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der； caught her eye for an instant。 Suddenly Nynaeve realized she was turning the spit faster。 She told herself she had to pretend to be cowed like everyone else。
The Amyrlin's gaze fell on Elayne； and abruptly she spoke； nearly loud enough to rattle the copper pots and pans hanging on the walls。 〃There are some words I will not tolerate in a young woman's mouth； Elayne of House Trakand。 If you let them in； I will see them scrubbed out！〃 Everyone in the kitchen jumped。
Elayne looked confused； and indignation crept across Egwene's face。
Nynaeve shook her head； small frantic shakes。 No； girl！ Hold your tongue！ Don't you see what she is doing？
But Egwene did open her mouth； with a respectful if determined； 〃Mother； she did not …〃
〃Silence！〃 The Amyrlin's roar produced another ripple of jumps。 〃Laras！ Can you find something to teach two girls to speak when they should and say what they should； Mistress of the Kitchens？ Can you manage that？〃
Laras came waddling faster than Nynaeve had ever seen the woman move before； darting at Elayne and Egwene to seize an ear of each； all the while repeating； 〃Yes； Mother。 Immediately； Mother。 As you mand； Mother。〃 She hurried the two young women out of the kitchen as if eager to escape the Amyrlin's stare。
The Amyrlin was now close enough to Nynaeve to touch her； but still looking over the kitchen。 A young cook； turning with a mixing bowl in her hands； chanced to catch the Amyrlin's eye。 She gave a great squeak as she scuttled away across the floor。
〃I did not mean for Egwene to be caught in that。〃 The Amyrlin barely moved her lips。 It looked as if she were muttering to herself； and from the expression on her face； no one in the kitchen wanted to hear what she was saying。 Nynaeve could just make out the words。 〃But perhaps it will teach her to think before she speaks。〃
Nynaeve turned the spit and kept her head down； trying to look as if she were also muttering under her breath if anyone looked。 〃I thought you were going to keep a close eye on us。 Mother。 So we could report what we find。〃
〃If I e stare at you every day； Daughter； some would grow suspicious。〃 The Amyrlin kept up her study of the kitchen。 Most of the women seemed to be avoiding even looking in her direction for fear of incurring her wrath。 〃I planned to have you brought to my study after the midday meal。 To scold you for not choosing your studies； so I implied to Leane。 But there is news that could not wait。 Sheriam found another Gray Man。 A woman。 Dead as last week's fish； and not a mark on her。 She was laid out as if resting； right in the middle of Sheriam's bed。 Not very pleasant for Sheriam。〃
Nynaeve stiffened； and the spit halted for a moment before she put it back to revolving。 〃Sheriam had a chance to see the lists Verin gave to Egwene。 So did Elaida。 I make no accusations； but they had the chance。 And Egwene said Alanna。。。 behaved oddly； too。〃
〃She told you of that； did she？ Alanna is Arafellin。 They have strange ideas about honor and debts in Arafel。〃 She shrugged dismissively； but said； 〃I suppose I can keep an eye on her。 Have you learned anything useful yet； child？〃
〃Some；〃 Nynaeve muttered grimly。 What about keeping an eye on Sheriam？ Maybe she didn't just find that Gray Man。 The Amyrlin could watch Elaida； too； for that matter。 So Alanna really did。。。 〃I do not understand why you trust Else Grinwell； but your message was helpful。〃
In short； quick sentences； Nynaeve told of the things they had found in the storeroom under the library； making it seem only she and Egwene had gone； and added the conclusions they had reached concerning them。 She did not mention Egwene's dream … or whatever it had been； Egwene insisted it had been real … of Tel'aran'rhiod。 Nor did she speak of the ter'angreal Verin had given Egwene。 She could not make herself entirely trust the woman wearing the seven…striped stole … or any woman who could wear the shawl； for that matter … and it seemed best to keep some things in reserve。
When she was done； the Amyrlin was silent so long that Nynaeve began to think the woman had not heard。 She was about to repeat herself； a little louder； when the Amyrlin finally spoke； still hardly moving her lips。
〃I sent no message； Daughter。 The things Liandrin and the others left were searched thoroughly； and burned after nothing was found。 No one would use Black Ajah leavings。 As for Else Grinwell。。。 I remember the girl。 She could have learned； had she applied herself； but all she wanted was to smile at the men at the Warders' practice yard。 Else Grinwell was put on a trading vessel and sent back to her mother ten days ago。〃
Nynaeve tried to swallow the lump that had formed in her throat。 The Amyrlin's words made her think of bullies taunting smaller children。 The bullies were always so contemptuous of the littler children； always so sure the small ones were too stupid to realize what was happening； that they made little effort to disguise their snares。 That the Black Ajah was so contemptuous of her made her blood boil。 That they could set this snare filled her stomach with ice。 Light； if Else was sent away。。。 Light； anybody I talk to could be Liandrin； or any of the others。 Light！
The spit had stopped。 Hastily she started it turning once more。 No one seemed to have noticed； though。 They were all still doing their best not to look at the Amyrlin。
〃And what do you mean to do about this。。。 so…obvious trap？〃 the Amyrlin said softly； still staring over the kitchen； away from Nynaeve。 〃Do you mean to fall into this one； too？〃
Nynaeve's face reddened。 〃I know this trap for a trap。 Mother。 And the best way to catch whoever set a trap is to spring it and wait for him … or her … to e。〃 It sounded weaker than it had when she had said it to Egwene and Elayne； after what the Amyrlin had just told her； but she still meant it。
〃Perhaps so； child。 Perhaps it is the way to find them。 If they do not e and find you held tightly in their net。〃 She gave a vexed sigh。 〃I will put gold in your room for the journey。 And I will let it be whispered about that I have sent you out to a farm to hoe cabbages。 Will Elayne be going with you？〃
Nynaeve forgot herself enough to stare at the Amyrlin； then hurriedly put her eyes back on her hands。 Her knuckles were white on the spit handle。 〃You scheming old。。。 Why all the pretense； if you knew？ Your sly plots have had us squirming nearly as much as the Black Ajah has。 Why？〃 The Amyrlin's face had tightened； enough to make her force a more respectful tone。 〃If I may ask； Mother。〃
The Amyrlin snorted。 〃Putting Morgase back on the proper path whether she wants to go or not will be hard enough without her thinking I've sent her daughter to sea in a leaky skiff。 This way I can say straight out that it was none of my doing。 It may be a bit hard on Elayne； when she finally has to face her mother； but I have three hounds； now； not two。 I told you I'd have a hundred if I could。〃 She adjusted her stole on her shoulders。 〃This has gone on long enough。 If I stay this close to you； it may be noticed。 Have you anything more to tell me？ Or