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Not so intently that they did not see her, though When she passed Rand’s e, handtalk flashed up and down the rows, then two lanky Maidens went trotting off The others pro her head in puzzlement, Min went back in The Maidens often made her nervous, yet they always had a word for her, soh their hunored her like this

Rand was in the bedcha He had his coat off, his snowy shirt unlaced at neck and cuffs and pulled out of his breeches Sitting on the foot of the bed, she leaned back against one of the heavy blackwood bedposts and swung her feet up, crossing her ankles She had not had a chance to watch Rand undress hi, though, he stood there looking at her "What can Cadsuane possibly teach me?" he asked suddenly

"You, and all the Asha’ "I don’t knohat, Rand I only know you have to learn it All of you do" It did not see down Sighing, she went on "You need her, Rand You can’t afford to ry You can’t afford to chase her away" Actually, she did not think fifty Myrddraal and a thousand Trollocs could chase Cadsuane anywhere, but the point was the same

A faroff look came into Rand’s eyes, and after a moment, he shook his head "Why should I listen to a ht, did he really believe Lews Therin Telamon spoke in his head? "Let someone know you need them, Min, and they have a hold on you A leash, to pull you where they want I won’t put a halter on my own neck for any Aes Sedai Not for anyone!" Slowly his fists unclenched "You, I need, Min," he said sis I just need you"

Burn her, but the man could sweep her feet out froer as hers, he grasped the botto it over his head Lacing her fingers over her stomach, she settled back to watch

The three Maidens who er wore the shoufa that had concealed their short hair in the corridor They were eer wore those heavyblade belt knives, either That was all Min had time to notice

Rand’s head and arms were still inside the shirt, and Somara, flaxenhaired and tall even for an Aiel wo his With a strangled groan, he bent further, staggering

Nesair, fieryhaired and beautiful despite white scars on both sundark cheeks, planted a fist in his right side hard enough to make him stumble sideways

With a cry, Min launched herself fro here, could not even begin to guess One of her knives came smoothly fro, "Help! Oh, Rand! Somebody, help!" At least, that hat she tried to shout

The third Maiden, Nandera, turned like a snake, and Min found a foot planted in her stomach Breath rushed out of her in a wheeze Her knives flew fro Maiden’s foot, landing on her back with a crash that drove out what little air re to understand! -- all she could do was lie there and watch

The three woh Nesair and Nandera pounded Rand with their fists while Soain and again and again they drove studied blows into Rand’s hard belly, into his right side Min would have laughed hysterically, had she had any breath They were trying to beat hi anywhere near the tender round scar in his left side with the halfhealed slash running through it

She knew very well how hard Rand’s body was, how strong, but no one could stand up to that Slowly, his knees folded, and when they thumped to the floor tiles, Nandera and Nesair stood back Each nodded, and Somara released her hold on Rand’s shirt He fell forward on his face She could hear hiroans that bubbled up despite his efforts Kneeling, Somara pulled his shirt down almost tenderly He lay there with his cheek on the floor, eyes bulging, struggling for breath

Nesair bent to catch a fistful of his hair and jerk his head up "We won the right for this," she growled, "but every Maiden wanted to lay her hands on you I left my clan for you, Rand al’Thor I will not have you spit on me!"

Somara moved a hand as if to smooth hair out of his face, then snatched it back "This is hoe treat a firstbrother who dishonors us, Rand al’Thor," she said firmly "The first time The next, ill use straps"

Nandera stood over Rand with fist planted on her hips and a face of stone "You carry the honor of Far Dareis Mai, son of a Maiden," she said grimly "You promised to call us to dance the spears for you, and then you ran to battle and left us behind You will not do this again"

She stepped over hilanced back, and if sympathy touched her blue eyes, there was none in her voice when she said, "Do not ain, son of a Maiden"

Rand had pushed hied to crawl to hiht, but her middle hurt! "Rhuarc will --!" She did not knohat Rhuarc would do Not enough, whatever it was "Sorilea" Sorilea would stake them out in the sun! To start! "When we tell her -- "

"We tell no one," he said He alh he was still slightly popeyed How could he do that? "They have the right They’ve earned the right"

Min recognized that tone much to well When a man decided to be stubborn, he would sit bare in a nettle patch and deny to your face that they roan as she helped hioing to be a pure woolheaded idiot, he deserved a few bruises!

He eased hi back on the heaped pillows, and she snuggled in beside hioin