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hat title a bit； knowing exactly how much right he had to it。 〃Your wife can claim a great House； and Berelain is a ruler； yet Saldaean Houses count little here； and Mayene is the smallest of nations。 An Aes Sedai for an emissary will put the weight of the White Tower behind you in Alliandre's eyes。〃 Perhaps recalling that Annoura would do for that as well as she； she hurried on。 〃Besides； I have been in Ghealdan before； and my name is well known。 Alliandre will not only receive me immediately； she will listen to what I say。〃
〃Nevarin and I will go with her；〃 Edarra said； and Nevarin added； 〃We will make sure she says nothing she should not。〃 Seonid ground her teeth audibly； to Perrin's ears； and busied herself smoothing her divided skirts； eyes carefully down。 Annoura made a sound； very nearly a grunt； and turned her head from the sight； she herself stayed away from the Wise Ones； and did not like seeing the other sisters with them。
Perrin wanted to groan。 Sending the Green would lift him off a spike； yet the Wise Ones trusted Aes Sedai less than he did and kept Seonid and Masuri on short leashes。 There had been tales about Aiel in the villages recently； too。 None of those folk had ever seen an Aiel； but rumors about the Aiel following the Dragon Reborn drifted in the air； half of Ghealdan was sure there were Aiel just a day or two away； and each story was stranger and more horrible than the last。 Alliandre might be too frightened to let him near her once she saw a pair of Aiel women telling an Aes Sedai when to hop。 And Seonid was hopping； however much she ground her teeth！ Well； he was not about to risk Faile without more assurance of her greeting than a vaguely worded letter received months ago。 That spike dug deeper； right between his shoulder blades； yet he had no choice at all。
〃A small party will get through those gates easier than a large；〃 he said finally； stuffing the looking glass into his saddlebags。 It would set fewer tongues wagging； as well。 〃That means just you and Annoura； Berelain。 And maybe Lord Gallenne。 Likely they'll take him for Annoura's Warder。〃
Berelain chortled in delight； leaning to clasp his arm with both hands。 She did not leave it at that； of course。 Her fingers squeezed caressingly； and she flashed a heated smile of promise； then straightened before he could move； her face suddenly innocent as a babe's。 Expressionless； Faile focused on pulling her gray riding gloves snug。 By her scent； she had not noticed Berelain's smile。 She hid her disappointment well。
〃I'm sorry； Faile；〃 he said； 〃but … 〃
Outrage flared in the smell of her like thorns。 〃I am certain you have matters to discuss with the First before she goes； husband；〃 she said calmly。 Her tilted eyes were pure serenity； her scent sand burrs。 〃Best you see to her now。〃 Pulling Swallow around； Faile walked the mare over to a plainly fuming Seonid and the tight…faced Wise Ones； but she did not dismount or speak to them。 Instead she frowned down at Bethal； a falcon staring from her eyrie。
Perrin realized he was feeling at his nose and pulled his hand down。 There was no blood； of course； his nose only felt as if there should be。
Berelain needed no last…minute instructions … the First of Mayene and her Gray advisor were all impatience to be off； all certainty they knew what to say and do … yet Perrin stressed caution anyway； and emphasized that Berelain and only Berelain was to speak with Alliandre。 Annoura gave him one of those cool Aes Sedai looks and nodded。 Which might have been agreement or might not； he doubted he could get more out of her with a pry…bar。 Berelain's lips curled in amusement； though she agreed with everything he said。 Or said she did。 He suspected she would say anything to get what she wanted； and those smiles in all the wrong places bothered him。 Gallenne had put his looking glass away； but he was still playing with his reins； no doubt calculating how to carve a way out of Bethal for the two women。 Perrin wanted to growl。
He watched them ride down to the road with worry。 The message Berelain carried was simple。 Rand understood Alliandre's caution； but if she wanted his protection she must be willing to announce support for him openly。 That protection would e； soldiers and Asha'man to make it plain to everyone； and even Rand himself if need be； once she agreed to make the announcement。 Berelain had no reason to change the message a hair； despite her smiles … he thought they might be another way of flirting … but Annoura。。。 Aes Sedai did what they did； and the Light alone knew why half the time。 He wished he knew some way to reach Alliandre without using a sister or rousing talk。 Or risking Faile。
The three riders reached the gates with Annoura in the lead； and guards quickly raised pikes； lowered bows and crossbows； no doubt as soon as she named herself Aes Sedai。 Not many people had the nerve to challenge that particular claim。 There was barely a pause before she was leading the way into the town。 In fact； the soldiers seemed eager to hurry them through； out of sight of anyone watching from the hills。 Some peered at the distant heights； and Perrin did not need to smell them to sense their unease over who might be hidden up there； who might； improbably； have recognized a sister。
Turning north； toward their camp； Perrin led the way along the ridge until they were out of sight from Bethal's towers； then slanted down to the hard…packed road。 Scattered farms lined the road； thatch…roofed houses and long narrow barns； withered pastures and stubbled fields and high…walled stone goatpens； but there was little livestock to be seen and fewer people。 Those few watched the riders warily； geese watching foxes； stopping chores where they stood until the horses passed on。 Aram kept as close an eye on them in return； sometimes fingering the sword hilt rising above his shoulder； perhaps wishing to find more than farmfolk。 Despite his green…striped coat； little Tinker remained in him。
Edarra and Nevarin walked beside Stepper； seemingly out for a stroll yet keeping pace easily despite their bulky skirts。 Seonid heeled them on her gelding； Furen and Teryl at her own back。 The pale…cheeked Green pretended that she simply wanted to ride a careful two paces behind the Wise Ones； but the men scowled openly。 Warders often had a greater care for their Aes Sedai's dignity than the sister did herself； and Aes Sedai had enough for queens。
Faile kept Swallow on the far side of the Aiel women； riding in silence； apparently studying the drought…scarred landscape。 Slim and graceful； she made Perrin feel a little clumsy at the best of times。 She was quicksilver； and he loved it in her； usually； but。。。 A slight breath of air had begun to stir； enough to keep her scent mingled with the rest。 He knew he should be thinking about Alliandre and what her answer would be； or better still； the Prophet and how to find him once Alliandre replied； however she did； but he could not find room in his head。
He had expected Faile to be angry when he chose Berelain； for all that Rand supposedly had sent her for the purpose。 Faile knew he did not want to send her into d