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〃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 Wild Hunt； Aes Sedai？〃
〃But it is；〃 Moiraine replied。 〃It is。〃
〃You can never outrun the Darkhounds； blacksmith；〃 Lan said； 〃not on the fastest horse。 Always； you must face them and defeat them； or they will pull you down。〃
〃I could have stayed in the stedding； you know；〃 Loial said。 〃My mother would have had me married by now； but it would not have been a bad life。 Plenty of books。 I did not have to e Outside。〃
〃There；〃 Moiraine said； pointing to a tall； treeless mound well off to their right。 There were no trees that Perrin could see for two hundred paces or more around it； either； and they were still sparse beyond that。 〃We must see them ing to have a chance。〃
The Darkhounds' dire cries rose again； closer； yet still far。
Lan quickened Mandarb's pace a little； now that Moiraine had chosen their ground。 As they climbed； the horses' hooves clattered on rocks half…buried in the dirt and slicked by the drizzle。 To Perrin's eyes； most of them had too many squared corners to be natural。 At the top； they dismounted around what seemed to be a low； rounded boulder。 The moon appeared through a gap in the clouds； and he found himself looking at a weathered stone face two paces long。 A woman's face； he thought from the length of the hair。 The rain made her seem to be weeping。
Moiraine dismounted and stood looking off in the direction of the howls。 She was a shadowed； hooded shape； rain catching moonlight as it rolled down her oiled cloak。
Loial led his horse over to peer at the carving； then bent closer and felt the features。 〃I think she was an Ogier；〃 he said at last。 〃But this is not an old stedding； I would feel it。 We all would。 And we would be safe from Shadowspawn。〃
〃What are you two staring at？〃 Zarine squinted at the rock。 'What is it？ Her？ Who？〃
〃Many nations have risen and fallen since the Breaking；〃 Moiraine said without turning； 〃some leaving no more than names on a yellowed page； or lines on a tattered map。 Will we leave as much behind？〃 The blood…drenched howls rose again； still closer。 Perrin tried to calculate their pace； and thought Lan had been right； the horses could not have outrun them； after all。 They would not have long to wait。
〃Ogier；〃 Lan said； 〃you and the girl hold the horses。〃 Zarine protested； but he rode straight over to her。 〃Your knives will not do much good here； girl。〃 His sword blade gleamed in the moonlight as he drew it。 〃Even this is a last resort。 It sounds like ten out there； not one。 Your work is to keep the horses from running when they smell the Darkhounds。 Even Mandarb does not like that smell。〃
If the Warder's sword was no good； then neither was the axe。 Perrin felt something near to relief at that； even if they were Shadowspawn； he would not have to use the axe。 He drew the length of his unstrung bow from under Stepper's saddle girths。 〃Maybe this will do some good。〃
〃Try if you wish； blacksmith；〃 Lan said。 〃They do not die easily。 Perhaps you will kill one。〃
Perrin drew a fresh bowstring from his pouch； trying to shield it from the soft rain。 The beeswax coating was thin； and not much protection against prolonged damp。 Setting the bow slantwise between his legs； he bent it easily； fixing the loops of the bowstring into the horn nocks at the ends of the bow。 When he straightened； he could see the Darkhounds。
They ran like horses at a gallop； and as he caught sight of them； they gathered speed。 They were only ten large shapes running in the night； sweeping through the scattered trees； yet he pulled a broadhead arrow from his quiver； nocked it but did not draw。 He had been far from the best bowman in Emond's Field； but among the younger men； only Rand had been better。
At three hundred paces he would shoot； he decided。 Fool！ You'd have a hard time hitting a target standing still at that distance。 But if I wait； the way they are moving。。。 Stepping up beside Moiraine； he raised his bow … I just have to imagine that moving shadow is a big dog … drew the goose…feather fletchings to his ear； and loosed。 He was sure the shaft merged with the nearest shadow； but the only result was a snarl。 It is not going to work。 They're ing too fast！ He was already drawing another arrow。 Why aren't you doing something； Moiraine？ He could see their eyes； shining like silver； their teeth gleaming like burnished steel。 Black as the night itself and as big as small ponies； they sped toward him； silent now； seeking the kill。 The wind carried a stink near to burned sulphur； the horses whickered fearfully； even Lan's warhorse。 Burn you； Aes Sedai； do something！ He loosed again； the frontmost Darkhound faltered and came on。 They can die！ He shot once more； and the lead Darkhound tumbled； staggered to its feet； then fell； yet even as it did he knew a moment of despair。 One down； and the other nine had covered two thirds of the distance already； they seemed to be running even faster； like shadows flowing across the ground。 One more arrow。 Time for one more； maybe； and then it's the axe。 Burn you； Aes Sedai！ He drew again。
〃Now；〃 Moiraine said as his arrow left the bow。 The air between her hands caught fire and streaked toward the Darkhounds； vanquishing night。 The horses squealed and leaped against being held。
Perrin threw an arm across his eyes to shield them from a white…hot glare like burning； heat like a forge cracking open； sudden noon flared in the darkness； and was gone。 When he uncovered his eyes； spots flickered across his vision； and the faint； fading image of that line of fire。 Where the Darkhounds had been was nothing but night…covered ground and the soft rain； the only shadows that moved were cast by clouds crossing the moon。
I thought she'd throw fire at them； or call lightning； but this。。。 〃What was that？〃 he asked hoarsely。
Moiraine was peering off toward Illian again； as if she could see through all those miles of darkness。 〃Perhaps he did not see；〃 she said； almost to herself。 〃It is far； and if he was not watching； perhaps he did not notice。〃
〃Who？〃 Zarine demanded。 〃Sammael？〃 Her voice shook a little。 〃You said he was in Illian。 How could he see anything here？ What did you do？〃
〃Something forbidden；〃 Moiraine said coolly。 〃Forbidden by vows almost as strong as the Three Oaths。〃 She took Aldieb's reins from the girl； and patted the mare's neck； calming her。 〃Something not used in nearly two thousand years。 Something I might be stilled just for knowing。〃
〃Perhaps。。。？〃 Loial's voice was a faint boom。 〃Perhaps we should be going？ There could be more。〃
〃I think not；〃 the Aes Sedai said； mounting。 〃He would not loose two packs at once； even if he has two； they would turn on each other instead of their prey。 And I think we are not his main quarry； or he would have e himself。 We were。。。 an annoyance； I think〃 … her tone was calm； but it was clear she did not like being regarded so lightly … 〃and perhaps a little something extra to slip into his gamebag； if