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ot have to like it。
He only took a glance； but before he could open his mouth； Daerid said； 〃My scouts tell me Couladin himself is with this lot。 At least； their leader has his arms bare； and shows marks such as the Lord Dragon is said to carry。〃
Mat grunted。 Couladin； and heading east。 If there was any way to step aside； the fellow would run headlong into Rand。 That might even be what he was after。 Mat realized that he was smoldering； and it had nothing to do with Couladin wanting to kill Rand。 The Shaido chief； or whatever the man was； might remember Mat vaguely as somebody hanging about Rand； but Couladin was the reason he was stuck out here in the middle of a battle； trying to stay alive； wondering whether any minute it was going to turn into a personal fight between Rand and Sammael； the kind of fight that might kill everything within two or three miles。 That's if I don't get a spear through the brisket first。 And no more choice about it than had a goose hanging outside the kitchen door。 None of it would be so without Couladin。
A pity no one had killed the man years ago。 He certainly gave excuses enough。 Aiel seldom let anger show； and when they did； it was cold and tight。 Couladin； on the other hand； seemed to flare up two or three times a day； losing his head in a fiery rage as quick as snap a straw。 A miracle he was still alive； and the Dark One's own luck。
〃Nalesean；〃 Mat said angrily； 〃swing your Tairens wide to the north and e in on these fellows from behind。 We will be holding their attention； so you ride hard and e down like a barn collapsing。〃 So he has the Dark One's luck； does he？ Blood and ashes； but I hope mine is back in。 〃Talmanes； you do the same to the south。 Move； both of you。 We've little time； and it's wasting。〃
The two Tairens bowed hastily and dashed for their horses； clapping on their helmets。 Talmanes bow was more formal。 〃Grace favor your sword； Mat。 Or perhaps I should say your spear。〃 Then he was gone； too。
Looking up at Mat as the three vanished down the hill； Daerid slashed rain from his eyes with a finger。 〃So you will stay with the pikes this time。 You must not let your anger at this Couladin overe you。 A battle is no place to try fighting a duel。〃
Mat barely stopped from gaping。 A duel？ Him？ With Couladin？ Was that why Daerid thought he was staying with the foot？ He had chosen it because it was safer to be behind the pikes。 That was his reason。 The whole reason。 〃Not to worry。 I can hold myself in rein。〃 And he had thought Daerid the most sensible of the whole lot。
The Cairhienin merely nodded。 〃I thought that you could。 You have seen pikes pushed before； and faced a charge or two； I vow。 Talmanes gives praises when there are two moons； yet I heard him say aloud that he would follow wherever you led。 Some day I would like to hear your story； Andorman。 But you are young … under the Light； I mean no disrespect … and young men have hot blood。〃
〃This rain will keep it cool if nothing else does。〃 Blood and ashes！ Were they all mad？ Talmanes was praising him？ He wondered what they would say if they found out he was only a gambler following bits of memory from men dead a thousand years and more。 They would be drawing lots for first chance to spit him like a pig。 The lords especially； no one liked being made to look a fool； but nobles seemed to like it least of all； perhaps because they so often managed it on their own。 Well； one way or another； he meant to be miles away when that discovery came。 Bloody Couladin。 I'd like to shove this spear down his throat！ Heeling Pips； he started for the opposite slope； where the foot waited below。
Daerid climbed into his own saddle and swung in beside him； nodding as Mat spun out his plan。 The bowmen on the slopes； where they could cover the flanks； but lying down； hidden in the brush until the last minute。 One man on the crest to signal the Aiel in sight。 And the pikes to step off as soon as he did； marching straight out toward the approaching enemy。 〃As soon as we can see the Shaido； we'll retreat just as fast as we can； almost back to the gap between these two hills； then turn to face them。〃
〃They will think we wanted to run； realized we could not； and turned at bay like a bear to the hounds。 Seeing us less than half their number and fighting only because we must； they should think to roll over us。 Can we but hold their attention until the horse es down on them from behind。。。〃 The Cairhienin actually grinned。 〃It is using the Aiel's own tactics against them。〃
〃We had better hold their bloody attention。〃 Mat's tone was as dry as he was wet。 〃To make sure we do … to make sure they don't start putting loops around our flanks … I want a cry raised as soon as you stop the retreat。 'Protect the Lord Dragon。'〃 This time Daerid laughed aloud。
That should bring the Shaido in right enough； especially if Couladin was leading。 If Couladin really was leading； if he thought Rand was with the pikes； if the pikes could hold until the horse arrived。。。 A lot of ifs。 Mat could hear those dice rolling in his head again。 This was the biggest gamble he had ever taken in his life。 He wondered how long it was until nightfall； a man should be able to make his way out in the night。 He wished those dice would get out of his head； or else fall so he knew what they showed。 Scowling into the rain； he booted Pips on down the hillside。
Jeade'en stopped on a crest where a dozen trees made a thin topknot； and Rand hunched slightly against the pain in his side。 The crescent moon； riding high； cast a pale light； yet even to his saidin…amplified vision anything more than a hundred paces distant was featureless shadow。 Night swallowed the surrounding hills whole； and he was only intermittently aware of Sulin hovering nearby； and Maidens all around him。 But then； he could not seem to keep his eyes more than half open； they felt grainy； and he thought the gnawing pain in his side might be all that held him awake。 He did not think of it often。 Thought was not only distant now； it was slow。
Was it twice Sammael had attempted his life today； or three times？ More？ It seemed that he should be able to remember how often someone had tried to kill him。 No； not to kill。 To bait。 Are you still so jealous of me； Tel Janin？ When did I ever slight you； or give you one finger less than your due？
Swaying； Rand scrubbed a hand through his hair。 There had been something odd about that thought； but he could not recall what。 Sammael。。。 No。 He could deal with him when。。。 if。。。 No matter。 Later。 Today Sammael was only a distraction from what was important。 He might even be gone。
Vaguely it seemed that there had been no attack after。。。 After what？ He recalled countering Sammael's last move with something particularly nasty； but he could not pull the memory to the surface。 Not balefire。 Mustn't use that。 Threatens the fabric of the Pattern。 Not even for Ilyena？ I would burn the world and use my soul for tinder to hear her laugh again。
He was drifting again； away from what was important。
However long ago the sun had gone down； it had sunk on fighting； lengthening shadows g