"That warder of hers is positively feral, you know. She certainly has a type."

Cadsuane was almost seething and Samitsu doubted the tea would keep it's temperature before the Green actually finally sat down. She reached for a flask of strong wine she kept close exactly for such occasions. She managed to pass one half filled tumbler into the Green's hand on one of her rounds around the healing tent. It had definitely been a good choice to let all the yellow sisters leave for a break before entertaining her dear friend.

"She was obnoxious enough, just imagine," Cadsuane continued her tirade, ready to shoot daggers even after a gulp of the strong drink, "to let that gleeman threaten me."

"At least you know now that her captivity haven't changed her too much."

Cadsuane scoffed.

"Oh, she acted even more idiotic than in the past. Light knows she's much too sure of herself. Such a Damodred brat. At lest in the past she remembered to show enough deference to her betters!"

"And again with that terrible power system." This time it was Samitsu that growled. "You know not every sister thinks this is indeed the best classification."

"It works."

"For you, most of the time, yes. But only because there is very few that can match you and even those irk you more than a biteme under your skirt."

Samitsu knew that would provoke a reaction, at least a small one. But at least Cadsuane finally stopped and really looked at her.

"That girl… Something was different about her," Cadsuane said, looking into far away. "She was covering something."

"You haven't seen her for years, she might have changed." Samitsu took one swig from her flask before going on. "People change and we're living in pretty interesting times. This would make one different and even you have your attention split now. You're not as detailed as you usually are."

"Don't be ridiculous!"

"Oh, but you are," Samitsu said, then patted a space on the bench beside her. "Sit down, dear, you will wear yourself out."

Amazingly, Cadsuane did sit down. They knew each other very well by now.

"People mask, you know," Samitsu thought aloud. "I mean, animals do this all the time, out of simple instinct. People do it too. Present themselves better than they actually are. If being weak makes them an easier prey, they try to look as if nothing is wrong. If being seen as better could…"

"She was hiding," Cadsuane said, cutting into her sentence and stood up again as the realisation hit her. "She acted so high strung and confrontational, but I could barely feel any Power from her."

"How little?"

"I would…" Cadsuane said and Samitsu could see the shock on her face. "I would not want to bring such a weak one for testing. It would be laughable. Akin to that Trakand girl around the time of the Aiel War."

"There, you have it then. She would probably want to conceal that. But I wonder what might have happened to make her so? She was one of the strongest girls preparing to take the test. Every Ajah kind of wanted her and Sanche."

"I remember Karene wanting her." Cadsuane shrugged like the very thought made her angry. "It would have been a terrible, terrible idea."

Samitsu was surprised by that.

"Why? I always thought she had a strong aptitude for offensive, battle weaves? And if the rumour is true, she managed to use balefire against a Forsaken. Most generals would kill to have such one in their ranks."

"Doesn't matter if you have the sharpest blade in the world, if it cannot be used exactly as you want to wield it."

"So, you…"

"Convinced my general to back off from pursuing them, of course. It was enough to see that irritating red pest go after them with all her heart. She was so blinded she didn't see they would never fit into the Red Ajah."

"Apparently."

"And pushing them to the extremes – also a very bad idea in this case. I thought Verin and her honey cakes might have won, but I guess Tamra kept them close to get them to join her ajah. Must have seen they would fit there like a nice glove."

"Of all the Amyrlins I saw, I think Tamra was one of the least married to her ajah's agenda."

"Maybe. But she also understood how it would really benefit from those girls. And turns out she was right."

"Well," Samitsu chuckled when the thought hit her. "You actually never really opposed her, did you. It must be you really admired her."

Samitsu looked with a smile as Cadsuane huffed in irritation and strode angrily around the tent. It was fun to rile the Green from time to time. She took another swig from her flask and winced. It was definitely something for special occasions only. Well, they were days away from the Last Battle, maybe days away from their end. There was no time like the present, then.

Cadsuane stopped pacing some time later, came to he and extended the hand with a cup. She drunk the refill in one move and plunked down beside Samitsu, gesturing for more. They sat in comfortable silence and Samitsu finally reached with her free hand to grab one of Cadsuane's and squeezed.

"Make sure to delve her if you have a chance," Cadsuane said eventually. "I feel like there might be a lot of problems with that child. Although I doubt she would come to you unbidden unless there is no other option."

Thom could feel Moiraine wake. He wanted to sleep, knowing he would need his energy, but he just lay there, staring at her breathing. This was his Aes Sedai. Blood and ashes, he was now a warder to one of those. How the world had changed. This was a shallow sleep, more of a nap, so there were no nightmares. Thank the Wheel for small mercies.

On the other hand this was still a problematic day. Moiraine needed to see a healer, whatever she thought. She was worse and worse. She tried, that much he knew, but it was not working. And he was running out of ideas. There was one more for him to try.

Thom pulled Moiraine closer when she began to stir. She tensed, but relaxed as soon as he started murmuring one of the old songs he never performed anymore. She seemed to be really partial to it, especially just after waking up.

"I can feel you thinking hard," she said in a way of greeting. "Let's get it out of the way now."

They were still laying down, he spooning her from behind, so there was no way to see each other's faces. Maybe that was how she wanted it. He decided there was no time like the present.

"You're not getting better," he said.

"I know."

He could feel the almost physical pain those words brought. He knew he would twist that knife a little more.

"You cannot be of any help to Rand if you're deteriorating like that." He stopped for a moment, letting this sink in, but not long enough to overthink. "I think you might want to consider someone to help you."

"Thom…"

"What about seeing a wisdom?"

He could tell this intrigued Moiraine and he figured out something that might actually work. Wisdom, something that was a traditional, maybe herbal, maybe only physical. Medicine.

"I assume you have one in mind, saying that."

"I do."

There was something melting in Moiraine's reserve now and he breathed a sign of relief. He didn't want to push his woman, but he wanted her getting better. And he was sure his idea was the one that could work best.