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ad Nynaeve in the street…but she knew it was the other； slighter and made for a woman's slender finger； that made Domon's eyes bulge。 A serpent biting its own tail。
〃You know what this means；〃 Nynaeve said； starting to slip the Serpent ring from the cord； but Domon closed his hand over it。
〃Put it away。〃 His eyes darted uneasily； no one was looking at them that Min could see； but he looked as if he thought everyone was staring。 〃That ring do be dangerous。 If it be seen 。。。〃
〃As long as you know what it means；〃 Nynaeve said with a calm that made Min envious。 She pulled the cord from Domon's hand and retied it around her neck。
〃I know；〃 he said hoarsely。 〃I do know what it means。 Maybe there do be a chance if you。。。 Four； you say？ This girl who do like to listen to my tongue wag； she do be one of the four； I take it。 And you； and。。。〃 He frowned at Elayne。 〃Surely this child is no … no one like you。〃
Elayne straightened angrily； but Nynaeve put a hand on her arm and smiled soothingly at Domon。 〃She travels with me； Captain。 You might be surprised by what we can do even before we earn the right to a ring。 When we sail； you will have three on your ship who can fight damane if need be。〃
〃Three；〃 he breathed。 〃There do be a chance。 Maybe 。。。〃 His face brightened for a moment； but as he looked at them； it grew serious again。 〃I should take you to Spray right now and cast off； but Fortune prick me if I can no tell you what you face here if you stay； and maybe even if you go with me。 Listen to me； and mark what I do say。〃 He took another cautious look around； and still lowered his voice and chose his words carefully。 〃I did see a … a woman who wore a ring like that taken by the Seanchan。 A pretty； slender little woman she was； with a big War … a big man with her who did look as if he did know how to use his sword。 One of them must have been careless； for the Seanchan did have an ambush laid for them。 The big man put six； seven soldiers on the ground before he did die himself。 The … the woman 。。。 Six damane they did put around her； stepping out of the alleys of a sudden。 I did think she would 。。。 do something … you know what I mean … but 。。。 I know nothing of these things。 One moment she did look as if she would destroy them all； then a look of horror did e on her face； and she did scream。〃
〃They cut her off from the True Source。〃 Elayne's face was white。
〃No matter；〃 Nynaeve said calmly。 〃We will not allow the same to be done to us。〃
〃Aye； mayhap it will be as you say。 But I will remember it until I die。 Ryma； help me。 That is what she did scream。 And one of the damane did fall down crying； and they did put one of those collars on the neck of the 。。。 woman； and I 。。。 I did run。〃 He shrugged； and rubbed his nose； and peered into his wine。 〃I have seen three women taken； and I have no stomach for it。 I would leave my aged grandmother standing on the dock to sail from here； but I did have to tell you。〃
〃Egwene said they have two prisoners；〃 Min said slowly。 〃Ryma； a Yellow； and she didn't know who the other is。〃 Nynaeve gave her a sharp look； and she fell silent； blushing。 From the look on Domon's face； it had not furthered their cause any to tell him the Seanchan held two Aes Sedai； not just one。
Yet abruptly he stared at Nynaeve and took a long gulp of wine。 〃Do that be why you are here？ To free 。。。 those two？ You did say there would be three of you。〃
〃You know what you need to know；〃 Nynaeve told him briskly。 〃You must be ready to sail on the instant anytime in the next two or three days。 Will you do it； or will you remain here to see if they will cut off your head after all？ There are other ships； Captain； and I mean to have passage assured on one of them today。〃
Min held her breath； under the table； her fingers were knotted。
Finally； Domon nodded。 〃I will be ready。〃
When they returned to the street； Min was surprised to see Nynaeve sag against the front of the inn as soon as the door closed。 〃Are you ill； Nynaeve？〃 she asked anxiously。
Nynaeve drew a long breath and stood up straight； tugging at her coat。 〃With some people；〃 she said； 〃you have to be certain。 If you show them one glimmer of doubt； they'll sweep you off in some direction you don't want to go。 Light； but I was afraid he was going to say no。 e； we have plans yet to make。 There are still one or two small problems to work out。〃
〃I hope you don't mind fish； Min；〃 Elayne said。
One or two small problems？ Min thought as she followed them。 She hoped very much that Nynaeve was not just being certain again。
Chapter 44
（Flame of Tar Valon）
Five Will Ride Forth
Perrin eyed the villagers warily； self…consciously hitching at a too…short cloak； embroidered on the chest and with some holes in it not even patched； but none of them gave him a second glance despite his strange mix of clothes and the axe on his hip。 Hurin had a coat with blue spirals across the chest under his cloak； and Mat wore a pair of baggy trousers that made bunches where they were stuffed into his boots。 That had been all they had been able to find that would fit back in the abandoned village。 Perrin wondered if this one would be abandoned soon。 Half the stone houses were empty； and in front of the inn； up the dirt street from them； three ox carts； loaded too heavily in great mounds and everything covered with roped canvas； stood with families gathered around them。
As he watched them； huddling together and saying their goodbyes to those who were staying； at least for the time being； Perrin decided it was not lack of interest in strangers on the villagers' part； they were carefully avoiding looking at him and the others。 These people had learned not to show curiosity about strangers； even strangers who were obviously not Seanchan。 Strangers might be dangerous these days on Toman Head。 They had encountered the same studious indifference in other villages。 There were more towns here within a few leagues of the coast； every one holding itself independent。 At any rate； they had until the Seanchan came。
〃I say it's time to go get the horses；〃 Mat said； 〃before they decide to start asking questions。 There has to be a first time for it。〃
Hurin was staring at a big； blackened circle of ground that marred the brown grass of the village green。 It had a weathered look； but no one had done anything to erase it。 〃Maybe six or eight months ago；〃 he muttered； 〃and it still stinks。 The whole Village Council and their families。 Why would they do a thing like that？〃
〃Who knows why they do anything？〃 Mat muttered。 〃Seanchan don't seem to need a reason for killing people。 None I can figure out； anyway。〃
Perrin tried not to look at the charred patch。 〃Hurin； are you sure about Fain？ Hurin？〃 It had been hard to make the sniffer look at anything else since they entered the village。 〃Hurin！〃
〃What？ Oh。 Fain。 Yes。〃 Hurin's nostrils flared； and right away he wrinkled his nose。 〃There's no mistaking that； even old as it is。 Makes a Myrddraal smell like roses。 He passed through here all right； but I think he was alone。 No Trollocs； anyway； and