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ry lord's new gate。 He had enjoyed making something so pretty。
〃I thought his eyes would e out of his face； blacksmith； when you said you would not make that thing if it was for a High Lord。〃
He glanced sideways at Zarine； walking beside him； the shadows masking her face。 Even for his eyes； the shadows were there； just fainter than they would have been for another's。 They emphasized her high cheekbones； softened the strong curve of her nose。 He just could not make up his mind about her。 Even if Moiraine and Lan still insisted they stay close to the inn； he wished she could find something else to do besides watch him work。 For some reason； he had found himself growing awkward whenever he thought of her tilted eyes on him。 More than once he had fumbled with his hammer till Master Ajala frowned at him wonderingly。 Girls had always been able to make him feel awkward especially when they smiled at him； but Zarine did not have to smile。 Only look。 He wondered again if she was the beautiful woman Min had warned him against。 Better if she is the falcon。 That thought surprised him so much that he stumbled。
〃I did not want anything I make to get into the hands of one of the Forsaken。〃 His eyes glowed golden as he looked at her。 〃If it was for a High Lord； how could I tell where it might end？〃 She shivered。 〃I did not mean to frighten you； Fai…； Zarine。〃
She smiled broadly； no doubt thinking he could not see her。 〃You will fall yet； farmboy。 Have you ever thought of wearing a beard？〃
It is bad enough she's always mocking me； but half the time I do not even understand her！
As they reached the front door of the inn； Moiraine and Lan met them； ing the other way。 Moiraine wore that linen cloak with the wide； deep hood that hid her face。 Light from the mon…room windows made yellow pools on the paving stones。 Two or three carriages rumbled past； and there were perhaps a dozen people in sight； hurrying home for their suppers； but for the most part； shadows populated the street。 The weaver's shop was closed tight。 The silence was deafening。
〃Rand is in Tear。〃 The Aes Sedai's cool voice issued from the depths of her hood as from a cavern。
〃Are you sure？〃 Perrin asked。 〃I have not heard of anything strange happening。 No weddings； or wells drying up。〃 He saw Zarine frown in confusion。 Moiraine had not been forthing with her； and neither had he。 Keeping Loial's tongue silent had been more difficult。
〃Don't you listen to rumors； blacksmith？〃 the Warder said。 〃There have been marriages； as many in the last four days as in half a year before。 And as many murders as in a whole year。 A child fell from a tower balcony today。 A hundred paces onto stone paving。 She got up and ran to her mother without a bruise。 The First of Mayene； a 'guest' in the Stone since before the winter； announced today that she will submit to the will of the High Lords； after saying yesterday she would see Mayene and all its ships burn before one Tairen country lord set foot in the city。 They had not brought themselves to torture her； and that young woman has a will like iron； so you tell me if you think it might be Rand's doing。 Blacksmith； from top to bottom； Tear bubbles like a cauldron。〃
〃These things were not needed to tell me；〃 Moiraine said。 〃Perrin； did you dream of Rand last night？〃
〃Yes；〃 he admitted。 〃He was in the Heart of the Stone； holding that sword〃 … he felt Zarine shift beside him … 〃but I have been worrying about that so much it is no wonder I dream of it。 I had nothing but nightmares last night。〃
〃A tall man？〃 Zarine said。 〃With reddish hair and gray eyes？ Holding something that shines so brightly it hurts your eyes？ In a place that is all great redstone columns？ Blacksmith； tell me that was not your dream。〃
〃You see；〃 Moiraine said。 〃I have heard this dream spoken of a hundred times today。 They all speak of nightmares … Be'lal apparently does not care to shield his dreams … but that one above all else。〃 She laughed suddenly； like low； cool chimes。 〃People say he is the Dragon Reborn。 They say he is ing。 They whisper it fearfully in corners； but they say it。〃
〃And what of Be'lal？〃 Perrin asked。
Moiraine's reply was cold…drawn steel。 〃I will deal with him tonight。〃 There was no fear scent from her。
〃We will deal with him tonight；〃 Lan told her。
〃Yes； my Gaidin。 We will deal with him。〃
〃And what do we do？ Sit here and wait？ I had enough waiting to last me a lifetime in the mountains； Moiraine。〃
〃You and Loial … and Zarine … will go to Tar Valon；〃 she told him。 〃Until this is done。 It will be the safest place for you。〃
〃Where is the Ogier？〃 Lan said。 〃I want all three of you on your way north as soon as possible。〃
〃Upstairs； I suppose；〃 Perrin said。 〃In his room； or maybe the dining room。 There are lights in the windows up there。 He is always working on those notes of his。 I suppose he will have plenty to say in his book about us running away。〃 He was surprised at the bitterness in his voice。 Light； fool； do you want to face one of the Forsaken？ No。 No； but I am tired of running。 I remember not running； once。 I remember fighting back； and it was better。 Even if I thought I was going to die； it was better。
〃I will find him；〃 Zarine announced。 〃I have no shame in admitting I will be glad enough to run from this fight。 Men fight when they should run； and fools fight when they should run。 But I had no need to say it twice。〃 She strode ahead of them； her narrow； divided skirts making small whisking noises as they entered the inn。
Perrin glanced around the mon room as they followed her toward the stairs in the back。 There were fewer men at the tables than he expected。 Some sat alone； with dull eyes； but where two or three sat together they talked in frightened whispers his ears could barely catch。 Even so； he heard 〃Dragon〃 three times。
As he reached the top of the stairs； he heard another soft sound； a thump as of something falling in the private dining room。 He peered that way along the hall。 〃Zarine？〃 There was no answer。 He felt the hair on the back of his neck shift； and padded that way。 〃Zarine？〃 He pushed open the door。 〃Faile！〃
She was lying on the floor near the table。 As he started to rush into the room； Moiraine's manding shout halted him。
〃Stop； you fool！ Stop； for your life！〃 She came along the hallway slowly； head turning as if she were listening for something； or searching for something。 Lan followed with his hand on his sword … and a look in his eye as if he already knew steel would do no good。 She came abreast of the door and stopped。 〃Move back； Perrin。 Move back！〃
In agony he stared at Zarine。 At Faile。 She lay there as if lifeless。 Finally he made himself step back from the door； leaving it open； standing where he could see her。 She looked as if she were dead。 He could not see her chest stir。 He wanted to howl。 Frowning； he worked his hand； the one he had used to push the door into the room； opening and closing his fingers。 It tingled sharply； as if he had struck his elbow。 〃Aren't you going to do anything； Moiraine？ If you will not； I am goin