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Drawing off his gauntlets, Rand waved away Boreane’s tray Damer Flinn had risen from an ornately carved bench in front of the tent as Rand dise, Flinn looked randfather with a stiff leg, who had seen more of the world than a fared, as well it should on a former soldier of the Queen’s Guard Rand trusted him more than most Flinn had saved his life, after all

Flinn saluted, fist to chest, and when Rand acknowledged hiroo in a low voice "Torval’s here Sent by the M’Hael, he says He wanted to wait in the council tent I told Narishh he was not sure why he had given it; no one who ca, Flinn fingered the Dragon on his black collar "He wasn’t happy to hear you’d raised all of us"

"Wasn’t he, now," Rand said softly, tucking his gloves behind his sword belt And because Flinn still looked uncertain, he added, "You all earned it" He had been about to send one of the Asha’man to Taim -- the Leader, the M’Hael, as the Asha’e In the council tent? "Have refreshments sent," he told Flinn, then ain, but Rand was already striding away, blackaround his boots No cheers rose for hi wind He could recall when there had been If that was not one of Lews Therin’s memories If Lews Therin had ever been real A flash of color just beyond the edge of sight, the feel of someone about to touch him from behind With an effort, he focused hie redstriped pavilion that had once sat on the Plains of Maredo, now pitched in the middle of Rand’s encaround There were never guards here, not unless Rand wasto slip in would have been seen instantly by a thousand prying eyes Three banners on tall poles for Sun of Cairhien, the Three Crescents of Tear, and the Golden Bees of Illian, and above the crion Banner, and the Banner of Light The wind , and the tent walls shivered in the gusts Inside, colorful, fringed carpets e table, thickly carved and gilded, inlaid with ivory and turquoise A jumble of maps almost hid the tabletop

Torval lifted his head froue to whoever had barged in on him Close to his middle years and tall beside anyone save Rand or an Aiel, he stared coldly down a sharp nose that practically quivered with indignation The Dragon and the Sword glistened on his coat collar in the light of the standlah for a lord His sword had silver e You could not train ance, yet Rand did not like Torval But then, he had no need of Lews Therin’s voice to be suspicious of any man in a black coat How far did he truly trust even Flinn? Yet he had to lead the, his responsibility

When Torval saw Rand, he straightened casually and saluted, but his expression barely changed He had had a sneering on," he said in the accents of Tarabon, and he racious to an inferior His swaggering bow took in Hopwil and Dashiva as well "I give congratulations on the conquest of Illian A great victory, yes? There would have been wine to greet you, but this young Dedicated does not seem to understand orders"

In the corner, silver bells on the ends of Narish dark braids made a faint sound as he shifted He had tanned darkly in the southern sun, but soed Older than Rand, his face er than Hopwil, but the red that rose in his cheeks was anger, not embarrassment His pride in the neord on his collar was quiet, yet deep Torval serous Dashiva laughed, a short bark, and was still

"What are you doing here, Torval?" Rand asked roughly He tossed the Dragon Scepter and his gauntlets down atop the maps and followed them with his sword belt and scabbarded sword TheNo need of Lews Therin’s voice

With a shrug, Torval produced a letter from his coat pocket and handed it to Rand "The M’Hael, he sent this" The paper was snohite and thick, the seal a dragon iolden flecks It on Reborn Taim did think well of himself "The M’Hael said to tell you the tales of Aes Sedai in Murandy with an arainst Tar Valon" -- Torval’s sneer thickened with disbelief -- "but they are er, yes?"

Rand cracked theto Caemlyn, not the Black Tower, and they’re no threat My orders were clear Leave Aes Sedai alone unless they come after you"

"But how can you be sure they are not a threat?" Torval persisted "Perhaps they are going to Cae, we’ll not know before they attack us"

"Torval htfully "I can’t say I’d trust women who put me in a box, and these haven’t sworn any oaths Or have they?"

"I said leave them alone!" Rand slapped the tabletop, hard, and Hopwil jumped in surprise Dashiva froith irritation before hurriedly s it over, but Rand was not interested in Dashiva’s moods By chance -- he was sure it was chance -- his hand had coon Scepter His arm treh the heart No need for Lews Therin at all "The Asha’man are a weapon to be aimed where I say, not to flutter around like hens every ti dinner at the same inn If I must, I can come back to m