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hawks cartwheeled and fell； and Perrin frowned。 Why would anyone shoot a hawk up here in the mountains？ Over a farm； if it was after the chickens or the geese； but up here？ Why would anyone even be up here？ Two Rivers people avoided the mountains。
The second hawk swooped on snowy wings toward where its mate had fallen； but suddenly it was climbing desperately。 A black cloud of ravens burst from the trees； surrounding it in wild melee； and when they settled again； the hawk was gone。
Perrin made himself breathe。 He had seen ravens； and other birds； attack a hawk that came too close to their nests before； but he could not make himself believe it that simple this time。 The birds had burst up from about where the arrow had risen。 Ravens。 The Shadow used animals as spies； sometimes。 Rats and others that fed on death； usually。 Ravens； especially。 He had sharp memories of running from sweeping lines of ravens that had hunted him as though they had intelligence。
〃What are you staring at？〃 Faile asked； shading her eyes to peer down the valley。 〃Were those birds？〃
〃Just birds；〃 he said。 Maybe they were。 I can't frighten everybody until I'm sure。 Not while they're still shaky from Machin Shin。
He was still holding his bloody hammer； he realized； slick with black Myrddraal blood。 His fingers found drying blood on his cheek； matting in his short beard。 When he climbed down； his side and his leg burned。 He found a shirt in his saddlebags to clean the hammer before the Fade's blood etched the metal。 In a moment he would find out if there was anything to fear in these mountains。 If it was more than men； the wolves would know。
Faile began unbuttoning his coat。
〃What are you doing？〃 he demanded。
〃Tending your wounds；〃 she snapped back。 〃I'll not have you bleeding to death on me。 That would be just like you； to die and leave me the work of burying you。 You have no consideration。 Hold still。〃
〃Thank you；〃 he said quietly； and she looked surprised。
She made him strip off everything but his smallclothes； so she could wash his wounds； rub them with ointment fetched from her saddlebags。 He could not see the cut on his face； of course； but it seemed small and shallow； if unfortably close to his eye。 The slash across his left side was over a hand long； though； straight along a rib； and the hole a spear had made in his right thigh was deep。 Faile had to put stitches in that； with needle and thread from her sewing kit。 He took it stoically； she was the one who winced at every stitch。 She muttered angrily under her breath the whole time she worked； especially while rubbing her dark stinging cream into his cheek； looking almost as if the hurts were hers； and his fault； yet she tied bandages around his ribs and his thigh with a gentle hand。 It made a startling contrast； her soft touch and her furious grumbles。 Purely confusing。
While he donned a clean shirt and a spare pair of breeches from his saddlebags； Faile stood fingering the slice in the side of his coat。 Two inches to the right； and he would not have left that Island。 Stamping his feet in his boots； he reached for his coat … and she flung it at him。
〃You needn't think I will sew that up for you。 I've done all the sewing for you I mean to！ Do you hear me； Perrin Aybara？〃
〃I didn't ask 〃
〃You needn't think it！ That's all！〃 She stalked away to help the Aiel tend each other and Loial。 That was an odd group； the Ogier with his baggy breeches off； Gaul and Chiad eyeing each other like strange cats； Faile spreading her ointment and wrapping bandages and all the while shooting accusing glares at him。 What was he supposed to have done now？
Perrin shook his head。 Gaul was right； he decided； as well try to understand the sun。
Even knowing what he had to do now； he was reluctant； especially after what had happened in the Ways； with the Fade。 Once he had seen a man who had forgotten he was human。 The same could happen to him。 Fool。 You only have to hold out a few more days。 Just till you find the Whitecloaks。 And he had to know。 Those ravens。
He sent his mind questing across the valley for the wolves。 There were always wolves where men were not； and if they were close； he could talk with them。 Wolves avoided men； ignored them as much as possible； but they hated Trollocs for unnatural things； and despised Myrddraal with a hatred too deep to hold。 If Shadowspawn were in the Mountains of Mist； the wolves could tell him。
But he found no wolves。 None。 They should have been there； in this wilderness。 He could see deer browsing down in the valley。 Perhaps it was just that no wolves were close enough。 They could talk over some distance； but even a mile was too far。 Maybe it was less in mountains。 That could be it。
His gaze swept across the cloud…capped peaks and settled on the valley's far end； where the ravens had e from。 Maybe he would find wolves tomorrow。 He did not want to think of the alternatives。
Chapter 28
（Wolf）
To the Tower of Ghenjei
With night so near； they had no choice but to camp there on the mountain near the Waygate。 In two camps。 Faile insisted on it。
〃That is done with；〃 Loial told her in a displeased rumble。 〃We are out of the Ways； and I have kept my oath。 It is finished。〃 Faile put on one of her stubborn expressions； with chin up and fists on hips。
〃Leave it alone； Loial；〃 Perrin said。 〃I'll camp over there a bit。〃 Loial glanced at Faile； who had turned to the two Aiel women as soon as she heard Perrin agree； then shook his huge head and made as if to join Perrin and Gaul。 Perrin motioned him back； with a small gesture he hoped none of the women noticed。
He made it a small bit； less than twenty paces。 The Waygate might be locked； but there were still the ravens； and whatever they might presage。 He wanted to be near if needed。 If Faile plained； she could just plain。 He was so set to ignore her protests that it irked him when she made none。
Disregarding twinges from his leg and side； he unsaddled Stepper and unloaded the packhorse； hobbled both animals and fitted them with nose bags with a few handfuls of barley and some oats。 There was certainly no grazing up here。 As to what there was； though。。。 He strung his bow and laid it across his quiver near the fire； slipped the axe free of its belt loop。
Gaul joined him in making a fire； and they had a meal of bread and cheese and dried beef； eaten in silence and washed down with water。 The sun slid behind the mountains； silhouetting the peaks and painting the undersides of the clouds red。 Shadows blanketed the valley； and the air began to grow crisp。
Dusting crumbs from his hands； Perrin dug his good green wool cloak out of his saddlebags。 Perhaps he had grown more accustomed to Tear's heat than he had thought。 The women were certainly not eating in silence around their shadow…shrouded fire； he could hear them laughing； and the bits of what they said that he picked up made his ears burn。 Women would talk about anything； they had no restraint at all。 Loial had moved as far away from them as he could and still be in the light； and was trying to bury himself in a book。 They probably did not even realize they were embarrassing the Ogier； they probably thought they were talking quietly enough for Loial not to hear。
Muttering to himself； Perrin sat back down across the fire from Gaul。 The Aiel seemed to be taking no notice of the chill。 〃Do you know any funny stories？〃
〃Funny stories？ I cannot think of one； offhand。〃 Gaul's eyes half turned to the other fire； and the laughter。 〃I would if I could。 The sun； remember？〃
Perrin laughed noisily and made his voice loud enough to carry。 〃I do。 Women！〃 The hilarity in the other camp faded for a moment before rising again。 That should show them。 Other people could laugh。 Perrin stared glumly into the fire。 His wounds ached。
After a moment； Gaul said； 〃This place begins to look more like the Three…fold Land than most of the wetlands。 Too much water； still； and the trees are still too big and too many； but it is not so strange as the places called forests。〃
The soil was poor here where Manetheren had died in fire； the widely scattered trees all stunted and thick…boled； odd wind…bent shapes； none as much as thirty feet high。 Perrin thought it about as desolate a spot as he had ever seen。
〃I wish I could see your Three…fold Land someday； Gaul。〃
〃Perhaps you will； when we are done here。〃
〃Perhaps。〃 Not much chance of it； of course。 None； really。 He could have told the Aielman that； but he did not want to talk of it now； or think of it。
〃This is where Manetheren stood？ You are of Manetheren's blood？〃
〃This was Manetheren；〃 Perrin replied。 〃And I suppose I am。〃 It was hard to believe that the small villages and quiet farms of the Two Rivers held the last of Manetheren's blood； but that was what Moiraine had said。 The old blood runs strong in the Two Rivers； she had said。 〃That was a long time ago； Gaul。 We are farmers； shepherds； not a great nation； not great warriors。〃
Gaul smiled slightly。 〃If you say it。 I have seen you dance the spears；