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。 〃Much has been kept secret that should not be held from the Seekers； Lady Morsa；〃 the stern woman said。 〃The Seekers must know all。〃
〃You forget yourself； Jalindin；〃 Morsa snapped； her gloved hands jerking； had her arms not been bound to her sides； she would have sawed the reins。 As it was； she tilted hen head to stare down her nose at the other woman。 〃You were sent to me because Sarek looks above himself and has designs on Serengada Dai and Tuel； not to ask of what the Empress has …〃
Jalindin broke in harshly。 〃It is you who forgets herself； Lady Morsa； if you think that you are proof against the Seekers for Truth。 I myself have put both a daughter and a son of the Empress； may the Light bless her； to the question； and in gratitude for the confessions I wrenched from them she allowed me to gaze upon her。 Think you that your minor House stands higher than the Empress' own children？〃
Morsa remained upright； not that she had much choice； but her face went gray； and she licked her lips。 〃The Empress； may the Light illumine her forever； already knows far more than I can tell。 I did not mean to imply …〃
The Seeker cut her off again； twisting her head to speak to the soldiers as if Morsa did not exist。 〃The woman Morsa is in the custody of the Seekers for Truth。 She will be put to the question as soon as we return to Merinloe。 And the sul'dam and damane； as well。 It seems they too have hidden what they should not。〃 Horror painted the faces of the named women； but Morsa could have stood for any of them。 Eyes wide and suddenly haggard； she slumped as much as her invisible bonds would allow； voicing not a word of protest。 She looked as if she wanted to scream； yet she … accepted。 Jalindin's gaze turned to Rand。 〃She named you Rand al'Thor。 You will be well treated if you surrender to me； Rand al'Thor。 However you came here； you cannot think to escape even if you kill us。 There is a wide search for a marath'damane who channeled in the night。〃 Her eyes flickered to Aviendha。 〃It will find you as well； inevitably； and you might be slain by accident。 There is sedition in this district。 I do not know how men like you are treated in your lands； but in Seanchan your sufferings can be eased。 Here； you can find great honor in the use of your power。〃
He laughed at her； and she looked offended。 〃I cannot kill you； but I vow I should stripe your hide at least for that。〃 He certainly would not have to worry about being gentled in Seanchan hands。 In Seanchan； men who could channel were killed。 Not executed。 Hunted and shot down on sight。
The gray…filled gateway was another finger narrower； barely wide enough now for both of them to pass through together。 〃Leave her； Aviendha。 We have to go now。〃
She released Seri's collar and gave him an exasperated look； but her eyes went past him to the gateway； and she hoisted her skirts to stump through the snow to him； muttering to herself about frozen water。
〃Be ready for anything；〃 he told her； putting an arm around her shoulders。 He told himself they had to be close together to fit。 Not because she felt good。 〃I don't know what； but be ready。〃 She nodded； and he said； 〃Jump！〃
Together they leaped into the grayness； Rand releasing the weave that had held the Seanchan in order to fill himself to bursting with saidin。。。
。。。and landed stumbling in his bedchamber in Eianrod； lamp…lit； with darkness outside the windows。
Asmodean sat against the wall beside the door with his legs crossed。 He was not embracing the Source； but Rand slammed a block between the man and saidin anyway。 Whirling with his arm still around Aviendha； he found the gateway gone。 No； not gone … he could still see his weaving； and what he knew must be Asmodean's … but there seemed to be nothing there at all。 Without pause he slashed his weave； and suddenly the gateway appeared； a rapidly narrowing view of Seanchan； the Lady Morsa slumped in her saddle； Jalindin shouting orders。 A green…and…white tasseled spear lanced through the opening； just before it snapped shut。 Instinctively； Rand channeled Air to snatch the suddenly wobbling two…foot length of spear。 The shaft ended as smoothly as any craftsman could have worked it。 Shivering； he was glad that he had not tried removing the gray barrier … whatever it had been … before jumping through。
〃A good thing neither of the sul'dam recovered in time；〃 he said； taking the severed spear in his hand； 〃or we'd have had worse than this ing after us。〃 He watched Asmodean from the corner of his eye； but the man only sat there； looking slightly ill。 He could not know whether Rand meant to stuff that spear down his throat。
Aviendha's sniff was her most pointed yet。 〃Do you think I released them？〃 she said heatedly。 She removed his arm firmly； but he did not think her temper was for him。 Or not for his arm； anyway。 〃I tied their shields as tightly as I could。 They are your enemies； Rand al'Thor。 Even the ones you called damane are faithful dogs who would have killed you rather than be free。 You must be hard with your enemies； not soft。〃
She was right； he thought； hefting the spear。 He had left enemies behind that he might well have to face one day。 He had to bee harder。 Or else he would be ground to flour before he ever reached Shayol Ghul。
Abruptly she began smoothing her skirts； and her voice became almost conversational。 〃I notice that you did not save that whey…faced Morsa from her fate。 From the way you looked at her； I thought big eyes and a round bosom had caught your eye。〃
Rand stared at her in amazement that oozed across the emptiness surrounding him like syrup。 She could have been saying the soup was ready。 He wondered how he was supposed to have noticed Morsa's bosom； hidden as it was in a fur…lined cloak。 〃I should have brought her；〃 he said。 〃To question her about the Seanchan。 I will be troubled by them again； I am afraid。〃
The glint that had appeared in her eye vanished。 She opened her mouth； but stopped； glancing at Asmodean； when he raised a hand。 He could all but see the questions about Seanchan piled up behind her eyes。 If he knew her； once begun she would not stop digging until she had uncovered scraps he did not even remember he knew。 Which might not be a bad thing。 Another time。 After he had wrung a few answers out of Asmodean。 She was right。 He had to be hard。
〃That was a smart thing you did；〃 she said； 〃hiding the hole I made。 If a gai'shain had e in here； a thousand of the spear…sisters might have marched through seeking you。〃
Asmodean cleared his throat。 〃One of the gai'shain did e。 Someone named Sulin had told her she must see you eat； my Lord Dragon； and to stop her from bringing the tray in here and finding you gone； I took the liberty of telling her that you and the young woman did not want to be disturbed。〃 A slight tightening of his eyes caught Rand's attention。
〃What？〃
〃Just that she took it strangely。 She laughed out loud and went running off。 A few minutes later； there must have been twenty Far Dareis Mar beneath the window； shouting and beating their spears on their bucklers for a good hour or more。 I must say；