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just their way。〃 Burn Gaul and burn his explanations； he thought。 They could cover them with something！
〃Perrin Goldeneyes；〃 said a woman's voice； 〃Carahuin sends to know whether you wish water。〃 Aram's face went purple； and he jerked himself around in his squat； presenting his back to her。
〃No； thank you。〃 Perrin did not need to look up to know it was the golden…haired Shaido woman。 He kept peering off at nothing in another direction。 Aiel had a peculiar sense of humor； and Maidens of the Spear … Carahuin was a Maiden … had the most peculiar。 They had quickly seen how the wetlanders reacted to the Shaido … they would have needed to be blind not to … and suddenly gai'shain were being sent to wetlanders left and right； and Aiel all but rolling on the ground at the blushes and stammers and even the shouting。 He was sure that Carahuin and her friends were watching now。 This was at least the tenth time one of the gai'shain women had been sent to ask him whether he wanted water or had a spare whetstone or some such bloody fool thing。
Abruptly a thought struck him。 The Mayeners were seldom bothered this way。 A handful of Cairhienin plainly enjoyed looking； if not so openly as the Mayeners； and some of the older Two Rivers men； who should have known better。 The point was； none of them had had a second spurious message that he knew of。 Those who reacted the most on the other hand。。。 Cairhienin； who had shouted the loudest about indecency； and two or three of the younger Two Rivers men； who stammered and blushed so hard they looked ready to melt； had been pestered until they fled the wagons entirely。。。
With an effort Perrin looked up at the gai'shain's face。 At her eyes。 Focus on her eyes； he thought frantically。 They were green； and large； and not at all meek。 Her scent was pure fury。 〃Thank Carahuin for me； and tell her you could oil my spare saddle； if she doesn't mind。 And I don't have a clean shirt。 If she wouldn't mind you doing some laundry？〃
〃She will not mind；〃 the woman said in a tight voice； then turned and trotted off。
Perrin whipped his eyes away； though the image did stay in his head。 Light； Aram was right！ But with luck； he might just have stopped any more visitations。 He would have to point this out to Aram； and the Two Rivers men。 Maybe the Cairhienin would listen too。
〃What are we going to do about them； Lord Perrin？〃 Still looking away； Aram no longer spoke of gai'shain。
〃That is Rand's to decide；〃 Perrin said slowly； satisfaction fading。 It might be odd to think of people wandering about naked as a small problem； but this was definitely a bigger。 And one he had been avoiding as hard as he had what lay to the north。
On the far side of the wagon circle； nearly two dozen women sat on the ground。 All well…dressed for travel； many wore silk； most with light linen dustcloaks； but not a bead of sweat showed on any face。 Three appeared young enough that he might have asked them for a dance before he married Faile。
If they weren't Aes Sedai； anyway； he thought wryly。 Once he had danced with an Aes Sedai； and nearly swallowed his tongue when he realized who he swung about。 And she had been a friend； if that word applied to Aes Sedai。 How new does an Aes Sedai have to be for me to put an age to her？ The others looked ageless； of course； maybe in their twenties； maybe their forties； changing from one glance to the next； always uncertain。 That was what their faces said； though several showed gray in their hair。 You just could not tell with Aes Sedai。 About anything。
〃At least those are no danger anymore；〃 Aram said； jerking his head toward three of the sisters a little apart from the rest。
One wept； face on her knees； the other two stared haggardly at nothing； one of them plucking aimlessly at her skirt。 They had been much the same since yesterday； at least none was screaming any longer。 If Perrin had the straight of it； which he was not sure he did； they had been stilled somehow when Rand broke free。 They would never channel the One Power again。 To Aes Sedai； it was probably better to be dead。
He would have expected the other Aes Sedai to fort them； care for them somehow； but most ignored the three entirely； although a little too studied in looking anywhere and everywhere else。 For that matter； the stilled Aes Sedai refused to acknowledge the rest； either。 In the beginning； at least； a few of the other sisters had approached； each by herself； calm to the eye yet smelling sharply of aversion and reluctance； but they got nothing for their pains； not word or glance。 None had gone near this morning。
Perrin shook his head。 The Aes Sedai seemed to do a lot of ignoring of what they did not want to admit。 For instance； the black…coated men standing over them。 There was an Asha'man for each sister； even the three who had been stilled； and they never seemed to blink。 For their part； the Aes Sedai looked past the Asha'man； or through them； they might as well not have existed。
It was quite a trick。 He could not make himself disregard the Asha'man； and he was not under their guard。 They ranged from fuzz…cheeked boys to gray…haired； balding gansers； and it was not their grim； high…collared black coats or the sword each wore at his hip that made them dangerous。 Every Asha'man could channel； and somehow they were keeping the Aes Sedai from channeling。 Men who could wield the One Power； a thing of nightmares。 Rand could； of course； but he was Rand； and the Dragon Reborn besides。 These fellows made Perrin's hackles rise。
The captive Aes Sedai's surviving Warders sat some distance off； under their own guard。 Thirty or so of Lord Dobraine's armsmen in bell…shaped Cairhienin helmets and as many Mayener Winged Guards in red breastplates； each sharp…eyed as if guarding leopards。 A good attitude； under the circumstances。 More Warders than there were Aes Sedai； a number of the prisoners were Green Ajah； apparently。 More guards than Warders； a good many more； and maybe few enough at that。
〃The Light send we don't see any more grief from that lot；〃 Perrin muttered。 Twice during the night the Warders had tried to break free。 In truth； those outbreaks had been suppressed more by the Asha'man than by the Cairhienin or Mayeners； and they had not been gentle。 None of the Warders had been killed； but at least a dozen nursed broken bones none of the sisters had yet been allowed to Heal。
〃If the Lord Dragon cannot make the decision；〃 Aram said quietly； 〃maybe it should be made by somebody else。 To protect him。〃
Perrin gave him a sidelong look。 〃What decision？ The sisters told them not to make another attempt； and they'll obey their Aes Sedai。〃 Broken bones or no； unarmed as they were； hands tied behind their backs； the Warders still looked like a wolfpack awaiting the lead wolf's mand to attack。 None would rest easy until his Aes Sedai was free； maybe until all of the sisters were free。 Aes Sedai and Warders： a stack of well…aged oak； ready for a flame。 But even Warders and Aes Sedai had proved no match for Asha'man。
〃I did not mean the Warders。〃 Aram hesitated； then shuffled closer to Perrin and lowered his voice further； to a hoarse whisper。 〃The Aes Sedai kidnapped the Lord Dragon。 He can't trust them； not ever； but he won't do what he has to； either。 If they died before he knew it … 〃
〃What are you saying？〃 Perrin almost choked as he sat bolt upright。 Not for the first time； he wondered whether there was any Tinker left in the other man。 〃They're helpless； Aram！ Helpless women！〃
〃They are Aes Sedai。〃 Dark eyes met Perrin's golden stare levelly。 〃They cannot be trusted； and they cannot be turned loose。 How long can Aes Sedai be held against their will？ They've been doing what they do far longer than the Asha'man。 They must know more。 They're a danger to the Lord Dragon； and to you； Lord Perrin。 I have seen them look at you。〃
Across the wagon circle； the sisters were talking among themselves in whispers even Perrin could not hear； mouths held close to ears。 Now and again one did look at him and Aram。 At him； not Aram。 He had caught a double handful of names。 Nesune Bihara。 Erian Boroleos and Katerine Alruddin。 Coiren Saeldain； Sarene Nemdahl and Elza Penfell。 Janine Pavlara； Beldeine Nyram； Marith Riven。 Those last were the young sisters； but young or ageless； they watched him with faces so serene it seemed they had the upper hand despite the Asha'man。 Defeating Aes Sedai was not easy； making them admit defeat lay on the far side of impossible。
He forced his hands to unknot and rest on his knees； giving an appearance of calm he was nowhere near feeling。 They knew he was ta'veren； one of those few the Pattern would shape itself around for a time。 Worse； they knew he was tied to Rand in some way nobody understood； least of all himself or Rand。 Or Mat； Mat was in that tangle； too； another ta'veren； though neither of them as strongly as Rand。 Given half a chance those women would have him … and Mat … inside the White Tower as fast as they would Rand； tethered like goats until the lion came。 And they had kidnapped Rand； mistreated him。 Aram was right about one thing； they could not be trusted。 But what Aram sug