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The foot marched in blocks of two hundred or so pikemen, with one mounted officer in the front of each and maybe fifty archers, or crossbowmen at the rear Most looked at hi up spurts of dust, but none broke stride Some of the officers’ mounts frisked as if the riders wanted to come see what had him in such a hurry, but none of them left their places either Good discipline They would need it

Defenders of the Stone brought up the tail end of the Tairens; in their breastplates and puffy blackandgold striped coatsleeves, plu officers and underofficers The rest were armored the same, but bore the colors of various lords on their sleeves The silkcoated lords thee white plu breeze toward the city

Reining around in front of them so quickly that Pips danced, Mat shouted, "Halt, in the naon!"

It seeht they ht over hi lord he re up a hand, and then they were all drawing rein in a flurry of shouted orders that ran back along the column Weiramon was not there; not a lord was asof this?" deantly down a sharp nose, chin lifted so his pointed beard looked ready to stab Sweat trickling down his face spoiled it only a little "The Lord Dragon hiave me this command Who are you to --?"

He cut off as another ently Potatofaced Estean looked haggard beneath his hel hi conditions in the city, so Mat had heard -- but he had gambled at cards with Mat in Tear He knew exactly who Mat was Estean’s breastplate alone had chips in the ornate gilding; none of the others had donepretty Yet

Sharpnose’s chin came down as he listened, and when Estean left off, he spoke in a more moderate tone "No offense intended ah Lord Mat I aon?" Moderation slipped into actual hesitation at that last, and Estean broke in anxiously

"Why should we ’halt’? I know the Lord Dragon told us to hold back, Mat, but burnthe Aiel do all the fighting Why should we be saddled with chasing them after they’re broken? Besides, my father is in the city, and" He trailed off under Mat’s stare

Mat shook his head, fanning himself with his hat The fools were not even where they should be There was no chance of turning the at him, Mat was not sure he would, even on supposed orders froon -- there was still no chance He sat his saddle in plain sight of the Aiel lookouts If the colu around, they would know themselves discovered, and very likely they would attack while the Tairens and the Cairhienin pike were tangled up It would be a slaughter as surely as if they had gone ahead in ignorance

"Where is Weiraon sent him back to Tear," Melanril replied slowly "To deal with the Illianer pirates, and the bandits on the Plains of Maredo He was reluctant to go, of course, even for so great a responsibility, but Pardon, Lord Mat, but if the Lord Dragon sent you, how is it that you don’t know --"

Mat cut him off "I am no lord And if you want to question what Rand lets people know, ask him" That set the fellow back; he was not about to question the Lord bloody Dragon about anything Weirah to have been in a battle Except for Estean, looking like a sack of turnips tied on his horse, all this lot had seen was a tavern fight or two And ood that would do theap ahead between the next two hills, Aiel are going to coht as well have told the to rins broke out, and they, started dancing their horses about, slapping each other on the shoulder and boasting howand easing his sword in its scabbard

"Don’t stare up there!" Mat snapped The fools In a e! "Keep your eyes on me On me!"

It ho he was friends with that settled them down Melanril and the others in their fine, un why he did not want to let thees If he had not been Rand’s friend they probably would have tra off They would do it pieceh the CairhieninAnd they would all die The set on with it while he headed in the opposite direction The only trouble was that once these idiots let the Aiel know they were discovered, those Aielaround to take the strungout fools in the flank If that happened, there was no certainty that he would get clear

"What the Lord Dragon wants you to do," he told them, "is to ride ahead slowly, just as if there wasn’t an Aiel inside a hundred ap, they’ll foret yourselves inside it double quick"

"Inside!" Melanril protested Angrylords -- except Estean, who looked thoughtful "There is no honor in hiding behind stinking --"

"You bloody do it," Mat roared, reining Pips close to Melanril’s horse, "or if the bloody Aiel don’t kill you, Rand will, and whatever he leaves, I’ll chop into sausage ; the Aiel had to be wondering what they were talking about by now "With any luck, you will be set before the Aiel can hit you If you have horsebows, use thee, and you’ll knohen, but if youdown

Setting the butt of his spear in his stirrup like a lance, he heeled Pips back down the colulanced over his shoulder, Melanril and the others were talking and peering after him At least they were