s Sedai； keeping the mass of people back； archers and pikemen； the Flame blazoned on their chests； followed behind in precise ranks。 The trumpets fell silent as the column wound its way out of the town and turned southward； yet the sounds of cheering from within the town followed still。 Egwene glanced back often； until trees and hills hid Fal Dara's walls and towers。
Nynaeve； riding alongside； shook her head。 〃Rand will be all right。 He has Lord Ingtar and twenty lances with him。 In any case； there is nothing you can do about it。 Nothing either of us can do。〃 She glanced toward Moiraine； the Aes Sedai's trim white mare and Lan's tall black stallion made an odd pair off to one side by themselves。 〃Not yet。〃
The column angled westward as it traveled； and it did not cover the ground quickly。 Even footmen in half armor could not move fast through the Shienaran hills； not and maintain the pace for long。 Still； they pushed as hard as they could。
Camps came late each night； the Amyrlin allowing no stop until barely enough light remained to pitch the tents； flattened white domes just tall enough to stand in。 Each pair of Aes Sedai from the same Ajah had one； while the Amyrlin and the Keeper had tents to themselves。 Moiraine shared the tent of her two sisters of the Blue。 The soldiers slept on the ground in their own encampment； and the Warders wrapped themselves in their cloaks near the tents of the Aes Sedai to whom they were bonded。 The tent shared by the Red sisters looked oddly lonely without any Warders； while that of the Greens seemed almost festive； the two Aes Sedai often sitting outside long past dark to talk with the four Warders they had brought between them。
Lan came once to the tent Egwene shared with Nynaeve； taking the Wisdom into the night a little distance away。 Egwene peered around the tent flap to watch。 She could not hear what they said； except that Nynaeve eventually erupted in anger and came stalking back to wrap herself in her blankets and refuse to talk at all。 Egwene thought her cheeks were wet； though she hid her face with a corner of her blanket。 Lan stood watching the tent from the darkness for a long time before he went away。 After that he did not e again。
Moiraine did not e near them； giving them only a nod in passing。 She seemed to spend her waking hours speaking with the other Aes Sedai； all but the Red sisters； drawing them aside one by one as they rode。 The Amyrlin allowed few stops for rest； and those short。
〃Maybe she doesn't have time for us anymore；〃 Egwene observed sadly。 Moiraine was the one Aes Sedai she knew。 Perhaps … though she did not like to admit it … the only one she was sure she could trust。 〃She found us； and we are on our way to Tar Valon。 I suppose she has other things to concern her； now。〃
Nynaeve snorted softly。 〃I'll believe she is done with us when she's dead … or we are。 She is sly； that one。〃
Other Aes Sedai came to their tent。 Egwene almost jumped out of her skin that first night out of Fal Dara； when the tent flap was pushed aside and a plump； square…faced Aes Sedai； with graying hair and a vaguely distracted look in her dark eyes； ducked into their tent。 She glanced at the lantern hanging at the highest point of the tent； and the flame rose a little higher。 Egwene thought she felt something； thought she almost saw something about the Aes Sedai when the flame grew brighter。 Moiraine had told her that one day … when she had more training … she would be able to see when another woman channeled； and to tell a woman who could channel even if she did nothing。
〃I am Verin Mathwin；〃 the woman said with a smile。 〃And you are Egwene al'Vere and Nynaeve al'Maera。 From the Two Rivers； which was once Manetheren。 Strong blood； that。 It sings。〃
Egwene exchanged glances with Nynaeve as they got to their feet。
〃Is this a summons to the Amyrlin Seat？〃 Egwene asked。
Verin laughed。 The Aes Sedai had a smudge of ink on her nose。 〃Oh； my； no。 The Amyrlin has more important things to deal with than two young women who are not even novices yet。 Although； you never can tell。 You both have considerable potential； especially you； Nynaeve。 One day 。。。〃 She paused； rubbing a finger thoughtfully right atop the ink smudge。 〃But this is not one day。 I am here to give you a lesson； Egwene。 You have been poking in ahead of yourself； I fear。〃
Nervously； Egwene looked at Nynaeve。 〃What have I done？ Nothing that I'm aware of。〃
〃Oh； nothing wrong。 Not exactly。 Somewhat dangerous； perhaps； but not exactly wrong。〃 Verin lowered herself to the canvas floor； folding her legs under her。 〃Sit； both of you。 Sit。 I don't mean to crane my neck。〃 She shifted around until she had a fortable position。 〃Sit。〃
Egwene settled cross…legged across from the Aes Sedai and did her best not to look at Nynaeve。 No need to look guilty until I know if I am。 And maybe not then。 〃What is it I've done that's dangerous but not exactly wrong？〃
〃Why； you've been channeling the Power； child。〃
Egwene could only gape。 Nynaeve burst out； 〃That is ridiculous。 Why are we going to Tar Valon； if not for that？〃
〃Moiraine has 。。。 I mean； Moiraine Sedai has been giving me lessons；〃 Egwene managed。
Verin held up her hands for quiet； and they fell silent。 She might seem vague； but she was Aes Sedai； after all。 〃Child； do you think Aes Sedai immediately teach every girl who says she wants to be one of us how to channel？ Well； I suppose you are not exactly every girl； but just the same 。。。〃 She shook her head gravely。
〃Then why did she？〃 Nynaeve demanded。 There had been no lessons for her； and Egwene was still not sure if it rankled Nynaeve or not。
〃Because Egwene had already channeled；〃 Verin said patiently。
〃So 。。。 So have I。〃 Nynaeve did not sound happy about it。
〃Your circumstances are different； child。 That you are still alive shows you weathered the various crises； and did it on your own。 I think you know how lucky you are。 Of every four women forced to do what you did； only one survives。 Of course； wilders … 〃 Verin grimaced。 〃Forgive me； but I am afraid that is what we in the White Tower often call women who； without any training； have managed some rough control … random； and barely enough to be called control； usually； like you； but still control of a sort。 Wilders have difficulties； it is true。 Almost always they have built up walls to keep themselves from knowing what it was they were doing； and those walls interfere with conscious control。 The longer those walls have to build； the harder it is to tear them down； but if they can be demolished … well； some of the most adept sisters ever have been wilders。〃
Nynaeve shifted irritably； and looked at the entrance as if thinking of leaving。
〃I don't see what any of that has to do with me；〃 Egwene said。
Verin blinked at her； almost as if wondering where she had e from。 〃With you？ Why； nothing。 Your problem is quite different。 Most girls who want to bee Aes Sedai … even most girls with the seed inside them； like you … are afraid of it； too。 Even after they reach the Tower； even after they've learned what to do and how； for months they need to be led； step by step； by a sister； or by one of the Accepted。 But not you。 From what Moiraine tells me； you leaped into it as soon as you knew you could； fumbling your way through the dark with never a thought of whether there was a bottomless pit under your next step。 Oh； there have been others like you； you are not unique。 Moiraine was one herself。 Once she knew what you had done； there was nothing for it but for her to begin teaching you。 Did Moiraine never explain any of this to you？〃
〃Never。〃 Egwene wished her voice was not so breathless。 〃She had 。。。 other matters to deal with。〃 Nynaeve snorted softly。
〃Well； Moiraine has never believed in telling anyone anything they did not need to know。 Knowing serves no real purpose； but then； neither does not knowing。 Myself； I always prefer knowing to not。〃
〃Is there one？ A pit； I mean？〃
〃Obviously not so far；〃 Verin said； tilting her head。 〃But the next step？〃 She shrugged。 〃You see； child；