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beard that he wore in the dream。 Behind them two banners waved； a red wolf's head and a crimson eagle。 A man in a bright yellow coat stood near to Perrin's shoulder； a sword strapped to his back； in some way she knew that he was a Tinker； though no Tinker would even touch a sword。 And every bit of it except the beard seemed important； The banners； Faile kissing Perrin； even the Tinker。 Every time he moved closer to Perrin it was as if a chill of doom shot through everything。 Another dream。 Mat throwing dice with blood streaming down his face； the wide brim of his hat pulled low so she could not see his wound； while Thom Merrilin put his hand into a fire to draw out the small blue stone that now dangled on Moiraine's forehead。 Or a dream of a storm； great dark clouds rolling without wind or rain while forked lightning bolts； every one identical； rent the earth。 She had the dreams； but as a Dreamer she was a failure so far。
〃I saw an arrest warrant for you； Moiraine； signed by Elaida as Amyrlin。 And it was no ordinary dream。〃 All true。 Just not all of the truth。 She was suddenly glad that Nynaeve was not there。 I'd be the one staring at a cup； if she was。
〃The Wheel weaves as the Wheel wills。 Perhaps it will not matter so much if Rand takes the Aiel across the Dragonwall。 I doubt that Elaida has continued to approach rulers； even if she knows that Siuan was doing so。〃
〃Is that all you can say？ I think Siuan was your friend once； Moiraine。 Can't you shed a tear for her？〃
The Aes Sedai looked at her； and that cool； serene gaze told her how far she had to go before she could use that title herself。 Sitting； Egwene was nearly a head taller； and she was stronger in the Power besides； but there was more to being Aes Sedai than strength。 〃I have no time for tears； Egwene。 The Dragonwall is not many days distant now； and the Alguenya。。。 Siuan and I were friends； once。 In a few months it will be twenty…one years since we began the search for the Dragon Reborn。 Only the two of us； newly raised Aes Sedai。 Sierin Vayu was raised Amyrlin shortly after； a Gray with more than a touch of Red in her。 Had she learned what we intended； we would have spent the rest of our lives doing penance with Red sisters watching us even while we slept。 There is a saying in Cairhien； though I have heard it as far away as Tarabon and Saldaea。 'Take what you want； and pay for it。' Siuan and I took the path we wanted； and we knew we would have to pay for it eventually。〃
〃I do not see how you can be so calm。 Siuan could be dead； or even stilled。 Elaida will either oppose Rand altogether or try to hold him somewhere until Tarmon Gai'don； you know she'll never let a man who can channel run free。 At least not everyone is behind Elaida。 Some of the Blue Ajah are gathering somewhere … I don't know where yet … and I think others have left the Tower； too。 Nynaeve said that she was given a message about all sisters being wele to return to the Tower by an eyes…and…ears of the Yellow。 If Blues and Yellows have both gone； others must have。 And if they oppose Elaida； they may support Rand。〃
Moiraine sighed； a soft sound。 〃Do you expect me to be happy that the White Tower has split apart？ I am Aes Sedai； Egwene。 I gave my life to the Tower long before I ever suspected the Dragon would be Reborn in my lifetime。 The Tower has been a bulwark against the Shadow for three thousand years。 It has guided rulers to wise decisions； stopped wars before they began； halted wars that did begin。 That humankind even remembers that the Dark One waits to escape； that the Last Battle will e； is because of the Tower。 The Tower； whole and united。 I could almost wish that every sister had sworn to Elaida； whatever happened to Siuan。〃
〃And Rand？〃 Egwene kept her voice just as steady； just as smooth。 The flames were beginning to put a little warmth into the air； but Moiraine had just added her own chill。 〃The Dragon Reborn。 You yourself said that he cannot be ready for Tarmon Gai'don unless he is allowed his freedom； both to learn and to affect the world。 The Tower united could take him prisoner despite all the Aiel in the Waste。〃
Moiraine smiled a small smile。 〃You learn。 Cool reason is always better than hot words。 But you forget that only thirteen sisters linked can shield any man from saidin； and even if they do not know the trick of tying flows； fewer can hold that shield。〃
〃I know you are not giving up； Moiraine。 What do you mean to do？〃
〃I mean to deal with the world as I find the world； for as long as I can。 At least Rand will be … easier to be around … now that I no longer need try to turn him from what he wants。 I suppose I should be happy that he does not make me fetch his wine。 He does listen most of the time； even if he seldom gives any sign what he thinks of what I tell him。〃
〃I will leave you to tell him about Siuan and the Tower。〃 That would avoid awkward questions； with Rand as big…headed as he was； he might want to know more about her Dreaming than she could invent。 〃There's something else。 Nynaeve has seen Forsaken in Tel'aran'rhiod。 She mentioned every last one still alive except Asmodean and Moghedien。 Including Lanfear。 She thinks they are plotting something； perhaps together。〃
〃Lanfear；〃 Moiraine said after a moment。
They both knew that Lanfear had visited Rand in Tear； and maybe other times that he had not told them of。 No one had much knowledge of the Forsaken except the Forsaken themselves … only fragments of fragments remained in the Tower … but it was known that Lanfear had loved Lews Therin Telamon。 They two； and Rand； knew that she still did。
〃With luck；〃 the Aes Sedai went on； 〃we will not have to worry about Lanfear。 The others Nynaeve saw are another matter。 You and I must keep as close a watch as we can。 I wish more of the Wise Ones could channel。〃 She gave a small laugh。 〃But I might as well wish they were all Tower trained while I am about it； or to live forever。 They may be strong in many ways； but they are sadly lacking in others。〃
〃A watch is all very well； but what else？ If six Forsaken e at him together； he will need every bit of help we can give him。〃
Moiraine leaned over to put a hand on her arm； a look of affection on her face。 〃We cannot hold his hand forever； Egwene。 He has learned to walk。 He is learning to run。 We can only hope he learns before his enemies catch him。 And； of course； continue to advise him。 To guide him when we can。〃 Straightening； she stretched； and stifled a small yawn behind her hand。 〃It is late； Egwene。 And I expect that Rand will have us breaking camp in a very few hours now； even if he gets no sleep at all。 I； however； would like to take what rest I can before facing my saddle。〃
Egwene made ready to go； but first she had a question。 〃Moiraine； why have you started doing everything Rand tells you to？ Even Nynaeve doesn't think it is right。〃
〃She does not； does she？〃 Moiraine murmured。 〃She will be Aes Sedai yet； whatever she wishes。 Why？ Because I remembered how to control saidar。〃
After a moment； Egwene nodded。 To control saidar； first you had to surrender to it。
It was not unti