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ed out of the wagons； well…cut green wool； but hardly what he usually wore now。 Short of taking the coat off a Warder's back or a cadin'sor from an Aielman； it was the only garment in the camp to fit him。 Truth； you would have thought he insisted on silk and fine embroidery； the way he had had those wagons searched top to bottom； yesterday and this morning。
The wagons stretched out in line； teams hitched； canvas covers and iron hoops taken down。 Kiruna and the rest of the sworn sisters sat packed into the lead wagon； and not happy。 They had ceased their protests as soon as they saw that protesting did no good； but Perrin could still hear coldly angry mutters。 At least they rode。 Their Warders surrounded the wagon afoot； silent and stony； while the Aes Sedai prisoners stood in a rigid； sullen cluster ringed by every Wise One who was hot with Rand； which was to say all but Sorilea and Amys。 The prisoners' Warders glowered in another clump a hundred paces off； cold death waiting despite their injuries and siswai'aman guards。 Except for Kiruna's big black； its reins held by Rand； and a mouse…colored mare with fine ankles for Min； the Aes Sedai's and Warders' horses not assigned to Asha'man … or used to fill out wagon teams； that had caused a motion worse than making their owners walk！ … were all tied to long lead lines fastened to the wagons' tailgates。
〃Do you believe it； Flinn？ Grady？〃
One of the Asha'man waiting to go through first； the stocky fellow with a farmer's face； looked at Rand uncertainly； then at the leathery old man with the limp。 Each wore a silver…sword pin on his collar； but not the Dragon。 〃Only a fool thinks his enemies stand still when he isn't looking； my Lord Dragon；〃 the old man said in a gruff voice。 He sounded like a soldier。
〃What about you； Dashiva？〃
Dashiva gave a start； surprised to be addressed。 〃I。。。 grew up on a farm。〃 He tugged his sword belt straight； which it did not need。 Supposedly they trained with the swords as much as with the Power； but Dashiva did not seem to know one end from the other。 〃I don't know much about having enemies。〃 Despite his awkwardness； there was a kind of insolence to him。 But then； the whole lot seemed weaned on arrogance。
〃If you stay near me；〃 Rand said softly； 〃you will。〃 His smile made Perrin shiver。 He smiled while he gave orders to go through the gateway as though they would be attacked on the other side。 There were enemies everywhere； he told them。 Always remember that。 There were enemies everywhere； and you never knew who。
The exodus continued unabated。 Wagons rumbled from Dumai's Wells to Cairhien； the sisters in the first like statues of ice being lurched about。 Their Warders trotted alongside； hands gripping sword hilts and eyes never resting on one spot； clearly they thought their Aes Sedai needed protection as much from those already on the hill as from anyone who might appear。 The Wise Ones marched through herding their charges； a number used sticks to prod the Aes Sedai along； though the sisters made a good job pretending there were neither Wise Ones nor prods。 The Shaido gai'shain came； trotting in a column four wide under the gaze of a single Maiden； she pointed to a place out of the way before darting to join the other Far Dareis Mai； and the gai'shain knelt there in lines； naked as jaybirds and proud as eagles。 The remaining Warders followed under their guard； radiating a massed fury that Perrin could smell over everything else； then Rhuarc with the rest of the siswai'aman and Maidens； and four more Asha'man； each leading a second horse for one of the first four； and Nurelle and his Winged Guards with their red…streamered lances。
The Mayeners were puffed up over being the rear guard； laughing and shouting boasts to the Cairhienin of what they would have done had the Shaido returned； though in fact they were not last。 Last of all came Rand on Kiruna's gelding； and Min on her mare。 Sorilea and Amys strode along to one side of the tall black horse； Nandera and half a dozen Maidens to the other； and Dashiva led a placid…looking bay mare at their heels。 The gateway winked out； and Dashiva blinked at where it had been； smiling faintly； then scrambled clumsily into the mare's saddle。 He seemed to be talking to himself； but it was probably because his sword tangled in his legs and he nearly fell。 Surely he was not mad already。
An army covered the hill； all arrayed for an attack that plainly was not ing。 A small army； only a few thousand； though it would have seemed fair…sized before the Aiel brought their numbers across the Dragonwall。 Guiding his horse slowly toward Perrin； Rand scanned the countryside。 The two Wise Ones followed closely； talking softly and watching him； Nandera and the Maidens followed； watching everything else。 Had Rand been a wolf； Perrin would have said he was testing the air。 He carried the Dragon Scepter across his high saddlebow； a two…foot length of spearhead decorated with a green…and…white tassel and carved with Dragons； and now and then he weighed it lightly in his hand as if to remind himself of it。
When Rand reined in； he studied Perrin as intently as he had the surrounding country。 〃I trust you；〃 he said finally； nodding。 Min stirred in her saddle； and he added； 〃And you； Min； of course。 And you； too； Loial。〃 The Ogier shifted uncertainly； with a hesitant glance for Perrin。 Rand looked around the hillside； at the Aiel and the Asha'man and all the rest。 〃So few I can trust；〃 he whispered tiredly。 His scent was jumbled enough for two men； anger and fear； determination and despair。 And woven through it all； weariness。
Be sane； Perrin wanted to tell him。 Hold on。 A wash of guilt held his tongue； though。 Because it was the Dragon Reborn he wanted to say it to； not his friend since childhood。 He wanted his friend to stay sane； the Dragon Reborn had to stay sane。
〃My Lord Dragon；〃 one of the Asha'man called abruptly。 He looked little more than a boy； with dark eyes as big as any girl's and neither sword nor Dragon on his collar； but pride in his bearing。 Narishma； Perrin had heard him called。 〃To the southwest。〃
A figure had appeared； running out from the trees a mile or more away； a woman with skirts hiked to her thighs。 To Perrin's eyes she was clearly Aiel。 A Wise One； he thought； though there was no real way to tell at sight。 He was just certain。 The sight of her brought back all his edginess。 Somebody out here； just where they happened to e out of the gateway； could not be good news。 The Shaido had been troubling Cairhien again when he set off after Rand； but to the Aiel； a Wise One was a Wise One； whatever her clan。 They visited like neighbors over for tea while their clans killed one another。 Two Aiel trying to kill each other would step back to let a Wise One pass between。 Maybe yesterday had changed that and maybe not。 He exhaled wearily。 At best she could not be good news。
Nearly everyone on the hill seemed to feel the same。 Ripples of motion ran everywhere； spears hefted； arrows nocked。 Cairhienin and Mayeners shifted in their saddles； and Aram drew his sword； eyes shining with anticipation。 Loial leaned on his tall axe and fingered the edge regretfully。 The head was shaped like that of a huge wood…axe； but engraved with leaves and scrolls and inlaid with gold。 The inlay was a trifle scuffed from the axe's late use。 If he had to use it again； he would； but with as much reluctance as Perrin used his and for many of the same reasons。
Rand simply sat his horse and watched； face unreadable。 Min edged her mare close enough to stroke his shoulder like someone trying to soothe a mastiff with its hackles up。
The Wise Ones also gave no sign of disturbance； but neither did they stay still。 Sorilea gestured； and a dozen of the women guarding the Aes Sedai broke off to join her and Amys； well away from Rand and out of even Perrin's hearing。 Few had any gray in their hair； and Sorilea's was the only lined face； but then； there was hardly a gray hair to be seen on any of the Wise Ones here。 The fact was； not many Aiel lived to have much gray hair。 These women had position； though； or influence； however Wise Ones decided such things。 Perrin had seen Sorilea and Amys confer with the same lot before； though confer was not quite the word。 Sorilea spoke； with an occasional word from Amys； and the others listened。 Edarra raised a protest； but Sorilea smothered it； apparently without breaking stride； then pointed out two of their number； Sotarin and Cosain。 Immediately； they gathered their skirts over their arms and sped off toward the newer； legs flashing。
Perrin patted Stepper's neck。 No more killing。 Not yet。
The three Wise Ones met nearly half a mile from the hill and stopped。 They spoke； just for a moment； and then all came on at a run； back to the hill。 And straight to Sorilea。 The newer； a youngish； long…nosed woman with a mass of incredibly red hair； spoke hurriedly。 Sorilea's face grew stonier by the word。 Finally the red…haired woman finished … or rather Sorilea cut her short with a few words … and the lot turned to face Rand。 None made a move toward him； though。 They waited； hands folded at their waists and shawls looped