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Wil al’Seen met his eyes, then looked down, ashaht, I couldn’t do it I kept one The one I’d helped sew"

"Fetch it, Wil," Perrin said His own voice sounded like steel

Wil ran, s a folded cloth, white with a red border Perrin took it, then held it in a reverent hand, hammer in the other He looked at the crowd Faile was there, hands clasped before her She smelled hopeful She could see into him She knew

"I have tried to send you away," Perrin announced to the crowd "You would not go I have failings You must know this If we march to war, I will not be able to protect you all I willthe eyes of those who stood there Each rets, no hesitations They nodded

Perrin took a deep breath "If you wish this, I will accept your oaths I will lead you"

They cheered him An enormous roar of excitement "Goldeneyes! Goldeneyes the wolf! To the Last Battle! Tai’shar Manetheren!"

"Wil!" Perrin bellowed, holding up the banner "Raise this banner high Don’t take it down again until the Last Battle has been won I n of the wolf The rest of you, rouse the caht We have another task tonight!"

The younghiround They raised it high, running to get a pole The group broke up,the summons

Perrin took Faile by the hand as she walked up to him She s," he pro, either I’ll do what must be done" He looked down at the anvil, blackened from his work His old hammer, noorn and dented, lay across it He felt sad to leave it, but he had made his decision

"What did you do, Neald?" he asked as the Asha’ pale--stu the nificent work

"I don’t know, my Lord," Neald said "It just…well, it was like I said It felt right I sahat to do, how to put the weaves into the metal itself It see in the water of a streaure of speech

"That sounds right," Perrin said "It needs a naue?"

"No, my Lord"

Perrin looked at the wolf imprinted on the side "Does anyone kno you say ‘He who soars’?"

"I…I don’t…"

"Mah’alleinir," Berelain said, stepping up fro