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they had been chased out of town and good riddance to rubbish； about all the nobles who had stayed at her establishment over the years； even the Lord Captain mander of the Children； once。 Why； a Hunter of the Horn had e through just the day before； on his way to Tear； where they said the Stone of Tear had fallen into the hands of some false Dragon； and was it not horrible wickedness that men could do such things？ 〃I hope they never find it。〃 The innkeeper's gray curls swung as she shook her head。
〃The Horn of Valere？〃 Elayne said。 〃Why ever not？〃
〃Why； my Lady； if they find it； it means the Last Battle is ing。 The Dark One breaking free。〃 Mistress Jharen shivered。 〃The Light send the Horn is never found。 That way； the Last Battle cannot happen； can it？〃 There did not seem to be much answer to such curious logic。
The bedchamber was snug； if not exactly cramped。 Two narrow beds with striped coverlets stood to either side of a window looking out onto the street； and little more than walking room separating them from each other or the white…plastered walls。 A small table holding a lamp and tinderbox between the beds； a tiny； flowered rug； and a washstand with a small mirror above it pleted the furnishings。 Everything was clean and well polished； at least。
The innkeeper plumped the pillows and smoothed the coverlets and said the mattresses were the best goose down and the Lady's men would be bringing her chests up by the back stairs and everything would be very cozy； there was a good breeze at night if the Lady opened the window and left the door cracked。 As though she would sleep with her door open to a public hallway。 Two aproned girls arrived with a large blue pitcher of steaming water and a large lacquered tray covered with a white cloth before Elayne managed to get Mistress Jharen out。 The shape of a wine pitcher and two cups mounded up one side of the cloth。
〃I think she believed we might go to The King's Lancer even with a hole in it；〃 she said； once the door was firmly shut。 Looking around the room； she grimaced。 There would barely be room for them and the chests。 〃I am not certain we shouldn't。〃
〃I do not snore；〃 Nynaeve said in a tight voice。
〃Of course you do not。 I had to say something； though。〃
Nynaeve gave a loud harrumph； but all she said was 〃I am glad I am tired enough to go to sleep。 Aside from that forkroot； I did not recognize anything to aid sleep in what that Macura woman had。〃
It took Thom and Juilin three trips to bring the iron…bound wooden chests up； grumbling all the while； the way men did； about having to haul them up the narrow stairs at the rear of the inn。 They were muttering about being made to sleep in the stables； too； when they brought in the first one between them … it had leaf…shaped hinges； the bulk of their money and valuables were in the bottom of that； including the recovered ter'angreal … but one glance at the room and they shared a look and shut their mouths。 About that； at least。
〃We're going to see what we can learn in the mon room；〃 Thom said once the last chest was jammed in。 Barely enough space remained to reach the washstand。
〃And maybe take a walk around the village；〃 Juilin added。 〃Men talk when there's as much dislike as I saw in the street。〃
〃That will be very good；〃 Elayne said。 They did so want to think they had more to do than haul and carry。 It had been so in Tanchico … and Mardecin； of course … and might well be again； but hardly here。 〃Do be careful not to get into any trouble with the Whitecloaks； now。〃 A long…suffering look passed between them； just as if she had not seen both with bruised and bleeding faces after jaunts for information； but she forgave them； and smiled at Thom。 〃I cannot wait to hear what you learn。〃
〃In the morning；〃 Nynaeve said firmly。 She was looking away from Elayne so hard that she might as well have been glowering at her。 〃If you disturb us before then for less than Trollocs； you'll learn the reason why。〃
The glance that passed between the two men spoke volumes … it made Nynaeve's eyebrows rise sharply … but once she had reluctantly handed over a few coins； they left agreeing to let the women sleep untroubled。
〃If I cannot even speak to Thom；〃 Elayne began when they were gone； but Nynaeve cut her off。
〃I am not having them walk in on me asleep in my shift。〃 She was awkwardly undoing the buttons down the back of her dress。 Elayne went to help her； and she said； 〃I can manage。 You get the ring out for me。〃
With a sniff； Elayne pulled up her skirt to reach the small pocket she had sewn to the underside。 If Nynaeve wanted to be peevish； let her； she would not respond even if Nynaeve began ranting again。 There were two rings in the pocket。 She left the golden Great Serpent she had been given on being raised to Accepted； and took out the stone ring。
All flecks and stripes of red and blue and brown； it was just too large to fit a finger； and flattened and twisted besides。 Odd as it seemed； the ring had only one edge； a finger drawn along that edge would circle inside and out before ing back to where it began。 It was a ter'angreal； and what it did was allow access to Tel'aran'rhiod； even for someone who did not have the Talent that Egwene and the Aiel dreamwalkers shared。 All that was needed was to sleep with it next to your skin。 Unlike the two ter'angreal they had recovered from the Black Ajah； it did not require channeling。 For all Elayne knew； even a man might be able to use it。
Clad only in her linen shift； Nynaeve threaded the ring onto the leather thong with Lan's signet and her own Great Serpent； then re…knotted and hung it back around her neck before lying down atop one of the beds。 Carefully tucking the rings in next to her skin； she settled her head on the pillows。
〃Is there time before Egwene and the Wise Ones get there？〃 Elayne asked。 〃I can never reason out what hour it is in the Waste。〃
〃There is time unless she es early； which she won't。 The Wise Ones keep her on a very short leash。 It will do her good； in the long run。 She was always headstrong。〃 Nynaeve opened her eyes； looking right at her … at her！ … as if that could stand for her as well。
〃Remember to tell Egwene to let Rand know that I am thinking of him。〃 She was not going to let the woman start a row。 〃Tell her to。。。 tell him that I love him； and only him。〃 There。 She had it out。
Nynaeve rolled her eyes in what was really a most offensive way。 〃If you wish me to；〃 she said dryly； snuggling herself into the pillows。
As the other woman's breathing began to slow； Elayne pushed one of the chests against the door and sat on it to wait。 She always hated waiting。 It would serve Nynaeve right if she went down to the mon room。 Thom would probably still be there； and。。。 And nothing。 He was supposed to be her coachman。 She wondered whether Nynaeve had thought of that before agreeing to be the maid。 With a sigh； she leaned back against the door。 She did hate waiting。
Chapter 14
（Dream Ring）
Meetings。
The effects of the ring ter'angreal did not startle Nynaeve anymore。 She was in the place sh