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no anger at it at all。 The soft sounds and touches soothed her； let her surrender to her weariness； let sleep e。
She wore blue silk this time； but she barely noticed more than that。 Soft breezes caressed her unbruised face； and sent the butterflies swirling above the wildflowers。 Her thirst was gone； her aches。 She reached out to embrace saidar and was filled with the One Power。 Even the triumph she felt at succeeding was small beside the surging of the Power through her。
Reluctantly she made herself release it； closed her eyes； and filled the emptiness with a perfect image of the Heart of the Stone。 That was the one place in the Stone she could picture aside from her cell； and how to distinguish one featureless cubicle from another？ When she opened her eyes； she was there。 But she was not alone。
The form of Joiya Byir stood before Callandor； her shape so insubstantial that the surging light of the sword shone through her。 The crystal sword no longer merely glittered with refracted light。 In pulses it glowed； as if some light inside it were being uncovered； then covered and uncovered again。 The Black sister started with surprise and spun to face Egwene。 〃How？ You are shielded！ Your Dreaming is at an end！〃
Before the first words were out of the woman's mouth； Egwene reached for saidar again； wove the plicated flow of Spirit as she remembered it being used against her； and cut Joiya Byir off from the Source。 The Darkfriend's eyes widened； those cruel eyes so incongruous in that beautiful； kindly face； but Egwene was already weaving Air。 The other woman's form might seem like mist； but the bonds held it。 It seemed to Egwene that there was no effort involved in holding both flows in their weaving。 There was sweat on Joiya Byir's forehead as she walked closer。
〃You have a ter'angreal！〃 Fear was plain on the woman's face； but her voice fought to hide it。 〃That must be it。 A ter'angreal that escaped us； and one that does not require channeling。 Do you think it will do you any good； girl？ Whatever you do here； it cannot affect what happens in the real world。 Tel'aran'rhiod is a dream！ When I wake； I will take your ter'angreal from you myself。 Be careful what you do； lest I have reason to be angry when I e to your cell。〃
Egwene smiled at her。 〃Are you certain you will wake； Darkfriend？ If your ter'angreal requires channeling； why did you not wake as soon as I shielded you？ Perhaps you cannot wake so long as you are shielded here。〃 Her smile faded away； the effort of smiling at this woman was more than she could bear。 〃A woman once showed me a scar she received in Tel'aran'rhiod； Darkfriend。 What happens here it still real when you wake。〃
The sweat rolled down the Black sister's smooth； ageless face； now。 Egwene wondered if she thought she was about to die。 She almost wished she were cruel enough to do that。 Most of the unseen blows she had received had e from this woman； like a pounding of fists； for no reason more than that she had kept trying to crawl away； no reason more than that she had refused to give up。
〃A woman who can give such beatings；〃 she said； 〃should have no objections to a milder one。〃 She wove another flow of Air quickly； Joiya Byir's dark eyes bulged in disbelief as the first blow landed across her hips。 Egwene saw how to adjust the weaving so she did not have to maintain it。 〃You will remember this； and feel it； when you waken。 When I allow you to waken。 Remember this； too。 If you ever even try to beat me again； I will return you here and leave you for the rest of your life！〃 The Black sister's eyes stared hate at her； but there was a suggestion of tears in them； too。
Egwene felt a moment of shame。 Not at what she was doing to Joiya … the woman deserved every blow； if not for her own beating； then for the deaths in the Tower … not that； not really； but because she had spent time on her own revenge while Nynaeve and Elayne were sitting in a cell hoping against hope that she might be able to rescue them。
She tied off and set the flows of her weavings before she knew she had done it； then paused to study what she had done。 Three separate weavings； and not only had it been no trouble to hold them all at once； but now she had done something so they would maintain themselves。 She thought she could remember how； too。 And it might be useful。
After a moment； she unraveled one of the weavings； and the Darkfriend sobbed as much from relief as from pain。 〃I am not like you；〃 Egwene said。 〃This is the second time I have done something like this； and I do not like it。 I am going to have to learn to cut throats instead。〃 From the Black sister's face； she thought Egwene meant to start learning with her。
Making a disgusted sound； Egwene left her standing there； trapped and shielded； and hurried into the forest of polished redstone columns。 There had to be a way down to the cells somewhere。
The stone corridor fell silent as the final dying scream was cut off by Young Bull's jaws closing on the two…legs's throat； crushing it。 The blood was bitter on his tongue。
He knew this was the Stone of Tear； though he could not say how he knew。 The two…legs lying around him； one kicking his last with Hopper's teeth buried in his throat； had smelled rank with fear as they fought。 They had smelled confused。 He did not think they had known where they were … they certainly did not belong in the wolf dream … but they had been set to keep him from that tall door ahead； with its iron lock。 To guard it； at least。 They had seemed startled to see wolves。 He thought they had been startled at being there themselves。
He wiped his mouth； then stared at his hand with a momentary lack of prehension。 He was a man again。 He was Perrin。 Back in his own body； in the blacksmith's vest； with the heavy hammer at his side。
We must hurry； Young Bull。 There is something evil near。
Perrin pulled the hammer from his belt as he strode to the door。 〃Faile must be here。〃 One sharp blow shattered the lock。 He kicked open the door。
The room was empty except for a long stone block in the middle of the floor。 Faile lay on that block as if sleeping； her black hair spread out like a fan； her body so wrapped in chains that it took him a moment to realize she was unclothed。 Every chain was held to the stone by a thick bolt。
He was hardly aware of crossing the space until his hand touched her face； tracing her cheekbone with a finger。
She opened her eyes and smiled up at him。 〃I kept dreaming you would e； blacksmith。〃
〃I will have you free in a moment； Faile。〃 He raised his hammer； smashed one of the bolts as if it were wood。
〃I was sure of it。 Perrin。〃
As his name faded from her tongue； she faded； too。 With a clatter； the chains dropped to the stone where she had been。
〃No！〃 he cried。 〃I found her！〃
The dream is not like the world of flesh； Young Bull。 Here； the same hunt can have many endings。
He did not turn to look at Hopper。 He knew his teeth were bared in a snarl。 Again he raised the hammer； brought it down with all his strength against the chains that had held Faile。 The s