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asily as lifting her hand。 She could remember Aginor； and the things the Forsaken wanted to do to her。 She shivered again。 〃Was it real？〃
〃No one knows；〃 Sheriam replied。 〃It seems real in memory； and some have e out bearing the actual wounds of hurts taken inside。 Others have been cut to the bone inside； and e back without a mark。 It is all of it different every time for every woman who goes in。 The ancients said there were many worlds。 Perhaps this ter'angreal takes you to them。 Yet if so； it does so under very stringent rules for something meant just to take you from one place to another。 I believe it is not real。 But remember； whether what happens is real or not； the danger is as real as a knife plunging into your heart。〃
〃I channeled the Power。 It was so easy。〃
Sheriam missed a step。 〃That isn't supposed to be possible。 You should not even remember being able to channel。〃 She studied Nynaeve。 〃And yet you are not harmed。 I can still sense the ability in you； as strong as it ever was。〃〃You sound as if it were dangerous；〃 Nynaeve said slowly； and Sheriam hesitated before answering。
〃It isn't thought necessary to give a warning； since you shouldn't be able to remember it； but 。。。 This ter'angreal was found during the Trolloc Wars。 We have the records of its examination in the archives。 The first sister to enter was warded as strongly as she could be； since no one knew what it would do。 She kept her memories； and she channeled the One Power when she was threatened。 And she came out with her abilities burned to nothing； unable to channel； unable even to sense the True Source。 The second to go in was also warded； and she； too； was destroyed in the same way。 The third went unprotected； remembered nothing once she was inside； and returned unharmed。 That is one reason why we send you pletely unprotected。 Nynaeve； you must not channel inside the ter'angreal again。 I know it is hard to remember anything； but try。〃
Nynaeve swallowed。 She could remember everything； could remember not remembering。 〃I won't channel；〃 she said。 If I can remember not to。 She wanted to laugh hysterically。
They had reached the next arch。 The glow still filled them all。 Sheriam gave Nynaeve a last warning look； and left her standing alone。
〃The second time is for what is。 The way back will e but once。 Be steadfast。〃
Nynaeve stared at the shining silver arch。 What is in there this time？ The others were waiting； watching。 She stepped firmly through into the light。 Nynaeve stared down at the plain brown dress she wore with surprise； then gave a start。 Why was she staring at her own dress？ The way back will e but once。
Looking around her； she smiled。 She stood on the edge of the Green in Emond's Field； with thatch…roofed houses all around； and the Winespring Inn right in front of her。 The Winespring itself rose in a gush from the stone outcrop thrusting up through the grass of the Green； and the Winespring Water rushed off east under the willows beside the inn。 The streets were empty； but most people would be at their chores this time of the morning。
Looking at the inn； her smile faded。 There was more than an air of neglect about it； whitewash faded； a shutter hanging loose； the rotted end of a rafter showing at a gap in the roof tiles。 What's gotten into Bran？ Is he spending so much time being Mayor he's forgetting to take care of his inn？
The inn door swung open； and Cenn Buie came out； stopping dead when he saw her。 The old thatcher was as gnarled as an oak root； and the look he gave her was just as friendly。 〃So you've e back； have you？ Well； you might as well be off again。〃
She frowned as he spat at her feet and hurried on past her； Cenn was never a pleasant man； but he was seldom openly rude。 Never to her； at least。 Never to her face。 Following him with her eye； she saw signs of neglect all through the village； thatch that should have been mended； weeds filling yards。 The door on Mistress al'Caar's house hung aslant on a broken hinge。
Shaking her head； Nynaeve pushed into the inn。 I'll have more than one word with Bran about this。
The mon room was empty except for a lone woman； her thick； graying braid pulled over her shoulder。 She was wiping a table； but from the way she stared at the tabletop； Nynaeve did not think she was aware of what she doing。 The room seemed dusty。
〃Marin？〃
Marin al'Vere jumped； one hand clutching her throat； and stared。 She looked years older than Nynaeve remembered。 Worn。 〃Nynaeve？ Nynaeve！ Oh； it is you。 Egwene？ Have you brought Egwene back？ Say you have。〃
〃I 。。。〃 Nynaeve put a hand to her head。 Where is Egwene？ It seemed she should be able to remember。 〃No。 No； I haven't brought her back。〃 The way back will e but once。
Mistress al'Vere sagged into one of the straight…backed chairs。 〃I was so hoping。 Ever since Bran died 。。。〃
〃Bran is dead？〃 Nynaeve could not imagine it； that broad； smiling man had always seemed as if he would go on forever。 〃I should have been here。〃
The other woman jumped to her feet and hurried to peer anxiously through a window at the Green and the village。 〃If Malena knows you're here； there will be trouble。 I just know Cenn went scurrying off to find her。 He's the Mayor； now。〃
〃Cenn？ How did even those wool…headed men choose Cenn？〃
〃It was Malena。 She had the whole Women's Circle after their husbands for him。〃 Marin pressed her face almost against the window； trying to look every way at once。 〃Silly men don't talk about whose name they're putting in the box beforehand； I suppose every man who voted for Cenn thought he was the only one whose wife had badgered him into it。 Thought one vote would make no difference。 Well； they learned better。 We all did。〃
〃Who is this Malena who has the Women's Circle doing her bidding？ I've never heard of her。〃
〃She's from Watch Hill。 She's the Wis 。。。 〃 Marin turn from the window wringing her hands。 〃Malena Aylar's the Wisdom； Nynaeve。 When you didn't e back 。。。 Light； I hope she doesn't find out you're here。〃
Nynaeve shook her head in wonder。 〃Marin； you're afraid of her。 You are shaking。 What kind of woman is she？ Why did the Women's Circle ever choose someone like her？〃
Mistress al'Vere gave a bitter laugh。 〃We must have been mad。 Malena came down to see Mavra Mallen the day before Mavra had to go back to Deven Ride； and that night some children took sick； and Malena stayed to look after them； and then the sheep started dying； and Malena took care of that； too。 It just seemed natural to choose her； but 。。。 She's a bully； Nynaeve。 She browbeats you into doing what she wants。 She keeps at you； and keeps at you； until you're too tired to say no anymore。 And worse。 She knocked Alsbet Luhhan down。〃
A picture flashed in Nynaeve's head of Alsbet Luhhan and her husband； Haral； the blacksmith。 She was nearly as tall as him； and stoutly built； though handsome。 〃Alsbet's almost as strong as Haral。 I can't believe 。。。〃
〃Malena's not a big woman； but she's … she's fierce； Nynaeve。 She beat Alsbet all around the Green with a stick； and none of us who saw had the nerve to try to stop it。 When they found out； Bran and Haral said she had to go； even if they were interfering in Women's Circle business。 I think some of the Circle might have listened； but Bran and Haral both took sick the same night； and died within a day of each other。〃 Marin bit her lip and looked around the room as if she thought someone might be hiding there。 Her voice lowered。 〃Malena mixed medicine for them。 She said it was her duty even if they had spoken against her。 I saw。。。 I saw gray fennel in what she took away with her。〃
Nynaeve gasped。 〃But 。。。 Are you sure； Marin？ Are you certain？〃 The other woman nodded； her face wrinkling on the point of tears。 〃Marin； if you even suspected this woman might have poisoned Bran； how could you not go to the Circle？〃
〃She said Bran and Haral didn't walk in the Light；〃 Marin mumbled； 〃talking against the Wisdom the way they did。 She said that was why they died； the Light abandoned them。 She talks about sin all the time。 She said Paet al'Caar sinned； talking against her after Bran and Haral died。 All he said was she didn't have the way with Healing you did； but she drew the Dragon's Fang on his door； right out where everyone could see her with the charcoal in her hand。 Both his boys were dead before the week was out … just dead when their mother went to wake them。 Poor Nela。 We found her wandering； laughing and crying all at the same time； screaming that Paet was the Dark One； and he'd killed her boys。 Paet hung himself the next day。〃 She shuddered； and her voice went so soft Nynaeve could barely hear it。 〃I have four daughters still living under my roof。 Living； Nynaeve。 Do you understand what I'm saying。 They're still alive； and I want to keep them alive。〃
Nynaeve felt cold to her bones。 〃Marin； you can't allow this。〃 The way back will e but once。 Be steadfast。 She pushed it away。 〃If the Women's Circle stands together； you can be rid of her。〃
〃Stand together against Malena？〃 Marin's laugh was nearer a sob。 〃We're all afraid of her。 But sh