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nto words。 To contain saidar； to be contained by it； was to seem alive beyond any other time。 A delusion； the Wise Ones said； as false and dangerous as a mirage of water in the Termool； yet it seemed more real than the paving stones beneath her feet。 She fought the urge to draw more； already she held nearly as much as she could。 Everyone crowded close as she began to weave the flows。
That there were things many Aes Sedai could not do still startled Aviendha； after all she had seen。 Several of the Knitting Circle were strong enough； but only Sumeko and； surprisingly； Reanne openly studied what she was doing。 Sumeko went so far as to shrug off the encouraging pats Nynaeve tried to give her … which earned a look of startled indignation from Nynaeve that Sumeko； her gaze fixed on Aviendha； never saw。 All of the Windfinders had sufficient strength。 They watched as hungrily as they had stared at the Bowl。 The bargain gave them every right。
Aviendha focused； and the flows wove together； creating identity between this place and the place she and Elayne and Nynaeve had chosen on a map。 She gestured as though opening tentflaps。 That was no part of the weave Elayne had taught her； but it was almost all she could recall of what she herself had done； long before Egwene made her first gateway。 The flows coalesced into a silvery； vertical slash that rotated and became an opening in the air； taller than a man and just as wide。 Beyond lay a large clearing surrounded by trees twenty or thirty feet high； miles north of the City； on the far side of the river。 Knee…high brown grass came right up to the gateway； swaying through in a small breeze； it had not truly turned； only seemed to。 Some of those blades were sliced cleanly； though； some lengthwise。 The edges of an opening gateway made a razor seem dull。
The gateway filled her with dissatisfaction。 Elayne could make this weave with only a part of her strength； yet for some reason it required all but a fraction of Aviendha's。 She was sure she could have woven a larger； as large as Elayne could； using the weaves she had made without thought while trying to escape Rand al'Thor what seemed a very long time ago； but no matter how often she tried； only scraps came back to her。 She felt no envy … rather； she took pride in her near…sister's acplishments … but her own failure made shame surge in her heart。 Sorilea or Amys would be hard on her； if they knew that。 About the shame。 Too much pride； they would call it。 Amys should understand； she had been a Maiden。 There was shame in failing at what you should be able to do。 If she had not had to hold the weave； she would have run away so no one could see her。
The departure had been carefully planned； and the whole stableyard sprang into motion as soon as the gateway opened fully。 Two of the Knitting Circle pulled the hooded Shadowrunner to her feet； and the Windfinders hurriedly formed a line behind Renaile din Calon。 The servants began bringing horses out of the stables。 Lan； Birgitte； and one of Careane's Warders； a lanky man called Cieryl Arjuna； immediately darted through the gateway； one behind the other。 Like Far Dareis Mai； Warders always claimed the right to scout ahead。 Aviendha's feet itched to run after them； but there was no point。 Unlike Elayne； she could not move more than five or six steps without this weave beginning to weaken； and the same if she tried to tie it off。 It was very frustrating。
This time there was no real expectation of danger； so the Aes Sedai followed immediately； Elayne and Nynaeve as well。 Farms dotted that treed area thickly； and a wandering shepherd or a young couple seeking privacy might need guidance away from seeing too much； but no Shadowsouled or Shadowrunner could know that clearing； only she； Elayne； and Nynaeve did； and they had not spoken in the choosing； for fear of eavesdroppers。 Standing in the opening； Elayne gave Aviendha a questioning look； but Aviendha motioned her to go on。 Plans were meant to be followed unless there was reason to change them。
The Windfinders began filing slowly through to the clearing； each suddenly irresolute as she approached this thing she had never dreamed of； taking a breath before she entered。 And abruptly； the prickling returned。
Aviendha's eyes rose to the windows overlooking the stable…yard。 Anyone might be hidden behind the white screens of intricate wrought iron and piercework carving。 Tylin had ordered the servants to stay away from those windows； but who would stop Teslyn； or Joline； or。。。 Something made her look higher； to the domes and towers。 Narrow walks ringed some of those slim spires； and on one； very high； was a black shape haloed by a sharp nimbus from the sun behind。 A man。
Her breath caught。 Nothing in his stance； hands on the stone railing； spoke of danger； yet she knew he was the one who put that crawling between her shoulder blades。 One of the Shadowsouled would not stand there simply watching； but that creature； that gholam。。。 Ice formed in her belly。 He could be just a palace servant。 He could be； but she did not believe it。 No shame in knowing fear。
Anxiously she glanced at the women still edging though the gateway with agonizing slowness。 Half the Sea Folk were gone； and the Knitting Circle waited behind the rest with the Shadowrunner firmly in hand； their own unease at the passage warring with resentment that the Sea Folk women were allowed to go first。 If she voiced her suspicions； the Kinswomen surely would run … mere mention of the Shadowsouled dried their mouths and turned their bowels to water … while the Windfinders might well try to claim the Bowl straightaway。 With them； the Bowl stood above anything else。 But only a blind fool stood scratching herself while a lion crept up on the herd she had been set to guard。 She caught one of the Atha'an Miere by a red silk sleeve。
〃Tell Elayne … 〃 A face like smooth black stone turned to her； the woman somehow made full lips seem thin； her eyes were black pebbles； flat and hard。 What message could she send that would not bring down all the troubles she feared from them？ 〃Tell Elayne and Nynaeve to be wary。 Tell them enemies always e when you least want them。 You must say this to her； without fail。〃 The Windfinder nodded with barely concealed impatience； but surprisingly； she waited for Aviendha to release her before making her hesitant way through the gateway。
The walk up on the tower stood empty。 Aviendha felt no relief。 He could be anywhere。 Making his way down to the stable…yard。 Whoever he was； whatever he was； he was dangerous； this was not a dust…funnel dancing in her imagination。 The last four Warders had formed a square around the gateway； a guard who would be last to leave； and much as she despised their swords； she was grateful that someone there besides herself knew the use of sharp metal。 Not that they would have any more chance against a gholam； or worse； one of the Shadowsouled； than the servants waiting with the horses。 Or than she herself。
Grimly she drew the Power； until the sweetness of saidar grew near to pain。 A hair beyond； and pain would almost bee blinding agony for the moments needed to die or lose the ability pletely。 Would those shuffling women quicken their feet！ No shame in feeling fear； but she was very much afraid that hers was painted on her face。
Chapter 2
（Snakey Square）
Unweaving
Elayne stepped to one side as soon as she was through the gateway； but Nynaeve trampled across the clearing； kicking up brown grasshoppers from the dead grass and peering this way and that for evidence of the Warders。 Of one Warder； anyway。 A bright red bird flashed across the clearing and was gone。 Nothing else moved except the sisters； a squirrel barked somewhere in the mostly leafless trees； and then there was silence。 To Elayne it seemed impossible those three could have passed this way without leaving paths as wide as that behind Nynaeve； yet she could not make out any sign that they had been there at all。
She sensed Birgitte somewhere off to her left； roughly southwest she thought； and feeling quite content； clearly in no immediate danger。 Careane； part of a protective circle gathered around Sareitha and the Bowl； cocked her head almost as if listening。 Apparently her Cieryl was to the southeast。 Which meant Lan was north。 Oddly enough； north was the direction Nynaeve had settled down to watch； all the while muttering under her breath。 Perhaps being married had created some sense of him in her。 More likely； she had noticed a track that escaped Elayne。 Nynaeve was as skilled at woodscraft as she was with herbs。
From where Elayne stood at first； Aviendha was clearly visible through the gateway； studying the palace rooftops as if she expected an ambush。 By her stance； she could have been carrying spears； ready to leap into battle in her riding dress。 She made Elayne smile； hiding how distressed she was about her problems with the gateway； so much braver than she herself。 But at the same time she could not help worrying。 Aviendha was brave； and no one Elayne knew was better able to keep her head。 She also might decide that ji'e'toh required her to fight when t