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〃No； my heart； though I would have if I could。 When that man came with his message … 'We are ing' … I thought … hoped … that that was what it meant。〃 Pulling her face back a little； she looked up at him seriously。 〃I could not tell you； Perrin。 I could not raise your hopes when I only suspected。 It would have been too cruel if。。。 Don't be angry with me； Perrin。〃
Laughing； he lifted her out of her saddle and set her sideways in front of his； she laughed her protests； and stretched across the high pommel to put both arms around him。 〃I will never； ever be angry with you； I sw …〃 She cut him off with a hand over his mouth。
〃Mother says the worst thing Father ever did to her was vow never to be angry with her。 It took her a year to force him to take it back； and she says he was hardly fit to live with long before then from holding in。 You will be angry with me； Perrin； and I with you。 If you want to make me another wedding vow； vow you will not hide it when you are。 I cannot deal with what you will not let me see； my husband。 My husband；〃 she repeated in a satisfied tone； snuggling against him。 〃I do like the sound of that。〃
He noticed she did not say she would always let him know when she was angry； on past experience； he would have to discover it the hard way at least half the time。 And she made no promises not to keep secrets from him again； either。 Right then； it did not matter so long as she was with him。 〃I will let you know when I'm angry； my wife；〃 he promised。 She gave him a slanted look； as if she was not sure how to take that。 You won't ever e to understand them； Cousin Jaim； but you won't care。
Abruptly he became aware of the dead Trollocs all around him； like a black field full of feathered weeds； the thrashing Myrddraal still refusing to die finally。 Slowly he turned Stepper。 A slaughter yard and a shambles of Shadowspawn stretching for hundreds of paces in every direction。 Crows hopped across the ground already； and vultures soared overhead in a huge milling cloud。 No ravens； though。 And the same to the south； according to Jaim； he could see the vultures wheeling beyond the village for proof。 Not enough to repay for Deselle or Adora or little Paet or。。。 Not enough； it would never be enough。 Nothing could ever repay for them。 He hugged Faile； hard enough to make her grunt； but when he tried to ease up； she put her hands on his arms； gripping just as hard to keep them where they were。 She was enough。
People were streaming out of Emond's Field； Bran limping and using his spear for a staff； Marin smiling with an arm around him； Daise being hugged by her husband； Wit； and Gaul and Chiad hand in hand with their veils down。 Loial's ears drooped wearily； and Tam had blood on his face； and Flann Lewin was standing only with the help of his wife； Adine； there was blood on nearly everyone； and hasty bandages。 But they came out in a widening throng； Elam and Dav； Ewin and Aram； Eward Candwin and Buel Dowtry； Hu and Tad the stablemen from the Winespring Inn； Ban and Tell and the panions riding with that banner still。 This time he did not see the missing faces； only those who were still there。 Verin and Alanna on their horses； with Tomas and Ihvon riding close behind。 Old Bili Congar waving a jug that surely held ale； or better yet brandy； and Cenn Buie as gnarled as ever if bruised； and Jac al'Seen with an arm around his wife； and his sons and daughters around him with their wives and husbands。 Raen and Ila； still with the babes on their backs。 More。 Faces he did not know at all； men who must be from Deven Ride and the farms down there。 Boys and girls running among them； laughing。
They fanned out to either side； forming a great hollow circle with the Watch Hill men； Faile and him at its center。 Everyone avoided the dying Fades； but it was as if they did not see the Shadowspawn lying everywhere； only the pair on Stepper。 Silently they watched； until Perrin began to feel nervous。 Why doesn't somebody say something？ Why are they staring like that？
The Whitecloaks appeared； riding slowly out of the village in their long gleaming column of fours； Dain Bornhald at their head with Jaret Byar。 Every white cloak shone as though freshly laundered； every lance slanted at precisely the same angle。 Sullen mutters rose； but people moved aside to let them enter the circle。
Bornhald raised a gauntleted hand； halting the column in a jingle of bridles and creak of saddles； when he faced Perrin。 〃It is done； Shadowspawn。〃 Byar's mouth quivered on the brink of a snarl； but Bornhald's face never changed； his voice never rose。 〃The Trollocs are done here。 As we agreed； I arrest you now for Darkfriend and murderer。〃
〃No！〃 Faile twisted around to stare up at Perrin； eyes angry。 〃What does he mean； as you agreed？〃
Her words were nearly drowned by the roar from every side。 〃No！ No！〃 and 〃You will not take him！〃 and 〃Goldeneyes！〃
Keeping his gaze on Bornhald； Perrin lifted a hand； and silence descended slowly。 When all was quiet； he said； 〃I said I would not resist； if you aided。〃 Surprising； how calm his voice was； inside he seethed with a slow； cold anger。 〃If you aided； Whitecloak。 Where were you？〃 The man did not answer。
Daise Congar stepped out from the encircling throng with Wit； who clung to her as if he never intended to let go of her again。 For that matter； her stout arm was wrapped around Wit's shoulders in much the same fashion。 They made an odd picture as she planted her pitchfork…polearm firmly； her the taller by a head and holding her considerably smaller husband as though she meant to protect him。 〃They were on the Green；〃 she announced loudly； 〃all lined up and sitting their horses pretty as girls ready for a dance at Sunday。 They never stirred。 It was that that made us e。。。〃 A fierce murmur of agreement rippled from the women。 〃。 。 。 when we saw you were about to be overrun； and they just sat there like bumps on a log！〃
Bornhald did not take his eyes from Perrin for an instant； he did not even blink。 〃Did you think I would trust you？〃 he sneered。 〃Your plan only failed because these others arrived … yes？ … and you can claim no part in that。〃 Faile shifted； without looking away from the man； Perrin laid a finger across her lips just as she opened her mouth。 She bit him … hard … but she did not say anything。 Bornhald's voice finally began to rise。 〃I will see you hang； Shadowspawn。 I will see you hang； whatever it takes！ I will see you dead if the world burns！〃 The last came as a shout。 Byar's sword slid a hand of bare steel from its scabbard； a massive Whitecloak behind him … Farran； Perrin thought his name was … drew his pletely； with a pleased smile rather than Byar's toothy snarl。
They froze as quivers rattled to arrows being drawn； and bows came up all around the circle； fletchings drawn to ear； every broadhead shaft pointed at a Whitecloak。 Up and down the thick column； high…cantled saddles creaked as men shifted uneasily。 Bornhald showed no sign of fear； and he did not smell of it； either； his scent was all hate。 He ran almost fevered eyes over the Two Rivers folk encircling his men and returned them to Perrin just as hot and hate…filled。
Perrin motioned downward； and tension was let off bowstrings reluctantly； bows lowered slowly。 〃You would not help。〃 His voice was cold iron； anvil…hard。 〃Since you came to the Two Rivers； the help you've given has been almost accidental。 You never really cared if people were burned out； killed； so long as you could find somebody to call Darkfriend。〃 Bornhald shivered； though his eyes still burned。 〃It is time for you to go。 Not just from Emond's Field。 It is time for you to gather up your Whitecloaks and leave the Two Rivers。 Now； Bornhald。 You are going now。〃
〃I will see you hang one day；〃 Bornhald said softly。 He jerked his hand for the column to follow and booted his horse forward as if he meant to ride Perrin over。
Perrin moved Stepper aside； he wanted these men gone； not more killing。 Let the man have a final gesture of defiance。
Bornhald never turned his head； but hollow…cheeked Byar stared silent hate at Perrin； and Farran seemed to look at him with regret for some reason。 The others kept their eyes front as they passed in a jingle of tack and the clop of hooves。 Silently the circle opened to let them out； heading north。
A knot of ten or twelve men approached Perrin on foot； some in mismatched bits and pieces of old armor； all grinning anxiously； as the last of the Whitecloaks went by。 He did not recognize any of them。 A wide…nosed； leathery…faced fellow seemed to be their leader； his white hair bare but a rusty mail shirt covering him to the knees； though the collar of a farmer's coat poked up around his neck。 He bowed awkwardly over his bow。 〃Jerinvar Barstere； my Lord Perrin。 Jer； they call me。〃 He spoke hurriedly； as if afraid of being interrupted。 〃Pardon for bothering you。 Some of us will see the Whitecloaks along； if that's all right with you。 A good many want to get on home； even if we can't get there before dark。 There's as many Whitecloaks again in Watch Hill； but they would not e。 Had orders to hold fast； they said。 Bunch of fools； if y