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ondering as it continued whether this was really better than being thrown to the deck。
Then； finally； it was over； the leaps slowing； growing smaller。 Coine scrambled to her feet and raced for the ladder； Jorin at her heels； already shouting orders to look for damage to the hull。
Chapter 20
（Waves）
Winds Rising
Elayne struggled to open the latch on an arm of her chair and darted after them； almost colliding with Nynaeve at the ladder。 The ship still rocked； if not as violently as before。 Uncertain whether they were sinking； she pushed Nynaeve ahead of her； prodding her to climb faster。
On the deck the crew dashed about； checking the rigging or peering over the side to inspect the hull； shouting about earthquakes。 The same shouts were rising from the dockmen； too； but Elayne knew better； despite the tumbled things on the piers and the ships yet pitching at their moorings。
She stared toward the Stone。 The huge fortress was still； except for masses of startled birds swirling about and that pale banner waving； almost lazily； in an isolated breeze。 No sign that anything had ever touched the mountainous mass。 That had been Rand； though。 She was sure of it。
She turned to find Nynaeve looking at her； and for a long moment their eyes met。 〃A fine pickling； if he's damaged the ship；〃 Elayne said finally。 〃How are we supposed to get to Tanchico if he goes tossing all the ships about？〃 Light； he has to be all right。 I can do nothing if he isn't。 He is all right。 He is。
Nynaeve touched her arm reassuringly。 〃No doubt that second letter of yours touched a nerve。 Men always overreact when they let their emotions go； it's the price for holding them in the way they do。 He may be the Dragon Reborn； but he must learn； man to woman； that … What are they doing here？〃
〃They〃 were two men standing amid the bustling Sea Folk on the deck。 One was Thom Merrilin； in his gleeman's cloak； with leather…cased harp and flute on his back and a bundle lying at his feet beside a battered wooden box with a lock。 The other was a lean handsome Tairen in his middle years； a hard dark man wearing a flat conical straw hat and one of those moner's coats that fit snugly to the waist； then flared like a short skirt。 A notched sword…breaker hung at a belt worn over his coat； and he leaned on a pale staff of nobbly； jointed wood exactly his own height and no thicker than his thumb。 A square tied parcel dangled by a loop from his shoulder。 Elayne knew him： his name was Juilin Sandar。
It was obvious the two men were strangers despite standing almost side by side； they held themselves with stiff reticence。 Their attentions were directed the same way； though； split between following the Sailmistress's progress toward the stern deck and peering at Elayne and Nynaeve； plainly uncertain and masking it behind a brisk show of confidence。 Thom grinned and stroked his long white mustaches and nodded every time he looked up at the two of them； Sandar made solemn； self…assured bows。
〃He is not damaged；〃 Coine said； climbing the ladder。 〃I can sail within the hour； if it pleases you。 Well within； if a Tairen pilot can be found。 I will sail without him； if not； though it means never returning to Tear。〃 She followed their gaze to the two men。 〃They ask passage； the gleeman to Tanchico； and the thief catcher to wherever you travel。 I cannot refuse them； and yet。。。。〃 Her dark eyes came back to Elayne and Nynaeve。 〃I will do so； if you ask it。〃 Reluctance to break custom battled in her voice with。。。。 Desire to help them？ To serve the Coramoor？ 〃The thief catcher is a good man； even considering that he is shorebound。 No offense to you； under the Light。 The gleeman I do not know； yet a gleeman can enliven a voyage and lighten tired hours。〃
〃You know Master Sandar？〃 Nynaeve said。
〃Twice he has found those who pilfered from us； and found them quickly。 Another shoreman would have taken longer so he might ask more for the work。 It is obvious that you know him； as well。 Do you wish me to refuse passage？〃 Her reluctance was still there。
〃Let us see why they are here first；〃 Nynaeve said in a flat voice that did not bode well for either man。
〃Perhaps I should do the talking；〃 Elayne suggested； gently but firmly。 〃That way； you can watch to see if they are hiding anything。〃 She did not say that that way Nynaeve's temper would not get the better of her； but the wry smile the other woman gave her said she had heard it anyway。
〃Very well； Elayne。 I will watch them。 Perhaps you might study how I keep calm。 You know how you are when you bee overwrought。〃
Elayne had to laugh。
The two men straightened as she and Nynaeve approached。 Around them the crew bustled； swarming into the rigging； hauling ropes； lashing some things down and unlashing others； to orders relayed from the Sailmistress。 They moved around the four shorepeople with barely a glance。
Elayne frowned at Thom Merrilin thoughtfully。 She was sure she had never seen the gleeman before his appearance in the Stone； yet even then she had been struck by something familiar about him。 Not that that was likely。 Gleemen were village performers； in the main； her mother had certainly never had one at the palace in Caemlyn。 The only gleemen Elayne could remember seeing had been in the villages near her mother's country estates； and this white…haired hawk of a man had surely never been there。
She decided to speak to the thief…catcher first。 He insisted on that； she remembered； what was a thief…taker elsewhere was a thief…catcher in Tear； and the distinction seemed important to him。
〃Master Sandar；〃 she said gravely。 〃You may not remember us。 I am Elayne Trakand； and this is my friend； Nynaeve al'Meara。 I understand that you wish to travel to the same destination as we。 Might I ask why？ The last time we saw you； you had not served us very well。〃
The man did not blink at the suggestion he might not remember them。 His eyes flickered across their hands； noting the absence of rings。 Those dark eyes noted everything； and recorded it indelibly。 〃I do remember； Mistress Trakand； and well。 But； if you will forgive me； the last time I served you was in the pany of Mat Cauthon； when we pulled you both out of the water before the silverpike could get you。〃
Nynaeve harrumphed； but not loudly。 It had been a cell； not the water； and the Black Ajah； not silverpike。 Nynaeve in particular did not like being reminded that they had needed help that time。 Of course； they would not have been in that cell without Juilin Sandar。 No； that was not entirely fair。 True； but not pletely fair。
〃That is all very well；〃 Elayne said briskly； 〃but you still haven't said why you want to go to Tanchico。〃
He drew a deep breath and eyed Nynaeve warily。 Elayne was not sure that she liked him being more careful of the other woman than of her。 〃I was rousted out of my house no more than half an hour gone；〃 he said carefully； 〃by a man you know； I think。 A tall； stone faced man calling himself Lan。〃 Nynaeve's eyebrows rose slightly。 〃He came on behalf of another man you know。 A。。。 shepherd； I was told。 I was given a great quantity of gold and told to acpany you。 Both of you。 I was told that if you do not return safely from this journey。。。 Shall we just say it would be better to drown myself than e back？ Lan was emphatic； and the。。。 shepherd no less so in his message。 The Sailmistress tells me I cannot have passage unless you agree。 I am not without certain skills that can be useful。〃 The staff whirled in his hands； a whistling blur； and was still。 His fingers touched the sword…breaker on his hip； like a short sword but unsharpened； its slots meant to catch a blade。
〃Men will find ways to get 'round what you tell them to do；〃 Nynaeve murmured； sounding not unpleased。
Elayne only frowned vexedly。 Rand had sent him？ He must not have read the second letter before he did。 Burn him！ Why does he leap about so？ No time to send another letter； and it would probably only confuse him more if I did。 And make me look a bigger fool。 Burn him！
〃And you； Master Merrilin？〃 Nynaeve said。 〃Did the shepherd send a gleeman after us； too？ Or the other man？ To keep us amused with your juggling and fire eating； perhaps。〃
Thom had been scrutinizing Sandar closely； but he shifted his attentions smoothly and made an elegant bow； only spoiling it with a too…elaborate flourish of that patch…covered cloak。 〃Not the shepherd； Mistress al'Meara。 A lady of our mutual acquaintance asked … asked … me to acpany you。 The lady who found you and the shepherd in Emond's Field。〃
〃Why？〃 Nynaeve said suspiciously。
〃I； too； have useful skills；〃 Thom told her with a glance at the thief…catcher。 〃Other than juggling； that is。 And I have been to Tanchico several times。 I know the city well。 I can tell you where to find a good inn； and what districts are dangerous in daylight as well as after dark； and who must be bribed so the Civil Watch does not take too close an interest in your doings。 They are keen on watching outlanders。 I can help you with a good many things。〃
That familiarity tickled at Elayne's mind again。