Page 258 (1/1)

"I understand, but" He did understand She did not want hi other than what she was All he had to do was be willing to watch her die "What happens if you break the last spear?"

"If I have no honor in this life, perhaps in another" She said it as if it was just another explanation It took hi to watch her die

"You don’t leave me any choices, do you?" No more than Moiraine had

"There are always choices, Rand al’Thor You have a choice, and I have one Ji’e’toh allows no other"

He wanted to snarl at her, to curse ji’e’toh and everyone who followed it "Choose out your Maidens, Sulin I don’t kno many I can take, but Far Dareis Mai will have as many as any other society"

He stalked past her and her sudden smile Not relief Pleasure Pleasure that she would have the chance to die He should have left her wrapped up in saidin, left her to be dealt with so the door open, he strode out onto the quay -- and stopped

Enaila headed a line of Maidens, each with three spears in her hands, a line leading back fro into the nearest of the gates to the city Some of the Aielmen on the dockside eyed the between Far Dareis Mai and the Car’a’carn, and no business of any other society Amys and three or four other Wise Ones who had once been Maidens atching one, except for a fewto look elsewhere Enaila stepped toward Rand, then halted and smiled as Sulin ca back down that long line of Maidens Smiles on those Wise Ones, too, and a sharp nod for him from Amys as if he had put an end to soo in one at a time and kiss you out of yourthere leaning on his spear and grinning, widebrimmed hat tipped back on his head "How can you be so cheerful?" The s in the air, and thecared for by Wise Ones

"Because I’m alive," Mat snarled "What do you want wene really will be all right in a few days" He did look around then, but as though he did not want to see what he saw "Burn , let’s do it Dovie’andi se tovya sagain"

"What?"

"I said, it’s time to roll the dice Did Sulin stop up your ears?"

"Tireed The flalassy chih flareal Moiraine He should have Done was done The Maidens were crowding down around Sulin, as many as would fit onto the quay Done was done, and he had to live with it Death would be a release from what he had to live with "Let’s do it"

Chapter 54

(Dragon)

To Caemlyn

Five hundred of the Maidens behind Sulin accompanied Rand back to the Royal Palace, where Bael waited in the great court inside the front gates with Thunder Walkers and Black Eyes and Water Seekers andthe courtyard and crowding back into the palace through every door down to the smallest servants’ way So their turn to co stone balconies were empty In the entire courtyard only one man waited as not Aiel; Tairens and Cairhienin -- especially Cairhienin -- stayed clear when Aiel gathered The exception stood above Bael on the wide gray steps leading into the place Pevin, with the cri limply from its staff, and no more expression surrounded by Aiel than at any other tihtly to hiainst his back, until the very e between her and some of the Wise Ones back at the docks that he did not think he had been supposed to hear

"Go with the Light," Auard him closely You kno much depends on him"

"Much depends on you both," Bair told Aviendha, almost at the same time that Melaine said irritably, "It would be easier if you had succeeded by now"

Sorilea snorted "Even Maidens kne to handle men in my day"

"She has been more successful than you know, "Amys told them Aviendha shook her head; the rosesandthorns ivory bracelet slid down her arm as she raised a hand to forestall the other woman, but Amys went on over her halfformed protests "I have waited for her to tell us, but since she will not --" She saw hi only ten fret aith Jeade’en’s reins in his hand, and cut oft sharply Aviendha turned to see what Aht crimson suffused her face, then drained away so suddenly that even her sundark cheeks looked pale The four Wise Ones fixed hiazes

As their horses "Do women learn that look in the cradle?" Mat hty Car’a’carn will get his ears singed if he stays around herehis head, Rand reached up as Aviendha swung a leg over to slide down, and lifted her from the dapple’s back For adown into her clear bluegreen eyes She did not look away, and her expression never changed, but her hands tightened slowly on his forearht she was set to spy on him for the Wise Ones, but if she ever asked a question about things he held back fro secrets fro out Bludgeon, maybe, but never ferret He had considered the possibility that she was like one of Colavaere’s young women, but only for the brief moment it took to think of the notion Aviendha would never let herself be used in that way Besides, even if she had, giving hi hi hio about it If she wasnaked in front of him, Aiel customs were different If his distress at it satisfied her, likely it was because she thought it was a great joke to play on him So as she supposed to be successful at? Plots all around hi? He could see his face in her eyes Who had given