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r two perhaps； Lord Gareth； but the Domani girl's grace would be wasted in the fields； and would suit serving at table very well。 A remarkably pretty young woman。 Still； it will be as you wish； of course。〃
So that was the one Caralin had picked out。 A remarkably pretty young woman indeed。 Though oddly different from the Domani women he had met。 A touch hesitant here； a touch too fast there。 Almost as if she were just now trying out her arts for the first time。 That was impossible； of course。 Domani women trained their daughters to twine men around their fingers almost from the cradle。 Not that she had been ineffective； he admitted。 If Caralin had sprung her on him among the farmgirls。。。 Remarkably pretty。
So why was it not her face that kept filling his mind？ Why did he find himself thinking of a pair of blue eyes？ Challenging him as though wishing she had a sword； afraid and refusing to yield to fear。 Mara Tomanes。 He had been sure she was one to keep her word； even without oaths。 〃I will bring her back；〃 he muttered to himself。 〃I will know why she broke oath。〃
〃As you say； my Lord；〃 Caralin said。 〃I thought she might do for your bedchamber maid。 Sela is getting a bit old to be running up and down the stairs to fetch for you at night。〃
Bryne blinked at her。 What？ Oh。 The Domani girl。 He shook his head at Caralin's foolishness。 But was he being any less foolish？ He was the lord here； he should remain here to take care of his people。 Yet Caralin had taken better care than he knew how； all the years he was gone。 He knew camps and soldiers and campaigns； and maybe a bit of how to maneuver in court intrigues。 She was right。 He should take off his sword and this fool hat； and have Caralin write out their descriptions； and。。。
Instead； he said； 〃Keep a close eye on Admer Nem and his kin。 They'll try to cheat you as much as they can。〃
〃As you say； my Lord。〃 The words were perfectly respectful； the tone told him to go teach his grandfather to shear sheep。 Chuckling to himself； he went outside。
The manor house was really little more than a tremendously overgrown farmhouse； two rambling stories of brick and stone under a slate roof； added to again and again by generations of Brynes。 House Bryne had owned this land … or it had owned them … since Andor was wrought from the wreckage of Artur Hawkwing's empire a thousand years before； and for all that time it had sent its sons off to fight Andor's wars。 He would fight no more wars； but it was too late for House Bryne。 There had been too many wars； too many battles。 He was the last of the blood。 No wife； no son； no daughter。 The line ended with him。 All things had to end； the Wheel of Time turned。
Twenty men waited beside saddled horses on the stone…paved yard in front of the manor house。 Men even grayer than he； mostly； if they had hair。 Experienced soldiers all； former squadmen； squadron leaders and bannermen who had served with him at one time or another in his career。 Joni Shagrin； who had been Senior Bannerman of the Guards； was right at the front with a bandage around his temples； though Bryne knew for a fact his daughters had set their children to keep him in his bed。 He was one of the few who had any family； here or anywhere else。 Most had chosen to e serve Gareth Bryne again rather than drink away their pensions over reminiscences no one but another old soldier wanted to hear。
All wore swords belted over their coats； and a few carried long； steel…tipped lances that had hung for years on a wall until this morning。 Every saddle had a fat blanket roll behind； and bulging saddlebags； plus a pot or kettle and full water bags； just as if they were riding out on campaign instead of a week's jaunt to chase down three women who set fire to a barn。 Here was a chance to relive old days； or pretend to。
He wondered if that was what was rousting him out。 He was certainly too old to go riding off after a set of pretty eyes on a woman young enough to be his daughter。 Maybe his granddaughter。 I am not that big a fool； he told himself firmly。 Caralin could manage things better with him not getting in the way。
A lanky bay gelding came galloping up the oak lane that led down to the road； and the rider threw himself out of the saddle before the animal came to a full stop； the man half…stumbled but still managed to put fist to heart in a proper salute。 Barim Halle； who served under him as a senior squadman years ago； was hard and wiry； with a leather egg for a head and white eyebrows that seemed to be trying to make up for the lack of other hair。 〃You been recalled to Caemlyn； my Captain…General？〃 he panted。
〃No；〃 Bryne said； too sharply。 〃What do you mean riding in here as though you had Cairhienin cavalry on your tail？〃 Some of the other horses were frisking； catching the bay's mood。
〃Never rode that hard unless we was chasing them； my Lord。〃 Barim's grin faded when the man saw he was not laughing。 〃Well； my Lord； I seen the horses； and I reckoned …〃 The man took another look at his face and cut off that line。 〃Well； actually； I got some news； too。 I been over to New Braem to see my sister； and I heard plenty。〃
New Braem was older than Andor … 〃old〃 Braem had been destroyed in the Trolloc Wars； a thousand years before Artur Hawkwing … and it was a good place for news。 A middling…sized border town well to the east of his estates； on the road from Caemlyn to Tar Valon。 Even with Morgase's current attitude； the merchants would keep that road busy。 〃Well； out with it； man。 If there's news； what is it？〃
〃Uh； just trying to figure where to start； my Lord。〃 Barim straightened unconsciously； as though making a report。 〃Most important； I reckon； they say Tear has fallen。 Aielmen took the Stone itself； and the Sword That Cannot Be Touched has flat been touched。 Somebody drew it； they say。〃
〃An Aielman drew it？〃 Bryne said incredulously。 An Aiel would die before he touched a sword； he had seen it happen； in the Aiel War。 Though it was said Callandor was not really a sword at all。 Whatever that meant。
〃They didn't say； my Lord。 I heard names； Ren somebody or other most often。 But they was talking it like fact； not rumor。 Like everybody knew。〃'
Bryne's forehead creased in a frown。 Worse than troubling； if true。 If Callandor had been drawn； then the Dragon was Reborn。 According to the Prophecies； that meant the Last Battle was ing； the Dark One breaking free。 The Dragon Reborn would save the world； so the Prophecies said。 And destroy it。 This was news enough by itself to have set Halle galloping； if he had thought twice。
But the leathery fellow was not finished。 〃Word e down from Tar Valon is near as big； my Lord。 They say there's a new Amyrlin Seat。 Elaida； my Lord； who was the Queen's advisor。〃 Blinking suddenly； Halle hurried on； Morgase was forbidden ground； and every man on the estate knew it； though Bryne had never said so。 〃They say the old Amyrlin； Siuan Sanche； was stilled and executed。 And Logain died； too。 That false Dragon they caught and gentled last year。 They talked it like it was true； my Lord。 Some of them claimed they was in Tar Valon when it all happen