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Rand drew a rimace was for the news; his side burned, and he could feel blood spreading slowly down his shirt So there would be nothing to force Couladin north when the Shaido broke If they broke; they had given no evidence of it yet that he had seen Why were the Miagoainst hiainst him, Han and Dhearic and Erih and the four clans broke through Across the wooded hills he could see that it had begun to rain over the city now that Egwene and Aviendha were not holding the clouds That would hamper both sides Unless the woht be unable to regain control from this distance

"Tell Han to do what heas he was -- he was about Rand’s age, come to that -- Seirin raised an eyebrow in surprise Of course Han would not do differently, and Seirin knew it He waited only long enough to e: then he was off and running downhill, just as fast as he had co any ht already have begun, there to the east

"I need someone to fetch Jeade’en," Rand said as soon as Seirin had dashed off If he tried to walk that far, he really would need the wo alike, yet they ed practically identical suspicion Those frowns ht by her et closer to the city, though" He nodded to the fallen tower; that was the only gesture available with thee the lenses fros of the tower unbroken No as plainly uncertain, but Aviendha barely paused before asking a young Maiden to go to the gai’shain To fetch Mist, too, which he had not counted on Egwene began brushing herself off,under her breath at the dust, and Aviendha had found an ivory comb and another scarf somewhere Despite the fall, somehow they already looked considerably less disheveled than he Weariness stillas they could channel at all, they would be useful

That gave him pause Did he ever think of anyone now except as to how useful they were? He should be able to keep them as safe as they had been atop the tower Not that the tower had been very safe, as it turned out, but this tis better

Sulin stood as he approached, a pale cap of algode bandage covering the top of her head, her hair a white fringe below

"I a nearer the city," he told her, "where I can see what is happening, andabout it Everyone who is injured is to reh others to protect theuard, Sulin; I only need a handful with me, and it’s poor repayment for the honor the Maidens have shown htered" That should hold the greater part of the He himself would have to stay clear to keep the rest out, but the way he felt, that would be no burden "I want you to stay here, and --"

"I am not one of the injured," she said stiffly, and he hesitated, then nodded slowly

"Very well" He had no doubt that her injury was serious, but neither did he doubt that she was tough And if she stayed, he uard Being treated like a brother was nowhere near as annoying as being treated like a son, and he was in no mood to put up with the latter "But I trust you to see that no one folloho is injured, Sulin I will have to keepI can’t afford anyone ill slow me down or must be left behind"

She nodded so quickly that he was convinced she would make any Maiden with as much as a scratch remain behind Except herself, of course This was one ti someone The Maidens had chosen to carry the spear, but they had chosen to follow hi so, to his mind He would not, he could not, order a woman to her death, and that was that In truth, he had expected sorateful that it had not coai’shain arrived leading Jeade’en and Mist, and behind thees and oints in layers, under the direction of Sorilea and a dozen other Wise Ones whoht know the nae, and she quickly had gai’shain and other Wise Ones alike circulating awene and Aviendha, frowning thoughtfully and pursing her thin lips, obviously thinking that all three looked tossed about enough to need their injuries bathed That look was enough to send Egwene scraray’s saddle with a sh if Aiel had been wene’s aard stiffness was not usual And it was a wene pull her up behind the saddle without the slightest protest She s his teeth, Rand pulled hi muscles’ protests were buried under an avalanche of pain in his side, as though he had been stabbed anew, and it took a full ain, but he let none of it show

Egwene reined Mist close to Jeade’en, near enough to whisper "If you cannot mount a horse any better than that, Rand al’Thor,at all for a while" Aviendha wore one of those blank Aiel expressions, but her eyes were intent on his face

"I noticed you ht to stay here and help Sorilea until you feel better" That shut her up, even if it did tighten her ave Sorilea another s

Rand booted the dapple to a trot downhill Every step sent a jolt up his side that had hiround to cover, and he could not do it at a walk Besides, Sorilea’s stare had been star