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cheeks。 So coldly calm within the Void； outside。。。 He could feel each individual droplet of sweat sliding down his chest and back。 It took a real effort of stubborn will to stand there under her eyes。 Search her？ The Light help me！
Relaxing his stance； he let the sword vanish but held the narrow flow connecting him to saidin。 It was like drinking from a hole in a dike when the whole long mound of earth wanted to give way； the water sweet as honeyed wine and sickening as a rivulet through a midden。
He did not know much of this woman； except that she walked through the Stone as if it were her palace in Mayene。 Thom said the First of Mayene asked questions constantly； of everyone。 Questions about Rand。 Which might have been natural； given what he was； but they made him no easier in his mind。 And she had not returned to Mayene。 That was not natural。 She had been held captive in all but name for months； until his arrival； cut off from her throne and the ruling of her small nation。 Most people would have taken the first opportunity to get away from a man who could channel。
〃What are you doing here？〃 He knew he sounded harsh； and did not care。 〃There were Aiel guarding that door when I went to sleep。 How did you e past them？〃
Berelain's lips curved up a trifle more； to Rand it seemed the room had gotten suddenly even hotter。 〃They passed me through immediately； when I said I had been summoned by the Lord Dragon。〃
〃Summoned？ I didn't summon anybody。〃 Stop this； he told himself。 She's a queen； or the next thing to it。 You know as much about the ways of queens as you do about flying。 He tried to make himself be civil； only he did not know what to call the First of Mayene。 〃My Lady。。。〃 That would have to do。 〃。 。 。 why would I summon you at this time of night？〃
She gave a low； rich laugh； deep in her throat； even wrapped in emotionless emptiness it seemed to tickle his skin； make the hairs stir on his arms and legs。 Suddenly he took in her clinging garb as if for the first time； and felt himself go red all over again。 She can't mean。。。。 Can she？ Light； I've never said two words to her before。
〃Perhaps I wish to talk； my Lord Dragon。〃 She let the pale robe fall to the floor； revealing an even thinner white silk garment he could only call a nightgown。 It left her smooth shoulders pletely bare； and exposed a considerable expanse of pale bosom。 He found himself wondering distantly what held it up。 It was difficult not to stare。 〃You are a long way from your home； like me。 The nights especially seem lonely。〃
〃Tomorrow； I will be happy to talk with you。〃
〃But during the day； people surround you。 Petitioners。 High Lords。 Aiel。〃 She gave a shiver； he told himself he really ought to look away； but he could as easily have stopped breathing。 He had never before been so aware of his own reactions when wrapped in the Void。 〃The Aiel frighten me； and I do not like Tairen lords of any sort。〃
About the Tairens he could believe her； but he did not think anything frightened this woman。 Burn me； she's in a strange man's bedchamber in the middle of the night； only half…dressed； and I'm the one who's jumpy as a cat in a dog run； Void or no。 It was time to put an end to things before they went too far。
〃It would be better if you return to your own bedchamber； my Lady。〃 Part of him wanted to tell her to put on a cloak； too。 A thick cloak。 Part of him did。 〃It。。。 it is really too late for talking。 Tomorrow。 In daylight。〃
She gave him a slanted； quizzical look。 〃Have you absorbed stuffy Tairen ways already； my Lord Dragon？ Or is this reticence something from your Two Rivers？ We are not so。。。 formal。。。 in Mayene。〃
〃My Lady。。。。〃 He tried to sound formal； if she did not like formality； that was what he wanted。 〃I am promised to Egwene al'Vere； my Lady。〃
〃You mean the Aes Sedai； my Lord Dragon？ If she really is Aes Sedai。 She is quite young … perhaps too young … to wear the ring and the shawl。〃 Berelain spoke as if Egwene were a child； though she herself could not be more than a year older than Rand； if that； and he had only a little over two years on Egwene。 〃My Lord Dragon； I do not mean to e between you。 Marry her； if she is Green Ajah。 I would never aspire to wed the Dragon Reborn himself。 Forgive me if I overstep myself； but I told you we are not so。。。 formal in Mayene。 May I call you Rand？〃
Rand surprised himself by sighing regretfully。 There had been a glint in her eye； a slight shift of expression； gone quickly； when she mentioned marrying the Dragon Reborn。 If she had not considered it before； she had now。 The Dragon Reborn； not Rand al'Thor； the man of prophecy； not the shepherd from the Two Rivers。 He was not shocked； exactly； some girls back home mooned over whoever proved himself fastest or strongest in the games at Bel Tine and Sunday； and now and again a woman set her eyes on the man with the richest fields or the largest flocks。 It would have been good to think she wanted Rand al'Thor。 〃It is time for you to go； my Lady；〃 he said quietly。
She stepped closer。 〃I can feel your eyes on me； Rand。〃 Her voice was smoky heat。 〃I am no village girl tied to her mother's apron； and I know you want…〃
〃Do you think I'm made of stone； woman？〃 She jumped at his roar； but the next instant she was crossing the carpet； reaching for him； her eyes dark pools that could pull a man into their depths。
〃Your arms look as strong as stone。 If you think you must be harsh with me； then be harsh； so long as you hold me。〃 Her hands touched his face； sparks seemed to leap from her fingers。
Without thinking he channeled the flows still linked to him； and suddenly she was staggering back； eyes wide with startlement； as if a wall of air pushed her。 It was air； he realized； he did things without knowing what he was doing more often than he did know。 At least； once done； he could usually remember how to do them again。
The unseen； moving wall scraped ripples along the carpet； sweeping along Berelain's discarded robe； a boot he had tossed aside undressing； and a red leather footstool supporting an open volume of Eban Vandes's The History of the Stone of Tear； pushing them along as it forced her almost to the wall； fenced her in。 Safely away from him。 He tied off the flow … that was all he could think to call what he did … and no longer needed to maintain the shield himself。 For a moment he studied what he had done； until he was sure he could repeat it。 It looked useful； especially the tying off。
Dark eyes still wide； Berelain felt along the confines of her invisible prison with trembling hands。 Her face was almost as white as her skimpy silk shift。 Footstool； boot and book lay at her feet； jumbled with the robe。
〃Much as I regret it；〃 he told her； 〃we will not speak again； except in public； my Lady。〃 He really did regret it。 Whatever her motives； she was beautiful。 Burn me； I am a fool。 He was not sure how he meant that … for thinking of her beauty； or for sending her away。 〃In fact； it is best you arrange your journey back to Mayene as soon as possible。 I promise you that Tear will not trouble Mayene again。 You have my word。〃 It was a promise good only for his lifetime； perhaps only as long as he stood in the Stone； but he had to offer her something。 A bandage for wounded pride； a gift to take her mind off being afraid。
But her fear was already under control； on the outside； at least。 Honesty and openness filled her face； all efforts at allure gone。 〃Forgive me。 I have handled this badly。 I did not mean to offend。 In my country； a woman may speak her mind to a man freely； or he to her。 Rand； you must know that you are a handsome man； tall and strong。 I would be the one made of stone； if I did not see it； and admire。 Please do not send me away from you。 I will beg it； if you wish。〃 She knelt smoothly； like a dance。 Her expression still said she was being open； confessing everything； but on the other hand； in kneeling she had managed to tug her already precarious gown down until it looked in real danger of falling off。 〃Please； Rand？〃
Even sheltered in emptiness as he was； he gaped at her； and it had nothing to do with her beauty or her near undress。 Well； only partly。 If the Defenders of the Stone had been half as determined as this woman； half as steadfast in purpose； ten thousand Aiel could never have taken the Stone。
〃I am flattered； my Lady；〃 he said diplomatically。 〃Believe me； I am。 But it would not be fair to you。 I cannot give you what you deserve。〃 And let her make of that what she will。
Outside in the darkness； a cock crowed。
To Rand's surprise； Berelain suddenly stared past him； eyes as big as teacups。 Her mouth dropped open； and her slim throat corded with a scream that would not e。 He spun； the yellow…red sword flashing back into his hands。
Across the room； one of the stand…mirrors threw his reflection back at him； a tall young man with reddish hair and gray eyes； wearing only white linen smallclothes and holding a sword carved from fire。 The reflection stepped out onto the carpet； raising its sword。
I have gone mad。 Thought drifted on the borders of the Voi