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a pace inside。
〃So you're awake； good；〃 Tallanvor's voice said after a moment。 Which allowed her heart to start beating again； allowed her to breathe。 She tried to release Breane's hand … she did not remember clasping it … but to her surprise； the woman squeezed once before letting go。
〃Something is happening；〃 Tallanvor went on； striding to the lone window。 Standing to one side as if to avoid being seen； he peered into the night。 Moonlight outlined his tall form。 〃Master Gill； e and tell what you saw。〃
A head appeared in the doorway； bald top shining in the darkness。 Behind； in the other room； a hulking shadow moved； Lamgwin Dorn。 When Basel Gill realized she was still in bed； that faint shining from his scalp jerked as he directed his eyes elsewhere； though he probably had difficulty making out more than the bed itself。 Master Gill was even wider than Lamgwin； but not nearly as tall。 〃Forgive me； my Queen。 I didn't mean to。。。 。〃He cleared his throat violently； and his boots scraped on the floor； shifting。 Had he had a cap； he would have been turning it in。 his hands； or wadding it nervously； 〃I was in the Long Corridor； on my way to。。。 to。。。 〃 To the jakes； was what he could not bring himself to say to her。 〃Anyway； I glanced out one of the windows； and I saw a。。。 a big bird； I think。。。 land on top of the South Barracks。〃
〃A bird！〃 Lini's thin voice drove Master Gill to leap into the room； clearing the doorway。 Or maybe it was a sharp poke in his stout ribs。 Lini usually took every advantage her gray hair offered。 She stalked by him still belting her nightrobe。 〃Fools！ Ox…brained lummoxes！ You woke my ch…！〃 She stopped with a fierce cough； Lini never forgot that she had been Morgase's nurse； and her mother's as well； but she never slipped in front of others。 She would be cross that she had now； and it showed in her voice。 〃You woke your Queen for a bird！〃 Patting her hairnet； she automatically tucked in a few strands that had escaped in her sleep。 〃Have you been drinking； Basel Gill？〃 Morgase wondered that herself。
〃I don't know it was a bird；〃 Master Gill protested。 〃It didn't look like any bird； but what else flies； except bats？ It was big。 Men climbed off its back； and there was another still on its neck when it took off again。 While I was slapping my face to wake up； another of the。。。 things。。。 landed； and more men climbed down； and then another came； and I decided it was time to tell Lord Tallanvor。〃 Lini did not sniff； but Morgase could almost feel her stare； and it was not directed at her。 The man who had abandoned his inn to follow her certainly felt it。 〃The Light's own truth； my Queen；〃 he insisted。
〃Light！〃 Tallanvor announced like an echo。 〃Something。。。。 Something just landed atop the North Barracks。〃 Morgase had never heard him sound shaken before。 All she wanted was to make them all go away and leave her alone in her misery； but there seemed no hope。 Tallanvor was worse than Breane in many ways。 Much worse。
〃My robe；〃 she said； and for once Breane was quick to hand her one。 Master Gill hastily turned his face to the wall while she climbed from the bed and put on the silk robe。
She strode to the window； tying the sash。 The long North Barracks loomed across the wide courtyard； four hulking floors of flat…roofed dark stone。 Not a light showed； there or anywhere in the Fortress。 All was stillness and silence。 〃I see nothing； Tallanvor。〃
He drew her back。 〃Just watch；〃 he said。
Another time she would have regretted his hand leaving her shoulder； and been irritated at her own regret as well as his tone。 Now； after Valda； she felt relief。 And irritation at the relief as well as his tone。 He was too disrespectful by miles； far too stubborn； too young。 Not much older than Galad。
Shadows moved as the moon did； but nothing else stirred。 Off in the city of Amador； a dog bayed； answered by more。 Then； as she opened her mouth to dismiss Tallanvor and all of them； darkness atop the massive barracks humped up and hurled itself off the roof。
Something； Tallanvor had called it； and she had no better name。 An impression of a long body that seemed thicker than a man was tall； great ribbed wings like a bat's sweeping down as the creature fell toward the courtyard； a figure； a man； sitting just behind a sinuous neck。 And then the wings caught air； and the。。。 something。。。 soared up； blocking the moonlight as it swept over her head trailing a long； thin tail。
Morgase closed her mouth slowly。 The only thought that came to her was Shadowspawn。 Trollocs and Myrddraal were not the only Shadowtwisted creatures in the Blight。 She had never been taught of anything like this； but her tutors in the Tower said that things lived there no one had ever seen clearly and lived to describe。 How could it be so far south； though？
Abruptly a flash of light flared with a great boom in the direction of the main gates； and then again； at two more places along the great outer wall。 Those were gates too； she believed。
〃What in the Pit of Doom was that？〃 Tallanvor muttered in a moment of silence before alarm gongs began resounding in the darkness。 Shouts rose； and screams； and hoarse cries like some sort of horn。 Fire leaped with a crash of thunder； then again elsewhere。
〃The One Power；〃 Morgase breathed。 She might not be able to channel； or as well as not； but she could tell that。 Notions of Shadowspawn fled。 〃It。。。 it must be Aes Sedai。〃 She heard someone's breath catch behind her； Lini or Breane。 Basel Gill excitedly murmured 〃Aes Sedai；〃 and Lamgwin murmured back too low for her to understand。 Off in the darkness； metal clashed on metal； fire bellowed； and lightning streaked from the cloudless sky。 Faintly through the din came alarm bells from the city at last； but strangely few。
〃Aes Sedai。〃 Tallanvor sounded doubtful。 〃Why now？ To rescue you； Morgase？ I thought they couldn't use the Power against men； only Shadowspawn。 Besides； if that winged creature wasn't Shadowspawn； I will never see one。〃
〃You don't know what you are talking about！〃 she said； confronting him heatedly。 〃You …！〃 A crossbow bolt clashed against the windowframe in a spray of stone chips； air stirred against her face as it ricocheted between them and planted itself in one of the bedposts with a solid tchunk。 A few inches to the right； and all her troubles would have been ended。
She did not move； but Tallanvor pulled her away from the window with an oath。 Even by moonlight； she could see his frown as he studied her。 For a moment she thought he might touch her face； if he did； she did not know whether she would weep or scream or order him to leave her forever or。。。
Instead； he said； 〃More likely it's some of those men； those Shamin or whatever they call themselves。〃 He insisted on accepting the strange； impossible tales that had seeped even into the Fortress。 〃I think I can get you out； right now； everything will be confusion。 e with me。〃
She did not correct him； few people knew anything about the One Power； much less the differences between saidar and saidin。 His idea had its attractions。 They might be able to escape in the bedlam of a battle。
〃Take her out into that！〃 Lini screeched。 Flaring lights drowned the moon at the window； crashes and thunders drowned the din of men and swords。 〃I thought you had more wits； Martyn Tallanvor。 'Only fools kiss hornets or bite fire。' You heard her say it's Aes Sedai。 Do you think she doesn't know？ Do you？〃
〃My Lord； if it is Aes Sedai。。。 〃 Master Gill trailed off。
Tallanvor's hands fell away from her； and he grumbled under his breath； wishing he had a sword。 Pedron Niall had allowed him to keep his blade； Eamon Valda was not so trusting。
For an instant； disappointment swelled in her breast。 If only he had insisted； had dragged her。。。 What was the matter with her？ Had he tried to drag her anywhere for any reason； she would have had his hide。 She needed to take hold of herself。 Valda had dented her confidence … no； he had casually ripped it to shreds … but she must cling to those shreds and knit them up again。 Somehow。 If the tatters were worth knitting up again。
〃At least I can find out what is happening；〃 Tallanvor growled； striding for the door。 〃If it isn't your Aes Sedai … 〃
〃No！ You will remain here。 Please。〃 She was very glad of the pale darkness； hiding her furiously flushing face。 She would have bitten her tongue off before saying that last word； but it had slipped out before she knew。 She went on in firmer tones。 〃You will remain here； guarding your Queen as you should。〃
In the dun light； she could see his face； and his bow seemed quite proper； but she would have wagered her last copper both were angry。 〃I will be in your anteroom。〃 Well； there was no doubt about his voice。 For once； though； she cared neither how angry he was nor how little he hid it。 Very possibly she might kill the infuriating man with her own hands； but he was not going to die tonight； cut down by soldiers with no way to tell which side he was on。
There was no hope of sleep now even had she been able。 Without lighting any lamps； she washed her face and teeth。 Breane and Lini helped her dress； in blue silk slashed with green； with spills of snowy lace at her wrists and beneath her chin。 It would do very well for receiving Aes Sedai。 Saidar raged in the night。 They had to be Aes Sedai。 Who else could it be？
When she joined the men in the anteroom； they were sitting in darkness except for the moonlight through the windows； and the occasional flash of Power…wrought fire。 Even a candle might attract unwanted attention。 Lamgwin and Master Gill sprang from their chairs respectfully； Tallanvor stood more slowly； and she needed no light to know he regarded her with a sullen frown。 Furious that she had to ignore him … she was his Queen！ … furious and barely able to keep it from her voice； she ordered Lamgwin to bring more of the tall wooden chairs further from the windows。 In silence； they sat and waited。 At least； silence on their part。 Outside thunderous crashes and roars still echoed； horns cried and men shouted； and through it she felt saidar surge and fall and surge again。
Slowly； after at least an hour； the battle dwindled and died。 Voices still shouted inprehensible orders； wounded screamed； and sometimes those strange hoarse horns gave voice； but no more did steel ring on steel。 Saidar faded； she was sure women still held it inside the Fortress； but she did not think any channeled now。 All seemed close to peaceful after the clamor and motion。
Tallanvor stirred； but she waved him back before he could rise； for a moment she thought he would not obey。 Night weakened； and sunlight crept in through the windows； shining on Tallanvor's glower。 She held her hands still in her lap。 Patience was but one of the virtues that young man needed to learn。 Patience stood second only to courage as a noble virtue。 The sun rose higher。 Lini and Breane began whispering together in increasingly worried tones； shooting glances in her direction。 Tallanvor scowled； dark eyes smoldering； sitting rigid in that dark blue coat that fit him so well。 Master Gill fidgeted； running first one hand then the other across his gray…fringed head； mopping his pink cheeks with a handkerchief。 Lamgwin slouched in his chair； the onetime street tough's heavy…lidded eyes making him seem half asleep； but whenever he glanced at Breane a smile flickered on his scarred； broken…nosed face。 Morgase focused on her breathing； almost like the exercises she had done during her months in the Tower。 Patience。 If someone did not e soon； she was going to have sharp words to say； Aes Sedai or not！
Despite herself； she jumped at an abrupt pounding on the door to the hallway。 Before she could tell Breane to see who was there； the door swung open； banging against the wall。 Morgase stared at who entered。
A tall； dark； hook…nosed man stared back at her coldly； the long hilt of a sword rising above his shoulder。 Strange armor covered his chest； overlapping plates lacquered glistening gold and black； and he held a helmet on his hip that looked like an insect's head； black and gold and green； with three long； thin green plumes。 Tw