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ho could not stand； helping those who could to their feet。 All too many were left where they lay。 Hasty bandgages ripped from a man's own bloody shirt were the only fort that could be offered now。
They no longer looked so pretty as they had； these Tairens。 Their no longer gleaming breast… and backplates bore dents and scruffs； blood…soaked slashes marred once fine black…and…gold coats and breeches。 Some had no helmets； and more than one leaned on his spear as if it were the only thing holding him on his feet。 Perhaps it was。 They breathed heavily； wild expressions on their faces； that blend of stark terror and blind numbness that afflicts men in battle。 They stared at Rand uncertainly … fleeting； fearful stares … as if he might have called these creatures out of the Blight himself。
〃Wipe those spearpoints；〃 he told them。 〃A Fade's blood will etch steel like acid if it's left long enough。〃 Most moved slowly to obey； hesitantly using what was available； the coatsleeves of their own dead。
The sounds of more fighting drifted through the corridors； distant shouts； the muted clash of metal。 They had obeyed him twice； it was time to see if they would do more。 Turning his back on them； he started across the anteroom； toward the sounds of battle。 〃Follow me；〃 he ordered。 He raised his fire…wrought blade to remind them of who he was； hoping the reminder did not bring a spear in his back。 It had to be risked。 〃The Stone stands！ For the Stone！〃
For a moment his own hollow footsteps were the only sound in the columned chamber； then boots began to follow。 〃For the Stone！〃 a man shouted； and another； 〃For the Stone and the Lord Dragon！〃 Others took it up。 〃For the Stone and the Lord Dragon！〃 Quickening to a trot； Rand led his bloodied army of twenty…three deeper into the Stone。
Where was Lanfear； and what part had she played in this？ He had little time for wondering。 Dead men spotted the halls in pools of their own blood； one here and farther on two or three more； Defenders； servants； Aiel。 Women； too； linen…gowned noble and wool…clad servant alike struck down as they fled。 Trollocs didn't care whom they killed； they took pleasure in it。 Myrddraal were worse； Halfmen gloried in pain and death。
A little deeper in； the Stone of Tear boiled。 Knots of Trollocs rampaged through the halls； sometimes with a Myrddraal leading； sometimes alone； battling Aiel or Defenders； cutting down the unarmed； hunting for more to kill。 Rand led his small force at any Shadowspawn they found； his sword slicing coarse flesh and black mail with equal ease。 Only the Aiel faced a Fade without flinching。 The Aiel and Rand。 He passed up Trollocs to reach Fades； sometimes the Myrddraal took a dozen or two Trollocs with it in dying； sometimes none。
Some of his Defenders fell and did not rise； but Aiel joined them； nearly doubling their number。 Groups of men broke off in furious battles that drifted away in shouts and clatter like a forge gone mad。 Other men fell in behind Rand； broke away； were replaced； till none of those who had started with him remained。 Sometimes he fought alone； or ran down a hallway； empty save for himself and the dead； following the sounds of distant bat。
Once； with two Defenders； in a colonnade looking down into a long chamber with many doorways； he saw Moiraine and Lan； surrounded by Trollocs。 The Aes Sedai stood； head high like some storied queen of battles； and bestial shapes burst into flame around her … but only to be replaced by more； dashing in through this door or that； six or eight at a time。 Lan's sword accounted for those who escaped Moiraine's fire。 The Warder had blood on both sides of his face； yet he flowed through the forms as coolly as if practicing before a mirror。 Then a wolf…snouted Trolloc thrust a Tairen spear toward Moiraine's back。 Lan whirled as though he had eyes in the back of his head； taking off the Trolloc's leg at the knee。 The Trolloc fell； howling； yet still managed to thrust spearpoint at Lan just as another clubbed the Warder awkwardly with the flat of its axe； buckling his knees。
Rand could do nothing； for at that moment five Trollocs fell upon him and his two panions； all snouts and boars' tusks and rams' horns； pushing the humans out of the colonnade by the sheer weight of their rush。 Five Trollocs should have been able to kill three men without much difficulty； except that one of the men was Rand； with a sword that treated their mail like cloth。 One of the Defenders died； and the other vanished chasing after a wounded Trolloc； the lone survivor of the five。 When Rand hurried back to the colonnade； there was a smell of burned meat from the chamber below； and great burned bodies on its floor； but no sign of Moiraine or Lan。
That was the way of the contest for the Stone。 Or the contest for Rand's life。 Battles sprang up and drifted away from where they began； or died when one side fell。 Not only did men fight Trollocs and Myrddraal。 Men fought men； there were Darkfriends siding the Shadowspawn； roughly dressed fellows who looked like former soldiers and tavern brawlers。 They seemed as fearful of the Trollocs as the Tairens did； but they killed as indiscriminately； where they could。 Twice Rand actually saw Trollocs battling Trollocs。 He could only assume the Myrddraal had lost control of them and their blood…lust had taken over。 If they wanted to
slay each other； he left them to it。
Then； alone once more and seeking； he trotted 'round a corner and right into three Trollocs； each twice as wide as he and nearly half again as tall。 One of them； with an eagle's hooked beak thrusting out of an otherwise human face； was hacking an arm from the corpse of a Tairen noblewoman while the other two watched eagerly； licking their snouts。 Trollocs ate anything； so long as it was meat。 It was an even chance whether he was more surprised or they were； but he was the first to recover。
The one with the eagle's beak went down； mail and belly alike opened across。 The sword…form called Lizard in the Thornbush should have done for the other two； but that first fallen Trolloc； thrashing still； half…kicked his foot out from under him； and he staggered； his blade only scoring a slice along his target's mail； right into the path of the second Trolloc as it fell； wolf's muzzle snapping at nothing。 It crushed him to the stone tiles beneath its bulk； trapping sword arm and sword alike。 The one still standing raised its spiked axe； ing as close to a smile as a boar's snout and tusks would allow。 Rand struggled to move； to breathe。
A scythe…curved sword split the boar's snout to the neck。
Wrenching its blade free； a fourth Trolloc bared goat teeth at him in a snarl； ears twitching beside its horns。 Then it darted away； sharp hooves clicking on the floor tiles。
Rand heaved himself out from under the dead weight of the Trolloc； half…stunned。 A Trolloc saved me。 A Trolloc？ Trolloc blood was all over him； thick and dark。 Far down the hallway； in the opposite direction from where the goat…horned Trolloc had fled； blue…white flashed as two Myrddraal moved into view。 Fighting each other； in an almost boneless blur of continuous motion。 One forced the other into a crossing corridor； and the flashing light faded from sight。 I'm mad。 That's what it is。 I am mad； and this is all some crazed dream。
〃You risk everything； rushing about wildly with that。。。 that sword。〃
Rand turned to face Lanfear。 She had put on the appearance of a girl again； no older than he； perhaps younger。 She lifted her white skirts to step over the Tairen lady's torn body； for all the emotion on her face； it might as well have been a log。
〃You build a hut of twigs；〃 she went on； 〃when you could have marble palaces for the snap of your fingers。 You could have had their lives and such souls as Trollocs possess with little effort； and instead they nearly killed you。 You must learn。 Join with me。〃
〃Was this your doing？〃 he demanded。 〃That Trolloc； saving me？ Those Myrddraal？ Was it？〃
She considered him a moment before giving a slight； regretful shake of her head。 〃If I take credit； you will expect it again； and that could be deadly。 None of the others is really certain where I stand； and I like it that way。 You can expect no open aid from me。〃
〃Expect your aid？〃 he growled。 〃You want me to turn to the Shadow。 You can't make me forget what you are with soft words。〃 He channeled； and she slammed against a wall hanging hard enough to make her grunt。 He held her there； spread…eagled over a woven hunting scene； feet off the floor and snowy gown spread out and flattened。 How had he blocked Egwene and Elayne？ He had to remember。
Suddenly he flew across the hallway to crash into the wall opposite Lanfear； pressed there like an insect by something that barely allowed him to breathe。
Lanfear appeared to have no trouble breathing。 〃Whatever you can do； Lews Therin； I can do。 And better。〃 Pinned against the wall as she was； she seemed unperturbed。 The din of fighting surged up somewhere nearby； then faded as the battle moved away。 〃You half…use the smallest fraction of what you are capable of； and walk away from what would allow y