eemed to connect him with the Black Wind。
〃I have never heard of this；〃 Alar said slowly； 〃Machin Shin waiting when a Waygate was opened。 It always roamed the Ways。 But it has been long； and perhaps the Black Wind hungers； and hopes to catch some unwary one entering a gate。 Verin； assuredly you cannot use this Waygate。 And however great your need； I cannot say I am sorry。 The Ways belong to the Shadow； now。〃
Rand frowned at the Waygate。 Could it be following me？ There were too many questions。 Had Fain somehow ordered the Black Wind？ Verin said it could not be done。 And why would Fain demand that he follow； then try to stop him？ He only knew that he believed the message。 He had to go to Toman Head。 If they found the Horn of Valere and Mat's dagger under a bush tomorrow； he still had to go。
Verin stood with eyes unfocused in thought。 Mat was sitting on the coping with his head in his hands； and Perrin watched him worriedly。 Loial seemed relieved that they could not use the Waygate； and ashamed at being relieved。
〃We are done for here；〃 Ingtar announced。 〃Verin Sedai； I followed you here against my better judgment； but I can no longer follow。 I mean to return to Cairhien。 Barthanes can tell me where the Darkfriends went； and somehow I will make him do it。〃
〃Fain went to Toman Head；〃 Rand said wearily。 〃And where he went； that's where the Horn is； and the dagger。〃
〃I suppose 。。。 〃 Perrin shrugged reluctantly。 〃I suppose we could try another Waygate。 At another stedding？〃
Loial stroked his chin and spoke quickly； as if to make up for his relief at the failure here。 〃Stedding Cantoine lies just above the River Iralell； and Stedding Taijing is east of it in the Spine of the World。 But the Waygate in Caemlyn； where the grove was； is closer； and the gate in the grove at Tar Valon is closest of all。〃
〃Whichever Waygate we try to use；〃 Verin said absently； 〃I fear we will find Machin Shin waiting。〃 Alar looked at her questioningly； but the Aes Sedai said no more that anyone could hear。 She muttered to herself instead； shaking her head as if arguing with herself。
〃What we need；〃 Hurin said diffidently； 〃is one of those Portal Stones。〃 He looked to Alar； then Verin； and when neither told him to stop； he went on； sounding increasingly confident。 〃The Lady Selene said those old Aes Sedai had studied those worlds； and that was how they knew how to make the Ways。 And that place we were 。。。 well； it only took us two days less to travel a hundred leagues。 If we could use a Portal Stone to go to that world； or one like it； why； it'd take no more than a week or two to reach the Aryth Ocean； and we could e back right on Toman Head。 Maybe it isn't so quick as the Ways； but it's a long sight quicker than riding off west。 What do you say； Lord Ingtar？ Lord Rand？〃
Verin answered him。 〃What you suggest might be possible； sniffer； but as well hope to open this Waygate again and find Machin Shin gone as hope to find a Portal Stone。 I know none closer than the Aiel Waste。 Though we could go back into Kinslayer's Dagger； if you； or Rand； or Loial think you could find that Stone again。〃
Rand looked at Mat。 His friend had lifted his head hopefully at this talk of the Stones。 A few weeks； Verin had said。 If they simply rode west； Mat would never live to see Toman Head。
〃I can find it；〃 Rand said reluctantly。 He felt ashamed。 Mat's going to die； Darkfriends have the Horn of Valere； Fain will hurt Emond's Field if you don't follow him； and you're afraid to channel the Power。 Once to go and once to e back。 Twice more won't drive you mad。 What really made him afraid； though； was the eagerness that leaped inside him at the thought of channeling again； of feeling the Power fill him； of feeling truly alive。
〃I do not understand this；〃 Alar said slowly。 〃The Portal Stones have not been used since the Age of Legends。 I did not think there was anyone who still knew how to use them。〃
〃The Brown Ajah knows many things；〃 Verin said dryly； 〃and I know how the Stones may be used。〃
The Eldest nodded。 〃Truly there are wonders in the White Tower of which we do not dream。 But if you can use a Portal Stone； there is no need for you to ride to Kinslayer's Dagger。 There is a Stone not far from where we stand。〃
〃The Wheel weaves as the Wheel wills； and the Pattern provides what is needful。〃 The absent look dropped from Verin's face altogether。 〃Take us to it；〃 she said briskly。 〃We have lost more than enough time already。〃
Chapter 37
（Portal Stone）
What Might Be
Alar led them away from the Waygate at a dignified pace； though Juin seemed more than anxious to leave the Waygate behind。 Mat； at least； looked ahead eagerly； and Hurin seemed confident； while Loial appeared concerned more that Alar might change her mind about his going than about anything else。 Rand did not hurry as he pulled Red along by the reins。 He did not think Verin meant to use the Stone herself。
The gray stone column stood upright near a beech almost a hundred feet tall and four paces thick； Rand would have thought it a big tree before he saw the Great Trees。 There was no warning coping here； only a few wildflowers pushing through the leafy mulch of the forest floor。 The Portal Stone itself was weathered； but the symbols covering it were still clear enough to make out。
The mounted Shienaran soldiers spread out in a loose circle around the Stone and those afoot。
〃We stood it upright；〃 Alar said； 〃when we found it many years ago； but we did not move it。 It 。。。 seemed to 。。。 resist being moved。〃 She went right up to it； and laid a big hand on the Stone。 〃I have always thought of it as a symbol of what has been lost； what has been forgotten。 In the Age of Legends； it could be studied and somewhat understood。 To us； it is only stone。〃
〃More than that； I hope。〃 Verin's voice grew brisker。 〃Eldest； I thank you for your help。 Forgive us for our lack of ceremony in leaving you； but the Wheel waits for no woman。 At least we will no longer disturb the peace of your stedding。〃
〃We called the stonemasons back from Cairhien；〃 Alar said； 〃but we still hear what happens in the world Outside。 False Dragons。 The Great Hunt of the Horn。 We hear； and it passes us by。 I do not think Tarmon Gai'don will pass us by； or leave us in peace。 Fare you well； Verin Sedai。 All of you； fare well； and may you shelter in the palm of the Creator's hand。 Juin。〃 She paused only for a glance at Loial and a last admonitory look at Rand； and then the Ogier were gone among the trees。
There was a creaking of saddles as the soldiers shifted。 Ingtar looked around the circle they made。 〃Is this necessary； Verin Sedai？ Even if it can be done。。。 We do not even know if the Darkfriends really have taken the Horn to Toman Head。 I still believe I can make Barthanes …〃
〃If we cannot be sure；〃 Verin said mildly； cutting him off； 〃then Toman Head is as good a place to look as any other。 More than once I've heard you say you would ride to Shayol Ghul if need be to recover the Horn。 Do you hold back now； at this？〃 She gestured to the Stone under the smoothbarked tree。
Ingtar's back stiffened。 〃I hold back at nothing。 Take us to Toman Head or take us to Shayol Ghul。 If the Horn of Valere lies at the end； I will follow you。〃
〃That is well； Ingtar。 Now； Rand； you have been transported by a Portal Stone more recently than I。 e。〃 She motioned to him； and he led Red over to her at the Stone。
〃You've used a Portal Stone？〃 He glanced over his shoulder to make sure no one else was close enough to hear。 〃Then you don't mean for me to。〃 He gave a relieved shrug。
Verin looked at him blandly。 〃I have never used a Stone； that is why your use is more recent than mine。 I am well aware of my limits。 I would be destroyed before I came close to channeling enough Power to work a Portal Stone。 But I know a little of them。 Enough to help you； a bit。〃
〃But I don't know anything。〃 He led his horse around the Stone； looking it up and down。 〃The one thing I remember is the symbol for our world。 Selene showed me； but I don't see it here。〃
〃Of course not。 Not on