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By the tiold, a fine wool eminently suitable for a Royal Palace, in Caeht amused him, in a bleak sort of way -- by that time, Aviendha was almost dressed It was a wonder to him how she could scra out of place "A wootten Colavaere "What did you do?"

She paused in tying the laces of her blouse, eyes trying to bore a hole in his head, but her tone was offhand "I took her back to her own chambers, where we talked for a ti at your tent flap, Rand al’Thor"

"The very end I aiht! Did you hurt her badly? You can’t go around beating ladies These people causemore"

She sniffed loudly and went back to her laces "Ladies! A woman is a woman, Rand al’Thor Unless she is a Wise One," she added judiciously "That one sits lightly this , but her bruises can be hidden, and with a day’s rest she will be able to leave her chaht of ain -- any bother -- I would coer talk She will do as you say, when you say it Her exa else"

Rand sighed Not a ht actually work Or it ht only make Colavaere and the others ht not be worried about repercussions against herself -- in fact, he would be surprised if she had even considered the possibility -- but a woh Seat of a powerful House was not the sa noblewoman of lesser rank Whatever the effect for him, Aviendha could find herself set upon in soiven Colavaere, if not worse "Next time, let me handle matters my way I a lather on your ear, Rand al’Thor"

Muttering to himself, he snatched up the striped towel and shouted, "Come!" to a rap at the door

Asmodean entered, pale lace at the neck and cuffs of his black coat, harpcase slung on his back and a sword at his hip It ht have been winter for the coolness of his face, but his dark eyes ary

"What do you want, Natael?" Rand deht"

Aslanced once at Aviendha, as frowning at hi to your advantage, re is all of the shrieks froht It is said she displeased you, though no one see everyone step lightly I doubt anyone will breathe in the next few days without considering what you ht make of it" Aviendha’s face was a picture of insufferable selfsatisfaction

"So you want to come with me?" Rand said softly "You want to be at my back when I face Rahvin?"

"What better place for the Lord Dragon’s bard? But better yet, say under your eye Where I can show ri that ad the other man, felt the taint that twisted Ash for hie If Asmodean had drawn as much as he could, he would be hard pressed to , yet perhaps I can help in some small way"

Rand wished he could see the shield Lanfear had woven She had said it would dissipate with tily now than he had the first day he was in Rand’s hands Perhaps she had lied, to give Asrow strong enough to teach him more than he ever would It would be like her He was uncertain whether that was his thought or Lews Therin’s, but he was sure it was true

The long pause ain "A day or till not matter here You will be back by then, or dead LetA whisker ht shift the balance" Once more saidin poured into him, just for a moment Rand felt a sensation of strain, yet it was still a feeble flow "You know rass on the cliff’s lip, praying for it to hold one more heartbeat If you fail, I am worse than dead IAviendha, he seeh was a hollow sound "Else how can I colory? A bardto ith" The heat never touched Asmodean -- a trick of the mind, he claimed, not the Power -- but beads of sweat oozed down his forehead now

Under his eyes, or left behind? Perhaps to run looking for a hiding place when he began wondering as happening in Caemlyn Asmodean would be the man he was until he died and was reborn, and perhaps even after "Under my eyes," Rand said quietly "And if I even suspect that where that whisker falls on’s on’s perlanced around the roo away still halfbowed His sword lay on the giltlined chest at the foot of the bed, Dragonbuckled sword belt wrapped around the scabbard and the Seanchan spearhead The killing today would not be with steel, not on his part He touched his pocket, felt the hard carved shape of the fat little man with his sword; that was the only sword he needed today For ato Tear, to take back Callandor, or even to Rhuidean for as hidden there He could destroy Rahvin with either before the man kneas there He could destroy Caemlyn itself with either But could he trust hi there just out of sight The taint seee oozed just beneath the surface, at Rahvin, at himself If it broke loose, and he held even Callandor What would he do? He would be invincible With the other, he could Skim to Shayol Ghul itself, put an end to it all, end it now one way or another One way or another No He was not in this alone He could not af