So I was reading further into the chapter and came across these sentences:

"Romanda was already in place, an empty bench between her and Salita, and Lelaine and Moira occupied the end benches of the Blue."

"The men who had shifted the boxes...must have just left..." and "...Escaralde stood in front of the brown colored boxes..."

So this is very confusing! Apparently, there's not a single boxlike base for a single bench, there are multiple bases for multiple benches and they all, apparently, are moved around based on how people walk in the door?

Besides being incredibly impractical, how the hell do they do this in the Tower? Isn't everything there supposed to be all stone and marble and you know, permanent? How do they move bases and benches and seating around so quickly?

I mean, this is just stupid. Aes Sedai are not known for patience, especially with non-AS folk. So now I'm supposed to believe that at the most important events and functions of their collective lives, when events that shake the world are discussed and emergencies occur often requiring last minute meetings, Aes Sedai stand around and wait while a group of men grunt and sweat while hauling and lifting and moving benches and boxes for them to sit on? No way.

Can someone clear this up for me? I know it's not a terribly important point, but as I said, at least it hasn't been talked dead already. And it is kind of important to detailed oriented people like me. Thanks.