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n soldiers； good fighters； and two women cost me twice the casualties they did。 … since then； he no longer expected to live to leave Toman Head。 In the small chance the Seanchan did not see to it； very likely the Questioners would。
〃When you have found my son … he should be with Lord Captain Eamon Valda near Tar Valon … and told him； you will ride to Amador； and report to the Lord Captain mander。 To Pedron Niall personally； Child Byar。 You will tell him what we have learned of the Seanchan； I will write it out for you。 Be sure he understands that we can no longer count on the Tar Valon witches being content with manipulating events from the shadows。 If they fight openly for the Seanchan； we will surely face them elsewhere。〃 He hesitated。 That last was the most important of all。 They had to know under the Dome of Truth that for all their vaunted oaths； Aes Sedai would march into battle。 It gave him a sinking feeling； a world where Aes Sedai wielded the Power in battle； he was not sure that he would regret leaving it。 But there was one more message he wanted carried to Amador。 〃And； Byar 。。。 tell Pedron Niall how we were used by the Questioners。〃
〃As you mand； my Lord Captain；〃 Byar said； but Bornhald sighed at the expression on his face。 The man did not understand。 To Byar； orders were to be obeyed whether they came from the Lord Captain or the Questioners； whatever they were。
〃I will write that out for you to hand to Pedron Niall as well；〃 he said。 He was not sure how much good it would do in any case。 A thought came to him； and he frowned at the inn； where some of his men were loudly hammering nails through shutters and doors。 〃Perrin；〃 he muttered。 〃That was his name。 Perrin； from the Two Rivers。〃
〃The Darkfriend； my Lord Captain？〃
〃Perhaps； Byar。〃 He was not entirely certain； himself； but surely a man who seemed to have wolves fight for him could be nothing else。 Certainly； this Perrin had killed two of the Children。 〃I thought I saw him when we rode in； but I do not remember anyone among the prisoners who looked like a blacksmith。〃
〃Their blacksmith left a month ago； my Lord Captain。 Some of them were plaining that they'd have been gone before we came if they had not had to mend their cartwheels themselves。 Do you believe it was the man Perrin； my Lord Captain？〃
〃Whoever it was； he is not accounted for； no？ And he may carry word of us to the Seanchan。〃
〃A Darkfriend would surely do so； my Lord Captain。〃
Bornhald gulped the last of the water and tossed the cup aside。 〃There will be no meal for the men here； Byar。 I will not let these Seanchan catch me napping； whether it is Perrin of the Two Rivers or someone else who warns them。 Mount the legion； Child Byar！〃
Far above their heads； a huge； winged shape circled； unnoticed。
In the clearing amid the hilltop thicket where they had made their camp； Rand worked the forms with his sword。 He wanted to keep from thinking。 He had had his chances to search with Hurin for Fain's trail； they all had； in twos and threes so they would not attract attention； and they had all found nothing so far。 Now they waited for Mat and Perrin to e back with the sniffer； they should have been back hours ago。
Loial was reading； of course； and there was no telling if his ear…twitching was over his book or the scouting party's lateness； but Uno and most of the Shienaran soldiers sat tensely； oiling their swords； or kept watch through the trees as if they expected Seanchan to appear any moment。 Only Verin appeared unconcerned。 The Aes Sedai sat on a log beside their small fire； murmuring to herself and writing in the dirt with a long stick； every so often she would shake her head and scrub it all out with her foot and start over again。 All the horses were saddled and ready to go； the Shienarans' animals each tied to a lance driven into the ground。
〃Heron Wading in the Rushes；〃 Ingtar said。 He sat with his back against a tree； sliding a sharpening stone along his sword and watching Rand。 〃You should not be bothering with that one。 It leaves you pletely open。〃
For an instant Rand balanced on the ball of one foot； sword held reversed in both hands over his head； then shifted smoothly to the other foot。 〃Lan says it's good for developing balance。〃 It was not easy keeping his balance。 In the void it often seemed he could maintain his equilibrium atop a rolling boulder； but he did not dare assume the void。 He wanted to too much to trust himself。
〃What you practice too often； you use without thinking。 You will put your sword in the other man with that； if you're quick； but not before he has his through your ribs。 You are practically inviting him。 I don't think I could see a man face me so open and not put my sword in him； even knowing he might strike home at me if I did。〃
〃It's only for balance； Ingtar。 〃 Rand wavered on one foot； and had to put the other down to keep from falling。 He slammed the blade into its scabbard and picked up the gray cloak that had been his disguise。 It was moth…eaten； and ragged around the bottom； but lined with thick fleece； and the wind was picking up； cold and out of the west。 〃I wish they'd e back。〃
As if his wish had been a signal； Uno spoke up with quiet urgency。 〃Bloody horsemen ing； my Lord。〃 Scabbards rattled as men who did not already have their blades out bared them。 Some leaped into their saddles； snatching up lances。
The tension faded as Hurin led the others into the clearing at a trot； and came again as he spoke。 〃We found the trail； Lord Ingtar。〃
〃We followed it almost to Falme；〃 Mat said as he dismounted。 A flush in his pale cheeks seemed a mocking of health； the skin was tight over his skull。 The Shienarans gathered around； as excited as he was。 〃It's just Fain； but there isn't anywhere else he could be going。 He must have the dagger。〃
〃We found Whitecloaks； too；〃 Perrin said； swinging down from his saddle。 〃Hundreds of them。〃
〃Whitecloaks？〃 Ingtar exclaimed； frowning。 〃Here？ Well； if they do not trouble us； we will not trouble them。 Perhaps if the Seanchan are occupied with them； it will help us reach the Horn。〃 His eyes fell on Verin； still seated by the fire。 〃I suppose you will tell me I should have listened to you； Aes Sedai。 The man did go to Falme。〃
〃The Wheel weaves as the Wheel wills；〃 Verin said placidly。 〃With ta'veren； what happens is what was meant to happen。 It may be the Pattern demanded these extra days。 The Pattern puts everything in its place precisely； and when we try to alter it； especially if ta'veren are involved； the weaving changes to put us back into the Pattern as we were meant to be。〃 There was an uneasy silence that she did not seem to notice； she sketched on idly with the stick。 〃Now； however； I think perhaps we should make plans。 The Pattern has brought us to Falme at last。 The Horn of Valere has been taken to Falme。〃
Ingtar squatted across the fire from her。 〃When enough people say the same thing； I tend to believe it； and the local people say the Seanchan do not seem to care who es or goes in Falme。 I will take Hurin and a few others into the town。 Once he f