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s something she did not seem to understand。 On the other hand； he could have done without her being so intrigued。 What could be fascinating to an Aes Sedai about a hammer？
With only the riding animals to prepare； it took no time at all to be ready to go。 Verin had a nondescript brown gelding； as plain to the untrained eye as her garb； but its deep chest and strong rump suggested as much endurance as her Warder's ferocious…eyed gray； tall and sleek。 Stepper snorted at the other stallion until Perrin patted the dun's neck。 The gray was more disciplined … and just as ready to fight； if Tomas let it。 The Warder controlled his animal with his knees as much as his reins； the two seeming almost one。
Master Cauthon watched Tomas's horse with interest … wartrained mounts were not much seen in these pails … but Verin's earned an approving nod at first glance。 He was as good a judge of horseflesh as there was in the Two Rivers。 No doubt he had chosen his and Master al'Thor's rough…coated animals； not so tall as the other horses； but sturdy； with gaits that spoke of good speed and staying power。
The three Aiel glided ahead as the party started north； with long strides that carried them out of sight quickly in the woods； early…morning shadows sharp and long in the brightness of sunrise。 Now and then a flash of gray…and…brown was visible through the trees； probably on purpose； to let the others know they were there。 Tam and Abell took the lead； bows across the tall pommels of their saddles； with Perrin and Faile behind； and Verin and Tomas bringing up the rear。
Perrin could have done without Verin's eyes on his back。 He could feel them between his shoulder blades。 He wondered if she knew about the； wolves。 Not a fortable thought。 Brown sisters supposedly knew things the other Ajahs did not； obscure things； old knowledge。 Perhaps she knew how he could avoid losing himself； what was human in him； to the wolves。 Short of finding Elyas Machera again； she might be his best chance。 All he had to do was trust her。 Whatever she knew she would likely use； certainly to help the White Tower； probably to help Rand。 The only trouble was that helping Rand might not bring what he wanted now。 Everything would have been so much simpler without any Aes Sedai。
Mostly they rode in silence except for the sounds of the forest； squirrels and woodpeckers and occasional birdsong。 At one point Faile glanced back。 〃She will not harm you；〃 she said； her soft tone clashing with the fierce light in her dark eyes。
Perrin blinked。 She meant to protect him。 Against Aes Sedai。 He was never going to understand her； or know what to expect next。 She was about as confusing as the Aes Sedai sometimes。
They broke out of the Westwood perhaps four or five miles north of Emond's Field with the sun standing its own height above the trees to the east。 Scattered copses； mainly leatherleaf and pine and oak； lay between them and the nearest hedged fields of barley and oats； tabac and tall grass for hay。 Strangely there was no one in sight； no smoke rising from the farmhouse chimneys beyond the fields。 Perrin knew the people who lived there； the al'Loras in two of the big houses； the Barsteres in the others。 Hardworking folk。 If there had been anyone in those houses； they would have been at their labors long since。 Gaul waved from the edge of a thicket； then vanished into the trees。
Perrin heeled Stepper up beside Tam and Abell。 〃Shouldn't we stay under cover as long as we can？ Six people on horses won't go unnoticed。〃 They kept their mounts at a steady walk。
〃Not many to notice us； lad；〃 Master al'Thor replied； 〃as long as we stay away from the North Road。 Most farms have been abandoned； close by to the woods。 Anyway； nobody travels alone these days； not far from their own doorstep。 Ten people together wouldn't be noticed twice nowadays； though mostly folk travel by wagon； if at all。〃
〃It'll take us most of daylight to reach Watch Hill as it is；〃 Master Cauthon said； 〃without trying to cover the distance through the woods。 Would be a little faster along the road； but more chance of meeting Whitecloaks； too。 More chance somebody might turn us in for the rewards。〃
Tam nodded。 〃But we have friends up this way； too。 We figure to stop at Jac al'Seen's farm about midday to breathe the horses and stretch our legs。 We will make it to Watch Hill while there's still light enough to see。〃
〃There will be enough light；〃 Perrin said absently； there was always light enough for him。 He twisted in his saddle to peer back at the farmhouses。 Abandoned； but not burned； not ransacked that he could make out。 Curtains hung at the windows still。 Unbroken windows。 Trollocs liked smashing things； and empty houses were an invitation。 Weeds stood tall among the barley and oats； but the fields had not been trampled。 〃Have Trollocs attacked Emond's Field itself？〃
〃No； they have not； 〃 Master Cauthon said in a thankful tone。 〃They'd have no easy time if they did； mind。 People learned to keep a sharp eye out Winternight before last。 There's a bow beside every door； and spears and the like。 Besides； the Whitecloaks patrol down to Emond's Field every few days。 Much as I hate to admit it； they do keep the Trollocs back。〃
Perrin shook his head。 〃Do you have any idea how many Trollocs there are？〃
〃One's too many；〃 Abell grunted。
〃Maybe two hundred；〃 Tam said。 〃Maybe more。 Probably more。〃 Master Cauthon looked surprised。 〃Think on it； Abell。 I don't know how many the Whitecloaks have killed； but the Warders claim they and the Aes Sedai have finished off nearly fifty； and two Fades。 It hasn't lessened the number of burnings we hear about。 I think it has to be more； but you figure it out for yourself。 〃 The other man nodded unhappily。
〃Then why haven't they attacked Emond's Field？〃 Perrin asked。 〃If two or three hundred came in the night； they could likely burn the whole village and be gone before the Whitecloaks up at Watch Hill even heard about it。 Still easier for them to hit Deven Ride。 You said the Whitecloaks don't go down that far。〃
〃Luck；〃 Abell muttered； but he sounded troubled。 〃That's what it is。 We've been lucky。 What else could it be？ What are you getting at； boy？〃
〃What he's getting at；〃 Faile said； closing up beside them； 〃is that there must be a reason。〃 Swallow was enough taller than the Two Rivers horses to let her look Tam and Abell in the eye； and she made it a firm look。 〃I have seen the aftermath of Trolloc raids in Saldaea。 They despoil what they do not bum； kill or carry off people and farm animals； whoever and whatever is not protected。 Entire villages have disappeared in bad years。 They seek wherever is weakest； wherever they can kill the most。 My father …〃 She bit it off； drew a deep breath； and went on。 〃Perrin has seen what you should have。〃 She flashed him a proud smile。 〃If the Trollocs have not attacked your villages； they have a reason。〃
〃I have thought of that；〃 Tam said quietly； 〃but I can't think why。 Until we know； luck is as good an answer as any。〃
〃Perhaps；〃 Verin said； joining them； 〃it is a lure。〃 Tomas still hung back a little； dark eyes searching the country they rode through as relentlessly as any Aiel's。 The Warder was watching the sky； too； there was always the chance of a raven。 Barely pausing； Verin's gaze brushed across Perrin to the two older men。 〃News of continued trouble； news of Trollocs； will draw eyes to the Two Rivers。 Andor will surely send soldiers； and perhaps other lands as well； for Trollocs this far south。 That is if the Children are allowing any news out； of course。 I surmise Queen Morgase's Guards would be little happier to find so many Whitecloaks than they would to find Trollocs。〃
〃War；〃 Abell muttered。 〃What we have is bad enough； but you are talking war。〃
〃It might be so；〃 Verin said placently。 〃It might be。〃 Frowning in a preoccupied manner； she dug a steel…nibbed pen and a small cloth…bound book from her pouch； and opened a little leather case at her belt that held an ink bottle and sandshaker。 Wiping the pen absentmindedly on her sleeve； she began jotting in the book despite the awkwardness of writing while riding。 She seemed pletely oblivious of any unease she might have caused。 Perhaps she really was。
Master Cauthon kept murmuring 〃War；〃 wonderingly； under his breath； and Faile put a forting hand on Perrin's arm； her eyes sad。
Master al'Thor only grunted； he had been in a war； so Perrin had heard； though not where or how； exactly。 Just somewhere outside the Two Rivers； where he had gone as a young man； returning years later with a wife and a child； Rand。 Few Two Rivers folk ever left。 Perrin doubted if any of them really knew what a war was； except by what they heard from peddlers； or merchants and their guards and wagon drivers。 He knew； though。 He had seen war； on Toman Head。 Abell was right。 What they had was bad enough； but it did not e near war。
He held his peace。 Maybe Verin was right。 And maybe she just wanted to stop them speculating。 If Trollocs harrying the Two Rivers were bait for a trap； it had to be a trap for Rand； and the Aes Sedai had to know it。