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he window； shouting and beating their spears on their bucklers for a good hour or more。 I must say； my Lord Dragon； some of the suggestions they called up startled even me。〃
Rand felt his cheeks burning … it had happened on the other side of the bloody world； and still the Maidens knew！ … but Aviendha only narrowed her eyes。
〃Did she have hair and eyes like mine？〃 She did not wait for Asmodean's nod。 〃It must have been my first…sister Niella。〃 She saw the startled。 question on Rand's face and answered it before he could speak。 〃Niella is a weaver； not a Maiden； and she was taken half a year ago by Chareen Maidens during a raid on Sulara Hold。 She tried to talk me out of taking the spear； and she has always wanted me wed。 I am going to send her back to the Chareen with a welt on her bottom for every one she told！〃
Rand caught her arm as she started to stalk out of the room。 〃I want to talk with Natael。 I don't suppose there is much time left until dawn。。。〃
〃Two hours； maybe；〃 Asmodean put in。
〃。。。 so there will be little sleeping now。 If you want to try； would you mind making your bed elsewhere for what's left of the night？ You need new blankets anyway。〃
She nodded curtly before pulling loose； and slammed the door behind her。 Surely she was not angry at being tossed out of his bedchamber … how could she be； she had said nothing more would happen between them … but he was glad he was not Niella。
Bouncing the shortened spear in his hand； he turned to Asmodean。
〃A strange scepter； my Lord Dragon。〃
〃It will do for one。〃 To remind him that the Seanchan were still out there。 For once he wished his voice was even colder than the Void and saidin made it。 He had to be hard。 〃Before I decide whether to skewer you with it like a lamb； why did you never mention this trick of making something invisible？ If I hadn't been able to see the flows； I'd never have known the gateway was still there。〃
Asmodean swallowed； shifting as though he did not know whether Rand meant his threat。 Rand was not sure himself。 〃My Lord Dragon； you never asked。 A matter of bending light。 You always have so many questions； it is hard to find a moment to speak of anything else。 You must realize by now that I've thrown my lot in with yours pletely。〃 Licking his lips； he got up。 As far as his knees。 And began to babble。 〃I felt your weave … anybody within a mile could have felt it … I never saw anything like it … I didn't know that anyone but Demandred could block a gateway that was closing； and maybe Semirhage … and Lews Therin … I felt it； and came； and a hard time I had getting past those Maidens … I used the same trick … you must know I am your man now。 My Lord Dragon； I am your man。〃
It was the repetition of what the Cairhienin had said that got through as much as anything else。 Gesturing with the half…spear； he said roughly； 〃Stand。 You aren't a dog。〃 But as Asmodean slowly rose； he laid the long spearpoint alongside the man's throat。 He had to be hard。 〃From now on； you will tell me two things I don't ask about every time we talk。 Every time； mind。 If I think you are trying to hide anything from me； you will be glad to let Semirhage have you。〃
〃As you say； my Lord Dragon；〃 Asmodean stammered。 He looked ready to bow and kiss Rand's hand。
To avoid the chance； Rand moved to the blanketless bed and sat on the linen sheet； the feather mattresses yielding under him as he studied the spear。 A good idea to keep it for remembrance； if not as a scepter。 Even with everything else； he had best not forget the Seanchan。 Those damane。 If Aviendha had not been there to block them from the Source。。。
〃You have tried showing me how to shield a woman and failed。 Try showing me how to avoid flows I cannot see； how to counter them。〃 Once Lanfear had sliced his weavings as neatly as with a knife。
〃Not easy； my Lord Dragon； without a woman to practice against。〃
〃We have two hours；〃 Rand said coldly； letting the man's shield unravel。 〃Try。 Try very hard。〃
Chapter 33
（Elephant）
A Question of Crimson
The knife brushed Nynaeve's hair as it thunked into the board she was leaning against； and she flinched behind her blindfold。 She wished she had a decent braid instead of locks hanging loose about her shoulders。 If that blade had cut even one strand。。。 Fool woman； she thought bitterly。 Fool； fool woman。 With the scarf folded over her eyes she could just see a narrow line of light at the bottom。 It seemed bright； from the darkness behind the thick folds。 There had to be enough light yet； even if it was late afternoon。 Surely the man would not throw when he could not see properly。 The next blade struck on the other side of her head； she could feel it vibrating。 She thought it almost touched her ear。 She was going to kill Thom Merrilin and Valan Luca。 And maybe any other man she could get her hands on； on sheer principle。
〃The pears；〃 Luca shouted； as if he were not just thirty paces from her。 He must think the blindfold made her deaf as well as blind。
Fumbling in the pouch at her belt； she brought out a pear and carefully balanced it atop her head。 She was blind。 A pure blind fool！ Two more pears； and she gingerly extended her arms to either side between the knives that outlined her； holding one in either hand by the stems。 There was a pause。 She opened her mouth to tell Thom Merrilin that if he so much as nicked her； she would …
Tchunk…tchunk…tchunk！ The blades came so fast she would have yelped if her throat had not contracted like a fist。 She held only the stem in her left hand； the other pear trembled faintly with the knife through it； and the pear on her head leaked juice into her hair。
Snatching the scarf off； she stalked toward Thom and Luca； both of them grinning like maniacs。 Before she could speak one of the words boiling up in her； Luca said admiringly； 〃You are magnificent； Nana。 Your bravery is magnificent； but you are more so。〃 He swirled that ridiculous red silk cloak in a bow； one hand over his heart。 〃I shall call this 'Rose Among Thorns。' Though truly； you are more beautiful than any mere rose。〃
〃It doesn't take much bravery to stand like a stump。〃 A rose； was she？ She would show him thorns。 She would show both of them。 〃You listen to me； Valan Luca …〃
〃Such courage。 You never even flinch。 I tell you； I would not have the stomach to do what you are doing。〃
That was the simple truth； she told herself。 〃I am no braver than I have to be；〃 she said in a milder tone。 It was hard to shout at a man who insisted on telling you how brave you were。 Certainly better to hear than all that blather about roses。 Thom knuckled his long white mustaches as if he saw something funny。
〃The dress；〃 Luca said； showing all of his teeth in a smile。 〃You will look wonderful in …〃
〃No！〃 she snapped。 Whatever he had gained； he had just lost by bringing this up again。 Clarine had made the dress Luca wanted her to wear； in silk more crimson than his cloak。 It was her opinion that the color was to hide blood if Thom's hand slipped。
〃But； Nana； beauty in danger is a great draw。〃 Luc