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"You did as ordered," Rand said, walking back toward the green He wanted to blame Harine for the prejudices of an entire world, but that was not fair He needed a better way, a way to make everyone see
"I’ve never been exceptional at ateways," Flinn continued "Not like Androl I needed to--"
"Flinn," Rand said, cutting in "Enough"
The Asha’on"
To the side, Corele laughed softly, patting Flinn on the shoulder "Don’tMurandian accent "He’s been as surly as a winter thunderhead all ood-naturedly Regardless of what the Aes Sedai thought of eneral, the ones who had taken Asha’man as Warders seemed as protective of them as mothers of their children She had bonded one of his e the fact that Flinn was one of his men An Asha’man first and foremost, a Warder second
"What do you think, Elza?" Rand said, turning from Corele to the other Aes Sedai "About the taint and what Harine said?"
The round-faced woreen dress marked only by subtle eon says that the taint has been cleansed," the woman said carefully, "then it is certainly improper to express doubt of hirimaced An Aes Sedai answer for certain Oath or no oath, Elza did as she wished
"Oh, ere both there at Shadar Logoth," Corele said, rolling her eyes "We sahat you did, Rand Besides, I can feel ed The taint is gone Right as sunlight, it is, though channeling thewith a summer ind"
"Yes," Elza said, "but be that as it is, you must realize how difficult it will be for others to believe this, Lord Dragon During the Time of Madness, it took decades for soo insane It will likely take longer for therained for so long"
Rand gritted his teeth He had reached a small hill at the side of the camp, just beside the bulwark He continued up to the top, Aes Sedai following Here, a short wooden platfor arrows over the bulwark
Rand stopped at the top of the hill, Maidens surrounding him He barely noticed the soldiers who saluted him as he looked over the Sal-daean camp with its neat tent lines
Was this all he would leave to the world? A taint cleansed, yetthey could not help? He had bound hter one tied a bale, the sharper the snap of the cords when they were cut What would happen when he died? Wars and devastation to ? He hadn’t been able to help that last tirief at Hyena’s death had consu similar this time? Did he have a choice?
He was ta’veren The Pattern bent and shaped around hi: the ained, the less control you had over your life Duty was truly heavier than a mountain; it forced his hand as often as the prophecies did Or were they both one and the same? Duty and prophecy? His nature as a ta’veren and his place in history? Could he change his life? Could he leave the world better for his passing, rather than leaving the nations scarred, torn and bleeding?
He watched the caround, searching for patches of winter grass that had not already been chewed to their roots Though Rand had ordered this arht, there were still camp followers Women to help with meals and laundry, blacks boys to run es and to train on the weapons Saldaea was a Borderland, and battle was a way of life for its people
"I envy them, so up to him
"The people of the ca each day under orders Strict orders, at times But orders or not, those people arehis leathery face with an aged finger "You are the most powerful man alive! You’re ta’veren Even the Pattern obeys your will, 1 should think!"
Rand shook his head "It doesn’t work that way, Flinn Those people out there, any one of them could just ride away Escape, if they felt like it Leave the battle to others"
"I’ve known a few Saldaeans in ive me, but I have doubts that any one of them would do that"
"But they could" Rand said "It’s possible For all their laws and oaths, they are free Me, I seehtly the bonds cut ainst fate My freedom is all just an illusion, Flinn And so I envy them Sometimes"
Flinn folded his hands behind his back, obviously uncertain how to respond
We all do as we must, Moiraine’s voice from the past returned to his memory As the Pattern decrees For some there is less freedom than for others It does not matter whether we choose or are chosen What , Moiraine, he thought I will do what on!" a voice called Rand turned toward the sound and saw one of Bashere’s scouts running up the hill The Maidens cautiously allowed the youthful, dark-haired"There are Aiel on the outskirts of the cah the trees about half a an toin their clandestine handtalk
"Did any of those Aiel wave at you, soldier?" Rand asked dryly
"My Lord?" the man asked "Why would they do that?"
"They’re Aiel If you saw them, that means they wanted you to--and that means they’re allies, not foes Infor with Rhuarc and Bael shortly It is time to secure Arad Doman"
Or maybe it was time to destroy it Sometimes, it was difficult to tell the difference
Merise spoke "Graendal’s plans Tell ain what you know of them" The tall Aes Sedai--of the Green Ajah, like Cadsuane herself--maintained a stern expression, arms folded beneath her brsts, a silver comb slid into the side of her black hair
The Taraboner woation Or, at least, she was the best choice Cadsuane had Merise didn’t show a bit of discos in all of creation, and she was relentless in her questioning She did try a little too hard to prove how stern she was The way she kept her hair pulled back into its bun with such force, for instance, or the way she flaunted her Asha’man Warder