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Red lace described a fluttering hitch。 What she did with the fan seemed almost unconscious。 〃You both saw。〃 The relief in her voice … and in her scent … was so strong that Perrin stared。
〃What did you think； Faile？ Why would Rand lie； especially when everyone would know in a day？〃
Instead of answering immediately； she frowned down at Colavaere。 〃Is she still under？ Not that it matters； I suppose。 She knows more than I would say here。 Everything we worked so hard to keep hidden。 She let that slip to Maire； too。 She knows too much。〃
Dobraine thumbed one of Colavaere's eyes open none too gently。 〃As if hit with a mace。 A pity she did not break her neck on the steps。 But she will go to her exile and learn to live as a farmer。〃 A brief； jaggedy； vexed smell wafted from Faile。
Abruptly it hit Perrin what his wife had been proposing so obliquely； what Dobraine had rejected just as indirectly。 Every hair on his body tried to stand。 From the start he had known that he had married a very dangerous woman。 Just not how dangerous。 Aram was peering at Colavaere； his lips pursed in dark thought； the man would do anything for Faile。
〃I don't think Rand would like it if anything prevented her reaching that farm；〃 Perrin said firmly； eyeing Aram and Faile in turn。 〃I wouldn't like it； either。〃 He felt rather proud of himself。 That was talking around the point as well as any of them。
Aram bowed his head briefly … he understood … but Faile tried to look innocent above her gently fluttering fan； with no notion what he was talking about。 Suddenly he realized not all the fear scent came from the people still milling at the door。 A thin； quivering thread of it wafted from her。 Fear under control； yet it was there。
〃What's the matter； Faile？ Light； you'd think Coiren and that lot had won instead of。。。 〃 Her face did not change； but the thread grew thicker。 〃Is that why you didn't say anything at first？〃 he asked softly。 〃Were you afraid we had e back as puppets； and them pulling the strings？〃
She eyed the rapidly diminishing crowd across the Grand Hall。 The nearest of them was a long way； and all making a good deal of noise； but she lowered her voice even so。 〃Aes Sedai can do that sort of thing； I've heard。 My husband； no one knows more than I that even Aes Sedai would find hard times trying to make you dance for a puppet； much harder than a man who's just the Dragon Reborn； but when you walked in here； I was more afraid than at any time since you left。〃 Amusement trickled through in the first of that； like tiny bubbles in his nose； and warm fondness； and love； the smell of her； clear and pure and strong； but all of those faded by the end； leaving that thin trembling thread。
〃Light； Faile； it's true。 Every word Rand said。 You heard Dobraine； and Aram。〃 She smiled； and nodded； and worked her fan。 That thread still quivered in his nostrils； though。 Blood and ashes； what does it take to convince her？ 〃Would it help if he had Verin dance the sa'sara？ She will； if he tells her to。〃 He meant it for a joke。 All he knew of the sa'sara was that it was scandalous … and that Faile had once admitted knowing how to dance it； though recently she sidestepped and all but denied it。 He meant it for a joke； but she closed her fan and tapped it on her wrist。 He knew that one： I am giving your suggestion serious thought。
〃I don't know what would be enough； Perrin。〃 She shivered slightly。 〃Is there anything an Aes Sedai would not do； or put up with； if the White Tower told her to？ I have studied my history； and I was taught to read between the lines。 Mashera Donavelle bore seven children for a man she loathed； whatever the stories say； and Isebaille Tobanyi delivered the brothers she loved to their enemies and the throne of Arad Doman with them； and Jestian Redhill。。。 〃 She shivered again； not so slightly。
〃It's all right；〃 he murmured； wrapping her in his arms。 He had studied several books of history himself； but he had never seen those names。 The daughter of a lord received a different education from a blacksmith's apprentice。 〃It really is true。〃 Dobraine averted his eyes； and so did Aram； though with a pleased grin。
She resisted at first； but not very hard。 He could never be sure when she would avoid a public embrace and when wele it； only that if she did not want one； she made it clear in no uncertain terms； with or without words。 This time she snuggled her face into his chest and hugged him back； squeezing harder。
〃If any Aes Sedai ever harms you；〃 she whispered； 〃I will kill her。〃 He believed her。 〃You belong to me； Perrin t' Bashere Aybara。 To me。〃 He believed that； too。 As her hug grew fiercer； so did the thorny scent of jealousy。 He almost chuckled。 It seemed the right to put a knife in him was reserved to her。 He would have chuckled； except that filament of fear remained。 That； and what she had said about Maire。 He could not smell himself； but he knew what was there。 Fear。 Old fear； and new fear； for the next time。
The last of the nobles forced their way from the Grand Hall； without anyone being trampled。 Sending Aram off to tell Dannil to bring the Two Rivers men into the city … and wondering how he was going to feed them … Perrin offered Faile his arm and led her out； leaving Dobraine with Colavaere； who was finally showing signs of awakening。 He had no wish to be around when she woke； and Faile； with her hand on his wrist； seemed not to either。 They walked quickly； eager to reach their rooms； if not necessarily for the same reasons。
The nobles apparently had not stopped their flight once they were out of the Grand Hall。 The corridors were empty except for servants who kept their eyes down at a silent rush； but before they had gone very far； Perrin caught the sound of footsteps and realized they were being followed。 It seemed unlikely that Colavaere had any open supporters still； but if there were any； they might think to strike at Rand through his friend； walking alone with his wife while the Dragon Reborn was elsewhere。
Only； when Perrin spun about； hand to his axe； he stared instead of drawing the weapon。 It was Selande and her friends from the entry hall； with eight or nine new faces。 They gave a start when he turned； and exchanged abashed glances。 Some were Tairens； including a woman who stood taller than all but one of the Cairhienin men。 She wore a man's coat and tight breeches； just like Selande and the rest of the women； with a sword on her hip。 He had not heard that this nonsense had spread to the Tairens。
〃Why are you following us？〃 he demanded。 〃If you try to make me any of your wool…head trouble； I vow I'll kick the lot of you from here to Bel Tine！〃 He had had problems before with these idiots； or some just like them； anyway。 All they thought about was their honor； and fighting duels； and taking one another gai'shain。 That last really set the Aiel's teeth on edge。
〃Attend my husband and obey；〃 Faile put in sharply。 〃He is not a man to be trifled with。〃 Gawking stares vanished； and they backed away； bowing； peting over flourishes。 They were still at it when they vanished around a turn。
〃Bloody young buffoons；〃 Perrin muttered； offering Faile his wrist again。
〃My husband is wise in his years；〃 she murmured。 Her tone was utterly serious； her smell was something else again。
Perrin managed not to snort。 True； a few of them might be a year or two older than he； but they all were like children with their playing at Aiel。 Now； with Faile in a good mood； seemed as good a time as any to begin what they had to talk about。 What he had to talk about。 〃Faile； how did you e to be one of Colavaere's attendants？〃
〃The servants； Perrin。〃 She spoke softly； nobody two steps away could have heard a word。 She knew all about his hearing； and the wolves。 That was nothing a man could keep from his wife。 Her fan touched her ear； admonishing caution in speech。 〃Too many people forget servants are there； but servants listen too。 In Cairhien； they listen far too much。〃
None of the liveried people he saw were doing any listening。 The few who did not duck down side corridors when they saw him and Faile went by at a near run； gazes on the floor and gathered in on themselves。 Any sort of news spread quickly in Cairhien。 Events in the Grand Hall would have flown。 The word was in the streets by now； probably on its way out of the city already。 Without any doubt there were eyes…and…ears in Cairhien for the Aes Sedai； and the Whitecloaks； and likely more thrones than not。
In that hushed voice； she went on despite her caution to him。 〃Colavaere could not be fast enough to take me in； once she learned who I am。 My father's name impressed her as much as my cousin's。〃 She finished with a little nod； as if she had answered everything。
It was a good enough answer。 Almost。 Her father was Davram； High Seat of House Bashere； Lord of Bashere； Tyr and Sidona； Guardian of the Blightborder； Defender of the Heartland； and Marshal…General to Queen Tenobia of Saldaea。 Faile's cousin was Tenobia herself。 More than reason for Colavaere to leap at Faile for one of her attendants。 But he had had time to mull things over now； and he prided himself that he was being used to her ways。 Married life taught a man about women； or about one woman； anyway。 The answer she had not given； confirmed something。 Faile had no concept of danger； not where she herself was concerned。
He could not speak of it there in the corridor； of course。 Whisper how he would； she did not have his ears； and doubtless she would insist every servant within fifty was listening。 Holding his patience； he walked on with her until they reached the rooms that had been set aside for them what seemed an age ago 。now。 The lamps had been lit； making shimmers on the dark polished walls； each tall wooden panel carved in concentric rectangles。 In the square stone fireplace the hearth was swept bare and laid with a few pitiful branches of leatherleaf。 They were almost green。
Faile went straight to a small table where two golden pitchers stood beaded with moisture on a tray。 〃They have left us blueberry tea； my husband； and wine punch。 The wine is from Tharon； I think。 They cool the punch in the cisterns beneath the palace。 Which would you prefer？〃
Perrin unbuckled his belt and tossed belt and axe on a chair。 He had planned out what he had to say very carefully on the way here。 She could be a prickly woman。 〃Faile； I missed you more than I can say； and worried about you； but … 〃
〃Worried about me！〃 she snapped； spinning to face him。 She stood straight and tall； eyes fierce as those of her falcon namesake； and her fan made a coring motion toward his middle。 Not part of the language of fans； she made the same gesture with a knife sometimes。 〃When almost the first words from your mouth were to ask after that。。。 that woman！〃
His jaw dropped。 How could he have forgotten the smell filling his nostrils？ He nearly put a hand up to see whether his nose was bleeding。 〃Faile； I wanted her thief…catchers。 Be … 〃 No； he was not stupid enough to repeat that name。 〃She said she had proof of the poison before I left。 You heard her！ I just wanted the proof； Faile。〃
It did no good。 That spiky stench softened not a whit； and the thin； sour smell of hurt joined it。 What under the Light had he said to hurt her？
〃Her proof！ What I gathered went for nothing； but her proof put Colavaere's head on the block。 Or should have。〃 That was his opening； but she was not about to let him push a word in edgewise。 She advanced on him； looking daggers； her fan darting like one。 All he could do was back away。 〃Do you know what story that woman put about？〃 Faile almost hissed。 A black viper could not have dripped so much venom。 〃Do you？ She said the reason you were not here was that you were at a manor not far from the city。 Where she could visit you！ I told the story I prepared … that you were hunting； and the Light knows you spent enough days hunting！ … but everyone believed I was putting a good face on you and her！ Together！ Colavaere delighted in it。 I could believe she only took that Mayener strumpet as an attendant to throw the two of us together。 'Faile； Berelain； e lace my gown