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ing sunlight。 A fine chain ran from her tiny nose ring to one earring； supporting a row of tiny dangling gold medallions； and one of the chains around her neck held a pierced golden box； like ornate gold lace； that she lifted to sniff from time to time。 The other woman； the taller； had only six earrings in total； and fewer medallions。 The pierced box she sniffed at was just as finely wrought gold； though。 Exotic； indeed。 Elayne winced just thinking about the nose rings。 And that chain！
Something odd about the sterndeck itself caught her eye； but at first she could not tell what。 Then she saw。 There was no tiller for the rudder。 Some sort of spoked wheel stood behind the women； lashed down so it could not turn； but no tiller。 How do they steer？ The smallest riverboat she had seen had had a tiller。 There had been tillers on all the others ships lining the nearby docks。 More and more mysterious； these Sea Folk。
〃Remember what Moiraine told you；〃 she cautioned as they approached the sterndeck。 That had not been much； even Aes Sedai knew little about the Atha'an Miere。 Moiraine had imparted the proper phrasings； though； the things that had to be said for good manners。 〃And remember tact；〃 she added in a firm whisper。〃I will remember；〃 Nynaeve replied sharply。 〃I can be tactful。〃 Elayne truly hoped she would。
The two Sea Folk women waited for them at the top of the stairs… ladder； Elayne remembered； even when they were stairs。 She did not understand why ships had to have different names for mon things。 A floor was a floor； in a barn or an inn or a palace。 Why not on a ship？ A cloud of perfume surrounded the two； a slightly musky scent； wafting from the lacy gold boxes。 The tattoos on their hands were stars and seabirds surrounded by the curls and whirls of stylized waves。
Nynaeve inclined her head。 〃I am Nynaeve al'Meara； Aes Sedai of the Green Ajah。 I seek the Sailmistress of this vessel； and passage； if it pleases the Light。 This is my panion and friend； Elayne Trakand； also Aes Sedai of the Green Ajah。 The Light illumine you and your vessel； and send the winds to speed you。〃 That was almost exactly the way Moiraine had instructed them to speak。 Not about Aes Sedai of the Green Ajah … Moiraine had seemed resigned to that more than anything else； and amused at their choice of Ajah … but the rest。
The older woman； with gray touches in her black hair and fine wrinkles at the corners of her large brown eyes； inclined her head just as formally。 Nevertheless； she seemed to be taking them in from head to foot； especially the Great Serpent ring each wore on her right hand。 〃I am Coine din Jubai Wild Winds； Sailmistress of Wavedancer。 This is Jorin din Jubai White Wing； my sister of the blood and Windfinder of Wavedancer。 There may be passage available； if it pleases the Light。 The Light illumine you； and see you safe to your journey's end。〃
It was a surprise that the two were sisters。 Elayne could see the resemblance； but Jorin looked much younger。 She wished the Windfinder were the one they had to deal with； both women had the same reserve； but something about the Windfinder reminded her of Aviendha。 It was absurd； of course。 These women were no taller than she herself； their coloring could not have been more different from the Aiel woman's； and the only weapon either had in sight was the stout knife tucked in her sash； looking very workmanlike despite carvings and gold…wire inlays on the handle。 But Elayne could not help feeling some similarity； between Jorin and Aviendha； anyway。
〃Let us talk then； Sailmistress； if it pleases you；〃 Nynaeve said； following Moiraine's formula； 〃of sailings and ports； and the gift of passage。〃 The Sea Folk did not charge for passage； according to Moiraine； it was a gift； which just coincidentally would be exchanged for a gift of equal value。
Coine glanced away； then； astern toward the Stone and the white banner rippling over it。 〃We will talk in my cabin； Aes Sedai； if it pleases you。〃 She motioned toward an open hatch behind that strange wheel。 〃The wele of my ship to you； and the grace of the Light be upon you until you leave his decks。〃
Another narrow ladder … staircase … led down into a neat room； larger and taller than Elayne had expected from her experiences on smaller vessels； with windows across the stern and gimbaled lamps on the walls。 Almost everything seemed to have been built into the room except for a few lacquered chests of various sizes。 The bed was large and low； right under the sternwindows； and a narrow table surrounded by armchairs stood across the middle of the room。
There was very little clutter。 Rolled charts lay on the table； a few ivory carvings of strange animals stood on railed shelves； and half a dozen bare…bladed swords of different shapes； some that Elayne had never seen before； rested on hooks on the walls。 An oddly worked square brass gong hung from a beam over the bed； while right before the sternwindows； as if in a place of honor； a helmet sat on a featureless wooden head carved for the purpose； a helmet like the head of some monstrous insect； lacquered in red and green； with a narrow white plume to either side； one broken。
The helmet Elayne recognized。 〃Seanchan；〃 she gasped before thinking。 Nynaeve gave her a vexed look； and deservedly； they had agreed it would make more sense； and ring more true； if Nynaeve； as the older； took the lead and did most of the talking。
Coine and Jorin exchanged unreadable glances。 〃You know of them？〃 the Sailmistress said。 〃Of course。 One must expect Aes Sedai to know these things。 This far east we hear a score of stories； the truest less than half…true。〃
Elayne knew she should leave it at that； but curiosity tickled her tongue。 〃How did you e by the helmet？ If I may ask。〃
〃Wavedancer encountered a Seanchan ship last year；〃 Coine replied。 〃They wished to take him； but I did not wish to give him up。〃 She shrugged slightly。 〃I have the helmet to remind me； and the sea took the Seanchan； the Light be merciful to all who sail。 I will not go close to a vessel with ribbed sails again。〃
〃You were lucky；〃 Nynaeve said curtly。 〃The Seanchan hold captive women who can channel； and make them channel as a weapon。 If they had had one on that ship； you would be regretting ever having seen it。〃
Elayne grimaced at her； though it was too late。 She could not tell whether the Sea Folk women were offended by Nynaeve's tone。 The pair kept the same neutral expressions； but Elayne was beginning to realize they did not show very much on their faces； not to strangers； anyway。
〃Let us speak of passage；〃 Coine said。 〃If it pleases the Light； we may call where you wish to go。 All things are possible； in the Light。 Let us sit。〃
The chairs around the table did not slide back； they and the table were fastened to the floor … deck。 Instead the arms swung out like gates and latched in place once you had sat。 The arrangement seemed to bear out Elayne's dire predictions of heaving and pitching。 She did very well with it herself； of course； but too much rolling on a riverboat set Nynaeve's stomach jumping。 It must be worse on the ocean tha