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bout the chiefs no longer listening； they still seemed to get their way much more often than not。 There was an old saying that she had never really understood before： 〃He strains to hear a whisper who refuses to hear a shout。〃 She would not shout at Rand again。 A quiet； firm； womanly voice； that was the thing。 For that matter； she ought not to shout at Nynaeve； either； she was a woman； not a girl throwing tantrums。
She found herself giggling。 She especially ought not to raise her voice with Nynaeve when speaking calmly produced such results。
The tent finally seemed warm enough； and she scampered out； dressing quickly。 She still had to break ice in her water pitcher before she could wash the sleep out of her mouth。 Tossing the dark woolen cloak about her shoulders； she untied the strands of Fire … Fire by itself was dangerous to leave tied … and as the flames vanished； ducked out of the tent。 Cold closed on her like an icy vise as she hurried through the camp。
Only the nearest tents were really visible to her； low； shadowed shapes that could have been part of the rugged earth； save that the camp extended for miles into the mountainous land to either side。 These tall jagged peaks were not the Spine of the World； that was much higher； and lay days to the west yet。
She approached Rand's tent hesitantly。 A sliver of light showed along the tent flap。 A Maiden seemed to rise out of the ground as she came closer； horn bow on her back； quiver at her waist and spears and buckler in hand。 Egwene could not make out any others in the darkness； but she knew they were there； even here surrounded by six clans all claiming loyalty to the Car'a'carn。 The Miagoma were somewhere to the north； paralleling their march； Timolan would not say what his intentions were。 Where the other clans were； Rand did not seem to care。 His attention was all on the race for Jangai Pass。
〃Is he awake； Enaila？〃 she asked。
Moonshadows shifted on the Maiden's face as she nodded。 〃He does not sleep enough。 A man cannot go without rest。〃 She sounded for all the world like a mother fretting over her son。
A shadow beside the tent stirred； became Aviendha with her shawl wrapped around her。 She did not seem to feel the cool； only the hour。 〃I would sing him a lullaby； if I thought it might work。 I have heard of women being kept awake all night by an infant； but a grown man should know that others would like to have their blankets。〃 She and Enaila shared a quiet chuckle。
Shaking her head over Aiel strangeness； Egwene bent to peer through the crack。 Several lamps lit the interior。 He was not alone。 Natael's dark eyes looked haggard； and he stifled a yawn。 He at least wanted sleep。 Rand lay sprawled close by one of the gilded oil lamps； reading a battered leather…bound book。 One translation or another of the Prophecies of the Dragon； if she knew him at all。
Abruptly he flipped back through the pages； read； then laughed。 She tried to tell herself there was nothing of madness in that laugh； only bitterness。 〃A fine joke；〃 he told Natael； snapping the book shut and tossing it to him。 〃Read page two hundred eighty…seven and page four hundred； and tell me if you don't agree。〃
Egwene's mouth tightened as she straightened。 He really should be more careful with a book。 She could not speak to him； not in front of the gleeman。 It was a shame that he had to use a man he barely knew for pany。 No。 He had Aviendha； and the chiefs often enough； and Lan every day； and Mat sometimes。 〃Why don't you join them； Aviendha？ If you were there； maybe he'd want to talk of something besides that book。〃
〃He wanted to talk with the gleeman； Egwene； and he seldom does that in front of me or anyone。 Had I not left； he and Natael would have。〃
〃Children are a great worry； I have heard。〃 Enaila laughed。 〃And sons the worst。 You may find out the truth of this for me； now that you have given up the spear。〃 Aviendha gave her a moonlit frown and stalked back to her place against the side of the tent like an offended cat。 Enaila seemed to think that funny； too； she clutched her sides laughing。
Muttering to herself about Aiel humor … she almost never understood it … Egwene made her way to Moiraine's tent； not far from Rand's。 Here； too； there was a sliver of light； and she knew that the Aes Sedai was awake。 Moiraine was channeling； only tiny amounts of the Power； but still enough for Egwene to sense。 Lan lay sleeping nearby； wrapped in his Warder's cloak； except for his head and boots； the rest of him seemed part of the night。 Gathering her cloak； she held her skirts up and tiptoed so as not to wake him。
His breathing did not change； but something made her look at him again。 Moonlight glinted on his eyes； open and watching her。 Even as she turned her head； they closed again。 Not another muscle stirred； he might never have wakened at all。 Sometimes the man unnerved her。 Whatever Nynaeve saw in him； she could not see。
Kneeling beside the tent flap； she peered in。 Moiraine sat surrounded by the glow of saidar； the small blue stone that usually hung on her forehead dangling from her fingers in front of her face。 It shone； adding a bit to the light of a single lamp。 The firepit held only ashes； even the smell was gone。
〃May I e in？〃
She had to repeat herself before Moiraine answered。 〃Of course。〃 The light of saidar faded away； and the Aes Sedai began fastening the fine golden chain back into her hair。
〃You were eavesdropping on Rand？〃 Egwene settled herself beside the other woman。 It was as cold in the tent as it was outside。 She channeled flames atop the ashes in the firepit and tied the flow。 〃You said you would not do it again。〃
〃I said that since the Wise Ones could watch his dreams； we should allow him some privacy。 They have not asked again since he shut them out； and I have not offered。 Remember that they have their own goals； which may not be those of the Tower。〃
As quickly as that； they had e to it。 Egwene was still not sure how to tell what she knew without betraying herself to the Wise Ones； but perhaps the only method was to just tell it and then feel her way。 〃Elaida is Amyrlin； Moiraine。 I do not know what has happened to Siuan。〃
〃How do you know？〃 Moiraine said quietly。 〃Did you learn something dreamwalking？ Or has your Talent as a Dreamer finally manifested itself？〃
That was her way out。 Some of the Aes Sedai in the Tower thought that she might be a Dreamer； a woman whose dreams foretold the future。 She did have dreams that she knew were significant； but learning to interpret them was another matter。 The Wise Ones said the knowledge had to e from within； and none of the Aes Sedai had been any more help。 Rand sitting down in a chair； and somehow she knew that the chair's owner would be murderously angry at having her chair taken； that the owner was a woman was as much as she could pick out of that； and not a thing more。 Sometimes the dreams were plex。 Perrin； lounging with Faile on his lap； kissing her while she played with the short…cut beard that he wore in the dream。 Behind them two banners waved； a red wolf's head and a crimson eagl