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Mat’s hand shook as he raised the Horn of Valere to his lips
It was a clear note, golden as the Horn was golden The trees around theround under their feet, the sky overhead That one long sound encoan to rise First thin wisps hanging in the air, then thicker billows, and thicker, until it blanketed the land like clouds
Geofram Bornhald stiffened in his saddle as a sound filled the air, so sweet he wanted to laugh, so mournful he wanted to cry It seean to rise, growing even as he watched
The Seanchan They are trying so They knoe are here
It was too soon, the town too far, but he drew his sword -- a clatter of scabbards ran down the rank of his half legion -- and called, "The legion will advance at a trot"
The fog covered everything, now, but he knew Falme was still there, ahead The pace of the horses picked up; he could not see theround ahead fleith a roar, showering hiht he heard another roar, and ain Thunder and screae!" His horse leaped forward as he dug in his heels, and he heard the roar as the legion, as much of it as still lived, followed
Thunder and screaret Byar would not be able to tell his son Dain how he had died
Rand could not see the trees around theer Mat had lowered the Horn, eyes ith awe, but the sound of it still rang in Rand’s ears The fog hid everything in rolling waves as white as the finest bleached wool, yet Rand could see He could see, but it was mad Falme floated somewhere beneath hihtning ripping its streets Faled and died as the earth opened in fire beneath their horses’ hooves There men ran about the decks of tall, square ships in the harbor, and on one ship, a fanize the face of the captain Bayle Domon He clutched his head with both hands The trees were hidden, but he could still see each of the others clearly Hurin anxious Matas if he knew this was asped "Lord Rand!" There was no need for hi, as if it were the side of a mountain, rode shapes on horses At first the dense mists hid more than that, but slowly they caasp He knew them Men, not all in armor, and woe, but he knew the man hite hair and eyes so sharp as to make his name merely a hint Gaidal Cain, a swarthyabove his broad shoulders Goldenhaired Birgitte, with her glea with silver arrows More He knew their faces, knew their names But he heard a hundred names when he looked at each face, sonize theh he knew they were Michael instead of Mikel Patrick instead of Paedrig Oscar instead of Otarin
He knew the man who rode at their head, too Tall and hooknosed, with dark, deepset eyes, his great sword Justice at his side Artur Haing
Mat gaped at them as they reined in before him and the others "Is this ?
Is this all of you?" They were little more than a hundred, Rand saw, and realized that so open; his eyes bulged almost out of his head
"It takes ’s voice was deep and carrying, a voice used to giving coitte said sharply
"Or a woreed "Only a few are bound to the Wheel, spun out again and again to work the will of the Wheel in the Pattern of the Ages You could tell him, Lews Therin, could you but re at Rand
Rand shook his head, but he would not waste time with denials "Invaders have come, men who call themselves Seanchan, who use chained Aes Sedai in battle They irl Egwene al’Vere A novice from the White Tower The Seanchan have her prisoner You must help me free her"
To his surprise, several of the sitte, testing her bowstring, laughed "You always choose women who cause you trouble, Lews Therin" It had a fond sound, as between old friends
"My name is Rand al’Thor," he snapped "You have to hurry There isn’t"We have all of ti his horse with his knees, dreord in either hand All along the s of swords, an unli of spears and axes
Justice shone like a ht by your side times beyond number, Lews Therin, and faced you as many more The Wheel spins us out for its purposes, not ours, to serve the Pattern I know you, if you do not know yourself We will drive these invaders out for you" His warhorse pranced, and he looked around, frowning "So holds aze on Rand "You are here Have you the banner?" A h those behind his and pulled out the Dragon’s banner It filled his hands and hung al the heroes rose
"The Pattern weaves itself around our necks like halters," Artur Haing said "You are here The banner is here The weave of this moment is set We have coon" Hurin made a faint sound as if his throat had seized
"Burn me," Mat breathed "It’s true Burndown off his horse and striding into thesound, and when he returned, he carried a straight length of sapling shorn of its branches "Give it to ravely "If they need it