He frowned, dumbfounded.

"You began your rebellion when Suroth led here," Tuon said, "and when your mother was still queen. Much has changed since then, Beslan. Very much. In times like these, there is potential for great accomplishment."

"You must know I have no thirst for power," Beslan said. "The freedom of my people is all I desire."

"I do know it," Tuon said, clasping her hands before her, lacquered nails curling, elbows on the armrests of her chair. "And that is the other reason you are still alive. You rebel not out of lust for station, but out of sheer ignorance. You are misguided, and that means you can change, should you receive the proper knowledge."

He looked at her, confused. Lower your eyes, fool. Don't make me have you strapped for insolence! As if he had heard her thoughts, he averted his eyes, then lowered them. Yes, she had judged correctly regarding this one.

How precarious her position was! True, she had armies—but so many of them had been thrown away by Suroth's aggression.

All kingdoms on this side of the ocean would need to bow before the Crystal Throne, eventually. Each marath'damane would be leashed, each king or queen would swear the oaths. But Suroth had pushed too hard, particularly in the fiasco with Turan. A hundred thousand men, lost in one battle. Madness.

Tuon needed Altara. She needed Ebou Dar. Beslan was well loved by the people. Putting his head on a pike after the mysterious death of his mother. . . . Well, Tuon would have stability in Ebou Dar, but she would rather not have to leave battlefronts unmanned to accomplish it.

"Your mother's death is a loss," Tuon said. "She was a good woman. A good queen."

Beslan's lips tightened.

"You may speak," Tuon said.

"Her death ... is unexplained," he said. The implication was obvious.

"I do not know if Suroth caused her to be killed," Tuon said, softening her voice. "She claims that she did not. But the matter is being investigated. If it turns out that Suroth was behind the death, you and Altara will have an apology from the throne itself."

Another gasp from the Blood. She silenced them with a glance, then turned back to Beslan. "Your mothers loss is a great one. You must know that she was loyal to her oaths."

"Yes," he said, voice bitter. "And she gave up the throne."

"No," Tuon said curtly. "The throne belongs to you. This is the ignorance of which I spoke. You must lead your people. They must have a king. I have neither time nor desire to do your duty for you.

"You assume that the Seanchan dominance of your homeland will mean your people lack freedom. That is false. They will be more free, more protected, and more powerful when they accept our rule.

"I sit above you. But is this so undesirable? With the might of the empire, you will be able to hold your borders and patrol your lands outside of Ebou Dar. You speak of your people? Well, I have ordered something prepared for you." She nodded to the side, where a willowy-limbed da'covale stepped forward with a leather satchel.

"Inside," Tuon said, "you will find numbers gathered by my scouts and guard forces. You can see directly the reports of crimes during our occupation here. You will have reports and manifests, comparing how the people were before the Return and after it.

"I believe you know what you will find. The Empire is a resource to you, Beslan. A powerful, powerful ally. I will not insult you by offering you thrones you do not want. I will entice you by promising stability, food, and protection for your people. All for the simple price of your loyalty."

He hesitantly accepted the satchel.

"I offer you a choice, Beslan," Tuon said. "You may choose execution, if you wish. I will not make you da'covale. I will let you die with honor, and it will be published that you died because you rejected the oaths and chose not to accept the Seanchan. If you wish it, I will allow it. Your people will know that you died in defiance.

"Or, you may choose to serve them better. You may choose to live. If you do so, you will be raised to the High Blood. You will step forward and reign as your people need you to do. I promise you that I will not direct the affairs of your people. I will demand resources and men for my armies, as is proper, and your word cannot countermand my own. Aside from that, your power in Altara will be absolute. No Blood will have the right to command, harm, or imprison your people without your permission.

"I will accept and review a list of noble families you feel should be raised to the low Blood, and I will raise no fewer than twenty of them. Altara will become the permanent seat of the Empress on this side of the ocean. As such, it will be the most powerful kingdom here. You may choose."

She leaned forward, unlacing her fingers. "But understand this. If you decide to join with us, you will give me your heart, and not just your words. I will not allow you to ignore your oaths. I have given you this chance because I believe you can be a strong ally, and I think that you were misguided, perhaps by Suroth's twisted webs.

"You have one day to make your decision. Think well. Your mother thought this to be the best course, and she was a wise woman. The Empire means stability. A rebellion would mean only suffering, starvation and obscurity. These are not times to be alone, Beslan."

She sat back as Beslan regarded the satchel in his hands. He bowed in supplication to withdraw, though the motion was jerky, as if he were distracted.

"You may go," she said to him.

He rose, but did not turn to leave. The room fell still as he stared down at his hands and the satchel. She could read his struggle in his expression. A da'covale approached to hasten him on his way, as he had been dismissed, but Tuon raised her hand, stilling the servant.

She leaned forward, several members of the Blood shuffling their feet as they waited. Beslan just stared at that satchel. Finally, he looked up, eyes determined. And then, surprisingly, he got back down on his knees.

"I, Beslan of House Mitsobar, pledge my fealty and service to the Daughter of the Nine Moons and through her to the Seanchan Empire, now and for all time, save that she chooses to release me of her own will. My lands and throne are hers, and I yield them to her hand. So I do swear before the Light."

Tuon let herself smile. Behind Beslan, Captain-General Galgan stepped forward, addressing the King. "That is not the proper way to—"

Tuon silenced him with a gesture. "We demand that this people adopt our ways, General," she said. "It is fitting that we accept some of theirs." Not too many of those ways, of course. But she could thank her long conversations with Mistress Anan for allowing her to understand this. The Seanchan had, perhaps, made a mistake with this people in making them swear Seanchan oaths of obedience. Matrim had sworn those oaths, but ignored them handily when the time came—yet he had been certain to keep his word to her, and his men had assured her he was a man of honor.

How strange that they would be willing to elevate one oath over another. These people were odd. But she would have to understand them in order to rule them—and she would have to rule them to gather strength for her return to Seanchan.

"Your oath is pleasing to me, King Beslan. I raise you to the High Blood and give you and your House dominance over the kingdom of Al-tara, for now and all time, your will for the administration and governance of it second only to that of the Imperial Throne itself. Rise."

He stood, legs looking shaky. "Are you certain you're not ta'veren, my Lady?" he asked. "Because I certainly wasn't expecting to do that when I walked in here."

Ta'veren. These people and their foolish superstitions! "I am pleased with you," she said to him. "I knew your mother for only a short time, but I did find her quite capable. I would not have enjoyed being forced to execute her only remaining son."

He nodded in appreciation. To the side, Selucia covertly signed, That was well handled. Unconventional, perhaps, but very delicately done.

Tuon felt a warm sense of pride. She turned to the white-haired General Galgan. "General. I realize you have been waiting to speak with me, and your patience is to be commended. You may now speak your thoughts. King Beslan, you may withdraw or remain. It is your right to attend any public conferences I have in your kingdom, and you need no permission or invitation to attend."

Beslan nodded, bowing but retreating to the side of the room to watch.

"Thank you, Highest Daughter," Galgan said reverently, stepping forward. He waved to his so'jhin, who stood in the hallway outside. They entered—first prostrating themselves before Tuon—then quickly set up a table and several maps. One servant brought Galgan a bundle, which he carried, approaching Tuon. Karede was at her right shoulder in a moment, Selucia at her left, but Galgan kept a respectful distance. He bowed and unrolled the item on the ground. It was a banner of red, bearing a circle in the center, split by a sinuous line. One half of the circle was black, the other white.

"What is it?" Tuon asked, leaning forward.

"The banner of the Dragon Reborn," Galgan said. "He sent it with a messenger, asking yet again for a meeting." He glanced up—not meeting her eyes, but showing a thoughtful, concerned face.

"This morning when I arose," Tuon said, "I saw a pattern like three towers in the sky and a hawk, high in the air, passing between them."

The various members of the Blood in the room nodded appreciatively. Only Beslan seemed confused. How did these people live, not knowing the omens? Had they no desire to understand the visions of fate the Pattern was giving them? The hawk and three towers were an omen of difficult choices to come. They indicated that boldness would be needed.

"What are your thoughts on the Dragon Reborn's request for a meeting?" Tuon asked Galgan.

"Perhaps it would be unwise to meet with this man, Highest Daughter. I am not certain of his claims to his title. Beyond this question, does the Empire not have other concerns at this time?"

"You wonder why our forces have not retreated," Tuon said. "Why we have not struck out for Seanchan to secure the throne."

He bowed his head. "I trust your wisdom, Highest Daughter."

"This is the Dragon Reborn," Tuon said. "And not just an impostor. I am convinced of it. He must bow before the Crystal Throne before the Last Battle can begin. And so we must stay. It is not an accident that the Return happened now. We are needed here. More than we are needed, unfortunately, in our homeland."

Galgan nodded slowly. He agreed with her on not retreating to Seanchan; he had simply assumed it would be what she wished. In declaring they would stay, she had earned his respect. Not that he wouldn't still consider seizing the throne for himself. A man could not hold his position without a great deal of ambition.

However, he was known to be a prudent man as well as an ambitious one. He would not strike unless he was convinced it was for the best. He would have to believe that he had a strong potential for success and that removing Tuon would be better for the Empire. That was the difference between an ambitious fool and an ambitious wise man. The latter understood that killing someone was only the beginning. Taking Tuon's life and assuming the throne himself would gain him nothing if it alienated the rest of the Blood.