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to dress in that fashion； Elayne； you should not sit so。 It's indecent。〃
The other woman glowered sullenly； but She did put her slippered feet on the floor。 And raised her chin in that haughty way she had。 〃I think I may take a walk into the town this morning；〃 she said coolly； still working at the braid。 〃This wagon is。。。 confining。〃
Rinsing her mouth； Nynaeve spat into the washbowl。 Loudly。 The wagon certainly did seem smaller by the day。 Maybe they did need to keep out of sight as much as possible … it had been her idea； one she was ing to regret … but this was being ridiculous。 Three days shut up with Elayne except when they went to perform was beginning to feel like three weeks。 Or three months。 She had never before realized what an acid tongue Elayne had。 A ship had to e。 Any kind of ship。 She would give every last coin hidden in the brick stove； every last jewel； anything； for a ship today。 〃Well； that wouldn't attract any attention； would it？ But perhaps you could use the exercise。 Or maybe it's just the way those breeches fit your hips。〃
Blue eyes flared； but Elayne's chin remained high and her tone cold。 〃I dreamed about Egwene last night； and between going on about Rand and Cairhien … I worry about what is happening there； even if you do not … in between； she said you were turning into a screaming harridan。 Not that I think so； necessarily。 I would have said a fishmonger。〃
〃Now you listen to me； you ill…tempered little chit！ If you don't …〃
Still glaring； Nynaeve snapped her mouth shut； then drew breath slowly。 With an effort she forced her voice to be level。 〃You dreamed about Egwene？〃 Elayne nodded curtly。 〃And she talked of Rand and Cairhien？〃 The younger woman rolled her eyes in exaggerated exasperation and went on with her； braid。 Nynaeve made her hand loose its fistful of brassy red hair； made herself stop thinking of teaching the Daughter…Heir of bloody Andor some simple mon courtesy。 If they did not find a ship soon。。。 〃If you can think of anything except how to show more of your legs than you already are； it might interest you to know that she was in my dreams； too。 She said Rand won a great victory at Cairhien yesterday。〃
〃I may be exposing my legs；〃 Elayne barked； spots of color rising in her cheeks； 〃but at least I am not flashing my … You dreamed of her； too？〃
It did not take long to pare notes； though Elayne continued to show a viperish tongue； Nynaeve had had a perfectly good reason for screaming at Egwene； and Elayne probably had been dreaming of parading in front of Rand in her sequined costume； if not less。 Saying so was simple honesty。 Even so； it quickly became clear that Egwene had said the same things in both their dreams； and that left little room for doubt。
〃She kept saying she was really there；〃 Nynaeve muttered； 〃but I thought it was just part of the dream。〃 Egwene had told them often enough that it was possible； talking to someone in her dreams； but she had never said that she could。 〃Why should I have believed？ I mean； she said she'd finally recognized some spear he's taken to carrying as Seanchan work。 That's preposterous。〃
〃Of course。〃 Elayne arched one eyebrow in an irritating manner。 〃Just as preposterous as finding Cerandin and her s'redit。 There must be other Seanchan refugees； Nynaeve； and spears are likely the least of what they left behind。〃
Why could the woman not say anything without a barb？ 〃I notice how well you believed。〃
Elayne threw the finished braid over her shoulder； then tossed her head again； superciliously； for good measure。 〃I do hope Rand is all right。〃 Nynaeve sniffed； Egwene had said he would need days of rest before he was on his feet again but he had been Healed。 The other woman continued； 〃No one has ever taught him he mustn't overextend himself。 Doesn't he know the Power can kill him if he draws too much； or weaves when tired？ That much is the same for him as for us。〃
So she meant to change the subject； did she？ 〃Perhaps he doesn't know；〃 Nynaeve told her sweetly； 〃since there isn't a White Tower for men。〃 That made her think of something else。 〃Do you think it really was Sammael？〃
Caught with a retort on the tip of her tongue； Elayne glowered at her sideways； then heaved a peevish sigh。 〃It hardly matters to us； does it？ What we should be thinking about is using the ring again。 For more than meeting Egwene。 There is so much to learn。 The more I do learn； the more I know how much I don't know yet。〃
〃No。〃 Nynaeve did not really expect the other woman to take out the ring ter'angreal then and there； but she took a reflexive step toward the brick stove。 〃No more trips to Tel'aran'rhiod； for either of us； except to meet her。〃
Elayne went right on without appearing to notice。 Nynaeve could have been talking to herself。 〃It isn't as though we need to channel。 We won't give ourselves away that way。〃 She did not look at Nynaeve； but there was a hint of bite in her voice。 She maintained that they could use the Power； if they were careful。 For all Nynaeve knew； Elayne did just that behind her back。 〃I'll wager if one of us visited the Heart of the Stone tonight； Egwene would be there。 Think； if we could talk to her in her dreams； we'd not need to worry about encountering Moghedien in Tel'aran'rhiod any longer。〃
〃You think it's easy to learn； then？〃 Nynaeve asked dryly。 〃If that's so； why hasn't she taught us already？ Why hasn't she done it before this？〃 Her heart was not in it； though。 She was the one worried about Moghedien。 Elayne knew the woman was dangerous； but it was like knowing a viper was dangerous； Elayne knew； but Nynaeve had been bitten。 And being able to municate without entering the World of Dreams would be valuable quite aside from avoiding Moghedien。
In any case； Elayne still was paying no attention to her。 〃I wonder why she was so insistent we not tell anyone。 That makes no sense。〃 For a moment she worried her underlip with her teeth。 〃There is another reason to talk to her as soon as we can。 It didn't mean anything to me then； but the last time she spoke to me； she vanished in midsentence。 What I remember now is that before she did； she suddenly looked surprised； and frightened。〃
Nynaeve took a deep breath and pressed both hands hard against her stomach in a vain effort to quiet sudden flutters。 She managed to keep her voice flat； though。 〃Moghedien？〃
〃Light； you do have cheerful thoughts！ No。 If Moghedien could e into our dreams； I think we would know it by now。〃 Elayne gave a small shiver； she did have some idea of how dangerous Moghedien was。 〃Anyway； it wasn't that sort of look。 She was frightened； but not enough for that。〃
〃Then maybe she isn't in any danger。 Maybe。。。〃 Forcing her hands to her sides； Nynaeve pressed her lips angrily。 Only； she was not certain who she was angry with。
Putting the ring away； out of sight； except for meetings with Egwene； had been a good idea。 It had。 Any venture into the World of Dreams could have found Moghedien； and keeping clear of her was better than a good idea。 She already knew she was overmatched。 That thought rankled； worse every time she had it；