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see what lay above the smoke。 Ominous crackling told enough。
The door to Hurin's room had not caught yet； but it was hot enough that he had to try twice before he could manage to push it open。 The first thing to meet his eye was Hurin； sprawled on the floor。 Rand crawled to the sniffer and lifted him up。 There was a lump on the side of his head the size of a plum。
Hurin opened unfocused eyes。 〃Lord Rand？〃 he murmured faintly。 〃。。。 knock at the door 。。。 thought it was more invi 。。。〃 His eyes rolled back in his head。 Rand felt for a heartbeat； and sagged with relief when he found it。
〃Rand 。。。〃 Loial coughed。 He was beside his bed； with the covers thrown up to reveal the bare boards underneath。 The chest was gone。
Above the smoke； the ceiling creaked； and flaming pieces of wood fell to the floor。
Rand said； 〃Get your books。 I will take Hurin。 Hurry。〃 He started to drape the limp sniffer over his shoulders； but Loial took Hurin from him。
〃The books will have to burn； Rand。 You can't carry him and crawl； and if you stand up； you will never reach the stairs。〃 The Ogier pulled Hurin up onto his broad back； arms and legs hanging to either side。 The ceiling gave a loud crack。 〃We must hurry； Rand。〃
〃Go； Loial。 Go； and I'll follow。〃
The Ogier crawled into the hall with his burden； and Rand started after him。 Then he stopped； staring back at the connecting door to his room。 The banner was still in there。 The banner of the Dragon。 Let it burn； he thought； and an answering thought came as if he had heard Moiraine say it。 Your life may depend on it。 She's still trying to use me。 Your life may depend on it。 Aes Sedai never lie。
With a groan； he rolled across the floor and kicked open the door to his room。
The other room was a mass of flame。 The bed was a bonfire； red runners already crossed the floor。 There would be no crawling across that。 Getting to his feet； he ran crouching into the room； flinching from the heat； coughing； choking。 Steam rose from his damp coat。 One side of the wardrobe was already burning。 He snatched open the door。 His saddlebags lay inside； still protected from the fire； one side bulging with the banner of Lews Therin Telamon； the wooden flute case beside them。 For an instant； he hesitated。 I could still let it burn。
The ceiling above him groaned。 He grabbed saddlebags and flute case and threw himself back through the door； landing on his knees as burning timbers crashed where he had stood。 Dragging his burden； he crawled into the hall。 The floor shook with more falling beams。
The men with the buckets were gone when he reached the stairs。 He all but slid down the steps to the next landing； scrambled to his feet and ran through the now…empty building into the street。 The onlookers stared at him； with his face blackened and his coat covered with smut； but he staggered to where Loial had propped Hurin against the wall of a house across the street。 A woman from the crowd was wiping Hurin's face with a cloth； but his eyes were still closed； and his breath came in heaves。
〃Is there a Wisdom nearby？〃 Rand demanded。 〃He needs help。〃 The woman looked at him blankly； and he tried to remember the other names he had heard people call the women who would be Wisdoms in the Two Rivers。 〃A Wise Woman？ A woman you call Mother somebody？ A woman who knows herbs and healing？〃
〃I am a Reader； if that is what you mean；〃 the woman said； 〃but all I know to do for this one is to make him fortable。 Something is broken inside his head； I fear。〃
〃Rand！ It is you！〃
Rand stared。 It was Mat； leading his horse through the crowd； with his bow strung across his back。 A Mat whose face was pale and drawn； but still Mat； and grinning； if weakly。 And behind him came Perrin； his yellow eyes shining in the fire and earning as many looks as the blaze。 And Ingtar； dismounting in a high…collared coat instead of armor； but still with his sword hilt sticking up over his shoulder。
Rand felt a shiver run through him。 〃It's too late；〃 he told them。 〃You came too late。〃 And he sat down in the street and began to laugh。
Chapter 31
（Rising Sun）
On the Scent
Rand did not know Verin was there until the Aes Sedai took his face in her hands。 For a moment he could see worry in her face； perhaps even fear； and then suddenly he felt as if he had been doused with cold water； not the wet but the tingle。 He gave one abrupt shudder and stopped laughing； she left him to crouch over Hurin。 The Reader watched her carefully。 So did Rand。 What is she doing here？ As if I didn't know。
〃Where did you go？〃 Mat demanded hoarsely。 〃You all just disappeared； and now you're in Cairhien ahead of us。 Loial？〃 The Ogier shrugged uncertainly and eyed the crowd； his ears twitching。 Half the people had turned from the fire to watch the newers。 A few edged closer trying to listen。
Rand let Perrin give him a hand up。 〃How did you find the inn？〃 He glanced at Verin； kneeling with her hands on the sniffer's head。 〃Her？〃
〃In a way；〃 Perrin said。 〃The guards at the gate wanted our names； and a fellow ing out of the guardhouse gave a jump when he heard Ingtar's name。 He said he didn't know it； but he had a smile that shouted 'lie' a mile off。〃
〃I think I know the man you mean；〃 Rand said。 〃He smiles that way all the time。〃
〃Verin showed him her ring；〃 Mat put in； 〃and whispered in his ear。〃 He looked and sounded sick； his cheeks flushed and tight； but he managed a grin。 Rand had never noticed his cheekbones before。 〃I couldn't hear what she said； but I didn't know whether his eyes were going to pop out of his head or he was going to swallow his tongue first。 All of a sudden； he couldn't do enough for us。 He told us you were waiting for us； and right where you were staying。 Offered to guide us himself； but he really looked relieved when Verin told him no。〃 He snorted。 〃Lord Rand of House al'Thor。〃
〃It's too long a story to explain now；〃 Rand said。 〃Where are Uno and the rest？ We will need them。〃
〃In the Foregate。〃 Mat frowned at him； and went on slowly； 〃Uno said they'd rather stay there than inside the walls。 From what I can see； I'd rather be with them。 Rand； why will we need Uno？ Have you found 。。。 them？〃
It was the moment Rand realized suddenly he had been avoiding。 He took a deep breath and looked his friend in the eye。 〃Mat； I had the dagger； and I lost it。 The Darkfriends took it back。〃 He heard gasps from the Cairhienin listening； but he did not care。 They could play their Great Game if they wanted； but Ingtar had e； and he was finished with it at last。 〃They can't have gone far； though。〃
Ingtar had been silent； but now he stepped forward and gripped Rand's arm。 〃You had it？ And the〃 … he looked around at the onlookers … 〃the other thing？〃
〃They took that back； too；〃 Rand said quietly。 Ingtar pounded a fist into his palm and turned away； some of the Cairhienin backed off from the look on his face。
Mat chewed his lip； then shook his head。 〃I didn't know it was found； so it isn't as if I had lost it again。 It is just still lost。〃 It was plain he was speaking of the