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le in The White Swan to decide what to do。 A solution turned out to be no laughing matter。 Providing one warm coat or cloak for everyone would take a large bite out of their coin； if so many could be found。 Jewelry could be sold or traded； of course； but no one in Forel Market seemed to be interested in necklaces or bracelets； however fine。
Aviendha solved that difficulty by producing a small sack that bulged with clear； perfect gemstones； some quite large。 Strangely； the same folk who had said with bare politeness that they had no use for be…gemmed necklaces went round…eyed at the unset stones rolling about in Aviendha's palm。 Reanne said they saw one as frippery； the other as wealth； but whatever their reasons； in return for two rubies of moderate size； one large moonstone； and a small firedrop； the people of Forel Market were more than willing to provide as many thick woolens as their visitors desired； some of them hardly worn。
〃Very generous of them；〃 Nynaeve muttered sourly as people began rooting clothes out of their chests and attics。 A steady stream marched into the inn with their arms full。 〃Those stones could buy the whole village！〃 Aviendha shrugged slightly； she would have surrendered a handful of the gems if Reanne had not intervened。
Merilille shook her head。 〃We have what they want； but they have what we need。 I'm afraid that means they set the price。〃 Which was entirely too much like the situation with the Sea Folk。 Nynaeve looked positively ill。
When they were alone； in a hallway of the inn； Elayne asked Aviendha where she had gotten such a fortune in jewels； and one she seemed eager to be rid of。 She expected her near…sister to say they were her takings from the Stone of Tear； or perhaps Cairhien。
〃Rand al'Thor tricked me；〃 Aviendha muttered sullenly。 〃I tried to buy my toh from him。 I know that is the least honorable way；〃 she protested； 〃but I could see no other。 And he stood me on my head！ Why is it； when you reason things out logically； a man always does something pletely illogical and gains the upper hand？〃
〃Their pretty heads are so fuzzy； a woman can't expect to follow how they skitter；〃 Elayne told her。 She did not inquire what toh Aviendha had tried to buy； or how the attempt had ended with her near…sister possessing a sack full of rich gems。 Talking about Rand was hard enough without where that might lead。
Snow brought more than a need for warm clothing。 At midday； with the snow flurries falling thicker by the minute； Renaile strode down the stairs into the mon room； proclaimed that her part of the bargain had been met； and demanded not only the Bowl of the Winds； but Merilille。 The Gray sister stared in consternation； and so did a great many others。 The benches were filled with Kinswomen taking their turn at the midday meal； and serving men and women ran to serve this third lot of meals。 Renaile did not keep her voice down； and every head in the mon room swiveled toward her。
〃You can begin your teaching； now；〃 Renaile told the wide…eyed Aes Sedai。 〃Up the ladder with you to my quarters。〃 Merilille started to protest； but face suddenly cold； the Windfinder to the Mistress of the Ships planted fists on her hips。 〃When I give a mand； Merilille Ceandevin；〃 she said icily； 〃I expect every hand on deck to jump。 Now jump！〃
Merilille did not precisely jump； but she did gather herself and go； with Renaile practically chivvying her up the stairs from behind。 Given her promise； she had no other choice。 Reanne's face was aghast。 Alise and stout Sumeko； still wearing her red belt； watched thoughtfully。
In the days that followed； whether laboring along a snow…covered road on their horses； walking the streets of a village； or trying to find room for everyone at a farm； Renaile kept Merilille at her heels except when she told her off to follow another Windfinder。 The glow of saidar surrounded the Gray sister and her escort almost constantly； and Merilille demonstrated weaves unceasingly。 The pale Cairhienin was markedly shorter than any of the dark Sea Folk women； but at first Merilille managed to stand taller by the sheer force of Aes Sedai dignity。 Soon； though； she began to wear a permanently startled expression。 Elayne learned that when they all had beds to sleep in； which they did not always； Merilille was sharing with Pol； her maid； and the two apprentice Windfinders； Talaan and Metarra。 What that said of Merilille's status； Elayne was not sure。 Clearly； the Windfinders did not put her on a level with the apprentices。 They just expected her to do as she was told； when she was told； with no delays or equivocations。
Reanne remained appalled at the turn of events； but Alise and Sumeko were not the only ones among the Kin to watch closely； not the only ones to nod thoughtfully。 And suddenly； another problem came to Elayne's notice。 The Kinswomen saw Ispan made more and more malleable in her captivity； but she was the prisoner of other Aes Sedai。 The Sea Folk were not Aes Sedai； and Merilille not a prisoner； yet she was starting to jump when Renaile issued a mand； or； for that matter； when Dorile； or Caire； or Caire's blood…sister Tebreille did。 Each of those was Windfinder to a clan Wavemistress； and none of the others made her hop with such alacrity； but that was enough。 More and more of the Kin slid from horrified gaping to thoughtful observation。 Perhaps Aes Sedai were not a different flesh after all。 If Aes Sedai were just women like themselves； why should they subject themselves once more to the rigors of the Tower； to Aes Sedai authority and Aes Sedai discipline？ Had they not survived very well on their own； some for more years than any of the older sisters were quite ready to believe？ Elayne could practically see the idea forming in their heads。
When she mentioned it to Nynaeve； though； Nynaeve just muttered； 〃About time some of the sisters learned what it's like trying to teach a woman who thinks she knows more than her teacher。 Those who have a chance at a shawl will still want it； and for the rest； I don't see why they shouldn't grow some backbone。〃 Elayne refrained from mentioning Nynaeve's plaints about Sumeko； who had certainly grown backbone； Sumeko had criticized several of Nynaeve's Healing weaves as 〃clumsy；〃 and Elayne had thought Nynaeve was going to have apoplexy on the spot。 〃In any case； there's no need to tell Egwene about this。 If she's there。 Any of it。 She has enough on her plate。〃 Without doubt； 〃any of it〃 referred to Merilille and the Windfinders。
They were in their shifts； seated on their bed on the second floor of The New Plow； with the twisted…ring dream ter'angreal hanging about their necks； Elayne's on a simple leather cord； Nynaeve's alongside Lan's heavy signet ring on a narrow golden chain。 Aviendha and Birgitte； still fully dressed； sat on two of their clothing chests。 Standing guard； they called it； until she and Nynaeve returned from the World of Dreams。 Both wore their cloaks until they could climb under the blankets。 The New Plow was definitely not new； cracks spidered across the plastered walls； and unfortunate drafts crept in everywhere。
The room itself was small； and the chests and stacked bundles left room for little beyond the bed and washstand。 Elayne knew she had to present herself properly in Caemlyn； but sometimes she felt guilty； with her belongings on pack animals when most others had to make do with what they could carry on their backs。 Nynaeve certainly never showed any regrets over her chests。 They had been sixteen days on the road； the full moon outside the narrow window shone on a white blanket of snow that would make traveling tomorrow slow even if the sky remained clear； and Elayne thought another week to Caemlyn was an optimistic estimate。
〃I have enough sense not to remind her；〃 she told Nynaeve。 〃I don't want my nose snapped off again。〃
That was a mild way of putting it。 They had not been in Tel'aran'rhiod since informing Egwene； the night after leaving the estate； that the Bowl had been used。 Reluctantly； they also had told her of the bargain they had been forced into with the Sea Folk； and found themselves facing the Amyrlin Seat