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ara Moroso； was there。 Every other full sister in Tar Valon was out Healing as many wounded as she could find； even the Reds。 It was dawn。 The fire on the hearth could not keep the cold out。 The snow had finally stopped； and in the Amyrlin's chambers in the White Tower we could smell the smoke of outlying villages burned in the fighting。〃
Battles are always hot； even in the snow。 Had to get away from the stink of death。 Tam's delirious voice clawed at the empty calm inside Rand。 The void trembled and shrank； steadied； then wavered again。 The Amyrlin's eyes bored at him。 He felt sweat on his face again。 〃It was all a fever dream；〃 he said。 〃He was sick。〃 He raised his voice。 〃My name is Rand al'Thor。 I am a shepherd。 My father is Tam al'Thor； and my mother was… 〃
Moiraine had paused for him； but now her unchanging voice cut him off； soft and relentless。 〃The Karaethon Cycle； the Prophecies of the Dragon； says that the Dragon will be reborn on the slopes of Dragonmount； where he died during the Breaking of the World。 Gitara Sedai had the Foretelling sometimes。 She was old； her hair as white as the snow outside； but when she had the Foretelling； it was strong。 The morning light through the windows was strengthening as I handed her a cup of tea。 The Amyrlin Seat asked me what news there was from the field of battle。 And Gitara Sedai started up out of her chair； her arms and legs rigid； trembling； her face as if she looked into the Pit of Doom at Shayol Ghul； and she cried out； 'He is born again！ I feel him！ The Dragon takes his first breath on the slope of Dragonmount！ He is ing！ He is ing！ Light help us！ Light help the world！ He lies in the snow and cries like the thunder！ He burns like the sun！' And she fell forward into my arms； dead。〃
Slope of the mountain。 Heard a baby cry。 Gave birth there alone； before she died。 Child blue with the cold。 Rand tried to force Tam's voice away。 The void grew smaller。 〃A fever…dream；〃 he gasped。 I couldn't leave a child。 〃I was born in the Two Rivers。〃 Always knew you wanted children； Kari。 He pulled his eyes away from the Amyrlin's gaze。 He tried to force the void to hold。 He knew that was not the way； but it was collapsing in him。 Yes； lass。 Rand is a good name。 〃I … am … Rand … al'Thor！〃 His legs trembled。
〃And so we knew the Dragon was Reborn；〃 Moiraine went on。 〃The Amyrlin swore us to secrecy； we two； for she knew not all the sisters would see the Rebirth as it must be seen。 She set us to searching。 There were many fatherless children after that battle。 Too many。 But we found a story； that one man had found an infant on the mountain。 That was all。 A man and an infant boy。 So we searched on。 For years we searched； finding other clues； poring over the Prophecies。 'He will be of the ancient blood； and raised by the old blood。' That was one； there were others。 But there are many places where the old blood； descended from the Age of Legends； remains strong。 Then； in the Two Rivers； where the old blood of Manetheren seethes still like a river in flood； in Emond's Field； I found three boys whose namedays were within weeks of the battle at Dragonmount。 And one of them can channel。 Did you think Trollocs came after you just because you are ta'veren？ You are the Dragon Reborn。〃
Rand's knees gave way； he dropped to a squat； hands slapping the rug to catch himself from falling on his face。 The void was gone； the stillness shattered。 He raised his head； and they were looking at him； the three Aes Sedai。 Their faces were serene； smooth as unruffled ponds； but their eyes did not blink。 〃My father is Tam al'Thor； and I was born 。。。〃 They stared at him； unmoving。 They're lying。 I am not 。。。 what they say！ Some way； somehow； they're lying； trying to use me。 〃I will not be used by you。〃
〃An anchor is not demeaned by being used to hold a boat；〃 the Amyrlin said。 〃You were made for a purpose； Rand al'Thor。 'When the winds of Tarmon Gai'don scour the earth； he will face the Shadow and bring forth Light again in the world。' The Prophecies must be fulfilled； or the Dark One will break free and remake the world in his image。 The Last Battle is ing； and you were born to unite mankind and lead them against the Dark One。〃
〃Ba'alzamon is dead；〃 Rand said hoarsely； and the Amyrlin snorted like a stablehand。
〃If you believe that； you are as much a fool as the Domani。 Many there believe he is dead； or say they do； but I notice they still won't risk naming him。 The Dark One lives； and he is breaking free。 You will face the Dark One。 It is your destiny。〃
It is your destiny。 He had heard that before； in a dream that had maybe not been entirely a dream。 He wondered what the Amyrlin would say if she knew Ba'alzamon had spoken to him in dreams。 That's done with。 Ba'alzamon is dead。 I saw him die。
Suddenly it came to him that he was crouching like a toad； huddling under their eyes。 He tried to form the void again； but voices whirled through his head； sweeping away every effort。 It is your destiny。 Babe lying in the snow。 You are the Dragon Reborn。 Ba'alzamon is dead。 Rand is a good name； Kari。 I will not be used！ Drawing on his own native stubbornness； he forced himself back upright。 Face it on your feet。 You can keep your pride； at least。 The three Aes Sedai watched with no expression。
〃What 。。。〃 With an effort he steadied his voice。 〃What are you going to do to me？〃
〃Nothing；〃 the Amyrlin said； and he blinked。 It was not the answer he had expected； the one he had feared。 〃You say you want to acpany your friend with Ingtar； and you may。 I have not marked you out in any way。 Some of the sisters may know you are ta'veren； but no more。 Only we three know who you truly are。 Your friend Perrin will be brought to me； as you were； and I will visit your other friend in the infirmary。 You may go as you will； without fear that we will set the Red sisters on you。〃
Who you truly are。 Anger flared up in him； hot and corrosive。 He forced it to stay inside； hidden。 〃Why？〃
〃The Prophecies must be fulfilled。 We let you walk free； knowing what you are； because otherwise the world we know will die； and the Dark One will cover the earth with fire and death。 Mark me； not all Aes Sedai feel the same。 There are some here in Fal Dara who would strike you down if they knew a tenth of what you are； and feel no more remorse than for gutting a fish。 But then； there are men who've no doubt laughed with you who would do the same； if they knew。 Have a care； Rand al'Thor； Dragon Reborn。〃
He looked at each of them in turn。 Your Prophecies are no part of me。 They returned his gaze so calmly it was hard to believe they were trying to convince him he was the most hated； the most feared man in the history of the world。 He had gone right through fear and e out the other side in some place cold。 Anger was all that kept him warm。 They could gentle him； or burn him to a crisp where he stood； and he no longer cared。
A part of Lan's instructions came back to him。 Left hand on the hilt； he twisted the sword behind him； catching the scabbard in his right； then bowed； arms straight。 〃By your leave； Mother； may I depart this place？〃
〃I give y