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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 they had been riding through all day。 There was the sudden sense of being rested； of course。 Then an Ogier stepped out from behind an oak。
She was shorter than Loial … which meant she stood head and shoulders taller than Rand … but with the same broad nose and big eyes； the same wide mouth and tufted ears。 Her eyebrows were not so long as Loial's； though； and her features seemed delicate beside his； the tufts on her ears finer。 She wore a long green dress and a green cloak embroidered with flowers； and carried a bunch of silverbell blossoms as if she had been gathering them。 She looked at them calmly； waiting。
Loial scrambled down from his tall horse and bowed hastily。 Rand and the others did the same； if not so quickly as Loial； even Verin inclined her head。 Loial gave their names formally； but he did not mention the name of his stedding。
For a moment the Ogier girl … Rand was sure she was no older than Loial … studied them； then smiled。 〃Be wele to Stedding Tsofu。〃 Her voice was a lighter version of Loial's； too； the softer rumble of a smaller bumblebee。 〃I am Erith； daughter of Iva daughter of Alar。 Be wele。 We have had so few human visitors since the stonemasons left Cairhien； and now so many at once。 Why； we even had some of the Traveling People； though； of course； they left when the。。。 Oh； I talk too much。 I will take you to the Elders。 Only 。。。〃 She searched among them for the one in charge； and settled finally on Verin。 〃Aes Sedai； you have so many men with you； and armed。 Could you please leave some of them Outside？ Forgive me； but it is always unsettling to have very many armed humans in the stedding at once。〃
〃Of course； Erith；〃 Verin said。 〃Ingtar； will you see to it？〃
Ingtar gave orders to Uno； and so it was that he and Hurin were the only Shienarans to follow Erith deeper into the stedding。
Leading his horse like the others； Rand looked up as Loial came closer； with many glances at Erith up ahead with Verin and Ingtar。 Hurin walked midway between； staring around in amazement； though Rand was not sure at what exactly。 Loial bent to speak quietly。 〃Is she not beautiful； Rand？ And her voice sings。〃
Mat snickered； but when Loial looked at him questioningly； he said； 〃Very pretty； Loial。 A little tall for my taste； you understand； but very pretty； I'm sure。〃
Loial frowned uncertainly； but nodded。 〃Yes； she is。〃 His expression lightened。 〃It does feel good to be back in a stedding。 Not that the Longing was taking me； you understand。〃
〃The Longing？〃 Perrin said。 〃I do not understand； Loial。〃
〃We Ogier are bound to the stedding； Perrin。 It is said that before the Breaking of the World； we could go where we wished for as long as we wished； like you humans； but that changed with the Breaking。 Ogier were scattered like every other people； and they could not find any of the stedding again。 Everything was moved； everything changed。 Mountains； rivers； even the seas。〃
〃Everybody knows about the Breaking；〃 Mat said impatiently。 〃What does it have to do with this … this Longing？〃
〃It was during the Exile； while we wandered lost； that the Longing first came on us。 The desire to know the stedding once more； to know our homes again。 Many died of it。〃 Loial shook his head sadly。 〃More died than lived。 When we finally began to find the stedding again； one at a time； in the years of the Covenant of the Ten Nations； it seemed we had defeated the Longing at last； but it had changed us； put seeds in us。 Now； if an Ogier is Outside too long； the Longing es again； he begins to weaken； and he dies if he does not return。〃
〃Do you need to stay here awhile？〃 Rand asked anxiously。 〃There's no need to kill yourself to go with us。〃
〃I will know it when it es。〃 Loial laughed。 〃It will be long before it is strong enough to cause harm to me。 Why； Dalar spent ten years among the Sea Folk without ever seeing a stedding； and she came safely home。〃
An Ogier woman appeared out of the trees； pausing a moment to speak with Erith and Verin。 She looked Ingtar up and down and seemed to dismiss him； which made him blink。 Her eyes swept across Loial； flicked over Hurin and the Emond's Fielders； before she went off into the forest again； Loial seemed to be trying to hide behind his horse。 〃Besides；〃 he said； peering cautiously across his saddle after her； 〃it is a dull life in the stedding pared to traveling with three ta'veren。〃
〃If you are going to start that again；〃 Mat muttered； and Loial spoke up quickly。 〃Three friends； then。 You are my friends； I hope。〃
〃I am；〃 Rand said simply； and Perrin nodded。
Mat laughed。 〃How could I not be friends with somebody who dices so badly？〃 He threw up his hands when Rand and Perrin looked at him。 〃Oh； all right。 I like you； Loial。 You're my friend。 Just don't go on about 。。。 Aaah！ Sometimes you're as bad to be around as Rand。〃 His voice sank to a mutter。 〃At least we're safe here in a stedding。〃
Rand grimaced。 He knew what Mat meant。 Here in a stedding； where I can't channel。
Perrin punched Mat's shoulder； but looked sorry that he had when Mat grimaced at him with that gaunt face。
It was the music Rand became aware of first； unseen flutes and fiddles in a jolly tune that floated through the trees； and deep voices singing and laughing。
〃Clear the field； smooth it low。
Let no weed or stubble stand。
Here we labor； here we toil；
here the towering trees will grow。〃
Almost at the same moment he realized that the huge shape he was seeing through the trees was itself a tree； with a ridged； buttressed trunk that must have been twenty paces thick。 Gaping； he followed it up with his eyes； up through the forest canopy； to branches spreading like the top of a gigantic mushroom a good hundred paces above the ground。 And beyond it were taller still。
〃Burn me；〃 Mat breathed。 〃You could build ten houses from just one of those。 Fifty houses。〃
〃Cut down a Great Tree？〃 Loial sounded scandalized； and more than a little angry。 His ears were stiff and still； his long eyebrows down on his cheeks。 〃We never cut down one of the Great Trees； not unless it dies； and they almost never do。 Few survived the Breaking； but some of the largest were seedlings during the Age of Legends。〃
〃I'm sorry；〃 Mat said。 〃I was just saying how big they are。 I won't hurt your trees。〃 Loial nodded； seeming mollified。
More Ogier appeared now； walking among the trees。 Most seemed intent on whatever they were about； though all looked at the newers； and even gave a friendly nod or a small bow； none stopped or spoke。 They had a curious way of moving； in some manner blending a careful deliberateness with an almost childlike carefree joyfulness。 They knew and liked who and what they were and where they were； and they seemed at peace with themselves and everything around them。 Rand found himself envying them。
Few of the Ogier men were any taller than Loial； but it was easy to pick out the older men； one and all the