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and Nightrunners might not know that。〃
〃And if they knew an Aes Sedai was with the Wise Ones；〃 Rand said； 〃that attack could have been meant to keep her away； too。 I bring enemies with me； Rhuarc。 Remember that。 Wherever I am； my enemies are never far。〃
Isendre poked her head out of the lead wagon。 A moment later Kadere climbed down past her； and she ducked back inside； shutting the white…painted door behind him。 He stood looking around at the carnage； the light of his burning wagons painting rippling shadows across his face。 The group around Mat held his attention most。 The wagons seemed to interest him not at all。 Natael got down from Keille's wagon； too； speaking up the stairs to her still inside； his eyes on Mat and the others。
〃Fools；〃 Mat muttered； half to himself。 〃Hiding inside the wagons； as if that would make any difference to a Trolloc。 They could all have roasted alive； easy as not。〃
〃They are still alive；〃 Rand said； and Mat realized he had seen them； too。 〃That is always important； Mat； who stays alive。 It's like dice。 You can't win if you can't play； and you can't play if you are dead。 Who can say what game the peddlers play？〃 He laughed quietly； and the fiery sword vanished from his hands。
〃I am going to get some sleep；〃 Mat said； already turning away。 〃Wake me if the Trollocs show up again。 Or better； let them kill me in my blankets。 I am too tired to wake up again。〃 Rand was definitely going over the edge。 Maybe tonight would convince Keille and Kadere to turn back。 If they did； he intended to be with them。
Rand let Moiraine look at him； muttering to herself； though he had taken no wound。 With so many who had； she could not spare the strength to wash away his fatigue with the One Power。
〃This was aimed at you；〃 she told him； surrounded by the moans of the injured。 The Trollocs were being dragged away into the night； by packhorses and the peddlers' mules。 The Aiel apparently intended to leave the Myrddraal where they lay until they stopped moving； to make sure they were really dead。 The wind gusted up； like ice with no moisture in it。
〃Was it？〃 he said。 Her eyes glittered in the firelight before she turned back to the wounded。
Egwene came to him； too； but only to say in a low； fierce whisper； 〃Whatever you are doing to upset her； stop it！〃 The glance she shot past him at Aviendha left no doubt who she meant； and she went off to help Bair and Amys before he could say he had done nothing。 She looked ridiculous with those two braids twined with ribbons。 The Aiel seemed to think so； too； some of them grinned at her back。
Stumbling； shivering； he sought his tent。 He had never been this tired before。 The sword had almost not e。 He hoped that was the tiredness。 Sometimes there was nothing there when he reached for the Source； and sometimes the Power would not do what he wanted； but almost from the first the sword had e practically without thought。 Now of all times。。。 It had to be the tiredness。
Aviendha insisted on following him as far as the tent； and when he woke the next morning she was sitting outside cross…legged； though without the spear and buckler。 Spy or not； he was glad to see her。 At least he knew who and what she was； and what she felt for him。
Chapter 38
（Female Silhouettes）
Hidden Faces
The Garden of Silver Breezes was not a garden at all but a huge wineshop； much too large to be called a shop really； atop a hill centered on the Calpene； the westernmost of Tanchico's three peninsulas below the Great Circle。 A part of the name； at least； came from the breezes that wafted in where polished green…streaked marble columns and balustrades replaced one wall except on the topmost floor。 Golden oiled…silk curtains could be lowered in case of rain。 The hill fell away sharply on that side； and the tables along the balustrades gave a clear view； across white domes and spires； of the great harbor； crowded with more ships than ever。 Tanchico needed everything； desperately； and there was gold to be made … until the gold and time ran out。
With its gilded lamps and ceilings inlaid with brass fretwork polished to a golden gleam； its serving women and men chosen for grace and beauty and discretion； the Garden of the Silver Breezes had been the most expensive wineshop in the city even before the troubles。 Now it was outrageous。 But those who dealt in huge sums still came； those who dealt in power and influence； or thought they did。 In some ways there was less to deal in than before； in others； more。
Low walls surrounded each table making islands dotted across the green and golden floor tiles。 Each wall； pierced with lacy carving so no eavesdropper could listen unseen； stood just high enough to hide who met whom from the casual glances of passersby。 Even so； patrons usually went masked； especially of late； and some had a bodyguard beside their table； also masked to avoid recognition if the patron was prudent。 And tongueless； rumor said； for the most prudent。 No guard was visibly armed； the proprietress of the Garden of Silver Breezes； a sleek woman of indeterminate age named Selindrin； allowed no weapons past the street now。 Her rule was not broken； at least openly。
From her usual table against the balustrade； Egeanin watched the ships in the harbor； especially those under sail。 They made her want to be back on a deck giving orders。 She had never expected duty to bring her to this。
Unconsciously she adjusted the velvet mask that hid the upper half of her face； she felt ridiculous wearing the thing； but it was necessary to blend in to some extent。 The mask … blue to match her high…necked silk gown … the gown itself； and her dark hair； grown down to her shoulders now； were as far as she could make herself go。 Passing for a Taraboner was unnecessary … Tanchico bulged with refugees； a good many of them foreigners swept up in the troubles … and it was beyond her in any case。 These people were animals； they had no discipline； no order。
Regretfully； she turned from the harbor to her table panion； a narrow…faced fellow with a weasel's greedy smile。 Floran Gelb's frayed collar did not belong in the Garden of Silver Breezes； and he continually wiped his hands on his coat。 She always met them here； the greasy little men she was forced to deal with。 It was a reward for them； and a means of keeping them off balance。
〃What do you have for me； Master Gelb？〃
Wiping his hands again； he lifted a coarse jute bag onto the table and watched her anxiously。 She held the bag down beside her before opening it。 A silvery metal a'dam lay inside； a collar and bracelet connected by a leash cunningly worked and joined。 She closed the bag and set it on the floor。 This made three that Gelb had recovered； more than anyone else。
〃Very good； Master Gelb。〃 A small purse went across the table the other way； Gelb made it disappear under his coat as if it held the Empress's crown instead of a handful of silver。 〃And do you have anything else？〃
〃Those women。 The ones you want me to look for？〃 She had grown used to the quick speech of these people； but she wished he would not lick his lips that way。 It did not make him any harder to understand； but it was unsightly。
She very nearly told him she was not interested anymore。 But this was a part of why she was in Tanchico； after all； maybe the whole reason； now。 〃What of them？〃 That she could even think of shirking her duty made her speak more harshly than she had intended； and Gelb flinched。
〃I。。。 I think I've found another one。〃
〃You are sure？ There have been。。。 mistakes。〃
Mistakes was a gentle way to put it。 Near a dozen women who came only vaguely near the descriptions had been nuisances she could ignore once she had seen them。 But that noblewoman； a refugee from estates burned out by the war。 Gelb had kidnapped the woman off the street； thinking to earn more for delivering her than for telling where she was。 In his defense； the Lady Leilwin closely matched one of the women Egeanin sought； but she had told him they would not speak with any accent he recognized； certainly not a Taraboner accent。 Egeanin had not wanted to kill the woman； yet even in Tanchico someone might have listened to her story。 Leilwin had gone bound and gagged onto one of the courier boats in the dead of night； she was young and pretty； and someone would find a better use for her than slitting her throat。 But Egeanin was not in Tanchico to find serving girls for the Blood。
〃No mistakes； Mistress Elidar；〃 he said hastily； flashing that smile full of teeth。 〃Not this time。 But。 。 。 I need a little gold。 To be sure。 To get close enough。 Four or five crowns？〃
〃I pay for results；〃 Egeanin told him firmly。 〃After your。。。 mistakes； you are lucky that I pay you at all。〃
Gelb licked his lips nervously。 〃You said。。。 Back in the beginning； you said you'd have a few coins for those as could do special sorts of work。〃 A muscle in his cheek twitched； his eyes darted as if someone might be listening at the lace…carved wall around three sides of the table； and his voice dropped to a hoarse whisper。 〃Stirring up trouble； as it were？ I hear