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〃Heartstone；〃 Moiraine agreed。 The making of cuendillar had been lost at the Breaking of the World； but what had been made of heartstone had survived the cataclysm。 Even those objects swallowed by the earth or sunk in the sea had survived； they must have。 No known force could break cuendillar once it was plete； even the One Power directed against heartstone only made it stronger。 Except that some power had broken this。
The Amyrlin hastily assembled the pieces。 What they formed was a disk the size of a man's hand； half blacker than pitch and half whiter than snow； the colors meeting along a sinuous line； unfaded by age。 The ancient symbol of Aes Sedai； before the world was broken； when men and women wielded the Power together。 Half of it was now called the Flame of Tar Valon； the other half was scrawled on doors； the Dragon's Fang； to accuse those within of evil。 Only seven like it had been made； everything ever made of heartstone was recorded in the White Tower； and those seven were remembered above all。 Siuan Sanche stared at it as she would have at a viper on her pillow。
〃One of the seals on the Dark One's prison；〃 she said finally； reluctantly。 It was those seven seals over which the Amyrlin Seat was supposed to be Watcher。 The secret hidden from the world； if the world ever thought of it； was that no Amyrlin Seat had known where any of the seals were since the Trolloc Wars。
〃We know the Dark One is stirring； Siuan。 We know his prison cannot stay sealed forever。 Human work can never match the Creator's。 We knew he has touched the world again； even if； thank the Light； only indirectly。 Darkfriends multiply； and what we called evil but ten years ago seems almost caprice pared with what now is done every day。〃
〃If the seals are already breaking 。。。 We may have no time at all。〃
〃Little enough。 But that little may be enough。 It will have to be。〃
The Amyrlin touched the fractured seal； and her voice grew tight； as if she were forcing herself to speak。 〃I saw the boy； you know； in the courtyard during the Wele。 It is one of my Talents； seeing ta'veren。 A rare Talent these days； even more rare than ta'veren； and certainly not of much use。 A tall boy； a fairly handsome young man。 Not much different from any young man you might see in any town。〃 She paused to draw breath。 〃Moiraine； he blazed like the sun。 I've seldom been afraid in my life； but the sight of him made me afraid right down to my toes。 I wanted to cower； to howl。 I could barely speak。 Agelmar thought I was angry with him； I said so little。 That young man 。。。 he's the one we have sought these twenty years。〃
There was a hint of question in her voice。 Moiraine answered it。 〃He is。〃
〃Are you certain？ Can he 。。。 ？ Can he 。。。 channel the One Power？〃
Her mouth strained around the words； and Moiraine felt the tension； too； a twisting inside； a cold clutching at her heart。 She kept her face smooth； though。 〃He can。〃 A man wielding the One Power。 That was a thing no Aes Sedai could contemplate without fear。 It was a thing the whole world feared。 And I will loose it on the world。 〃Rand al'Thor will stand before the world as the Dragon Reborn。〃
The Amyrlin shuddered。 〃Rand al'Thor。 It does not sound like a name to inspire fear and set the world on fire。〃 She gave another shiver and rubbed her arms briskly； but her eyes suddenly shone with a purposeful light。 〃If he is the one； then we truly may have time enough。 But is he safe here？ I have two Red sisters with me； and I can no longer answer for Green or Yellow； either。 The Light consume me； I can't answer for any of them； not with this。 Even Verin and Serafelle would leap on him the way they would a scarlet adder in a nursery。〃
〃He is safe； for the moment。〃
The Amyrlin waited for her to say more。 The silence stretched； until it was plain she would not。 Finally the Amyrlin said； 〃You say our old plan is useless。 What do you suggest now？〃
〃I have purposely let him think I no longer have any interest in him； that he may go where he pleases for all of me。〃 She raised her hands as the Amyrlin opened her mouth。 〃It was necessary； Siuan。 Rand al'Thor was raised in the Two Rivers； where Manetheren's stubborn blood flows in every vein； and his own blood is like rock beside clay pared to Manetheren's。 He must be handled gently； or he will bolt in any direction but the one we want。〃
〃Then we'll handle him like a newborn babe。 We'll wrap him in swaddling clothes and play with his toes； if that's what you think we need。 But to what immediate purpose？〃
〃His two friends； Matrim Cauthon and Perrin Aybara； are ripe to see the world before they sink back into the obscurity of the Two Rivers。 If they can sink back； they are ta'veren； too； if lesser than he。 I will induce them to carry the Horn of Valere to Illian。〃 She hesitated； frowning。 〃There is 。。。 a problem with Mat。 He carries a dagger from Shadar Logoth。〃
〃Shadar Logoth！ Light； why did you ever let them get near that place。 Every stone of it is tainted。 There isn't a pebble safe to carry away。 Light help us； if Mordeth touched the boy 。。。〃 The Amyrlin sounded as though she were strangling。 〃If that happened； the world would be doomed。〃
〃But it did not； Siuan。 We do what we must from necessity； and it was necessary。 I have done enough so that Mat will not infect others； but he had the dagger too long before I knew。 The link is still there。 I had thought I must take him to Tar Valon to cure it； but with so many sisters present； it might be done here。 So long as there are a few you can trust not to see Darkfriends where there are none。 You and I and two others will suffice； using my angreal。〃
〃Leane will do for one； and I can find another。〃 Suddenly the Amyrlin Seat gave a wry grin。 〃The Hall wants that angreal back； Moiraine。 There are not very many of them left； and you are now considered 。。。 unreliable。〃
Moiraine smiled； but it did not touch her eyes。 〃They will think worse of me before I am done。 Mat will leap at the chance to be so big a part of the legend of the Horn； and Perrin should not be hard to convince。 He needs something to take his mind off his own troubles。 Rand knows what he is … some of it； at least； a little … and he is afraid of it； naturally。 He wants to go off somewhere alone； where he cannot hurt anyone。 He says he will never wield the Power again； but he fears not being able to stop it。〃
〃As well he might。 Easier to give up drinking water。〃
〃Exactly。 And he wants to be free from Aes Sedai。〃 Moiraine gave a small； mirthless smile。 〃Offered the chance to leave Aes Sedai behind and still stay with his friends a while longer； he should be as eager as Mat。〃
〃But how is he leaving Aes Sedai behind？ Surely you must travel with him。 We can't lose him now； Moiraine。〃
〃I cannot travel with him。〃 It is a long way from Fal Dara to Illian； but he has traveled almost as far already。 〃He must be let off the leash for a time。 There is no help for it。 I have had all of their old clothes burned。 There has been too much opportunity for some shred of what they were wearing to have fallen into the wrong hands