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of her mouth。 Said she ought to be switched； or maybe that she had been； she was incoherent half the time。 She said she was a coward； and a stubborn fool。 I don't know what is the matter with her； but she isn't herself by a mile。〃
〃I knew a woman who behaved like this； once；〃 Juilin said； peering into the fire。 〃She woke to find a burglar in her bedchamber and stabbed the man through the heart。 Only； when she lit a lamp； it was her husband。 His boat had e back to the docks early。 She walked around like Nynaeve for half a month。〃 His mouth tightened。 〃Then she hanged herself。〃
〃I hate to lay this burden on you； child；〃 Thom added gently； 〃but if she can be helped； you are the only one of us who can do it。 I know how to take a man out of his miseries。 Give him a swift kick； or else get him drunk and find him a pr…〃 He harrumphed loudly； trying to make it seem a cough； and knuckled his mustaches。 The one bad thing about him seeing her as a daughter was that now sometimes he seemed to think she was perhaps twelve。 〃Anyway； the point is that I do not know how to do this。 And while Juilin might be willing to dandle her on his knee； I doubt she'd thank him for it。〃
〃I would sooner dandle a fangfish；〃 the thief…catcher muttered； but not as roughly as he would have yesterday。 He was as concerned as Thom； though less willing to admit it。
〃I will do what I can；〃 she assured them； turning the arrow again。 They were good men； and she did not like lying to them； or hiding things from them。 Not unless it was absolutely necessary； anyway。 Nynaeve claimed that you had to manage men for their own good； but there was such a thing as taking it too far。 It was not right to lead a man into dangers he knew nothing of。
So she told them。 About Tel'aran'rhiod and the Forsaken being loose； about Moghedien。 Not quite everything； of course。 Some events in Tanchico had been too shaming for her to want to think of them。 Her promise held her concerning Birgitte's identity； and there was certainly no need to go into detail about what Moghedien had done to Nynaeve。 It made explaining this night's happenings a little difficult； yet she managed。 She did tell them everything she thought they should know； enough to make them aware for the first time what they were really up against。 Not just the Black Ajah … that had certainly made them stare cross…eyed when they learned it … but the Forsaken； and one of them very likely hunting her and Nynaeve。 And she made it quite plain that they two would be hunting Moghedien as well； and that anyone close to them was in danger of being caught between hunter and prey either way。
〃Now that you know；〃 she finished； 〃the choice to stay or go is yours。〃 She left it at that； and was careful not to look at Thom。 She hoped almost desperately that he would stay； but she would not let him think that she was asking； not by so much as a glance。
〃I haven't taught you half what you need to know if you're to be as good a queen as your mother；〃 he said； trying to sound gruff and spoiling it by brushing a strand of black…dyed hair from her cheek with a gnarled finger。 〃You'll not rid yourself of me this easily； child。 I mean to see you mistress of Daes Dae'mar if I must drone in your ear until you go deaf。 I haven't even taught you to handle a knife。 I tried to teach your mother； but she always said she could tell a man to use a knife if one needed using。 Fool way to look at it。〃
She leaned forward and kissed his leathery cheek； and he blinked； bushy eyebrows shooting up； then smiled and stuck his pipe back into his mouth。
〃You can kiss me； too；〃 Juilin said dryly。 〃Rand al'Thor will have my guts for fish bait if I don't hand you back to him in the same health he last saw you。〃
Elayne lifted her chin。 〃I will not have you stay for Rand al'Thor； Juilin。〃 Hand her back？ Indeed！ 〃You will stay only if you want to。 And I do not release you … or you； Thom！〃 … he had grinned at the thief…catcher's ment … 〃from your promise to do as you are told。〃 Thom's startled look was quite satisfying。 She turned back to Juilin。 〃You will follow me； and Nynaeve of course； knowing full well the enemies we face； or you may pack your belongings and ride Skulker where you wish。 I will give him to you。〃
Juilin sat up straight as a post； his dark face going darker。 〃I have never abandoned a woman in danger in my life。〃 He pointed his pipestem at her like a weapon。 〃You send me away； and I will be on your heels like a soarer on a stern…chase。〃
Not exactly what she wanted； but it would do。 〃Very well； then。〃 Rising； she held herself erect； the silver arrow at her side； and kept her slightly frosty manner。 She thought they had finally realized who was in charge。 〃Morning is not far off。〃 Had Rand actually had the nerve to tell Juilin to 〃hand her back〃？ Thom would just have to suffer along with the other man for a time； and it served him right for that grin。 〃You will put out this fire and go to sleep。 Now。 No excuses； Thom。 You'll be no good at all tomorrow without sleep。〃
Obediently they began scuffing dirt over the flames with their boots； but when she reached the plain wooden steps of the wagon； she heard Thom say； 〃Sounds like her mother sometimes。〃
〃Then I am glad I have never met the woman；〃 Juilin grumbled in reply。 〃Flip for first guard？〃 Thom murmured an assent。
She almost went back； but found herself smiling instead。 Men！ It was a fond thought。 Her good mood lasted until she was inside。
Nynaeve sat on the very edge of the bed； holding herself up with both hands； eyes trying to drift shut as she watched Birgitte。 Her feet were still dirty。
Elayne put Birgitte's arrow into one of the cupboards behind some rough sacks of dried peas。 Luckily； the other woman never so much as glanced at her。 She did not think the sight of the silver arrow was what Nynaeve needed right at that moment。 But what was？
〃Nynaeve； it is past time for you to wash your feet and go to sleep。〃
Nynaeve swayed in her direction； blinking sleepily。 〃Feet？ What？ I must watch her。〃
It would have to be one step at a time。 〃Your feet； Nynaeve。 They are dirty。 Wash them。〃
Frowning； Nynaeve peered down at her dusty feet； then nodded。 She spilled water tipping the big white pitcher over the washbasin； and sloshed more out before she was washed and ready to towel dry； but even then she resumed her seat。 〃I must watch。 In case。。。 In case。。。 She cried out once。 For Gaidal。〃
Elayne pressed her back on the mattress。 〃You need sleep； Nynaeve。 You can't keep your eyes open。〃
〃I can；〃 Nynaeve muttered sullenly； trying to sit up against Elayne's pressure on her shoulders。 〃I must watch her； Elayne。 I must。〃
Nynaeve made the two men outside look sensible and biddable。 Even if Elayne had had a mind to； there was no way to get her drunk and find her a … a pretty young man； she supposed it would have to be。 That left a swift kick。 Sympathy and mon sense had surely made no impression。 〃I have had enough of this sulking and self…pity； Nynaeve；〃 she said firmly。 〃You are going to sleep now； and in the morning you are not going to say