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hick bole of the farther oak； arms crossed beneath her breasts； staring at Egwene and the others。 She looked ready to run。 〃I don't know what Areina has squeezed out of you；〃 Egwene said quietly； 〃but the extra lessons for Nicola stop now。〃
Myrelle and Nisao jumped； mirror images of surprise。 Siuan's eyes grew to the size of teacups； but luckily she recovered before anyone noticed。 〃You really do know everything；〃 Myrelle whispered。 〃All Areina wants is to be around Lan。 I think she believes he'll teach her things she can use as a Hunter。 Or maybe that he'll go off on the Hunt with her。〃
〃Nicola wants to be another Caraighan；〃 Nisao muttered caustically。 〃Or another Moiraine。 I think she had some notion she could make Myrelle give Lan's bond to her。 Well！ At least we can deal with that pair as they deserve； now that he's out in the open。 Whatever happens to me； it will be a joy to know they'll be squealing from here to year's end。〃
Siuan finally realized what had been going on； and outrage warred on her face with the wondering looks she directed at Egwene。 That someone else had puzzled matters out first probably upset her as much as Nicola and Areina blackmailing Aes Sedai。 Or perhaps not。 Nicola and Areina were not Aes Sedai themselves； after all。 That drastically changed Siuan's view of what was allowed。 But then； it did the same for any sister。
With so many eyes turned her way； and not a friendly gaze in the lot； Nicola backed； up against the oak tree and seemed to be trying to back further。 Stains on that white dress would put her in hot water when she returned to the camp。 Areina was still absorbed in Lan's horse； unaware of what was crashing down on her head。
〃That would be justice；〃 Egwene agreed； 〃but not unless you two face full justice yourselves。〃
Nobody was looking at Nicola anymore。 Myrelle's eyes filled her face； and Nisao's opened wider yet。 Neither seemed to dare crack her teeth。 Siuan wore grim satisfaction like another skin； by her lights； they deserved no mercy at all。 Not that Egwene intended to give much。
〃We will speak further when I e back；〃 she told them as Lan reappeared； his sword buckled on over a green coat undone to reveal an unlaced shirt； bulging saddlebags draped over his shoulder。 The color…shifting Warder cloak hanging down his back wrenched the eye as it swirled behind him。
Leaving the stunned sisters to stew in their own juices； Egwene went to meet him。 Siuan would keep them on a fine simmer； should they show any sign of falling off。 〃I can have you in Ebou Dar sooner than a month；〃 she said。 He only nodded impatiently and called for Areina to bring Mandarb。 His intensity was unnerving； an avalanche poised to fall； held back by a thread。
Weaving a gateway where he had been practicing the sword； a good eight feet by eight； she stepped through onto what seemed to be a ferry； floating in darkness that stretched forever。 Skimming required a platform； and though it could be anything you chose to imagine； every sister seemed to have one she preferred。 For her that was this wooden barge； with stout railings。 If she fell off； she could make another barge beneath her； although where she came out then would be something of a question； but for anyone who could not channel； that fall would be as endless as the black that ran off in every direction。 Only at the near end of the barge was there any light； the gateway giving a constricted view of the hollow。 That light did not penetrate the darkness at all； yet there was light of a sort。 At least； she could see quite clearly； as in Tel'aran'rhiod。 Not for the first time she wondered whether this actually was some part of the World of Dreams。
Lan followed without needing to be told； leading his horse。 He examined the gateway as he came through； studied the darkness as his boots and the stallion's hooves thudded across the deck planks to her。 The only question he asked was 〃How quickly will this take me to Ebou Dar？〃
〃It won't；〃 she said； channeling to swing the gate shut； then closing the gateway。 〃Not right to the city。〃 Nothing moved that anyone could have seen； there was no wind or breeze； nothing to feel。 They were in motion； though。 And fast； faster than she could imagine anything moving。 It must be six hundred miles or more they had to go。 〃I can put you out five； maybe six days north of Ebou Dar。〃 She had seen the gateway woven when Nynaeve and Elayne Traveled south； and she remembered enough for Skimming to the same place。
He nodded； peering ahead as though he could see their destination。 He reminded her of an arrow in a drawn bow。
〃Lan； Nynaeve is staying at the Tarasin Palace； a guest of Queen Tylin。 She might deny she's in any danger。〃 Which she certainly would； indignantly if Egwene knew Nynaeve； and rightfully so。 〃Try not to make a point of it … you know how stubborn she is … but you mustn't pay that any mind。 If necessary； just protect her without letting her know。〃 He said nothing； did not glance at her。 She would have had a hundred questions in his place。 〃Lan； when you find her； you must tell her that Myrelle will give your bond to her as soon as you three can be together。〃 She had thought of passing that information along herself； but it seemed better not to let Nynaeve know he was ing。 She was as besotted with him as。。。 as。。。 As I am with Gawyn； she thought ruefully。 If Nynaeve knew he was on his way； there would be little room in her head for anything else。 With the best will in the world； she would let the search fall on Elayne。 Not that she would curl up and daydream； but any searching she did would be with dazzled eyes。 〃Are you listening to me； Lan？〃
〃Tarasin Palace；〃 he said in flat voice； without shifting his gaze。 〃Guest of Queen Tylin。 Might deny she's in danger。 Stubborn； as if I didn't know already。〃 He looked at her then； and she almost wished he had not。 She was full of saidar； full of the warmth and the joy and the power； the sheer life； but something stark and primal raged in those cold blue eyes； a denial of life。 His eyes were terrifying； that was all there was to it。 〃I will tell her everything she needs to know。 You see； I listen。〃
She made herself meet his stare without flinching； but he only turned away again。 There was a mark on his neck； a bruise。 It might … just might … be a bite。 Perhaps she should caution him； tell him he did not have to be too。。。 detailed。。。 in any explanations about himself and Myrelle。 The thought made her blush。 She tried not to see the bruise； but now she had noticed it； she could not seem to see anything else。 Anyway； he would not be that foolish。 You could not expect a man to be sensible； but even men were not that scatterbrained。
In silence they floated； moving without moving。 She had no fears of the Forsaken suddenly appearing here； or anyone else。 Skimming had its oddities； some of which made for safety； and privacy。 If two sisters wove gateways on the same spot only moments apart； aiming to Skim to the same place； they would not see one another； not unless it was exactly the same spot； with the weaves exactly identical； and neither precision was as easy to achieve as it might seem。
After a time … it was hard to tell how long exactly； but she thought well under half an hour … the barge stopped suddenly。 Nothing altered in the feel； nor in the weaves she held。 She simply knew that one moment they were speeding through the blackness； and the next standing still。 Opening a gateway just at the barge's bow … she was not sure where one opened at the stern would lead； and not anxious to find out； frankly； Moghedien had found the very idea frightening … she motioned Lan to go ahead。 The barge only existed so long as she was present； another thing like Tel'aran'rhiod。
He swung back the ferry gate； leading Mandarb out； and when she followed； he was already in。 the saddle。 She left the gateway open for her return。 Low rolling hills ran off in every direction； covered in withered grass。 There was not a tree to be seen； nothing more than patches of shriveled scrub brush。 The stallion's hooves kicked up little spurts of dust。 The morning sun in that cloudless sky baked even hotter here than in Murandy。 Long…winged vultures circled over something to the south； and in another place to the west。
〃Lan；〃 she began； meaning to make sure he understood what he was to tell Nynaeve； but he forestalled her。
〃Five or six days； you said；〃 he said； peering south。 〃I can make it faster。 She will be safe； I promise。〃 Mandarb danced； impatient as his rider； but Lan held him easily。 〃You've e a very long way since Emond's Field。〃 Looking down at her； he smiled。 Any warmth in it was swallowed by his eyes。 〃You have a hold on Myrelle and Nisao； now。 Don't let them argue with you again。 By your mand； Mother。 The watch is not done。〃 With a small bow； he dug in his heels； walking Mandarb just far enough to put her clear of the dust before setting the horse to a gallop。
Watching him speed southward； she closed her mouth。 Well。 He had noticed in the middle of all that sword practice； noticed and done the sums correctly。 Apparently including sums he could not have suspected before seeing her w