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Telling the story had saddened her。 She needed to be distracted。 〃Jorin； why do the Atha'an Miere call ships 'he'？ Everyone else I've ever met calls them 'she。' I don't suppose it makes any difference； but why？〃
〃The men will give you a different answer；〃 the Windfinder said； smiling； 〃speaking of strength and grandness and the like as men will； but this is the truth。 A ship is alive； and he is like a man； with a true man's heart。〃 She rubbed the rail fondly； as if stroking something alive； something that could feel her caress。 〃Treat him well and care for him properly； and he will fight for you against the worst sea。 He will fight to keep you alive even after the sea has long since given him his own deathstroke。 Neglect him； though； ignore the small warnings he gives of danger； and he will drown you in a flat sea beneath a cloudless sky。〃
Elayne hoped Rand was not as fickle as that。 Then why does he hop about； glad to see me go one minute and sending Juilin Sandar after me the next？ She told herself to stop thinking about him。 He was a long way away。 There was nothing to be done about him now。
She glanced over her shoulder toward the bow。 Thom was gone。 She was sure she had found the key to his puzzle； just before she had felt the Windfinder channeling。 Something to do with his smile。 It was gone； whatever it was。 Well； she meant to find it again before they reached Tanchico； if she had to sit on him。 But he would still be there in the morning。 〃Jorin； how long before we reach Tanchico？ I have been told rakers are the fastest ships in the world； but how fast？〃
〃To Tanchico？ To serve the Coramoor； we will not stop at any port between。 Perhaps ten days； if I can weave the winds well enough； if it pleases the Light that I find the proper currents。 Perhaps as few as seven or eight； with the grace of the Light。〃
〃Ten days？〃 Elayne gasped。 〃It cannot be possible。〃 She had seen maps； after all。
The other woman's smile was half pride； half indulgence。 〃As you yourself said； the fastest ships in the world。 The next quickest take half again as long over any stretch； and most more than twice as long。 Coasting craft that hug the shore and anchor in the shallows each night。。。〃 She sniffed contemptuously 〃。。。require ten times as much。〃
〃Jorin； would you teach me to do what you were just doing？〃
The Windfinder stared； her dark eyes wide and shining in the fading light。 〃Teach you？ But you are Aes Sedai。〃
〃Jorin； I have never woven a flow half as thick as those you were handling。 And the scope of it！ I am astounded； Jorin。〃
The Windfinder stared a moment more； no longer in amazement； but as if trying to fix Elayne's face in her mind。 Finally she kissed the fingers of her right hand and pressed them to Elayne's lips。 〃If it pleases the Light； we both shall learn。〃
Chapter 21
（Dragon）
Into the Heart
Tairen nobility filled the great vaulted chamber with its huge polished redstone columns； ten feet thick； rising into shadowed heights above golden lamps hanging on golden chains。 The High Lords and Ladies were arrayed in a thick hollow circle under the great dome at the chamber's heart with the lesser nobles ranked behind； row on row back into the forest of columns； all in their best velvets and silks and laces； wide sleeves and ruffed collars and peaked hats； all murmuring uneasily so the towering ceiling echoed the sounds of nervous geese。 Only the High Lords themselves had ever before been bidden to this place； called the Heart of the Stone； and they had e only four times a year； at the twin demands of law and custom。 They came now； all who were not out in the countryside somewhere； at the summons of their new lord； the maker of law and breaker of custom。
The packed crowd gave way before Moiraine as soon as they saw who she was； so she and Egwene moved in a pocket of open space。 Lan's absence irritated Moiraine。 It was not like the man to vanish when she might need him； his way usually was to watch over her as if she could not fend for herself without a guardian。 Had she not been able to feel the bond linking them and known he could not be very far from the Stone； she might have worried。
He fought the strings Nynaeve was tying to him as hard as he had ever fought Trollocs in the Blight； but much as he might deny it； that young woman had bound him as tightly as she herself did； though in other ways。 He might as well try tearing steel with his hands as those ties。 She was not jealous； exactly； but Lan had been her sword arm； her shield and panion for too many years for her to give him up lightly。 I have done what had to be done； there。 She will have him if I die； and not before。 Where is the man？ What is he doing？
One red gowned lace…ruffed woman； a horse…faced Lady of the Land called Leitha； drew her skirts away a bit too assiduously； and Moiraine looked at her。 Merely looked； without slowing her step； but the woman shuddered and dropped her eyes。 Moiraine nodded to herself。 She could accept that these people hated Aes Sedai； but she would not endure open rudeness on top of veiled slights。 Besides； the rest shied back another step after seeing Leitha faced down。
〃Are you certain he said nothing of what he means to announce？〃 she asked quietly。 In this gabble； no one three paces away could have made out a word。 The Tairens kept about that distance now。 She did not like being overheard。
〃Nothing；〃 Egwene said just as softly。 She sounded as irritated as Moiraine felt。
〃There have been rumors。〃
〃Rumors？ What sort of rumors？〃
The girl was not that good at controlling her face and voice； clearly she had not heard the tales of doings in the Two Rivers。 Betting that Rand had not； though； might be putting her horse at a ten foot fence。 〃You should bring him to confide in you。 He needs an attentive ear。 It will help him； to talk out his troubles with someone he can trust。〃 Egwene gave her a sidelong glance。 She was being too sophisticated for such simple methods。 Still； Moiraine had spoken unadorned truth … the boy did need someone to listen and by listening lighten his burdens … and it might work。
〃He will not confide in anyone； Moiraine。 He hides his pains； and hopes he can deal with them before anyone notices。〃 Anger flashed across Egwene's face。 〃The wool…brained mule！〃
Moiraine felt a momentary sympathy。 The girl could not be expected to accept Rand's strolling about arm in arm with Elayne； kissing in corners where they thought themselves unseen。 And Egwene did not know the half； yet。 miseration did not last。 There was too much of importance to deal with for the girl to be fretting over what she could not have in any case。
Elayne and Nynaeve should be aboard the raker by now； out of the way。 Their voyage might eventually tell her if her suspicions about the Windfinders were correct。 That was a minor point； though。 At worst the pair had enough gold to buy a ship and hire a crew … which might be necessary given the rumors of Tanchico … with enough left for the bribes so often necessary with Taraboner officials。 Thom Merrilin's room was empty； and her informants had re