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〃The One Power won't do you much good if somebody kills you before you can use it；〃 Hurin said； addressing the tall pommel of his saddle。 〃Begging your pardon； but I think I。。。 I'll just ride up with Verin Sedai for a time。〃 He dug in his heels and galloped forward before any of them could speak again。
〃Now that is a surprise；〃 Elayne said as Hurin slowed a little distance from the Brown sister。 Verin did not seem to notice him any more than she noticed anything else； and he appeared content to leave it so。 〃He has been staying as far from Verin as he could ever since we left Toman Head。 He always looks at her as if he's afraid of what she might say。〃
〃Respecting Aes Sedai doesn't mean he is not afraid of them；〃 Nynaeve said； then added； reluctantly； 〃Of us。〃
〃If he thinks there might be trouble； we ought to send him out scouting。〃 Egwene took a deep breath and gave the other two women as level a look as she could manage。 〃If there is trouble； we can defend ourselves better than he could with a hundred soldiers to help him。〃
〃He doesn't know that；〃 Nynaeve said； flatly； 〃and I am not about to tell him。 Or anyone else。〃
〃I can imagine what Verin would have to say about it。〃 Elayne sounded anxious。 〃I wish I had some idea how much she does know。 Egwene； I don't know if my mother could help me if the Amyrlin found out； much less help the pair of you。 Or even whether she would try。〃 Elayne's mother was Queen of Andor。 〃She was only able to learn a little of the Power before she left the White Tower； for all she has lived as if she had been raised to full sister。〃
〃We cannot hope to rely on Morgase；〃 Nynaeve said。 〃She is in Caemlyn； and we will be in Tar Valon。 No； we may be in enough trouble already for going off as we did； no matter what we've brought back。 It will be best if we stay low； behave humbly； and do nothing to attract more attention than we already have。〃
Another time； Egwene would have laughed at the idea of Nynaeve pretending to be humble。 Even Elayne managed a better job of it。 But at present she did not feel like laughing。 〃And if Hurin is right？ If we are attacked？ He cannot defend us against twenty or thirty men； and we might be dead if we wait for Verin to do something。 You said you sense a storm； Nynaeve。〃
〃You do？〃 Elayne said。 Red…gold curls swung as she shook her head。 〃Verin will not like it if we。。。〃 She trailed off。 〃Whatever Verin likes or doesn't like； we may have to。〃
〃I will do what must be done；〃 Nynaeve said sharply； 〃if there is anything to be done； and you two will run； if need be。 The White Tower may be all abuzz with your potential； but don't think they will not still you both if the Amyrlin Seat or the Hall of the Tower decides it is necessary。〃
Elayne swallowed hard。 〃If they would still us for it；〃 she said in a faint voice； 〃they would still you； too。 We should all run together； or act together。 Hurin has been right before。 If we want to live to be in trouble in the Tower； we may have to。。。 to do what we must。〃
Egwene shivered。 Stilled。 Cut off from saidar； the female half of the True Source。 Few Aes Sedai had ever incurred that penalty； yet there were deeds for which the Tower demanded stilling。 Novices were required to learn the names of every Aes Sedai who had ever been stilled； and their crimes。
She could always feel the Source there； now； just out of sight； like the sun at noon over her shoulder。 If she often caught nothing when she tried to touch saidar； she still wanted to touch it。 The more she touched it； the more she wanted to； all the time； no matter what Sheriam Sedai； the Mistress of Novices； said about the dangers of growing too fond of the feel of the One Power。 To be cut off from it； still able to sense saidar； but never to touch it again。。。
Neither of the others seemed to want to talk； either。
To cover her shaking； she bent from her saddle to the gently swaying litter。 Mat's blankets had bee disarrayed； exposing a curved dagger in a golden sheath clutched in one hand； a ruby the size of a pigeon's egg capping the hilt。 Careful not to touch the dagger； she eased the blankets back over his hand。 He was only a few years older than she； but gaunt cheeks and sallow skin had aged him。 His chest barely moved as he breathed hoarsely。 A lumpy leather sack lay at his feet。 She shifted the blanket to cover that； too。 We have to get Mat to the Tower； she thought。 And the sack。
Nynaeve leaned down as well； and felt Mat's forehead。 〃His fever is worse。〃 She sounded worried。 〃If only I had some worrynot root or feverbane。〃
〃Perhaps if Verin tried Healing again；〃 Elayne said。
Nynaeve shook her head。 She smoothed Mat's hair back and sighed； then straightened before speaking。 〃She says it is all she can do to keep him alive； now； and I believe her。 I tried Healing last night myself； but nothing happened。〃
Elayne gasped。 〃Sheriam Sedai says we mustn't try to Heal until we've been guided step by step a hundred times。〃
〃You could have killed him；〃 Egwene said sharply。
Nynaeve sniffed loudly。 〃I was Healing before I ever thought of going to Tar Valon； even if I didn't know I was。 But it seems I need my medicines to make it work for me。 If I only had some feverbane。 I do not think he has much time left。 Hours； maybe。〃
Egwene thought she sounded almost as unhappy about knowing； about how she knew； as she did about Mat。 She wondered again why Nynaeve had chosen to go to Tar Valon for training at all。 She had learned to channel unknowingly； even if she could not always control the act； and had passed the crisis that killed three out of four women who learned without Aes Sedai guidance。 Nynaeve said she wanted to learn more； but often she was as reluctant about it as a child being dosed with sheepstongue root。
〃We will have him in the White Tower soon；〃 Egwene said。 〃They can Heal him there。 The Amyrlin will take care of him。 She will take care of everything。〃 She did not look at where Mat's blanket covered the sack at his feet。 The other two women were studiously not looking at it； either。 There were some secrets they would all be relieved to shed。
〃Riders；〃 Nynaeve said suddenly； but Egwene had already seen them。 Two dozen men appearing over a low rise ahead； white cloaks flapping as they galloped； angling toward them。
〃Children of the Light；〃 Elayne said； like a curse。 〃I think we have found your storm； and Hurin's trouble。〃
Verin had pulled up； a hand on Hurin's arm to stop him drawing his sword。 Egwene touched the lead litter horse to stop it just behind the plump Aes Sedai。
〃Let me do all the talking； children；〃 the Aes Sedai said placidly； pushing her cowl back to reveal gray in her hair。 Egwene was not sure how old Verin was； she thought old enough to be a grandmother； but the gray streaks were the Aes Sedai's only signs of age。 〃And whatever you do； do not allow them to make you angry。〃
Verin's face was as calm as her voice； but Egwene thought she saw the Aes Sedai measuring the distance to Tar Valon。 The tops of the towers were visible now； and a high bridge arching over the