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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 looking at other women？ 'A man is a man； on a throne or in a pigsty。' 〃 She had a stock of homely sayings from her childhood nurse； a clearheaded woman named Lini whom Nynaeve wished she would meet one day。
〃Well； I don't see why you have to flirt just because you think Rand might。〃 She refrained from bringing up Thom's age again。 Lan is old enough so be your father； that small voice murmured。 I love Lan。 If I can only reason out how to get him free of Moiraine。。。 That is not the matter at hand！ 〃Thom is a man with secrets； Elayne。 Remember that Moiraine sent him with us。 Whatever he is； he is no simple country gleeman。〃
〃He was a great man；〃 Elayne said softly。 〃He could have been greater； except for love。〃
With that； Nynaeve's temper snapped。 She rounded on the other woman； seizing her by the shoulders。 〃The man doesn't know whether to turn you over his knee or。。。 or。。。 climb a tree！〃
〃I know。〃 Elayne gave a frustrated sigh。 〃But I do not know what else to do。〃
Nynaeve ground her teeth in the effort not to shake her until her skull rattled。 〃If your mother heard of this； she'd send Lini to haul you back to the nursery！〃
〃I am not a child any longer； Nynaeve。〃 Elayne's voice was strained； and now the flush in her cheeks was not embarrassment。 〃I am as much a woman as my mother is。〃
Nynaeve stalked on toward Mardecin； gripping her braid so hard that her knuckles hurt。
After a few strides； Elayne caught up。 〃Are we really going to buy vegetables？〃 Her face was posed； her tone light。
〃Did you see what Thom brought back？〃 Nynaeve said tightly。
Elayne shuddered elaborately。 〃Three hams。 And that awful peppered beef！ Do men ever eat anything but meat if it isn't set before them？〃
Nynaeve's temper faded as they walked on talking about the foibles of the weaker sex … men； of course … and such simple matters as that。 Not pletely away； of course。 She liked Elayne； and enjoyed her pany； at times it seemed as if the girl really was Egwene's sister； as they sometimes called each other。 When Elayne was not acting the twitch…skirt。 Thom could put a stop to it； of course； but the old fool indulged Elayne like a fond father with his favorite daughter； even when he did not know whether to say boo or faint。 One way or another； she meant to get to the bottom of it。 Not for Rand's sake； but because Elayne was better than this。 It was as if she had contracted a strange fever。 Nynaeve intended to cure it。
Granite slabs paved the streets of Mardecin； worn by generations of feet and wagon wheels； and the buildings were all brick or stone。 A number of them were empty though； both shops and houses； sometimes with the front door standing open so Nynaeve could see the bare interior。 She saw three blacksmith's shops； two abandoned； and in the third the smith was halfheartedly rubbing his tools with oil and the forges were cold。 One slate…roofed inn； with men sitting morosely on benches out front； had a number of broken windows； and at another the adjoining stable had its doors half…off the hinges and a dusty coach squatting in the stableyard； one forlorn hen nesting on the driver's high seat。 Somebody in that one was playing the bittern； 〃Heron on the Wing；〃 it sounded like； but the tune was dispirited。 The door of a third inn was barred by two splintery planks nailed across it。
People thronged the streets； but they moved lethargically； weighted down by the heat； dull faces said they had no real reason to stir at all； beyond habit。 Many women； in large deep bonnets that almost hid their faces； had on dresses worn at the hem； and more than one man had a frayed collar or cuffs on his knee…length coat。
There were indeed Whitecloaks scattered through the streets； if not so many as Thom had made out； still enough。 Nynaeve's breath caught every time she saw a man in a pristine cloak and shining armor look at her。 She knew she had not worked with the Power nearly long enough to take on Aes Sedai agelessness； but those men might well try to kill her … a Tar Valon witch； and outlawed in Amadicia … if they even suspected a connection to the White Tower。 They strode through the crowds； seemingly oblivious of the apparent poverty around them。 People moved out of their way respectfully； receiving perhaps a nod； if that； and often a sternly pious 〃Walk in the Light。〃
Ignoring the Children of the Light as best she could； she set herself to finding fresh vegetables； but by the time the sun reached its peak； a blazing ball of gold that burned through the thin clouds； she and Elayne had wandered both sides of the low bridge and between them had managed to garner one small bunch of honeypeas； some tiny radishes； a few hard pears； and a basket to carry them in。 Perhaps Thom really had looked。 This time of year； the barrows and stalls should have been full of the summer's produce； but most of what they saw was heaped potatoes and turnips that had known better days。 Thinking of all those empty farms approaching the town； Nynaeve wondered how these people were going to make it through the winter。 She walked on。
Hanging upside down beside the door of a thatch…roofed seamstress' shop was a bunch of what looked almost like broomweed； with tiny yellow flowers； the stalks wrapped their whole length in a white ribbon； then tied with a dangling yellow one。 It might have been some woman's feeble attempt at a festive decoration in the midst of hard times。 But she was sure it was not。
Stopping beside an empty shop with a carving knife incised on the sign still hanging over the door； she pretended to search for a stone in her shoe while furtively studying the seamstress' shop。 The door was open； and colorful bolts of cloth stood in the small…paned windows； but no one went in or out。
〃Can you not find it； Nynaeve？ Take off your shoe。〃
Nynaeve's head jerked； she had almost forgotten that Elayne was there。 No one else was paying any attention to them； and no one looked close enough to overhear。 She still lowered her voice。 〃That bunch of broomweed by that shop door。 It is a Yellow Ajah signal； an emergency signal from one of the Yellow's eyes…and…ears。〃
She did not have to tell Elayne not to stare； the girl's eyes barely moved toward the shop。 〃Are you certain？〃 she asked quietly。 〃And how do you know？〃
〃Of course I am certain。 It's exact； the hanging bit of yellow ribbon is even split in three。〃 She paused to take a deep breath。 Unless she was pletely mistaken； that insignificant fistful of weeds held a dire meaning。 If she was wrong； she was making a fool of herself； and she did hate to do that。 〃I spent a good deal of time talking with Yellows in the Tower。〃 Healing was the main purpose of the Yellows； they did not care much for her herbs； but you did not need herbs when you could Heal with the Power。 〃One of them told me。 She did not think it too great a transgression； since she was sure I'll choose Yellow。 Besides； it has not been used in nearly three hundred years。