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d with two wicker hampers slung across the gelding's back； her and Elayne's blankets were laid out under the wagon and the two men's under the hanging branches of one of the twenty…foot willows； a good supply of firewood had been stacked； the teakettle stood cooling beside the ashes of a fire in a circle cleared of leaves； and the thick pottery cups had been washed。 Juilin was grumbling to himself as he caught water in the tiny stream to refill the water barrels。 From the snatches Nynaeve heard； she was glad he kept most of it to an inaudible mutter。 From her perch on one of the wagon shafts； Elayne hardly tried to hide her interested attempt to make out what he was saying。 Both she and Nynaeve had put on clean dresses on the other side of the wagon； switching colors as it happened。
After fastening hobbles between the gelding's forelegs； Thom lifted the heavy hampers down easily and began unpacking them。 〃Mardecin's not as prosperous as it looks from a distance。〃 He set a net bag of small apples on the ground； and another of some dark green leafy vegetable。 〃With no trade into Tarabon； the town is withering。〃 The rest seemed to be all sacks of dried beans and turnips； plus pepper…cured beef and salt…cured hams。 And a gray pottery bottle sealed with wax that Nynaeve was sure held brandy； both men had plained of not having a bit of something with their pipes of an evening。 〃You can hardly take six steps without seeing a Whitecloak or two。 The garrison is about fifty men or so； with barracks over the hill from the town on the far side of the bridge。 It was considerably larger； but it seems Pedron Niall is pulling Whitecloaks from everywhere into Amador。〃 Knuckling his long mustaches； he looked thoughtful for a moment。 〃I cannot see what he is up to。〃 Thom was not a man who liked that； usually a few hours in a place was enough for him to begin ferreting out the currents between noble and merchant Houses； the alliances and schemes and counter…plots that made up the so…called Game of Houses。 〃The rumors are all about Niall trying to stop a war between Illian and Altara； or maybe Illian and Murandy。 No reason there for him to be gathering in soldiers。 I'll tell you one thing； though。 Whatever that lieutenant said； it is a King's Tax that buys the food being sent into Tarabon； and the people are not happy with it。 Not to feed Taraboners。〃
〃King Ailron and the Lord Captain mander are not our concern；〃 Nynaeve said； studying what he had brought。 Three salted hams！ 〃We will pass through Amadicia as quickly and unobtrusively as we can。 Perhaps Elayne and I will have more luck finding vegetables than you did。 Would you care for a walk； Elayne？〃
Elayne got up immediately； smoothing her gray skirts and lifting her hat from the wagon。 〃That would be very nice； after that wagon seat。 It might be different if Thom and Juilin let me take a turn riding Skulker more often。〃 For once she did not give the old gleeman a coquettish look； which was something。
Thom and Juilin exchanged glances； and the Tairen thief…catcher pulled a coin from his coat pocket； but Nynaeve gave him no chance to flip it。 〃We will be quite all right by ourselves。 We could hardly expect trouble of any sort with so many Whitecloaks to keep order。〃 Planting her hat on her head； she tied the scarf under her chin and gave them a firm look。 〃Besides； all those things Thom bought need to be put away。〃 Both men nodded； slowly； reluctantly； but they did it。 Sometimes they took their roles as supposed protectors entirely too seriously。
She and Elayne had reached the empty road and were walking down the verge； on the thin grass so as not to kick up dust； before she had it settled in her mind how to bring up what she wanted to say。 Before she could speak； though； Elayne said； 〃You obviously want to talk to me alone； Nynaeve。 Is it about Moghedien？〃
Nynaeve blinked； and looked at the other woman sideways。 It was well to remember that Elayne was no fool。 She had only been acting like one。 Nynaeve resolved to keep a tight hold on her temper； this was going to be difficult enough without letting it dissolve into a shouting match。 〃Not that； Elayne。〃 The girl thought they should add Moghedien to their hunt； she could not seem to realize the difference between one of the Forsaken and； say； Liandrin； or Chesmal。 〃I thought we should discuss how you've been behaving toward Thom。〃
〃I do not know what you mean；〃 Elayne said； staring straight ahead toward the town； but sudden spots of color in her cheeks gave her the lie。
〃Not only is he old enough to be your father twice over； but …〃
〃He is not my father！〃 Elayne snapped。 〃My father was Taringail Damodred； a Prince of Cairhien and First Prince of the Sword of Andor！〃 Straightening her hat needlessly； she went on in a milder tone； though not by much。 〃I am sorry； Nynaeve。 I did not mean to shout。〃
Temper； Nynaeve reminded herself。 〃I thought you were in love with Rand；〃 she said； making her voice gentle。 It was not easy。 〃The messages you have me give to Egwene for him certainly say so。 I expect you tell her the same。〃
The color in the other woman's face heightened。 〃I do love him； but。。。 He is very far away； Nynaeve。 In the Waste； surrounded by a thousand Maidens of the Spear who jump to do his bidding。 I cannot see him； or speak to him； or touch him。〃 She was whispering by the end。
〃You can't think he'll turn to a Maiden；〃 Nynaeve said incredulously。 〃He is a man； but he isn't as fickle as that； and besides； one of them would put a spear in him if he looked at her crossways； even if he is this Dawn whatever。 Anyway； Egwene says Aviendha is keeping an eye on him for you。〃
〃I know； but。。。 I should have made sure that he knew I love him。〃 Elayne's voice was determined。 And worried。 〃I should have told him so。〃
Nynaeve had hardly looked at a man before Lan； at least not seriously； but she had seen and learned much as Wisdom； from her observations； there was no quicker way to send a man running for his life； unless he said it first。
〃I think Min had a viewing；〃 Elayne went on。 〃About me； and about Rand。 She always used to joke about having to share him； but I think it wasn't a joke and she could not bring herself to say what it really was。〃
〃That is ridiculous。〃 It certainly was。 Though in Tear； Aviendha had told her of a vile Aiel custom。。。 You share Lan with Moiraine； a small voice whispered。 That isn't the same thing at all！ she told it briskly。 〃Are you certain Min had one of her visions？〃
〃Yes。 I wasn't at first； but the more I think on it； the more sure I bee。 She joked about it too often to mean anything else。〃
Well； whatever Min had seen； Rand was no Aiel。 Oh； his blood might be Aiel as the Wise Ones claimed； but he had grown up in the Two Rivers； and she would not stand by and let him take up wicked Aiel ways。 She doubted very much that Elayne would； either。 〃Is that why you've been …〃 She would not say throwing yourself at 〃… teasing Thom？〃
Elayne gave her a sidelong glance； the crimson back in her cheeks。 〃There are a thousand leagues between us； Nynaeve。 Do you think Rand is refraining from lo