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ack clouds beyond the casements that were laying a new blanket of snow on Cairhien。
Min exchanged looks with Fedwin Morr； who stood by the sun…carved doors。 The Maidens now let anyone who was not an obvious threat walk in unannounced； but those Rand did not want to see this morning would be turned away by the husky boy。 He wore the Dragon and Sword on his black collar； and Min knew he had already seen more battles … more horror … than most men three times his age； yet he was a boy。 Today； casting uneasy glances at Rand； he seemed younger than ever。 The sword on his hip still looked out of place； to her。
〃The Dragon Reborn is a man； Fedwin；〃 she said。 〃And like any man； he's sulking because he thinks a woman doesn't want to see him again。〃
Goggling； the boy jerked as if she had goosed him。 Rand stopped to scowl at her sullenly。 All that kept her from laughing was knowing that he was hiding pain as real as any stab wound。 That； and the sure knowledge that he would be as hurt if she had done what had been done。 Not that she would ever have the chance to rip down his banners； but the point applied。 Rand had been stunned at first by the news Taim brought from Caemlyn at dawn； but as soon as the man left； he had stopped looking like a poleaxed bull and started。。。 This！
Standing； she adjusted her pale green coat； folded her arms beneath her breasts； and confronted him directly。 〃What else can it be？〃 she asked calmly。 Well； she tried for calm； and almost made it。 She loved the man； but after a morning of this； she wanted to box his ears soundly。 〃You haven't mentioned Mat twice； and you don't know whether he's even alive。〃
〃Mat's alive；〃 Rand snarled。 〃I'd know if he was dead。 What do you mean I'm …！〃 His jaw clenched as if he could not make himself say the word。
〃Sulking；〃 she provided。 〃Soon； you'll be pouting。 Some women think men are prettier when they pout。 I'm not one of them。〃 Well； enough of that。 His face had darkened； and he was not blushing。 〃Haven't you twisted yourself into knots to make sure she got the throne of Andor？ Which is hers by right； might I add。 Didn't you say you wanted her to have Andor whole； not ripped apart like Cairhien or Tear？〃
〃I did！〃 he roared。 〃And now it's hers； and she wants me out of it！ Good enough； I say！ And don't tell me again to stop shouting！ I'm not …！〃 He realized that he was； and clamped his teeth shut。 A low growl came from his throat。 Morr set to studying one of his buttons； twisting it back and forth。 He had been doing a lot of that this morning。
Min kept her face smooth。 She was not going to slap him； and he was too big for her to spank。 〃Andor is hers； just as you wanted；〃 she said。 Calmly。 Almost。 〃None of the Forsaken are going after her now she's torn your banners down。〃 A dangerous light appeared in those blue…gray eyes； but she pressed on。 〃Just as you wanted。 And you can't believe she's siding with your enemies。 Andor will follow the Dragon Reborn； and you know it。 So the only reason for you to be in a snit is because you think she doesn't want to see you。 Go to her； you fool！〃 The next part was the hardest to say。 〃Before you can say two words； she'll be kissing you。〃 Light； she loved Elayne almost as much as she did Rand … maybe as much； in a very different way … but how was a woman to pete with a beautiful golden…haired queen who had a powerful nation at her beck and call？
〃I am not。。。 angry；〃 Rand said in a tight voice。 And started pacing again。 Min considered kicking him square in the bottom。 Hard。
One of the doors opened to admit leathery white…haired Sorilea； who brushed Morr aside even as he was looking to see whether Rand wanted her allowed entry。 Rand opened his mouth … angrily； whatever he chose to claim … and five women in thick black robes damp with melted snow followed the Wise One into the room； hands folded； eyes down； and deep hoods not quite hiding their faces。 Their feet were wrapped in rags。
Min's scalp prickled。 To her eyes； images and auras danced and vanished and were replaced around all six women； just as around Rand。 She had been hoping he had forgotten those five were alive。 What in the name of the Light was that wicked old woman doing？
Sorilea gestured once in a clatter of gold and ivory bracelets； and the five hastily arranged themselves in a line atop the golden Rising Sun set in the stone floor。 Rand strode along that row； stripping back hoods； baring faces that he stared into cold…eyed。
Every one of the black…robed women was unwashed； her hair lank and dirty with sweat。 Elza Penfell； a Green sister； met his gaze eagerly； a strangely fervent look on her face。 Nesune Bihara； a slender Brown； studied him as intently as he did her。 Sarene Nemdahl； so beautiful even in her dirt that you thought her agelessness must be natural； appeared to be holding to her White Ajah coolness by a fingernail。 Beldeine Nyram； too new to the shawl to have the ageless features； essayed an uncertain smile that melted under his stare。 Erian Boroleos； pale and almost as lovely as Sarene； flinched； then visibly forced herself to look into that frigid gaze。 Those last two also were Green； and all five had been among the sisters who kidnapped him on Elaida's orders。 Some had been among those who tortured him while trying to carry him to Tar Valon。 Sometimes Rand still woke； sweating and panting； mumbling about being confined； being beaten。 Min hoped she did not see murder in his stare。
〃These were named da'tsang； Rand al'Thor；〃 Sorilea said。 〃I think they feel their shame in the bone； now。 Erian Boroleos was the first to ask to be beaten as you were； sunrise and sunset； but now each has done so。 That plea has been granted。 Each has asked to serve you however she may。 The toh for their betrayal cannot be met；〃 her voice darkened for a moment； to the Aiel； the betrayal of the kidnapping was far worse than what they had done after； 〃yet they know their shame； and they wish to try。 We have decided to leave the choice to you。〃
Min frowned。 Leave the choice to him？ Wise Ones rarely left any choice they could make to anyone else。 Sorilea never did。 The sinewy Wise One casually shifted her dark shawl on her shoulders and watched Rand as if this was of no importance at all。 But she shot one blue ice glance at Min； and suddenly Min was sure that if she said the wrong thing here； that bony old woman would have her hide。 It was not a viewing。 She just knew Sorilea better than she wanted to； by now。
Determinedly she set to studying what was appearing and vanishing around the women。 No easy task when they stood so close together she could not be certain whether a particular image belonged to one woman or the woman next to her。 At least the auras were always certain。 Light； let her be able to understand at least some of what she saw！
Rand took Sorilea's announcement coolly； on the surface。 He rubbed his hands together slowly； then thoughtfully examined the herons branded on his palms。 He examined each of those Aes Sedai faces in turn。 Finally； he focused on Erian。
〃Why？〃 he asked her in a mild voice。 〃I killed two of your Warders。 Why？〃 Min winced。 Rand was many things； but seldom mild。 And Erian was one of the few who had beaten him more than once。
The pale Illianer sister straightened。 Images danced； and auras flashed and were gone。 Nothing Min could read。 Dirty…faced and her long black hair matted； Erian gathered Aes Sedai authority around her and met his gaze levelly。 But her answer came simply and directly。 〃We did be wrong in taking you。 I have considered long on it。 You must fight the Last Battle； and we must help you。 If you will no accept me； I do understand； but I will help as you do require if you will allow。〃
Rand stared at her without expression。
He put that same one…word question to each； and their answers were as different as the women。
〃The Green is the Battle Ajah；〃 Beldeine told him proudly； and despite smudges on her cheeks and dark circles beneath her eyes； she did look a Queen of Battles。 But then； Saldaean women seemed to find that second nature。 〃When you go to Tarmon Gai'don； the Green must be there。 I will follow； if you will accept me。〃 Light； she was going to bond an Asha'man as a Warder！ How。。。？ No； it was not important now。
〃What we did was logical at the time。〃 Sarene's tightly held cool serenity slipped into clear worry； and she shook her head。 〃I say that to explain； not to exculpate。 Circumstances have changed。 For you； the logical course might seem to。。。 〃 She drew a decidedly unsteady breath。 Images and auras； a tempestuous love affair； of all things！ The woman was ice； however beautiful。 And there was nothing useful in knowing some man would melt her！ 〃To send us back to captivity；〃 she went on； 〃or even execute us。 For me； logic says I must serve you。〃
Nesune tilted her head； and her nearly black eyes seemed to be trying to store away every scrap of him。 One red…and…green aura spoke of honors； and fame。 A huge building appeared above her head and vanished。 A library she would found。 〃I want to study you；〃 she said simply。 〃I can hardly do that carrying stones or digging holes。 They do leave plenty of time for thought； but serving you seems a fair exchange for what I might learn。〃 Rand blinked at the directness of that； but otherwise； his expression did not alter。
The most surprising answer came from Elza； in her manner of delivery more than the words。 Sinking to her knees； she gazed up at Rand with feverish eyes。 Her whole face seemed to shine with fervor。 Auras flared and images cascaded around her； telling nothing。 〃You are the Dragon Reborn；〃 she said breathlessly。 〃You must be there for the Last Battle。 I must help you be there！ Whatever is necessary； I will do！〃 And she flung herself facedown； pressing her lips to the polished stone floor in front of his boots。 Even Sorilea looked taken aback； and Sarene's mouth dropped open。 Morr gaped at her and hastily returned to twisting his button。 Min thought he giggled nervously； almost under his breath。
Turning on his heel； Rand stalked halfway to the Dragon Throne； where his scepter and the crown of Illian rested atop his gold…embroidered red coat。 His face was so bleak that Min wanted to rush to him no matter who was watching； but she continued to study the Aes Sedai。 And Sorilea。 She had never seen anything really useful around that white…haired harridan。
Abruptly； Rand turned back； striding toward the line of women so quickly that Beldeine and Sarene stepped back。 A sharp gesture from Sorilea jerked them into place again。
〃Would you accept being confined in a box？〃 His voice grated； stone grinding on frozen stone。 〃Locked in a chest all day； and beaten before you go in and when you e out？〃 That was what they had done to him。
〃Yes！〃 Elza moaned against the floor。 〃Whatever I must do； I will！〃
〃If you do require it；〃 Erian managed shakily； and； faces aghast； the others nodded slowly。
Min stared in amazement； knotting her fists in her coat pockets。 That he might think of getting his own back in the same manner seemed almost natural； but she had to stop it； somehow。 She knew him better than he did himself； she knew where he was hard as a knife blade； and where he was vulnerable no matter how he denied it。 He would never forgive himself this。 But how？ Fury contorted his face； and he shook his head as he did when arguing with that voice he heard。 He muttered one word aloud that she understood。 Ta'veren。 Sorilea stood there calmly examining him as closely as Nesune did。 Not even the threat of the chest shook the Brown。 Except for Elza； still moaning and kissing the floor； the others were hollow…eyed； as if seeing themselves doubled up and bound as he had been。
Among all of those images spilling around Rand and the women； suddenly an aura flashed； blue and yellow tinged with green； enpassing them all。 And Min knew its meaning。 She gasped； half in surprise； half in relief。
〃They will serve you； each in her fashion； Rand；〃 she said hurriedly。 〃I saw it。〃 Sorilea would serve him？ Suddenly Min wondered exactly what 〃in her fashion〃 meant。 The words came with the knowing； but she