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Hunters for the Horn； Perrin thought。 Dobraine had said that every noble who could be there would； and most Hunters were nobly born； or claimed to be。 Whether or not they recognized Rand； they sensed something； hands feeling for swords and daggers that were not there this evening。 More Hunters than not sought adventure and a place in the histories along with the Horn of Valere。 Even if they did not know the Dragon Reborn； they knew danger when they saw it。
The others in the Grand Hall were less attuned to danger； or rather； more to intrigues and plots than to open hazard。 Perrin was a third of the way down the long center aisle； close on Rand's heels； before gasps ran through the chamber like a wind。 Pale Cairhienin lords with colorful slashes across the chests of their dark silk coats； some with the front of their heads shaved and powdered； Cairhienin ladies with stripes on their dark high…necked gowns and lace falls covering their hands； their hair in intricate towers that often added a good foot of height。 Tairen High Lords and Lords of the Land with oiled beards trimmed to points； in velvet hats and coats of red and blue and every color； with puffy； satin…striped sleeves； Tairen ladies in even more colorful gowns； with wide lace ruffs and close caps studded with pearls and moonstones； firedrops and rubies。 They knew Perrin； and they knew Dobraine and even Havien and Min； but most importantly； they knew Rand。 A ripple of knowing that kept pace up the Hall with him。 Eyes widening； jaws dropping； they went so stiff Perrin almost thought the Asha'man had bound them like the guards outside the palace。 The chamber was a sea of sweet perfumes； and beneath that undercurrents of salty sweat； but through it oozed fear； a quivering sort of smell。
His attention was all on the far end of the Hall； though； on the deep blue marble dais where the Sun Throne stood； shining like its namesake with gilt； the wavy…rayed Rising Sun huge atop the high back。 Colavaere rose slowly； peering down the aisle over Rand's head。 Her nearly black dress bore not a single stripe of nobility； but the great mass of curls rising above her head had to have been dressed around the crown she wore； the Rising Sun in gold and yellow diamonds。 Seven young women flanked the Sun Throne in dark…bodiced gowns with lace snugged under their chins and skirts striped vertically in Colavaere's yellow and red and silver。 It seemed that Cairhienin fashion was different for the Queen； and for the Queen's attendants。
A flicker of motion behind the throne picked out an eighth woman； hidden； but Perrin cared about neither Colavaere nor anyone else except the woman to her immediate right。 Faile。 Her slightly tilted eyes fastened on him； dark liquid moons； yet not a line altered of her coolly decorous expression。 If anything； her face grew tighter。 His nose strained for the scent of her； but the perfume was too strong； and the fear。 She had a reason for being there on the dais； a good reason。 She did。
Rand touched Sulin's sleeve。 〃Wait here；〃 he said。 Scowling； the scar on her leathery face standing out as white as her hair； she scanned his face； then nodded with obvious reluctance。 Her free hand gestured anyway； and another gasp ran through the chamber as the Maidens veiled。 It was almost laughable； the eight men in black coats； trying to watch everywhere at once； could probably kill them all before the first Maiden drove home a spear； but no one knew who or what they were。 No one looked at them twice； a handful of men with their swords sheathed。 Only at the Maidens。 And Rand。 Hadn't they noticed that not a one of those men sweated a drop more than Rand？ Perrin felt as if he were bathing in his。
Stepping past the Maidens with Min still close beside him； Rand stopped as first Perrin； then Dobraine and Havien joined him。 And Aram； of course； like Perrin's shadow。 Rand studied them each in turn； nodding slowly。 He studied Perrin longest； and took the longest time to nod。 The gray…haired Cairhienin and the young Mayener wore faces like death。 Perrin did not know how his own looked； but his jaw was locked tight。 No one was going to harm Faile； no matter what she had done； no matter why。 No matter what he had to do to stop it。
Their boots drummed loud in the silence as they crossed the huge golden mosaic of the Rising Sun in the blue…tiled floor and approached the throne。 Hands gripping her skirts； Colavaere wet her lips； and her eyes darted between Rand and the doors behind him。
〃Looking for Aes Sedai？〃 Rand's voice echoed。 He smiled unpleasantly。 〃I sent them to the Aiel camp。 If the Aiel can't teach them manners； no one can。〃 A shocked murmur rose； and fell raggedly。 Fear became stronger than the perfumes in Perrin's nose。
Colavaere gave a start。 〃Why would I …？〃 Drawing a deep breath； she gathered dignity。 A more than handsome woman in her middle years； without a touch of gray in her dark hair； she bore a regal presence that had nothing to do with the crown。 She had been born to mand； to reign； so she thought。 And her eyes； weighing and measuring； betrayed a hard intelligence。 〃My Lord Dragon；〃 she said； making a curtsy so deep it nearly mocked itself； 〃I wele you back。 Cairhien weles you back。〃 The way she said it； she seemed to be repeating herself。
Slowly Rand climbed the steps of the dais。 Min half…made to follow him； then folded her arms。 Perrin did follow； to be nearer Faile； but only partway。 It was her gaze that stopped him。 A gaze that probed every bit as much as Colavaere's。 At him as much as at Rand。 Perrin wished he could smell her。 Not to try discovering why or what； just for the smell of her。 The wash of perfumes and fright was too great Why did she not speak？ Why did she not e to him？ Or smile？ Just a smile。
Colavaere stiffened a splinter's worth； but only that。 Her head came no more than level with Rand's chest； though her towered hair rose almost as tall as he。 His eyes slid from her face and along the women lined up on either side of the throne。 He might have paused on Faile。 Perrin could not be sure。
Rand rested his hand on one heavy arm of the Sun Throne。 〃You know I mean this for Elayne Trakand。〃 His voice was emotionless。
〃My Lord Dragon；〃 Colavaere replied smoothly； 〃Cairhien had been too long without a ruler。 A Cairhienin ruler。 You yourself said you have no interest in the Sun Throne for yourself。 Elayne Trakand would have had some claim；〃 a small； quick gesture dismissed such a claim； 〃if she were alive。 Rumor says she is dead； like her mother。〃 A dangerous thing to say。 A good many rumors said Rand had killed both mother and daughter。 The woman was no coward。
〃Elayne is alive。〃 The words were still flat as a planed board； but Rand's eyes burned。 Perrin could not pick out his smell any more than Faile's； but he did not need his nose to know rage bottled right in front of him。 〃She will have the crowns of Andor； and of Cairhien。〃
〃My Lord Dragon； what is done cannot be undone。 If anything has offended you … 〃
For all her dignity； all her courage； Colavaere made a visible effort not to flinch as Rand reached out and took hold of the Sun Crown。 There was a loud crack of metal snapping； and the crown flexed； hardly disarraying her tower of curls as it pulled away； slowly straightening。 A few of the brilliant yellow stones popped from their settings and fell。 He held up the stretched arc of metal； and slowly it bent back on itself until the ends met； and。。。 Maybe the Asha'man could see what happened； could understand； but to Perrin； one moment the crown was broken； the next it was whole again。 No one among the nobles made a sound； not even a shuffling of boots； Perrin thought they might be afraid to。 To his nose； stark terror was stronger than any other scent now。 It did not quiver； it spasmed wildly；
〃Whatever can be done；〃 Rand said softly； 〃can be undone。〃
Colavaere's face drained of blood。 The few wisps of hair that had escaped her coiffure made her seem wild； at bay。 Swallowing； she opened her mouth twice before any words came out。 〃My Lord Dragon。。。 〃 It was a breathy whisper； but as she went on； her voice became stronger。 And edged with desperation。 She seemed to forget anyone else was present。 〃I have kept the laws you made； maintained your policies。 Even those that go against the ancient laws of Cairhien； against all custom。〃 She probably meant the laws that had let a noble kill a farmer or craftsman and walk away。 〃My Lord Dragon； the Sun Throne is yours to give。 I。。。 know that。 I … I was wrong to take it without your leave。 But I have the right to it； by birth and blood。 If I must have it from your hand； then give it to me； by your hand。 I have the right！〃 Rand only looked at her； he said nothing。 He seemed to be listening； but not to her。
Perrin cleared his throat。 Why was Rand dragging this out？ It was done； or nearly。 Let whatever else had to be done； be done。 Then he could take Faile away； where they could talk。 〃Did you have the right to murder Lord Maringil and High Lord Meilan？〃 Perrin demanded。 There was no doubt in his mind she had had it done； they had been her biggest rivals for the throne。 Or she； and they； thought they we