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crowded the Green； and black…and…white milkcows cropped the grass in pany with flocks of geese； gray and white。
And in the middle of the Green rose a tall pole； the red…bordered white banner at its peak rippling lazily； displaying a red wolf's head。 He looked at Faile； but she shook her head； as surprised as he。
〃A symbol。〃
Perrin had not heard Verin approach； though now he caught hushed whispers of 〃Aes Sedai〃 floating around her。 Ihvon did not look surprised。 People stared at her with awe…filled eyes。
〃People need symbols；〃 Verin went on； resting a hand on Stepper's shoulder。 〃When Alanna told a few of the villagers how much Trollocs fear wolves； everyone seemed to think this banner a grand idea。 Don't you； Perrin？〃 Was there a dryness in her voice then？ Her dark eyes looked up at him； birdlike。 A bird watching a worm？
〃I wonder what Queen Morgase will think of that；〃 Faile said。 〃This is part of Andor。 Queens seldom like strange banners being raised in their realms。〃
〃That's nothing but lines on a map；〃 Perrin told her。 It was good to be still； the throbbing from the arrowhead seemed to have abated somewhat。 〃I did not even know we were supposed to be part of Andor until I went to Caemlyn。 I doubt many people here do。〃
〃Rulers have a tendency to believe maps； Perrin。〃 There was no doubt of the dryness in Faile's tone。 〃When I was a child； there were parts of Saldaea that had not seen a taxman in five generations。 Once Father could turn his attention from the Blight for a time； Tenobia made sure they knew who their queen was。〃
〃This is the Two Rivers；〃 he said； grinning； 〃not Saldaea。〃 They did sound very fierce； up there in Saldaea。 As he turned back to Venn； the grin became a frown。 〃I thought you were。。。 hiding。。。 who you are。〃 He could not say which was more disturbing； Aes Sedai there in secret； or Aes Sedai in the open。
The Aes Sedai's hand hovered an inch from the broken…off arrow jutting from his side。 Something tingled around the wound。 〃Oh； this is not good；〃 she murmured。 〃Caught in the rib； and some infection in spite of that poultice。 This needs Alanna； I think。〃 She blinked and pulled her hand back； the tingle went； too。 〃What？ Hiding？ Oh。 With what has been stirred up here now； we could hardly remain hidden。 I suppose we could have。。。 gone away。 You wouldn't want that； would you？〃 There was that sharp； considering； birdlike stare again。
He hesitated； and finally sighed。 〃I suppose not。〃
〃Oh； that is good to hear；〃 she said with a smile。
〃Why did you really e here； Verin？〃
She did not seem to hear him。 Or did not want to。 〃Now we need to see to that thing in you。 And these other lads need to be looked after； too。 Alanna and I will see to the worst； but。。。〃
The men with him were as stunned by what they found here as he was。 Ban scratched his head at the banner； and a few just stared around in amazement。 Most looked at Verin； though； wide…eyed and uneasy； they had surely heard the whispers of 〃Aes Sedai。〃 Perrin was not escaping those looks entirely himself； he realized； talking to an Aes Sedai as though she were just any village woman。
Verin considered them right back； then suddenly； without seeming to look； reached behind her to snatch a girl of about ten or twelve out of the onlookers。 The girl； her long dark hair caught up with blue ribbons； went rigid with shock。 〃You know Daise Congar； girl？〃 Verin said。 〃Well； you find her and tell her there are injured men who need a Wisdom's herbs。 And tell her to jump。 You tell her I'll have no patience with her airs。 Do you have that？ Off with you。〃
Perrin did not recognize the girl； but evidently she did know Daise； because she flinched at the message。 But Verin was an Aes Sedai。 After a moment of weighing … Daise Congar against an Aes Sedai … the girl scampered away into the crowd。
〃And Alanna will take care of you；〃 Verin said； peering up at him again。
He wished she did not sound as though there might be two meanings to that。
Chapter 43
（Flame of Tar Valon）
Care for the Living
Taking Stepper's bridle； Verin led him to the Winespring Inn herself； the crowd melting back to let her through； then falling in after。 Dannil and Ban and the others trailed along on horse and afoot； kin mingling with them now。 Astounded as they were by the changes in Emond's Field； the lads still showed their pride by striding even if they limped； or sitting up straighter in the saddle； they had faced Trollocs and e home。 But women ran their hands over sons and nephews and grandsons； often biting back tears； and their low moans made a soft； pained murmur。 Tight…eyed men tried to hide their worries behind proud smiles； clapping shoulders and exclaiming over newly begun beards； yet frequently their hugs just happened to turn into a shoulder to lean on。 Sweethearts rushed in with kisses and loud cries； equal parts happiness and miseration； and little brothers and sisters； uncertain； alternated between fits of weeping and clinging in wide…eyed wonder to a brother everyone seemed to be taking for a hero。
It was the other voices Perrin wished he could not hear。
〃Where is Kenley？〃 Mistress Ahan was a handsome woman； with streaks of white in her nearly black braid； but she wore a fear…filled frown as she scanned faces and saw eyes flinch from hers。 〃Where's my Kenley？〃
〃Bili！〃 old Hu al'Dai called uncertainly。 〃Has anyone seen Bili al'Dai？〃〃。 。 。 Hu。。。 ！〃
〃。 。 。 Jared。。。 ！〃
〃。 。 。 Tim。。。 ！〃
〃。 。 。 Colly。。。！〃
In front of the inn； Perrin fell out of the saddle in his need to escape those names； not even seeing whose hands caught him。 〃Get me inside！〃 he grated。 〃Inside！〃
〃。 。 。 Teven。。。 ！〃
〃。 。 。 Haral。。。 ！〃
〃。 。 。 Had。。。 ！〃
The door cut off the heart…lost wails； and the cries of Dael al'Taron's mother for someone to tell her where her son was。
In a Trolloc cookpot； Perrin thought as he was lowered into a chair in the mon room。 In a Trolloc's belly； where I put him； Mistress al'Taron。 Where I put him。 Faile had his head in her hands； peering into his face worriedly。 Care for the living； he thought。 I'll weep for the dead later。 Later。
〃I am all right；〃 he told her。 〃I just got a little light…headed dismounting。 I've never been a good rider。〃 She did not seem to believe him。
〃Can't you do something？〃 she demanded of Verin。
The Aes Sedai calmly shook her head。 〃I think better not； child。 A pity neither of us is Yellow； but Alanna is still a much better Healer than I。 My Talents lie in other directions。 Ihvon will bring her。 Wait with patience； child。〃The mon room had been turned into an armory of sorts。 Except in front of the fireplace； the walls were a solid mass of propped spears of every description； with the occasional halberd or bill mixed in； and some polearms with oddly shaped blades； many pitted and discolored where old rust had been scoured away。 Even more surprisingly； a barrel near the foot of the stairs held swords all jumbled together； most without scabbards and no two alike。 Every attic within five miles must have been turned out for relics dust…covered for generations。 Perrin would not have suspected there were five swords in the whole Two Rivers。 Before the Whitecloaks and Trollocs came； anyway。
Gaul took a place off to one side； near the stairs that led up to the inn's rooms and the al'Veres' living quarters； watching Perrin but plainly aware of Verin and every move she made。 On the other side of the room； watching Faile and all else； the two Maidens cradled their spears in the crook of an elbow and took a hipshot stance that seemed at once casual and yet balanced on the toes。 The three young fellows who had carried Perrin in shifted their feet by the door； staring at him and the Aes Sedai and the Aiel with equally wide eyes。 That was all。
〃The others；〃 Perrin said。 〃They need …〃
〃They will be taken care of；〃 Verin interrupted smoothly； seating herself at another table。 〃They will want to be with their families。 Much better to have loved ones close。〃
Perrin felt a stab of pain … the grave