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ht you wanted to go see your trees。〃
〃There is a very fine grove at Tar Valon； and I have been told the Aes Sedai keep it well tended。 Besides； it is not just the groves I want to see。 Perhaps you are not another Artur Hawkwing； but for a time； at least； part of the world will shape itself around you； perhaps is even now shaping itself around you。 Even Elder Haman would want to see that。〃
Rand hesitated。 It would be good to have someone else along。 The way Mat was behaving； being with him was almost like being alone。 The Ogier was a forting presence。 Maybe he was young as Ogier reckoned age； but he seemed as unflappable as a rock； just like Tam。 And Loial had been all of those places； and knew about others。 He looked at the Ogier； sitting there with his broad face a picture of patience。 Sitting there； and taller sitting than most men standing。 How do you hide somebody almost ten feet tall？ He sighed and shook his head。
〃I don't think that is a good idea； Loial。 Even if Moiraine finds us here； we'll be in danger all the way to Tar Valon。 If she does not 。。。〃 If she doesn't； then she's dead and so is everyone else。 Oh； Egwene。 He gave himself a shake。 Egwene was not dead； and Moiraine would find them。
Loial looked at him sympathetically and touched his shoulder。 〃I am sure your friends are well； Rand。〃
Rand nodded his thanks。 His throat was too tight to speak。
〃Will you at least talk with me sometimes？〃 Loial sighed； a bass rumble。 〃And perhaps play a game of stones？ I have not had anyone to talk to in days； except good Master Gill； and he is busy most of the time。 The cook seems to run him unmercifully。 Perhaps she really owns the inn？〃
〃Of course； I will。〃 His voice was hoarse。 He cleared his throat and tried to grin。 〃And if we meet in Tar Valon； you can show me the grove there。〃 They have to be all right。 Light send they're all right。
Chapter 37
The Long Chase
Nynaeve gripped the reins of the three horses and peered into the night as if she could somehow pierce the darkness and find the Aes Sedai and the Warder。 Skeletal trees surrounded her； stark and black in the dim moonlight。 The trees and the night made an effective screen for whatever Moiraine and Lan were doing； not that either of them had paused to let her know what that was。 A low 〃Keep the horses quiet；〃 from Lan； and they were gone； leaving her standing like a stableboy。 She glanced at the horses and sighed with exasperation。
Mandarb blended into the night almost as well as his master's cloak。 The only reason the battle…trained stallion was letting her get this close was because Lan had handed her the reins himself。 He seemed calm enough now； but she remembered all too well the lips drawing back silently when she reached for his bridle without waiting for Lan's approval。 The silence had made the bared teeth seem that much more dangerous。 With a last wary look at the stallion； she turned to peer in the direction the other two had gone； idly stroking her own horse。 She gave a startled jump when Aldieb pushed a pale muzzle under her hand； but after a minute she gave the white mare a pat； too。
〃No need to take it out on you； I suppose；〃 she whispered； 〃just because your mistress is a cold…faced … 〃 She strained at the darkness again。 What were they doing？
After leaving Whitebridge they had ridden through villages that seemed unreal in their normality； ordinary market villages that seemed to Nynaeve unconnected to a world that had Fades and Trollocs and Aes Sedai。 They had followed the Caemlyn Road； until at last Moiraine sat forward in Aldieb's saddle； peering eastward as if she could see the whole length of the great highway； all the many miles to Caemlyn； and see； too； what waited there。
Eventually the Aes Sedai let out a long breath and settled back。 〃The Wheel weaves as the Wheel wills；〃 she murmured； 〃but I cannot believe it weaves an end to hope。 I must first take care of that of which I can be certain。 It will be as the Wheel weaves。〃 And she turned her mare north； off the road into the forest。 One of the boys was in that direction with the coin Moiraine had given him。 Lan followed。
Nynaeve gave a long last look at the Caemlyn Road。 Few people shared the roadway with them there； a couple of high…wheeled carts and one empty wagon in the distance； a handful of folk afoot with their belongings on their backs or piled on pushcarts。 Some of those were willing to admit they were on their way to Caemlyn to see the false Dragon； but most denied it vehemently； especially those who had e through Whitebridge。 At Whitebridge she had begun to believe Moiraine。 Somewhat。 More； at any rate。 And there was no fort in that。
The Warder and the Aes Sedai were almost out of sight through the trees before she started after them。 She hurried to catch up。 Lan looked back at her frequently； and waved for her to e on； but he kept at Moiraine's shoulder； and the Aes Sedai had her eyes fixed ahead。
One evening after they left the road； the invisible trail failed。 Moiraine； the unflappable Moiraine； suddenly stood up beside the small fire where the tea kettle was boiling； her eyes widening。 〃It is gone；〃 she whispered at the night。〃He is 。。。 ？〃 Nynaeve could not finish the question。 Light； I don't even know which one it is！
〃He did not die；〃 the Aes Sedai said slowly； 〃but he no longer has the token。〃 She sat down； her voice level and her hands steady as she took the kettle off the flames and tossed in a handful of tea。 〃In the morning we will keep on as we've been going。 When I get close enough； I can find him without the coin。〃
As the fire burned down to coals； Lan rolled himself in his cloak and went to sleep。 Nynaeve could not sleep。 She watched the Aes Sedai。 Moiraine had her eyes closed； but she sat upright； and Nynaeve knew she was awake。
Long after the last glow had faded from the coals； Moiraine opened her eyes and looked at her。 She could feel the Aes Sedai's smile even in the dark。 〃He has regained the coin； Wisdom。 All will be well。〃 She lay down on her blankets with a sigh and almost at once was breathing deep in slumber。
Nynaeve had a hard time joining her； tired as she was。 Her mind conjured up the worst no matter how she tried to stop it。 All will be well。 After Whitebridge； she could no longer make herself believe that so easily。
Abruptly Nynaeve was jerked from memory back to the night； there really was a hand on her arm。 Stifling the cry that rose in her throat； she fumbled for the knife at her belt； her hand closing on the hilt before she realized that the hand was Lan's。
The Warder's hood was thrown back； but his chameleon…like cloak blended so well with the night that the dim blur of his face seemed to hang suspended in the night。 The hand on her arm appeared to e out of thin air。
She drew a shuddering breath。 She expected him to ment on how easily he had e on her unaware； but instead he turned to dig into his saddlebags。 〃You are needed；〃 he said； and knelt to fasten hobbles on the horses。
As soon as the horses were secured； he straightened； grasped her hand； and headed off into the