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t。
The third Maiden； Nandera； turned like a snake； and Min found a foot planted in her stomach。 Breath rushed out of her in a wheeze。 Her knives flew from numb hands； and she turned a somersault over the graying Maiden's foot； landing on her back with a crash that drove out what little air remained in her。 Trying to move； trying to breathe … trying to understand！ … all she could do was lie there and watch。
The three women were quite thorough。 Nesair and Nandera pounded Rand with their fists while Somara held him bent over and caught in his own shirt。 Again and again and again they drove studied blows into Rand's hard belly； into his right side。 Min would have laughed hysterically； had she had any breath。 They were trying to beat him to death； and they very carefully avoid hitting anywhere near the tender round scar in his left side with the half…healed slash running through it。
She knew very well how hard Rand's body was； how strong； but no one could stand up to that。 Slowly； his knees folded； and when they thumped to the floor tiles； Nandera and Nesair stood back。 Each nodded； and Somara released her hold on Rand's shirt。 He fell forward on his face。 She could hear him gasping； fighting groans that bubbled up despite his efforts。 Kneeling； Somara pulled his shirt down almost tenderly。 He lay there with his cheek on the floor； eyes bulging； struggling for breath。
Nesair bent to catch a fistful of his hair and jerk his head up。 〃We won the right for this；〃 she growled； 〃but every Maiden wanted to lay her hands on you。 I left my clan for you； Rand al'Thor。 I will not have you spit on me！〃
Somara moved a hand as if to smooth hair out of his face； then snatched it back。 〃This is how we treat a first…brother who dishonors us； Rand al'Thor；〃 she said firmly。 〃The first time。 The next； we will use straps。〃
Nandera stood over Rand with fist planted on her hips and a face of stone。 〃You carry the honor of Far Dareis Mai； son of a Maiden；〃 she said grimly。 〃You promised to call us to dance the spears for you； and then you ran to battle and left us behind。 You will not do this again。〃
She stepped over him to stride out； and the other two followed。 Only Somara glanced back； and if sympathy touched her blue eyes； there was none in her voice when she said； 〃Do not make this necessary again； son of a Maiden。〃
Rand had pushed himself up to hands and knees by the time Min managed to crawl to him。 〃They must be mad；〃 she croaked。 Light； but her middle hurt！ 〃Rhuarc will …！〃 She did not know what Rhuarc would do。 Not enough； whatever it was。 〃Sorilea。〃 Sorilea would stake them out in the sun！ To start！ 〃When we tell her … 〃
〃We tell no one；〃 he said。 He almost sounded as if he had his breath back； although he was still slightly pop…eyed。 How could he do that？ 〃They have the right。 They've earned the right。〃
Min recognized that tone much to well。 When a man decided to be stubborn； he would sit bare in a nettle patch and deny to your face that they made his bottom sting！ She was almost pleased to hear him groan as she helped him to his feet。 Well； as they helped each other。 If he was going to be a pure wool…headed idiot； he deserved a few bruises！
He eased himself onto the bed； lying back on the heaped pillows； and she snuggled in beside him。 Not what she had been hoping for； but as much as was going to happen； she was sure。
〃Not what I was hoping to use this bed for；〃 he muttered。 She was not sure she had been supposed to hear。
She laughed。 〃I enjoy you holding me just as much as。。。 as the other。〃 Strangely； he smiled at her as if he knew she was lying。 Her Aunt Miren claimed that was one of the three lies any man would believe from a woman。
〃If I am interrupting；〃 a woman's cool voice said from the doorway； 〃I suppose I could return when it is more convenient。〃
Min jerked away from Rand as though burned； but when he pulled her back； she settled against him again。 She recognized the Aes Sedai standing in the doorway； a plump little Cairhienin with four thin stripes of color across her full bosom and white slashes in her dark skirts。 Daigian Moseneillin was one of the sisters who had e with Cadsuane。 And she was almost as overbearing as Cadsuane herself； in Min's opinion。
〃Who might you be when you're at home？〃 Rand said lazily。 〃Whoever you are； didn't anyone ever teach you to knock？〃 Min realized that every muscle in the arm holding her was hard as a rock； though。
The moonstone dangling onto Daigian's forehead on a thin silver chain swung as she slowly shook her head。 Plainly； she was not pleased。 〃Cadsuane Sedai received your request；〃 she said； even more coolly than before； 〃and asked me to convey her regrets。 She very much wishes to finish the piece of needlepoint she is working on。 Perhaps she might be able to see you another day。 If she can find time。〃
〃Is that what she said？〃 Rand asked dangerously。
Daigian sniffed disdainfully。 〃I will leave you to resume。。。 whatever you were doing。〃 Min wondered whether she could get away with slapping an Aes Sedai。 Daigian eyed her frostily； as if hearing the thought； and turned to glide from the room。
Rand sat up with a muffled oath。 〃You tell Cadsuane she can go to the Pit of Doom！〃 he shouted after the retreating sister。 〃Tell her she can rot！〃
〃It won't do； Rand；〃 Min sighed。 This was going to be harder than she had thought。 〃You need Cadsuane。 She doesn't need you。〃
〃Doesn't she？〃 he said softly； and she shivered。 She had only thought his voice was dangerous before。
Rand prepared carefully； dressing in the green coat again； sending Min with messages for the Maidens to carry。 At least they would still do that。 His ribs ached almost as much on his right side as the wounds did on his left； and his belly felt as he had been beaten with a board。 He had promised them。 He seized hold of saidin alone in his bedchamber； unwilling to let even Min see him falter again。 He could keep her safe； at least； somehow； but how could she feel safe if she saw him about to fall over？ He had to be strong； for her sake。 He had to be strong； for the world。 That bundle of emotions in the back of his head that was Alanna reminded him of the cost of carelessness。 Right then； Alanna was sulking。 She must have pushed a Wise One too far； because if she was sitting； she was sitting gingerly。
〃I still think this is lunacy； Rand al'Thor；〃 Min said as he placed the Crown of Swords carefully on his head。 He did not want those tiny blades to draw blood again now。 〃Are you listening to me？ Well； if you intend to go through with it； I'm going with you。 You admitted you need me； and you'll need me more than ever for this！〃 She was in full fig； fists on her hips； foot tapping； eyes all but glowing。
〃You're staying here；〃 he told her firmly。 He was still not sure what he intended to do； not fully； and he did not want her to see him stumble。 He was very afraid he might stumble。 He expected an argument； though。
She frowned at him； and her foot stopped tapping。 The angry light in her eyes faded into worry that vanished in a twinkling