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good idea。 She already knew she was overmatched。 That thought rankled； worse every time she had it； but it was the simple truth。
Yet now there was the chance that Egwene needed help。 A small chance。 Just because she was properly wary of Moghedien did not mean she was underrating the possibility。 And it might be that Rand had one of the Forsaken after him in the same personal way that Moghedien was after her and Elayne。 What Egwene reported； both of Cairhien and of the mountains； smacked of one man daring another to knock a chip off his shoulder。 Not that she could see anything to do about that。 But Egwene。。。
Sometimes it seemed to Nynaeve that she had forgotten why she had left the Two Rivers in the first place。 To protect young people from her village who had been caught in Aes Sedai webs。 Not that much younger than herself … only a few years … yet the gap seemed wider when you were the village Wisdom。 Of course； the Women's Circle in Emond's Field had certainly chosen a new Wisdom by now； but that did not make it less her village； or them less her people。 In her heart of hearts； it made her no less the Wisdom。 Somehow； though； protecting Rand and Egwene and Mat and Perrin from Aes Sedai had bee helping them survive； and finally； without her quite realizing when or how； even that goal had been submerged in other needs。 Entering the White Tower to learn how better to pull down Moiraine had bee a burning desire to learn how to Heal。 Even her hatred for Aes Sedai meddling in people's lives now coexisted with her desire to bee one。 Not that she really wanted to； but it was the only way to learn what she wanted to learn。 Everything had bee as tangled as one of those Aes Sedai webs； herself included； and she did not know how to escape。
I am still who I always have been。 I will help them； as much as I can。 〃Tonight；〃 she said aloud； 〃I will use the ring。〃 Sitting down on the bed； she began to pull； on her stockings。 Stout wool was hardly fortable in this heat； but at least part of her would be decently clothed。 Stout stockings； and stout shoes。 Birgitte wore brocaded slippers； and gossamer silk stockings that surely looked cool。 She put the thought firmly out of her head。 〃Just to see if Egwene is in the Stone。 If she isn't； I will e back； and we won't use the ring again until the next scheduled meeting。〃
Elayne watched her； with an unblinking stare that made her tug at her stockings in increasing disfort。 The woman did not say a word； but her expressionless gaze implied that Nynaeve might be lying。 To Nynaeve it did。 It did not help that the thought had flittered on the edge of consciousness； that she could easily make sure the ring was not touching her skin when she went to sleep； there was no real reason to believe that Egwene would be waiting in the Heart of the Stone tonight。 She had never really considered it … the thought had drifted up unbidden … but it had been there； and made it hard to meet Elayne's eyes。 What if she was afraid of Moghedien？ It was only good sense； however it galled to admit it。
I will do what I must。 She clamped down firmly on butterflies in the pit of her belly。 By the time she tossed the shift down over her stockings； she was eager to don the blue dress and go out into the heat just to escape Elayne's eyes。
Elayne was just finishing helping her with the rows of small buttons up the back … and muttering that no one had helped her； as if anyone needed help with breeches … when the wagon door banged open； letting in a wave of hot air。 Startled； Nynaeve jumped and covered her bosom with both hands before she could stop herself。 When Birgitte climbed in instead of Valan Luca； she tried to pretend she was adjusting the neckline。
Smoothing identical brilliant blue silk over her hip； the taller woman pulled her thick black braid over one bare shoulder with a self…pleased grin。 〃If you want to draw attention； don't bother fiddling。 It is too obvious。 Just breathe deeply。〃 She demonstrated； then laughed at Nynaeve's scowl。
Nynaeve made an effort to keep her temper。 Though why she should； she did not know。 She could hardly imagine that she had felt guilt over what had happened。 Gaidal Cain was probably glad to get away from the woman。 And Birgitte got to wear her hair the way she wanted。 Not that that had anything to do with anything。 〃I knew someone like you in the Two Rivers； Maerion。 Calle knew every merchant's guard by his first name； and she certainly had no secrets from any of them。〃
Birgitte's smile tightened。 〃And I knew a woman like you； once。 Mathena looked down her nose at men； too； and even had a poor fellow executed for ing on her by accident while she swam naked。 She had never even been kissed； until Zheres stole one from her。 You'd have thought she had discovered men for the first time。 She became so besotted； Zheres had to go live on a mountain to escape her。 Watch out for the first man to kiss you。 One has to e along sooner or later。〃
Fists clenching； Nynaeve took a step toward her。 Or tried to。 Somehow Elayne was in between them； hands upraised。
〃Both of you stop it this minute；〃 she said； eyeing them in turn with equal haughtiness。 〃Lini always said 'Waiting turns men into bears in a barn； and women into cats in a sack；' but you will stop clawing at one another right now！ I will not put up with it any longer！〃
To Nynaeve's surprise； Birgitte actually blushed and mumbled a sullen apology。 To Elayne； of course； but the apology itself was the surprise。 Birgitte had chosen to stay close to Elayne … there was no need for her to hide … but after three days the heat was apparently affecting her as badly as it did Elayne。 For herself； Nynaeve gave the Daughter…Heir her frostiest stare。 She had managed to maintain an even disposition while they waited； cooped up together … she had … but Elayne certainly had no room to talk。
〃Now；〃 Elayne said； still in that icy tone； 〃did you have some reason for barging in like a bull； or have you simply forgotten how to knock？〃
Nynaeve opened her mouth to say something about cats … just a gentle reminder … but Birgitte forestalled her； if in a tighter voice。
〃Thom and Juilin are back from the town。〃
〃Back！〃 Nynaeve exclaimed； and Birgitte glanced at her before returning to Elayne。
〃You did not send them？〃 '
〃I did not；〃 Elayne said grimly。
She was out of the door； Birgitte at her heels； before Nynaeve could say a word。 There was nothing for it but to follow； grumbling to herself。 Elayne had better not suddenly think she was the one giving orders。 Nynaeve had still not forgiven her for revealing so much to the men。
The dry heat seemed even worse outside； for all the sun still sat on the canvas wall around the menagerie。 Sweat popped out on her brow before she reached the foot of the ladder； but for once she did not grimace。
The two men sat on three…legged stools beside the cookfire； hair wild and coats looking as if they had rolled in the dirt。 A trickle of red ran from beneath a wadded cloth Thom was pressing to his scalp； down across a fan of dried blood that covered his cheek and stained one long white m