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he could begin to form an apology； she smiled。 The woman smiled！
〃At least you're not sulking anymore；〃 she said。 〃Don't ever whine； Rand； you are no good at it。 Now； then。 You want sense？ I love you； and I will not go。 If you try to send me away； I'll tell the Maidens you ruined me and cast me aside。 I'll tell everybody who will listen。 I will … 〃
He raised his right hand and studied the flat of his palm； where the branded heron stood clear； then looked at her。 She eyed his hand warily and shifted herself on his knees； then conspicuously ignored everything except his face。
〃I won't go； Rand；〃 she said quietly。 〃You need me。〃
〃How do you do it？〃 he sighed； slumping back in the chair。 〃Even when you stand me on my head； you make all my troubles shrink。〃
Min sniffed。 〃You need to be stood on your head more often。 Tell me。 This Aviendha。 I don't suppose there is any chance she's bony and scarred； like Nandera。〃
He laughed in spite of himself。 Light； how long since he had laughed with pleasure？ 〃Min； I'd say she is as pretty as you； but how can you pare two sunrises？〃
For a moment she stared at him with a small smile； as if she could not decide whether to be surprised or delighted。 〃You are a very dangerous man； Rand al'Thor；〃 she murmured； leaning toward him slowly。 He thought he might fall into her eyes and be lost。 All those times before when she sat on his lap and kissed him； all those times he had thought she was only teasing a country boy； he had nearly crawled out of his skin wanting to kiss her forever。 Now； if she kissed him again now。。。
Taking her firmly by the arms； he stood and set her on her feet。 He loved her； and she loved him； but he had to remember that he wanted to kiss Elayne forever when he thought about her； and Aviendha。 Whatever Min said about Rhuarc or any Aielman； she had made a poor bargain the day she fell in love with him。 〃You said half； Min；〃 he said quietly。 〃What viewings haven't you told me？〃
She looked up at him with what almost might have been frustration； except of course that it could not have been。 〃You're in love with the Dragon Reborn； Min Farshaw；〃 she grumbled； 〃and best you remember it。 Best you did； too； Rand；〃 she added； pulling away。 He let her go reluctantly； eagerly； he did not know which。 〃You've been back in Cairhien half a week； and you still have done nothing about the Sea Folk。 Berelain thought you might drag your feet again。 She left me a letter； asking me to keep reminding you； only you wouldn't let me … Well； never mind that。 Berelain thinks they're important to you somehow； she says you're the fulfillment of some prophecy of theirs。〃
〃I know all about that； Min。 I … 〃 He had thought to leave the Sea Folk out of being tangled with him； they were not mentioned in the Prophecies of the Dragon that he could find。 But if he was going to let Min stay near him； let her risk the dangers。。。 She had won； he realized。 He had watched Elayne walk away with his heart sinking； watched Aviendha go with his stomach in knots。 He could not do it again。 Min stood there waiting。 〃I'll go to their ship。 I'll go today。 The Sea Folk can kneel to the Dragon Reborn in all his splendor。 I don't suppose there was ever any hope for anything else。 Either they're mine； or they're my enemies。 That is how it always seems to be。 Will you tell me about those viewings； now？〃
〃Rand； you should study what they're like before you … 〃
〃The viewings？〃
She folded her arms and frowned up at him through her lashes。 She chewed her lip and frowned at the door。 She shook her head and muttered under her breath。 At last she said； 〃There is only one； really。 I was exaggerating。 I saw you and another man。 I couldn't make out either face； but I knew one was you。 You touched； and seemed to merge into one another； and。。。 〃 Her mouth tightened worriedly； and she went on in a very small voice。 〃I don't know what it means； Rand； except that one of you dies； and one doesn't。 I … Why are you grinning？ This isn't a joke； Rand。 I do not know which of you dies。〃
〃I'm grinning because you've given me very good news；〃 he said； touching her cheek。 The other man had to be Lews Therin。 I'm not just insane and hearing voices； he thought； jubilant。 One lived and one died； but he had known for a long time that he was going to die。 At least he was not mad。 Or not as far mad as he had feared。 There was still the temper he could barely control。 〃You see； I … 〃
Suddenly he realized that he had gone from touching her cheek to cupping her face in both hands。 He pulled them away as if burned。 Min pursed her lips and gave him a reproving look； but he was not going to take advantage of her。 It would not be fair to her。 Luckily； his stomach rumbled loudly。
〃I need something to eat； if I'm going to see the Sea Folk。 I saw a tray。。。 〃
Min made a sound more snort than sniff as he turned away； but the next moment she was sailing toward the tall doors。 〃You need a bath； if we're going to the Sea Folk。〃
Nandera was delighted； nodding enthusiastically and sending Maidens running。 Though she did lean close to Min and say； 〃I should have let you in the first day。 I wanted to kick him； but it is not done； kicking the Car'a'carn。〃 By her tone； it should have been done。 She spoke softly； yet not so softly he could not hear。 He was sure that was deliberate； she directed too sharp a glare at him for it not to be。
Maidens lugged in the big copper tub themselves； flashing handtalk once they set it down； laughing and too excited to let the Sun Palace servants do the work； or bring in the stream of buckets filled with hot water； either。 Rand had a hard time taking his own clothes off。 For that matter； he had a hard time washing himself； and he could not escape Nandera lathering his hair。 Flaxen…haired Somara and fiery…haired Enaila insisted on shaving him as he sat chest…deep in the tub； concentrating so intently they seemed afraid they might cut his throat。 He was used to that from other times they had refused to let him handle brush and razor himself。 He was used to the Maidens who stood around watching； offering to scrub his back or his feet； hands flickering in silent chatter and still more than half…scandalized at the sight of someone sitting in water。 Besides； he managed to get rid of some； at least； by sending them off carrying orders。
What he was not used to was Min； sitting cross…legged on the bed with her chin on her hands； watching the whole thing in very evident fascination。 In all the crowd of Maidens； he had not realized she was there until he was naked； and all there was to do then was sit down as fast as he could； splashing water over the sides of the tub。 The woman would have done very well as a Maiden herself。 She discussed him with the Maidens quite openly； with never a blush！ He was the one who blushed。
〃Yes； he is very modest；〃 she said； agreeing with Malindare； a woman more rounded than most Maidens； with the darkest hair Rand had seen on any Aiel。 〃Modesty is a man's crowning glory。〃 Malindare nodded soberly； but Min wore a grin that nearly split her cheeks。
And； 〃Oh； no； Domeille； it would be a shame to spoil such a pretty face with a scar。〃 Domeille； grayer than Nandera； leaner； and with a thrusting chin； insisted that he was not pretty enough to do without a scar to set off what beauty he had。 Her words。 The rest was worse。 The Maidens had always seemed to enjoy making his face red。 Min certainly did。
〃You have to dry off sooner or later； Rand；〃 she said； holding up a long piece of white toweling with both hands。 She stood a good three paces from the tub； and the Maidens had all backed into a watching ring。 Min's smile was so innocent any magistrate would have found her guilty on that alone。 〃e and get dry； Rand。〃
He had never been so relieved to pull on clothes in his life。
By that time； all his orders had been carried out； and everything was in readiness。 Rand al'Thor might have been routed in a bathtub； but the Dragon Reborn was going to the Sea Folk in a style that would send them plummeting to their knees with awe。
Chapter 34
（Star and Birds）
Ta'veren
All was ready as Rand had ordered in the courtyard at the front of the Sun Palace。 Or almost all。 The morning sun slanted shadows from the stepped towers； so only ten paces in front of the tall bronze gates lay in full light。 Dashiva and Flinn and Narishma； the three Asha'man he had retained； waited beside their horses； even Dashiva resplendent with the silver sword and red…and…gold Dragon on his black collar； though he still touched the sword at his hip as if constantly surprised to find it there。 A hundred of Dobraine's armsmen sat their mounts behind Dobraine himself with two long banners that hung down in the still air； their dark armor newly lacquered so it glistened in the sun； and silk streamers of red and white and black tied below the heads of their lances。 They raised a cheer when Rand appeared； his sword belt with its gilded Dragon buckle strapped over a red coat heavy with gold。
〃Al'Thor！ Al'Thor！ Al'Thor！〃 filled the courtyard。 People crowding the archers' balconies joined in；