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street； a hasty bundle dropped by someone fleeing； a rag doll； emphasized the desolation。
Breezes stirred some of the banners on the city's towers and along the walls； a Dragon standing out red…and…gold on white at one place； the Crescents of Tear white on red…and…gold at another。 The middle set of the Jangai Gates stood open； three tall square arches in the gray stone guarded by Tairen soldiers in rimmed helmets。 Some were mounted but most afoot； and the variously colored stripes on their wide sleeves showed they were retainers of several lords。
Whatever was known in the city about the battle being won； and Aiel allies ing to the rescue； the approach of half a thousand Far Dareis Mai created some little stir。 Hands went uncertainly to sword hilts； or spears and long shields； or lances。 Some of the soldiers half moved as if to close the gates even while looking to their officer； with three white plumes on his helmet； who hesitated； standing in his stirrups and shading his eyes against the sun to study the crimson banner。 And more particularly； Rand。
Abruptly the officer sat down； saying something that sent two of the mounted Tairens galloping back through the gates。 Almost immediately； he was waving the other men aside； calling； 〃Make way for the Lord Dragon Rand al'Thor！ The Light illumine the Lord Dragon！ All glory to the Dragon Reborn！〃
The soldiers still appeared uneasy about the Maidens； but they formed into lines to either side of the gates； bowing deeply as Rand rode through。 Aviendha sniffed loudly at his back； and again when he laughed。 She did not understand； and he had no intention of explaining。 What amused him was that however hard Tairens or Cairhienin or anyone else tried to puff up his head； he could rely on her and the Maidens； at least； to take the swelling down。 And Egwene。 And Moiraine。 And Elayne and Nynaeve； for that matter； if he ever saw either again。 e to think of it； the lot of them seemed to make that a large part of their life's work。
The city beyond the gates stilled his laughter。
Here the streets were paved； some broad enough for a dozen or more large wagons abreast； all straight as knife cuts and crossing at right angles。 The hills that rolled outside the walls were here carved and terraced； faced with stone； they looked as much made by men as the stone buildings with their severe straight lines and sharp angles； or the great towers with their unfinished tops surrounded by scaffolding。 People crowded the streets and the alleys； dull…eyed and hollow…cheeked； huddling beneath makeshift lean…tos or ragged blankets rigged as tents； or simply jammed together in the open； in the dark clothes favored by Cairhienin city dwellers and the bright colors of Foregaters and the rough garb of farmers and villagers。 Even the scaffolds were filled； on every level to the very top； where folk looked tiny for the height。 Only the middle of the streets remained clear as Rand and the Maidens made their way along； and that only for as long as it took the people to surge out around them。
It was the people who stilled his mirth。 Worn and ragged as they were； jammed together like sheep in a too…small pen； they cheered。 He had no idea how they knew who he was； unless perhaps the officer's shouts at the gates had been heard； but a roar sprang ahead of him as he circled through the streets； the Maidens forcing a way through the throng。 The thunder of it overwhelmed any words except for the occasional 〃Lord Dragon〃 when enough shouted it together； but the meaning was clear in men and women holding up children to see him pass； in scarves and scraps of cloth waved from every window； in people who tried to push past the Maidens with outstretched hands。
They certainly seemed to have no fear of Aiel； not at the chance to lay a finger on Rand's boots； and their numbers were such； the pressure of hundreds shoving them forward； that some managed to wriggle through。 Actually； a good many touched Asmodean's instead … he certainly looked a lord； in all his dripping lace； and perhaps they thought the Lord Dragon must be an older man than the youth in a red coat … but it made no difference。 Whoever managed to put hand to anyone's boot or stirrup； even Pevin's； wore joy on their faces and mouthed 〃Lord Dragon〃 into the din even as Maidens forced them back with their bucklers。
Between the clamor of acclaim and the riders sent by the officer at the gate it was no surprise when Meilan appeared； a dozen lesser Tairen lords for retinue and fifty Defenders of the Stone to clear his way； laying about them with the butts of their lances。 Gray…haired； hard and lean in his fine silk coat with stripes and cuffs of green satin； the High Lord sat his saddle with the stiff…backed ease of one who had been put on a horse and taught to mand it almost as soon as he could walk。 He ignored the sweat on his face； and equally the possibility that his escort might trample someone。 Both were minor annoyances and the sweat likely the greater。 Edorion； the pink…cheeked lordling who had e to Eianrod； was among the others； not quite so plump as he had been； so his red…striped coat hung on him。 The only other Rand recognized was a broad…shouldered fellow in shades of green； Reimon had liked to play at cards with Mat back in the Stone； as he recalled。 The others were older men for the most part。 None displayed any more consideration of the crowd they plowed through than Meilan。 There was not one Cairhienin in the lot。
The Maidens let Meilan ride through when Rand nodded； but closed behind him to exclude the rest； a fact the High Lord did not notice at first。 When he did； his dark eyes smoldered angrily。 He was often angry； Meilan was； since Rand had first e to the Stone of Tear。
The noise began to abate with the Tairen arrival； fading to a dull murmur by the time Meilan made a rigid bow to Rand from his saddle。 His gaze flickered to Aviendha before he decided to ignore her； just as he was trying to ignore the Maidens。 〃The Light illumine you； my Lord Dragon。 Be you well e to Cairhien。 I must apologize for the peasants； but I was unaware you meant to enter the city now。 Had I known； they would have been cleared。 I meant to give you a grand entry； befitting the Dragon Reborn。〃
〃I have had one；〃 Rand said； and the other man blinked。
〃As you say； my Lord Dragon。〃 He went on after a moment； his tone making it clear that he did not understand。 〃If you will acpany me to the Royal Palace； I have arranged a small greeting。 Small indeed； I fear； since I had no warning of you； yet by this even I will make sure …〃
〃Whatever you have arranged now will do；〃 Rand cut in； and received another bow and a thin； oily smile for reply。 The fellow was all subservience now； and in an hour he would be talking as to someone too feeble…witted to understand facts held under his nose； but beneath it all lay a contempt and hatred that he believed Rand did not see although they shone in his eyes。 Contempt because Rand was not a lord … not truly； as Meilan saw it； by birth … and hatred because Meilan had had the power of life and death before Rand came； with few his equal and none his superior。