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〃 He would not believe Elyas was a Darkfriend。
But Lan hesitated； and sweat started on Perrin's face； chill beads made colder by the night。 They were sliding down his cheeks by the time the Warder spoke。
〃Not in itself； no。 Some believe it is； but they are wrong； it was old and lost long before the Dark One was found。 But what of the chance involved； blacksmith？ Sometimes the Pattern has a randomness to it … to our eyes； at least … but what chance that you should meet a man who could guide you in this thing； and you one who could follow the guiding？ The Pattern is forming a Great Web； what some call the Lace of Ages； and you lads are central to it。 I don't think there is much chance left in your lives； now。 Have you been chosen out； then？ And if so； by the Light； or by the Shadow？〃
〃The Dark One can't touch us unless we name him。〃 Immediately Perrin thought of the dreams of Ba'alzamon； the dreams that were more than dreams。 He scrubbed the sweat off his face。 〃He can't。〃
〃Rock…hard stubborn；〃 the Warder mused。 〃Maybe stubborn enough to save yourself； in the end。 Remember the times we live in； blacksmith。 Remember what Moiraine Sedai told you。 In these times many things are dissolving； and breaking apart。 Old barriers weaken； old walls crumble。 The barriers between what is and what was； between what is and what will be。〃 His voice turned grim。 〃The walls of the Dark One's prison。 This may be the end of an Age。 We may see a new Age born before we die。 Or perhaps it is the end of Ages； the end of time itself。 The end of the world。〃 Suddenly he grinned； but his grin was as dark as a scowl； his eyes sparkled merrily； laughing at the foot of the gallows。 〃But that's not for us to worry about； eh； blacksmith？ We'll fight the Shadow as long as we have breath； and if it overruns us； we'll go under biting and clawing。 You Two Rivers folk are too stubborn to surrender。 Don't you worry whether the Dark One has stirred in your life。 You are back among friends； now。 Remember； the Wheel weaves as the Wheel wills； and even the Dark One cannot change that； not with Moiraine to watch over you。 But we had better find your friends soon。〃
〃What do you mean？〃
〃They have no Aes Sedai touching the True Source to protect them。 Blacksmith； perhaps the walls have weakened enough for the Dark One himself to touch events。 Not with a free hand； or we'd be done already； but maybe tiny shiftings in the threads。 A chance turning of one corner instead of another； a chance meeting； a chance word； or what seems like chance； and they could be so far under the Shadow not even Moiraine could bring them back。〃
〃We have to find them；〃 Perrin said； and the Warder gave a grunt of a laugh。
〃What have I been saying？ Get some sleep； blacksmith。〃 Lan's cloak swung back around him as he stood。 In the faint light from fire and moon he seemed almost part of the shadows beyond。 〃We have a hard few days to Caemlyn。 Just you pray we find them there。〃
〃But Moiraine 。。。 she can find them anywhere； can't she？ She says she can。〃
〃But can she find them in time？ If the Dark One is strong enough to take a hand himself； time is running out。 You pray we find them in Caemlyn； blacksmith； or we may all be lost。〃
Chapter 39
Weaving of the Web
Rand looked down on the crowds from the high window of his room in The Queen's Blessing。 They ran shouting along the street； all streaming in the same direction； waving pennants and banners； the white lion standing guard on a thousand fields of red。 Caemlyners and outlanders； they ran together； and for a change no one appeared to want to bash anyone else's head。 Today； maybe； there was only one faction。
He turned from the window grinning。 Next to the day when Egwene and Perrin walked in； alive and laughing over what they had seen； this was the day he had been waiting for most。
〃Are you ing？〃 he asked again。
Mat glowered from where he lay curled up in a ball on his bed。 〃Take that Trolloc you're so friendly with。〃
〃Blood and ashes； Mat； he's not a Trolloc。 You're just being stubborn stupid。 How many times do you want to have this argument？ Light； it's not as if you'd never heard of Ogier before。〃
〃I never heard they looked like Trollocs。〃 Mat pushed his face into his pillow and curled himself tighter。
〃Stubborn stupid；〃 Rand muttered。 〃How long are you going to hide up here？ I'm not going to keep bringing you your meals up all those stairs forever。 You could do with a bath； too。〃 Mat shrugged around on the bed as if he were trying to burrow deeper into it。 Rand sighed； then went to the door。 〃Last chance to go together； Mat。 I'm leaving now。〃 He closed the door slowly； hoping that Mat would change his mind； but his friend did not stir。 The door clicked shut。
In the hallway； he leaned against the doorframe。 Master Gill said there was an old woman two streets over； Mother Grubb； who sold herbs and poultices； besides birthing babies； tending the sick； and telling fortunes。 She sounded a little like a Wisdom。 Nynaeve was who Mat needed； or maybe Moiraine； but Mother Grubb was who he had。 Bringing her to The Queen's Blessing might bring the wrong kind of attention as well； though； if she would even e。 For her as well as for Mat and him。
Herbalists and hedge…doctors were lying low in Caemlyn right now； there was talk against anyone who did any kind of healing； or fortunetelling。 Every night the Dragon's Fang was scrawled on doors with a free hand； sometimes even in the daylight； and people might forget who had cured their fevers and poulticed their toothaches when the cry of Darkfriend went up。 That was the temper in the city。
It was not as if Mat were really sick。 He ate everything Rand carried up from the kitchen … he would take nothing from anyone else's hand； though … and never plained about aches or fever。 He just refused to leave the room。 But Rand had been sure today would bring him out。
He settled his cloak on his shoulders and hitched his sword belt around so the sword； and the red cloth wrapped around it； was covered more。
At the foot of the stairs he met Master Gill just starting up。 〃There's someone been asking after you in the city；〃 the innkeeper said around his pipe。 Rand felt a surge of hope。 〃Asking after you and those friends of yours； by name。 You younglings； anyway。 Seems to want you three lads most。 〃
Anxiety replaced hope。 〃Who？〃 Rand asked。 He still could not help glancing up and down the hall。 Except for they two； it was empty； from the exit into the alley to the mon room door。
〃Don't know his name。 Just heard about him。 I hear most things in Caemlyn； eventually。 Beggar。〃 The innkeeper grunted。 〃Half mad； I hear。 Even so； he could take the Queen's Bounty at the Palace； even with things as hard as they are。 On High Days； the Queen gives it out with her own hands； and there's never anyone turned away for any reason。 No one needs to beg in Caemlyn。 Even a man under warrant can't be arrested while he's taking the Queen's Bounty。〃
〃A Darkfriend？〃 Rand said reluctantly。 If the Darkfriends know our names。。。
〃You've got Darkfriends on t