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He did not turn to look at Hopper。 He knew his teeth were bared in a snarl。 Again he raised the hammer； brought it down with all his strength against the chains that had held Faile。 The stone block cracked in two under his blow； the Stone itself rang like a stuck bell。
〃Then I will hunt again；〃 he growled。
Hammer in hand； Perrin strode out of the room with Hopper beside him。 The Stone was a place of men。 And men； he knew； were crueler hunters than ever wolves were。
Alarm gongs somewhere above sent sonorous clangs down the corridor； not quite drowning out the ring of metal on metal and the shouts of fighting men rather closer。 The Aiel and the Defenders； Mat suspected。 Tall； golden lamp stands； each with four golden lamps； lined the hall where Mat was； and silk tapestries of battle scenes hung on the polished stone walls。 There were even silk carpets on the floor； dark red on dark blue； woven in the Tairen maze。 For once； Mat was too busy to put a price on anything。
This bloody fellow is good； he thought as he managed to sweep a sword thrust away from him； but the blow he aimed at the man's head with the other end of the staff had to turn into another block of that darting blade。 I wonder if he is one of these bloody High Lords？ He almost managed a solid blow at a knee； but his opponent sprang back； his straight blade raised on guard。
The blue…eyed man certainly wore the puffy…sleeved coat； yellow with thread…of…gold stripes； but it was all undone； his shirt only half tucked into his breeches； and his feet bare。 His short…cropped； dark hair was tousled； like that of a man roused hastily from sleep； but he did not fight like it。 Five minutes ago he had e darting out from one of the tall； carved doors that lined this hall； a scabbardless sword in his hands； and Mat was only grateful the fellow had appeared in front of them and not behind。 He was not the first man dressed so that Mat had faced already； but he was surely the best。
〃Can you make it past me； thief…catcher？〃 Mat called； careful not to take his eyes off the man waiting for him with blade poised to strike。 Sandar had insisted irritably on 〃thief…catcher；〃 not 〃thief…taker；〃 though Mat could not see any difference。
〃I cannot；〃 Sandar called from behind him。 〃If you move to let me by； you will lose room to swing that oar you call a staff； and he will spit you like a grunt。〃
Like a what？ 〃Well； think of something； Tairen。 This ragamuffin is grating my nerves。〃
The man in the gold…striped coat sneered。 〃You will be honored to die on the blade of the High Lord Darlin； peasant； if I allow it so。〃 It was the first time he had deigned to speak。 〃Instead； I think I will have the pair of you hung by the heels； and watch while the skin is stripped from your bodies …〃
〃I do not think I'd like that；〃 Mat said。
The High Lord's face reddened with indignation at being interrupted； but Mat gave him no time for any outraged ment。 Quarterstaff whirling in a tight double…loop weave； so quick the staff blurred at the ends； he leaped forward。 It was all a snarling Darlin could do to keep the staff from him。 For the moment。 Mat knew he could not keep this up very long； and if he was lucky then； it would all go back to the strike and counterstrike。 If he was lucky。 But he had no intention of counting on luck this time。 As soon as the High Lord had a moment to set himself in a pattern of defense； Mat altered his attack in mid…whirl。 The end of the staff Darlin had been expecting at his head dipped instead to sweep his legs out from under him。 The other end did strike at his head then； as he fell； a sharp crack that rolled his eyes back up in his head。
Panting； Mat leaned on his staff over the unconscious High Lord。 Burn me； if I have to fight one or two more like this； I'll bloody well fall over from exhaustion！ The stories do not tell you being a hero it such hard work！ Nynaeve always did find a way to make me work。
Sandar came to stand beside him； frowning down at the crumpled High Lord。 〃He does not look so mighty lying there；〃 he said wonderingly。 〃He does not look so much greater than me。〃
Mat gave a start and peered down the hall； where a man had just gone trotting across along a joining corridor。 Burn me； if I did not know it was crazy； I would swear that was Rand！
〃Sandar； you find that …〃 he began； swinging his staff up onto his shoulder； and cut off when it thudded into something。
Spinning； he found himself facing another half…dressed High Lord； this one with his sword on the floor； his knees buckling； and both hands to his head where Mat's staff had split his scalp。 Hastily； Mat poked him hard in the stomach with the butt of the staff to bring his hands down； then gave him another thump on the head to put him down in a heap on top of his sword。
〃Luck； Sandar；〃 he muttered。 〃You cannot beat bloody luck。 Now； why don't you find this bloody private way the High Lords take down to the cells？〃 Sandar had insisted there was such a stairway； and using it would avoid having to run through most of the Stone。 Mat did not think he liked men so eager to watch people put to the question that they wanted a quick route to the prisoners from their apartments。
〃Just be glad you were so lucky；〃 Sandar said unsteadily； 〃or this one would have killed us both before we saw him。 I know the door is here somewhere。 Are you ing？ Or do you mean to wait for another High Lord to appear？〃
〃Lead on。〃 Mat stepped over the unconscious High Lord。 〃I am no bloody hero。〃
Trotting； he followed the thief…catcher； who peered at the tall doors they passed； muttering that he knew it was here somewhere。
Chapter 55
（Dragon）
What Is Written in Prophecy
Rand entered the chamber slowly； walking among the great polished redstone columns he remembered from his dreams。 Silence filled the shadows； yet something called to him。 And something flashed ahead； a momentary light throwing back shadow； a beacon。 He stepped out beneath a great dome； and saw what he sought。 Callandor； hanging hilt down in midair； waiting for no hand but that of the Dragon Reborn。 As it revolved； it broke what little light there was into splinters； and now and then it flared as if with a light of its own。 Calling him。 Waiting for him。
If I am the Dragon Reborn。 If I am not just some half…mad man cursed with the ability to channel； a puppet dancing for Moiraine and the White Tower。
〃Take it； Lews Therin。 Take it； Kinslayer。〃
He spun to face the voice。 The tall man with close…cropped white hair who stepped from the shadows among the columns was familiar to him。 Rand had no idea who he was； this fellow in a red silk coat with black stripes down its puffy sleeves and black breeches tucked into elaborately silver…worked boots。 He did not know the man； but he had seen him in his dreams。 〃You put them in a cage；〃 he said。 〃Egwene； and Nynaeve； and Elayne。 In my dreams。 You kept putting them in a cage； and hurting them。〃
The man made a dismissive gesture of his hand。 〃They are less than nothing。 Perhaps one day； when they have been trained； but not now。 I