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re； because they had been part of learning the weave。 Perhaps； once； there had been Aes Sedai who could； say； hurl a ball of fire without some sort of throwing motion； but if so； they were long dead； and their teachings with them。 Today； some things just could not be done without the appropriate gestures。 There were sisters who claimed they could tell who had taught another sister by which motions she used for which weaves。
〃Teaching any of our new apprentices anything has been difficult at best；〃 Sorilea went on。 〃I do not speak to offend； but you Aes Sedai give oath； it seems； and immediately try to find a way around it。 Alanna Mosvani is particularly difficult。〃 Suddenly her clear green eyes were very sharp on Cadsuane's face。 〃How can we punish her willful failings if it means harming the Car'a'carn'？〃
Cadsuane folded her hands in her lap。 Masking surprise was not easy。 So much for the secret of Alanna's crime。 But why had the woman let her know that she knew？ Perhaps one revelation called for another。 〃The bond does not work in that fashion；〃 she said。 〃If you kill her； he will die； then or soon after。 Short of that； he will be aware of what happens to her； but he will not really feel it。 As far away as he is now； he will only be vaguely aware； at that。〃
Sorilea nodded slowly。 Her fingers touched the golden tray on the table； then came away。 Her expression was as hard to read as the face of a statue； but Cadsuane suspected that Alanna would find an unpleasant surprise the next time she let her temper flare； or threw one of her Arafellin sulks。 That was unimportant； though。 Only the boy was important。
〃Most men will take what is offered； if it seems attractive and pleasant；〃 Sorilea said。 〃Once； we thought of Rand al'Thor so。 Unfortunately； it is too late to change the path we walk。 Now； he suspects whatever is offered freely。 Now； if I wanted him to accept something； I would pretend I did not want him to have it。 If I wanted to stay close to him； I would pretend indifference to whether I ever saw him again。〃 Once more； those eyes focused on Cadsuane； green augers。 Not trying to see what lay inside her head。 The woman knew。 Some； at least。 Enough； or too much。
Still； Cadsuane felt a rising thrill of possibility。 If she had had any doubts that Sorilea wanted to feel her out； they were gone。 And you did not feel out someone in this manner unless you hoped for some agreement。 〃Do you believe a man must be hard？〃 she asked。 She was taking a chance。 〃Or strong？〃 By her tone； she left no doubt she saw a difference。
Again Sorilea touched the tray； the smallest of smiles might have quirked her lips for an instant。 Or not。 〃Most men see the two as one and the same； Cadsuane Melaidhrin。 Strong endures； hard shatters。〃
Cadsuane drew breath。 A chance she would have scoured anyone else for taking。 But she was not anyone else； and sometimes chances had to be taken。 〃The boy confuses them；〃 she said。 〃He needs to be strong； and makes himself harder。 Too hard； already； and he will not stop until he is stopped。 He has forgotten how to laugh except in bitterness； there are no tears left in him。 Unless he finds laughter and tears again； the world faces disaster。 He must learn that even the Dragon Reborn is flesh。 If he goes to Tarmon Gai'don as he is； even his victory may be as dark as his defeat。〃
Sorilea listened intently； and kept silent even after Cadsuane finished。 Those green eyes studied her。 〃Your Dragon Reborn and your Last Battle are not in our prophecies；〃 Sorilea said at last。 〃We have tried to make Rand al'Thor know his blood； but I fear he sees us as only another spear。 If one spear breaks in your hand； you do not pause to mourn before taking up another。 Perhaps you and I aim at targets not too far apart。〃
〃Perhaps we do；〃 Cadsuane said cautiously。 Targets even a hand apart might be not at all alike。
Abruptly； the glow of saidar surrounded the leather…faced woman。 She was weak enough to make Daigian look at least moderately strong。 But then； Sorilea's strength did not lie in the Power。 〃There is a thing you may find useful；〃 she said。 〃I cannot make it work； but I can weave the flows to show you。〃 She did just that； laying feeble skeins that fell into place and melted； too poor to do what they were intended for。 〃It is called Traveling；〃 Sorilea said。
This time； Cadsuane's jaw dropped。 Alanna and Kiruna and the rest denied teaching the Wise Ones how to link； or a number of other skills they suddenly seemed to have； and Cadsuane had assumed the Aiel had managed to wring them out of the sisters held in the tents。 But this was。。。
Impossible； she would have said； yet she did not believe Sorilea was lying。 She could hardly wait to try the weave herself。 Not that it was of much use immediately。 Even if she knew exactly where the wretched boy was； she had to make him e to her。 Sorilea was right about that。 〃A very great gift；〃 she said slowly。 〃I have nothing I can give you to pare。〃
This time； there was no doubt of the brief smile that flashed across Sorilea's lips。 She knew very well that Cadsuane was in her debt。 Taking up the heavy golden pitcher with both hands； she carefully filled the small white cups。 With plain water。 She did not spill a drop。
〃I offer you water oath；〃 she said solemnly； picking up one of the cups。 〃By this； we are bound as one； to teach Rand al'Thor laughter and tears。〃 She sipped； and Cadsuane imitated her。
〃We are bound as one。〃 And if their targets turned out not to be the same at all？ She did not underestimate Sorilea as ally or opponent； but Cadsuane knew which target had to be struck； at any cost。
Chapter 13
（Dragon）
Floating Like Snow
The northern horizon was purple with the fierce rain that had hammered the east of Illian through the night。 Overhead； a morning sky of dark boiling clouds threatened； and strong winds flung cloaks about； made banners snap and crack like whips on the crest of the ridge； the white Dragon Banner and the crimson Banner of Light； and the bright standards of nobility from Illian and Cairhien and Tear。 The nobles kept to their own kind； three widely spaced knots awash in gilt and silver…plated steel； silks and velvets and laces； but in mon they looked around uneasily。 Even the best…trained of their horses tossed heads and stamped hooves on the muddy ground。 The wind was cold； and colder seeming for the heat it had replaced so abruptly； just as the rain had been a shock after so long without。 From whatever nation； they had prayed for the baking drought to break； but none knew what to make of unrelenting storms in answer to their prayers。 Some glanced at Rand when they thought he would not notice。 Perhaps wondering if he had answered them so。 The thought made him laugh softly； bitterly。
He patted his black gelding's neck with a leather…gauntleted hand； glad that Tai'daishar did not show nerves。 The massive animal might have been a statue； awaiting the pressure of reins or knees to move。 It was good that the Dragon Reborn's horse seemed as cold as he did； as though they floated in the Void together。 Even with the One