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〃Stand away from him； Elayne；〃 the man said。 〃You； too； Gawyn。〃
Elayne stepped in front of Rand； between him and the newer； head high and as confident as ever。 〃He is a loyal subject of our mother； and a good Queen's man。 And he is under my protection； Galad。〃
Rand tried to remember what he had heard from Master Kinch； and since from Master Gill。 Galadedrid Damodred was Elayne's half…brother； Elayne's and Gawyn's； if he remembered correctly； the three shared the same father。 Master Kinch might not have liked Taringail Damodred too well … neither did anyone else that he had heard … but the son was well thought of by wearers of the red and the white alike； if talk in the city was any guide。
〃I am aware of your fondness for strays； Elayne；〃 the slender man said reasonably； 〃but the fellow is armed； and he hardly looks reputable。 In these days； we cannot be too careful。 If he's a loyal Queen's man； what is he doing here where he does not belong？ It is easy enough to change the wrappings on a sword； Elayne。〃
〃He is here as my guest； Galad； and I vouch for him。 Or have you appointed yourself my nurse； to decide whom I may talk to； and when？〃
Her voice was rich with scorn； but Galad seemed unmoved。 〃You know I make no claims for control over your actions； Elayne； but this 。。。 guest of yours is not proper； and you know that as well as I。 Gawyn； help me convince her。 Our mother would … 〃
〃Enough！〃 Elayne snapped。 〃You are right that you have no say over my actions； nor have you any right to judge them。 You may leave me。 Now！〃
Galad gave Gawyn a rueful look； at one and the same time it seemed to ask for help while saying that Elayne was too headstrong to be helped。 Elayne's face darkened； but just as she opened her mouth again； he bowed； in all formality yet with the grace of a cat； took a step back； then turned and strode down the paved path； his long legs carrying him quickly out of sight beyond the arbor。
〃I hate him；〃 Elayne breathed。 〃He is vile and full of envy。〃
〃There you go too far； Elayne；〃 Gawyn said。 〃Galad does not know the meaning of envy。 Twice he has saved my life； with none to know if he held his hand。 If he had not； he would be your First Prince of the Sword in my place。〃
〃Never； Gawyn。 I would choose anyone before Galad。 Anyone。 The lowest stableboy。〃 Suddenly she smiled and gave her brother a mock…stern look。 〃You say I am fond of giving orders。 Well； I mand you to let nothing happen to you。 I mand you to be my First Prince of the Sword when I take the throne … the Light send that day is far off！ … and to lead the armies of Andor with the sort of honor Galad cannot dream of。〃
〃As you mand； my Lady。〃 Gawyn laughed； his bow a parody of Galad's。
Elayne gave Rand a thoughtful frown。 〃Now we must get you out of here quickly。 〃
〃Galad always does the right thing；〃 Gawyn explained； 〃even when he should not。 In this case； finding a stranger in the gardens； the right thing is to notify the Palace guards。 Which I suspect he is on his way to do right this minute。〃
〃Then it's time I was back over the wall；〃 Rand said。 A fine day for going unnoticed！ I might as well carry a sign！ He turned to the wall； but Elayne caught his arm。
〃Not after the trouble I went to with your hands。 You'll only make fresh scrapes and then let some back…alley crone put the Light knows what on them。 There is a small gate on the other side of the garden。 It's overgrown； and no one but me even remembers it's there。〃
Suddenly Rand heard boots pounding toward them over the slate paving stones。
〃Too late；〃 Gawyn muttered。 〃He must have started running as soon as he was out of eyeshot。〃
Elayne growled an oath； and Rand's eyebrows shot up。 He had heard that one from the stablemen at The Queen's Blessing and had been shocked then。 The next moment she was in cool self…possession once more。
Gawyn and Elayne appeared content to remain where they were； but he could not make himself stay for the Queen's Guards with such equanimity。 He started once more for the wall； knowing he would be no more than halfway up before the guards arrived； but unable to stand still。
Before he had taken three steps red…uniformed men burst into sight； breastplates catching the sun as they dashed up the path。 Others came like breaking waves of scarlet and polished steel； seemingly from every direction。 Some held drawn swords； others only waited to set their boots before raising bows and nocking feathered shafts。 Behind the barred face…guards every eye was grim； and every broadhead arrow was pointed unwaveringly at him。
Elayne and Gawyn leaped as one； putting themselves between him and the arrows； their arms spread to cover him。 He stood very still and kept his hands in plain sight； away from his sword。
While the thud of boots and the creak of bowstrings still hung in the air； one of the soldiers； with the golden knot of an officer on his shoulder； shouted； 〃My Lady； my Lord； down； quickly！〃
Despite her outstretched arms Elayne drew herself up regally。 〃You dare to bring bare steel into my presence； Tallanvor？ Gareth Bryne will have you mucking stables with the meanest trooper for this； if you are lucky！〃
The soldiers exchanged puzzled glances； and some of the bowmen uneasily half lowered their bows。 Only then did Elayne let her arms down； as if she had only held them up because she wished to。 Gawyn hesitated； then followed her example。 Rand could count the bows that had not been lowered。 The muscles of his stomach tensed as though they could stop a broadhead shaft at twenty paces。
The man with the officer's knot seemed the most perplexed of all。 〃My Lady； forgive me； but Lord Galadedrid reported a dirty peasant skulking in the gardens； armed and endangering my Lady Elayne and my Lord Gawyn。〃 His eyes went to Rand； and his voice firmed。 〃If my Lady and my Lord will please to step aside； I will take the villain into custody。 There is too much riff…raff in the city these days。〃
〃I doubt very much if Galad reported anything of the kind；〃 Elayne said。 〃Galad does not lie。〃
〃Sometimes I wish he would；〃 Gawyn said softly； for Rand's ear。 〃Just once。 It might make living with him easier。〃
〃This man is my guest；〃 Elayne continued； 〃and here under my protection。 You may withdraw； Tallanvor。 〃
〃I regret that will not be possible； My Lady。 As My Lady knows； the Queen； your lady mother； has given orders regarding anyone on Palace grounds without Her Majesty's permission； and word has been sent to Her Majesty of this intruder。〃 There was more than a hint of satisfaction in Tallanvor's voice。 Rand suspected the officer had had to accept other mands from Elayne that he did not think proper； this time the man was not about to； not when he had a perfect excuse。
Elayne stared back at Tallanvor； for once she seemed at a loss。
Rand looked a question at Gawyn； and Gawyn understood。 〃Prison；〃 he murmured。 Rand's face went white； and the young man added quickly； 〃Only for a few days； and you will not be harmed。 You'll be questioned by Gareth Bryne； the Captain…Genera