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o sea； toward the mainland hundreds of miles to the east。
To be the one who successfully led the Forerunners； who began the Return； would bring much honor。 Perhaps even adoption into the family of the Empress； though that was an honor not without plications。 To also be the one who captured this Dragon； whether false or real； along with the means of controlling his incredible power。。。。
But if…when I take him； do I give him to the Empress？ That is the question。
Her long nails began to click again on the wide stone rail。
Chapter 2
（Dragon）
Whirlpools in the Pattern
Inland the hot night wind blew； north across the vast delta called the Fingers of the Dragon； a winding maze of waterways broad and narrow； some choked with knifegrass。 Vast plains of reeds separated clusters of low islands forested with spider…rooted trees seen nowhere else。 Eventually the delta gave way to its source； the River Erinin； the river's great width spotted with the lights of small boats lantern…fishing。 Boats and lights bobbed wildly； sudden and unexpected； and some older men muttered of evil things passing in the night。 Young men laughed； but they hauled the nets more vigorously； too； eager to be home and out of the dark。 The stories said evil could not cross your threshold unless you invited it in。 That was what the stories said。 But out in the darkness。。。。
The last tang of salt had vanished by the time the wind reached the great city of Tear； hard by the river； where tile…roofed inns and shops shouldered against tall； towered palaces gleaming in the moonlight。 Yet no place was half so tall as the massive bulk； almost a mountain； that stretched from city's heart to water's edge。 The Stone of Tear； fortress of legend； the oldest stronghold of mankind； erected in the last days of the Breaking of the World。 While nations and empires rose and fell； were replaced and fell anew； the Stone stood。 It was the rock on which armies had broken spears and swords and hearts for three thousand years。 And in all that time it had never fallen to invading arms。 Until now。
The streets of the city； the taverns and inns； were all but empty in the muggy darkness； people keeping cautiously within their own walls。 Who held the Stone was lord of Tear； city and nation。 That was the way it had always been； and the people of Tear accepted it always。 By daylight they would cheer their new lord with enthusiasm as they had cheered the old； by night they huddled together； shivering despite the heat when the wind howled across their rooftops like a thousand keening mourners。 Strange new hopes danced in their heads； hopes none in Tear had dared for a hundred generations； hopes mixed with fears as old as the Breaking。
The wind lashed the long； white banner catching the moon above the Stone as if trying to rip it away。 Along its length marched a sinuous figure like a legged serpent； golden…maned like a lion； scaled in scarlet and gold； seeming to ride the wind。 Banner of prophecy； hoped for and dreaded。 Banner of the Dragon。 The Dragon Reborn。 Harbinger of the world's salvation； and herald of a new Breaking to e。 As if outraged at such defiance； the wind dashed itself against the hard walls of the Stone。 The Dragon banner floated； unheeding in the night； awaiting greater storms。
In a room more than halfway up the Stone's southern face； Perrin sat on the chest at the foot of his canopied bed and watched the dark…haired young woman pacing up and down。 There was a trace of wariness in his golden eyes。 Usually Faile bantered with him； maybe poked a little gentle fun at his deliberate ways； tonight she had not said ten words since ing through the door。 He could smell the rose petals that had been folded into her clothes after cleaning； and the scent that was just her。 And in the hint of clean perspiration； he smelled nervousness。 Faile almost never showed nerves。 Wondering why she did now set an itch between his shoulders that had nothing to do with the night's heat。 Her narrow； divided skirts made a soft whisk…whisk…whisk with her strides。
He scratched his two…week growth of beard irritably。 It was even curlier than the hair on his head。 It was also hot。 For the hundredth time he thought of shaving。
〃It suits you；〃 Faile said suddenly； stopping in her tracks。
Unfortably； he shrugged shoulders heavy from long hours working at a forge。 She did that sometimes； seemed to know what he was thinking。 〃It itches；〃 he muttered； and wished he had spoken more forcefully。 It was his beard； he could shave it off any time he wanted。
She studied him； her head tilted to one side。 Her bold nose and high cheekbones made it seem a fierce study； a contrast to the soft voice in which she said； 〃It looks right on you。〃
Perrin sighed； and shrugged again。 She had not asked him to keep the beard； and she would not。 Yet he knew he was going to put off shaving again。 He wondered how his friend Mat would handle this situation。 Probably with a pinch and a kiss and some remark that made her laugh until he brought her around to his way of thinking。 But Perrin knew he did not have Mat's way with the girls。 Mat would never find himself sweating behind a beard just because a woman thought he should have hair on his face。 Unless； maybe； the woman was Faile。 Perrin suspected that her father must deeply regret her leaving home； and not just because she was his daughter。 He was the biggest fur trader in Saldaea； so she claimed； and Perrin could see her getting the price she wanted every time。
〃Something is troubling you； Faile； and it isn't my beard。 What is it？〃
Her expression became guarded。 She looked everywhere but at him； making a contemptuous survey of the room's furnishings。
Carvings of leopards and lions； stooping hawks and hunting scenes decorated everything from the tall wardrobe and bedposts as thick as his leg to the padded bench in front of the cold marble fireplace。 Some of the animals had garnet eyes。
He had tried to convince the majhere that he wanted a simple room； but she did not seem to understand。 Not that she was stupid or slow。 The majhere manded an army of servants greater in numbers than the Defenders of the Stone； whoever manded the Stone； whoever held its walls； she saw to the day…to…day matters that let everything function。 But she looked at the world through Tairen eyes。 Despite his clothes； he must be more than the young countryman he seemed； because moners were never housed in the Stone … save for Defenders and servants； of course。 Beyond that； he was one of Rand's party； a friend or a follower or in any case close to the Dragon Reborn in some way。 To the majhere； that set him on a level with a Lord of the Land at the very least； if not a High Lord。 She had been scandalized enough at putting him in here； without even a sitting room； he thought she might have fainted if he had insisted on an even plainer chamber。 If there were such things short of the servants' quarters； or the Defenders'。 At least nothing here was gilded except the candlesticks。
Faile's opinions； though； were not his。 〃You should have better than this。 You deserve it。 You can wager your last copper that Mat has better。〃
〃Mat likes gaudy things；〃 he said simply。
〃You do not stand up for yourself。〃
He did not ment。 It was not his rooms that made her smell of unease； any more than his beard。
After a moment； she said； 〃The Lord Dragon seems to have lost interest in you。 All his time is taken by the High Lords； now。〃
The itch between his shoulders worsened； he knew what was troubling her now。 He tried to make his voice light。 〃The Lord Dragon？ You sound like a Tairen。 His name is Rand。〃
〃He's your friend； Perrin Aybara； not mine。 If a man like that has friends。〃 She drew a deep breath and went on in a more moderate tone。 〃I have been thinking about leaving the Stone。 Leaving Tear。 I don't think Moiraine would try to stop me。 News of。。。 of Rand has been leaving the city for two weeks； now。 She can't think to keep him secret any longer。〃
He only just stopped another sigh。 〃I don't think she will； either。 If anything； I think she considers you a plication。 She will probably give you money to see you on your way。〃
Planting fists on hips； she moved to stare down at him。 〃Is that all you have to say？〃
〃What do you want me to say？ That I want you to stay？〃 The anger in his own voice startled him。 He was angry with himself； not her。 Angry because he had not seen this ing； angry because he could not see how to deal with it。 He liked being able to think things through。 It was easy to hurt people without meaning to when you were hasty。 He'd done that now。 Her dark eyes were large with shock。 He tried to smooth his words。 〃I do want you to stay； Faile； but maybe you should leave。 I know you're no coward； but the Dragon Reborn； the Forsaken。。。〃 Not that anywhere was really safe … not for long； not now … yet there were safer places than the Stone。 For a while； anyway。 Not that he was stupid enough to put it to her that way。
But she did not appear to care how he put it。 〃Stay？ The Light illumine me！ Anything is better than sitting here like a boulder； but。。。。〃 She knelt gracefully in front of him； resting her hands on his knees。 〃Perrin。 I do not like wondering when one of the Forsaken is going to walk around the corner in front of me； and I do not like wondering when the Dragon Reborn is going to kill us all。 He did it back in the Breaking； after all。 Killed everyone close to him。〃
〃Rand isn't Lews Therin Kinslayer；〃 Perrin protested。 〃I mean； he is the Dragon Reborn； but he isn't。。。 he wouldn't。。。。〃 He trailed off； not knowing how to finish。 Rand was Lews Therin Telamon reborn； that was what being the Dragon Reborn meant。 But did it mean Rand was doomed to Lews Therin's fate？ Not just going mad … any man who channeled had that fate in front of him； and then a rotting death … but killing everyone who cared for him？
〃I have been talking to Bain and Chiad； Perrin。〃
That was no surprise。 She spent considerable time with the Aiel women。 The friendship made some trouble for her； but she seemed to like the Aiel women as much as 。she despised the Stone's Tairen noblewomen。 But he saw no connection to what they were talking about； and he said so。
〃They say Moiraine sometimes asks where you are。 Or Mat。 Don't you see？ She would not have to do that if she could watch you with the Power。〃
〃Watch me with the Power？〃 he said faintly。 He had never even considered that。
〃She cannot。 e with me； Perrin。 We can be twenty miles across the river before she misses us。〃
〃I can't；〃 he said miserably。 He tried diverting her with a kiss； but she leaped to her feet and backed away so fast he nearly fell on his face。 There was no point going after her。 She had her arms crossed beneath her breasts like a barrier。
〃Don't tell me you are that afraid of her。 I know she is Aes Sedai； and she has all of you dancing when she twitches the strings。 Perhaps she has the。。。 Rand。。。 so tied he cannot get loose； and the Light knows Egwene and Elayne； and even Nynaeve； don't want to； but you can break her cords if you try。〃
〃It has nothing to do with Moiraine。 It's what I have to do。 I … 〃。
She cut him short。 〃Don't you dare hand me any of that hairy…chested drivel about a man having to do his duty。 I know duty as well as you； and you have no duty here。 You may be ta'veren； even if I don't see it； but he is the Dragon Reborn； not you。〃
〃Will you listen？〃 he shouted； glaring； and she jumped。 He had never shouted at her before； not like that。 She raised her chin and shifted her shoulders； but she did not say anything。 He went on。 〃I think I am part of Rand's destiny； somehow。 Mat； too。 I think he can't do what he has to unless we do our part； as well。 That is the duty。 How can I walk away if it might mean Rand will fail？〃
〃Might？〃 There was a hint of demand in her voice； but only a hint。 He wondered if he could make himself shout at her more often。 〃Did Moiraine tell you this； Perrin？ You should know by now to listen closely to what an Aes Sedai says。〃
〃I worked it out for myself。 I think ta'veren are pu