"What sort of promise did you make?" Nynaeve asked.

Lan followed with a question of his own "What remains incomplete?" He felt hyperaware using everything he knew about Aes Sedai to extract what Myrelle had not told either of them--her intentions. That was crucial; he and Nynaeve were at a severe disadvantage without it.

Myrelle was staring at Nynaeve with faint traces of mixed emotions on her face. Slowly reluctantly she spoke "I told Moiraine I would do everything in my power to keep Lan alive and ..." Here she choked into silence.

Nynaeve did not lessen the pressure. "And what?" Her patience would run out soon; he was surprised she had remained calm so long.

The words came slowly as if they were being forced from Myrelle. "I agreed to pass his bond to another sister." She looked more reluctant to talk than ever.

Nynaeve appeared to be sorting through unhappy possibilities probably thinking about the odds against her. He certainly was, there are so many Aes Sedai, but Nynaeve had taught him how to hope again after Moiraine's death. "Moiraine specified Nynaeve al'Meara after she was raised to the shawl did she not?"

Myrelle's involuntary turn toward him seemed to take minutes but his reward was a whispered "Yes, she did." It was only as he relaxed that Lan realized how tense he had been waiting for that answer. A lovely smile of relief appeared on Nynaeve's face for a few moments before she resumed the mask of an Aes Sedai.