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and he had no answer。 He sighed heavily。 〃I'd better go； now。 My father will be wondering if I fell into a hole。〃
Followed by their goodbyes； he trotted around to the stable yard where the high…wheeled cart stood propped on its shafts。
The stable was a long； narrow building； topped by a high peaked； thatched roof。 Stalls； their floors covered with straw； filled both sides of the dim interior； lit only by the open double doors at either end。 The peddler's team munched their oats in eight stalls； and Master al'Vere's massive Dhurrans； the team he hired out when farmers had hauling beyond the abilities of their own horses； filled six more； but only three others were occupied。 Rand thought he could match up horse and rider with no trouble。 The tall； deep…chested black stallion that swung up his head fiercely had to be Lan's。 The sleek white mare with an arched neck； her quick steps as graceful as a girl dancing； even in the stall； could only belong to Moiraine。 And the third unfamiliar horse； a rangy； slab…sided gelding of a dusty brown； fit Thom Merrilin perfectly。
Tam stood in the rear of the stable； holding Bela by a lead rope and speaking quietly to Hu and Tad。 Before Rand had taken two steps into the stable his father nodded to the stablemen and brought Bela out； wordlessly gathering up Rand as he went。
They harnessed the shaggy mare in silence。 Tam appeared so deep in thought that Rand held his tongue。 He did not really look forward to trying to convince his father about the black…cloaked rider； much less the Mayor。 Tomorrow would have to be time enough； when Mat and the rest had found others who had seen the man。 If they found others。
As the cart lurched into motion； Rand took his bow and quiver from the back； awkwardly belting the quiver at his waist as he half trotted alongside。 When they reached the last row of houses in the village； he nocked an arrow； carrying it half raised and partly drawn。 There was nothing to see except mostly leafless trees； but his shoulders tightened。 The black rider could be on them before either of them knew it。 There might not be time to draw the bow if he was not already halfway to it。
He knew he could not keep up the tension on the bowstring for long。 He had made the bow himself； and Tam was one of the few others in the district who could even draw it all the way to the cheek。 He cast around for something to take his mind off thinking about the dark rider。 Surrounded by the forest； their cloaks flapping in the wind； it was not easy。
〃Father；〃 he said finally； 〃I don't understand why the Council had to question Padan Fain。〃 With an effort he took his eyes off the woods and looked across Bela at Tam。 〃It seems to me； the decision you reached could have been made right on the spot。 The Mayor frightened everybody half out of their wits； talking about Aes Sedai and the false Dragon here in the Two Rivers。〃
〃People are funny； Rand。 The best of them are。 Take Haral Luhhan。 Master Luhhan is a strong man； and a brave one； but he can't bear to see butchering done。 Turns pale as a sheet。〃
〃What does that have to do with anything？ Everybody knows Master Luhhan can't stand the sight of blood； and nobody but the Coplins and the Congars thinks anything of it。〃
〃Just this； lad。 People don't always think or behave the way you might believe they would。 Those folk back there 。。。 let the hail beat their crops into the mud； and the wind take off every roof in the district； and the wolves kill half their livestock； and they'll roll up their sleeves and start from scratch。 They'll grumble； but they won't waste any time with it。 But you give them just the thought of Aes Sedai and a false Dragon in Ghealdan； and soon enough they'll start thinking that Ghealdan is not that far the other side of the Forest of Shadows； and a straight line from Tar Valon to Ghealdan wouldn't pass that much to the east of us。 As if the Aes Sedai wouldn't take the road through Caemlyn and Lugard instead of traveling cross…country！ By tomorrow morning half the village would have been sure the entire war was about to descend on us。 It would take weeks to undo。 A fine Bel Tine that would make。 So Bran gave them the idea before they could get it for themselves。
〃They've seen the Council take the problem under consideration； and by now they'll be hearing what we decided。 They chose us for the Village Council because they trust we can reason things out in the best way for everybody。 They trust our opinions。 Even Cenn's； which doesn't say much for the rest of us； I suppose。 At any rate； they will hear there isn't anything to worry about； and they'll believe it。 It is not that they couldn't reach the same conclusion； or would not； eventually； but this way we won't have Festival ruined； and nobody has to spend weeks worrying about something that isn't likely to happen。 If it does； against all odds 。。。 well； the patrols will give us enough warning to do what we can。 I truly don't think it will e to that； though。〃
Rand puffed out his cheeks。 Apparently； being on the Council was more plicated than he had believed。 The cart rumbled on along the Quarry Road。
〃Did anyone besides Perrin see this strange rider？〃 Tam asked。
〃Mat did； but … 〃 Rand blinked； then stared across Bela's back at his father。 〃You believe me？ I have to go back。 I have to tell them。〃 Tam's shout halted him as he turned to run back to the village。
〃Hold； lad； hold！ Do you think I waited this long to speak for no reason？〃
Reluctantly Rand kept on beside the cart； still creaking along behind patient Bela。 〃What made you change your mind？ Why can't I tell the others？〃
〃They'll know soon enough。 At least； Perrin will。 Mat； I'm not sure of。 Word must be gotten to the farms as best it can； but in another hour there won't be anyone in Emond's Field above sixteen； those who can be responsible about it； at least； who doesn't know a stranger is skulking around and likely not the sort you would invite to Festival。 The winter has been bad enough without this to scare the young ones。〃
〃Festival？〃 Rand said。 〃If you had seen him you wouldn't want him closer than ten miles。 A hundred； maybe。〃
〃Perhaps so；〃 Tam said placidly。 〃He could be just a refugee from the troubles in Ghealdan； or more likely a thief who thinks the pickings will be easier here than in Baerlon or Taren Ferry。 Even so； no one around here has so much they can afford to have it stolen。 If the man is trying to escape the war 。。。 well； that's still no excuse for scaring people。 Once the watch is mounted； it should either find him or frighten him off。〃
〃I hope it frightens him off。 But why do you believe me now； when you didn't this morning？〃
〃I had to believe my own eyes then； lad； and I saw nothing。〃 Tam shook his grizzled head。 〃Only young men see this fellow； it seems。 When Haral Luhhan mentioned Perrin jumping shadows； though； it all came out。 Jon Thane's oldest son saw him； too； and so did Samel Crawe's boy； Bandry。 Well； when four of you say you've seen a thing … and solid lads； all … we start thinking maybe it's there whether we can see it or not。 All except Cenn；