"All right," Bair said, "out with it. We've been chasing a three-legged lizard this entire conversation, poking it with a stick to see if it will move any further."
"We need to share what we know with one another," Egwene said. "We three groups women who can channel need to form an alliance."
"With the White Tower in control, I assume," Shielyn said.
"All I am saying," Egwene replied, "is that there is wisdom in sharing and learning from others. Wise Ones, I would have Accepted from the White Tower be sent to train with you. It would be particularly useful to have you train them to master Tel'aran'rhiod'.'
It was unlikely that another Dreamer, such as Egwene, would be discovered among the Aes Sedai, though she could hope. The Talent was very
rare. Still, it would be advantageous to have some sisters trained in Tel'aran'rhiod, even if they did have to enter with ter'angreal.
"Windfinders," Egwene continued. "I would send women to you as well, particularly those skilled in Air, to learn to call the winds as you do."
"Life for an apprentice Windfinder is not easy," Shielyn said. "I think your women would find it very different from the soft life in the White Tower."
Egwene's backside still remembered the pain of her "soft" life in the White Tower. "I do not doubt that it will be challenging," she said, "but I do not doubt that it would be very helpful for that very reason."
"Well, I suspect this could be arranged," Shielyn said, leaning forward, sounding eager. "There would have to be payment, of course."
"An equal one," Egwene said. "In allowing you to send some of your apprentices to the White Tower to train with us."
"We already send women to you."
Egwene sniffed. "Token sacrifices sent so we will not become suspicious of your Windfinders. Your women often seclude themselves, or come reluctantly. I would have that practice stop there is no reason to deny potential Windfinders to your people."
"Well, what would be the difference?" Shielyn asked.
"The women you send would be allowed to return to you after their training," Egwene said. "Wise Ones, I would have Aiel apprentices sent to us as well. Not reluctantly, and not to become Aes Sedai, but to train and learn our ways. They, too, would be allowed to return, should they desire it, once they are finished."
"It would have to be more than that," Amys said. "I worry what would happen to women who become too accustomed to soft wetlander ways."
"Surely you wouldn't want to compel them " Egwene began.
Bair cut in. "They'd still be apprentice Wise Ones, Egwene al'Vere. Children who need to complete their training. And that is assuming we agree to this plan; something about it unsettles my stomach, like too much food after a day of fasting."
"If we let the Aes Sedai set hooks into our apprentices," Melaine said, "they will not soon be pulled free."
"Do you want them to be?" Egwene said. "Do you see what you have in me, Melaine? An Amyrlin Seat who was trained by the Aiel? What sacrifice would it be worth to your people to have more like me? Aes Sedai who understand ji'e'toh and the Three-fold Land, who respect Wise Ones rather than seeing them as rivals or wilders?"
The three Aiel settled back at that, looking at one another, troubled.
"And what of you, Shielyn?" Egwene said. "What would it be worth to your people to have an Amyrlin Seat who, having trained with you, regards you as friends and who respects your ways?"
"That could be valuable," Shielyn admitted. "Assuming the women you send to us have a better temperament than those whom we have seen so far. I have yet to meet an Aes Sedai who could not benefit from a few days hanging from the high mast."
"That is because you insisted on getting Aes Sedai," Egwene said, "who are set in their ways. If we were to send you Accepted instead, they would be much more pliable."
"Instead?" Shielyn said immediately. "This is not the bargain we were discussing."
"It could be," Egwene replie
d. "If we allow Sea Folk channelers to return to you instead of requiring that they stay in the Tower, you will no longer have such a strong need of the Aes Sedai teachers."
"This must be a different agreement." Shielyn shook her head. "And it will not be a bargain to make lightly. Aes Sedai are serpents, like those rings you wear."
"What if I offer to include the dream ter'angreal you were loaned?" Egwene asked.
Shielyn glanced at her hand where, in the real world, she would be holding the small plate that with a channeled bit of Spirit- let a woman enter Tel'aran'rhiod. Egwene hadn't given them the ter'angreal that let one enter without needing to channel, of course. Those were more versatile, and therefore more powerful. Best to keep those a secret.