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tterflies。
〃Did you miss me？〃 he said； smiling。
〃A little。〃 Why did I think of Galad？ As if I'd just seen him a moment ago。 〃Now and then； when there was nothing interesting to occupy my time。 Did you miss me？〃
For answer； he pulled her off her feet and kissed her。 She was not aware of very much else until he set her back down on unsteady legs。 The banners were gone。 What banners？
〃Here he is；〃 her mother said； approaching with a babe wrapped in swaddling。 〃Here's your son。 He is a fine boy。 He never cries at all。〃
Gawyn laughed as he took the child； held him aloft。 〃He does have your eyes； Egwene。 He will be a fine one with the girls one day。〃
Egwene backed away from them； shaking her head。 There had been banners； red eagle and red wolf's head。 She had seen Galad。 In the Tower。 〃N0000000！〃
She fled； leaping from Tel'aran'rhiod to her own body。 Awareness remained only long enough for her to wonder how she could possibly have been fool enough to let her own fancies nearly trap her； and then she was deep in her own safe dream。 Gawyn galloped across the Wagon Bridge； swinging down。。。
Stepping out from behind a thatch…roofed house； Moghedien wondered idly where this little village was。 Not the sort of place she would expect to see banners flying。 The girl had been stronger than she had thought； to escape her weaving of Tel'aran'rhiod。 Even Lanfear could not improve on her abilities here； whatever she claimed。 Still； the girl had just been of interest because she was speaking to Elayne Trakand； who might lead her to Nynaeve al'Meara。 The only reason to trap her had simply been to rid Tel'aran'rhiod of one who could walk it freely。 It was bad enough that she must share it with Lanfear。
But Nynaeve al'Meara。 That woman she meant to make beg to be bound in her service。 She would take her in the flesh； perhaps ask the Great Lord to grant her immortality； so Nynaeve could have forever to regret opposing Moghedien。 She and Elayne were scheming with Birgitte； were they？ That was another she had reason to punish。 Birgitte had not even known who Moghedien was； so long ago； in the Age of Legends； when she foiled Moghedien's finely wrought plan to lay Lews Therin by his heels。 But Moghedien had known her。 Only； Birgitte … Teadra； she had been then … had died before she could deal with her。 Death was no punishment； no end； not when it meant living on here。
Nynaeve al'Meara； Elayne Trakand； and Birgitte。 Those three she would find； and deal with。 From the shadows； so that they would not know until too late。 All three； without exception。
She vanished； and the banners waved on in the breeze of Tel'aran'rhiod。
Chapter 26
（Serpent and Wheel）
Sallie Daera
The halo of greatness； blue and gold； flickered fitfully around Logain's head； though he rode slumped in his saddle。 Min did not understand why it had appeared more often of late。 He no longer even bothered to lift his eyes from the weeds in front of his black stallion to the low； wooded hills rolling by all around them。
The other two women rode together a little ahead； Siuan as awkward on shaggy Bela as she had ever been； Leane guiding her gray mare deftly； with knees more than reins。 Only an unnaturally straight ribbon of ferns； poking through the leaf…covered forest floor； hinted that there had ever been a road here。 The lacy ferns were withering； and the leaf mold rustled and crackled dryly under the horses' hooves。 Thickly woven branches gave a little shelter from the noonday sun； but it was hardly cool。 Sweat rolled down Min's face； despite an occasional breeze that stirred from behind them。
Fifteen days now they had ridden west and south from Lugard； guided only by Siuan's insistence that she knew exactly where they were heading。 Not that she shared her destination； of course； Siuan and Leane were as closemouthed as sprung bear traps。 Min was not even sure that Leane actually knew。 Fifteen days； while towns and villages grew fewer and farther between； until finally there were none。 Day by day Logain's shoulders had sagged a little more； and day by day the halo appeared more often。 At first he had only begun muttering that they were chasing Jak o' the Mists； but Siuan had regained her leadership without opposition as he turned more and more inward。 For the past six days he had not seemed to have the energy to care where they were going or whether they would ever get there。
Siuan and Leane talked quietly up ahead； now。 All Min could hear was a barely audible murmur that might as well have been the wind in the leaves。 And if she tried to ride closer； they would tell her to keep an eye on Logain； or simply stare at her until only a stone…blind fool could keep her nose where it did not belong。 They had done both often enough。 From time to time； though； Leane twisted in her saddle to look at Logain。
Finally Leane let Moonflower fall back beside his black stallion。 The heat did not seem to be bothering her； not so much as a sheen of perspiration marred her coppery face。 Min reined Wildrose aside to give her room。
〃It won't be long now；〃 Leane told him in a sultry voice。 He did not look up from the weeds in front of his horse。 She leaned closer； holding his arm for balance。 Pressing against it； really。 〃A little while longer； Dalyn。 You will have your revenge。〃 His eyes stayed dully on the road。
〃A dead man would pay more notice；〃 Min said； and meant it。 She had been taking notes in her head of everything Leane did； and talking with her of an evening； though trying not to let on why。 She would never be able to behave the way that Leane did … not unless I had enough wine in me that I couldn't think at all … yet a few pointers might e in handy。 〃Maybe if you kissed him？〃
Leane shot her a glare that could have frozen a rushing stream； but Min merely looked back。 She had never had the problems with Leane that she did with Siuan … well； not as many； anyway … and the few difficulties had grown less since the other woman had left the Tower。 Much fewer since they had begun discussing men。 How could you be intimidated by a woman who had told you in dead seriousness that there were one hundred and seven different kisses； and ninety…three ways to touch a man's face with your hand？ Leane actually seemed to believe these things。
Min had not meant it as a jibe； really； the suggestion of a kiss。 Leane had been cooing at him； giving him smiles that should have made steam rise from his ears； since the day he had had to be hauled out of his blankets instead of rising first to chivvy the rest of them。 Min did not know whether Leane actually felt something for the man； though she did find it hard to credit even the possibility； or was just trying to keep him from giving up and dying； to keep him alive for whatever Siuan had planned。
Leane certainly had not given up flirting with others besides him。 She and Siuan had apparently worked out that Siuan would deal with women； Leane with men； and so it had been ever since Lugard。 Her smiles and glances had twice gotten them rooms where the innkeeper had said there were none； lowered the bill