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and my House； I swear 。。。〃
Coolly Liandrin let her go on； watching the last remaining strength leach out of the other woman with her own silence。 Aes Sedai had been known to bee angry； very angry； with those who even mentioned the Black Ajah much less those who said they believed in its hidden existence。 After this； with her will already weakened by that little childhood trick； Amalisa would be as clay in her hands。 After one more blow。
〃The Black Ajah is real； child。 Real； and here within Fal Dara's walls。〃 Amalisa knelt there； her mouth hanging open。 The Black Ajah。 Aes Sedai who were also Darkfriends。 Almost as horrible to learn the Dark One himself walked Fal Dara keep。 But Liandrin would not let up now。 〃Any Aes Sedai in the halls you pass； a Black sister could be。 This I swear。 I cannot tell you which they are； but my protection you can have。 If in the Light you walk and me obey。〃
〃I will；〃 Amalisa whispered hoarsely。 〃I will。 Please； Liandrin Sedai； please say you will protect my brother； and my ladies 。。。〃
〃Who deserves protection I will protect。 Concern yourself with yourself； my daughter。 And think only of what I have manded of you。 Only that。 The fate of the world rides on this； my daughter。 All else you must forget。〃
〃Yes； Liandrin Sedai。 Yes。 Yes。〃
Liandrin turned and crossed the room； not looking back until she reached the door。 Amalisa was still on her knees； still watching her anxiously。 〃Rise； my Lady Amalisa。〃 Liandrin made her voice pleasant； with only a hint of the mocking she felt。 Sister； indeed！ Not one day as a novice would she last。 And power to mand she has。 〃Rise。〃 Amalisa straightened in slow； stiff jerks； as if she had been bound hand and foot for hours。 As she finally came upright； Liandrin said； the steel back in full strength； 〃And if you fail the world； if you fail me； that wretched Darkfriend in the dungeon will be your envy。〃
From the look on Amalisa's face； Liandrin did not think failure would e from any lack of effort on her part。
Pulling the door shut behind her； Liandrin suddenly felt a prickling across her skin。 Breath catching； she whirled about； looking up and down the dimly lit hall。 Empty。 It was full night beyond the arrowslits。 The hall was empty； yet she was sure there had been eyes on her。 The vacant corridor； shadowy between the lamps on the walls； mocked her。 She shrugged uneasily； then started down the hall determinedly。 Fancies take me。 Nothing more。
Full night already； and there was much to do before dawn。 Her orders had been explicit。
Pitch…blackness covered the dungeons whatever the hour； unless someone brought in a lantern； but Padan Fain sat on the edge of his cot； staring into the dark with a smile on his face。 He could hear the other two prisoners grumbling in their sleep； muttering in nightmares。 Padan Fain was waiting for something； something he had been awaiting for a long time。 For too long。 But not much longer。
The door to the outer guardroom opened； spilling in a flood of light； darkly outlining a figure in the doorway。
Fain stood。 〃You！ Not who I expected。〃 He stretched with a casualness he did not feel。 Blood raced through his veins； he thought he could leap over the keep if he tried。 〃Surprises for everyone； eh？ Well； e on。 The night's getting old； and I want some sleep sometime。〃
As a lamp came into the cell chamber； Fain raised his head； grinning at something； unseen yet felt； beyond the dungeon's stone ceiling。 〃It isn't over yet；〃 he whispered。
〃The battle's never over。〃
Chapter 6
（Horned Skull）
Dark Prophecy
The farmhouse door shook under furious blows from outside； the heavy bar across the door jumped in its brackets。 Beyond the window next to the door moved the heavy…muzzled silhouette of a Trolloc。 There were windows everywhere； and more shadowy shapes outside。 Not shadowy enough； though。 Rand could still make them out。
The windows； he thought desperately。 He backed away from the door； clutching his sword before him in both hands。 Even if the door holds； they can break in the windows。 Why aren't they trying the windows？
With a deafening metallic screech； one of the brackets pulled partly away from the doorframe； hanging loose on nails ripped a finger's width out of the wood。 The bar quivered from another blow； and the nails squealed again。
〃We have to stop them！〃 Rand shouted。 Only we can't。 We can't stop them。 He looked around for a way to run； but there was only the one door。 The room was a box。 Only one door； and so many windows。 〃We have to do something。 Something！〃
〃It's too late；〃 Mat said。 〃Don't you understand？〃 His grin looked odd on a bloodless pale face； and the hilt of a dagger stood out from his chest； the ruby that capped it blazing as if it held fire。 The gem had more life than his face。 〃It's too late for us to change anything。〃
〃I've finally gotten rid of them；〃 Perrin said； laughing。 Blood streamed down his face like a flood of tears from his empty sockets。 He held out red hands； trying to make Rand look at what he held。 〃I'm free； now。 It's over。〃
〃It's never over； al'Thor；〃 Padan Fain cried； capering in the middle of the floor。 〃The battle's never done。〃
The door exploded in splinters； and Rand ducked away from the flying shards of wood。 Two red…clad Aes Sedai stepped through； bowing their master in。 A mask the color of dried blood covered Ba'alzamon's face； but Rand could see the flames of his eyes through the eyeslits； he could hear the roaring fires of Ba'alzamon's mouth。
〃It is not yet done between us； al'Thor；〃 Ba'alzamon said； and he and Fain spoke together as one； 〃For you； the battle is never done。〃
With a strangled gasp Rand sat up on the floor； clawing his way awake。 It seemed he could still hear Fain's voice； as sharp as if the peddler were standing beside him。 It's never over。 The battle's never done。
Bleary…eyed； he looked around to convince himself that he was still hidden away where Egwene had left him； bedded down on a pallet in a corner of her room。 The dim light of a single lamp suffused the room； and he was surprised to see Nynaeve； knitting in a rocking chair on the other side of the lone bed； its covers still in place。 It was night outside。
Dark…eyed and slender； Nynaeve wore her hair in a fat braid； pulled over one shoulder and hanging almost to her waist。 She had not given up on home。 Her face was calm； and she seemed aware of nothing except her knitting as she rocked gently。 The steady click…click of her knitting needles was the only sound。 The rug silenced the rocking chair。
There had been nights of late when he had wished for a carpet on the cold stone floor of his room； but in Shienar men's rooms were always bare and stark。 The walls here had two tapestries； mountain scenes with waterfalls； and flower…embroidered curtains alongside the arrowslits。 Cut flowers； white morningstars； stood in a flat； round vase on the table by the bed； and more nodded in glazed white sconces on the walls。 A tall mirror stood in a corner； and another hung over the washstand； with its blue…striped pitcher and