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Wise Ones did。 Edarra and Carelle were quietly watching every direction at once； and smooth faces or no； if he had ever seen anyone ready to fight； it was them。 For that matter； Grady wore readiness like his black coat； maybe he held the Power； too。 Elyas was leaning against the wall beside the open doors； outwardly as posed as the sisters； but he smelled ready to bite。 And Aram stood gazing at Masema with his mouth hanging open！ Light！
〃So that is true； too！〃 Masema snapped； spittle flying from his lips。 〃With filthy rumors spreading against the holy name of the Lord Dragon； you dare to ride with these。。。 these。。。！〃
〃They've sworn fealty to the Lord Dragon； Masema；〃 Perrin cut in。 〃They serve him！ Do you？ He sent me to stop the killing。 And to bring you to him。〃 No one was offering him a chair； so he pushed a stack of papers from one and sat。 He wished the rest would sit； too； shouting seemed harder when you were sitting down。
Hari goggled at him； and Masema was practically shaking。 Because he had taken a chair without being asked？ Oh。 Yes。
〃I have given up the names of men；〃 Masema said coldly。 〃I am simply the Prophet of the Lord Dragon； may the Light illumine him and the world e to kneel before him。〃 By his tone； the world and the Light would regret failure equally。 〃There is much to do here； yet。 Great works。 All must obey when the Lord Dragon calls； but in winter； travel is always slow。 A delay of a few weeks will make little difference。〃
〃I can have you in Cairhien today；〃 Perrin said。 〃Once the Lord Dragon has spoken to you； you can return the same way and be back here in a few days。〃 If Rand let him return。
Masema actually recoiled。 Baring his teeth； he glared at the Aes Sedai。 〃Some contrivance of the Power？ I will not be touched with the Power！ It is blasphemy for mortals to touch it！〃
Perrin came close to gaping。 〃The Dragon Reborn channels； man！〃
〃The blessed Lord Dragon is not as other men； Aybara！〃 Masema snarled。 〃He is the Light made flesh！ I will obey his summons； but I will not be touched by the filth these women do！〃
Slumping back in the chair； Perrin sighed。 If the man was this bad over Aes Sedai； how would he be when he learned that Grady and Neald could channel？ For a moment； he considered simply knocking Masema over the head； and。。。 Men were passing by in the corridor； pausing to glance in before hurrying on。 All it took was one of them raising a shout； and Abila could bee a slaughterhouse。 〃Then we ride； Prophet；〃 he said sourly。 Light； Rand had said to keep this secret until Masema stood in front of him！ How to manage that riding all the way to Cairhien？ 〃But no delays。 The Lord Dragon is very anxious to talk with you。〃
〃I am anxious to speak with the Lord Dragon； may his name be blessed by the Light。〃 His eyes flickered toward the two Aes Sedai。 He tried to hide it； actually smiling at Perrin。 But he smelled。。。 grim。 〃I am very anxious indeed。〃
〃Would my Lady like me to ask one of the handlers to bring her a hawk？〃 Maighdin asked。 One of Alliandre's four hawk handlers； all men as lean as their birds； urged a sleek duckhawk wearing a feathered hood onto his heavy gauntlet from the wooden stand in front of his saddle and lifted the gray bird toward her。 The falcon； with its blue…tipped wings； was on Alliandre's green…gloved wrist。 That bird was reserved to her； unfortunately。 Alliandre knew her place as a vassal； but Faile understood not wanting to relinquish a favorite bird。
She merely shook her head； and Maighdin bowed in her saddle and moved her roan mare away from Swallow； far enough not to intrude but close enough to be at hand without Faile raising her voice。 The dignified golden…haired woman had proved to be every bit as good a lady's maid as Faile had hoped； knowledgeable； capable。 At least； she had once she learned that whatever their relative positions with their former mistress； Lini was first among Faile's serving women； and willing to use her authority。 Surprisingly； that had actually taken an episode with a switch； but Faile pretended not to know。 Only an utter fool embarrassed her servants。 There was still the matter of Maighdin and Tallanvor； of course。 She was certain Maighdin had begun sharing his bed； and if she found proof； they would marry if she had to turn Lini loose on both of them。 Still； that was a small matter； and could not spoil her morning。
Hawking had been Alliandre's idea； but Faile had not objected to a ride through this sparse forest； where snow made a rolling blanket over everything and lay thick and white on bare branches。 The green of the trees that still held their leaves seemed sharper。 The air was crisp； and it smelled new and fresh。
Bain and Chiad had insisted on acpanying her； but they squatted nearby； shoufa wrapped around their heads； watching her with disgruntled expressions。 Sulin had wanted to e with all of the Maidens； but with a hundred stories of Aiel depredations floating everywhere； the sight of an Aiel was enough to send most people in Amadicia running or reaching for a sword。 There must be some truth in those tales； or so many would not know an Aiel； though the Light alone knew who they were or where they had e from； yet even Sulin agreed that whoever they were； they had moved on east； perhaps into Altara。
In any case； this close to Abila； twenty of Alliandre's soldiers and as many Mayener Winged Guards provided sufficient escort。 The streamers on their lances； red or green； lifted like ribbons when the breeze stirred。 Berelain's presence was the only blight。 Though watching the woman shiver in her fur…trimmed red cloak； thick enough for two blankets； was certainly amusing。 Mayene did not have a real winter。 This was like the last days of autumn。 In Saldaea； the heart of winter could freeze exposed flesh hard as wood。 Faile took a deep breath。 She felt like laughing。
By some miracle； her husband； her beloved wolf； had begun behaving as he should。 Instead of shouting at Berelain or running from her； Perrin now tolerated the jade's blandishments； plainly tolerated them the way he would a child playing around his knees。 And best of all； there was no longer any need to tamp down her anger when she wanted to let it loose。 When she shouted； he shouted back。 She knew he was not Saldaean； but it had been so hard； thinking in her heart of hearts that he believed her too weak to stand up to him。 A few nights ago at supper； she had almost pointed out to him that Berelain was going to fall out of her dress if she leaned over the table any further。 Well； she was not going to that far； not with Berelain； the trull still thought she could win him。 And that very morning； he had been manding； quietly brooking no argument； the sort of man a woman knew she had to be strong to deserve； to equal。 Of course； she would have to nip him over that。 A manding man was wonderful； so long as he did not e to believe he could always mand。 Laugh？ She could have sung！
〃Maighdin； I think after all I will。。。 〃 Maighdin was there immediately with an inquiring smile； but Faile trailed off at the sight of three riders ahead of her； plowing through the snow as fast as they could push their horses。
〃At least there are plenty of hares； my Lady；〃 Alliandre said； walking her tall white gelding up beside Swallow； 〃but I had hoped。。。 Who are they？〃 Her falcon shifted on her thick glove； the bells on its jesses jingling。 〃Why； it looks like some of your people； my Lady。〃
Faile nodded grimly。 She recognized them； too。 Parelean； Arrela and Lacile。 But what were they doing here？
The three drew rein before her； their horses panting steam。 Parelean looked as wide…eyed as his dapple。 Lacile； her pale face nearly hidden in the deep cowl of her cloak； was swallowing anxiously； and Arrela's dark face seemed gray。 〃My Lady；〃 Parelean said urgently； 〃dire news！ The Prophet Masema has been meeting with the Seanchan！〃
〃The Seanchan！〃 Alliandre exclaimed。 〃Surely he cannot believe they will e to the Lord Dragon！〃
〃It might be simpler；〃 Berelain said； heeling her too…showy white mare up on Alliandre's other side。 Without Perrin about for her to try to impress； her dark blue riding dress was cut quite modestly； with a neck up under her chin。 She still shivered。 〃Masema dislikes Aes Sedai； and the Seanchan keep women who can channel as prisoners。〃
Faile clicked her tongue in vexation。 Dire news indeed； if true。 And she could only hope Parelean and the others retained enough of their wits to at least pretend they had simply overheard talk by chance。 Even so； she had to be sure； and quickly。 Perrin might already have reached Masema。 〃What proof do you have； Parelean？〃
〃We talked to three farmers who saw a large flying creature land four nights ago； my Lady。 It brought a woman who was taken to Masema and remained with him for three hours。〃
〃We were able to trace her all the way to where Masema stays in Abila；〃 Lacile added。
〃The three men all thought the creature was Shadowspawn；〃 Arrela put in； 〃but they seemed fairly reliable。〃 For her to say any man not of Cha Faile was fairly reliable was the same as anyone else saying they thought he was honest as a bell。
〃I think I must ride into Abila；〃 Faile said； gathering Swallow's reins。 〃Alliandre； take Maighdin and Berelain with you。〃 Any other time； the tightening of Berelain's lips over that would have been amusing。 〃Parelean； Arrela and Lacile will acpany me … 〃 A man screamed； and everyone jerked。
Fifty paces away； one of Alliandre's green…coated soldiers was toppling from his saddle； and a moment later； a Winged Guard fell with an arrow standing out from his throat。 Aiel appeared among the trees； veiled and wielding bows as they ran。 More soldiers fell。 Bain and Chiad were on their feet； dark veils hiding their faces to the eyes； their spears were thrust through the straps of the bow cases on their back； and they worked their bows smoothly； but they cast glances toward Faile； too。 There were Aiel all around； hundreds it seemed； a great noose closing in。 Mounted soldiers lowered lances； pulling back in their own circle around Faile and the others； but gaps appeared immediately as Aiel arrows struck home。
〃Someone must get this news of Masema to Lord Perrin；〃 Faile told Parelean and the two women。 〃One of you must reach him！ Ride like fire！〃 Her sweeping gaze took in Alliandre and Maighdin。 And Berelain； too。 〃All of you； ride like fire； or die here！〃 Barely waiting for their nods； she suited actions to words； and dug her heels into Swallow's flanks； bursting through the useless ring of soldiers。 〃Ride！〃 she shouted。 Someone had to get the news to Perrin。 〃Ride！〃
Leaning low on Swallow's neck； she urged the black mare for speed。 Fleet hooves splashed snow as Swallow ran； light as her namesake。 For a hundred strides； Faile thought she might break free。 And then Swallow screamed and stumbled； pitching forward with the sharp snap of a breaking leg。 Faile flew through air and struck hard； most of the breath driven out of her as she plunged facedown into the snow。 Fighting for air； she struggled to her feet and snatched a knife from her belt。 Swallow had screamed before she stumbled； before that awful crack。
A veiled Aielman loomed up before her as if out of the air； chopping at her wrist with a stiffened hand。 Her knife dropped from suddenly numb fingers； and before she could try to draw another with her left hand； the man was on her。
She fought； kicking； punching； even biting； but the fellow was as wide as Perrin and a head taller。 He seemed as hard as Perrin； too； for all the impression she made on him。 She could have wept with frustration at the humiliating ease with which he handled her； first rooting out all of her knives and tucking them behind his belt； then using one of her own blades to cut her clothes away。 Almost before she knew it； she was naked in the snow； her elbows bound together behind her back with one of her stockings； the other tied about her neck for a leash。
She had no choice except to follow him； shivering and stumbling through the snow。 Her skin pebbled with the cold。 Light； how she had ever thought t