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n wool； travel…stained and as dusty as her cheeks； but her face was furious as well as queenly。 〃I do not need；〃 she began in chill tones； trying to jerk her horse free； then cut off as another of the women； white…haired and bony； galloped up on a slab…sided brown mare in worse condition than the bay。 They had been riding hard for some time； these folk。 The older woman was just as worn and dust…covered as the younger。
She alternated between beaming at Perrin and scowling at the woman whose bridle he still held。 〃Thank you； my Lord。〃 Her voice； thin but strong； gave a hitch as she noticed his eyes； but golden…yellow eyes on a man slowed her only an instant。 Not a woman fazed by much。 She still carried the stout stick she had been using for a weapon。 〃A most timely rescue。 Maighdin； whatever were you thinking？ You could have gotten yourself killed！ And the rest of us； too！ She's a headstrong girl； my Lord； always leaping before she looks。 Remember； child； a fool abandons friends； and gives up silver for shiny brass。 We do thank you； my Lord； and Maighdin will； too； when she es to her senses。〃
Maighdin； a good ten years older than Perrin； could only be called a girl in parison to the older woman； but despite weary grimaces that matched her scent； frustration tinged with anger； she accepted the tirade； only pulling once more in a halfhearted attempt to free her horse； then giving up。 Letting her hands rest on her cantle； she frowned at Perrin accusingly； then blinked。 The yellow eyes again。 Yet despite that strangeness； she still did not smell afraid。 The old woman did； but Perrin did not think it was of him。
Another of Maighdin's panions； an unshaven man mounted on yet another bedraggled horse； this a knob…kneed gray； approached while the old woman was talking； but kept back。 He was tall； as tall as Perrin if not nearly so wide； in a travel…worn dark coat with a sword belted over。 Like the women； he had a bundle tied on behind his saddle。 That tiny breeze swirled to bring Perrin his scent。 He was not afraid； he was wary。 And if the way he looked at Maighdin was any guide； it was she he was wary of。 Maybe this was not so simple as rescuing travelers from a gang of ruffians after all。
〃Perhaps you should all e to my camp；〃 Perrin said； finally releasing the bridle。 〃You'll be safe from。。。 brigands。。。 there。〃 He half expected Maighdin to make a break for the nearest tree line； but she turned her horse with his； back toward the goatpen。 She smelled。。。 resigned。
Even so； she said； 〃I thank you for the offer； but I。。。 we。。。 must continue our journey。 We will go on； Lini；〃 she added firmly； and the older woman frowned at her so sternly that he wondered whether they were mother and daughter despite her use of the woman's name。 They certainly looked nothing alike。 Lini was narrow…faced and parchment…skinned； all sinew； while Maighdin might be beautiful under that dust。 If a man liked fair hair。
Perrin glanced over his shoulder at the man trailing after。 A hard…looking fellow； in need of a razor。 Perhaps he liked fair hair。 Perhaps he liked it too much。 Men had made trouble for themselves as well as others for that reason before this。
Ahead； Faile was sitting Swallow and peering over the wall of the pen at the people inside。 Perhaps one of them had been hurt。 Seonid and the Wise Ones were nowhere in sight。 Aram had understood； apparently； he was close to Faile； though looking impatiently toward Perrin。 The danger was clearly past； though。
Before Perrin was halfway to the goatpen； Teryl appeared with a narrow…eyed； stubble…cheeked man stumbling along beside his roan； the collar of his coat gripped in the Warder's fist。 〃I thought we should catch one of them；〃 Teryl said with a hard grin。 〃Always best to hear both sides； whatever you thought you saw； my old da always said。〃 Perrin was surprised； he had thought Teryl could not think beyond the end of his sword。
Even hiked up as it was； the stubble…cheeked fellow's frayed coat was plainly too big for him。 Perrin doubted anyone else had been able to see well enough at the distance； but he recognized that thrusting nose； too。 This man had been the last to run； and he was not cowed now； either。 His sneer took them all in。 〃You're all in deep muck； for this；〃 he rasped。 〃We was doing the Prophet's bidding； we was。 The Prophet says if a man bothers a woman as doesn't want him； he dies。 This lot was chasing after her〃 … he jerked his chin at Maighdin … 〃and she was running hard。 The Prophet'll have your ears for this！〃 He spat for emphasis。
〃That is ridiculous；〃 Maighdin announced in a clear voice。 〃These people are my friends。 This man pletely misunderstood what he saw。〃
Perrin nodded； and if she thought he was agreeing with her； all well and good。 But putting what this fellow said alongside what Lini had。。。 Not simple at all。
Faile and the others joined them； followed by the rest of Maighdin's traveling panions； three more men and another woman； all leading worn…down horses with few miles left in them。 Not that they had been prime horseflesh in some years； if ever。 A finer collection of buck knees； bow hocks； spavins； and swaybacks； Perrin could not recall。 As always； his gaze went first to Faile … his nostrils strained for her scent … but Seonid snagged his eyes。 Slumped in her saddle； flushing scarlet； she wore a sullen glower； and her face looked odd； her cheeks puffed out and her mouth not quite closed。 There was something； a bit of red…and…blue。。。 Perrin blinked。 Unless he was seeing things； she had a wadded…up scarf stuffed into her mouth！ Apparently when Wise Ones told an apprentice to be quiet； even an Aes Sedai apprentice； they meant it。
He was not the only one with sharp eyes； Maighdin's mouth fell open when she saw Seonid； and she gave him a long； considering look as if he were responsible for the scarf。 So she knew an Aes Sedai on sight； did she？ Unmon； for the country woman she appeared。 She did not sound one； though。
Furen； riding behind Seonid； wore a thunderhead for a face； but it was Teryl who made everything even less simple by tossing something to the ground。 〃I found this behind him；〃 he said； 〃where he might have dropped it； running。〃
At first； Perrin did not know what he was looking at； a long loop of rawhide thickly strung with what appeared to be tags of shriveled leather。 Then he did know； and his teeth bared in a snarl。 〃The Prophet would have our ears； you said。〃
The stubble…cheeked man stopped gaping at Seonid and licked his lips。 〃That。。。 that's Hari's work！〃 he protested。 〃Hari's a mean one。 He likes to keep count； take trophies； and he。。。 uh。。。 〃 Shrugging in his captive coat； he sank in on himself like a cornered dog。 〃You can't tie that to me！ The Prophet'll hang you if you touch me！ He's hanged nobles before； fine lords and ladies。 I walk in the Light of the blessed Lord Dragon！〃
Perrin walked Stepper to the man； careful to keep the dun's hooves clear of the。。。 thing。。。 on the ground。 He wanted nothing less than to have the fellow's scent in his nose； but he bent down； putting his face closer。 Sour sweat warred with fear； panic； a tin