the symbol for our world。 Selene showed me； but I don't see it here。〃
〃Of course not。 Not on a Stone in our world； the symbols are aids in getting to a world。〃 She shook her head。 〃What would I not give to talk with this girl of yours？ Or better； to put my hands on her book。 It is generally thought that no copy of Mirrors of the Wheel survived the Breaking whole。 Serafelle always tells me there are more books that we believe lost than I could credit waiting to be found。 Well； no use in worrying over what I don't know。 I do know some things。 The symbols on the top half of the Stone stand for worlds。 Not all the Worlds That Might Be； of course。 Apparently； not every Stone connects to every world； and the Aes Sedai of the Age of Legends believed that there were possible worlds no Stones at all touched。 Do you see nothing that sparks a memory？〃
〃Nothing。〃 If he found the right symbol； he could use it to find Fain and the Horn； to save Mat； to stop Fain hurting Emond's Field。 If he found the symbol； he would have to touch saidin。 He wanted to save Mat and stop Fain； but the did not want to touch saidin。 He was afraid to channel； and he hungered for it like a starving man for food。 〃I don't remember anything。〃
Verin sighed。 〃The symbols at the bottom indicate Stones at other places。 If you know the trick of it； you could take us； not to this same Stone in another world； but to one of those others there； or even to one of them here。 It was something akin to Traveling； I think； but just as no one remembers how to Travel； no one remembers the trick。 Without that knowledge； trying it might easily destroy us all。〃 She pointed to two parallel wavy lines crossed by an odd squiggle； carved low on the column。 〃That indicates a Stone on Toman Head。 It is one of three Stones for which I know the symbol； the only one of those three I've visited。 And what I learned … after nearly being caught by the snows in the Mountains of Mist and freezing my way across Almoth Plain … was absolutely nothing。 Do you play at dice； or cards； Rand al'Thor？〃
〃Mat's the gambler。 Why？〃
〃Yes。 Well； we'll leave him out of this； I think。 These other symbols are also known to me。〃
With one finger she outlined a rectangle containing eight carvings that were much alike； a circle and an arrow； but in half the arrow was contained inside the circle； while in the others the point pierced the circle through。 The arrows pointed left； right； up and down； and surrounding each circle was a different line of what Rand was sure was script； though in no language he knew； all curving lines that suddenly became jagged hooks； then flowed on again。
〃At least；〃 Verin went on； 〃I know this much about them。 Each stands for a world； the study of which led eventually to the making of the Ways。 These are not all of the worlds studied； but the only ones for which I know the symbols。 This is where gambling es in。 I don't know what any of these worlds is like。 It is believed there are worlds where a year is only a day here； and others where a day is a year here。 There are supposed to be worlds where the very air would kill us at a breath； and worlds that barely have enough reality to hold together。 I would not speculate on what might happen if we found ourselves in one of those。 You must choose。 As my father would have said； it's time to roll the dice。〃
Rand stared； shaking his head。 〃I could kill all of us； whatever I choose。〃
〃Are you not willing to take that risk？ For the Horn of Valere？ For Mat？〃
〃Why are you so willing to take it？ I don't even know if I can do it。 It … it doesn't work every time I try。〃 He knew no one had e any closer； but he looked anyway。 All of them waited in a loose circle around the Stone； watching； but not close enough to eavesdrop。 〃Sometimes saidin is just there。 I can feel it； but it might as well be on the moon as far as touching it。 And even if it does work； what if I take us someplace we can't breathe？ What good will that do Mat？ Or the Horn？〃
〃You are the Dragon Reborn；〃 she said quietly。 〃Oh； you can die； but I don't think the Pattern will let you die until it is done with you。 Then again； the Shadow lies on the Pattern； now； and who can say how that affects the weaving？ All you can do is follow your destiny。〃
〃I am Rand al'Thor；〃 he growled。 〃I am not the Dragon Reborn。 I won't be a false Dragon。〃
〃You are what you are。 Will you choose； or will you stand here until your friend dies？〃
Rand heard his teeth grinding and forced himself to unclench his jaw。 The symbols could all have been exactly alike； for all they meant to him。 The script could as well have been a chicken's scratchings。 At last he settled on one； with an arrow pointing left because it pointed toward Toman Head； an arrow that pierced the circle because it had broken free； as he wanted to。 He wanted to laugh。 Such small things on which to gamble all their lives。
〃e closer；〃 Verin ordered the others。 〃It will be best if you are near。〃 They obeyed； with only a little hesitation。 〃It is time to begin；〃 she said as they gathered round。
She threw back her cloak and put her hands on the column； but Rand saw her watching him from the corner of her eye。 He was aware of nervous coughing and throat…clearing from the men around the Stone； a curse from Uno at someone hanging back； a weak joke from Mat； a loud gulp from Loial。 He took the void。
It was so easy； now。 The flame consumed fear and passion and was gone almost before he thought to form it。 Gone； leaving only emptiness； and shining saidin； sickening； tantalizing； stomach…turning； seductive。 He。。。 reached for it。。。 and it filled him； made him alive。 He did not move a muscle； but he felt as if he were quivering with the rush of the One Power into him。 The symbol formed itself； an arrow piercing a circle； floating just beyond the void； as hard as the stuff it was carved on。 He let the One Power flow through him to the symbol。
The symbol shimmered； flickered。
〃Something is happening；〃 Verin said。 〃Something 。。。〃
The world flickered。
The iron lock spun across the farmhouse floor； and Rand dropped the hot teakettle as a huge figure with ram's horns on its head loomed in the doorway with the darkness of Winternight behind it。
〃Run！〃 Tam shouted。 His sword flashed； and the Trolloc toppled； but it grappled with Tam as it fell； pulling him down。
More crowded in at the door； black…mailed shapes with human faces distorted with muzzles and beaks and horns； oddly curved swords stabbing at Tam as he tried to struggle to his feet； spiked axes swinging； red blood on steel。
〃Father！〃 Rand screamed。 Clawing his belt knife from its sheath； he threw himself over the table to help his father； and screamed again as the first sword ran through his chest。
Blood bubbled up into his mouth； and a voice whispered inside his head； I have won again； Lews Therin。
Flicker。
Rand struggled to hold the symbol； dimly aware of Verin's voice。 〃。。。 is not。。。〃
The Power flooded。
Flicker。
Rand was happy after he married Egwene； and tried to not let the moods take him； the times when he thought there should have been something more； something different。 News of the world outside came into the Two Rivers with peddlers； and merchants e to buy wool and tabac； always news of fresh troubles； of wars and false Dragons everywhere。 There was a year when neither merchants nor peddlers came； and when they returned the next they brought word that Artur Hawkwing's armies had e back； or their descendants； at least。 The old nations were broken； it was said； and the world's new masters； who used chained Aes Sedai in their battles； had torn down the White Tower and salted the ground where Tar Valon had stood。 There were no more Aes Sedai。
It all made little difference in the Two Rivers。 Crops still had to be planted； sheep sheared； lambs tended。 Tam had grandsons and granddaughters to dandle on his knee before he was laid to rest beside his wife； and the old farmhouse grew new rooms。 Egwene became Wisdom； and most thought she was even better than the old Wisdom； Nyn