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I can bee an Aes Sedai？〃
Rand jumped up； cracking his head against the low roof of logs。 Thom Merrilin grabbed his arm； yanking him back down。
〃Don't be a fool；〃 the gleeman murmured。 He eyed the women … neither seemed to have noticed…and the look he gave Rand was sympathetic。 〃It's beyond you now； boy。〃
〃Child；〃 Moiraine said gently； 〃only a very few can learn to touch the True Source and use the One Power。 Some of those can learn to a greater degree； some to a lesser。 You are one of the bare handful for whom there is no need to learn。 At least； touching the Source will e to you whether you want it or not。 Without the teaching you can receive in Tar Valon； though； you will never learn to channel it fully； and you may not survive。 Men who have the ability to touch saidin born in them die； of course； if the Red Ajah does not find them and gentle them 。。。〃
Thom growled deep in his throat； and Rand shifted unfortably。 Men like those of whom the Aes Sedai spoke were rare … he had only heard of three in his whole life； and thank the Light never in the Two Rivers … but the damage they did before the Aes Sedai found them was always bad enough for the news to carry； like the news of wars； or earthquakes that destroyed cities。 He had never really understood what the Ajahs did。 According to the stories they were societies among the Aes Sedai that seemed to plot and squabble among themselves more than anything else； but the stories were clear on one point。 The Red Ajah held its prime duty to be the prevention of another Breaking of the World； and they did it by hunting down every man who even dreamed of wielding the One Power。 Mat and Perrin looked as if they suddenly wished they were back home in their beds。
〃。。。 but some of the women die； too。 It is hard to learn without a guide。 The women we do not find； those who live； often bee 。。。 well； in this part of the world they might bee Wisdoms of their villages。〃 The Aes Sedai paused thoughtfully。 〃The old blood is strong in Emond's Field； and the old blood sings。 I knew you for what you were the moment I saw you。 No Aes Sedai can stand in the presence of a woman who can channel or who is close to her change； and not feel it。 〃 She rummaged in the pouch at her belt and produced the small blue gem on a gold chain that she had earlier worn in her hair。 〃You are very close to your change； your first touching。 It will be better if I guide you through it。 That way you will avoid the 。。。 unpleasant effects that e to those who must find their own way。〃
Egwene's eyes widened as she looked at the stone； and she wet her lips repeatedly。 〃Is 。。。 does that have the Power？〃
〃Of course not；〃 Moiraine snapped。 〃Things do not have the Power； child。 Even an angreal is only a tool。 This is just a pretty blue stone。 But it can give off light。 Here。〃
Egwene's hands trembled as Moiraine laid the stone on her fingertips。 She started to pull back； but the Aes Sedai held both her hands in one of hers and gently touched the other to the side of Egwene's head。
〃Look at the stone；〃 the Aes Sedai said softly。 〃It is better this way than fumbling alone。 Clear your mind of everything but the stone。 Clear your mind； and let yourself drift。 There is only the stone and emptiness。 I will begin it。 Drift； and let me guide you。 No thoughts。 Drift。〃
Rand's fingers dug into his knees； his jaws clenched until they hurt。 She has to fail。 She has to。
Light bloomed in the stone； just one flash of blue and then gone； no brighter than a firefly； but he flinched as if it had been blinding。 Egwene and Moiraine stared into the stone； faces empty。 Another flash came； and another； until the azure light pulsed like the beating of a heart。 It's the Aes Sedai； he thought desperately。 Moiraine's doing it。 Not Egwene。
One last； feeble flicker； and the stone was merely a bauble again。 Rand held his breath。
For a moment Egwene continued to stare at the small stone； then she looked up at Moiraine。 〃I 。。。 I thought I felt 。。。 something； but 。。。 Perhaps you're mistaken about me。 I am sorry I wasted your time。〃
〃I have wasted nothing； child。〃 A small smile of satisfaction flitted across Moiraine's lips。 〃That last light was yours alone。〃
〃It was？〃 Egwene exclaimed； then slid immediately back into glumness。 〃But it was barely there at all。 〃
〃Now you are behaving like a foolish village girl。 Most who e to Tar Valon must study for many months before they can do what you just did。 You may go far。 Perhaps even the Amyrlin Seat； one day； if you study hard and work hard。〃
〃You mean 。。。 ？〃 With a cry of delight Egwene threw her arms around the Aes Sedai。 〃Oh； thank you。 Rand； did you hear？ I'm going to be an Aes Sedai！〃
Chapter 13
Choices
Before they went to sleep Moiraine knelt by each in turn and laid her hands on their heads。 Lan grumbled that he had no need and she should not waste her strength； but he did not try to stop her。 Egwene was eager for the experience； Mat and Perrin clearly frightened of it； and frightened to say no。 Thom jerked away from the Aes Sedai's hands； but she seized his gray head with a look that allowed no nonsense。 The gleeman scowled through the entire thing。 She smiled mockingly once she took her hands away。 His frown deepened； but he did look refreshed。 They all did。
Rand had drawn back into a niche in the uneven wall where he hoped he would be overlooked。 His eyes wanted to slide closed once he leaned back against the timber jumble； but he forced himself to watch。 He pushed a fist against his mouth to stifle a yawn。 A little sleep； an hour or two； and he would be just fine。 Moiraine did not forget him； though。
He flinched at the coolness of her fingers on his face； and said； 〃I don't …〃 His eyes widened in wonder。 Tiredness drained out of him like water running downhill； aches and soreness ebbed to dim memories and vanished。 He stared at her with his mouth hanging open。 She only smiled and withdrew her hands。
〃It is done；〃 she said； and as she stood with a weary sigh he was reminded that she could not do the same for herself。 Indeed； she only drank a little tea； refusing the bread and cheese Lan tried to press on her； before curling up beside the fire。 She seemed to fall asleep the instant she wrapped her cloak around her。
The others； all save Lan； were dropping asleep wherever they could find a space to stretch out； but Rand could not imagine why。 He felt as if he had already had a full night in a good bed。 No sooner did he lean back against the log wall； though； than sleep rolled him under。 When Lan poked him awake an hour later he felt as though he had had three days rest。
The Warder awakened them all； except Moiraine； and he sternly hushed any sound that might disturb her。 Even so； he allowed them only a short stay in the snug cave of trees。 Before the sun was twice its own height above the horizon； all traces that anyone had ever stopped there had been cleared away and they were all mounted and moving north toward Baerlon； riding slowly to conserve the horses。 The Aes Sedai's eyes were shadowed； but she sat her saddle upright and steady