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ilan had had the power of life and death before Rand came； with few his equal and none his superior。 To believe that the Prophecies of the Dragon would be fulfilled someday was one thing； to have them fulfilled； and his own power diminished by them； was quite another。
There was a moment of confusion before Rand made Sulin allow the other Tairen lords to bring their horses in behind Asmodean and Pevin's banner。 Meilan would have had the Defenders clear the way again； but Rand curtly ordered that they follow behind the Maidens。 The soldiers obeyed； faces unchanging beneath the rims of their helmets； though their white…plumed officer shook his head； and the High Lord put on a condescending smile。 That smile faded when it became clear that the crowds opened up easily ahead of the Maidens。 That they did not have to club a path through； he attributed to the Aiel reputation for savagery； and frowned when Rand made no reply。 One thing Rand made note of： Now that he had Tairens with him； the cheers did not rise again。
The Royal Palace of Cairhien occupied the highest hill of the city； exactly in the center； square and dark and massive。 In fact； between the palace in all its levels and the stone…faced terracing； it was hard to say there was a hill there at all。 Lofty colonnaded walks and tall narrow windows； high above the ground； did no more to relieve the rigidity than did gray； stepped towers precisely placed in concentric squares of increasing height。 The street became a long； broad ramp leading up to tall bronze gates； and a huge square courtyard beyond lined with Tairen soldiers standing like statues； spears slanted。 More stood on the overlooking stone balconies。
A ripple of murmurs ran through the ranks at the appearance of the Maidens； but it was quickly stilled in chanted shouts of 〃All glory to the Dragon Reborn！ All glory to the Lord Dragon and Tear！ All glory to the Lord Dragon and the High Lord Meilan！〃 From Meilan's expression； you would have thought it all spontaneous。
Dark…garbed servants； the first Cairhienin Rand had seen in the palace； rushed out with worked golden bowls and white linen cloths as he swung a leg over the high pommel and slid from his saddle。 Others came to take reins。 He took the excuse of bathing his face and hands in cool water to leave Aviendha to climb down by herself。 Trying to help her down might have ended with them both flat on the paving stones。
Unprompted； Sulin chose out twenty Maidens besides herself to acpany him within。 On the one hand； he was glad she did not want to keep every last spear around him。 On the other hand； he wished Enaila； Lamelle and Somara were not among the twenty。 The considering looks they gave him … especially Lamelle； a lean； strong…jawed woman with dark red hair； nearly twenty years older than he … made him grind his teeth while trying to smile reassuringly。 Somehow Aviendha must have managed to speak to them； and to Sulin； behind his back。 I may not be able to do anything about the Maidens； he thought grimly as he tossed a linen towel back to one of the serving men； but burn me if there isn't one Aiel woman who'll learn I'm the Car'a'carn！
The other High Lords greeted him at the foot of the broad gray stairs that led up from the courtyard； all in colorful silk coats and satin stripes and silver…worked boots。 It was plain that none were aware Meilan had gone to meet him until after the fact。 Potato…faced Torean； oddly languid for such a lumpy man； sniffed anxiously at a scented handkerchief。 Gueyam； oiled beard making his head seem even balder； clenched fists the size of small hams and glared at Meilan even as he bowed to Rand。 Simaan's sharp nose seemed to quiver in outrage； Maraconn； with blue eyes rare in Tear； pressed his thin lips until they almost disappeared； and while Hearne's narrow face was all smiles； he tugged unconsciously at one earlobe as he did when furious。 Only blade…slender Arae showed no outward emotion； but then he almost always kept his anger well banked until ready to let it burst into flame。
It was too good an opportunity to miss。 Silently thanking Moiraine for her； lessons … it was easier to trip a fool than to knock him down； she said … Rand clasped Torean's pudgy hand warmly and clapped Gueyam on the point of a thick shoulder； returned Hearne's smile with one warm enough for a close panion and nodded silently to Arae with a seemingly significant glance。 Simaan and Maraconn he all but ignored after one look as flat and cool as a deep winter pond for each。
That was all it needed for the moment； beyond watching their eyes shift and faces tighten in thought。 They had played Daes Dae'mar； the Game of Houses； their entire lives； and being among Cairhienin； who could read volumes in a raised eyebrow or a cough； had only heightened their sensitivity。 Each man knew Rand had no reason to be friendly toward him； but each had to wonder if his own greeting was only to cover something real with someone else。 Simaan and Maraconn appeared the most worried； yet the others eyed those two perhaps the most suspiciously of all。 Perhaps his coolness had been the true cover。 Or maybe that was what they were meant to think。
For himself； Rand thought that Moiraine would be proud of him； and so would Thom Merrilin。 Even if none of these seven was actively plotting against him at the moment … something he did not think even Mat would bet on … men in their positions could do much to disrupt his plans without being seen to； and they would do so from habit if for no other reason。 Or they would have。 He had them off balance now。 If he could keep them that way； they would be too busy watching each other； and too afraid of being watched in turn； to trouble him。 They might even obey for once without finding a hundred reasons why things should be done differently from what he wanted。 Well； that might be asking too much。
His satisfaction slipped when he saw Asmodean's sardonic grin。 Worse was Aviendha's wondering stare。 She had been in the Stone of Tear； she knew who these men were； and why he had sent them here。 I do what I must； he thought sourly； and wished it did not sound as if he were trying to excuse himself。
〃Inside；〃 he said； more sharply than he intended； and the seven High Lords jumped as if suddenly recalling who and what he was。
They wanted to crowd around him as he climbed the stairs； but except for Meilan to show the way； the Maidens simply made a solid circle around him； and the High Lords brought up the rear with Asmodean and the lesser lords。 Aviendha stuck close by。。。 of course； and Sulin was on his other side； Somara and Lamelle and Enaila right behind him。 They could have reached out and touched his back without stretching。 He gave Aviendha an accusing look； and she arched her eyebrows at him so questioningly that he almost believed she had nothing to do with it。 Almost。
The corridors of the palace were empty except for dark…liveried servants who bowed almost chest to knees or curtsied just as deeply as he passed； but when he entered the Grand Hall of the Sun he discovered that the Cairhienin nobility had not been excluded from the palace entirely。