woman used a weave Egwene couldn't make out, and then spoke in a voice that was obviously amplified. "We would speak with Egwene al'Vere," Andaya said. "Is she in attendance?"
Egwene made her own weave to amplify her voice. "I am here, Andaya. Tell the others with you to come out so that I can see them."
Surprisingly, they obeyed the command. Nine more women filed out, and Egwene studied each one. "Ten Sitters," she said, handing Bryne back his spyglass and releasing her weave so that she could speak without her words being projected. "Two from each Ajah except the Blue and the Red."
"That's promising." Bryne rubbed his chin.
"Well, they could be here to demand my surrender," Egwene noted. "All right," she said, amplifying her voice with the Power again. "What do you wish of me?"
"We have come," Andaya said. She hesitated. "We have come to inform you that the Hall of the White Tower has chosen to raise you to the Amyrlin Seat."
Siuan gasped in shock, and Bryne cursed quietly to himself. Several of the soldiers muttered about it being a trap. But Egwene just closed her eyes. Dared she hope? She'd assumed that her unwanted rescue had come too soon. But if she'd laid enough groundwork before being taken by Siuan and Gawyn. . . .
"What of Elaida?" Egwene demanded, opening her eyes, her voice booming across the expanse. "Have you deposed yet another Amyrlin?"
The other side was silent for a moment. "They're conferring." Bryne had raised his spyglass.
Andaya spoke a moment later. "Elaida do Avriny a Roihan, Watcher of the Seals, the Flame of Tar Valon, the Amyrlin Seat . . . was taken in the raid last night. Her whereabouts are unknown. She is presumed dead or otherwise unable to fulfill her duties."
"By the Light!" Bryne lowered the glass.
"No more than she deserved," Siuan muttered.
"No woman deserves that," Egwene said to Siuan and Bryne. Absently she raised fingers to her neck. "Better she had died."
Bryne said, "This could be a trap."
"I don't see how," Siuan said. "Andaya is bound by the oaths. She wasn't on your list of Black, was she, Egwene?"
Egwene shook her head.
"I'm still hesitant, Mother," Bryne said.
Egwene restored her weave. "You will let my army enter? You will accept the other Aes Sedai back in fellowship and will reinstate the Blue Ajah?"
"We anticipated these demands," Andaya said. "They will be met."
There was silence, the only sound that of the waters lapping against their banks below.
"Then I accept," Egwene said across the bridge.
"Mother," Siuan said cautiously. "This might be rash. Perhaps you should speak with—"
"It is not rash," Egwene released her weave and felt a surge of hope.
"It is what we've wanted." She eyed Siuan. "Besides. Who are you to lecture me on being rash?" Siuan looked down. "General, prepare your men to cross, and bring the Sitters at the back forward. Send runners back to the Aes Sedai camp with the news, and make certain your men at the other bridges know to stand down."
"Yes, Mother." Bryne wheeled his horse about and gave the necessary orders.
Taking a deep breath, Egwene kicked her horse into motion onto the bridge. Siuan muttered a fisher's curse and followed. Egwene could hear Gawyn's horse following as well, then a squad of soldiers obeying a curt command from Bryne.
Egwene rode across the waters, hair blowing out behind her, laced with red ribbons. She felt an odd sense of moment—a weight of realization—as she considered what they had all just avoided. It was soon replaced with growing satisfaction and joy.
Her white mare bucked her head slightly, brushing a silky mane across Egwene's hands. On the other side of the bridge, the Sitters waited, solemn. The Tower rose just ahead. Wounded. Bleeding.
But it still stood. Light, it
After crossing the bridge to Tar Valon as a victor, the day nearly became a blur for Egwene. She hastened to the White Tower, Siuan and Gawyn barely managing to keep up with her. At the Tower, Egwene was met by a group of servants; the Sitters themselves were waiting in the Hall for Egwene.
