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A mile from the al'Seen farm； he thought he might lose one or two right there； when Gaul and Bain and Chiad suddenly appeared out of a thicket； loping to join them。 Lose them to Aiel spears。 Wil and his friends took one look at the Aiel and hastily began nocking arrows； without breaking stride the Aiel had spears ready to cast and their faces veiled。 It took some minutes to straighten out。 Gaul and the two Maidens seemed to think it a huge joke when they understood； laughing uproariously； and that unsettled the Lewins and al'Seens as much as finding out that the three were Aiel； and two of them women。 Wil essayed a smile at Bain and Chiad； and they exchanged looks and brief nods。 Perrin did not know what was going on there； but he decided to let it alone unless Wil looked to get his throat cut。 Time enough to stop it if one of the Aiel women actually took her knife out。 Might teach Wil a thing or two about smiling。
He intended that they should push on to Watch Hill as quickly as they could； but a mile or so north of the al'Seen place he saw one of the farms that produced those scattered plumes of chimney smoke。 Tam was keeping them far enough away that the people around the farmhouse were only shapes。 Except to Perrin's eyes； he could see children in the yard。 And Jac al'Seen was the nearest neighbor。 Had been； until today。 He hesitated； then reined Stepper toward the farm。 Not that it was likely to do any good； but he had to try。〃What are you doing？〃 Tam asked； frowning。
〃Giving them the same advice I gave Master al'Seen。 It won't take a minute。〃
Tam nodded； and the others turned with him。 Verin was studying Perrin thoughtfully。 The Aiel peeled away short of the farm to wait to the north； Gaul running a little apart from the Maidens。
Perrin did not know the Torfinns nor they him； yet to his surprise； once the excitement of strangers was past； the staring at Tomas and Verin and Faile； they listened and began hitching horses to two wagons and a pair of high…wheeled carts before he and the others rode on。
Three more times he stopped when their route took them near to farmhouses； once at a cluster of five close together。 It was always the same。 The people protested they could not just leave their farms； but each time he left behind a bustle of packing and a gathering of farm animals。
Something else happened； too。 He could not stop Wil and his cousin； or the Lewins； from talking with the young men on the farms。 Their party grew by thirteen； Torfinns and al'Dais； Ahans and Marwins； armed with bows and riding an ill…matched assortment of ponies and plow horses； all eager to rescue the prisoners from the Whitecloaks。
It was not as smooth as that； of course。 Wil and the others from the al'Seen farm thought it unfair that he warned the newers about the Aiel； spoiling the fun they hoped to have seeing them jump。 They jumped more than enough to suit Perrin； and the way they peered at every bush； much less every stand of trees； made it clear that they thought there must be more Aiel about no matter what he said。 At first Wil tried lording it over the Torfinns and the rest on the grounds that he had been the first to join Perrin … one of the first； at least； he admitted when Ban and the Lewins glared at him … while they were lateers。
Perrin put an end to it by dividing them into two groups of about the same size and putting Darmil and Ban each in charge of one； though there was some grumbling over that； too； in the beginning。 The al'Dais thought the leaders should be chosen according to age … Bili al'Dai being the eldest by a year … while others put forward Hu Marwin as the best tracker； and Jairn Tortinn as the best shot； while Kenley Ahan had been to Watch Hill often before the Whitecloaks came and would know his way around the village。 They all seemed to think it a lark。 Tell's phrase about casting defiance was repeated more than once。
Finally Perrin rounded on them in cold anger； forcing everyone to halt in the grass between two copses。 〃This is not a game； and it isn't a Bel Tine dance。 You do what you're told； or else go back home。 I don't know what use you are anyway； and I've no intention of getting killed because you think you know what you are doing。 Now line up and shut up。 You sound like the Women's Circle meeting in a wardrobe。〃
They did it； stringing themselves out in two columns behind Ban and Darmil。 Wil and Bili wore disgruntled frowns； but they held whatever objections they had。 Faile gave Perrin an approving nod； and so did Tomas。 Verin watched it all with a smooth； unreadable face； no doubt thinking she was seeing a ta'veren at work。 Perrin saw no need to tell her he had just tried to think of what a Shienaran he knew； a soldier named Uno； would have said； though no doubt Uno would have put it in harsher words。
Farms began to appear more frequently as they approached Watch Hill； ing in clumps closer together until they ran on continuously the way they did near Emond's Field； a patchwork of hedged or stone…walled fields separated by narrow lanes； footways and wagon paths。 Even with their pauses at the four farms； there was still some daylight left； still men working their crops； and boys driving sheep and cattle in from pasture for the night。 No one would be leaving their animals out these days。
Tam suggested Perrin cease warning people； and he reluctantly agreed。 They would all head for Watch Hill here； alerting the Whitecloaks。 Twenty…odd people riding together by the back ways attracted enough eyes； though most people appeared too busy to do more than glance。 It would have to be done sooner or later； though； and the sooner the better。 So long as people remained in the countryside； needing Whitecloak protection； then the Whitecloaks had a foothold in the Two Rivers they might not want to give up。
Perrin kept a sharp eye out for any sign of Whitecloak patrols； but except for one dust cloud over toward the North Road； heading south； he saw none。 After a time Tam suggested they dismount and lead their horses。 Afoot there was less chance of being； spotted； and the hedges and even the low stone walls shielded them a little。
Tam and Abell knew a thicket that gave a good view of the Whitecloak camp； a tangle of oak and sourgum and leatherleaf that covered three or four hides little more than a mile south and west of Watch Hill over an open stretch of ground。 They entered from the south； hurrying。 Perrin hoped no one had seen them go in； no one to wonder why they did not e out and ment on it。
〃Stay here；〃 he told Wil and the other young men while they were tying their horses to branches。 〃Keep your bows handy； and be ready to run if you hear a shout。 But don't move unless you hear me shout。 And if anybody makes any noise； I'll pound his head like an anvil。 We're here to look； not pull the Whitecloaks down on us by tramping around like blind bulls。〃 Fingering their bows nervously； they nodded。 Perhaps it was beginning to dawn on them just what they were doing。 The Children of the Light might not take kindly to finding Two Rivers folk riding about in an armed bunch。
〃Were you ever a soldier？〃 Faile asked quizzically in a low voice。 〃Some of my father's。。。 guards talk that way。〃
〃I'm a blacksmith。〃 Perrin laughed。 〃I've just heard soldiers talk。 It seems to work； though。〃 Even Wil and Bili were peering about uneasily and hardly daring to move。
Creeping from tree to tree； he and Faile followed Tam and Abell to where the Aiel were already crouching near the thicket's north edge。 Verin was there； too； and Tomas； of course。 The brush made a thin screen of leaves； enough to hide them but no hindrance to observation。
The Whitecloak encampment stretched out at the foot of Watch Hill like a village itself。 Hundreds of men； some armored； moved among long； straight rows of white tents； with lines of horses； five deep； staked out to east and west。 Animals being unsaddled and curried indicated patrols finishing their day； while a double column of maybe a hundred mounted men； pristine and precise； trailed off toward the Waterwood at a brisk walk； lances all at the same angle。 At intervals aroun