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e； you foolish children！ Move！〃 She vanished down the hall before he could open his mouth。
Zarine did not wait； either； running from the room without her candle。 Perrin hastily gathered his things and dashed for the back stairs still buckling his axe belt around his waist。 He caught up to Loial going down； the Ogier trying to stuff a wood…bound book into his saddlebags and put on his cloak at the same time。 Perrin gave him a hand with the cloak while they both ran down the stairs； and Zarine caught the pair of them before they could dash out into the pouring rain。
Perrin hunched his shoulders against the wet and ran for the stable across the storm…darkened yard without waiting to pull up the hood of his cloak。 She has to have a reason。 Being in a bloody story isn't reason enough for any but a madwoman！ The rain soaked his shaggy curls； laying them flat around his head； before he darted through the stable door。
Moiraine was there before them； in an oiled cloak still beaded with rain； and Nieda holding a lantern for Lan to finish saddling the horses。 There was an extra； a bay gelding with an even stronger nose than Zarine's。
〃I will send pigeons every day；〃 the stout woman was saying。 〃No one will suspect me。 Fortune prick me！ Even Whitecloaks do speak well of me。〃
〃Listen to me； woman！〃 Moiraine snapped。 〃This is not a Whitecloak or a Darkfriend I speak of。 You will flee this city； and make anyone you care for flee with you。 For a dozen years you have obeyed me。 Obey me now！〃 Nieda nodded； but reluctantly； and Moiraine growled with exasperation。
〃The bay is yours； girl；〃 Lan said to Zarine。 〃Get on his back。 If you do not know how to ride； you must learn by doing； or take my offer。〃
Putting one hand on the high pommel； she vaulted easily into the saddle。 〃I was on a horse once； stone…face； now that I think of it。〃 She twisted around to tie her bundle behind her。
〃What did you mean； Moiraine？〃 Perrin demanded as he tossed his saddlebag across Stepper's back。 〃You said he would find out where I am。 He knows。 The Gray Men！〃 Nieda giggled； and he wondered irritably how much she really knew or believed among the things she said she did not believe in。
〃Sammael did not send the Gray Men。〃 Moiraine mounted Aldieb with a cool； straight…backed precision； almost as if there were no hurry。 〃The Darkhound was his； however。 I believe it followed my trail。 He would not have sent both。 Someone wants you； but I do not think Sammael even knows you exist。 Yet。〃 Perrin stopped with one foot in the stirrup； staring at her； but she seemed more concerned with patting her mare's arching neck than with the questions on his face。
〃As well I went after you；〃 Lan said； and the Aes Sedai sniffed loudly。
〃I could wish you were a woman； Gaidin。 I would send you to the Tower as a novice to learn to obey！〃 He raised an eyebrow and touched the hilt of his sword； then swung into his saddle； and she sighed。 〃Perhaps it is as well you are disobedient。 Sometimes it is well。 Besides； I do not think Sheriam and Siuan Sanche together could teach you obedience。〃
〃I do not understand；〃 Perrin said。 I seem to be saying that a great deal； and I'm tired of it。 I want some answers I can understand。 He pulled himself the rest of the way up so Moiraine would not be looking down at him； she had enough advantage without that。 〃If he did not send the Gray Men； who did？ If a Myrddraal； or another Forsaken。。。〃 He stopped to swallow。 ANOTHER Forsaken！ Light！ 〃If somebody else sent them； why did they not tell him？ They're all Darkfriends； aren't they？ And why me； Moiraine？ Why me？ Rand is the bloody Dragon Reborn！〃
He heard the gasps from Zarine and Nieda； and only then realized what he had said。 Moiraine's stare seemed to skin him like the sharpest steel。 Hasty bloody tongue。 When did I stop thinking before I speak？ It seemed to him it had happened when he first felt Zarine's eyes watching him。 She was watching him now； with her mouth hanging open。
〃You are sealed to us； now；〃 Moiraine told the bold…faced woman。 〃There is no turning back for you。 Ever。〃 Zarine looked as if she wanted to say something and was afraid to； but the Aes Sedai had already turned her attention elsewhere。 〃Nieda； flee Illian tonight。 In this hour！ And hold your tongue even better than you have held it all these years。 There are those who would cut it out for what you could say； before I could even find you。〃 Her hard tone left doubts as to exactly how she meant that； and Nieda nodded vigorously as if she had heard it both ways。
〃As for you； Perrin。〃 The white mare moved closer； and he leaned back from the Aes Sedai despite all he could do。 〃There are many threads woven in the Pattern； and some are as black as the Shadow itself。 Take care one of them does not strangle you。〃 Her heels touched Aldieb's flanks； and the mare darted into the rain； Mandarb following close behind。
Burn you； Moiraine； Perrin thought as he rode after them。 Sometimes I do not know which side you are on。 He glanced at Zarine； riding beside him as if she had been born in a saddle。 And whose side are you on？
Rain kept people off the streets and canals； so no visible eyes watched them go； but it made the footing uncertain for the horses on the uneven paving stones。 By the time they reached the Maredo Causeway； a wide road of packed dirt stretching north through the marsh； the downpour had begun to slacken。 Thunder still boomed； but the lightning flashed far behind them； perhaps out to sea。
Perrin felt a bit of luck was ing their way。 The rain had stayed long enough to hide their departure； but now it seemed they would have a clear night for riding。 He said as much； but Lan shook his head。
〃Darkhounds like clear； moonlit nights best； blacksmith； rain the least。 A good thunderstorm can keep them away pletely。〃 As if his words had bidden it； the rain faded to a faint drizzle。 Perrin heard Loial groan behind him。
Causeway and marsh ended together； some two miles or so from the city； but the road kept on； slowly bearing a little eastward。 Cloud…dark evening faded into night； and the misting rain continued。 Moiraine and Lan kept a steady； ground…eating pace。 The horses' hooves splashed through puddles on the hard…packed dirt。 The moon shone through gaps in the clouds。 Low hills began to rise around them； and trees to appear more and more often。 Perrin thought there must be forest ahead； but he was not sure how he liked the idea。 Woods could hide them from pursuit； woods could let pursuit e close before they saw。
A thin howl rose far behind them。 For a moment he thought it was a wolf； he surprised himself by nearly reaching out to the wolf before he could stop。 The cry came again； and he knew it was no wolf。 Others answered it； all miles behind； eerie wails holding blood and death； cries that spoke of nightmares。 To his surprise； Lan and Moiraine slowed； the Aes Sedai studying the hills around them in the night。
〃They are a long way；〃 he said。 〃They'll not catch us if we keep on。〃
〃The Darkhounds？〃 Zarine muttered。 〃Those are the Darkhounds？ Are you sure it isn't the