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gh to bend backwards and put your head between your ankles。 Mind and body。 One can't be limber without the other。 Just put yourself in my hands。〃
Egwene teetered on the brink of sleep。 Not a dreamwalker's sleep； just sleep。 How long since she had done that？ The camp would be in an uproar once Delana's proposal got out； which it would soon enough； and that was before she had to tell Romanda and Lelaine she had no intention of issuing their edicts。 But there was one thing yet today to look forward to； a reason to remain awake。 〃That will be nice；〃 she murmured； meaning more than the promised massage。 Long ago she had pledged that one day she would bring Sheriam to heel； and today was the day。 At last she was beginning to be the Amyrlin； in control。 〃Very nice。〃
Chapter 13
（Star and Birds）
The Bowl of the Winds
Aviendha would have sat on the floor； but three other women occupying the boat's small room left not quite enough space； so she had to be content with folding her legs atop one of the carved wooden benches built against the walls。 That way； it was not so much like sitting in a chair。 At least the door was shut； and there were no windows； only fanciful carved scrollwork piercing the walls near the ceiling。 She could not see the water outside； but the piercings let in the smell of salt and the slap of waves against the hull and the splash of the oars。 Even the shrill hollow cries of some sort of birds shouted of vast expanses of water。 She had seen men die for a pool they might have stepped across； but this water was bitter beyond belief。 Reading of it was not at all the same as tasting it And the river had been at least half a mile wide where they boarded this boat with its two oddly leering oarsmen。 Half a mile of water； and not a drop fit for drinking。 Who could imagine useless water？
The motion of the boat had changed； to a rocking back and forth。 Were they out of the river； yet？ Into what was called 〃the bay〃？ That was wider still； far wider； so Elayne said。 Aviendha locked her hands on her knees and tried desperately to think of anything else。 If the others saw her fear； the shame would follow her to the end of her days。 The worst of it was； she had suggested this； after hearing Elayne and Nynaeve talk of the Sea Folk。 How could she have known what it would be like？
The blue silk of her dress felt incredibly smooth； and she latched on to that。 She was barely used to skirts at all … she still yearned for the cadin'sor the Wise Ones had made her burn when she began training with them … and here she wore a silk dress … of which she now owned four！ … and silk stockings instead of stout wool； and a silk shift that made her aware of her skin in a way she never had been before。 She could not deny the beauty of the dress； no matter how odd it was to find herself wearing such things； but silk was precious； and rare。 A woman might have a scarf of silk； to be worn on feastdays and envied by others。 Few women had two。 It was different among these wetlanders； though。 Not everyone wore silk； yet sometimes it seemed to her every second person did。 Great bolts and even bales of it came by ship from the lands beyond the Three…fold Land。 By ship。 On the ocean。 Water stretching to the horizon； with many places where； if she understood correctly； you could not see land at all。 She came close to shivering at the impossible thought。
None of the others looked as if they wished to talk。 Elayne absently twisted the Great Serpent ring on her right hand and peered at something not to be seen inside the four walls。 These worries often overtook her。 Two duties confronted her； and if one lay nearer her heart； she had chosen the one she considered more important； more honorable。 It was her right and duty to bee the chief； the queen； of Andor； but she had chosen to continue hunting。 In a way； however important their search； that was like putting something before clan or society； yet Aviendha felt pride。 Elayne's view of honor was as peculiar at times as the notion of a woman being a chief； or her being chief just because her mother had been； but she followed it admirably。 Birgitte； in the wide red trousers and short yellow coat Aviendha envied； sat toying with her waist…long braid； lost in thought as well。 Or maybe sharing part of Elayne's worries。 She was Elayne's first Warder； which upset the Aes Sedai back in the Tarasin Palace no end； though it did not seem to bother their Warders。 Wetlander customs were so curious they hardly bore thinking about。
If Elayne and Birgitte seemed to deflect any thought of talk； Nynaeve al'Meara； directly opposite Aviendha by the door； rebuffed it firmly。 Nynaeve； not Nynaeve al'Meara。 Wetlanders liked to be called by only half their names； and Aviendha was trying to remember； however much it felt like using a honey…name。 Rand al'Thor was the only lover she had ever had； and she did not think even of him so intimately； but she had to learn their ways if she was to wed one of them。
Nynaeve's deep brown eyes stared through her。 Her knuckles were white on a thick braid as dark as Birgitte's was golden； and her face had gone beyond pale to a faint green。 From time to time she emitted a tiny muted groan。 She did not usually sweat； she and Elayne had taught Aviendha the trick。 Nynaeve was a puzzle。 Brave to the point of madness sometimes； she moaned over her supposed cowardice； and here she displayed her shame for all to see without a care。 How could the motion disturb her so； when all that water did not？
Water again。 Aviendha shut her eyes to avoid seeing Nynaeve's face； but that only made the sounds of the birds and the lapping water fill her head。
〃I have been thinking；〃 Elayne said suddenly； then paused。 〃Are you all right； Aviendha？ You。。。 〃 Aviendha's cheeks reddened； but at least Elayne did not say aloud that she had jumped like a rabbit at the sound of her voice。 Elayne seemed to realize how close she had e to revealing Aviendha's dishonor； color flushed her own cheeks as she continued。 〃I was thinking about Nicola； and Areina。 About what Egwene told us last night。 You don't suppose they can cause her any trouble； do you？ What is she to do？〃
〃Rid herself of them；〃 Aviendha said； drawing a thumb across her neck。 The relief of speaking； of hearing voices； was so great that she almost gasped。 Elayne appeared shocked。 She was remarkably softhearted at times。
〃It might be for the best；〃 Birgitte said。 She had revealed no more name than that。 Aviendha thought her a woman with secrets。 〃Areina could have made something of herself with time； but … Don't look at me that way； Elayne； and stop going all prim and indignant in your head。〃 Birgitte often slipped back and forth between the Warder who obeyed and the older first…sister who instructed whether or not you wished to learn。 Right then； waving an admonishing finger； she was the first…sister。 〃You two wouldn't have been warned to stay away if it was a difficulty the Amyrlin could solve by having them set to work with the laundresses or the like。〃
Elayne gave a sharp sniff in the face of what she could not deny； and adjusted her green silk skirts where they were drawn up in front to expose layers of blue and white petticoats。 She was wearing the local fashion； plete with creamy lace at her wrists and around her neck； a gift from Tylin Quintara； as was the close…fitting necklace of woven gold。 Aviendha did not approve。 The upper half of the dress； the bodice； fitted as snugly as that necklace； and a missing narrow oval of cloth revealed the inner slopes of her breasts。 Walking about where all could see was not the same as the sweat tents； people in the streets of the city were not gai'shain。 Her own dress had a high neck that brushed her chin with lace and no parts of it missing。
〃Beside；〃 Birgitte went on； 〃I would think Marigan would worry you more。 She frightens me spitless。〃
That name got through to Nynaeve； as well it might。 Her groaning ceased； and she sat up straight。 〃If she es after us； we will just settle for her again。 We'll。。。 we'll。。。 〃 Drawing breath； she stared at them pointedly； as if they were arguing with her。 What she said； in a faint voice； was 〃Do you think she will？〃
〃Fretting will do no good；〃 Elayne told her； much more calmly than Aviendha could have managed if she thought one of the Shadowsouled had marked her out。 〃We will just have to do as Egwene said and be careful。〃 Nynaeve muttered something inaudible； which was probably just as well。
Silence descended again； Elayne settling to a browner study than before； Birgitte propping her chin on one hand as she frowned at nothing。 Nynaeve kept right on grumbling under her breath； but she had both hands pressed to her middle now； and from time to time she paused to swallow。 The splashing of water seemed louder than ever； and the cries of the birds。
〃I have been thinking too； near…sister。〃 She and Elayne had not reached the point of adopting each other as first…sisters yet； but she was sure they would； now。 Already they brushed each other's hair； and every night in the dark shared another secret never told to anyone else。 This Min woman； though。。。 That was for later； when they were alone。
〃About what？〃 Elayne asked absently。
〃Our search。 We prepare for success； but we are as far away as when we began。 Does it make sense not to use every weapon at hand？ Mat Cauthon is ta'veren； yet we work to avoid him。 Why not take him with us？ With him； we might find the bowl at last。〃
〃Mat？〃 Nynaeve exclaimed incredulously。 〃As well stuff your shift full of nettles！ I would not endure the man if he had the bowl in his coat pocket。〃
〃Oh； do be quiet； Nynaeve；〃 Elayne murmured； without any heat。 She shook her head wonderingly； taking no notice of the other's sudden glower。 〃Prickly〃 only began to describe Nynaeve； but they were all used to her ways。 〃Why didn't I think of that？ It is so obvious！〃
〃Maybe；〃 Birgitte murmured dryly； 〃you had Mat the scoundrel set so hard in your mind； you couldn't see he had any use。〃 Elayne gave her a cool stare； chin raised； then abruptly grimaced； and nodded reluctantly。 She did not accept criticism easily。
〃No；〃 Nynaeve said in a voice that somehow managed to be sharp and weak at the same time。 The sickly cast of her face had deepened； but it no longer seemed caused by the boat's heaving。 〃You cannot possibly mean it！ Elayne； you know what a torment he can be； how stubborn he is。 He'll insist on bringing those soldiers of his like a feastday parade。 Try finding anything in the Rahad with soldiers at your shoulder。 Just try！ Inside two steps； he'll try to take charge； flaunting that ter'angreal at us。 He's a thousand times worse than Vandene or Adeleas； or even Merilille。 The way he behaves； you would think we'd walk into a bear's den just to see the bear！〃
Birgitte made a noise in her throat that might have been amusement； and received a darted glare。 She returned such a look of bland innocence that Nynaeve began to sound as if she were choking。
Elayne was more soothing； she probably would try to make peace in a water…feud。 〃He is ta'veren； Nynaeve。 He alters the Pattern； alters chance； just being there。 I'm ready to admit we need luck； and a ta'veren is more than luck。 Besides； we can snare two birds at once。 We should not have been letting him run loose all this time； no matter how busy we were。 That's done no one any good； him least of all。 He needs to be made fit for decent pany。 We will put him on a short rein from the start；〃
Nynaeve smoothed her skirts with considerable vigor。 She claimed to have no more interest in dresses than Aviendha … in what they looked like； anyway； she was always muttering about good plain wool being fine enough for anybody … yet her own blue dress was slashed with yellow on the skirts and sleeves； and she herself had chosen its design。 Every stitch she owned was silk or embroidered or both； all cut with what Aviendha had learned to recognize as fine care。
For once Nynaeve appeared to understand she would not get her way。 Sometimes she threw amazing tantrums until she did； not that she would admit that was what they were。 The glower faded to a grumpy sulk。 〃Who wil