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Several of the soldiers risked co forward to help their fallen friends The heavyset watch sergeant was stirring, and he sat up, cursing under his breath Gawynht the wene could be dead by now! When a eant tried to assert his authority, you really only had two options You could talk your way up through the ranks of the bureaucracy, convincing each soldier each step of the way that you were important Or you could make a disturbance The second was faster, and the cah Aes Sedai support to Heal a few injured soldiers

Eventually, a sroup of men strode out from inside the palisade Their uniforerous, their faces worn At their head ca, stocky build Gawyn samble had worked

The Captain-General surveyed Gawyn, then moved on to a quick inspection of his fallen soldiers At last, he shook his head "Stand down," he said to his eant stood up "Sir!"

Bryne glanced back at Gawyn "Next ti for me, send for an officer Immediately I don’t care if the man has two months of scruffy beard and reeks of cheap ale Understood?"

"Yes, sir," the sergeant said, blushing "Understood, sir"

"See yourat Gawyn "You, come with me"

Gawyn clenched his jaw He hadn’t received such an address fro Still, he couldn’t really expect the man to be pleased Just inside the palisade, Gawyn spotted a young boy as likely a stablehand or e to the wide-eyed youth, instructing him to see the horse cared for Then Gawyn retrieved his sword fro it and hurried after Bryne

"Gareth," Gawyn said, catching up, "I--"

"Hold your tongue, youngtoward hi to do with you"

Gawyn snapped his mouth closed That was uncalled for! Gaas still brother to the rightful Queen of Andor, and would be First Prince of the Sword should Elayne take and hold the throne! Bryne should show him respect

But Bryne could be stubborn as a boar Gawyn held his tongue They reached a tall, peaked tent with two guards at the front Bryne ducked inside and Gawyn followed The inside was neat and clean, more so than Gawyn had expected The desk was stacked with rolled maps and orderly sheets of paper, and the pallets in the corner were rolled carefully, blankets folded with sharp angles Bryne was obviously relying on someone meticulous to tidy up for him

Bryne clasped his hands behind his back, breastplate reflecting Gawyn’s face as he turned around "All right Explain what you’re doing here"

Gawyn drew himself up "General," he said, "I think you er your student"

"I know," Bryne said curtly "The boy / trained would never have pulled a childish stunt like that one to get erent, and I had no patience for the posturing of a fool This seemed the best way"

"The best way to what}" Bryne asked "Outrage me?"

"Look," Gawyn said, "perhaps I was hasty, but I have an important task You need to listen to me"

"And if I don’t?" Bryne asked "If I instead throw you out ofwith too h sense?"

Gawyn frowned "Be careful, Gareth I’ve learned a great deal since we last er best mine as easily as it once did"

"I have no doubt of that," Bryne said "Light, boy! You alere a talented one But you think that just because you’re skilled with the sword, your words hold ht? I should listen because you’ll kill ht you far better than that"

Bryne had aged since Gawyn had last seen hie didn’t bow Bryne down--it rested comfortably on his shoulders A few more traces of white at his te and lean enough of body that he looked years younger than he was One couldn’t look at Gareth Bryne and see anything other than a man in--certainly not past--his pri to keep the anger froeneral should be As Gawyn should be

Gawyn looked away, suddenly feeling asha his sword and raising a hand to his head He suddenly felt very, very tired "I’ht I’ve been a fool"

Bryne grunted "Good to hear you say that I was beginning to wonder what had happened to you"

Gawyn sighed, wiping his broishing for soer melted away, and he felt exhausted "It has been a difficult year," he said, "and I rode e of my mind"

"You aren’t the only one, lad," Bryne said He took a deep breath and walked to a s for Gawyn It was only warm tea, but Gawyn took it thankfully and sipped

"These are ti hiri down at his cup

"It’s nothing I despise this stuff"

"Then why drink it?" Gawyn asked

"It’s supposed to irueneral continued, "So are you going to make me throw you in the stocks before you’ll tell ht your way into my cowene They have her"

"The White Tower Aes Sedai?"

Gawyn nodded urgently

"I know" Bryne took another drink, then grio for her!" Gawyn said "I came to ask you for help I intend to mount a rescue"

Bryne snorted softly "A rescue? And how do you intend to get into the White Tower? Even the Aiel couldn’t break into that city"

"They didn’t want to," Gawyn said "But I don’t need to take the city, I just need to sneak a set one person out Every rock has its cracks I’ll find a way"

Bryne set his cup aside He looked at Gawyn, firm, weathered face an icon of nobility "But tell et her to come out with you?"