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The incredible abilities cas leeched life fro the ring would slow that process slightly, but once activated--done by touching a drop of one’s own blood to the stone ring while wearing it--the process was irreversible

These five would not return They would stay behind, whatever the results of the raid, to kill as many marath’damane as they could It was a terrible waste--those damane should be leashed--but better to kill theon Reborn

Fortuonahied in the days since her on Reborn Her new nah Blood often prostrated themselves before her Her so’jhin-- Selucia included--had shaved the hair froht side of their heads shaved and grow hair down the left side, braiding it as it grew For now, they wore caps on the left

The common people walked ain With all that rong in the world, this one thing was right again

Fortuona kissed the last of the five Bloodknives, speaking the words conde them to death, but also to herois at her side General Yulan came forward and bowed himself low "Let it be known by the Empress, may she live forever, that we shall not fail her"

"It is known," Selucia said "Light follow you Know that Her Majesty,rose drop three petals in the garden today The oiven Fulfill it, General, and your reward shall be great"

Yulan stood, saluting, fist to breast, ainst metal He led the soldiers to the to’raken pens, the five Bloodknives first Withinpasture outside the back of the pen, marked with poles and streamers, then launched itself into the air Others followed, a fleet, more than Fortuona had ever seen in the sky at once As the final light of sunset died, they struck northward

Raken and to’raken were not normally used in thisthe soldiers off at a staging point, where the to’raken would hile the soldiers attacked and returned But this raid was too vital Yulan’s plan called for aassault, the likes of which had rarely been contemplated To’raken with da fro of a bold new tactic Or it could lead to a disaster

"We have changed everything," Fortuona said softly "General Gal-gan is wrong; this will not give the Dragon Reborn a worse bargaining position It will turn hiainst us before?" Selucia asked

"No," Fortuona said "We were against him"

"And there is a difference?"

"Yes," Fortuona said, watching the cloud of to’raken, just barely visible in the sky "There is I fear we shall soon see just how big a difference that is"

CHAPTER 37

A Force of Light

Min sat quietly, watching Rand dress His motions were tense and careful, like the steps of a perforerie He did up the left cuff on his crisp white shirt with slow, deliberate fingers The right cuff was already done up; his servants saw to that

It was approaching evening outside Not quite dark yet, though the shutters were closed in preparation Rand reached for a gold and black coat, sliding on one sleeve, then the other Then did the buttons one after another He had no trouble with these; he was growing practiced at working with only one hand Button after button First, second, third, fourth

Min felt like screa

"Do you want to talk about it?" she asked

Rand did not turn from the mirror "About what?"

"The Seanchan"

"There will be no peace," he said, straightening his coat collar "I have failed" His tone was eht to be frustrated, Rand"

"Frustration is pointless," he said "Anger is pointless Neither ee facts, and the fact is that I have no more time to waste on the Seanchan We will have to risk an attack fro to the Last Battle without stability in Arad Doman It is not ideal, but it is what must happen"

The air shis were so conore theh she did spend tih the ed hole down the slope Dragonmount? It was cloaked in dark shadows, as if shaded by clouds high above That was odd; whenever she’d seen the her than the clouds theonmount in shadows It would be iht shining from the heavens down onto the point of the h Min knehat so back in the red-cushioned chair Her books lay scattered on the floor; she’d been dedicating more and more time to her studies, partly because she felt Rand’s sense of urgency, and partly because she didn’t knohat else to do She liked to think that she was capable of taking care of herself And she’d begun to think of herself as a last defense for Rand

Min had discovered just how useful she was as a "line of defense" She’d been about as useful as a child! In fact, she’d been a hindrance, a tool for Senant when Rand had suggested sending her away, giving hi it Send her away! To keep her safe? That was foolishness! She could take care of herself

So she had thought Now she saw that he’d been right

That made her sick So she studied and tried to stay out of his way He’d changed on that day, as if so out, its oil gone, leaving only the casing He looked at her differently, now When those eyes of his studied her, did they see only a liability?

She shivered, trying to shove that thought from her mind

Rand put on his boots, then did up their buckles

He stood, reaching for the shich leaned against his clothing chest The black scabbard, with its lacquered red and gold dragon, sparkled in the light Such a strange weapon those scholars had found beneath the sub it today as a syn, perhaps, that