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Over the years, the Ogier and Two Rivers people had worked closely together--to the extent that noo Rivers craftsht the world over Rand walked up the roadway,colorful, fil Tairens--the division between coy clothing and shirtsexotic silks Borderlanders with noble airs Even some Sharans

All had come to Emond’s Field The city now bore little resemblance to its nareen spaces dotted the landscape than one would find in other great cities, like Caemlyn or Tear In the Two Rivers, craftsmen were revered And their roup of Two Riversrifles, served with the Aiel in their peacekeeping cans in Shara It was the only place as known in the world Oh, there were disputes here and there The flare up between Murandy and Tear five years back had nearly given the land its first real war in the century since the Last Battle

Rand s, but listening with pride to the joy in people’s voices The "flare-up" in Murandy had been dyna A single disgruntled nobleman had fired on an Aiel patrol Three wounded, none dead, and this was the worst "fighting" in years, outside of the Sharan cah the thin cloud cover, bathing the roadway in light Rand finally reached the city square, which had once been the Green in Emond’s Field What to think of the Quarry Road now that it ide enough to march an army down? He walked around the massive fountain at the center of the square, a monument to those who had fallen in the Last Battle, crafted by the Ogier

He saw fa the statuary in the center of the fountain, and turned away

Not final yet, he thought This isn’t real yet He’d built this reality out of threads of what could be, of mirrors of the world as it now played out It wasn’t set

For the first tin, his confidence shook He knew the Last Battle wasn’t a failure But people were dying Did he think to stop all death, all pain?

This should be ht They shouldn’t have to die Wasn’t his sacrifice enough?

So he’d asked tiain

The vision quivered, fine stones beneath his feet buzzing, buildings shaking and wavering The people stopped in place,Down a small side street, he saw a darkness appear like a pinprick that expanded, engulfing everything near it--sucking therew to the size of one of the houses, slowly expanding

YOUR DREAM IS WEAK, ADVERSARY

Rand asserted his will, and the quivering stopped People who had frozen in place resuain Soft wind blen the ay, rustling banners on poles proclai celebration

"I will see that it happens", Rand said to the darkness "This is your failing Happiness, growth, love"

THESE PEOPLE ARE MINE NOW I WILL TAKE THEM

"You are darkness", Rand said loudly "Darkness cannot push back Light Darkness exists only when Light fails, when it flees I will not fail I will not flee You cannot win so long as I bar your path, Shaitan"