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His thousand ,the hollows between hills The cold wind tossed their white cloaks and flapped the banner at Bornhald’s side, the wavyrayed golden sun of the Children of the Light

"Go now, Byar," he coauntfaced man hesitated, and Bornhald put a snap into his voice "I said, go, Child Byar!"

Byar touched hand to heart and bowed "As you command, my Lord Captain" He turned his horse away, every line of hi reluctance

Bornhald put Byar out of his mind He had done what he could, there He raised his voice "The legion will advance at a walk!"

With a creak of saddles the long line of whitecloaked men moved slowly toward Fal Seanchan, then ducked back into the narrow alley between two stables with a grimace They would be there soon There was blood crusted on his cheek The cuts he had fro to be done for theain; he felt the ruh his boots What in the natar said "The Horn of Valere htning and strange explosions down in the town proper, he seehts Mat and Perrin and Hurin were down at the other end of the alley, watching another Seanchan patrol The place where they had left the horses was close, now, if they could only reach it

"She’s in trouble," Randin his head, as if pieces of his life were in danger Egas one piece, one thread of the cord that made his life, but there were others, and he could feel them threatened Down there, in Falme And if any of those threads was destroyed, his life would never be complete, the way it waswas sure and certain

"One tar said The two stables stood close together, with barely room for the pair of the fifty at a narrow passage Not a bad way to die Songs have been made about less"

"There’s no need for that," Rand said "I hope" A rooftop in the town exploded How aet back in here? I have to reach her Reach theain The Seanchan were closer, still cotar said softly, as if talking to hie with his thumb "A pale little man you didn’t see at him Take him inside Fal Dara, I was told, inside the fortress I did not want to, but I had to do it You understand? I had to I never knehat he intended until he shot that arrow I still don’t know if it was meant for the Atar "What are you saying?" he whispered

Studying his blade, Ingtar did not see swept away everywhere Nations fail and vanish Darkfriends are everywhere, and none of these southlanders seeht to hold the Borderlands, to keep them safe in their houses, and every year, despite all we can do, the Blight advances And these southlanders think Trollocs are leeman’s tale" He frowned and shook his head "It see people who do not even know, or care It seeical Why should we be destroyed for them, e could ht, than useless oblivion, like Carallain, or Hardan, orIt seetar’s lapels "You aren’tHe can’t "Say it plain, whatever you tar looked at Rand His eyes shone with unshed tears "You are a better man than I Shepherd or lord, a better lory, but only salvation’ It wasof I would sound the Horn, and lead the heroes of the Ages against Shayol Ghul Surely that would have been enough to savein the Shadow that he cannot coht That is what they say Surely that would have been enough to wash ahat I have been, and done"

"Oh, Light, Ingtar" Rand released his hold on the other ainst the stable wall "I think I think wanting to is enough I think all you have to do is stop beingone of thetar flinched as if Rand had said it out Darkfriend

"Rand, when Verin brought us here with the Portal Stone, I -- I lived other lives Sometimes I held the Horn, but I never sounded it I tried to escape what I’d beco else required ofworse than the last, until I wasYou were ready to give it up to save a friend Think not of glory Oh, Light, help wene had told him she had murdered children Too horrible to be believed Too horrible for anyone to adtar spoke again, firmly "There has to be a price, Rand There is always a price Perhaps I can pay it here"

"Ingtar, I --"

"It is every ht, Rand, to choose when to Sheathe the Sword Even one likedown the alley "The patrol turned aside," he said hurriedly, "down into the town They see down there Mat and Perrin went on" He took a quick look down the street and pulled back "We’d better do the saheaded Seanchan are altar said He turned to face the street and did not look at Rand or Hurin again "Take the Horn where it belongs I always knew the Ae But all I ever wanted was to keep Shienar whole, to keep us frotar" Rand drew a deep breath "The Light shine on you, Lord Ingtar of House Shinowa, and may you shelter in the paltar’s shoulder "The last embrace of the mother welcome you