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h a sort of neighborliness in a way Egwene found refreshing。 Startling； sometimes； but enlivening。 Even Chesa did not do better； but Chesa was always the servant； even if friendly； while Halima never showed the slightest obsequiousness。 Yet Egwene really did wish she had gone back to her home when Cabriana fell from that horse and broke her neck。
It might have been useful had the sisters accepted Cabriana's belief that Elaida intended to still half of them and break the rest； but everyone was sure Halima had garbled that somehow。 It was the Black Ajah they latched on to。 Women unused to being afraid of anything had taken what they had always denied and terrified themselves half…witless with it How was she to root the Darkfriends out without scattering the other sisters like a frightened covey of quail？ How to stop them scattering sooner or later anyway？ Light； how？
〃Think on looseness；〃 Halima said softly。 〃Your face is loose。 Your neck is loose。 Your shoulders。。。 〃 Her voice was almost hypnotic； a drone that seemed to caress each part of Egwene's body she wanted to relax。
Some women disliked her just for the way she looked； of course； as though a particularly lascivious man had dreamed her； and a good many claimed she flirted with anything in breeches； which Egwene could not have approved of； but Halima admitted she liked looking at men。 Her worst critics never claimed she had done more than flirt； and she herself became indignant at the suggestion。 She was no fool … Egwene had known that at their first conversation； the day after Logain escaped； when the headaches had begun … not at all the brainless flipskirt。 Egwene suspected it was much as with Meri。 Halima could not help her face or her manner。 Her smile seemed inviting or teasing because of the shape of her mouth； she smiled the same at man or woman or child。 It was hardly her fault that people thought she was flirting when she was only looking。 Besides； she had never mentioned the headaches to anyone。 If she had； every Yellow sister in the camp would be laying siege。 That indicated friendship； if not loyalty。
Egwene's eyes fell on the papers on the writing table； and her thoughts drifted under Halima's stroking fingers。 Torches ready to be tossed into the haystack。 Ten days to the border of Andor； unless Lord Bryne was willing to push without knowing why； and no opposition before。 Could she hold those torches back ten days？ Southharbor。 Northharbor。 The keys to Tar Valon。 How could she be sure of Nicola and Areina； short of Siuan's suggestion？ She needed to arrange for every sister to be tested before they reached Andor。 She had the Talent for working with metals and ores； but it was rare among Aes Sedai。 Nicola。 Areina。 The Black Ajah。
〃You're tensing again。 Stop worrying over the Hall。〃 Those soothing fingers paused； then began once more。 〃This would do better tonight； after you've had a hot bath。 I could work your shoulders and back； everywhere。 We haven't tried that； yet You're stiff as a stake； you should be supple enough to bend backwards and put your head between your ankles。 Mind and body。 One can't be limber without the other。 Just put yourself in my hands。〃
Egwene teetered on the brink of sleep。 Not a dreamwalker's sleep； just sleep。 How long since she had done that？ The camp would be in an uproar once Delana's proposal got out； which it would soon enough； and that was before she had to tell Romanda and Lelaine she had no intention of issuing their edicts。 But there was one thing yet today to look forward to； a reason to remain awake。 〃That will be nice；〃 she murmured； meaning more than the promised massage。 Long ago she had pledged that one day she would bring Sheriam to heel； and today was the day。 At last she was beginning to be the Amyrlin； in control。 〃Very nice。〃
Chapter 13
（Star and Birds）
The Bowl of the Winds
Aviendha would have sat on the floor； but three other women occupying the boat's small room left not quite enough space； so she had to be content with folding her legs atop one of the carved wooden benches built against the walls。 That way； it was not so much like sitting in a chair。 At least the door was shut； and there were no windows； only fanciful carved scrollwork piercing the walls near the ceiling。 She could not see the water outside； but the piercings let in the smell of salt and the slap of waves against the hull and the splash of the oars。 Even the shrill hollow cries of some sort of birds shouted of vast expanses of water。 She had seen men die for a pool they might have stepped across； but this water was bitter beyond belief。 Reading of it was not at all the same as tasting it And the river had been at least half a mile wide where they boarded this boat with its two oddly leering oarsmen。 Half a mile of water； and not a drop fit for drinking。 Who could imagine useless water？
The motion of the boat had changed； to a rocking back and forth。 Were they out of the river； yet？ Into what was called 〃the bay〃？ That was wider still； far wider； so Elayne said。 Aviendha locked her hands on her knees and tried desperately to think of anything else。 If the others saw her fear； the shame would follow her to the end of her days。 The worst of it was； she had suggested this； after hearing Elayne and Nynaeve talk of the Sea Folk。 How could she have known what it would be like？
The blue silk of her dress felt incredibly smooth； and she latched on to that。 She was barely used to skirts at all … she still yearned for the cadin'sor the Wise Ones had made her burn when she began training with them … and here she wore a silk dress … of which she now owned four！ … and silk stockings instead of stout wool； and a silk shift that made her aware of her skin in a way she never had been before。 She could not deny the beauty of the dress； no matter how odd it was to find herself wearing such things； but silk was precious； and rare。 A woman might have a scarf of silk； to be worn on feastdays and envied by others。 Few women had two。 It was different among these wetlanders； though。 Not everyone wore silk； yet sometimes it seemed to her every second person did。 Great bolts and even bales of it came by ship from the lands beyond the Three…fold Land。 By ship。 On the ocean。 Water stretching to the horizon； with many places where； if she understood correctly； you could not see land at all。 She came close to shivering at the impossible thought。
None of the others looked as if they wished to talk。 Elayne absently twisted the Great Serpent ring on her right hand and peered at something not to be seen inside the four walls。 These worries often overtook her。 Two duties confronted her； and if one lay nearer her heart； she had chosen the one she considered more important； more honorable。 It was her right and duty to bee the chief； the queen； of Andor； but she had chosen to continue hunting。 In a way； however important their search； that was like putting something before clan or society； yet Aviendha felt pride。 Elayne's view of honor was as peculiar at times as the notion of a woman being a chief； or her being chief just because her mother had been； but she followed it admirably。 Birgitte； in the wide red trousers and short yellow coat Aviendha envied； sat toying with her waist…long braid； lost in thought as well。 Or maybe sharing part of Elayne's worries。 She was Elayne's first Warder； which upset the Aes Sedai back in the Tarasin Palace no end； though it did not seem to bother their Warders。 Wetlander customs were so curious they hardly bore thinking about。
If Elayne and Birgitte seemed to deflect any thought of talk； Nynaeve al'Meara； directly opposite Aviendha by the door； rebuffed it firmly。 Nynaeve； not Nynaeve al'Meara。 Wetlanders liked to be called by only half their names； and Aviendha was trying to remember； however much it felt like using a honey…name。 Rand al'Thor was the only lover she had ever had； and she did not think even of him so intimately； but she had to learn their ways if she was to wed one of them。
Nynaeve's deep brown eyes stared through her。 Her knuckles were white on a thick braid as dark as Birgitte's was golden； and her face had gone beyond pale to a faint green。 From time to time she emitted a tiny muted groan。 She did not usually sweat； she and Elayne had taught Aviendha the trick。 Nynaeve was a puzzle。 Brave to the point of madness sometimes； she moaned over her supposed cowardice； and here she displayed her shame for all to see without a care。 How could the motion disturb her so； when all that water did not？
Water again。 Aviendha shut her eyes to avoid seeing Nynaeve's face； but that only made the sounds of the birds and the lapping water fill her head。
〃I have been thinking；〃 Elayne said suddenly； then paused。 〃Are you all right； Aviendha？ You。。。 〃 Aviendha's cheeks reddened； but at least Elayne did not say aloud that she had jumped like a rabbit at the sound of her voice。 Elayne seemed to realize how close she had e to revealing Aviendha's dishonor； color flushed her own cheeks as she continued。 〃I was thinking about Nicola； and Areina。 About what Egwene told us last night。 You don't suppose they can cause her any trouble； do you？ W