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〃Would you like to see her balance it on her nose？〃 Caddar asked with a toothy grin。
Tight…eyed； the dark woman stared straight ahead； her smile clearly forced now。 〃I think I have demonstrated quite enough； Caddar；〃 she said coldly。 But the cube … the callbox？ … continued whirling。
Sevanna waited a slow count of twenty before saying； 〃That is sufficient。〃
〃You may stop now； Maisia；〃 Caddar said。 〃Put it back where it was。〃 Only then did the cube slowly descend； nestling gently on its original spot。 Dark as she was； the woman looked pale。 And furious。
Had she been alone； Sevanna would have laughed； and danced。 As it was； she had difficulty maintaining a smooth face。 Rhiale and the others were too busy staring disdainfully at Maisia to notice。 What worked on one woman with the gift would work on another。 No need with Someryn and Modarra； perhaps； but Rhiale； and Therava。。。 She could not appear too eager； not when the others knew there were no Aes Sedai captives。
〃Of course；〃 Caddar went on； 〃it will take a little time to provide you with what you wish。〃 He took on a sly look； trying to hide it； perhaps another wetlander would not have seen。 〃I warn you； the price will not be small。〃
In spite of herself； Sevanna leaned forward。 〃And the way you traveled here so quickly？ How much to make her teach us that？〃 She managed to keep eagerness from her voice； but she was afraid the contempt she felt came through。 Wetlanders would do anything for gold。
Perhaps the man heard it； his eyes certainly widened in surprise before he could regain control。 Such as it was。 He studied his hands； and his mouth curled faintly。 Why should his smile seem pleased？ 〃That is not something she does；〃 he said in a voice as smooth as his palms； 〃not by herself。 It is like the callbox。 I can provide you with several； but the price of those is even higher。 I doubt what you've gleaned from Cairhien will be enough。 Fortunately； you can use the。。。 traveling boxes to take your people to richer lands。〃
Even Meira was hard…pressed to keep her expression from being too avid。 Richer lands； and no need to make a way through those fools following Rand al'Thor。
〃Tell me more；〃 Sevanna said coolly。 〃Richer lands might be of some interest。〃 Not enough to make her forget the Car'a'carn； though。 Caddar would give her everything he had promised before she declared him da'tsang。 As well that he seemed to like wearing black。 There would be no need to give him any gold then。
The watcher ghosted through the trees； making no sound。 It was wonderful what you could learn with a callbox； especially in a world where there seemed to be only two others。 That red dress was easy to follow； and they never looked back even to see whether some of those so…called Aiel were trailing them。 Graendal maintained the Mask of Mirrors that hid her true form； but Sammael had dropped his； golden…bearded again and just head and shoulders taller than she。 He had let the link between them dissolve； too。 The watcher wondered whether that was wise； under the circumstances。 He had always wondered how much of Sammael's vaunted bravery was really stupidity and blindness。 But the man did hold saidin； perhaps he was not pletely unaware of his danger。
The watcher followed and listened。 They had no idea。 The True Power； drawn directly from the Great Lord； could neither be seen nor detected except by who wielded it。 Black flecks floated across his vision。 There was a price； to be sure； one that grew with each use； but he had always been willing to pay the price when it was necessary。 Being filled with the True Power was almost like kneeling beneath Shayol Ghul； basking in the Great Lord's glory。 The glory was worth the pain。
〃Of course I had to have you with me；〃 Sammael growled； stumbling over a dead vine。 He had never really been at home away from the cities。 〃You answered a hundred questions for them just being there。 I can hardly believe that silly girl herself actually suggested what I wanted。〃 He barked a laugh。 〃Perhaps I'm ta'veren myself。〃
A branch that partially blocked Graendal's path flexed away until it snapped with a sharp crack。 For a moment it hung in the air as if she intended to strike her panion。 〃That silly girl will cut out your heart and eat it； given half a chance。〃 The branch flew aside。 〃I have a few questions of my own。 I never thought you would keep your truce with al'Thor any longer than you must； but this。。。？〃
The watcher's eyebrows rose。 A truce？ A claim as risky as it was false； by all evidence。
〃I didn't arrange his kidnapping。〃 Sammael gave her what he probably thought was a wry look； his scar made it more a snarl。 〃Mesaana had a hand in it； though。 Maybe Demandred and Semirhage as well； despite how it ended； but Mesaana certainly。 Perhaps you ought to reconsider what you think the Great Lord means about leaving al'Thor unharmed。〃
Graendal considered that； so much so that she tripped。 Sammael caught her by the arm； keeping her on her feet； but as soon as she regained her balance； she jerked free。 Interesting； even given what had happened back in that clearing。 Graendal's real interest was always the most beautiful plucked from among the most powerful； but she would have flirted； just to pass an hour； with a man she intended to kill or one who wanted to kill her。 The only men she never flirted with were those of the Chosen who stood above her for a time。 She never accepted being the lesser of any pair。
〃Then why continue with them？〃 Her voice dripped molten lava； although normally she had exquisite control over her emotions。 〃Al'Thor in Mesaana's hands is one thing； al'Thor in this savage's is something else。 Not that she'll have much chance at him if you really intend sending them off to loot。 Traveling boxes？ What is your game there？ Do they hold captives？ If you think I will teach them pulsion； erase it from your mind。 One of those women was not negligible。 I will not risk strength and skill residing together； in her； or in someone she teaches。 Or do you have a binder hidden away with your other toys？ For that matter； where were you earlier？ I do not like having to wait！〃
Sammael stopped； glancing behind them。 The watcher stood very still。 Swathed in fancloth except for his eyes； he had no worry that he would be seen。 Over the years he had learned expertise in many areas Sammael scorned。 In some he favored； too。
The gateway opening suddenly； slicing away half of a tree； made Graendal jump。 The split trunk leaned drunkenly。 Now she also knew Sammael held to the Source。
〃Did you think I was telling them the truth？〃 Sammael said mockingly。 〃Small increases in chaos are as important as large。 They will go where I send them； do as I wish； and learn to be satisfied with what I give them。 As will you； Maisia。〃
Graendal let her Illusion fade and stood golden…haired as he； as fair as she had been dark。 〃If you call me that again； I will kill you。〃 Her voice held even less expression than her face。 She meant it。 The watcher tensed。 If she tried； one of the two would die。 Should he interfere？ Black flecks sped across his eyes； faster； faster。
Sammael met her stare with one just as hard。 〃Remember who will be Nae'blis； Graendal；〃 he said； and stepped through his gateway。
For a moment she stood looking at the opening。 A vertical silver slash appeared off to one side； but before her gateway began to align； she let go the weave； slowly； the streak shrinking to a point before winking out。 The prickling vanished from the watcher's skin as she released saidar as well。 With a fixed face； she followed Sammael； and his gateway closed behind her。
The watcher smiled crookedly behind his fancloth skulker's mask。 Nae'blis。 That explained what had brought Graendal to heel； what had stayed her from killing Sammael。 Even she would be blinded by that。 An even greater risk for Sammael than claiming truce with Lews Therin； though。 Unless； of course； it was true。 The Great Lord delighted in setting his servants one against another； to see who was stronger。 Only the strongest could stand near his glory。 But today's truth need not be tomorrow's。 The watcher had seen truth change a hundred times between a single sunrise and sunset。 More than once he had changed it himself。 He considered going back and killing the seven women in the clearing。 They would die easily； he doubted they knew how to form a true circle。 The black flecks filled his eyes； a horizontal blizzard。 No； he would let that run its course。 For now。
To his ears； the world screamed as he used the True Power to rip a small hole and step outside the Pattern。 Sammael did not know how truly he spoke。 Small increases in chaos could be every bit as important as large。
Chapter 21
（Dice）
Swovan Night
Night came slowly over Ebou Dar； the glow of the white buildings resisting darkness。 Small knots and bunches of Swovan Night revelers with little sprigs of evergreen in their hair danced in the streets beneath a bright three…quarter moon； few carrying so much as a lantern as they gamboled to the music of flutes and drums and horns that drifted from inns