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r and asked； loud enough for anyone to hear； 〃Have you found anything？〃
Elayne； with her head and shoulders inside a huge soup kettle； banged her head on the rim backing out。 Her blue eyes seemed to take up her entire face。
〃Nothing but grease and sweat； Aes Sedai；〃 Nynaeve said。 The tug she gave her braid left a smear of greasy soap suds on her dark hair； and she grimaced。
Verin nodded as if that were the answer she had been seeking。 〃Well； keep looking。〃 She peered around the kitchen again； frowning as though puzzled to find herself there； and left。
Alanna came to the kitchens after midday； too； collecting a bowl of big green gooseberries and a pitcher of wine； and Elaida； then Sheriam； appeared after supper； and Anaiya； too。
Alanna had asked Egwene if she wanted to know more of the Green Ajah； inquired when they were going to get on with their studies。 Just because the Accepted chose their own lessons and pace did not mean they were not supposed to do any at all。 The first few weeks would be bad； of course； but they had to choose； or the choosing would be done for them。
Elaida merely stood for a time； stern…faced and staring at them； hands on her hips； and Sheriam did the same in almost the identical pose。 Anaiya stood the same way； but her look was more concerned。 Until she saw them glancing at her。 Then her face became a match for Elaida's and Sheriam's before her。
None of those visits meant anything that Egwene could see。 The Mistress of Novices certainly had reason to check on them； as well as on the novices working in the kitchens； and Elaida had reason to keep an eye on the Daughter…Heir of Andor。 Egwene tried not to think of the Aes Sedai's interest in Rand。 As for Alanna； she was not the only Aes Sedai who came for a tray to take back to her rooms rather than eat with the others。 Half the sisters in the Tower were too busy for meals； too busy to take the time to summon a servant to fetch a tray。 And Anaiya。。。？ Anaiya could well be concerned for her Dreamer。 Not that she would do anything to ease a punishment set by the Amyrlin Seat herself。 That could have been Anaiya's reason for ing。 It could have been。
Hanging her dress in the wardrobe； Egwene told herself once again that even Verin's slip could have been perfectly ordinary； the Brown sister was often absentminded。 If it was a slip。 Sitting on the edge of her bed； she pulled up her shift and began rolling down her stockings。 She was almost beginning to dislike white as much as she did gray。
Nynaeve stood in front of the fireplace with Egwene's pouch in one hand； tugging her braid。 Elayne sat by the table； making nervous conversation。
〃Green Ajah；〃 the golden…haired woman said for what Egwene thought must be the twentieth time since midday。 〃I might choose Green Ajah myself； Egwene。 Then I can have three or four Warders； perhaps marry one of them。 Who better for Prince Consort of Andor than a Warder？ Unless it is。。。〃 She trailed off； blushing。
Egwene felt a pang of jealousy she thought she had put down long ago； and sympathy mixed with it。 Light； how can I be jealous when I cannot look at Galad without shivering and feeling as if I am melting； both at the same time？ Rand was mine； but no more。 I wish I could give him to you； Elayne； but he is not for either of us； I think。 It may be all well and good for the Daughter…Heir to marry a moner； as long as he's an Andorman； but not to marry the Dragon Reborn。 She let the stockings fall on the floor； telling herself there were more important things to worry about tonight than neatness。 〃I am ready； Nynaeve。〃
Nynaeve handed her the pouch； and a long； thin strip of leather。 〃Perhaps it will work for more than one at once。 I could。。。 go with you； perhaps。〃
Emptying the stone ring onto her palm； Egwene threaded the leather strip through it； then tied it around her neck。 The stripes and flecks of blue and brown and red seemed more vivid against the white of her shift。 〃And leave Elayne to watch over the both of us alone？ When the Black Ajah may know us？〃
〃I can do it；〃 Elayne said stoutly。 〃Or let me go with you； and Nynaeve can keep guard。 She is the strongest of us； when she's angry； and if there is need for a guard； you can be sure she will be。〃
Egwene shook her head。 〃What if it won't work for two？ What if two of us trying makes it not work at all？ We would not even know till we woke up； and then we've wasted the night。 We cannot waste even one if we are to catch up。 We're too far behind them already。〃 They were valid reasons； and she believed them； but there was another； closer to her heart。 〃Besides； I'll feel better knowing both of you are watching over me； in case。。。〃
She did not want to say it。 In case someone came while she was asleep。 The Gray Men。 The Black Ajah。 Any one of the things that had turned the White Tower from a place of safety to a dark woods full of pits and snares。 Something ing in while she lay there helpless。 Their faces showed they understood。
As she stretched herself out on the bed and plumped a feather pillow behind her head； Elayne moved the chairs； one to either side of the bed。 Nynaeve snuffed the candles one by one； then； in the dark； sat in one of the chairs。 Elayne took the other。
Egwene closed her eyes and tried to think sleepy thoughts； but she was too conscious of the thing lying between her breasts。 Far more conscious than of any soreness remaining from her visit to Sheriam's study。 The ring seemed to weigh as much as a brick； now； and thoughts of home and quiet pools of water all slid apart with remembrance of it。 Of Tel'aran'rhiod。 The Unseen World。 The World of Dreams。 Waiting just the other side of sleep。
Nynaeve began to hum softly。 Egwene recognized a nameless； wordless tune her mother used to hum to her when she was little。 When she was lying in bed； in her own room； with a fluffy pillow； and warm blankets； and the mingled smells of rose oil and baking from her mother； and。。。 Rand； are you all right？ Perrin？ Who was she？ Sleep came。
She stood among rolling hills quilted with wildflowers and dotted with small thickets of leafy trees in the hollows and on the crests。 Butterflies floated above the blossoms； wings flashing yellow and blue and green； and two larks sang to each other nearby。 Just enough fluffy white clouds drifted in a soft blue sky； and the breeze held that delicate balance between cool and warm that came only a few special days in spring。 It was a day too perfect to be anything but a dream。
She looked at her dress； and laughed delightedly。 Exactly her favorite shade of sky…blue silk； slashed with white in the skirt … that changed to green as she frowned momentarily … sewn with rows of tiny pearls down the sleeves and across the bosom。 She stuck out a foot just to peek at the toe of a velvet slipper。 The only jarring note was the twisted ring of multicolored stone hanging around her neck on a leather cord。
She took the ring in her hand and gasped。 It felt as light as a feather。 If she tossed it up； she was sure it would drift away like thistle down。 Somehow； she did not feel afraid of it any lon