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For an instant there was a silence broken only by Gallenne’s gasp and the

Then Perrin heard Faile, onceso softly no one next to her could have e and will defend and protect you and yours through battle’s wrack and winter’s blast and all that tiive to you as ht, I do accept " That ht she was too busy concentrating on hi the same The pair of theh, with heropen, appeared as stunned as he, like a fish who had just seen the water vanish

"Why?" he asked gently, ignoring Faile’s frustrated hiss and Berelain’s exasperated grunt alike Burn ht, I’m a bloody blacksmith! Nobody swore fealty to blacksmiths Queens did not swear fealty to anyone! "I’ve been told I’ht want to reconsider this in an hour"

"I hope you are ta’veren, ripped his hands even ht pull away "With allless will save Ghealdan I all but reached this decision as soon as the First toldyou only confirive, so duty deive it, on Reborn, blessed be his naht In truth, I would swear directly to hi to you, I also swear to hi a deep breath, she forced out another word "Please" She smelled desperate, now, and her eyes shone with fear

Still, he hesitated This was everything Rand could want and more, but Perrin Aybara was just a blacksmith He was! Could he still tell hi? Alliandre stared up at hily Did ta’veren work on theht, I, Perrin Aybara, accept your pledge " His throat was dry by the time he finished the words Faile had whispered Too late to stop and think now

With a gasp of relief, Alliandre kissed his hands Perrin did not think he had ever been so e hurriedly, he drew her to her feet And realized he did not knohat to do next A proudly bea Faile whispered no further hints Berelain sht have just been pulled from a fire

He was sure Annoura would speak -- Aes Sedai always had plenty to say, especially when it gave an opportunity to take charge -- but the Gray sister was holding out a winecup for Maighdin to refill Annoura watched him with an unreadable expression, and for thather pitcher until punch slopped over onto the Aes Sedai’s wrist At which Annoura gave a start, staring at the cup in her hand as though she had forgotten it was there Faile frowned, and Lini frowned even harder, and Maighdin scurried for a cloth to dry the sister’s hand, all the whileto have fits if she ever heard thoseAlliandre licked her lips anxiously; she expected more, but what? "Now that we’re done here, I have to find the Prophet next," he said, and winced Too abrupt He had no feel for dealing with nobles, et back to Bethal before anyone learns you’re gone"

"The last I heard," Alliandre told hiish town in Aues south of here"

In spite of hih he sht in one thing did notwhat the man had to say about the Whitecloaks And the Seanchan Howa hand on his ar a warm smile at Alliandre "You cannot mean to send her away now, my heart Not when she has just arrived Leave us to talk here out of the sun before she must face the ride back I know you have ied not to stare, with a little effort What could be more i anyone would let him lay hand to Clearly she wanted to talk with Alliandre without him With luck, she would tell him why later With luck, she would tell hiht think he knew Saldaeans, but Perrin had learned on his own that only a fool tried to root out all of his wife’s secrets Or let her know about those he had unearthed already

Leaving Alliandre should no doubt involve asandoff, and she curtsied deeply,that he honored her toohis head at Gallenne to follow him He doubted that Faile would send him off and want that one to stay What did she want to talk about alone?

Outside, the oneeyed ered a smaller man "Burn me, I’ve never heard of the like! Now I can say I’ve seen a ta’veren at work for true What did you ith me?" And as he to say to that?

Just then, he heard shouting froh that Two Rivers h the side of the hill hid everything

"First let’s see what all that is about," Perrin replied That would give him tis

Faile waited a fewthe servants that she and the others would see to the at Alliandre that Lini had to pluck at her sleeve before sheher cup down, Faile followed the three wo the off through the trees toward the Mayener ca not far off Catching Parelean’s eye, she gestured low in front of her waist, where no one behind her could see A quick circular motion followed by a clenched fist Iroups of two or three and spread out Far less elaborate than Maiden handtalk, Cha Faile’s signals sufficed Inof her people had surrounded the tent, apparently at rando at cat’s cradle But no one would co before t