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o argue with you。 Not that you listen to people who argue with you； as I remember。 I am going in。〃 As gently as he could； he picked Bain up and set her out of his way：
Chiad's spear only needed her to breathe on it to draw blood； but after one startled widening of dark blue eyes； Bain abruptly took hers away and grinned。 〃Would you like to learn a game called Maidens' Kiss； Perrin？ You might play well； I think。 At the very least you would learn something。〃 One of the others laughed aloud。 Chiad's spearpoint left his neck。
He took a deep breath； hoping they would not notice it was his first since the spears touched him。 They had not veiled their faces … their shoufa lay coiled around their necks like dark scarves … but he did not know if Aiel had to do so before they killed； only that veiling meant they were ready to。
〃Another time； perhaps；〃 he said politely。 They were all grinning as if Bain had said something amusing； and his not understanding was part of the humor。 Thom was right。 A man could go crazy trying to understand women； of any nation and any station in life； that was what Thom said。
As he reached for a door handle in the shape of a rearing golden lion； Bain added； 〃On your head be it。 He has already chased out what most men would consider better pany by far than you。〃
Of course； he thought； pulling open the door； Berelain。 She was ing from here。 Tonight； everything is revolving around …
The First of Mayene vanished from his thoughts as he got a look into the room。 Broken mirrors hung on the walls and broken glass covered the floor； along with shards of shattered porcelain and feathers from the slashed mattress。 Open books lay tumbled among overturned chairs and benches。 And Rand was sitting at the foot of his bed； slumped against one of the bedposts with eyes closed and hands limp atop Callandor； which lay across his knees。 He looked as if he had taken a bath in blood。
〃Get Moiraine！〃 Perrin snapped at the Aiel women。 Was Rand still alive？ If he was； he needed Aes Sedai Healing to stay that way。 〃Tell her to hurry！〃 He heard a gasp behind him； then soft boots running。
Rand lifted his head。 His face was a smeared mask。 〃Shut the door。〃
〃Moiraine will be here soon； Rand。 Rest easy。 She will …〃
〃Shut the door； Perrin。〃
Murmuring among themselves； the Aiel women frowned； but moved back。 Perrin pulled the door to； cutting off a questioning shout from the white…plumed officer。
Glass crunched under his boots as he crossed the carpet to Rand。 Tearing a strip from a wildly sliced linen sheet； he wadded it against the wound in Rand's side。 Rand's hands tightened on the transparent sword at the pressure； then relaxed。 Blood soaked through almost immediately。 Cuts and gashes covered him from the soles of his feet to his head； slivers of glass glittered in many of them。 Perrin rolled his shoulders helplessly。 He did not know what more to do； other than wait for Moiraine。
〃What under the Light did you try to do； Rand？ You look as though you tried to skin yourself。 And you nearly killed me； as well。〃 For a moment he thought Rand was not going to answer。
〃Not me；〃 Rand said finally； in a near whisper。 〃One of the Forsaken。〃
Perrin tried to relax muscles he did not remember tensing。 The effort was only partly successful。 He had mentioned the Forsaken to Faile； not exactly casually； but by and large he had been trying not to think of what the Forsaken might do when they found out where Rand was。 If one of them could bring down the Dragon Reborn； he or she would stand high above the others when the Dark One broke free。 The Dark One free； and the Last Battle lost before it was fought。
〃Are you sure？〃 he said； just as quietly。
〃It had to be； Perrin。 It had to be。〃
〃If one of them came after me as well as you。。。 ？ Where's Mat； Rand？ If he was alive； and went through what I did； he'd be thinking what I did。 That it was you。 He'd be here by now to bless you out。〃
〃Or on a horse and halfway to the city gates。〃 Rand struggled to sit erect。
Drying blood smears cracked； and fresh trickles started on his chest and shoulders。 〃If he is dead； Perrin； you had best get as far from me as you can。 I think you and Loial are right about that。〃 He paused； studying Perrin。 〃You and Mat must wish I had never been born。 Or at least that you'd never seen me。〃
There was no point in going to check； if anything had happened to Mat； it was over and done now。 And he had a feeling that his makeshift bandage pressed against Rand's side might be what would keep him alive long enough for Moiraine to get there。 〃You don't seem to care if he has gone off。 Burn me； he's important； too。 What are you going to do if he's gone？ Or dead； the Light send it not so。〃
〃What they least expect。〃 Rand's eyes looked like morning mist covering the dawn； blue…gray with a feverish glow seeping through。 His voice had a knife edge。 〃That is what I have to do in any case。 What everyone least expects。〃
Perrin took a slow breath。 Rand had a right to taut nerves。 It was not a sign of incipient madness。 He had to stop watching for signs of madness。 Those signs would e soon enough； and watching would do nothing but keep his stomach tied in knots。 〃What's that？〃 he asked quietly。
Rand closed his eyes。 〃I only know I have to catch them by surprise。 Catch everyone by surprise；〃 he muttered fiercely。
One of the doors opened to admit a tall Aielman； his dark red hair touched with gray。 Behind him the Tairen officer's plumes bobbed as he argued with the Maidens； he was still arguing when Bain pushed the door shut。
Rhuarc surveyed the room with sharp blue eyes； as if he suspected enemies hiding behind a drape or an overturned chair。 The clan chief of the Taardad Aiel had no visible weapon except the heavy…bladed knife at his waist； but he carried authority and confidence like weapons； quietly； yet as surely as if they were sheathed alongside the knife。 And his shoufa hung about his shoulders； no one who knew the slightest about Aiel took one for less than dangerous when he wore the means to veil his face。
〃That Tairen fool outside sent word to his mander that something had happened in here；〃 Rhuarc said； 〃and rumors are already sprouting like corpse moss in a deep cave。 Everything from the White Tower trying to kill you to the Last Battle fought here in this room。〃 Perrin opened his mouth； Rhuarc raised a forestalling hand。 〃I happened to meet Berelain； looking as if she had been told the day she would die； and she told me the truth of it。 And it does look to be the truth； though I doubted her。〃
〃I sent for Moiraine；〃 Perrin said。 Rhuarc nodded。 Of course； the Maidens would have told him everything they knew。
Rand gave a painful bark of a laugh。 〃I told her to keep quiet。 It seems the Lord Dragon doesn't rule Mayene。〃 He sounded more wryly amused than anything else。
〃I have daughters older than that young woman；〃 Rhuarc said。 〃I do not believe she will tell anyone else。 I think she would like to forget everything that happened tonight。〃
〃And I would like to know what happened；〃 Moiraine said； gliding into the room。 Slight and slender as she was； Rhuarc towered over her as much as the man who followed her in … Lan； her Warder … but it was the Aes Sedai who dominated the room。 She must have run to e so fast； but she was calm as a frozen lake now。 It took a great deal to ruffle Moiraine's serenity。 Her blue silk gown had a high lace neck and sleeves slashed with darker velvet； but the heat and humidity did not appear to touch her。 A small blue stone； suspended on her forehead from a fine golden chain in her dark hair； flashed in the light； emphasizing the absence of the slightest sheen of sweat。
As always when they met； Lan's and Rhuarc's icy blue stares nearly struck sparks。 A braided leather cord held Lan's dark hair； gray…streaked at the temples。 His face looked to have been carved from rock； all hard planes and angles； and his sword rode his hip like part of his body。 Perrin was not sure which of the two men was more deadly； but he thought a mouse could starve on the difference。
The Warder's eyes swung to Rand。 〃I thought you were old enough to shave without someone to guide your hand。〃
Rhuarc smiled； a slight smile but the first Perrin had ever seen from him in Lan's presence。 〃He is young yet。 He will learn。〃
Lan glanced back at the Aielman； then returned the smile； just as slightly。
Moiraine gave the two men a brief； withering look。 She did not seem to pick her way as she crossed the carpet； but she stepped so lightly； holding her skirts up； that not one shard of glass crunched under her slippers。 Her eyes swept around the room； taking in the smallest details； Perrin was sure。 For a moment she studied him … he did not meet her gaze； she knew too much about him for fort … but she bore down on Rand like a silent； silken avalanche； icy and inexorable。
Perrin dropped his hand and moved out of her way。 The wadded cloth stayed against Rand's side； held by congealing blood。 From head to foot the blood was beginning to dry in black streaks and smears。 The slivers of glass in his skin glittered in the lamplight。 Moiraine touched the blood…caked cloth with her fingertips； then took her hand back as though changing her mind about looking underneath。 Perrin wondered how the Aes Sedai could look at Rand without wincing； but her smooth face did not change。 She smelled faintly of rose…scented soap。
〃At least you are alive。〃 Her voice was musical； a chill； angry music at the moment。 〃What happened can wait。 Try to touch the True Source。〃
〃Why？〃 Rand asked in a wary voice。 〃I cannot Heal myself； even if I knew how to Heal。 No one can。 I know that much。〃
For the space of a breath Moiraine seemed on the point of an outburst； strange as that would have been； but in another breath she was once again layered in calm so deep that surely nothing could crack it。 〃Only some of the strength for Healing es from the Healer。 The Power can replace what es from the Healed。 Without it； you will spend tomorrow flat on your back and perhaps the next day as well。 Now； draw on the Power； if you can； but do nothing with it。 Simply hold it。 Use this； if you must。〃 She did riot have to bend far to touch Callandor。
Rand moved the sword from under her hand。 〃Simply hold it； you say。〃 He sounded about to laugh out loud。 〃Very well。〃
Nothing happened that Perrin could see； not that he expected to。 Rand sat there like the survivor of a lost battle； looking at Moiraine。 She hardly blinked。 Twice she scrubbed her fingers against her palms as if unaware。
After a time Rand sighed。 〃I cannot even reach the Void。 I can't seem to concentrate。〃 A quick grin cracked the blood drying on his face。 〃I do not understand why。〃 A thick red thread snaked its way down past his left eye。
〃Then I will do it as I always have；〃 Moiraine said； and took Rand's head in her hands； careless of the blood that ran over her fingers。
Rand lurched to his feet with a roaring gasp； as if all the breath were being squeezed from his lungs； back arching so his head nearly tore free of her grasp。 One arm flung wide； fingers spread and bending back so far it seemed they must break； the other hand clamped down on Callandor's hilt； the muscles of that arm knotting visibly into cramps。 He shook like cloth caught in a windstorm。 Dark flakes of dried blood fell； and bits of glass tinkled onto the chest and floor； forced out of cuts closing up and knitting themselves together。
Perrin shivered as if that windstorm roared around him。 He had seen Healing done before； that and more； greater and worse； but he could never be placent about seeing the Power used； about knowing it was being used； not even for this。 Tales of Aes Sedai； told by merchants' guards and drivers； had embedded themselves in his mind long years before he met Moiraine。 Rhuarc smelled sharply uneasy。 Only Lan took it as a matter of course。 Lan and Moiraine。
Almost as soon as it began； it was done。 Moiraine took her hands away； and Rand slumped； catching the bedpost to hol