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ancy。
Shifting his axe at his hip； he followed Rand up the broad gray stairs at the far end of the courtyard； and nodded when Aram reached over his shoulder again to ease his sword。 Liveried men swung open the great doors at the head of the stairs； bronze like the outer gates and marked large with the Rising Sun of Cairhien。
Once； the entry hall would have stunned Perrin with its grandeur。 Thick square columns of dark marble held a square…vaulted ceiling ten paces above floor tiles that alternated dark blue and deep gold。 Gilded Rising Suns marched around the cornices； and friezes carved in the walls showed Cairhienin triumphs in battle。 The hall was empty； save for a handful of young men clustered beneath one of the friezes who fell silent when Perrin and the rest entered。
Not all men； he realized。 All wore swords； but four of the seven were women； in coats and snug breeches much like Min's； their hair cut short as the men's。 Not that that was particularly short； men and women alike had it gathered in a kind of tail that reached their shoulders； tied with a dark ribbon。 One of the women wore green a little paler than normal for Cairhienin； and another bright blue； all the rest were in dark colors； with a few bright stripes across their chests。 They studied Rand's party … with an especial view for himself； Perrin realized； his yellow eyes took people aback； although he hardly noticed it anymore unless somebody jumped； or made a motion … studied in silence until the last of the Asha'man was in and the doors swung shut。 The boom of the closing covered a moment of fierce whispering； then they came swaggering closer； the women strutting even more arrogantly than the men； which took some doing。 Even the way they knelt was arrogant。
The green…clad woman glanced at the one in blue； who had her head down； and said； 〃My Lord Dragon； I am Camaille Nolaisen。 Selande Darengil leads our society。。。 〃 She blinked at a fierce look from the woman in blue。 Despite the glare； Selande smelled afraid to her bones； if Perrin was making out who was who properly。 Clearing her throat； Camaille went on； 〃We did not think … We did not expect you to return … so soon。〃
〃Yes；〃 Rand said softly。 〃I doubt anyone thought I would return … so soon。 None of you has any reason to be afraid of me。 None at all。 If you believe anything； believe that。〃 Surprisingly； he looked right at Selande when he said that。 Her head whipped up； and as she stared at him； the fear smell faded。 Not pletely； but down to a tatter。 How had Rand known it was there？ 〃Where is Colavaere？〃 Rand asked。
Camaille opened her mouth； but it was Selande who answered。 〃In the Grand Hall of the Sun。〃 Her voice grew stronger as she spoke； the scent of her fear growing weaker。 Oddly； a slight tinge of jealousy touched it once； just for an instant； when she glanced at Min。 Sometimes his sense of smell was more confusing than enlightening。 〃It is the third Sunset Convocation；〃 she went on。 〃We are not important enough to attend。 Besides； I think we of the societies make her uneasy。〃
〃The third；〃 Dobraine muttered。 〃The ninth sunset after her coronation already。 She wasted no time。 At least they will all be together。 No one of any rank or pretension will miss it； Cairhienin or Tairen。〃
Drawing herself up on her knees； Selande managed to make it seem she was meeting Rand eye…to…eye。 〃We are ready to dance the blades for you； my Lord Dragon。〃 Sulin shook her head； wincing； and another Maiden groaned audibly； several looked and smelled ready to do some violence then and there。 The Aiel could not decide what to make of these young wetlanders。 The problem in Aiel eyes were that they were trying to be Aiel； in a way； to follow ji'e'toh； their version of it； anyway。 These seven were not the lot； hundreds of the idiots； at least； could be found all over the city； organized into societies in imitation of the Aiel。 Half the Aiel Perrin had heard mention them wanted to help； the other half wanted to strangle them。
For himself； he did not care whether they mangled ji'e'toh to mincemeat。 〃Where is my wife？〃 he demanded。 〃Where is Faile？〃 The young fools exchanged guarded looks。 Guarded！
〃She is in the Grand Hall of the Sun；〃 Selande said slowly。 〃She … she is one of Queen … of Colavaere's lady attendants。〃
〃Put your eyes back in your head； Perrin；〃 Min whispered。 〃She must have a good reason。 You know she must。〃
Shrugging inside his coat； Perrin tried to gather himself。 One of Colavaere's attendants？ Whatever her reason； it must be good。 That much he was sure of。 But what could it be？
Selande and the others were passing those guarded looks about again。 One of the men； a young fellow with a pointed nose； whispered fierce and low； 〃We swore not to tell anyone！ Not anyone！ On water oath！〃
Before Perrin could demand to be told Rand spoke。 〃Selande； lead the way to the Grand Hall。 There will be no blades。 I am here to see justice done； to all who deserve it。〃
Something in his voice made Perrin's hackles rise。 A hardness grim as a hammer's face。 Faile did have a good reason。 She had to。
Chapter 5
（Dragon）
A Broken Crown
Wide and tall as the corridors were； they felt close； and dim despite tall gilded stand…lamps with mirrors on every branch； lit wherever daylight could not penetrate。 Tapestries hung few and far between on the walls； scenes of hunt or battle with people and animals arranged more precisely than ever nature had。 Scattered niches held bowls and vases and now and then a small statue； in gold or silver or alabaster； but even the statues seemed to emphasize that they were stone or metal； as if the sculptors had tried to banish curves。
The city's hush was magnified here。 The sound of their boots on the floor tiles echoed； a hollow foreboding march； and Perrin did not think it was so to his ears alone。 Loial's quivered at every other step； and he peered down crossing corridors as though wondering what might leap out。 Min held herself stiffly and took ginger steps； grimacing ruefully when she glanced at Rand； she seemed to make an effort not to walk closer to him； and not particularly pleased with herself over it。 The young Cairhienin started off swaggering like peacocks； but that arrogance faded as the drumming of their heels reverberated。 Even the Maidens felt it； Sulin was the only one whose hand did not sometimes rise toward the veil hanging down her chest。
There were servants everywhere； of course； pale； narrow…faced men and women in dark coats and dresses with the Rising Sun on the left breast and sleeves striped in Colavaere's colors。 Some gaped in recognition as Rand passed by； a handful dropped to their knees； heads bowed。 Most went on about their tasks after a small pause for deep bow or curtsy。 It was just as in the courtyard。 Show proper respect to your betters； whoever they are； obey them and otherwise ignore what they do； and perhaps you will not be entangled in it。 It was a way of thinking that set Perrin's teeth on edge。 Nobody should have to live that way。
Two fellows in Colavaere's livery； standing before the gilt…covered doors to the Grand Hall of the Sun； frowned at sight of the Maidens； and maybe at the young Cairhienin。 Older folk usually looked askance at the younglings' carrying on every bit as much as the Aiel did。 More than one parent had tried to put an end to it； had ordered sons or daughters to give over； instructed armsmen and servants to chase off others' like…minded sons and daughters like mon vagrants or street ruffians。 Perrin would not have been surprised if these doormen slanted their gilded staffs to stop Selande and her friends from going through the open doorways； nobility or not； and perhaps even the Maidens。 Few Cairhienin still dared call Aiel savages； not where they could be heard； but most thought it。 The pair gathered themselves； drew deep breaths … and saw Rand over the Maidens' heads。 Their eyes nearly popped out of their faces。 Each man glanced sideways at the other； and then they were on their knees。 One stared fixedly at the floor； the other squeezed his eyes shut； and Perrin heard him praying under his breath。
〃So am I loved；〃 Rand said softly。 He hardly sounded himself。 Min touched his arm； her face pained。 Rand patted her hand without looking at her； and for some reason that seemed to pain her even more。
The Grand Hall of the Sun was immense； with an angle…vaulted ceiling a full fifty paces high at its peak and great golden lamps hung on gilded chains thick enough to move the gates of a fortress。 It was immense； and it was full； people crowding among massive square columns of blue…black veined marble that stood in two rows to either side of the center aisle。 The folk at the rear noticed the newers first。 In long coats and short； some in bright colors or embroidered； some travel…worn； they stared curiously。 Intently。 The few women in the back of the hall wore riding dresses and had faces as hard as the men； gazes as direct。
Hunters for the Horn； Perrin thought。 Dobraine had said that every noble who could be there would； and most Hunters were nobly born； or claimed to be。 Whether or not they rec