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〃So the Wise Ones say；〃 Urien said dryly； 〃yet even a clan chief must have a strong belly to avoid doing as they want。〃 He seemed to be picking his words carefully。 〃I search for 。。。 someone。 A man。〃 His eye ran across Perrin； Mat； the Shienarans； dismissing them all。 〃He Who es With the Dawn。 It is said there will be great signs and portents of his ing。 I saw that you were from Shienar by your escort's armor； and you had the look of a Wise One； so I thought you might have word of great events； the events that might herald him。〃
〃A man？〃 Verin's voice was soft； but her eyes were as sharp as daggers。 〃What are these signs？〃
Urien shook his head。 〃It is said we will know them when we hear of them； as we will know him when we see him； for he will be marked。 He will e from the west； beyond the Spine of the World； but be of our blood。 He will go to Rhuidean； and lead us out of the Three…fold Land。〃 He took a spear in his right hand。 Leather and metal creaked as soldiers reached for their swords； and Perrin realized he had taken hold of his axe again； but Verin waved them all to stillness with an irritated look。 In the dirt Urien scraped a circle with his spearpoint； then drew across it a sinuous line。 〃It is said that under this sign； he will conquer。〃
Ingtar frowned at the symbol； no recognition on his face； but Mat muttered something coarsely under his breath； and Perrin felt his mouth go dry。 The ancient symbol of the Aes Sedai。
Verin scraped the marking away with her foot。 〃I cannot tell you where he is； Urien；〃 she said； 〃and I have heard of no signs or portents to guide you to him。〃
〃Then I will continue my search。〃 It was not a question； yet Urien waited until she nodded before he eyed the Shienarans proudly； challengingly； then turned his back on them。 He walked away smoothly； and vanished into the rocks without looking back。
Some of the soldiers began muttering。 Uno said something about 〃crazy bloody Aiel；〃 and Masema growled that they should have left the Aiel for the ravens。
〃We have wasted valuable time；〃 Ingtar announced loudly。 〃We will ride harder to make it up。〃
〃Yes；〃 Verin said； 〃we must ride harder。〃
Ingtar glanced at her； but the Aes Sedai was staring at the smudged ground； where her foot had obliterated the symbol。 〃Dismount；〃 he ordered。 〃Armor on the packhorses。 We're inside Cairhien； now。 We do not want the Cairhienin thinking we have e to fight them。 Be quick about it！〃
Mat leaned close to Perrin。 〃Do you 。。。 ？ Do you think he was talking about Rand？ It's crazy； I know； but even Ingtar thinks he's Aiel。〃
〃I don't know；〃 Perrin said。 〃Everything has been crazy since we got mixed up with Aes Sedai。〃
Softly； as to herself； Verin spoke； still staring at the ground。 〃It must be a part； and yet how？ Does the Wheel of Time weave threads into the Pattern of which we know nothing？ Or does the Dark One touch the Pattern again？〃
Perrin felt a chill。
Verin looked up at the soldiers removing their armor。 〃Hurry！〃 she manded with more snap than Ingtar and Uno bined。 〃We must hurry！〃
Chapter 29
（Insect…Like； Horned Helmet）
Seanchan
Geofram Bornhald ignored the smell of burning houses and the bodies that lay sprawled on the dirt of the street。 Byar and a white…cloaked guard of a hundred rode into the village at his heels； half the men he had with him。 His legion was too scattered for his liking； with Questioners having too many of the mands； but his orders had been explicit： Obey the Questioners。
There had been but slight resistance here； only half a dozen dwellings gave off columns of smoke。 The inn was still standing； he saw； white…plastered stone like almost every structure on Almoth Plain。
Reining up before the inn； his eyes went past the prisoners his soldiers held near the village well to the long gibbet marring the village green。 It was hastily made； only a long pole on uprights； but it held thirty bodies； their clothes ruffled by the breeze。 There were small bodies hanging among their elders。 Even Byar stared at that in disbelief。
〃Muadh！〃 he roared。 A grizzled man trotted away from those holding the prisoners。 Muadh had fallen into the hands of Darkfriends； once； his scarred face took even the strongest aback。 〃Is this your work； Muadh； or the Seanchan？〃
〃Neither； my Lord Captain。〃 Muadh's voice was a hoarse； whispered growl； another leaving of the Darkfriends。 He said no more。
Bornhald frowned。 〃Surely that lot did not do it；〃 he said； gesturing to the prisoners。 The Children did not look so neat as when he had brought them across Tarabon； but they seemed ready to parade pared with the rabble that crouched under their watchful eyes。 Men in rags and bits of armor； with sullen faces。 Remnants of the army Tarabon had sent against the invaders on Toman Head。
Muadh hesitated； then said carefully； 〃The villagers say they wore Taraboner cloaks； my Lord Captain。 There was a big man among them； with gray eyes and a long mustache； that sounds twin to Child Earwin； and a young lad； trying to hide a pretty face behind a yellow beard； who fought with his left hand。 Sounds almost like Child Wuan； my Lord Captain。〃
〃Questioners！〃 Bornhald spat。 Earwin and Wuan were among those he had had to hand over to the Questioners' mand。 He had seen Questioner tactics before； but this was the first time he had ever been faced with children's bodies。
〃If my Lord Captain says so。〃 Muadh made it sound like fervent agreement。
〃Cut them down；〃 Bornhald said wearily。 〃Cut them down； and make sure the villagers know there will be no more killing。〃 Unless some fool decides to be brave because his woman is watching； and I have to make an example。 He dismounted； eyeing the prisoners again； as Muadh hurried off calling for ladders and knives。 He had more to think about than Questioners' overzealousness； he wished he could stop thinking about Questioners altogether。
〃They do not put up much fight； my Lord Captain；〃 Byar said； 〃either these Taraboners or what is left of the Domani。 They snap like cornered rats； but run as soon as anything snaps back。〃
〃Let us see how we do against the invaders； Byar； before we look down on these men； yes？〃 The prisoners' faces bore a defeated look that had been there before his men came。 〃Have Muadh pick one out for me。〃 Muadh's face was enough to soften most men's resolve by itself。 〃An officer； preferably。 One who looks intelligent enough to tell what he has seen without embroidery； but young enough not to have yet grown a full backbone。 Tell Muadh to be not too gentle about it； yes？ Make the fellow believe that I mean to see worse happen to him than he ever dreamed of； unless he convinces me otherwise。〃 He tossed his reins to one of the Children and strode into the inn。
The innkeeper was there； for a wonder； an obsequious； sweating man； his dirty shirt straining over his belly until the embroidered red scrollwork seemed ready to pop off。 Bornhald waved the man away； he was vaguely aware of a woman and some children huddling in a doorway； until the fat innkeeper shepherded them out。