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d never kissed your father！〃 He fell silent at a weary gesture from Bornhald； a fierce…trained dog obeying his master； but his words had quieted the Two Rivers people。
〃Which village？〃 Bran's voice was dignified and troubled both。 〃We all know people in Watch Hill； and Deven Ride。〃
〃Watch Hill has not been troubled；〃 Bornhald replied； 〃and I know nothing of Deven Ride。 This morning a rider brought me word that Taren Ferry hardly exists any longer。 If you have friends there； many people did escape across the river。 Across the river。〃 His face tightened momentarily。 〃I myself lost nearly fifty good soldiers。〃
The news produced a few queasy murmurs； no one liked to hear that sort of thing； but on the other hand； no one here knew anyone in Taren Ferry。 Likely none of them had ever been that far。
Luc pushed his horse forward； the stallion snapping at Stepper。 Perrin reined his own mount tightly before the two began fighting； but Luc appeared not to notice or care。 〃Taren Ferry？〃 he said in a flat voice。 〃Trollocs attacked Taren Ferry last night？〃
Bornhald shrugged。 〃I said it； did I not？ It seems that the Trollocs have at last decided to raid the villages。 How providential that you here were warned in time to prepare these fine defenses。〃 His stare ran over the pointed hedge and the men behind it before settling on Perrin。
〃Was the man called Ordeith at Taren Ferry last night？〃 Luc asked。
Perrin stared at him。 He had not known Luc even knew of Padan Fain； or the name he used now。 But people did talk； especially when someone they knew as a peddler came back with authority among Whitecloaks。Bornhald's reaction was as strange as the question。 His eyes glittered a hate as strong as he had shown for Perrin； but his face went pale； and he scrubbed at slack lips with the back of his hand as though he had forgotten he wore steel…backed gauntlets。 〃You know Ordeith？〃 he said； leaning toward Luc in his saddle。
It was Luc's turn to shrug casually。 〃I have seen him here and there since ing to the Two Rivers。 A disreputable…looking man； and those who follow him no less。 The sort who might have been careless enough to allow a Trolloc attack to succeed。 Was he there？ If so； one can hope he died for his folly。 If not； one hopes you have him here with you； close under your eye。〃
〃I do not know where he is；〃 Bornhald snapped。 〃Or care！ I did not e here to talk of Ordeith！〃 His horse pranced nervously as Bornhald flung out a hand； pointing at Perrin。 〃I arrest you as a Darkfriend。 You will be taken to Amador； and there tried under the Dome of Truth。〃
Byar stared at his Captain in disbelief。 Behind the barrier separating the Whitecloaks from the Two Rivers men； angry mutters rose； spears and bills were hefted； bows raised。 The farther Whitecloaks began spreading out in a gleaming line under shouted orders from a fellow as big in his armor as Master Luhhan； sliding lances into holders along their saddles； unlimbering short horsebows。 At that range they could do little more than cover the escape of Bornhald and the men with him； if they did indeed manage an escape； but Bornhald appeared oblivious of any danger； and of anything at all save Perrin。
〃There will be no arrests；〃 Bran said sharply； 〃We have decided that。 No more arrests without proof of some crime； and proof we believe。 You'll never show me anything to convince me Perrin is a Darkfriend； so you might as well put your hand down。〃
〃He betrayed my father to his death at Falme；〃 Bornhald shouted。 Rage shook him。 〃Betrayed him to Darkfriends and Tar Valon witches who murdered a thousand of the Children with the One Power！〃 Byar nodded vigorously。
Some of the Two Rivers folk shifted uncertainly； word had spread of what Verin and Alanna had done that morning； and the deeds had grown in spreading。 Whatever they thought about Perrin； a hundred tales of Aes Sedai； almost all wrong； made for easy belief in Aes Sedai destroying a thousand Whitecloaks。 And if they believed that； they might e to believe the rest。
〃I betrayed no one；〃 Perrin said in a loud voice so everyone could hear。 〃If your father died at Falme； those who killed him are called the Seanchan。 I don't know whether they are Darkfriends； but I do know they use the One Power in battle。〃
〃Liar！〃 Spittle flew from Bornhald's lips。 〃The Seanchan are a tale concocted by the White Tower to hide their foul lies！ You are a Darkfriend！〃
Bran shook his head wonderingly； pushing his steel cap over to one side so he could scratch his fringe of gray hair。 〃I don't know anything about these … Seanchan？ … about these Seanchan。 What I do know is that Perrin is no Darkfriend； and you are not arresting anybody。〃
The situation was growing more dangerous by the minute； Perrin realized。 Byar saw it and tugged at Bornhald's arm； whispering to him； but the Whitecloak captain would not； or perhaps could not； back away now that he had Perrin in front of his eyes。 Bran and the Two Rivers men had their heels planted； too； they might not be willing to let the Whitecloaks take him even if he confessed to everything Bornhald claimed。 Unless someone tossed some water fast； everything was going to explode like a fistful of dry straw tossed on a forge…fire。
He hated having to think quickly。 Loial had the right of it。 Hasty thinking led to people being hurt。 But he thought he saw a way here。 〃Are you willing to hold off my arrest； Bornhald？ Until the Trollocs are done with？ I won't be going anywhere before then。〃
〃Why should I hold off？〃 The man was blind with hate。 If he went on； a good many men were going to die； including him most likely； and he could not see。 There was no use pointing it out。
〃Haven't you noticed all the farms burning this morning？〃 Perrin said instead。 He made a sweeping gesture that took in all the dwindling plumes of smoke。 〃Look around。 You said it yourself。 The Trollocs aren't content with raiding a farm or two each night anymore。 They're up to raiding villages。 If you try to make it back to Watch Hill； you may not get there。 You were lucky to e this far。 But if you stay here； in Emond's Field。。。〃 Bran rounded on him； and other men shouted loud noes； Faile rode close and seized his arm； but he ignored all of them。 〃。。。you will know where I am； and your soldiers will be wele to help our defenses。〃
〃Are you sure about this； Perrin？〃 Bran said； grabbing Stepper's stirrup； while from the other side Faile said urgently； 〃No； Perrin！ It is too great a risk。 You must not … I mean。。。 please don't … Oh； the Light burn me to bloody ash！ You must not do this！〃
〃I won't have men fighting men if I can stop it；〃 he told them firmly。 〃We are not going to do the Trollocs' work for them。〃
Faile practically flung his arm away。 Scowling at Bornhald； she produced a sharpening stone from her pouch and a knife from somewhere； and began honing the blade with a silk…soft whisk…whisk。
〃Hari Coplin won't know what to think； now；〃 Bran said wryly。 Straightening his round helmet； he turned back to the Whitecloaks and planted his spear butt。 〃You have heard his terms。 Now hear mine。 If you e into Emond's Field； you arrest no one without the say…so of the Village Council； which you will not get； so you arrest no one。 You don't go into anybody's house unless you are asked。 You make no trouble； and you share in the defense where and when you're asked。 And I don't want to so much as smell a Dragon's Fang！ Will you agree？ If not； you can ride back as you came。〃 Byar stared at the round man as if a sheep had reared up on its hind legs and offered to wrestle。
Bornhald never took his eyes off Perrin。 〃Done；〃 he said at last。 〃Until the Trolloc threat is gone； done！〃 Wrenching his horse around； he galloped back toward the line of his men； snowy cloak billowing behind him。
As the Mayor ordered the wagons rolled aside； Perrin realized that Luc was looking at him。 The fellow sat slumped easily in his saddle； a languorous hand on his sword hilt； blue eyes amused。
〃I thought you would object；〃 Perrin said； 〃the way I hear you've been talking people up against the Whitecloaks。〃
Luc spread his hands smoothly。 〃If these people want Whitecloaks among them； let them have Whitecloaks。 But you should be careful； young Goldeneyes。 I know something of taking an enemy into your bosom。 His blade goes in quicker when he is close。〃 With a laugh； he pushed his stallion off through the crowd； back into the village。
〃He is right；〃 Faile said； still stropping her knife on the stone。 〃Perhaps this Bornhald will keep his word not to arrest you； but what is to stop one of his men from putting a blade in your back？ You should not have done this。〃
〃I had to；〃 he told her。 〃Better than doing the Trollocs' work。〃
The Whitecloaks were beginning to ride in； Bornhald and Byar at their head。 Those two glared at him with unabated hatred； and the others； riding by in pairs 。。。 Cold； hard eyes in cold； hard faces swung to regard him as they passed。
They did not hate； but they saw a Darkfriend when they saw him。 And Byar； at least； was capable of anything。
He had had to do i