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Fain stopped himself short of suggesting how possible that would be with the aid of the Horn。 Something in the High Lord's voice suggested … as hard as Fain found it to believe … that he actually meant his wish for her to live forever。 I must be patient。 A worm in the root。
〃The Empress's Listeners may be anywhere；〃 Turak continued。 〃They may be anyone。 Huan was born and raised in the House of Aladon； and his family for eleven generations before him； yet even he could be a Listener。〃 The man with the braid half made a protesting gesture； before jerking himself back to stillness。 〃Even a high lord or a high lady can find their deepest secrets known to Listeners； can wake to find themselves already handed over to the Seekers for Truth。 Truth is always difficult to find； but the Seekers spare no pain in their search； and they will search as long as they think there is need。 They make great efforts not to allow a high lord or high lady to die in their care； of course； for no man's hand may slay one in whose veins flows the blood of Artur Hawkwing。 If the Empress must order such a death； the unfortunate one is placed alive in a silken bag； and that bag hung over the side of the Tower of the Ravens and left there until it rots away。 No such care would be taken for one such as you。 At the Court of the Nine Moons； in Seandar； one such as you could be given to the Seekers for a shift of your eye； for a misspoken word； for a whim。 Are you still eager？〃
Fain managed a tremble in his knees。 〃I wish only to serve and advise； High Lord。 I know much that may be useful。〃 This court of Seandar sounded a place where his plans and skills would find fertile soil。
〃Until I sail back to Seanchan； you will amuse me with your tales of your family and its tradition。 It is a relief to find a second man in this Light…forsaken land who can amuse me； even if you both tell lies； as I suspect。 You may leave me。〃 No other word was spoken； but the girl with the nearly white hair and the almost…transparent robe appeared on quick feet to kneel with downcast head beside the High Lord； offering a single steaming cup on a lacquered tray。
〃High Lord；〃 Fain said。 The man with the braid； Huan； took hold of his arm； but he pulled loose。 Huan's mouth tightened angrily as Fain made his deepest bow yet。 I will kill him slowly； yes。 〃High Lord； there are those who follow me。 They mean to take the Horn of Valere。 Darkfriends and worse； High Lord； and they cannot be more than a day or two behind me。〃
Turak took a sip of black liquid from the thin cup balanced on longnailed fingertips。 〃Few Darkfriends remain in Seanchan。 Those who survive the Seekers for Truth meet the axe of the headsman。 It might be amusing to meet a Darkfriend。〃
〃High Lord； they are dangerous。 They have Trollocs with them。 They are led by one who calls himself Rand al'Thor。 A young man； but vile in the Shadow beyond belief； with a lying； devious tongue。 In many places he has claimed to be many things； but always the Trollocs e when he is there； High Lord。 Always the Trollocs e 。。。 and kill。〃
〃Trollocs；〃 Turak mused。 〃There were no Trollocs in Seanchan。 But the Armies of the Night had other allies。 Other things。 I have often wondered if a grolm could kill a Trolloc。 I will have watch kept for your Trollocs and your Darkfriends； if they are not another lie。 This land wearies me with boredom。〃 He sighed and inhaled the fumes from his cup。
Fain let the grimacing Huan pull him out of the room； hardly even listening to the snarled lecture on what would happen if he ever again failed to leave Lord Turak's presence when given permission to do so。 He barely noticed when he was pushed into the street with a coin and instructions to return on the morrow。 Rand al'Thor was his； now。 I will see him dead at last。 And then the world will pay for what was done to me。
Giggling under his breath； he led his horses down into the town in search of an inn。
Chapter 35
（Leafy Tree）
Stedding Tsofu
The river hills on which the city of Cairhien stood gave way to flatter lands and forests when Rand and the others had ridden half a day； the Shienarans still with their armor on the packhorses。 There were no roads where they went； only a scattering of cart tracks； and few farms or villages。 Verin pressed for speed； and Ingtar … grumbling constantly that they were letting themselves be tricked； that Fain would never have told them where he was really going； yet grumbling at the same time about riding in the opposite direction from Toman Head； as if part of him believed and Toman Head were not months away except by the way they took … Ingtar obliged her。 The Gray Owl banner flew on the wind of their passage。
Rand rode with grim determination； avoiding conversation with Verin。 He had this thing to do … this duty； Ingtar would have called it … and then he could be free of Aes Sedai once and for all。 Perrin seemed to share something of his mood； staring straight ahead at nothing as they rode。 When they finally stopped for the night at the edge of a forest； with full dark almost on them； Perrin asked Loial questions about the stedding。 Trollocs would not enter a stedding； would wolves？ Loial replied shortly that it was only creatures of the Shadow that were reluctant to enter stedding。 And Aes Sedai； of course； since they could not touch the True Source inside a stedding； or channel the One Power。 The Ogier himself appeared the most reluctant of all to go to Stedding Tsofu。 Mat was the only one who seemed eager； almost desperately so。 His skin looked as if he had not seen the sun in a year； and his cheeks had begun to go hollow； though he said he felt ready to run a footrace。 Verin put her hands on him for Healing before he rolled into his blankets； and again before they mounted their horses in the morning； but it made no difference in how he looked。 Even Hurin frowned when he looked at Mat。
The sun stood high on the second day when Verin suddenly sat up straight in her saddle and looked around。 Beside her； Ingtar gave a start。
Rand could not see anything different about the forest now surrounding them。 The undergrowth was not too thick； they had found an easy way under the canopy of oak and hickory； blackgum and beech； pierced here and there by a tall pine or leatherleaf； or the white slash of a paperbark。 But as he followed them； he suddenly felt a chill pass through him； as though he had leaped into a Waterwood pond in winter。 It flashed through him and was gone； leaving behind a feeling of refreshment。 And there was a dull and distant sense of loss； too； though he could not imagine of what。
Every rider； as he reached that point； gave a jerk or made some exclamation。 Hurin's mouth dropped open； and Uno whispered； 〃Bloody； flaming 。。。〃 Then he shook his head as if he could not think of anything else to say。 There was a look of recognition in Perrin's yellow eyes。
Loial took a deep； slow breath and let it out。 〃It feels 。。。 good 。。。 to be back in a stedding；〃
Frowning； Rand looked around。 He had expected a stedding to be somehow different； but except for that one chill； the forest was the same as what th