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Dashiva, sluray’s saddle like a rily under his breath In the Old Tongue, which he spoke and read as fluently as a scholar Rand knew a little, though not enough to understand what the felloasa far outofdoors unless the skies were clear

Only Hopwil rode in silence, frowning at so about as wildly as Dashiva’s Now and then he clutched the hilt of his sword unconsciously Rand had to speak three tiave a surprised jerk and booted his lanky dun up beside Tai’daishar

Rand studied hie -- had filled out since Rand first saw hier old, now balanced the silver Sword on his high collar, just like Dashiva’s Once, he had said he would laugh a year for joy when the Dragon was his, but he stared unblinking at Rand as though looking through hiood news," Rand told hion Scepter in his fist "You did well" He had expected the Seanchan to return, but not so soon He had hoped not so soon And not leaping out of nowhere, sing cities at a gulp When he found out that merchants in Illian had known for days before any of theht forbid they should lose a chance at profit because toothe city to its foundations But the neas good, or as good as it could be in the circumstances Hopwil had Traveled to Amador, to the countryside nearby, and the Seanchan appeared to be waiting Perhaps digesting what they had consurip to loosen on the length of Dragoncarved spearhead "If Morr brings half as good, I have ti with theht burn the Seanchan! They were a distraction, one he did not need and could not afford to ignore

Hopwil said nothing, only looked

"Are you upset because you had to kill women?" Desora, of the Musara Reyn, and Laoma, and Rand forced down the instinctive litany even as it began floating across the Void New names had appeared on that list, nain Arnault, a Red sister who had died trying to take hiht to a place, but she had claied herself rather than accept justice Others Men had died in thousands, by his order or by his hand, but it was the faces of the woht, heeyes Maybe it was their eyes he had felt of late

"I told you about dae flared, fire spiderwebbing around the eht burn htmares could hold! My hands are black with the blood of women! "If you hadn’t wiped out that Seanchan patrol, they’d have killed you for sure" He did not say that Hopwil should have avoided them, avoided the need to kill them Too late for that "I doubt that damane even kne to shield a man You had no choice" And better they were all dead than so them

Absently, Hopwil touched his left sleeve, where the black color disguised firescarred wool The Seanchan had not died easily or fast "I piled the bodies in a hollow," he said in a flat voice "The horses, everything I burned it all to ash White ash that floated in the wind like snow It didn’t bother ue, but Hopwil had to learn After all, he had They hat they were, and that was all there was to it All there was Liah, of the Cosaida Chareen, a name written in fire Moiraine Damodred, another na A nameless Darkfriend, represented only by a face, who had died by his sword near

"Majesty," Gregorin said loudly, pointing ahead A lone man came out of the trees at the foot of the nearest hill to stand waiting in an attitude of defiance He carried a bow, and wore a pointed steel cap and a beltednearly to his knees

Rand spurred Tai’daishar towith the Power Saidin could protect hiht Rust streaked his helhs, da hollowly, he scrubbed at a long nose with the back of his hand His bowstring appeared taut, though; that, he had protected fros on the arrows in his quiver looked dry, too

"Are you the leader here?" Rand deht say I do speak for hialloped up behind Rand, he shifted his feet, dark eyes like a cornered badger’s Badgers were dangerous, cornered

"Watch your tongue, orin snapped "You do speak to Rand al’Thor, the Dragon Reborn, Lord of the Morning and King of Illian! Kneel to your King! What do your naon Reborn?" the fellow said doubtfully Eyeing Rand fro ahis sword belt, the rander "And Lord of the Morning, you do say? Our King did never style hi his naorin’s face darkened at the man’s tone, and ave a slight nod, as though he had expected nothe trees Rand heard easily, and abruptly he felt saidin fill Hopwil No longer staring at nothing, Hopwil studied the woodline intently, a wild light in his eyes Dashiva, silent, raking dark hair out of his face, looked bored Leaning forward in his saddle, Gregorin opened his orin" Rand did not raise his voice, but he wove flows to carry his words, Air and Fire, so they booenerous" The longnosed orin’s horse shied Those hidden men would hear clearly "Lay down your arms, and those ant to return home, can Those ant to follow me instead, can do that But no man leaves here under aroodand the Council of Nine to defend Illian, but I a, now, and I’ll not have anyone tempted to turn bandit&rdqu