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Plainly the man would rather have had his ship brim full of live vipers。 He blinked at the Aes Sedai's shawls and stared at their ageless faces and licked his lips； eyes flickering back to Rand uneasily。 The Asha'man dropped his mouth open once he put their black coats together with rumor； and thereafter he avoided so much as a glance in their direction。 Shaene watched Dobraine lead the men with the banners aboard； and the trumpeters； and the drummers lugging their drums； then eyed the horsemen lining the dock as if he suspected they might want to board； too。 Nandera； with twenty Maidens； and Camar with twenty Black Eyes； all with shoufa wrapped around their heads though unveiled； made the captain step hastily to put the Aes Sedai between him and them。 The Aiel wore scowls； for the heartbeat that needing to veil might slow them； but the Sea Folk might well know what a veil meant； and it would hardly do for them to think they were under attack。 Rand thought Shaene's handkerchief might yet rub away what thin gray fringe of hair he had left。
The longboat swept away from the dock on its long oars； the two banners rippling in the bows； and the drums pounding； and the trumpets blaring。 Out in the river； people appeared on the decks of ships to watch； even climbed into the rigging。 On the Sea Folk ship they came out； too； many in bright colors unlike the drab clothing on crews of the other vessels。 The White Spray was a larger craft than most of the rest； yet somehow sleeker as well； with two tall masts raked back sharply and spars laid across them squarely where nearly all the other ships had slanting spars longer than the masts to hold most of their sails。 Everything about it spoke of difference； but in one thing； Rand knew； the Atha'an Miere had to be like everyone else。 They could either agree to follow him on their own or be forced to it； the Prophecies said he would bind together the people of every land … 〃The north shall he tie to the east； and the west shall be bound to the south；〃 it said … and no one could be allowed to stand aside。 He knew that； now。
Sending out orders from his bath； he had not had an opportunity to give details of what he intended on reaching White Spray； so he announced them now。 The details produced grins among the Asha'man； as expected … well； Finn and Narishma grinned； Dashiva blinked absently … and frowns among the Aiel； also as expected。 They did not like being left behind。 Dobraine merely nodded； he knew he was only here for show today。 What Rand did not expect was the Aes Sedai reaction。
〃It shall be as you mand； my Lord Dragon；〃 Merana said； making one of those small curtsies。 The other four exchanged glances； but they were curtsying and murmuring 〃as you mand〃 right behind her。 Not one protest； not one frown； not a single haughty stare or recital of why it should be done any way but what he wanted。 Could he begin to trust them？ Or would they find some Aes Sedai way to wriggle around their oath as soon as his back was turned？
〃They will keep their word；〃 Min murmured abruptly； just as if she had read his thoughts。 With an arm wrapped around his and both hands holding his sleeve； she kept her voice for his ears alone。 〃I just saw these five in your hand；〃 she added in case he did not understand。 He was not sure he could fix his mind around that； even if she had seen it in a viewing。
He did not have long to try。 The longboat flew through the water； and in no time at all was backing oars some twenty paces from the much taller White Spray。 Drums and trumpets fell silent； and Rand channeled； making a bridge of Air laced with Fire that connected the longboat's railing to that of the Sea Folk ship。 With Min on his arm； he started across； to every eye but that of an Asha'man； walking upward on nothing。
He half expected Min to falter； at least at first； but she simply walked at his side as though there were stone beneath her green…heeled boots。
〃I trust you；〃 she said quietly。 She smiled； too； partly a forting smile； and partly； he thought； because she was amused at reading his mind once more。
He wondered how much she would trust if she knew that this was as far as he could weave a bridge like this。 One pace farther； one foot； and the whole thing would have given way at the first step。 At that point it became like trying to lift yourself with the Power； an impossibility； even the Forsaken did not know why； any more than they knew why a woman； could make a longer bridge than a man even if she was not as strong。 It was not a matter of weight； any amount of weight could cross any bridge。
Just short of White Spray's railing； he stopped； standing in midair。 For all Merana's descriptions； the people staring back at him were a shock。 Dark women and bare…chested men with colorful sashes that dangled to the knee； and gold or silver chains around their necks and rings in their ears； in their noses of all places on some of the women； who wore a rainbow of blouses above their dark； baggy breeches。 None had any more expression than an Aes Sedai who was trying hard。 Four of the women； despite being barefoot like the rest； wore bright silks； two of them brocades； and they had more necklaces and earrings than anyone else as well； with a chain strung with gold medallions running from an earring to a ring in the side of the nose。 They said nothing； only stood together watching him； sniffing at small； lacy golden boxes that hung from chains around their necks。 He addressed himself to them。
〃I am the Dragon Reborn。 I am the Coramoor。〃
A collective sigh ran through the crew。 Not among the four women； though。
〃I am Harine din Togara Two Winds； Wavemistress to Clan Shodein；〃 announced the one with the most earrings； a handsome； full…mouthed woman in red brocade wearing five fat little gold rings in each ear。 There were white streaks through her straight black hair； and fine lines at the corners of her eyes。 She had an impressive dignity。 〃I speak here for the Mistress of the Ships。 If it pleases the Light； the Coramoor may e aboard。〃 For some reason she gave a start； and so did the three with her； but that sounded entirely too much like permission。 Rand stepped onto the deck with Min wishing he had not waited。
He let the bridge go； and saidin； but immediately felt another bridge replace it。 In short order the Asha'man and the Aes Sedai were with him； the sisters no more flustered than Min had been； though perhaps one or two did straighten her skirts a bit more than necessary。 They were still not so easy around the Asha'man as they pretended。
The four Sea Folk women took one look at the Aes Sedai and immediately gathered in a close huddle； whispering。 Harine did a lot of the talking； and so did a young； pretty woman in green brocade with eight earrings altogether； but the pair in plain silk put in occasional ments。
Merana coughed delicately； and spoke softly into the hand she used to cover it。 〃I heard her name you the Coramoor。 The Atha'an Miere are great bargainers； I've heard； but I think she gave away something； then。〃 Nodding； Rand glanced down at Min。 She was squinting at the Sea Folk women； but as soon as she noticed his look； she shook her head ruefully； she saw nothing yet that might help him。
Harine turned so calmly there might never have been any hasty conference。 〃This is Shalon din Togara Morning Tide； Windfinder to Clan Shodein；〃 she said with a small bow toward the woman in green brocade； 〃and this is Derah din Selaan Rising Wave； Sailmistress of White Spray。〃 Each woman bowed slightly as she was named； and touched fingers to her lips。
Derah； a handsome woman a little short of her middle years； wore plain blue and also eight earrings； though her earrings； nose ring； and the chain that ran between was finer than Harine's or Shalon's。 〃The wele of my ship to you；〃 Derah said； 〃and the grace of the Light be upon you until you leave his decks。〃 She made a small bow toward the fourth woman； in yellow。 〃This is Taval din Chanai Nine Gulls； Windfinder of White Spray。〃 Only three rings hung from each of Taval's ears； fine like those of the Sailmistress。 She looked younger than Shalon； no older than himself。
Harine took it up again； gesturing toward the raised stern of the ship。 〃We will speak in my cabin； if it pleases you。 A soarer is not a large vessel； Rand al'Thor； and the cabin is small。 If it pleases you to e alone； all here stand surety for your safety。〃 So。 From the Coramoor to plain Rand al'Thor。 She would take back what she had given； if she could。
He was about to open his mouth and agree … anything to get this done； Harine was already moving that way； still gesturing for him to follow； the other women with her … when Merana gave another tiny cough。
〃The Windfinders can channel；〃 she murmured hastily into her hand。 〃You should take two sisters with you； or they'll feel they've gained the upper hand。〃
Rand frowned。 The upper hand？ He was the Dragon Reborn； after all。 Still。。。 〃I will be pleased to e； Wavemistress； but Min here goes everywhere with me。〃 He patted Min's hand on his arm … she had not let go an instant … and Harine nodded。 Taval was already holding the door ope