Page 140 (1/2)

The ceiling above his and flute case and threw hi ti his burden, he crawled into the hall The floor shook with one when he reached the stairs He all but slid down the steps to the next landing, scra into the street The onlookers stared at him, with his face blackened and his coat covered with sainst the wall of a house across the street A wo Hurin’s face with a cloth, but his eyes were still closed, and his breath came in heaves

"Is there a Wisdom nearby?" Rand demanded "He needs help" The woman looked at him blankly, and he tried to remember the other names he had heard people call the women ould be Wisdoms in the Two Rivers "A Wise Woman? A woman you call Mother so?"

"I am a Reader, if that is what you mean," the woman said, "but all I know to do for this one is tois broken inside his head, I fear"

"Rand! It is you!"

Rand stared It was Mat, leading his horse through the croith his bow strung across his back A Mat whose face was pale and drawn, but still Mat, and grinning, if weakly And behind hi as hcollared coat instead of ar up over his shoulder

Rand felt a shiver run through him "It’s too late," he told thean to laugh

Chapter 31

(Rising Sun)

On the Scent

Rand did not know Verin was there until the Aes Sedai took his face in her hands For a moment he could see worry in her face, perhaps even fear, and then suddenly he felt as if he had been doused with cold water, not the wet but the tingle He gave one abrupt shudder and stopped laughing; she left him to crouch over Hurin The Reader watched her carefully So did Rand What is she doing here? As if I didn’t know

"Where did you go?" Mat demanded hoarsely "You all just disappeared, and now you’re in Cairhien ahead of us Loial?" The Ogier shrugged uncertainly and eyed the crowd, his ears twitching Half the people had turned fro to listen

Rand let Perrin give hilanced at Verin, kneeling with her hands on the sniffer’s head "Her?"

"In a way," Perrin said "The guards at the gate wanted our naave a jutar’s name He said he didn’t know it, but he had a smile that shouted ’lie’ a mile off"