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A tall woman was suddenly standing in the street ahead of her； slim in a bulky brown skirt and loose white blouse； with a brown shawl around her shoulders and a folded scarf around her forehead to hold white hair that spilled to her waist。 Despite her plain clothes she wore a great many necklaces and bracelets of gold or ivory or both。 Fists planted on her hips； she stared straight at Egwene； frowning。
Another fool woman who's dreamed herself where she has no right to be and doesn't believe what she's seeing； Egwene thought。 She had the description of every woman who had gone with Liandrin； and this woman certainly matched none of them。 But the woman did not vanish again； she stood there as Egwene approached swiftly。 Why doesn't she go？ Why。。。 ？ Oh； Light！ She's really。。。 ！ She snatched for the flows to weave lightning； to tangle the woman in Air； fumbling in startled haste。
〃Put your feet on the ground； girl；〃 the woman barked。 〃I had enough trouble finding you again without you flying off like some bird when I do。〃
Abruptly Egwene stopped flying。 Her feet thumped hard on the pavement； and she staggered。 It was the Aiel woman's voice； but this was an older woman。 Not as old as Egwene had thought at first … in fact； she looked much younger than her white hair suggested … but with the voice； and those sharp blue eyes； she was sure it was the same woman。 〃You're。。。 different；〃 she said。
〃You can be what you wish to be； here。〃 The woman sounded embarrassed； but only a little。 〃At times I like to remember。。。 That is not important。 You are from the White Tower？ It has been long since they had a dreamwalker。 Very long。 I am Amys； of the Nine Valleys sept of the Taardad Aiel。〃
〃You are a Wise One？ You are！ And you know dreams； you know Tel'aran'rhiod！ You can。。。 My name is Egwene。 Egwene al'Vere。 I。。。〃 She took a deep breath； Amys did not look a woman to lie to。 〃I am Aes Sedai。 Of the Green Ajah。〃
Amys's expression did not change； really。 A slight crinkling of her eyes； perhaps in skepticism。 Egwene hardly looked old enough to be full Aes Sedai。 What she said； though； was 〃I meant to leave you standing in your skin until you asked for some proper clothes。 Putting on cadin'sor that way； as though you were。。。 You surprised me； pulling free as you did； turning my own spear on me。 But you are still untaught； are you not； however strong。 Else you would not have popped into the middle of my hunt that way； where you obviously did not wish to be。 And this flying about？ Did you e to Tel'aran'rhiod … Tel'aran'rhiod！ … to stare at this city； wherever it is？〃
〃It's Tanchico；〃 Egwene said faintly。 She didn't know。 But then how had Amys followed her； or found her？ It was obvious she knew more of the World of Dreams than Egwene did； by far。 〃You can help me。 I am trying to find women of the Black Ajah； Darkfriends。 I think they are here； and I have to find them if they are。〃
〃It truly exists； then。〃 Amys almost whispered it。 〃An Ajah of Shadowrunners in the White Tower。〃 She shook her head； 〃You are like a girl just wedded to the spear who thinks now she can wrestle men and leap mountains。 For her it means a few bruises and a valuable lesson in humility。 For you； here； it could mean death。〃 Amys eyed the white buildings around them and grimaced。 〃Tanchico？ In。。。 Tarabon？ This city is dying； eating itself。 There is a darkness here； an evil。 Worse than men can make。 Or women。〃 She looked at Egwene pointedly。 〃You cannot see it； or feel it； can you？ And you want to hunt Shadowrunners in Tel'aran'rhiod。〃
〃Evil？〃 Egwene said quickly。 〃That could be them。 Are you sure？ If I told you what they look like； could you be certain it was them？ I can describe them。 I can describe one to her last braid。〃
〃A child；〃 Amys muttered； 〃demanding a silver bracelet from her father this minute when she knows nothing of trading or the making of bracelets。 You have much to learn。 Far more than I can begin to teach you； now。 e to the Three…fold Land。 I will have the word spread through the clans that an Aes Sedai called Egwene al'Vere is to be brought to me at Cold Rocks Hold。 Give your name and show your Great Serpent ring； and you will have safe running。 I am not there now； but I will return from Rhuidean before you can arrive。〃
〃Please； you must help me。 I need to know if they are here。 I have to know。〃
〃But I cannot tell you。 I do not know them； or this place； this Tanchico。 You must e to me。 What you do is dangerous； far more dangerous than you know。 You must … Where are you going？ Stay！〃
Something seemed to snatch at Egwene； pulling her into darkness。
Amys's voice followed her； hollow and dwindling。 〃You must e to me and learn。 You must。。。〃
Chapter 12
（Flame of Tar Valon）
Tanchico or the Tower
Elayne drew a ragged； relieved breath as Egwene finally stirred and opened her eyes。 At the foot of the bed； Aviendha's features lost their tinge of frustration and anxiety； and she flashed a quick smile that Egwene returned。 The candle had burned past the mark minutes ago； it seemed an hour。
〃You would not wake up； 〃Elayne said unsteadily。 〃I shook you and shook you； but you would not wake。〃 She gave a small laugh。 〃Oh； Egwene； you even frightened Aviendha。〃
Egwene put a hand on her arm and squeezed reassuringly。 〃I am back； now。〃 She sounded tired； and she had sweated her shift through。 〃I suppose I had reason to stay a little longer than we planned。 I will be more careful next time。 I promise。〃
Nynaeve returned the pitcher of water to the washstand vigorously； sloshing some out。 She had been on the point of throwing it in Egwene's sleeping face。 Her features were posed； but the pitcher rattled the washbowl； and she let the spilled water drip to the carpet。 〃Was it something you found？ Or was it。。。 ？ Egwene； if the World of Dreams can hold on to you in some way； maybe it is too dangerous until you learn more。 Maybe the more often you go； the harder it is to e back。 Maybe。。。 I don't know。 But I do know we cannot risk letting you bee lost。〃 She crossed her arms under her breasts； ready for an argument。
〃I know；〃 Egwene said； very close to meekly。 Elayne's eyebrows shot up； Egwene was never meek with Nynaeve。 Anything but。
Egwene struggled off the bed； refusing Elayne's help； and made her way to the washstand to bathe her face and arms in the relatively cool water。 Elayne found a dry shift in the wardrobe while Egwene pulled off her sodden one。
〃I met a Wise One； a woman named Amys。〃 Egwene's voice was muffled until her head popped out of the top of the new shift。 〃She said I should e to her； to learn about Tel'aran'rhiod。 At some place in the Waste called Cold Rocks Hold。〃
Elayne had caught a flicker of Aviendha's eye at the mention of the Wise One's name。 〃Do you know her？ Amys？〃
The Aiel woman's nod could only be described as reluctant。 〃A Wise One。 A dreamwalker： Amys was Far Dareis Mai until she gave up the spear to go to Rhuidean。〃
〃A Maiden！〃 Egwene exclaimed。 〃So that's why she。。。 No matter。 She said she is at Rhuidean； now。 Do you know where this Cold Rocks Hold is； Aviendha？〃
〃Of course。 Cold Rocks is Rhuarc's hold。 Rhuarc is Amys's husband。 I visit there； sometimes。 I used to。 My sister…mother； Lian； is sister…wife to Amys。〃
Elayne exchanged confused glances with Egwene and Nynaeve。 Once Elayne had thought she knew a good bit about Aiel； all learned from her teachers in Caemlyn； but she had discovered since meeting Aviendha how little she did know。 Customs and relationships all were a maze。 First…sisters meant having the same mother； except that it was possible for friends to bee first…sisters by making a pledge before Wise Ones。 Second…sisters meant your mothers were sisters； if your fathers were brothers； you were father…sisters； and not considered as closely related as second…sisters。 After that； it truly grew bewildering。
〃What does 'sister…wife' mean？〃 she asked hesitantly。
〃That you have the same husband。〃 Aviendha frowned at the way Egwene gasped and Nynaeve's eyes opened as wide as they would go。 Elayne had been half…expecting the answer； but she still found herself fussing with skirts that were perfectly straight。 〃This is not your custom？〃 the Aiel woman asked。
〃No；〃 Egwene said faintly。 〃No； it is not。〃
〃But you and Elayne care for one another as first…sisters。 What would you have done had one of you been unwilling to step aside for Rand al'Thor？ Fight over him？ Let a man damage the ties between you？ Would it not have been better if you both had married him； then？〃
Elayne looked at Egwene。 The thought of。。。 Could she have done such a thing？ Even with Egwene？ She knew her cheeks were red。 Egwene merely looked startled。
〃But I wanted to step aside；〃 Egwene said。
Elayne knew the remark was as much for her as for Aviendha； but the thought would not go away。 Had Min had a viewing？ What would she do if Min had？ If it's Berelain； I will strangle her； and him too！ If it has to be someone； why couldn't it be Egwene？ Light； what am I thinking？ She knew she was being flustered； and to cover it； she made he