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whole lashing of them needed a swift kick in the bottom to knock some sense into them。 Dueling； playing at ji'e'toh； pretending to be some sort of Aiel。 Idiocy！
Lacile rose to her feet as Perrin came closer； a pale little woman with red ribbons pinned to her lapels； small gold hoops in her ears； and a challenging stare that sometimes made the Two Rivers men think she might like a kiss despite her sword。 Right then； the challenge was stony hard。 A moment behind her； Arrela stood too； tall and dark； with her hair cut short as a Maiden's and her clothes plainer than most of the men's。 Unlike Lacile； Arrela made it clear she would as soon kiss a dog as any man。 The pair made as if to move in front of the tent； to block Perrin's way； but a square…chinned fellow in a puffy…sleeved coat barked an order and they sat again。 Reluctantly。 For that matter； Parelean thumbed that block of a chin as though he might be reconsidering。 He had worn a beard the first time Perrin saw him … several of the Tairen men had had them … but Aiel did not wear beards。
Perrin muttered about foolishness under his breath。 They were Faile's to the bone； and the fact that he was her husband meant little。 Aram might be jealous of his attentions； yet Aram at least shared his affections with Faile。 He could feel the young idiots' eyes on him as he strode inside。 Faile would skin him if she ever learned that he hoped they would keep her from trouble。
The tent was tall and spacious； with a flowered carpet for a floor and sparse furnishings that folded for storage on a cart； most of them。 The heavy stand…mirror certainly could not。 Except for brass…bound chests draped with embroidered cloths and doubling as extra tables； straight lines of bright gilt decorated everything down to the washstand and its mirror。 A dozen mirrored lamps made the interior nearly as bright as outside； if considerably cooler； and there were even a pair of silk hangings dangling from the roof poles； too ornate for Perrin's taste。 Too rigid； with the birds and flowers marching in lines and angles。 Dobraine had set them up to travel like Cairhienin nobles； though Perrin had managed to 〃lose〃 the worst of it。 The huge bed； for one； a ridiculous thing to travel with。 It had taken up almost a whole cart to itself。
Faile and Maighdin were sitting alone together； worked silver cups in hand。 They had the air of women feeling one another out； all smiles on the outside yet with a hint of sharpness to the eyes； a hint of listening for something behind the words； and not a clue as to whether they would hug in the next instant or draw knives。 Well； he thought most women would not actually go as far as knives； but Faile could。 Maighdin appeared much less travel…worn than she had； washed and bed； the dust brushed from her dress。 A small mosaic…topped table between them held more cups and a tall sweating silver pitcher that gave off the minty scent of herb tea。 Both women looked around at his entrance； and for an instant； they had almost exactly the same expression； coolly wondering who was barging in and not at all pleased with the interruption。 At least Faile softened hers immediately with a smile。
〃Master Gill told me your story； Mistress Dorlain；〃 he said。 〃You've faced hard days； but you can be sure you're safe here till you decide to leave。〃 The woman murmured thanks over the rim of her cup； but she smelled wary； and her eyes tried to read him like a book。
〃Maighdin also told me their story； Perrin；〃 Faile said； 〃and I have an offer to make her。 Maighdin； you and your friends have had trying months behind； and you tell me of no prospects ahead。 Enter my service； all of you。 You will still have to journey； but the circumstances will be much better。 I pay well； and I am not a harsh mistress。〃 Perrin voiced his approval immediately。 If Faile wanted to indulge her fancy for taking in strays； at least he wanted to help this lot； too。 Maybe they would be safer with him than wandering around alone at that。
Choking on her tea； Maighdin nearly dropped her cup。 She blinked at Faile； dabbing at the damp on her chin with a lace…edged linen handkerchief； and her chair creaked faintly as she turned； strangely； to study Perrin。 〃I。。。 thank you；〃 she said at last； slowly。 〃I think。。。 〃 Another moment's perusal of Perrin； and her voice picked up。 〃Yes； I thank you； and I accept your kind offer gratefully。 I must tell my panions。〃 Rising； she hesitated in setting her cup on the tray； then straightened only to spread her skirts in a curtsy suitable for any palace。 〃I will try to give good service； my Lady；〃 she said levelly。 〃May I withdraw？〃 At Faile's assent； she curtsied again and backed away two steps before turning to go！ Perrin scratched his beard。 Somebody else who would be bobbing at him every time she turned around。
No sooner had the tentflap dropped behind Maighdin than Faile put her cup down and laughed； drumming her heels on the carpet。 〃Oh； I like her； Perrin。 She has spirit！ I'll wager she would have singed your beard over those banners if I hadn't saved you。 Oh； yes。 Spirit！〃
Perrin grunted。 Just what he needed； another woman to singe his beard。 〃I promised Master Gill to look after them； Faile； but。。。 Can you guess what that Lini asked？ She wanted me to marry Maighdin to that fellow Tallanvor。 Just stand them up and marry them whatever they said！ She claimed they want it。〃 He filled a silver cup with tea and dropped into the chair Maighdin had vacated； ignoring its alarming groans under his sudden weight。 〃In any case； that nonsense is the least of my worries。 Master Gill says it was the Seanchan took Amador； and I believe him。 Light！ The Seanchan！〃
Faile tapped her fingertips together； staring across them at nothing。 〃That might be just the thing；〃 she mused。 〃Most servants do better married than not。 Perhaps I should arrange it。 And for Breane； too。 The way she went running out of here to check on that big fellow as soon as her face was clean； I suspect they should be already。 There was a gleam in her eye。 I won't have that kind of behavior in my servants； Perrin。 It just leads to tears and recriminations and sulking。 And Breane will be worse than he is。〃
Perrin stared at her。 〃Did you hear me？〃 he said slowly。 〃The Seanchan have captured Amador！ The Seanchan； Faile！〃
She gave a start … she really had been thinking about marrying off those women！ … then smiled at him； amused。 〃Amador is long way； yet； and if we do meet with these Seanchan； I'm sure you will deal with them。 After all； you taught me to perch on your wrist； didn't you？〃 That was what she claimed； though he had never seen any sign of it。
〃They might be a touch more difficult than you were；〃 he said dryly； and she smiled again。 She smelled extremely pleased； for some reason。 〃I'm thinking about sending Grady or Neald to warn Rand； no matter what he said。〃 She shook her head fiercely； smiles evaporating； but he pushed on。 〃If I knew how to find him； I would。 There has to be some way to get word to him without anyone learning of it。〃 Rand had insisted on that more than he had on secrecy about Masema。 Perrin had been exiled from Rand's presence； and no one was to know anything remained between them except enmity。
〃He knows； Perrin。 I'm sure of it。 Maighdin saw pigeoncotes everywhere in Amador； and apparently the Seanchan didn't look at them twice。 By this time； any merchant who has business with Amador has heard； and so has the White Tower。 Believe me； Rand must have； too。 You have to trust that he knows best。 In this； he does。〃 She was not always so certain of that。
〃Maybe；〃 Perrin muttered irritably。 He tried not to worry about Rand's sanity； but Rand made Perrin at his most suspicious look like a child skipping in a meadow。 How much did Rand trust even him？ Rand kept things back； had plans he never let on。
Exhaling； Perrin settled back in the chair； gulped a swallow of tea。 The truth of it was； mad or sane； Rand was right。 If the Forsaken caught a suspicion of what he was up to； or the White Tower did； they would find some way to overturn the anvil on his feet。 〃At least I can give the Tower's eyes…and…ears less to talk about。 This time； I'm burning that bloody banner。〃 And the Wolf…head； too。 He might have to play at being a lord； but he could do it without a bloody flag！
Faile's full lips pursed judiciously； and she shook her head slightly。 Slipping from her chair； she knelt beside him； took his wrist in her hands。 Perrin met her level gaze warily。 When she looked at him so intently； so seriously； she was about to tell him something important。 That； or pull the wool over his eyes and spin him around till he did not know front from back。 Her scent told him nothing。 He tried to stop smelling her； it was all too easy to lose himself in that； and then she would pull the wool over his eyes。 One thing he had learned since marrying： a man needed all of his wits dealing with a woman。 Too often even that was not enough； women did what they wanted as surely as Aes Sedai。
〃You might want to reconsider； husband；〃 she murmured。 A tiny smile quirked her mouth as if she once again knew what he was thinking。 〃I doubt anyone who's seen us since we entered Ghealdan knew what the Red Eagle is。 Around a town the size of Bethal； some will； though。 And the longer we have to hunt for Masema； the greater the chance。〃
He did not bother with saying that was all the more reason to get rid of the banner。 Faile was no fool； and she thought much faster than he。 〃Then why keep it；〃 he asked slowly； 〃when all it'll do is draw eyes to the idiot everybody will think is trying to pull Manetheren out of the grave？〃 Men had tried that in the past； and women； too； the name of Manetheren carried powerful memories； and it was convenient for anyone who wanted to start a rebellion。
〃Because it will draw eyes。〃 She leaned toward him intently。 〃To a man trying to raise up Manetheren again。 Lesser folk will smile to your face； hope you ride on soon； and try to forget you as soon as you do。 As for the greater； they've too much in front of their faces right now to look twice unless you pinch their noses。 pared to the Seanchan； or the Prophet； or the Whitecloaks； a man trying to raise Manetheren is small turnips。 And I think it's safe to say the Tower won't look twice either； not now。〃 Her smile widened； and the light in her eyes said she was about to make her most telling point。 〃But most important； no one will think that man is doing anything else。〃 Abruptly her smile vanished； she stuck a finger against his nose； hard。 〃And don't call yourself an idiot； Perrin t'Bashere Aybara。 Not even sideways； like that。 You aren't； and I do not like it。〃 Her scent was tiny spikes； not true anger but definitely displeased。
Quicksilver。 A kingfisher flashing by faster than thought。 Certainly faster than his thoughts。 It would never have occurred to him to hide so。。。 flagrantly。 But he could see the sense。 It was like concealing the fact that you were a murderer by claiming to be a thief。 Yet it might work。
Chuckling； he kissed her fingertip。 〃The banner stays；〃 he said。 He supposed that meant the Wolfhead did； too。 Blood and bloody ashes！ 〃Alliandre has to know the truth； though。 If she thinks Rand means to set me up as King of Manetheren and take her lands。。。〃
Faile rose so suddenly； turning away； that he was afraid he had made a mistake bringing up the Queen。 Alliandre could lead to Berelain all too easily； and Faile smelled。。。 prickly。 Wary。 But what she said； over her shoulder； was 〃Alliandre won't be a bit of trouble for Perrin Goldeneyes。 That bird's as good as netted； husband； so it's time to put our minds on how to find Masema。〃 Kneeling gracefully beside a small chest against the tent wall； the only chest without draperies； she lifted the lid and began removing rolled maps。
Perrin hoped she was right about Alliandre； because he did not know what to do if she was wrong。 If only he were half what she thought him。 Alliandre was a netted bird； the Seanchan would fall over like dolls for Perrin Goldeneyes； and he would snatch up the Prophet and take him to Rand if Masema had ten thousand men around him。 Not for the first time he r