A sister in green swept up to her. Moradri was a long-limbed Mayener with dark skin, and she was trailed by two handsome Warders, both also Mayener. Rumors said that they were her brothers, come to the White Tower to defend their sister, though Moradri didn't speak of the matter.
Saerin demanded, "How many?"
"The ground floor has at least forty-seven sisters," Moradri said. "Spread across the Ajahs. That's the best count I could gather, as they're fighting in small groups. I told them we were organizing a formal command center here. Most seemed to think that was a good idea, though many were too tired, too shocked or too dazed to respond with much else besides a nod."
"Mark their locations on the map here," Saerin said. "Did you find Elaida?"
Moradri shook her head.
"Blast," Saerin muttered as the Tower shook again. "What of any Green Sitters?"
"I didn't find any," Moradri said, glancing over her shoulder, obviously eager to get back to the fighting.
"A pity," Saerin said. "They like to call themselves the Battle Ajah, after all. Well, that leaves me to organize the fighting."
Moradri shrugged. "I suppose." She glanced over her shoulder again.
Saerin eyed the Green sister, then tapped the map. "Mark the locations, Moradri. You can be back to the fighting soon enough, but your knowledge is more important right now."
The Green sister sighed, but quickly began to make notations on the map. As she worked, Saerin was pleased to note Captain Chubain entering. The man looked youthful for his forty-some winters, without a speck of gray in his black hair. Some men were inclined to disparage his abilities because of his too-pretty face; Saerin had heard of the humiliation those men had received by his sword in return for the insults.
"Ah, good," she said. "Finally something is going well. Captain, over here if you will."
He limped over, favoring his left leg. His white tabard, hanging over mail, was scorched; his face was smudged with soot. "Saerin Sedai," he said, bowing.
"You are wounded."
"An inconsequential wound, Aes Sedai, in the glory of a fight such as this."
"See yourself Healed anyway," she ordered. "It would be ridiculous for our captain of the guard to risk death because of an 'inconsequential' wound. If it makes you stumble for a moment we could lose you."
The man stepped closer, speaking in a low voice. "Saerin Sedai, the Tower Guard is all but useless in this fight. With the Seanchan using those . . . monstrous women, we can barely reach them before being ripped to pieces or blasted to ashes."
"You need to change your tactics, then, Captain," Saerin said firmly. Light, what a mess! "Tell the men to switch to bows. Do not risk closing on the enemy's channelers. Shoot from a distance. A single arrow could turn the battle to our side; we have their soldiers grossly outnumbered."
"Yes, Aes Sedai."
"As a White might say, it's simple logic," she said. "Captain, our most important task is to form a center of operations. Aes Sedai and soldiers alike are scrambling about independently, acting like rats faced by wolves. We need to stand together."
What she didn't mention was how embarrassed she was. The Aes Sedai had spent centuries guiding kings and influencing wars, but now—with their sanctuary assaulted—they had proven woefully inadequate in defending it. Egwene was right, she thought. Not just in predicting this attack, but in berating us for being divided. Saerin didn't need reports from Moradri or scouts to know that the Ajahs were each fighting this battle independently.
"Captain," she said. "Moradri Sedai is marking pockets of fighters on the map. Ask her which Ajah is represented in each group; she has an excellent memory, and will be able to tell you specifics. Send runners in my authority to any group of Yellow or Brown sisters. Tell them to report here, to this chamber.
"Next, send runners to the other groups and tell them that we are going to send one Brown or Yellow sister to them for Healing purposes. There will also be a group of sisters here providing Healing. Anyone wounded is to report here immediately."
He saluted.
"Oh," she added. "And send someone to the outer grounds to spot the main breaches above. We need to know where the invasion is deepest."
"Aes Sedai, . . ." he said. "The outer grounds are dangerous. Those flying above fire on anyone they see moving."
"Then send men who are good at concealing themselves," she growled.
"Yes, Aes Sedai. We—"
"This is a disaster!" an angry voice shouted.
Saerin turned to find four Red sisters entering the room. Notasha was wearing a white dress bloodied up the left side, though if the blood was her own, she'd been Healed. Katerine's mass of long black hair was frazzled and tangled with chips of stone. The other two women wore ripped dresses, faces soiled with ash.