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he tied the flows； that would leave the woman trapped in Tel'aran'rhiod until they were unraveled； helpless if that lion or the boarlike creature returned。
No。 She simply needed the woman to lower her spear； just long enough to feel safe closing her eyes； to take herself back to Tanchico。 Back to what she was supposed to be doing。 She had no more time for these flights of fancy。 She was not entirely sure someone who had only dreamed themselves into Tel'aran'rhiod could harm her the way other things there could； but she was not going to risk finding out with an Aiel spear point。 The Aiel woman should vanish in a few moments。 Something to put her off balance until then。
Changing her clothes was easy； as soon as the thought came； Egwene was wearing the same browns and grays as the woman。 〃I mean you no harm；〃 she said； outwardly calm。
The woman did not lower her weapon。 Instead； she frowned and said； 〃You have no right to wear cadin'sor； girl。〃 And Egwene found herself standing there in her skin； the sun burning her from overhead； the ground searing her bare feet。
For a moment she gaped in disbelief； dancing from foot to foot。 She had not thought it possible to change things about someone else。 So many possibilities； so many rules； that she did not know。 Hurriedly she thought herself back into stout shoes and the dark dress with its divided skirts and at the same time made the Aiel woman's garments vanish。 She had to draw on saidar to do it； the woman must have been concentrating on keeping Egwene naked。 She had a flow ready to seize the spear if the other woman made to throw it。
It was the Aiel woman's turn to look shocked。 She let the spear fall to her side； too； and Egwene seized the moment to shut her eyes and take herself back to Tanchico； back to the skeleton of that huge boar。 Or whatever it was。 She barely gave it a second glance this time。 She was growing tired of things that looked like boars and were not。 How did she do that？ No！ It's wondering about how and why that keeps pulling me off the path。 This time I'll stick to it。
She did hesitate； though。 Just as she had closed her eyes it had seemed she saw another woman； beyond the Aiel woman； watching them both。 A golden haired woman holding a silver bow。 You are letting wild fancies take you； now。 You've been listening to too many of Thorn Merrilin's stories。 Brigitte was long dead； she could not e again until the Horn of Valere called her back from the grave。 Dead women； even heroes of legend； surely could not dream themselves into Tel'aran'rhiod。
It was only a moment's pause； though。 Shutting off futile speculation； she ran back to the square。 How much time did she have left？ The whole city to search； and time slipping away； and she as ignorant as when she started。 If only she had some idea of what to look for。 Or where。 Running did not seem to tire her here in the World of Dreams； but run as hard as she might； she would never cover the entire city before Elayne and Nynaeve woke her。 She did not want to have to e back。
A woman appeared suddenly among the flock of pigeons that had gathered in the square。 Her gown was pale green； thin and draped closely enough to have satisfied Berelain； her dark hair was in dozens of narrow braids； and her face was covered to the eyes by a transparent veil like the one the falling man had worn。 The pigeons soared up； and so did the woman gliding over the nearest rooftops with them before abruptly winking out of existence。
Egwene smiled。 She dreamed of flying like a bird all the time； and this was a dream； after all。 She leaped into the air； and kept going up； toward the roofs。 She wobbled as she thought how ridiculous this was … Flying？ People did not fly！ … then steadied again as she forced herself to be confident。 She was doing it； and that was all there was to it。 This was a dream； and she was flying。 The wind rushed in her face； and she wanted to laugh giddily。
She skimmed across the Panarch's Circle； where rows of stone benches slanted down from the high wall to a broad field of packed dirt in the center。 Imagine so many people gathered； and to watch a fireworks display by the Guild of Illuminators themselves。 Back home fireworks were a rare treat。 She could remember the handful of times in her life Emond's Field had had them； with the grownups as excited as the children。
She sailed over rooftops like a falcon； over palaces and mansions； humble dwellings and shops； warehouses and stables。 She slid by domes topped with golden spires and bronze weathervanes； by towers ringed with lacy stone balconies。 Carts and wagons dotted wagon yards； waiting。 Ships crowded the great harbor and the fingers of water between the city's peninsulas； they lined the docks。 Everything seemed in a poor state of repair； from the carts to the ships； but nothing she saw pointed to the Black Ajah。 As far as she knew。
She considered trying to envision Liandrin … she knew that doll's face all too well； with its multitude of blond braids； its self…satisfied brown eyes； and its smirking rosebud mouth … picture her in the hopes she might be drawn to where the Black sister was。 But if it worked； she might find Liandrin in Tel'aran'rhiod； too； and maybe others of them。 She was not ready for that。
It suddenly occurred to her that if any of the Black Ajah were in Tanchico； in the Tanchico of Tel'aran'rhiod； she was flaunting herself for them。 Any eye looking at the sky would notice a woman flying； one who did not vanish after a few moments。 Her smooth flight staggered； and she swooped down below roof level； floating along the streets more slowly than before but still faster than a horse could ran。 She might be rushing toward them； but she could not make herself stop and wait for them。
Fool she called herself furiously。 Fool！ They could know I'm here now。 They could be laying a trap already。 She considered stepping out of the dream； back to her bed in Tear； but she had found nothing。 If there was anything to find。
A tall woman was suddenly standing in the street ahead of her； slim in a bulky brown skirt and loose white blouse； with a brown shawl around her shoulders and a folded scarf around her forehead to hold white hair that spilled to her waist。 Despite her plain clothes she wore a great many necklaces and bracelets of gold or ivory or both。 Fists planted on her hips； she stared straight at Egwene； frowning。
Another fool woman who's dreamed herself where she has no right to be and doesn't believe what she's seeing； Egwene thought。 She had the description of every woman who had gone with Liandrin； and this woman certainly matched none of them。 But the woman did not vanish again； she stood there as Egwene approached swiftly。 Why doesn't she go？ Why。。。 ？ Oh； Light！ She's really。。。 ！ She snatched for the flows to weave lightning； to tangle the woman in Air； fumbling in startled haste。
〃Put your feet on the ground； girl；〃 the woman barked。 〃I had enough trouble finding you again without you flying off like some bird when I do。〃
Abruptly Egwene stopped flying。 Her feet thumped hard on the pavement； and she staggered。 It was the Aiel woman's voice； but this was an older woman。 Not as old as Egwene had thought at first … in fact； she looked much younger than her white hair suggested … but with the voice； and those sharp blue eyes； she was sure it was the same woman。 〃You're。。。 different；〃 she said。
〃You can be what you wish to be； here。〃 The woman sounded embarrassed； but only a little。 〃At times I like to remember。。。 That is not important。 You are from the White Tower？ It has been long since they had a dreamwalker。 Very long。 I am Amys； of the Nine Valleys sept of the Taardad Aiel。〃
〃You are a Wise One？ You are！ And you know dreams； you know Tel'aran'rhiod！ You can。。。 My name is Egwene。 Egwene al'Vere。 I。。。〃 She took a deep breath； Amys did not look a woman to lie to。 〃I am Aes Sedai。 Of the Green Ajah。〃
Amys's expression did not change； really。 A slight crinkling of her eyes； perhaps in skepticism。 Egwene hardly looked old enough to be full Aes Sedai。 What she said； though； was 〃I meant to leave you standing in your skin until you asked for some proper clothes。 Putting on cadin'sor that way； as though you were。。。 You surprised me； pulling free as you did； turning my own spear on me。 But you are still untaught； are you not； however strong。 Else you would not have popped into the middle of my hunt that way； where you obviously did not wish to be。 And this flying about？ Did you e to Tel'aran'rhiod … Tel'aran'rhiod！ … to stare at this city； wherever it is？〃
〃It's Tanchico；〃 Egwene said faintly。 She didn't know。 But then how had Amys followed her； or found her？ It was obvious she knew more of the World of Dreams than Egwene did； by far。 〃You can help me。 I am trying to find women of the Black Ajah； Darkfriends。 I think they are here； and I have to find them if they are。〃
〃It truly exists； then。〃 Amys almost whispered it。 〃An Ajah of Shadowrunners in the White Tower。〃 She shook her head； 〃You are like a girl just wedded to the spear who thinks now she can wrestle men and leap mountains。 For her it means a few bruises and a valuable lesson in humility。 For you； here； it could mean death。〃 Amys eyed the white buildings around them and grimaced。 〃Tanchico？ In。。。 Tarabon？ This city is dying； eating itself。 There is a darkness here； an evil。 Worse than men can make。 Or women。〃 She looked at Egwene pointedly。 〃You cannot see it； or feel it； can you？ And you want to hunt Shadowrunners in Tel'aran'rhiod。〃
〃Evil？〃 Egwene said quickly。 〃That could be them。 Are you sure？ If I told you what they look like； could you be certain it was them？ I can describe them。 I can describe one to her last braid。〃
〃A child；〃 Amys muttered； 〃demanding a silver bracelet from her father this minute when she knows nothing of trading or the making of bracelets。 You have much to learn。 Far more than I can begin to teach you； now。 e to the Three…fold Land。 I will have the word spread through the clans that an Aes Sedai called Egwene al'Vere is to be brought to me at Cold Rocks Hold。 Give your name and show your Great Serpent ring； and you will have safe running。 I am not there now； but I will return from Rhuidean before you can arrive。〃
〃Please； you must help me。 I need to know if they are here。 I have to know。〃
〃But I cannot tell you。 I do not know them； or this place； this Tanchico。 You must e to me。 What you do is dangerous； far more dangerous than you know。 You must … Where are you going？ Stay！〃
Something seemed to snatch at Egwene； pulling her into darkness。
Amys's voice followed her； hollow and dwindling。 〃You must e to me and learn。 You must。。。〃
Chapter 12
（Flame of Tar Valon）
Tanchico or the Tower
Elayne drew a ragged； relieved breath as Egwene finally stirred and opened her eyes。 At the foot of the bed； Aviendha's features lost their tinge of frustration and anxiety； and she flashed a quick smile that Egwene returned。 The candle had burned past the mark minutes ago； it seemed an hour。
〃You would not wake up； 〃Elayne said unsteadily。 〃I shook you and shook you； but you would not wake。〃 She gave a small laugh。 〃Oh； Egwene； you even frightened Aviendha。〃
Egwene put a hand on her arm and squeezed reassuringly。 〃I am back； now。〃 She sounded tired； and she had sweated her shift through。 〃I suppose I had reason to stay a little longer than we planned。 I will be more careful next time。 I promise。〃
Nynaeve returned the pitcher of water to the washstand vigorously； sloshing some out。 She had been on the point of throwing it in Egwene's sleeping face。 Her features were posed； but the pitcher rattled the washbowl； and she let the spilled water drip to the carpet。 〃Was it something you found？ Or was it。。。 ？ Egwene； if the World of Dreams can hold on to you in some way； maybe it is too dangerous until you learn more。 Maybe the more often you go； the harder it is to e back。 Maybe。。。 I don't know。 But I do know we cannot risk letting you bee lost。〃 She crossed her arms under her breasts； ready for an argument。
〃I know；〃 Egwene said； very close to meekly。 Elayne's ey