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no doubt end up stealing each other blind。 Master Elyas； if there really are Tinkers close by； shouldn't we go on？ We don't want Bela stolen； and 。。。 well； we do not have much else； but everybody knows Tinkers will steal anything。〃
〃Including infants？〃 Elyas asked dryly。 〃Kidnap children； and all that？〃 He spat； and she blushed。 Those stories about babies were told sometimes； but most often by Cenn Buie or one of the Coplins or Congars。 The other tales； everybody knew。 〃The Tinkers make me sick sometimes； but they don't steal any more than most folks。 A good bit less than some I know。〃
〃It will be getting dark soon； Elyas；〃 Perrin said。 〃We have to camp somewhere。 Why not with them； if they'll have us？〃 Mistress Luhhan had a Tinker…mended pot that she claimed was better than new。 Master Luhhan was not too happy about his wife's praise of the Tinker work； but Perrin wanted to see how it was done。 Yet there was a reluctance about Elyas that he did not understand。 〃Is there some reason we shouldn't？〃
Elyas shook his head； but the reluctance was still there； in the set of his shoulders and the tightness of his mouth。 〃May as well。 Just don't pay any mind to what they say。 Lot of foolishness。 Most times the Traveling People do things any which way； but there's times they set a store by formality； so you do what I do。 And keep your secrets。 No need to tell the world everything。〃
The dogs trailed along beside them； wagging their tails； as Elyas led the way into the trees。 Perrin felt the wolves slow； and knew they would not enter。 They were not afraid of the dogs … they were contemptuous of dogs； who had given up freedom to sleep by a fire … but people they avoided。
Elyas walked surely； as if he knew the way； and near the center of the stand the Tinkers' wagons appeared； scattered among the oak and ash。
Like everyone else in Emond's Field； Perrin had heard a good deal about the Tinkers even if he had never seen any； and the camp was just what he expected。 Their wagons were small houses on wheels； tall wooden boxes lacquered and painted in bright colors； reds and blues and yellows and greens and some hues to which he could not put a name。 The Traveling People were going about work that was disappointingly everyday； cooking； sewing； tending children； mending harness； but their clothes were even more colorful than the wagons … and seemingly chosen at random； sometimes coat and breeches； or dress and shawl； went together in a way that hurt his eyes。 They looked like butterflies in a field of wildflowers。
Four or five men in different places around the camp played fiddles and flutes； and a few people danced like rainbow…hued hummingbirds。 Children and dogs ran playing among the cookfires。 The dogs were mastiffs just like those that had confronted the travelers； but the children tugged at their ears and tails and climbed on their backs； and the massive dogs accepted it all placidly。 The three with Elyas； tongues hanging out； looked up at the bearded man as if he were their best friend。 Perrin shook his head。 They were still big enough to reach a man's throat while barely getting their front feet off the ground。
Abruptly the music stopped； and he realized all the Tinkers were looking at him and his panions。 Even the children and dogs stood still and watched； warily； as if on the point of flight。
For a moment there was no sound at all； then a wiry man； gray…haired and short； stepped forward and bowed gravely to Elyas。 He wore a highcollared red coat； and baggy； bright green trousers tucked into knee boots。 〃You are wele to our fires。 Do you know the song？〃
Elyas bowed in the same way； both hands pressed to his chest。 〃Your wele warms my spirit； Mahdi； as your fires warm the flesh； but I do not know the song。〃
〃Then we seek still；〃 the gray…haired man intoned。 〃As it was； so shall it be； if we but remember； seek； and find。〃 He swept an arm toward the fires with a smile； and his voice took on a cheerful lightness。 〃The meal is almost ready。 Join us； please。〃
As if that had been a signal the music sprang up again； and the children took up their laughter and ran with the dogs。 Everyone in the camp went back to what they had been doing just as though the newers were long accepted friends。
The gray…haired man hesitated； though； and looked at Elyas。 〃Your 。。。 other friends？ They will stay away？ They frighten the poor dogs so。〃
〃They'll stay away； Raen。〃 Elyas's headshake had a touch of scorn。 〃You should know that by now。〃
The gray…haired man spread his hands as if to say nothing was ever certain。 As he turned to lead them into the camp； Egwene dismounted and moved close to Elyas。 〃You two are friends？〃 A smiling Tinker appeared to take Bela； Egwene gave the reins up reluctantly； after a wry snort from Elyas。
〃We know each other；〃 the fur…clad man replied curtly。
〃His name is Mahdi？〃 Perrin said。
Elyas growled something under his breath。 〃His name's Raen。 Mahdi's his title。 Seeker。 He's the leader of this band。 You can call him Seeker if the other sounds odd。 He won't mind。〃
〃What was that about a song？〃 Egwene asked。
〃That's why they travel；〃 Elyas said； 〃or so they say。 They're looking for a song。 That's what the Mahdi seeks。 They say they lost it during the Breaking of the World； and if they can find it again； the paradise of the Age of Legends will return。〃 He ran his eye around the camp and snorted。 〃They don't even know what the song is； they claim they'll know it when they find it。 They don't know how it's supposed to bring paradise； either； but they've been looking near to three thousand years； ever since the Breaking。 I expect they'll be looking until the Wheel stops turning。〃
They reached Raen's fire； then； in the middle of the camp。 The Seeker's wagon was yellow trimmed in red； and the spokes of its tall； red…rimmed wheels alternated red and yellow。 A plump woman； as gray as Raen but smooth…cheeked still； came out of the wagon and paused on the steps at its back end； straightening a blue…fringed shawl on her shoulders。 Her blouse was yellow and her skirt red； both bright。 The bination made Perrin blink； and Egwene made a strangled sound。
When she saw the people following Raen； the woman came down with a weling smile。 She was Ila； Raen's wife； a head taller than her husband； and she soon made Perrin forget about the colors of her clothes。 She had a motherliness that reminded him of Mistress al'Vere and had him feeling wele from her first smile。
Ila greeted Elyas as an old acquaintance； but with a distance that seemed to pain Raen。 Elyas gave her a dry grin and a nod。 Perrin and Egwene introduced themselves； and she clasped their hands in both of hers with much more warmth than she had shown Elyas； even hugging Egwene。
〃Why； you're lovely； child；〃 she said； cupping Egwene's chin and smiling。 〃And chilled to the bone； too； I expect。 You sit close to the fire； Egwene。 All of you sit。 Supper is almost ready。〃
Fallen logs had been pulled around the fire for sitting。 Elyas refused even that concession to civilization。 He lounged on the ground； instead。 Iron