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tuffing it in his mouth。 Taking big bites； he went back to the bed。
Mistress al'Vere had apparently seen to Tam； as well。 Tam had been undressed； his clothes now clean and neatly folded on the bedside table； and a blanket was drawn up under his chin。 When Rand touched his father's forehead； Tam opened his eyes。
〃There you are； boy。 Marin said you were here； but I couldn't even sit up to see。 She said you were too tired for her to wake just so I could look at you。 Even Bran can't get around to find her when she has her mind set。〃
Tam's voice was weak； but his gaze was clear and steady。 The Aes Sedai was right； Rand thought。 With rest he would be as good as ever。
〃Can I get you something to eat？ Mistress al'Vere left a tray。〃
〃She fed me already 。。。 if you can call it that。 Wouldn't let me have anything but broth。 How can a man avoid bad dreams with nothing but broth in his 。。。〃 Tam fumbled a hand from under the cover and touched the sword at Rand's waist。 〃Then it wasn't a dream。 When Marin told me I was sick； I thought I had been 。。。 But you're all right。 That is all that matters。 What of the farm？〃
Rand took a deep breath。 〃The Trollocs killed the sheep。 I think they took the cow； too； and the house needs a good cleaning。〃 He managed a weak smile。 〃We were luckier than some。 They burned half the village。〃
He told Tam everything that had happened； or at least most of it。 Tam listened closely； and asked sharp questions； so he found himself having to tell about returning to the farmhouse from the woods； and that brought in the Trolloc he had killed。 He had to tell how Nynaeve had said Tam was dying to explain why the Aes Sedai had tended him instead of the Wisdom。 Tam's eyes widened at that； an Aes Sedai in Emond's Field。 But Rand could see no need to go over every step of the journey from the farm； or his fears； or the Myrddraal on the road。 Certainly not his nightmares as he slept by the bed。 Especially he saw no reason to mention Tam's ramblings under the fever。 Not yet。 Moraine's story； though： there was no avoiding that。
〃Now that's a tale to make a gleeman proud；〃 Tam muttered when he was done。 〃What would Trollocs want with you boys？ Or the Dark One； Light help us？〃
〃You think she was lying？ Master al'Vere said she was telling the truth about only two farms being attacked。 And about Master Luhhan's house； and Master Cauthon's。〃
For a moment Tam lay silent before saying； 〃Tell me what she said。 Her exact words； mind； just as she said them。〃
Rand struggled。 Who ever remembered the exact words they heard？ He chewed at his lip and scratched his head； and bit by bit he brought it out； as nearly as he could remember。 〃I can't think of anything else；〃 he finished。 〃Some of it I'm not too sure she didn't say a little differently； but it's close； anyway。〃
〃It's good enough。 It has to be； doesn't it？ You see； lad； Aes Sedai are tricksome。 They don't lie； not right out； but the truth an Aes Sedai tells you is not always the truth you think it is。 You take care around her。〃
〃I've heard the stories；〃 Rand retorted。 〃I'm not a child。〃
〃So you're not； so you're not。〃 Tam sighed heavily； then shrugged in annoyance。 〃I should be going along with you； just the same。 The world outside the Two Rivers is nothing like Emond's Field。〃
That was an opening to ask about Tam going outside and all the rest of it； but Rand did not take it。 His mouth fell open； instead。 〃Just like that？ I thought you would try to talk me out of it。 I thought you'd have a hundred reasons I should not go。〃 He realized he had been hoping Tam would have a hundred reasons； and good ones。
〃Maybe not a hundred；〃 Tam said with a snort； 〃but a few did e to mind。 Only they don't count for much。 If Trollocs are after you； you will be safer in Tar Valon than you could ever be here。 Just remember to be wary。 Aes Sedai do things for their own reasons； and those are not always the reasons you think。〃
〃The gleeman said something like that；〃 Rand said slowly。
〃Then he knows what he's talking about。 You listen sharp； think deep； and guard your tongue。 That's good advice for any dealings beyond the Two Rivers； but most especially with Aes Sedai。 And with Warders。 Tell Lan something； and you've as good as told Moiraine。 If he's a Warder； then he's bonded to her as sure as the sun rose this morning； and he won't keep many secrets from her； if any。〃
Rand knew little about the bonding between Aes Sedai and Warders； though it played a big part in every story about Warders he had ever heard。 It was something to do with the Power； a gift to the Warder； or maybe some sort of exchange。 The Warders go all sorts of benefits according to the stories。 They healed more quickly than other men； and could go longer without food or water or sleep。 Supposedly they could sense Trollocs； if they were close enough； and other creatures of the Dark One； too； which explained how Lan and Moiraine had tried to warn the village before the attack。 As to what the Aes Sedai got out of it； the stories were silent； but he was not about to believe they did not get something。
〃I'll be careful；〃 Rand said。 〃I just wish I knew why。 It doesn't make any sense。 Why me？ Why us？〃
〃I wish I knew； too； boy。 Blood and ashes； I wish I knew。〃 Tam sighed heavily。 〃Well； no use trying to put a broken egg back in the shell； I suppose。 How soon do you have to go？ I'll be back on my feet in a day or two； and we can see about starting a new flock。 Oren Dautry has some good stock he might be willing to part with； with the pastures all gone； and so does Jon Thane。〃
〃Moiraine 。。。 the Aes Sedai said you had to stay in bed。 She said weeks。〃 Tam opened his mouth； but Rand went on。 〃 And she talked to Mistress al'Vere。〃
〃Oh。 Well； maybe I can talk Marin around。〃 Tam did not sound hopeful of it； though。 He gave Rand a sharp look。 〃The way you avoided answering means you have to leave soon。 Tomorrow？ Or tonight？〃
〃Tonight；〃 Rand said quietly； and Tam nodded sadly。
〃Yes。 Well； if it must be done； best not to delay。 But we will see about this 'weeks' business。〃 He plucked at his blankets with more irritation than strength。 〃Perhaps I'll follow in a few days anyway。 Catch you up on the road。 We will see if Marin can keep me in bed when I want to get up。〃
There was a tap at the door； and Lan stuck his head into the room。 〃Say your goodbyes quickly； sheepherder； and e。 There may be trouble。〃
〃Trouble？〃 Rand said； and the Warder growled at him impatiently。
〃Just hurry！〃
Hastily Rand snatched up his cloak。 He started to undo the sword belt； but Tam spoke up。
〃Keep it。 You will probably have more need of it than I； though； the Light willing； neither of us will。 Take care； lad。 You hear？〃
Ignoring Lan's continued growls； Rand bent to grab Tam in a hug。 〃I will e back。 I promise you that。〃
〃Of course you will。〃 Tam laughed。 He returned the hug weakly； and ended by patting Rand on the back。 〃I know that。 And I'll have twice as many sheep for you to tend when you return。 Now go； before that fellow does himself a