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Byar snorted with disbelief。 Perrin did not care overmuch； if the Lord Captain was convinced； Byar could not harm them。 It was plain that Byar would stop breathing if Lord Captain Bornhald told him to。
〃There is no Warder in that；〃 the gray…haired man said after a moment。
Perrin's invention failed him； he knew he should have taken time to think it out。 Egwene leaped into the breach。 〃We met him in Baerlon。 The city was crowded with men who had e down from the mines after the winter； and we were put at the same table in an inn。 We only talked to him for the length of a meal。〃
Perrin breathed again。 Thank you； Egwene。
〃Give them back their belongings； Child Byar。 Not the weapons； of course。〃 When Byar looked at him in surprise； Bornhald added； 〃Or are you one of those who have taken to looting the unenlightened； Child Byar？ It is a bad business； that； yes？ No man can be a thief and walk in the Light。〃 Byar seemed to struggle with disbelief at the suggestion。
〃Then you're letting us go？〃 Egwene sounded surprised。 Perrin lifted his head to stare at the Lord Captain。
〃Of course not； child；〃 Bornhald said sadly。 〃You may be telling the truth about being from the Two Rivers； since you know about Baerlon； and the mines。 But Shadar Logoth 。。。 ？ That is a name very； very few know； most of them Darkfriends； and anyone who knows enough to know the name； knows enough not to go there。 I suggest you think of a better story on the journey to Amador。 You will have time； since we must pause in Caemlyn。 Preferably the truth； child。 There is freedom in truth and the Light。 〃
Byar forgot some of his diffidence toward the gray…haired man。 He spun from the prisoners； and there was an outraged snap to his words。 〃You can't！ It is not allowed！〃 Bornhald raised one eyebrow quizzically； and Byar pulled himself up short； swallowing。 〃Forgive me； my Lord Captain。 I forgot myself； and I humbly beg pardon and submit myself for penance； but as my Lord Captain himself has pointed out； we must reach Caemlyn in time； and with most of our remounts gone； we will be hard pressed enough without carrying prisoners along。〃
〃And what would you suggest？〃 Bornhald asked calmly。
〃The penalty for Darkfriends is death。〃 The flat voice made it all the more jarring。 He might have been suggesting stepping on a bug。 〃There is no truce with the Shadow。 There is no mercy for Darkfriends。〃
〃Zeal is to be applauded； Child Byar； but； as I must often tell my son； Dain； overzealousness can be a grievous fault。 Remember that the Tenets also say； 'No man is so lost that he cannot be brought to the Light。' These two are young。 They cannot yet be deep in the Shadow。 They can yet be led to the Light； if they will only allow the Shadow to be lifted from their eyes。 We must give them that chance。〃
For a moment Perrin almost felt affection for the grandfatherly man who stood between them and Byar。 Then Bornhald turned his grandfather's smile on Egwene。
〃If you refuse to e to the Light by the time we reach Amador； I will be forced to turn you over to the Questioners； and beside them Byar's zeal is but a candle beside the sun。〃 The gray…haired man sounded like a man who regretted what he must do； but who had no intention of ever doing anything but his duty as he saw it。 〃Repent； renounce the Dark One； e to the Light； confess your sins and tell what you know of this vileness with wolves； and you will be spared that。 You will walk free； in the Light。〃 His gaze centered on Perrin； and he sighed sadly。 Ice filled Perrin's spine。 〃But you； just Perrin from the Two Rivers。 You killed two of the Children。〃 He touched the axe that Byar still held。 〃For you； I fear； a gibbet waits in Amador。〃
Chapter 31
Play for Your Supper
Rand narrowed his eyes； watching the dust…tail that rose ahead； three or four bends of the road away。 Mat was already headed toward the wild hedgerow alongside the roadway。 Its evergreen leaves and densely intermeshed branches would hide them as well as a stone wall； if they could find a way through to the other side。 The other side of the road was marked by the sparse brown skeletons of head…high bushes； and beyond was an open field for half a mile to the woods。 It might have been part of a farm not too long abandoned； but it offered no quick hiding place。 He tried to judge the speed of the dust…tail； and the wind。
A sudden gust swirled road dust up around him； obscuring everything。 He blinked and adjusted the plain； dark scarf across his nose and mouth。 None too clean now； it made his face itch； but it kept him from inhaling dust with every breath。 A farmer had given it to him； a long…faced man with grooves in his cheeks from worry。
〃I don't know what you're running from；〃 he had said with an anxious frown； 〃and I don't want to。 You understand？ My family。〃 Abruptly the farmer had dug two long scarves out of his coat pocket and pushed the tangle of wool at them。 〃It's not much； but here。 Belong to my boys。 They have others。 You don't know me； understand？ It's hard times。〃
Rand treasured the scarf。 The list of kindnesses he had made in his mind in the days since Whitebridge was a short one； and he did not believe it would get much longer。
Mat； all but his eyes hidden by the scarf wrapped around his head； hunted swiftly along the tall hedgerow； pulling at the leafy branches。 Rand touched the heron…marked hilt at his belt； but let his hand fall away。 Once already； cutting a hole through a hedge had almost given them away。 The dust…tail was moving toward them； and staying together too long。 Not the wind。 At least it was not raining。 Rain settled the dust。 No matter how hard it fell； it never turned the hard…packed road to mud； but when it rained there was no dust。 Dust was the only warning they had before whoever it was came close enough to hear。 Sometimes that was too late。
〃Here；〃 Mat called softly。 He seemed to step right through the hedge。
Rand hurried to the spot。 Someone had cut a hole there； once。 It was partly grown over； and from three feet away it looked as solid as the rest； but close up there was only a thin screen of branches。 As he pushed through； he heard horses ing。 Not the wind。
He crouched behind the barely covered opening； clutching the hilt of his sword as the horsemen rode by。 Five 。。。 six 。。。 seven of them。 Plainly dressed men； but swords and spears said they were not villagers。 Some wore leather tunics with metal studs； and two had round steel caps。 Merchants' guards； perhaps； between hirings。 Perhaps。
One of them casually swung his eyes toward the hedge as he went by the opening； and Rand bared an inch of his sword。 Mat snarled silently like a cornered badger； squinting above his scarf。 His hand was under his coat； he always clutched the dagger from Shadar Logoth when there was danger。 Rand was no longer sure if it was to protect himself or to protect the ruby…hilted dagger。 Of late Mat seemed to forget he had a bow； sometimes。
The riders passed at a slow trot； going somewhere with a purpose but not too great a haste。 Dust sifted through the hedge。
Rand waited until the c