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Twice he had gone as far as opening the door。 The halls had been empty except for a few servants doing late chores； the way had been clear。 But he had to know。
Perrin came in； head down and yawning； and Rand sat up。 〃How is Egwene？ And Mat？〃
〃She's asleep； so they tell me。 They wouldn't let me into the women's apartments to see her。 Mat is … 〃 Suddenly Perrin scowled at the floor。 〃If you're so interested； why haven't you gone to see him yourself？ I thought you were not interested in us anymore。 You said you weren't。〃 He pulled open his door of the wardrobe and began rummaging for a clean shirt。
〃I did go to the infirmary； Perrin。 There was an Aes Sedai there； that tall one who's always with the Amyrlin Seat。 She said Mat was asleep； and I was in the way； and I could e back some other time。 She sounded like Master Thane ordering the men at the mill。 You know how Master Thane is； all full of snap and do it right the first time； and do it right now。〃
Perrin did not answer。 He just shucked off his coat and pulled his shirt off over his head。
Rand studied his friend's back for a moment； then dug up a laugh。 〃You want to hear something？ You know what she said to me？ The Aes Sedai in the infirmary； I mean。 You saw how tall she is。 As tall as most men。 A hand taller； and she could almost look me in the eyes。 Well； she stared me up and down； and then she muttered； 'Tall； aren't you？ Where were you when I was sixteen？ Or even thirty？' And then she laughed； as if it was all a joke。 What do you think of that？〃
Perrin finished tugging on a clean shirt and gave him a sidelong look。 With his burly shoulders and thick curls； he made Rand think of a hurt bear。 A bear that did not understand why had he been hurt。
〃Perrin； I'm …〃
〃If you want to make jokes with Aes Sedai；〃 Perrin broke in； 〃that's up to you。 My Lord。〃 He began stuffing his shirttail into his breeches。 〃I don't spend much time being … witty； is that the word？ … witty with Aes Sedai。 But then； I'm only a clumsy blacksmith； and I might be in somebody's way。 My Lord。〃 Snatching his coat from the floor； he started for the door。
〃Burn me； Perrin； I'm sorry。 I was afraid； and I thought I was in trouble … maybe I was； maybe I still am； I don't know … and I didn't want you and Mat to be in it with me。 Light； all the women were looking for me last night。 I think that's part of the trouble I'm in。 I think so。 And Liandrin 。。。 She 。。。〃 He threw up his hands。 〃Perrin； believe me； you don't want any part of this。〃
Perrin had stopped； but he stood facing the door and only turned his head enough for Rand to see one golden eye。 〃Looking for you？ Maybe they were looking for all of us。〃
〃No； they were looking for me。 I wish they hadn't been； but I know better。〃
Perrin shook his head。 〃Liandrin wanted me； anyway； I know。 I heard。〃
Rand frowned。 〃Why would she 。。。？ It doesn't change anything。 Look； I opened my mouth and said what I shouldn't。 I did not mean it； Perrin。 Now； please； would you tell me about Mat？〃
〃He's asleep。 Leane … that's the Aes Sedai … said he would be on his feet in a few hours。〃 He shrugged unfortably。 〃I think she was lying。 I know Aes Sedai never lie； not so you can catch them； but she was lying； or keeping something back。〃 He paused； looking at Rand sideways。 〃You didn't mean all that？ We will leave here together？ You； and me； and Mat？〃
〃I can't； Perrin。 I can't tell you why； but I really do have to go by myse… Perrin； wait！〃
The door slammed behind his friend。
Rand fell back on the bed。 〃I can't tell you；〃 he muttered。 He pounded his fist on the side of the bed。 〃I can't。〃 But you can go now； a voice said in the back of his head。 Egwene's going to be all right； and Mat will be up and around in an hour or two。 You can go now。 Before Moiraine changes her mind。
He started to sit up when a pounding on the door made him leap to his feet。 If it was Perrin e back； he would not knock。 The pounding came again。
〃Who is it？〃
Lan strode in； pushing the door to behind him with his boot heel。 As usual； he wore his sword over a plain coat of green that was nearly invisible in the woods。 This time； though； he had a wide； golden cord tied high around his left arm； the fringed ends hanging almost to his elbow。 On the knot was pinned a golden crane in flight； the symbol of Malkier。
〃The Amyrlin Seat wants you； sheepherder。 You can't go like that。 Out of that shirt and brush your hair。 You look like a haystack。〃 He jerked open the wardrobe and began pawing through the clothes Rand meant to leave behind。
Rand stood stiff where he was； he felt as though he had been hit in the head with a hammer。 He had expected it； of course； in a way； but he had been sure he would be gone before the summons came。 She knows。 Light； I'm sure of it。 〃What do you mean； she wants me？ I'm leaving； Lan。 You were right。 I am going to the stable right now； get my horse； and leave。〃
〃You should have done that last night。〃 The Warder tossed a white silk shirt onto the bed。 〃No one refuses an audience with the Amyrlin Seat； sheepherder。 Not the Lord Captain mander of the Whitecloaks himself。 Pedron Niall might spend the trip planning how to kill her； if he could do it and get away； but he would e。〃 He turned around with one of the high…collared coats in his hands and held it up。 〃This one will do。〃 Tangled； long…thorned briars climbed each red sleeve in a thick； gold embroidered line； and ran around each cuff。 Golden herons stood on the collars； which were edged with gold。 〃The color is right； too。〃 He seemed to be amused at something； or satisfied。 〃e on； sheepherder。 Change your shirt。 Move。〃
Reluctantly Rand pulled the coarse wool workman's shirt over his head。 〃I'll feel a fool；〃 he muttered。 〃A silk shirt！ I never wore a silk shirt in my life。 And I never wore so fancy a coat； either； even on a feastday。〃 Light； if Perrin sees me in that 。。。 Burn me； after all that fool talk about being a lord； if he sees me in that； he'll never listen to reason。
〃You can't go before the Amyrlin Seat dressed like a groom fresh out of the stables； sheepherder。 Let me see your boots。 They'll do。 Well； get on with it； get on with it。 You don't keep the Amyrlin waiting。 Wear your sword。〃
〃My sword！〃 The silk shirt over his head muffled Rand's yelp。 He yanked it the rest of the way on。 〃In the women's apartments？ Lan； if I go for an audience with the Amyrlin Seat … the Amyrlin Seat！ … wearing a sword； she'll … 〃
〃Do nothing；〃 Lan cut him off dryly。 〃If the Amyrlin is afraid of you … and it's smarter for you to think she isn't； because I don't know anything that could frighten that woman … it won't be for a sword。 Now remember； you kneel when you go before her。 One knee only； mind；〃 he added sharply。 〃You're not some merchant caught giving short weight。 Maybe you had better practice it。〃
〃I know how； I think。 I saw how the Queen's Guards knelt to Queen Morgase。〃
The ghost of a smile touched the Warder's lips。 〃Yes； you do it just as they did。 That will give them something to think about。〃
Rand frowned。 〃Why