Page 59 (1/2)

"Don’t frighten her!" Ingtar shouted "Uno, we need inforhten her!" The oneeyed tar raised his voice again "We will not harelmar’s oathmen, from Fal Dara Do not be afraid! We will not harm you"

Aat the top of the house flew up, and Uno stuck his head out, staring around wildly With an oath he pulled back Thue back, as if he were kicking things in frustration Finally he appeared from the doorway

"Gone, my Lord But she was there A woht I saw her inside, for a one, and " He took a deep breath "The house is eitation that he did not curse

"Curtains," Mat ave him a sharp look, then returned to his horse

"Where did they go?" Rand asked Loial "Do you think they ran off when the Darkfriends ca worse Smart people, if they ran as hard as they could

"I fear the Darkfriends took therimaced, almost a snarl with his broad nose like a snout "For the Trollocs" Rand sed and wished he had not asked; it was never pleasant to think on how Trollocs fed

"Whatever was done here," Ingtar said, "our Darkfriends did it Hurin, was there violence here? Killing? Hurin!"

The sniffer gave a start in his saddle and looked around wildly He had been staring across the river "Violence, lanced sideways at Perrin "I’ve never s exactly like it before,done"

"Is there any doubt they crossed over? Have they doubled back again?"

"They crossed, my Lord" Hurin looked uneasily at the far bank "They crossed What they did on the other side, though " He shrugged

Ingtar nodded "Uno, I want that ferry back on this side And I want the other side scouted before we cross Just because there was no ambush here doesn’t mean there will not be one e are split by the river That ferry does not look big enough to carry us all in one trip See to it"

Uno bowed, and ineach other out of their arer stuck behind in the small of the back, they trotted to the river on horse to work their way hand over hand along the thick rope along which the ferry ran The cable sagged enough in the middle to put the, pulling them downstrea thegers, they disappeared into the trees

After what see the ferry slowly across The barge butted against the bank below the village, and Masetar waited His face was pale, the arrow scar on his cheek sharp, and he sounded shaken

"The far bankThere is no ambush on the far bank,fro stoneoak, fifty paces south fro I cannot say the words You an to the other bank Finally, he said, "You have done well, Ragan Both of you have" His voice beca to dry themselves on from the houses, Uno And see if anybody left water on for tea Put so the second file and the pack animals over" He turned to Rand "Well, are you ready to see the south bank of the Erinin?" He did not wait for an answer, but rode down to the ferry with Hurin and half the lancers