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〃Ummm？〃 Still drawing Egwene down the corridor； Elayne studied her。 〃Yes。 Well。 One of them is a lazy chit named Else Grinwell。 I don't think she will be here long。 She shirks her chores； and she is always sneaking off to watch the Warders practice their swords。 She says Rand came to her father's farm； with a friend of his。 Mat。 It seems they put notions of the world beyond the next village into her head； and she ran away to e be an Aes Sedai。〃
〃Men；〃 Egwene muttered。 〃I dance a few dances with a nice boy； and Rand goes around looking like a dog with a sore tooth； but he … 〃 She cut off as a man stepped into the hall ahead of them。 Beside her； Elayne stopped； too； and her hand tightened on Egwene's。
There was nothing alarming about him； aside from the suddenness of his appearance。 He was tall and handsome； short of middle years； with long； dark curling hair； but his shoulders sagged； and there was sadness in his eyes。 He made no move toward Egwene and Elayne； only stood looking at them until one of the Accepted appeared at his shoulder。
〃You should not be in here；〃 she said to him； not unkindly。
〃I wanted to walk。〃 His voice was deep； and as sad as his eyes。
〃You can walk out in the garden； where you are supposed to be。 The sunshine will be good for you。〃
The man rumbled a bitter laugh。 〃With two or three of you watching my every move？ You're just afraid I'll find a knife。〃 At the look in the Accepted's eyes； he laughed again。 〃For myself； woman。 For myself。 Lead me to your garden； and your watching eyes。〃
The Accepted touched his arm lightly； and led him away。
〃Logain；〃 Elayne said when he was gone。
〃The false Dragon！〃
〃He has been gentled； Egwene。 He is no more dangerous than any other man； now。 But I remember seeing him before； when it took six Aes Sedai to keep him from wielding the Power and destroying us all。〃 She shivered。
Egwene did； too。 That was what the Red Ajah would do to Rand。
〃Do they always have to be gentled？〃 she asked。 Elayne stared at her； mouth agape； and she quickly added； 〃It is just that I'd think the Aes Sedai would find some other way to deal with them。 Anaiya and Moiraine both said the greatest feats of the Age of Legends required men and women working together with the Power。 I just thought they'd try to find a way。〃
〃Well； do not let any Red sister hear you thinking it aloud。 Egwene； they did try。 For three hundred years after the White Tower was built； they tried。 They gave up because there was nothing to find。 e on。 I want you to meet Min。 Not in the garden where Logain is going； thank the Light。〃
The name sounded vaguely familiar to Egwene； and when she saw the young woman； she knew why。 There was a narrow stream in the garden； with a low stone bridge over it； and Min sat cross…legged on the wall of the bridge。 She wore a man's tight breeches and baggy shirt； and with her dark hair cut short she could almost pass for a boy； though an unmonly pretty one。 A gray coat lay beside her on the coping。
〃I know you；〃 Egwene said。 〃You worked at the inn in Baerlon。〃 A light breeze riffled the water beneath the bridge； and graywings warbled in the trees of the garden。
Min smiled。 〃And you were one of those who brought the Darkfriends down on us to burn it down。 No； don't worry。 The messenger who came to fetch me brought enough gold that Master Fitch is building it back again twice as big。 Good morning； Elayne。 Not slaving over your lessons？ Or over some pots？〃 It was said in a bantering tone； as between friends； as Elayne's answering grin proved。
〃I see Sheriam has not yet managed to get you into a dress。〃
Min's laugh was wicked。 〃I'm no novice。〃 She made her voice squeaky。 〃Yes； Aes Sedai。 No； Aes Sedai。 May I sweep another floor； Aes Sedai？ I；〃 she said； resuming her own low voice； 〃clothe myself the way I want。〃 She turned to Egwene。 〃Is Rand well？〃
Egwene's mouth tightened。 He should wear ram's horns like a Trolloc； she thought angrily。 〃I was sorry when your inn caught fire； and I am glad Master Fitch was able to rebuild。 Why have you e to Tar Valon？ It's clear you do not mean to be an Aes Sedai。〃 Min arched an eyebrow in what Egwene was sure was amusement。
〃She likes him；〃 Elayne explained。
〃I know。〃 Min glanced at Egwene； and for an instant Egwene thought she saw sadness … or regret？ … in her eyes。 〃I am here；〃 Min said carefully； 〃because I was sent for； and was given the choice between riding and ing tied in a sack。〃
〃You always exaggerate it；〃 Elayne said。 〃Sheriam Sedai saw the letter； and she says it was a request。 Min sees things； Egwene。 That's why she's here； so the Aes Sedai can study how she does it。 It isn't the Power。〃
〃Request；〃 Min snorted。 〃When an Aes Sedai requests your presence； it's like a mand from a queen with a hundred soldiers to back it up。〃
〃Everybody sees things；〃 Egwene said。
Elayne shook her head。 〃Not like Min。 She sees … auras … around people。 And images。〃
〃Not all the time；〃 Min put in。 〃Not around everybody。〃
〃And she can read things about you from them； though I'm not sure she always tells the truth。 She said I'd have to share my husband with two other women； and I'd never put up with that。 She just laughs； and says it was never her idea of how to run things； either。 But she said I would be a queen before she knew who I was； she said she saw a crown； and it was the Rose Crown of Andor。〃
Despite herself； Egwene asked； 〃What do you see when you look at me？〃
Min glanced at her。 〃A white flame； and 。。。 Oh； all sorts of things。 I don't know what it means。〃
〃She says that a great deal；〃 Elayne said dryly。 〃One of the things she said she saw looking at me was a severed hand。 Not mine； she says。 She claims she does not know what it means； either。〃
〃Because I don't；〃 Min said。 〃I don't know what half of it means。〃
The crunch of boots on the walk brought them around to look at two young men with their shirts and coats across their arms； leaving sweaty chests bare； and scabbarded swords in their hands。 Egwene found herself staring at the most handsome man she had ever seen。 Tall and slim； but hard； he moved with a cat…like grace。 She suddenly realized he was bowing over her hand … she had not even felt him take it in his … and fumbled in her mind for the name she had heard。
〃Galad；〃 she murmured。 His dark eyes stared back into hers。 He was older than she。 Older than Rand。 At the thought of Rand； she gave a start and came to herself。
〃And I am Gawyn〃 … the other young man grinned … 〃since I don't think you heard the first time。〃 Min was grinning； too； and only Elayne wore a frown。
Egwene abruptly remembered her hand； still held by Galad； and freed it。
〃If your duties allow；〃 Galad said； 〃I would like to see you again； Egwene。 We could walk； or if you obtain permission to leave the Tower； we could picnic outside the city。〃
〃That … that would be nice。〃 She was unfortably aware of the others； Min and Gawyn still with their amused grins； Elayne still with her scowl。
She tried to se