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Nervously, Egwene looked at Nynaeve "What have I done? Nothing that I’erous, 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 coed 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 erous 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 hasI ed

Verin held up her hands for quiet, and they fell silent She ue, but she was Aes Sedai, after all "Child, do you think Aes Sedai iirl who says she wants to be one of us how to channel? Well, I suppose you are not exactly every girl, but just the saravely

"Then why did she?" Nynaeve deas still not sure if it rankled Nynaeve or not

"Because Egwene had already channeled," Verin said patiently

"SoSo 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 kno lucky you are Of every four women forced to do what you did, only one survives Of course, wilders -- " Verin griive me, but I am afraid that is e in the White Tower often call woh control -- randoh 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 the, 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 wene said

Verin blinked at her, al where she had co Your probleirls ant to becoirls 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 tellsyour 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 knehat 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" Egished her voice was not so breathless "She hadother 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, Iher head "But the next step?" She shrugged "You see, child, the more you try to touch the True Source, the more you try to channel the One Power, the easier it beco, you stretch out to the Source andat air Or you actually to channel saidar, but even when you feel the One Power flowing through you, you find you can do nothing with it Or you do so, and it isn’t what you intended at all That is the danger Usually, with guidance and training -- and the girl’s own fear slowing her down -- the ability to touch the Source and the ability to channel the Power co But you began trying to channel without anyone there to teach you any control at all of what you do I know you don’t think you’re very far along, and you are not, but you are like soht herself to run up hills -- so how to run down the other side, or to walk Sooner or later you are going to fall, if you don’t learn the rest of it Now, I a like what happens when one of those poor o uide you -- but whatto?" For an instant the vagueness had dropped from Verin’s eyes For an instant, it seewene to Nynaeve as sharply as the A, child, and they will grow stronger You must learn to control thereatto teach you That is what I will try to help you with tonight, and what a sister will help you with every night until we put you into Sheriawene thought, Can she know about Rand? It isn’t possible She’d never have let him leave Fal Dara if she even suspected But she was sure she had not iined what she saw "Thank you, Verin Sedai I will try"

Nynaeve rose so sit by the fire and leave you two alone"

"You should stay," Verin said "You could profit by it From what Moiraine has toldfor you to be raised to the Accepted"

Nynaeve hesitated only aher head firmly "I thank you for the offer, but I can wait until we reach Tar Valon Egwene, if you need e," Verin cut in, "you are a woer a novice, the better she does Not with the training necessarily, but because a novice is expected to do as she is told, when she is told and without question It is really only of use once the actual training has reached a certain point -- a hesitation in the wrong place then, or a doubt of what you have been told to do, can have tragic consequences -- but it is better to follow the discipline all the time The Accepted, on the other hand, are expected to question things, as it is felt they know enough to knohat questions to ask and when Which do you thin