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snatch a few scraps。〃
〃If you cannot control your。。。 appetites；〃 the blur said in the man's voice； 〃why should I associate with you at all？ If I must take risks； I want a greater reward than pulling strings on a puppet。〃
〃What do you mean？〃 she said dangerously。
The blur shimmered； somehow Rand knew it for hesitation； uncertainty over having said too much。 And then suddenly the blur was gone。 The woman looked at him； still neck…deep in the pond； her mouth tightened with irritation； and she vanished。
He started awake and lay still； peering up into blackness。 A dream。 But an ordinary dream； or something else？ Fumbling a hand from under the blankets； he felt the side of his neck； felt the tooth marks and the thin trickle of blood。 Whatever kind of dream； she had been in it。 Lanfear。 He had not dreamed her。 And that other； a man。 A cold smile crept onto his face。 Traps all around。 Traps for unwary feet。 Have to watch where I step； now。 So many traps。 Everybody was laying them。
Laughing softly； he twisted around to go back to sleep … and froze； holding his breath。 He was not alone in the room。 Lanfear。
Frantically he reached for the True Source。 For an instant he feared fear itself might defeat him。 Then he floated in the cold calm of the Void； filled with a raging river of the Power。 He sprang to his feet； lashing out。 The lamps burst alight。
Aviendha sat cross…legged by the door； mouth hanging open and green eyes bulging by turns at the lamps and the bonds； invisible to her； that wrapped her pletely。 Not even her head could move； he had expected someone standing； and the weave extended well above her。 He released the flows of Air immediately。
She scrambled to her feet； nearly losing her shawl in her haste。 〃I。。。 I do not believe I will ever bee used to。。。。〃 She gestured at the lamps。 〃From a man。〃
〃You have seen me wield the Power before。〃 Anger oozed across the surface of the Void surrounding him。 Sneaking into his room in the dark。 Frightening him half to death。 She was lucky he had not hurt her； killed her by accident。 〃You had best grow used to it。 I am He Who es With the Dawn whether you want to admit it or not。〃
〃That is not part …〃
〃Why are you here？〃 he demanded coldly。
〃The Wise Ones are taking turns watching over you from outside。 They meant to continue watching from。。。〃 She trailed off； her face reddening。
〃From where？〃 She only stared at him； her face growing more and more crimson。 〃Aviendha； from wh …？〃 Dreamwalkers。 Why had it never occurred to him？ 〃From inside my dreams；〃 he said harshly。 〃How long have they been spying inside my head？〃
She let out a long； heavy breath。 〃I was not supposed to let you know。 If Bair finds out … Seana said it was too dangerous tonight。 I do not understand it： I cannot enter the dream without one of them to help me。 Something dangerous tonight is all I know。 That is why they are taking turns at the door to this roof。 They are all worried。〃
〃You still haven't answered my question。〃
〃I do not know why I am here；〃 she muttered。 〃If you need protection。。。〃 She glanced at her short belt knife； touched the hilt。 The ivory bracelet seemed to irritate her； she folded her arms so it was tucked into her armpit。 〃I could not protect you very well with a knife this small； and Bair says if I pick up a spear again without someone actually attacking me； she will have my hide for a waterskin。 I do not know why I should give up sleep to protect you at all。 Because of you； I was beating rugs until less than a hour ago。 By moonlight！〃
〃That wasn't the question。 How long …？〃 He cut off suddenly。 There was a feel in the air； a sense of wrongness。 Of evil。 It could be imagination； residue from his dream。 It could be。
Aviendha gasped as the flame…red sword appeared in his hands； its slightly curved blade marked with the heron。 Lanfear had accused him of using only the tenth part of what he was capable of； yet most of that tenth came by guess and fumbling。 He did not know even the tenth part of what he could do。 But he knew the sword。
〃Stay behind me。〃 He was just aware of her unsheathing her belt knife as he padded from the room in his stocking feet； soundless on the carpets。 Oddly； the air was no cooler than when he had lain down。 Perhaps those stone walls held what heat there was； for the farther out he went； the colder it grew。
Even the gai'shain must have sought their pallets by now。 The halls and chambers stood silent and empty； most dimly illuminated by the scattered lamps still burning。 Here where extinguished lamps meant pitch dark at noon； some lamps were always left lit。 The feeling was still vague； but it would not go away。 Evil。
He stopped suddenly； in the wide archway leading to the brown…tiled entry chamber。 One silver lamp at each end of the room gave a pale light。 In the middle of the floor a tall man stood with his head bowed over the woman wrapped in his black…cloaked arms； her head flung back and her white cowl fallen while he nuzzled at her throat。 Chion's eyes were nearly closed； and she wore an ecstatic smile。 A flush of embarrassment slid across the surface of the Void。 Then the man raised his head。
Black eyes regarded Rand； too big in a pale； gaunt…cheeked face； a puckered； red…lipped mouth opened in a parody of a smile； showing sharp teeth。 Chion crumpled to the floor as the cloak unfolded； spread into wide； batlike wings。 The Draghkar stepped over her； white； white hands reaching for Rand； the long； slender fingers tipped with claws。 Claws and teeth were not the danger； though。 It was the Draghkar's kiss that killed； and worse。
Its crooning； hypnotic song clung tight around the Void。 Those dark； leathery wings moved to enfold him as he stepped forward。 One moment of startlement flashed in the huge black eyes before the Power…made sword clove the Draghkar's skull to the bridge of its nose。
A steel blade would have bound； but the blade woven of fire pulled free easily as the creature fell。 For a moment； deep in the heart of the Void； Rand examined the thing at his feet。 That song。 Had he not been shielded from emotion by emptiness； kept dispassionate and distant； that song would have snared his mind。 The Draghkar surely believed it had when he came to it so willingly。
Aviendha ran past him to half…kneel beside Chion and feel the gai'shain's throat。 〃Dead；〃 she said； thumbing the woman's eyelids the rest of the way shut。 〃Perhaps better for it。 Draghkar eat the soul before they consume life。 A Draghkar！ Here！〃 She glared at him from her crouch。 〃Trollocs at Imre Stand； and now a Draghkar here。 You bring ill times to the Three…fold …〃 With a cry； she threw herself flat across Chion as he leveled the sword。
A bar of solid fire shot over her from his blade to strike the chest of the Draghkar just filling the outer doorway。 Bursting into flame； the Shadowspawn staggered back screaming； stumbling across the path； beating wings that dripped fire。
〃Rouse everyone；〃 Rand said calmly。 Had Chion fought？ How far had her honor held her？ It would have made no difference。 Draghkar died more easily than Myrddraal； but they were more dangerous in their own way。 〃If you know how to sound the alarm； do it。〃
〃The gong by the door …〃
〃I will do it。 Wake them。 There may be more than two。〃
Nodding； she dashed back the way they had e； shouting； 〃Up spears！ Wake and up spears！〃
Rand stepped outside warily； sword ready； the Power filling him； thrilling him。 Sickening him。 He wanted to laugh； to vomit。 The night was freezing； but he was barely aware of the cold。
The burning Draghkar was sprawled in the terrace garden； stinking of burning meat； adding the light of its low fire to the moon。 A little way down the path Seana lay； long graying hair spread in a fan； staring at the sky with wide； unblinking eyes。 Her belt knife lay beside her； but she had had no chance against a Draghkar。
Even as Rand snatched the leather…padded mallet hanging beside the square bronze gong； pandemonium erupted from the canyon mouth； human shouts and Trolloc howls； the clash of s