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〃Who did you hear suggest this game？〃 the Aielman said quietly； staring straight ahead。
〃Chiad。 Why？〃
〃Chiad；〃 Gaul muttered。 〃The woman is Goshien。 Goshien！ I should take her back to Hot Springs as gai'shain。〃 The words sounded angry； but not his odd tone。 〃Chiad。〃
〃Will you tell me what is the matter？〃
〃A Myrddraal has less cunning than a woman；〃 Gaul said in a flat voice； 〃and a Trolloc fights with more honor。〃 After a moment he added； in a fierce undertone； 〃And a goat has more sense。〃 Quickening his pace； he ran forward to join the two Maidens。 He did not speak to them； as far as Perrin could make out； only slowed to walk alongside。
〃Did you understand any of that？〃 Perrin asked Ihvon。 The Warder shook his head。Faile sniffed。 〃If he thinks to make trouble for them； they will hang him by his heels from a branch to cool off。〃
〃Did you understand it？〃 Perrin asked her。 She walked along； neither looking at him nor answering； which he took to mean she did not。 〃I think I might have to find Raen's camp again。 It has been a long time since I saw the tiganza。 It was 。 。 。 interesting。〃
She muttered something under her breath； but he caught it： 〃You could do with hanging by the heels yourself！〃
He smiled down at the top of her head。 〃But I won't have to。 You promised to dance this sa'sara for me。〃 Her face went crimson。 〃Is it anything close to the tiganza？ I mean； there is no point； otherwise。〃
〃You muscle…brained oaf！〃 she snapped； glaring up at him。 〃Men have thrown their hearts and fortunes at the feet of women who danced the sa'sara。 If Mother suspected I knew it …〃 Her teeth clicked shut as though she had said too much； and her head whipped back to face forward； scarlet mortification covered her from her dark hair down to the neck of her dress。
〃Then there isn't any reason for you to dance it；〃 he said quietly。 〃My heart and fortune； such as they are； already lie at your feet。〃
Faile missed a step； then laughed softly and pressed her cheek against his booted calf。 〃You are too clever for me；〃 she murmured。 〃One day I will dance it for you； and boil the blood in your veins。〃
〃You already do that；〃 he said； and she laughed again。 Pushing her arm behind his stirrup； she hugged his leg to her as she walked。
After a while even the thought of Faile dancing … he extrapolated from the Tinker dance； it must be something to top that … could not pete with the pain in his side。 Every stride Stepper took was agony。 He held himself upright。 It seemed to hurt a fraction less； that way。 Besides； he did not want to spoil the lift the Tuatha'an had given everyone's spirits。 The other men were sitting up straight in their saddles； too； even those who had been hunched over and clinging the day before。 And Ban and Dannil and the others walked with heads up。 He would not be the first to slump。
Wil began to whistle 〃ing Home from Tarwin's Gap；〃 and three or four more took it up。 After a time； Ban began to sing in a clear； deep voice：
〃My home is waiting there for me；
and the girl I left behind。
Of all the treasure that waits for me；
that's what I want to find。
Her eyes so merry； and her smile so sweet；
her hugs so warm； and her ankle neat；
her kisses hot； now there's a treat。
If there's a treasure greater； it lies not in my mind。〃
More joined in on the second verse； until everyone sang； even Ihvon。 And Faile。 Not Perrin； of course； he had been told often enough that he sounded like a stepped…on frog； singing。 Some even fell into step with the music。
〃Oh； I have seen stark Tarwin's Gap；
and the Trollocs' raving horde。
I have stood 'fore the Halfman's charge；
and walked on death's cold borde。
But a winsome lass； she waits for me；
for a dance； and a kiss 'neath the apple tree。。。〃
Perrin shook his head。 A day before they had been ready to run and hide。 Today they sang； about a battle so long ago that it had left no memory but this song in the Two Rivers。 Perhaps they were being soldiers。 They would have to； unless he managed to close that Waygate。
Farms began to appear more often； closer together； until they traveled along hard…packed dirt between fields bordered by hedges or low； rough stone walls。 Abandoned farms。 No one here clung to the land。
They came to the Old Road； which ran north from the White River； the Manetherendrelle； through Deven Ride to Emond's Field； and at last began to see sheep in the pastures； great clumps like a dozen men's flocks gathered together； with ten shepherds where there once would have been one； and half of them grown men。 Bow…armed shepherds watched them pass； singing at the tops of their lungs； not knowing quite what to make of it。
Perrin did not know what to make of his first view of Emond's Field； and neither did the other Two Rivers men； from the way their singing faltered and died。
The trees； fences and hedges closest to the village were simply gone； cleared away。 The westernmost houses of Emond's Field had once stood among the trees on the edge of the Westwood。 The oaks and leatherleaf between the houses remained； but now the forest's brim stood five hundred paces away； a long bowshot； and axes rang loud as men pushed it back farther。 Row on row of waist…high stakes； driven into the ground at an angle； surrounded the village a little out from the houses and presented a continuous hedge of sharpened points； except where the road ran in。 At intervals behind the stakes men stood like sentries； some wearing bits of old armor or leather shirts sewn with rusty steel discs； a few in dented old steel caps； with boar spears； or halberds rooted out of attics； or bush hooks fitted to long poles。 Other men； and boys； were up on some of the thatched roofs with bows； they stood when they saw Perrin and the others ing； and shouted to people below。
Beside the road behind the stakes stood a contraption of wood and thick； twisted rope； with a nearby pile of stones bigger than a man's head。 Ihvon noticed Perrin frowning at it as they came closer。 〃Catapult；〃 the Warder said。 〃Six； so far。 Your carpenters knew what to do once Tomas and I showed them。 The stakes will hold off charging Trollocs or Whitecloaks； either one。〃 He might have been discussing the prospects for more rain。
〃I told you your village was preparing to defend itself。〃 Faile sounded fiercely proud； as though it were her village。 〃A hard people； for such a soft land。 They could almost be Saldaean。 Moiraine always said Manetheren's blood runs strong here still。〃
Perrin could only shake his head。
The hard…packed dirt streets were nearly crowded enough for a city； the gaps between houses filled with carts and wagons； and through open doors and unshuttered windows he could see more people。 The crowd parted before Ihvon and the Aiel； and rustling whispers acpanied them along the street。
〃It's Perrin Goldeneyes。〃
〃Perrin Goldeneyes。〃
〃Perrin Goldeneyes。〃
He wished they would not do that。 These people knew him； some of them。 What did they think they were doing？ There was horse…faced Neysa Ayellin； who had paddled his ten…year…old backside that time Mat talked him into stealing one of her gooseberry pies。 And there was pink…cheeked； big…eyed Cilia Cole； the first girl he had ever kissed and still pleasingly plump； and Pel Aydaer； with his pipe and his bald head； who had taught Perrin how to catch trout with his hands； and Daise Congar herself； a tall； wide woman who made Alsbet Luhhan seem soft； with her husband Wit； a scrawny man overshadowed as always by his wife。 And they were all staring at him； and whispering to the people from off； who might not know who he was。 When old Cenn Buie lifted a little boy up on his shoulder； pointing at Perrin and talking enthusiastically to the boy； Perrin groaned。 They had all gone mad。
Townsfolk trailed after Perrin and the others； around them； in a parade that rode a swell of murmurs。 Chickens scurried every which way under people's feet。 Bawling calves and pigs squealing in pens behind the houses peted with the noise of the humans。 Sheep crowded the Green； and black…and…white milkcows c