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her attendants。 But he had had time to mull things over now； and he prided himself that he was being used to her ways。 Married life taught a man about women； or about one woman； anyway。 The answer she had not given； confirmed something。 Faile had no concept of danger； not where she herself was concerned。
He could not speak of it there in the corridor； of course。 Whisper how he would； she did not have his ears； and doubtless she would insist every servant within fifty was listening。 Holding his patience； he walked on with her until they reached the rooms that had been set aside for them what seemed an age ago 。now。 The lamps had been lit； making shimmers on the dark polished walls； each tall wooden panel carved in concentric rectangles。 In the square stone fireplace the hearth was swept bare and laid with a few pitiful branches of leatherleaf。 They were almost green。
Faile went straight to a small table where two golden pitchers stood beaded with moisture on a tray。 〃They have left us blueberry tea； my husband； and wine punch。 The wine is from Tharon； I think。 They cool the punch in the cisterns beneath the palace。 Which would you prefer？〃
Perrin unbuckled his belt and tossed belt and axe on a chair。 He had planned out what he had to say very carefully on the way here。 She could be a prickly woman。 〃Faile； I missed you more than I can say； and worried about you； but … 〃
〃Worried about me！〃 she snapped； spinning to face him。 She stood straight and tall； eyes fierce as those of her falcon namesake； and her fan made a coring motion toward his middle。 Not part of the language of fans； she made the same gesture with a knife sometimes。 〃When almost the first words from your mouth were to ask after that。。。 that woman！〃
His jaw dropped。 How could he have forgotten the smell filling his nostrils？ He nearly put a hand up to see whether his nose was bleeding。 〃Faile； I wanted her thief…catchers。 Be … 〃 No； he was not stupid enough to repeat that name。 〃She said she had proof of the poison before I left。 You heard her！ I just wanted the proof； Faile。〃
It did no good。 That spiky stench softened not a whit； and the thin； sour smell of hurt joined it。 What under the Light had he said to hurt her？
〃Her proof！ What I gathered went for nothing； but her proof put Colavaere's head on the block。 Or should have。〃 That was his opening； but she was not about to let him push a word in edgewise。 She advanced on him； looking daggers； her fan darting like one。 All he could do was back away。 〃Do you know what story that woman put about？〃 Faile almost hissed。 A black viper could not have dripped so much venom。 〃Do you？ She said the reason you were not here was that you were at a manor not far from the city。 Where she could visit you！ I told the story I prepared … that you were hunting； and the Light knows you spent enough days hunting！ … but everyone believed I was putting a good face on you and her！ Together！ Colavaere delighted in it。 I could believe she only took that Mayener strumpet as an attendant to throw the two of us together。 'Faile； Berelain； e lace my gown。' 'Faile； Berelain； e hold the mirror for the hairdresser。' 'Faile； Berelain； e wash my back。' So she could amuse herself waiting for us to claw one another's eyes out！ That is what I have put up with！ For you； you hairy…eared …！〃
His back thumped against the wall。 And something snapped inside him。 He had been frightened spitless for her； terrified； ready to face down Rand or the Dark One himself。 And he had done nothing； had never encouraged Berelain； had done everything in his wits to chase the woman away。 For which his thanks was this。
Gently he took her by the shoulders and lifted her until those big tilted eyes were level with his。 〃You listen to me；〃 he said calmly。 He tried to make his voice calm； at least； it came out more of a growl in his throat。 〃How dare you speak to me like that？ How dare you？ I worried myself near to death for fear you'd been hurt。 I love you； and nobody else but you。 I want no other woman but you。 Do you hear me？ Do you？〃 Crushing her to his chest； he held her； wanting to never let her go。 Light； he had been so afraid。 He shook even now； for what might have been。 〃If anything happened to you； I'd die； Faile。 I would lie down on your grave and die！ Do you think I don't know how Colavaere found out who you are？ You made sure she found out。〃 Spying； she had told him once； was a woman's work。 〃Light； woman； you could have ended like Maire。 Colavaere knows you're my wife。 My wife。 Perrin Aybara； Rand al'Thor's friend。 Did it ever occur to you she might be suspicious？ She could have。。。 Light； Faile； she could have。。。 〃
Abruptly he realized what he was doing。 She was making sounds against his chest； but no words he could recognize。 He wondered that he did not hear her ribs creaking。 Berating himself for an oaf； he let her go； arms springing apart； but before he could apologize； her fingers clutched his beard。
〃So you love me？〃 she said softly。 Very softly。 Very warmly。 She was smiling； too。 〃A woman likes to hear that said the right way。〃 She had dropped the fan； and her free hand drew fingernails down his cheek； not far from hard enough to draw blood； but her throaty laugh held heat； and the smoldering in her eyes was as far from anger as possible。 〃A good thing you didn't say you never looked at another woman； or I would think you had gone blind。〃
He was too stunned for words； too stunned even to gape。 Rand understood women； Mat understood women； but Perrin knew he never would。 She was always as much kingfisher as falcon； changing direction faster than he could think； yet this。。。 That thorny scent was gone pletely； and in its place was another smell of her he knew well。 A smell that was her； pure and strong and clean。 Add that to her eyes； and any moment she was going to say something about farmgirls at harvest。 They were notorious； apparently； Saldaean farmgirls。
〃As for you lying down on my grave；〃 she went on； 〃if you do； my soul will haunt yours； I promise you。 You will mourn me a decent time； and then you'll find yourself another wife。 Someone I'd approve of； I hope。〃 With a soft laugh； she stroked his beard。 〃You really aren't fit to take care of yourself； you know。 I want your promise。〃
Best not to crack his teeth on that。 Say he would not； and this wonderful mood might be swallowed in a firestorm。 Quicksilver was not in it； really。 Say he would。。。 By the smell of her； every word was the Light's pure truth； but he would believe that when horses roosted in trees。 He cleared his throat。 〃I need to bathe。 I haven't seen soap in I don't know how long。 I must smell like an old barn。〃
Leaning against his chest； she drew a deep breath。 〃You smell wonderful。 Like you。〃 Her hands moved on his shoulders。 〃I feel as … 〃 The door banged open。
〃Perrin； Berelain isn't … I'm sorry。 Forgive me。〃 Rand stood shifting his feet； not at all like the Dragon Reborn。 There were Maidens in the hallway outside。 Min put her head around the doorframe； took one look； grinned at Perrin and ducked back out of sight。
Faile stepped away so smoothly； so stately； that no one would ever have guessed what she had been saying a moment before。 Or what she had been about to say。 There were spots of color in her cheeks； though； bright and hot。 〃So kind of you； my Lord Dragon；〃 she said coolly； 〃to drop in so unexpectedly。 I apologize for not hearing your knock。〃 Maybe those blushes were as much anger as embarrassment。
It was Rand's turn to blush； and scrub a hand through his hair。 〃Berelain isn't in the palace。 She's spending the night on that Sea Folk ship anchored in the river； of all things。 Annoura didn't tell me till I was nearly to Berelain's apartments。〃
Perrin tried very hard not to wince。 Why did he have to keep saying the woman's name？ 〃You wanted to talk to me about something else； Rand？〃 He hoped he had not put too much emphasis in that； yet he hoped Rand caught it。 He did not look at Faile； but he tested the air gingerly。 No jealousy； not yet。 A good deal of anger； however。
For a moment Rand stared at him； looked through him。 Listening to something else。 Perrin folded his arms to stop from shuddering。
〃I need to know；〃 Rand said finally。 〃Are you still unwilling to mand the army against Illian？ I have to know now。〃
〃I'm no general；〃 Perrin said raggedly。 There would be battles in Illian。 Images flashed in his head。 Men all around him； and the axe in his hands spinning； hewing his way through。 Always more men； however many he cut down； in endless ranks。 And in his heart； a seed growing。 He could not face that again。 He would not。 〃Besides； I thought I was supposed to stay close to you。〃 That was what Min had said； from one of her viewings。 Twice Perrin had to be there； or Rand would go down to disaster。 Once had been Dumai's Wells； maybe； but there was still another to e。
〃We all must take risks。〃 Rand's voice was very quiet。 And very hard。 Min peered around the doorframe again； looking as if she wanted to e to him； but she glanced at Faile and stayed outside。
〃Rand； the Aes Sedai。。。 〃 A smart man would let this lie； probably。 He had