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tice in passing that the grass was dying for lack of rain； Morgase kept her mind on what she was hunting。
From the experience of her annual forays； she chose the people she questioned carefully。 Men； mostly。 She knew how she looked； even with soot in her hair； and some women would give wrong directions from jealousy。 Men； on the other hand； racked their brains to be right； to impress her。 None with too smug a face； or too rough。 The first were often offended at being approached； as though they were not afoot themselves； and the others were likely to think a woman asking directions had something else on her mind。
One fellow with a chin too big for his face； hawking a tray of pins and needles； grinned at her and said； 〃Did anyone ever tell you you look a mite like the Queen？ Whatever mess she's made of us； she's a pretty one。〃
She gave him a raucous laugh that earned a stern look from Lini。 〃You save your flattery for your wife。 The second turn to the left； you say？ I thank you。 And for the pliment； too。〃
As she pushed on through the crowd； a frown settled on her face。 She had heard too much of that。 Not that she looked like the Queen； but that Morgase had made a mess of things。 Gaebril had raised taxes heavily to pay for his levies； it seemed； but she took the blame； and rightly so。 The responsibility was the Queen's。 Other laws had e out of the Palace； as well； laws that made little sense； but did make people's lives more difficult。 She heard whispers about herself； that maybe Andor had had queens long enough。 Only murmurs； but what one man dared speak in a low voice； ten thought。 Perhaps it would not have been as easy as she had thought to rouse mobs against Gaebril。
Eventually she found her goal； a broad stone inn； the sign over the door bearing a man kneeling before a golden…haired woman in the Rose Crown； one of her hands on his head。 The Queen's Blessing。 If it was meant to be her； it was not a good likeness。 The cheeks were too fat。
Not until she stopped in front of the inn did she realize that Lini was puffing。 She had set a quick pace； and the woman was far from young。 〃Lini； I am sorry。 I should not have walked so …〃
〃If I can't keep up with you； girl； how will I be able to tend Elayne's babes？ Do you mean to stand there？ 'Dragging feet never finish a journey。' He said he would be in the stable。〃
The white…haired woman stalked off； muttering to herself； and Morgase followed her around the inn。 Before stepping into the stone stable； she shaded her eyes to look at the sun。 No more than two hours until dusk； Gaebril would be looking by then； if he was not already。
Tallanvor was not alone in the stall…lined stable。 When he went to one knee on the straw…covered floor； in a green wool coat with his sword belted over it； two men and a woman knelt with him； if a bit hesitantly； unsure of her as she was。 The stout man； pink…faced and balding； must be Basel Gill； the innkeeper。 An old leather jerkin； studded with steel discs； strained around his girth； and he wore a sword at his hip； too。
〃My Queen；〃 Gill said； 〃I've not carried a sword in years … not since the Aiel War … but I'd count it an honor if you allowed me to follow you。〃 He should have looked ridiculous； but he did not。
Morgase studied the other two； a hulking fellow in a rough gray coat； with heavy…lidded eyes； an oft…broken nose； and scars on his face； and a short； pretty woman approaching her middle years。 She seemed to be with the street tough； but her high…necked blue wool dress appeared too finely woven for one like him to have bought。
The fellow sensed her doubts； for all his lazy…eyed appearance。 〃I am Lamgwin； my Queen； and a good Queen's man。 'Tisn't right； what's been done； and it has to be put straight。 I want to follow you； too。 Me and Breane； both。〃
〃Rise；〃 she told them。 〃It may be some days yet before it is safe for you to acknowledge me as your queen。 I will be glad of your pany； Master Gill。 And yours； Master Lamgwin； but it will be safer for your woman if she remains in Caemlyn。 There are hard days ahead。〃
Brushing straw from her skirts； Breane gave her a sharp look； and Lini a sharper。 〃I have known hard days；〃 she said in a Cairhienin accent。 Nobly born； unless Morgase missed her guess； one of the refugees。 〃And I never knew a good man until I found Lamgwin。 Or until he found me。 The loyalty and love he bears for you； I bear for him tenfold。 He follows you； but I follow him。 I will not stay behind。〃
Morgase drew breath； then nodded her acceptance。 The woman seemed to take it for granted in any case。 A fine seed for the army to retake her throne： One young soldier who scowled at her as often as not； a balding innkeeper who looked as if he had not been on a horse in twenty years； a street tough who appeared more than half…asleep； and a refugee Cairhienin noblewoman who had made it clear that her loyalties went only as far as the tough。 And Lini； of course。 Lini； who treated her as though she were still in the nursery。 Oh； yes； a very fine seed。
〃Where do we go； my Queen？〃 Gill asked as he began leading already saddled horses out of their stalls。 Lamgwin moved with surprising speed to throw another high…cantled saddle on a horse for Lini。
Morgase realized that she had not considered that。 Light； Gaebril can't still be fogging my mind。 She still felt that urge to return to her sitting room； though。 It was not he。 She had had to concentrate on getting out of the Palace and reaching here。 Once she would have gone to Ellorien first； but Pelivar or Arathelle would do。 Once she had reasoned out how to explain away their exiles。
Before she could open her mouth； Tallanvor said； 〃It must be to Gareth Bryne。 There is hard feeling against you among the great Houses； my Queen； but with Bryne following you； they will re…swear allegiance； if only because they know he will win every battle。〃
She clamped her teeth shut to hold back instant refusal。 Bryne was a traitor。 But he was also one of the finest generals alive。 His presence would be a convincing argument when she had to make Pelivar and the rest forget that she had exiled them。 Very well。 No doubt he would leap at the chance to be Captain…General of the Queen's Guards once more。 And if not； she would manage well enough without him。
When the sun touched the horizon； they were five miles out of Caemlyn and riding hard for Kore Springs。
Night was when Padan Fain felt most fortable。 As he padded through the tapestry…bedecked corridors of the White Tower； it seemed as though the darkness outside made a cloak to hide him from his enemies； despite the stand…lamps； gilded and mirrored； burning along his way。 A false feeling； he knew； his enemies were many and everywhere。 Right that moment； as in every waking hour； he could feel Rand al'Thor。 Not where he was； but that he was still alive； somewhere。 Still alive。 It was a gift received at Shayol Ghul； in the Pit of Doom； that awareness of al'Thor。
His mind skittered away from memories of what had been done to him in the Pit。 He had been distilled there； remade。 But later； in Aridhol； he had been