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ould not just stand there and watch Tam die。 My father； he thought fiercely。 My father。 Once the fever was gone； that could be cleared up as well。 But the fever first。 Only； how？
Bran al'Vere's mouth tightened as he looked at Rand's back； and the glare he directed at the gleeman would have given a bear pause； but Thom just waited expectantly as if he had not noticed it。
〃It's probably the work of one of the Congars； or a Coplin；〃 the Mayor said finally； 〃though the Light alone knows which。 They're a large brood； and if there's ill to be said of someone； or even if there isn't； they'll say it。 They make Cenn Buie sound honey…tongued。〃
〃That wagonload who came in just before dawn？〃 the gleeman asked。 〃They hadn't so much as smelled a Trolloc； and all they wanted to know was when Festival was going to start； as if they couldn't see half the village in ashes。〃
Master al'Vere nodded grimly。 〃One branch of the family。 But none of them are very different。 That fool Darl Coplin spent half the night demanding I put Mistress Moiraine and Master Lan out of the inn； out of the village； as if there would be any village at all left without them。〃
Rand had only half listened to the conversation； but this last tugged him to speak。 〃What did they do？〃
〃Why； she called ball lightning out of a clear night sky；〃 Master al'Vere replied。 〃Sent it darting straight at the Trollocs。 You've seen trees shattered by it。 The Trollocs stood it no better。〃
〃Moiraine？〃 Rand said incredulously； and the Mayor nodded。
〃Mistress Moiraine。 And Master Lan was a whirlwind with that sword of his。 His sword？ The man himself is a weapon； and in ten places at once； or so it seemed。 Burn me； but I still wouldn't believe it if I couldn't step outside and see 。。。〃 He rubbed a hand over his bald head。 〃Winternight visits just beginning； our hands full of presents and honeycakes and our heads fall of wine； then the dogs snarling； and suddenly the two of them burst out of the inn； running through the village； shouting about Trollocs。 I thought they'd had too much wine。 After all 。。。 Trollocs？ Then； before anyone knew what was happening； those 。。。 those things were right in the streets with us； slashing at people with their swords； torching houses； howling to freeze a man's blood。〃 He made a sound of disgust in his throat。 〃We just ran like chickens with a fox in the henyard till Master Lan put some backbone into us。〃
〃No need to be so hard；〃 Thom said。 〃You did as well as anyone could。 Not every Trolloc lying out there fell to the two of them。〃
〃Umm 。。。 yes； well。〃 Master al'Vere gave himself a shake。 〃It's still almost too much to believe。 An Aes Sedai in Emond's Field。 And Master Lan is a Warder。〃
〃An Aes Sedai？〃 Rand whispered。 〃She can't be。 I talked to her。 She isn't 。。。 She doesn't 。。。〃
〃Did you think they wore signs？〃 the Mayor said wryly。 〃'Aes Sedai' painted across their backs； and maybe； 'Danger； stay away'？〃 Suddenly he slapped his forehead。 〃Aes Sedai。 I'm an old fool； and losing my wits。 There's a chance； Rand； if you're willing to take it。 I can't tell you to do it； and I don't know if I'd have the nerve； if it were me。〃
〃A chance？〃 Rand said。 〃I'll take any chance； if it'll help … 〃
〃Aes Sedai can heal； Rand。 Burn me； lad； you've heard the stories。 They can cure where medicines fail。 Gleeman； you should have remembered that better than I。 Gleemen's tales are full of Aes Sedai。 Why didn't you speak up； instead of letting me flail around？〃
〃I'm a stranger here；〃 Thom said； looking longingly at his unlit pipe； 〃and Goodman Coplin isn't the only one who wants nothing to do with Aes Sedai。 Best the idea came from you。〃
〃An Aes Sedai；〃 Rand muttered； trying to make the woman who had smiled at him fit the stories。 Help from an Aes Sedai was sometimes worse than no help at all； so the stories said； like poison in a pie； and their gifts always had a hook in them； like fishbait。 Suddenly the coin in his pocket； the coin Moiraine had given him； seemed like a burning coal。 It was all he could do not to rip it out of his coat and throw it out the window。
〃Nobody wants to get involved with Aes Sedai； lad；〃 the Mayor said slowly。 〃It is the only chance I can see； but it's still no small decision。 I cannot make it for you； but I have seen nothing but good from Mistress Moiraine 。。。 Moiraine Sedai； I should call her； I suppose。 Sometimes〃 … he gave a meaningful took at Tam … 〃you have to take a chance； even if it's a poor one。〃
〃Some of the stories are exaggerated； in a way；〃 Thom added； as if the words were being dragged from him。 〃Some of them。 Besides； boy； what choice do you have？〃
〃None；〃 Rand sighed。 Tam still had not moved a muscle； his eyes were sunken as if he had been sick a week。 〃I'll 。。。 I'll go find her。 〃
〃The other side of the bridges；〃 the gleeman said； 〃where they are 。。。 disposing of the dead Trollocs。 But be careful； boy。 Aes Sedai do what they do for reasons of their own； and they aren't always the reasons others think。〃
The last was a shout that followed Rand through the door。 He had to hold onto the sword hilt to keep the scabbard from tangling in his legs as he ran； but he would not take the time to remove it。 He clattered down the stairs and dashed out of the inn； tiredness forgotten for the moment。 A chance for Tam； however small； was enough to overe a night without sleep； for a time at least。 That the chance came from an Aes Sedai； or what the price of it might be； he did not want to consider。 And as for actually facing an Aes Sedai 。。。 He took a deep breath and tried to move faster。
The bonfires stood well beyond the last houses to the north； on the Westwood side of the road to Watch Hill。 The wind still carried the oily black columns of smoke away from the village； but even so a sickly sweet stink filled the air； like a roast left hours too long on the spit。 Rand gagged at the smell； then swallowed hard when he realized its source。 A fine thing to do with Bel Tine fires。 The men tending the fires had cloths tied over their noses and mouths； but their grimaces made it plain the vinegar dampening the cloths was not enough。 Even if it did kill the stench； they still knew the stench was there； and they still knew what they were doing。
Two of the men were untying the harness straps of one of the big Dhurrans from a Trolloc's ankles。 Lan； squatting beside the body； had tossed back the blanket enough to reveal the Trolloc's shoulders and goat…snouted head。 As Rand trotted up； the Warder unfastened a metal badge； a blood…red enamelled trident； from one spiked shoulder of the Trolloc's shirt of black mail。
〃Ko'bal；〃 he announced。 He bounced the badge on his palm and snatched it out of the air with a growl。 〃That makes seven bands so far。〃
Moiraine； seated cross…legged on the ground a short distance off； shook her head tiredly。 A walking staff； covered from end to end in carved vines and flowers； lay across her knees； and her dress had the rumpled look of having been worn too long。 〃Seven bands。 Seven！ That many have not acted together since the Trolloc Wars。 Bad ne