Page 49 (1/1)

"Well, I’ that had happened after she had asked Mat to go to the dungeons with her, not until waking in her own bed that ht, she was allad she could not remember "Moiraine said she would have leftfoolish if she could have Healed the rest and not that, but she couldn’t"

"I told you Fain was dangerous," he muttered "I told you, but you wouldn’t listen"

"If that’s the way you are going to talk," she said firive you back to Nisura She won’t talk to you the way I am The last man who tried to push his way into the women’s apart with the wo to find his betrothed and h not to wear his sword The Light knohat they’d do to you"

"Everybody wants to do sorowled "Everybody wants to useWell, I won’t be used Once we find the Horn, and Mat’s dagger, I’ll never be used again"

With an exasperated grunt, she caught his shoulders and lared up at hi sense, Rand al’Thor, I swear I will box your ears"

"Now you sound like Nynaeve" He laughed As he looked down at her, though, his laughter faded "I suppose -- I suppose I’ll never see you again I know you have to go to Tar Valon I know that And you’ll becowene I won’t be a puppet for them, not for Moiraine, or any of them"

He looked so lost she wanted to put his head on her shoulder, and so stubborn she really did want to box his ears "Listen toto be an Aes Sedai, and I’ll find a way to help you I will"

"The next tientle me"

She looked around hastily; they were alone in their stretch of the hall "If you don’t watch your tongue, I will not be able to help you Do you want everyone to know?"

"Too s were different, but they aren’t I wishTake care of yourself And promise me you won’t choose the Red Ajah"

Tears blurred her vision as she threw her arms around him "You take care of yourself," she said fiercely into his chest "If you don’t, I’ll -- I’ll" She thought she heard hi her ar her away fro

She jumped when Nisura touched her arm "He looks as if you set him a task he won’t enjoy But you ates the purpose Cowene followed the other woht, take care of his

The outer courtyard was in ordered turs and the bundle containing the harp and flute The sun cli at saddle girths and pack harness, voices raised Others darted with lastminute additions to the packsaddles, or water for thejust remembered But everyone seeoing The guardwalks and archers’ balconies were crowded again, and excite air Hooves clattered on the paving stones One of the packhorses began kicking, and stable thick Rand’s cloak tried to flap in the breeze that rippled the swoopinghawk banners on the towers, but his bow, slung across his back, held it down

Froates ca up in the square They had ate One of the trulanced at Rand as he walked across the courtyard; a few raised eyebrohen they saw the heronmark sword, but none spoke Half wore the cloaks that were so queasy to look at Mandarb, Lan’s stallion, was there, tall, and black, and fierceeyed, but the man himself was not, and none of the Aes Sedai, none of the women, were in evidence yet either Moiraine’s white mare, Aldieb, stepped daintily beside the stallion

Rand’s bay stallion ith the other group on the far side of the courtyard, with Ingtar, and a bannertar’s Gray Owl banner, and twenty other armored men with lances tipped with two feet of steel, all mounted already The bars of their helolden surcoats with the Black Hawk on the chest hid their plateandtar’s helmet had a crest, a crescent nized so scar down his face and only one eye Ragan and Maseaan waved to hiave him a cold stare and turned away Their packhorses stood placidly, tails swishing

The big bay danced as Rand tied his saddlebags and bundle behind the highcantled saddle He put his foot in the stirrup andinto the saddle, but he let the stallion frisk away soy

To Rand’s surprise, Loial appeared froier’s hairyfetlockedand heavy as a prime Dhurran stallion Beside it, all the other animals looked the size of Bela, but with Loial in the saddle, the horse seemed almost a pony

Loial carried no weapon that Rand could see; he had never heard of any Ogier using a weapon Their stedding were protection enough And Loial had his own priorities, his own ideas of as needed for a journey The pockets of his long coat had a telltale bulge, and his saddlebags showed the square iier stopped his horse a little way off and looked at Rand, his tufted ears twitching uncertainly

"I didn’t know you were coh of traveling with us This ti it will be, or where ill end up"

Loial’s ears lifted a little "There was no telling when I first met you, either Besides, what held then, holds now I can’t let the chance pass to see history actually weave itself around ta’veren And to hel