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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 steel； screams。 He sounded the gong hard； a sonorous toll that echoed down the canyon； almost immediately another gong sounded； then more； and from dozens of mouths the cry； 〃Up spears！〃
Confused yells rose around the peddlers' wagons below。 Rectangles of light appeared； doors flung open on the two boxlike wagons； gleaming white in the moonlight。 Someone was shouting angrily down there … a woman； he could not tell who。
Wings beat in the air above him。 Snarling； Rand raised the fiery sword； the One Power burned in him； and fire roared from the blade。 The stooping Draghkar exploded in a rain of burning chunks that fell into the darkness below。
〃Here；〃 Rhuarc said。 The clan chief's eyes were hard above his black veil； fully dressed； he carried buckler and spears。 Mat stood behind him； coatless and bareheaded； shirt half tucked in； blinking uncertainly and gripping his black…hafted spear with both hands。
Rand took the shoufa from Rhuarc； then let it drop。 A bat…winged shape wheeled across the moon； then swooped low on the far side of the canyon； vanishing in the shadows。 〃They hunt for me。 Let them see my face。〃 The Power surged in him； the sword in his hand flared till it seemed a small sun illumined him。 〃They can't find me if they do not know where I am。〃 Laughing； because they could not see the joke； he ran down toward the sound of battle。
Pulling his spear free of a boar…snouted Trolloc's chest； Mat crouched； eyes searching the moonlit darkness near the canyon mouth for another。 Burn Rand！ None of the shapes he saw moving were big enough to be a Trolloc。 Always dumping me into these bloody things！ Low moans came from the wounded。 A shadowy form he thought was Moiraine knelt beside a downed Aiel。 Those balls of fire she tossed about were impressive； almost as much as that sword of Rand's； spurting bars of flame。 The thing still shone so a circle of light surrounded the man。 I should have stayed in my blankets is what I should have done。 It's bloody cold； and this is nothing to do with me！ More Aiel were beginning to appear； women in skirts e to help with the injured。 Some of those women carried spears； they might not do the fighting normally； but once the battle had reached into the hold they had not stood by and watched。
A Maiden stopped beside him； unveiling。 He could not make out her face； all moonshadows。 〃You dance your spear well； gambler。 Strange days when Trollocs e to Cold Rocks。〃 She glanced at the shadowy shape he thought was Moiraine。 〃They might have forced a way in without the Aes Sedai。〃
〃There weren't enough for that；〃 he said without thinking。 〃They were meant to pull attention here。〃 So those Draghkar would have a free hand to reach Rand？
〃I think you are right；〃 she said slowly。 〃Are you a battle leader among the wetlanders？〃
He wished he had kept his mouth shut。 〃I read a book once；〃 he muttered； turning away。 Bloody pieces of other men's bloody memories。 Maybe the peddlers would be ready to leave after this。
When he stopped by the wagons； though； neither Keille nor Kadere was anywhere to be seen。 The drivers were all clumped together； hastily passing around jars of something that smelled like the good brandy they had been selling； muttering and as agitated as if the Trollocs had actually e within smelling distance of them。 Isendre stood at the top of the steps to Kadere's wagon； frowning at nothing。 Even with her brows furrowed she was beautiful behind that misty scarf。 He was glad that at least his memories of women were his own。
〃The Trollocs are done；〃 he told her； leaning on his spear so she would be sure to notice it。 No point risking having my skull split without getting a little good out of it。 No effort at all was needed to sound tired。 〃A hard fight； but you're safe； now。〃
She stared down at him； face expressionless； eyes glittering in the moonlight like dark； polished stone。 Without a word she turned and went inside； slamming the door。 Hard。
Mat expelled a long； disgusted breath and stalked away from the wagons。 What did it take to impress the woman？ Bed was what he wanted。 Back in his blankets； and let Rand deal with Trollocs and bloody Draghkar。 The man seemed to enjoy it。 Laughing like that。
Rand was ing up the canyon now； the glow of that sword like lamplight around him in the night。 Aviendha appeared； running to meet him with her skirts pulled up above her knees； then stopped。 Letting her skirts fall； she smoothed them and fell in beside Rand； lifting her shawl around her head。 He seemed not to see her； and her face was blank as stone。 They deserved each other。
〃Rand；〃 a hurrying shadow called with Moiraine's voice； nearly as melodious as Keille's； but a cool music。 Rand turned； waiting； and she slowed before she could be seen clearly； entering the light regally enough for any palace。 〃Matters grow more dangerous； Rand。 The attack at Imre Stand could have been aimed at the Aiel … not likely； yet it could have been … but tonight the Draghkar were surely aimed at you。〃
〃I know。〃 Just like that。 As calm as she and even colder。
Moiraine's lips pressed； and her hands were too still on her skirts； she was not best pleased。 〃Prophecy is most dangerous when you try to make it happen。 Did you not learn that in Tear？ The Pattern weaves itself around you； but when you try to weave it； even you cannot hold it。 Force the Pattern too tight； and pressure builds。 It can explode wildly in every direction。 Who can say how long before it settles to focus on you again； or what will happen before it does？〃
〃As clear as most of your explanations；〃 Rand said dryly。 〃What do you want； Moiraine？ It is late； and I am tired。〃
〃I want you to confide in me。 Do you think you have already learned all there is to know； little more than a year out of your village？〃
〃No； I haven't learned everything yet。〃 Now he sounded amused； sometimes Mat was not sure he was still as sane as he looked。 〃You want me to confide in you； Moiraine？ All right。 Your Three Oaths won't let you lie。 Say plainly that whatever I tell you； you won't try to stop me； won't hinder me in any way。 Say you won't try to use me for the Tower's ends。 Say it plain and straight so I know it's true。〃
〃I will do nothing to hinder you fulfilling your destiny。 I have devoted my life to that。 But I will not promise to watch while you lay your head on a chopping block。〃
〃Not good enough； Moiraine。 Not good enough。 But if I could confide in you； I'd still not do it here。 The night has ears。〃 There were people moving all around in the darkness； but none close enough to hear。 〃Even dreams have ears。〃 Aviendha tugged her shawl forward to shadow her face； even an Aiel could feel the cold； apparently。
Rhuarc stepped into the light； black veil hanging loose。 〃The Trollocs were only a diversion for the Draghkar； Rand al'Thor。 Too few to be else。 Draghkar meant for you； I think。 Leafblighter does not want you to live。〃
〃The danger grows；〃 Moiraine said quietly。
The clan chief glanced at her before going on。 〃Moiraine Sedai is right。 Since the Draghkar failed； I fear we can expect the Soulless next； what you call Gray Men。 I want to put spears around you at all times。 For some reason； the Maidens have volunteered for this task。〃
The cold was getting to Aviendha。 Shoulders hunched； she had her hands shoved into her armpits as far they would go。
〃If they wish it；〃 Rand said。 He sounded a touch unfortable under all that ice。 Mat did not blame him； he would not have put himself in the Maidens' hands again for all the silk on Sea Folk ships。
〃They will watch better than anyone else；〃 Rhuarc said； 〃having asked for the task。 I do not mean to leave it to them alone； however。 I will have everyone on guard。 I believe it will be the Soulless next time； but that does not mean it cannot be something else。 Ten thousand Trollocs instead of a few hundred。〃
〃What about the Shaido？〃 Mat wished