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The alley was barely wider than their shoulders, but it ran between high garden walls until it crossed another alley big enough for a pushbarrow or small cart That was cobblestoned, too, but only the backs of buildings looked down on it, shuttered s and expanses of stone, and the high back walls of gardens overtopped by nearly leafless branches

Ingtar led the banner Taking his steelbacked gauntlets from under his coat, he put them on and leaped up to catch the top of the wall, then pulled hih to peek over He reported in a low monotone "Trees Flower beds Walks There isn’t a soul to be -- Wait! A guard Onehis hel a boot to the top of the wall and rolled over inside, disappearing before Rand could say a word

Mat began to count slowly Rand held his breath Perrin fingered his axe, and Hurin gripped the hilts of his weapons

" fifty" Hurin scrambled up and over the wall before the ell out of Mat’s ht need son of it as he scrambled up The stone wall provided plenty of handholds, and moments later Rand was crouched on the inside with Mat and Perrin and Hurin

The garden was in the grip of deep autureen shrubs, tree branches nearly bare The wind that rippled the banner stirred dust across the flagstone walks For a tar Then he saw the Shienaran, flat against the back wall of the house,them on with sword in hand

Rand ran in a crouch,down fro beside hiainst the house beside Ingtar

Mat keptto hiuard?" Rand whispered

"Dead," Ingtar said "The man was overconfident He never even tried to raise a cry I hid his body under one of those bushes"

Rand stared at hi that kept hiuished tar sounded as if he were speaking to himself, too "Almost there Come"

Rand drew his sword as they started up the back steps He are of Hurin unli his shortbladed sword and notched swordbreaker, and Perrin reluctantly drawing his axe from the loop on his belt

The hallway inside was narrow A halfopen door to their right s about in that roouishable sound of voices, and occasionally the soft clatter of a pot lid