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t the rods for king； only two separated him from Akir； and he never forgot that two men laying a different color on the Crowning Stone would have set him on the throne instead。 Between them； Cowin and Breyan moved soldiers back from the Blight to seize the Seven Towers； stripping the Borderforts to bare garrisons。
〃But Cowin's jealousy ran deeper。〃 Disgust tinged Agelmar's voice。 〃Fairheart the hero； whose exploits in the Blight were sung throughout the Borderlands； was a Darkfriend。 With the Borderforts weakened； Trollocs poured into Malkier like a flood。 King al'Akir and Lain together might have rallied the land； they had done so before。 But Lain's doom in the Blasted Lands had shaken the people； and the Trolloc invasion broke men's spirit and their will to resist。 Too many men。 Overwhelming numbers pushed the Malkieri back into the heartland。
〃Breyan fled with her infant son Isam； and was run down by Trollocs as she rode south with him。 No one knows their fate of a certainty； but it can be guessed。 I can find pity only for the boy。 When Cowin Fairheart's treachery was revealed and he was taken by young Jain Charin … already called Jain Farstrider … when Fairheart was brought to the Seven Towers in chains； the Great Lords called for his head on a pike。 But because he had been second only to al'Akir and Lain in the hearts of the people； the King faced him in single bat and slew him。 Al'Akir wept when he killed Cowin。 Some say he wept for a friend who had given
himself to the Shadow； and some say for Malkier。〃 The Lord of Fal Dara shook his head sadly。
〃The first peal of the doom of the Seven Towers had been struck。 There was no time to gather aid from Shienar or Arafel； and no hope that Malkier could stand alone； with five thousand of her lances dead in the Blasted Lands； her Borderforts overrun。
〃Al'Akir and his Queen； el'Leanna； had Lan brought to them in his cradle。 Into his infant hands they placed the sword of Malkieri kings； the sword he wears today。 A weapon made by Aes Sedai during the War of Power； the War of the Shadow that brought down the Age of Legends。 They anointed his head with oil； naming him Dai Shan； a Diademed Battle Lord； and consecrated him as the next King of the Malkieri； and in his name they swore the ancient oath of Malkieri kings and queens。〃 Agelmar's face hardened； and he spoke the words as if he； too； had sworn that oath； or one much similar。 〃To stand against the Shadow so long as iron is hard and stone abides。 To defend the Malkieri while one drop of blood remains。 To avenge what cannot be defended。〃 The words rang in the chamber。
〃El'Leanna placed a locket around her son's neck； for remembrance； and the infant； wrapped in swaddling clothes by the Queen's own hand； was given over to twenty chosen from the King's Bodyguard； the best swordsmen； the most deadly fighters。 Their mand： to carry the child to Fal Moran。
〃Then did al'Akir and el'Leanna lead the Malkieri out to face the Shadow one last time。 There they died； at Herot's Crossing； and the Malkieri died； and the Seven Towers were broken。 Shienar； and Arafel； and Kandor； met the Halfmen and the Trollocs at the Stair of Jehaan and threw them back； but not as far as they had been。 Most of Malkier remained in Trolloc hands； and year by year； mile by mile； the Blight has swallowed it。〃 Agelmar drew a heavyhearted breath。 When he went on； there was a sad pride in his eyes and voice。
〃Only five of the Bodyguards reached Fal Moran alive； every man wounded； but they had the child unharmed。 From the cradle they taught him all they knew。 He learned weapons as other children learn toys； and the Blight as other children their mother's garden。 The oath sworn over his cradle is graven in his mind。 There is nothing left to defend； but he can avenge。 He denies his titles； yet in the Borderlands he is called the Uncrowned； and if ever he raised the Golden Crane of Malkier； an army would e to follow。 But he will not lead men to their deaths。 In the Blight he courts death as a suitor courts a maiden； but he will not lead others to it。
〃If you must enter the Blight； and with only a few； there is no man better to take you there； nor to bring you safely out again。 He is the best of the Warders； and that means the best of the best。 You might as well leave these boys here； to gain a little seasoning； and put your entire trust in Lan。 The Blight is no place for untried boys。〃
Mat opened his mouth； and shut it again at a look from Rand。 I wish he'd learn to keep it shut。
Nynaeve had listened just as wide…eyed as Egwene； but now she was staring into her cup again； her face pale。 Egwene put a hand on her arm and gave her a sympathetic look。
Moiraine appeared in the doorway； Lan at her heels。 Nynaeve turned her back on them。
〃What did he say？〃 Rand demanded。 Mat rose； and Perrin； too。
〃Country oaf；〃 Agelmar muttered； then raised his voice to a normal tone。 〃Did you learn anything； Aes Sedai； or is he simply a madman？〃
〃He is mad；〃 Moiraine said； 〃or close to it； but there is nothing simple about Padan Fain。〃 One of the black…and…gold…liveried servants bowed his way in with a blue washbasin and pitcher； a bar of yellow soap； and a small towel on a silver tray； he looked anxiously at Agelmar。 Moiraine directed him to put them on the table。 〃Your pardon for manding your servants； Lord Agelmar；〃 she said。 〃I took the liberty of asking for this。〃
Agelmar nodded to the servant； who put the tray on the table and left hurriedly。 〃My servants are yours to mand； Aes Sedai。〃
The water Moiraine poured into the basin steamed as if only just off the boil。 She pushed up her sleeves and began vigorously washing her hands without regard for the heat of the water。 〃I said he was worse than vile； but I did not e close。 I do not believe I have ever met someone so abject and debased； yet at the same time so foul。 I feel soiled from touching him； and I do not mean for the filth on his skin。 Soiled in here。〃 She touched her breast。 〃The degradation of his soul almost makes me doubt he has one。 There is something worse to him than a Darkfriend。〃
〃He looked so pitiful；〃 Egwene murmured。 〃I remember him arriving in Emond's Field each spring； always laughing and full of news from outside。 Surely there's some hope for him？ ‘No man can stand in the Shadow so long that he cannot find the Light again；'〃 she quoted。
The Aes Sedai toweled her hands briskly。 〃I have always believed it so；〃 she said。 〃Perhaps Padan Fain can be redeemed。 But he has been a Darkfriend more than forty years； and what he has done for that； in blood and pain and death； would freeze your heart to hear。 Among the least of these … though not small to you； I suspect … he brought the Trollocs to Emond's Field。〃
〃Yes；〃 Rand said softly。 He heard Egwene gasp。 I should have guessed。 Burn me； I should have； as soon as I recognized him。
〃Did he bring any here？〃 Mat asked。 He looked at the stone walls around them and shivered。 Rand thought he was remembering the Myrddraal more than Trollocs； walls had not stopped the Fade at Baerlon； or at Whitebridge。
〃If he did〃 … Agelmar