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gain displayed before the Queen。 To see the false Dragon and a Queen； both。。。 That was something he had never dreamed of back home。
The Inner City was built on hills； and much of what the Ogier had made still remained。 Where streets in the New City mostly ran every which way in a crazy…quilt； here they followed the curves of the hills as if they were a natural part of the earth。 Sweeping rises and dips presented new and surprising vistas at every turn。 Parks seen from different angles； even from above； where their walks and monuments made patterns pleasing to the eye though barely touched with green。 Towers suddenly revealed； tile…covered walls glittering in the sunlight with a hundred changing colors。 Sudden rises where the gaze was thrown out across the entire city to the rolling plains and forests beyond。 All in all； it would have been something to see if not for the crowd that hurried him along before he had a chance to really take it in。 And all those curving streets made it impossible to see very far ahead。
Abruptly he was swept around a bend； and there was the Palace。 The streets； even following the natural contours of the land； had been laid out to spiral in on this … this gleeman's tale of pale spires and golden domes and intricate stonework traceries； with the banner of Andor waving from every prominence； a centerpiece for which all the other vistas had been designed。 It seemed more sculpted by an artist than simply built like ordinary buildings。
That glimpse showed him he would get no nearer。 No one was being allowed close to the Palace。 Queen's Guards made scarlet ranks ten deep flanking the Palace gates。 Along the tops of the white walls； on high balconies and towers； more Guards stood rigidly straight； bows precisely slanted across breastplated chests。 They； too； looked like something out of a gleeman's tale； a guard of honor； but Rand did not believe that was why they were there。 The clamoring crowd lining the streets was almost solid with white…wrapped swords； white armbands； and white cockades。 Only here and there was the white wall broken by a knot of red。 The red…uniformed guards seemed a thin barrier against all that white。
Giving up on making his way closer to the Palace； he sought a place where he could use his height to advantage。 He did not have to be in the front row to see everything。 The crowd shifted constantly； people shoving to get nearer the front； people hurrying off to what they thought was a better vantage point。 In one of those shifts he found himself only three people from the open street； and all in front of him were shorter than he； including the pikemen。 Almost everyone was。 People crowded against him from both sides； sweating from the press of so many bodies。 Those behind him muttered about not being able to see； and tried to wriggle past。 He stood his ground； making an impervious wall with those to either side。 He was content。 When the false Dragon passed by； he would be close enough to see the man's face clearly。
Across the street and down toward the gates to the New City； a ripple passed through the tight…packed crowd； around the curve； an eddy of people was drawing back to let something go by。 It was not like the clear space that followed Whitecloaks on any day but today。 These people jerked themselves back with startled glances that became grimaces of distaste。 Pressing themselves out of the way； they turned their faces from whatever it was； but watched out of the corners of their eyes until it was past。
Other eyes around him noted the disturbance； too。 Keyed for the ing of the Dragon but with nothing to do now but wait； the crowd found anything at all worthy of ment。 He heard speculation ranging from an Aes Sedai to Logain himself； and a few coarser suggestions that brought rough laughter from the men and disdainful sniffs from the women。
The ripple meandered through the crowd； drawing closer to the edge of the street as it came。 No one seemed to hesitate in letting it go where it wanted； even if that meant losing a good spot for viewing as the crowd flowed back in on itself behind the passing。 Finally； directly across from Rand； the crowd bulged into the street； pushing aside red…cloaked pikemen who struggled to shove them back； and broke open。 The stooped shape that shuffled hesitantly out into the open looked more like a pile of filthy rags than a man。 Rand heard murmurs of disgust around him。
The ragged man paused on the far edge of the street。 His cowl； torn and stiff with dirt； swung back and forth as if searching for something； or listening。 Abruptly he gave a wordless cry and flung out a dirty claw of a hand； pointing straight at Rand。 Immediately he began to scuttle across the street like a bug。
The beggar。 Whatever ill chance had led the man to find him like this； Rand was suddenly sure that； Darkfriend or not； he did not want to meet him face…to…face。 He could feel the beggar's eyes； like greasy water on his skin。 Especially he did not want the man close to him here； surrounded by people balanced on the brink of violence。 The same voices that had laughed before now cursed him as he pushed his way back； away from the street。
He hurried； knowing the densely packed mass through which he had to shove and wriggle would give way before the filthy man。 Struggling to force a path through the crowd； he staggered and almost fell when he abruptly broke free。 Flailing his arms to keep his balance he turned the stagger into a run。 People pointed at him； he was the only one not pressing the other way； and running at that。 Shouts followed him。 His cloak flapped behind him； exposing his red…clad sword。 When he realized that； he ran faster。 A lone supporter of the Queen； running； could well spark a white…cockaded mob to pursuit； even today。 He ran； letting his long legs eat paving stones。 Not until the shouts were left far behind did he allow himself to collapse against a wall； panting。
He did not know where he was； except that he was still within the Inner City。 He could not remember how many twists and turns he had taken along those curving streets。 Poised to run again； he looked back the way he had e。 Only one person moved on the street； a woman walking placidly along with her shopping basket。 Almost everyone in the city was gathered for a glimpse of the false Dragon。 He can't have followed me。 I must have left him behind。
The beggar would not give up； he was sure of it； though he could not say why。 That ragged shape would be working its way through the crowds at that very minute； searching； and if Rand returned to see Logain he ran the risk of a meeting。 For a moment he considered going back to The Queen's Blessing； but he was sure he would never get another chance to see a Queen； and he hoped he would never have another to see a false Dragon。 There seemed to be something cowardly in letting a bent beggar； even a Darkfriend； chase him into hiding。
He looked around； considering。 The way the Inner City was laid out； buildings were kept low； if there were buildings at all； so that someone standing at a particular spot would have nothing to interrupt the planned view。 There had to be place