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rom limb where they stood … which she was not certain they could … there was no way to cover it up after。 The Black Ajah would hear of Aes Sedai in Tanchico before the sun set。
Setting herself back…to…back with Nynaeve； Elayne gripped her stave tightly。 She felt like laughing hysterically。 If Nynaeve even mentioned going out alone again … walking … she would see who liked having her head dunked in a bucket of water。 At least none of these louts looked eager to be the first to have his head cracked like the fellow lying still on the paving stones。
〃Go on；〃 the narrow…faced man urged； waving his hands forward。 〃Go on！ It's only two women！〃 He made no move to rush in himself； though。 〃Go on； I say。 We just need the one。 She's gold； I tell you。〃
Suddenly there was a loud thunk； and one of the ruffians staggered to his knees； clutching groggily at a split scalp； and a dark…haired； stern…faced woman in a blue riding dress flung herself past him； twisted sharply to backhand another fellow in the mouth with her fist； knocked his legs out from under him with a staff； then kicked him in the head as he fell。
That there was help at all was startling； much less the source； but Elayne was of no mind to pick and choose。 Nynaeve left her back with a wordless roar； and she dashed out shouting； 〃Forward the White Lion！〃 to belabor the nearest lout as hard and fast as she could。 Flinging his arms up to defend himself； he looked shocked out of his wits。 〃Forward the White Lion！〃 she shouted again； the battle cry of Andor； and he turned tail and ran。
Laughing in spite of herself； she whirled about seeking another to drub。 Only two had not yet fled or fallen。 That first broken…nosed fellow turned to run； and Nynaeve gave him a final full…armed thwack across the backside。 The stern…faced woman somehow tangled the other's arm and shoulder with her staff； pulling him close and up on his toes at the same time； he would have overtopped her by a head flat…footed and he weighed twice what she did； but she coolly slammed the heel of her free hand up into his chin three times in rapid succession。 His eyes rolled up in his head； but as he sagged； Elayne saw the narrow…faced man picking himself up off the street； his nose dripped blood and his eyes looked half…glazed； yet he pulled a knife from his belt and lunged at the woman's back。
Without thinking； Elayne channeled。 A fist of Air hurled the man and his knife into a backflip。 The stern…faced woman spun； but he was already scrambling away on all fours until he could get his feet under him and burrow into the crowd farther up the street。 People had stopped to watch the odd battle； though none had raised a hand to help except the dark…haired woman。 She herself was staring from Elayne to Nynaeve uncertainly。 Elayne wondered whether she had noticed the scrawny fellow being knocked down apparently by nothing。
〃I give you my thanks；〃 Nynaeve said a touch breathlessly as she approached the woman； straightening her veil。 〃I think we should leave here。 I know the Civil Watch doesn't e out in the streets much； but I'd not like to explain this if they do happen by。 Our inn is not far。 Will you join us？ A cup of tea is the least we can offer someone who actually lifts a hand to help someone in this Light…forsaken city。 My name is Nynaeve al'Meara and this is Elayne Trakand。〃
The woman hesitated visibly。 She had noticed。 〃I。。。 I would。。。 like that。 Yes。 I would。〃 She had a slurred way of speaking； difficult to understand； but somehow vaguely familiar。 She was quite a lovely woman； really； seeming even fairer than she was because of her dark hair； worn almost to the shoulder。 A bit too hard to be called a beauty。 Her blue eyes had a strong look； as if she were used to giving orders。 A merchant； perhaps； in that dress。 〃I am called Egeanin。〃
Egeanin showed no hesitation in leaving with them down the nearest side street。 The crowds were already gathering around the fallen men。 Elayne expected those fellows would wake to find themselves stripped of anything of value； even clothes and boots。 She wished she knew how they had discovered her identity； but there was no way to bring one along to find out。 They were definitely going to have bodyguards from now on； no matter what Nynaeve said。
Egeanin might not have been hesitant； but she was uneasy。 Elayne could see it in her eyes as they wove through the crowd。 〃You saw； didn't you？〃 she asked。 The woman missed a step； all the confirmation Elayne needed； and she added hurriedly； 〃We won't harm you。 Certainly not after you came to our rescue。〃 Again she had to spit out her veil。 Nynaeve did not seem to have that problem。 〃You needn't frown at me； Nynaeve。 She saw what I did。〃
〃I know that；〃 Nynaeve said dryly。 〃And it was the right thing to do。 But we are not snug in your mother's palace tucked away from prying ears。〃 Her gesture took in the people around them。 Between Egeanin's staff and their staves； most were giving them a wide berth。 To Egeanin she said； 〃The larger part of any rumors you may have heard are not true。 Few of them are。 You need not be afraid of us； but you can understand there are matters we do not care to speak of here。〃
〃Afraid of you？〃 Egeanin looked startled。 〃I had not thought I should be。 I will keep silent until you wish to speak。〃 She was as good as her word； they walked on in silence through the murmurs of the crowd all the way back down the peninsula to the Three Plum Court。 All this walking was making Elayne's feet ache。
A handful of men and women sat in the mon room despite the early hour； nursing their wine or ale。 The woman with her hammered dulcimer was being acpanied by a thin man playing a flute that sounded as reedy as he was。 Juilin sat at a table near the door； smoking a short…stemmed pipe。 He had not returned from his nightly foray when they left。 Elayne was glad to see that for once he did not have a new bruise or cut； what he called the underside of Tanchico seemed even rougher than the face the city presented to the world。 His one concession to Tanchican dress had been to replace his flat straw hat with one of those dark conical felt caps； which he wore perched on the back of his head。
〃I have found them；〃 he said； popping up from his bench and snatching off his cap； before he saw they were not alone。 He gave Egeanin a hooded look and a small bow； she returned it with an inclination of her head and a look just as guarded。
〃You've found them？〃 Nynaeve exclaimed。 〃Are you sure？ Speak； man。 Have you swallowed your tongue？〃 And her with her warnings about talking in front of other people。
〃I should have said I found where they were。〃 He did not look at Egeanin again； but he chose his words carefully。 〃The woman with the white stripe in her hair led me to a house where she was staying with a number of other women； though few were ever seen outside。 The locals thought they were rich escapees from the countryside。 Little remains now save a few scraps of food in the pantry … even the servants are gone … but from one thing and another I would say they left late yesterday or early last night。 I doubt they have any fear of the