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〃Lini； you forget yourself！ You stopped being my nurse a long …！〃 Morgase drew a deep breath and softened her tone。 Meeting those frightened eyes was not easy； nothing frightened Lini。 〃What I do is for the best； believe me；〃 she told her gently。 〃There's no other way … 〃
〃No other way？〃 Breane broke in angrily； gripping her skirts till her hands shook。 Clearly she would rather have had them wrapped around Morgase's throat。 〃What fool nonsense are you spouting now？ What if these Seanchan think we killed you？〃 Morgase pressed her lips； had she bee so transparent？
〃Shut up； woman！〃 Lini never got angry； either； or raised her voice； but she did both now； her withered cheeks red。 She raised a bony hand。 〃You hold your mouth； or I'll slap you sillier than you are！〃
〃Slap her if you want to slap someone！〃 Breane shouted back so fiercely that spittle flew。 〃Queen Morgase！ She will send you and me and my Lamgwin to the gallows； and her precious Tallanvor too； because she lacks the belly of a mouse！〃
The door opened to admit Tallanvor and put an abrupt end to it。 No one was about to shout in front of him。 Lini pretended to examine Morgase's sleeve as though it might need mending as Master Gill and Lamgwin followed Tallanvor in。 Breane put on a bright smile and smoothed her skirts。 The men noticed nothing； of course。
Morgase noticed a great deal。 For one thing； Tallanvor had a sword belted on； and so did Master Gill； and even Lamgwin； though his was a short…sword。 She had always had the feeling he was more fortable with his fists than any other weapons。 Before she could ask how； the skinny little man who brought up the rear closed the door carefully behind him。
〃Majesty；〃 Sebban Balwer said； 〃forgive the intrusion。〃 Even his bow and his smile seemed dry and precise； but as his eyes flicked from her to the other women； Morgase decided that whether the other men noticed the atmosphere in the room or not； Pedron Niall's onetime secretary did。
〃I am surprised to see you； Master Balwer；〃 she said。 〃I heard there was some unpleasantness with Eamon Valda。〃 What she had heard was that Valda had said if he laid eyes on Balwer； he would kick him over one of the Fortress walls。 Balwer's smile tightened； he knew what Valda had said。
〃He has a plan to take us all out of here；〃 Tallanvor broke in。 〃Today。 Now。〃 He gave her a look not that of subject to queen。 〃We are accepting his offer。〃
〃How？〃 she said slowly； forcing her legs to remain straight。 What help could this prissy little stick of a man offer？ Escape。 She wanted very much to sit down； but she was not going to； not with Tallanvor looking at her in that fashion。 Of course； she was not his Queen； now； but he did not know that。 Another question occurred。 〃Why？ Master Balwer； I'll not shun any true offer of help； but why would you risk yourself？ These Seanchan will make you regret it； should they find out。〃
〃I laid my plans before they came；〃 he said carefully。 〃It seemed。。。 imprudent。。。 to leave the Queen of Andor in Valda's hands。 Consider it my way of repaying him。 I know I am not much to look at； Majesty。。。 〃 He hid a self…deprecating cough behind his hand。 〃。。。 but the plan will work。 These Seanchan actually make it easier； I would not have been ready for days yet without them。 For a newly conquered city； they allow remarkable freedom to anyone willing to say their Oath。 Not an hour after sunrise； I obtained a pass allowing myself and up to ten more who have taken the Oath to depart Amador。 They believe I intend to buy wine； and wagons to carry it； in the east。〃
〃It must be a trap。〃 The words tasted bitter。 Better the window than falling into some snare。 〃They won't allow you to carry word of them ahead of their army。〃
Balwer's head tilted to one side； and he began dry…washing his hands； then stopped abruptly。 〃In truth； Majesty； I considered that。 The officer who gave me the pass said it did not matter。 His exact words： 'Tell who you will what you have seen； and let them know they cannot stand against us。 Your lands will know soon enough anyway。' I have seen several merchants take the Oath this morning and depart with their wagons。〃
Tallanvor moved close to her。 Too close。 She could almost feel his breath。 She could feel his eyes。 〃We are accepting his offer；〃 he said for her ears alone。 〃If I must bind and gag you； I think he can find a way even so。 He seems a very resourceful little fellow。〃
She met him stare for stare。 The window or。。。 a chance。 If Tallanvor had only held his tongue it would have been much easier to say； 〃I accept with gratitude； Master Balwer；〃 but she said it。 She stepped away as if to see Balwer without having to crane past Tallanvor。 It was always disturbing being so near to him。 He was too young。 〃What is to do first？ I doubt those guards at the door will accept your pass for us。〃
Balwer bowed his head as if acknowledging her foresight。 〃I fear they must meet with accidents； Majesty。〃 Tallanvor eased his dagger in its scabbard； and Lamgwin flexed his hands like the lopar flexing its claws。
She did not believe it could be so easy； even after they had packed up what they could carry and the two Taraboners had been stuffed beneath her bed。 At the main gates； holding her linen dust…cloak close awkwardly because of the bundle on her back； she bowed； hands on her knees the way Balwer had shown her； while he told the guards that they had all sworn to obey； await and serve。 She thought of how to make sure she was not taken alive。 It was not until they were actually riding out of Amador； past the last guards； on the horses Balwer had had waiting； that she began to believe。 Of course； Balwer probably expected some fine reward for rescuing the Queen of Andor。 She had not told anyone that that was done with beyond going back； she knew she had spoken the words； and no one else needed to know。 Regretting them was useless。 Now she would see what sort of life she could find without a throne。 A life far from a man who was much too young and much too disturbing。
〃Why is your smile so sad？〃 Lini asked； reining her slab…sided brown mare closer。 The animal looked moth…eaten。 Morgase's bay was no better； none of the horses were。 The Seanchan might have been willing to let Balwer go with his pass； but not with decent mounts。
〃There is a long road ahead； yet；〃 Morgase told her； and thumped her mare into some semblance of a trot after Tallanvor。
Chapter 27
（Wolf）
To Be Alone
Slipping the haft of his axe through the loop on his belt opposite his quiver； Perrin took his unstrung longbow from the corner； slung his saddlebags over his shoulder and left the rooms he had shared with Faile without a backward look。 They had been happy there … most of the time。 He did not think he would ever be back。 Sometimes he wondered whether being happy somewhere with Faile meant he would never return there。 He hoped not。
The servants he saw in the palace corridors wore unrelieved black livery； perhaps Rand had ordered it； and perhaps the servants themselves had simply adopted it。 They had been uneasy without livery； as though they did not know where they belonged； and black seemed safe as Rand's color because of the Asha'man。 Those who saw Perrin scampered away as fast as they could； not waiting for any bows or curtsies。 Fear scent drifted behind them。
For once his yellow eyes had nothing to do with anyone being afraid。 It might not be safe to loiter near a man at whom the Dragon Reborn had unleashed his rage so publicly this very morning。 Perrin eased the shoulder under his saddlebags。 A long while had passed since anyone had been able to pick him up and throw him。 Of course； no one had ever used the Power to try； before。 One moment in particular stuck with him。
He pushed himself up holding his shoulder； sliding his back up the square column that had stopped his flight。 He thought a few ribs might have cracked。 Around the Grand Hall of the Sun； a scattering of nobles who had e to appeal one thing or another to Rand tried to look anywhere else； tried to pretend they were anywhere else。 Only Dobraine watched； shaking his gray head； as Rand stalked across the throne room。
〃I will deal with the Aes Sedai as I choose！〃 Rand shouted。 〃Do you hear me； Perrin？ As I choose！〃
〃You've just handed them over to the Wise Ones；〃 he growled back； shoving away from the column。 〃You don't know whether they're sleeping on silk or had their throats cut！ You are not the Creator！〃
With a snarl of rage； Rand threw his head back。 〃I am the Dragon Reborn！〃 he cried。 〃I don't care how they're treated！ They deserve a dungeon！〃 Perrin's hackles stirred as Rand's eyes lowered from the vaulted ceiling。 Blue ice would have been warm and soft beside them； the more so because they stared from a face twisted with pain。 〃Get out of my sight； Perrin； Do you hear me？ Get out of Cairhien！ Today！ Now！ I never want to see you again！〃 Pivoting on his heel； he strode away with nobles all but throwing themselves to the floor as he passed。
Perrin thumbed a trickle of blood from the corner of his mouth。 For one moment there； he had been sure Rand was going to kill him。
Shaking his head to rid himself of the thought； he rounded a corner and nearly ran into Loial。 With a large bundle strapped to his back and a scrip big enough to hold a sheep slung on his shoulder； the Ogier was using his long…handled axe as a walking staff。 The capacious pockets of his coat bulged with the shapes of books。
Loial's tufted ears perked up at the sight of him； then suddenly drooped。 His whole face drooped； eyebrows hanging on his cheeks。 〃I heard； Perrin；〃 he boomed sadly。 〃Rand should not have done that。 Quick words make long troubles。 I know he'll reconsider。 Tomorrow； maybe。〃
〃It's all right；〃 Perrin told him。 〃Cairhien is too。。。 polished。。。 for me； anyway。 I'm a blacksmith； not a courtier。 By tomorrow； I'll be a long way gone。〃
〃You and Faile could e with me。 Karldin and I are going to visit the stedding； Perrin。 All of them； about the Waygates。〃 A narrow…faced； pale…haired young fellow standing behind Loial stopped frowning at Perrin to frown at the Ogier。 He had a scrip and a bundle； too； and a sword on his hip。 Despite the blue coat； Perrin recognized one of the Asha'man。 Karldin did not look pleased to recognize Perrin； besides； his smell was cold and angry。 Loial peered down the hallway behind Perrin。 〃Where is Faile？〃
〃She's。。。 meeting me in the stables。 We had words。〃 That was simple truth； Faile seemed to like shouting； sometimes。 He lowered his voice。 〃Loial； I wouldn't talk about that where anyone could hear。 The Waygates； I mean。〃
Loial snorted hard enough to make a bull jump； but he did drop his tone。 〃I don't see anyone but us；〃 he rumbled。 No one more than two or three paces beyond Karldin could have heard clearly。 His ears。。。 lashed was the only word。。。 and laid back angrily。 〃Everyone's afraid to be seen near you。 After all you've done for Rand。〃
Karldin tugged at Loial's sleeve。 〃We have to go；〃 he said； glaring at Perrin。 Anyone the Dragon Reborn shouted at was outside the gates so far as he was concerned。 Perrin wondered whether he was holding the Power right then。
〃Yes； yes；〃 Loial murmured； waving a ham…sized hand； but he leaned on his axe； frowning pensively。 〃I don't like this； Perrin。 Rand chases you away。 He sends me off。 How I'm to finish my book。。。 〃 His ears twitched； and he coughed。 〃Well； that's neither here nor there。 But you； me； and the Light only knows where Mat is。 He'll send Min away next。 He hid from her； this morning。 He sent me out to tell her he wasn't there。 I think she knew I was lying。 He'll be alone； then； Perrin。 'It's terrible to be alone。' That's what he said to me。 He is planning to send all of his friends away。〃
〃The Wheel weaves as the Wheel wills；〃 Perrin said。 Loial blinked at that echo of Moiraine。 Perrin had been thinking of her a lot recently； she had been a restraining influence on Rand。 〃Farewell； Loial。 Keep safe； and don't trust anyone you don't have to。〃 He did not quite look at Karldin。
〃You don't mean that； Perrin。〃 Loial sounded shocked； he seemed