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"Why don’t you wait out here, Loial?" Rand said

"The Elders --" Juin began

"-- Probably just want to see the rest of us," Rand finished for him

"Why don’t they leave hiorously "Yes Yes, I think " A nurand a themselves but with all eyes on him His ears jerked, but he looked at the broad door to which the stone steps led down, and nodded again "Yes, I will sit out here, and I’ll read That is it I will read" Fu in his coat pocket, he produced a book He settled himself on the mound beside the steps, the book ses "I will just sit here and read until you come out" His ears twitched as if he could feel the woed and ain "If you please The Elders are waiting"

The huge, less rooier, with a thickbea more than four spans up; it could have fit in any palace, for size at least The seven Ogier seated on the dais directly in front of the door made it shrink a little by their size, but Rand still felt as if he were in a cavern The soular in shape, but the gray walls could have been the rough side of a cliff The ceiling beareat roots

Except for a highbacked chair where Verin sat facing the dais, the only furnishings were the heavy, vinecarved chairs of the Elders The Ogier woman in the her than those of the others, three bearded ht in dresses like her own, embroidered in vines and flowers froed faces and pure white hair, even to the tufts on their ears, and an air of aped at the himself Not even Verin had the appearance of wisdoase in her crown their authority, nor Moiraine their caltar was the first to bow, as formally as Rand had ever seen from hiier wohest chair said when they had finally taken their places beside Verin, "Eldest of the Elders of Stedding Tsofu Verin has told us that you have need to use the Waygate here To recover the Horn of Valere froreat need, indeed, but we have allowed none to travel the Ways in more than one hundred years Neither us, nor the Elders of any other stedding"

"I will find the Horn," Ingtar said angrily "I ate " He fell silent as Verin looked at him, but the scowl remained on his face

Alar smiled "Be not so hasty, Shienaran You huht Only decisions reached in calm can be sure" Her smile faded to seriousness, but her voice kept its own ers of the Ways are not to be faced with a sword in your hand, not charging Aiel or ravening Trollocs I must tell you that to enter the Ways is to risk not only death and madness, but perhaps your very souls"

"We have seen Machin Shin," Rand said, and Mat and Perrin agreed They could not ain

"I will follow the Horn to Shayol Ghul itself, if need be," Ingtar said firtar’s words

"Bring Trayal," Alar commanded, and Juin, who had reh," she told Verin, "to hear what can happen You must see it, know it in your heart"

There was an uncomfortable silence until Juin returned, and it becauiding a darkbearded Ogier of middle years, who shas worked His face sagged, without any expression at all, and his big eyes were vacant and unblinking, not staring, not looking, not even seeently wiped drool from the corner of his mouth They took his arms to stop him; his foot went forward, hesitated, then fell back with a thump He see

"Trayal was one of the last a the ’Ways," Alar said softly "He caave her a long look, then rose and strode to Trayal He did not move as she laid her hands on his wide chest, not even a flicker of an eye to acknowledge her touch With a sharp hiss, she jerked back, staring up at him, then whirled to face the Elders "He ise" Every Elder wore a look of unbearable sadness

"Nothing," one of the Elders to Alar’s right said softly Her eyes seeer could "Noof Trayal reer," one of the hed

Alar motioned, and the tomen turned Trayal to lead hian to walk

"We know the risks," Verin said "But whatever the risks, we must follow the Horn of Valere"

The Eldest nodded "The Horn of Valere I do not knohether it is worse news that it is in Darkfriend hands, or that it has been found at all" She looked down the row of Elders; each nodded in turn, one of thehis beard doubtfully first "Very well Verin tells atehalf relieved and half afraid, when she added, "You have with you a young Ogier Loial, son of Arent son of Halan, frotai He is far from his home"

"We need him," Rand said quickly His words slowed under surprised stares from the Elders and Verin, but he went on stubbornly "We need hio with us, and he wants to"

"Loial’s a friend," Perrin said, at the saet in the way, and he carries his oeight" Neither of the the Elders’ focus shift to them, but they did not back down

"Is there sotar asked "As Mat says, he has held his own I don’t know that we need him, but if he wants to