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his one。 He could feel the dice tumbling in his head suddenly； and that was always a bad sign。
Chapter 15
（Snakey Square）
Insects
Carridin did not look up immediately from the letter he was writing when the Lady Shiaine； as she called herself； was shown in。 Three ants struggled futilely in the wet ink； trapped。 Everything else might be dying； but ants and cockroaches and every sort of vermin seemed to thrive。 Carefully he pressed the blotter down。 He was not about to begin again for a few ants。 A failure to send this report； or a report of failure； might doom him as surely as those mired insects； yet it was fear of a different failure that tightened his guts。
He had no worry of Shiaine reading what he wrote。 It was in a cipher known to only two men beside himself。 So many bands of 〃Dragonsworn〃 at work； each stiffened by a core of his most trusted men； so many more who might be bandits or even truly sworn to that filth； al'Thor。 Pedron Niall might not like that last； but his mand had been to plunge Altara and Murandy into blood and chaos from which only Niall and the Children of the Light could rescue them； a madness clearly to be laid at the feet of this so…called Dragon Reborn； and that he had done。 Fear held both countries by the throat。 Tales that the witches marched across the same country were an added reward。 Tar Valon witches and Dragonsworn； Aes Sedai carrying off young women and setting up false Dragons； villages in flames and men nailed to the doors of their barns … it was all one in half the street rumors； now。 Niall would be pleased。 And send more orders。 How he expected Carridin to snatch Elayne Trakand out of the Tarasin Palace was beyond reason。
Another ant skittered across the ivory…inlaid table onto the page； and his thumb stabbed down； destroying it。 And smearing a word to illegibility。 The entire report would need to be redone。 He wanted a drink very badly。 There was brandy in a crystal flask on the table by the door； but he did not want the woman to see him drinking。 Suppressing a sigh； he shoved the letter aside and pulled a kerchief from his sleeve to wipe his hand。 〃So； Shiaine； do you finally have progress to report？ Or have you just e for more money？〃
She smiled at him lazily from a tall carved armchair。 〃There are expenses associated with a search；〃 she said in almost the accents of an Andoran noble。 〃Especially when we want no questions asked。〃
Most people would have been unsettled by the sight of Jaichim Carridin； even cleaning a pen nib； with his steely face and deep…set eyes； the white tabard over his coat bearing the golden sunburst of the Children of the Light impressed upon the crimson shepherd's crook of the Hand。 Not Mili Skane。 That was her real name； though she did not know he knew。 A saddler's daughter from a village near Whitebridge； she had gone to the White Tower at fifteen； another thing she thought secret。 It was hardly the best start； being a Friend of the Dark because the witches told her she could not learn to channel； but before that year was out she had not only found a circle in Caemlyn but made her first kill。 In the seven years since； she had added nineteen more。 She was one of the best assassins available； and a hunter who could find anyone or anything。 That much he had been told when she was sent to him。 A circle reported to her now。 Several of them actually were nobles and almost all were older； but neither thing mattered among those who served the Great Lord。 Another circle working for Carridin was led by a gnarled beggar with one eye； no teeth and a habit of bathing only once in the year。 Had circumstances been different； Carridin himself would have knelt to Old Cully； the only name the stinking villain admitted to。 Mili Skane surely groveled for Old Cully； and so did every last panion of her circle； noble or not。 It irritated Carridin that 〃Lady Shiaine〃 would be on her knees in a flash if the straggly…haired old beggar entered the room； but for him sat with her legs crossed； smiling and twitching her slippered foot as if impatient to be done。 She had been ordered to obey him absolutely； by one even Old Cully would grovel for； and besides； he had a desperate need of success。 Niall's schemes could go to dust； but not this。
〃Many things can be excused；〃 he said； laying the pen on its ivory stand and shoving back his chair； 〃for those who acplish the tasks they are given。〃 He was a tall man； and he loomed threateningly。 He was well aware that the gilt…framed mirrors on the wall showed a figure of strength； a dangerous man。 〃Even dresses and baubles and gambling； paid for with coin that was to go for information。〃 That twitching foot froze for instant； then began again； but her smile was forced； her face pale。 Her circle obeyed her instantly； but they would string her up by the heels and skin her alive if he spoke the word。 〃You have not acplished very much； have you？ In fact； you do not seem to have acplished anything。〃
〃There are difficulties； as you well know；〃 she said breathily。 She managed to meet his eyes squarely； though。
〃Excuses。 Tell me of difficulties surmounted； not those you stumble over and fall。 You can fall a long way if you fail in this。〃 Turning his back； he strode to the nearest window。 He could fall a long way； too； and he did not want to risk her seeing anything in his eyes。 Sunlight slanted through the ornate stone screen。 The high…ceilinged room； with its green…and…white…tiled floor and bright blue walls； stayed paratively cool behind the thick walls of the palace； but the heat outside seeped in near the windows。 He could almost feel the brandy across the room。 He could not wait for her to be gone。
〃My Lord Carridin； how can I have anyone ask too openly about objects of the Power？ That will cause questions； and there are Aes Sedai in the city； you will recall。〃
Peering down at the street through the scroll…carvings； he wrinkled his nose at the smell。 Every sort was jammed together down there。 An Arafellin with his hair in two long braids and a curved sword on his back tossed a coin to a one…armed beggar； who scowled at the gift before tucking it under his rags and resuming his piteous cries to the passersby。 A fellow in a torn； bright red coat and even brighter yellow breeches came running from a shop clutching a bolt of cloth to his chest； pursued by a shouting pale…haired woman who had her skirts pulled above her knees and was outpacing the burly guard who lumbered behind her waving his truncheon。 The driver of a red…lacquered coach with the moneylenders' gold coins and open hand on the door shook his whip at the driver of a canvas…covered wagon whose team had bee entangled with the coach's； the man filling the street with curses。 Grimy street urchins crouched behind a dilapidated cart while they snatched puny； shriveled fruit brought in from the country。 A Taraboner woman pushed her way through the crowd； veiled； her dark hair in thin braids； drawing every male eye in her dusty red dress that shaped itself to her form shamelessly。
〃My Lord； I must have time。 I must！ I cannot do the impossible； certainly not in days。〃
Trash； all of them。 Grubbers for gold and Hunters for the Horn； thieves； refugees； even Tinkers。 Scum。 Riots would be easy to start； a purge for all this filth。 Outlanders were always the first targets； always to blame for whatever was wrong； along with neighbors who had the misfortune to be on the wrong side of grudges； women who peddled herbs and cures； and folk with no friends； especially if they lived alone。 Properly guided； as carefully as such things could be； a good riot might well burn the Tarasin Palace down around that useless jade Tylin and the witches as well。 He glared at the swarm below。 Riots did tend to get out of hand； the Civil Guard might stir itself； and inevitably a handful of true Friends would be snapped up。 He could not afford the chance that some of those might be from the circles he had hunting。 For that matter； even a few days of rioting would disrupt their work。 Tylin was not important enough for that； she did not matter at all； in truth。 No； not yet。 Niall； he could afford to disappoint； but not his true master。
〃My Lord Carridin。。。〃 A note of defiance had entered Shiaine's voice。 He had let her stew too long。 〃My Lord Carridin； some of my circle question why we are looking for。。。 〃
He started to turn； to put her down hard … he needed success； not excuses； not questions！ … but her voice dwindled to nothing as his eyes fell on a young man standing diagonally across the street； in a blue coat with enough red…and…gold embroidery on the sleeves and lapels for two nobles。 Taller than most； he was fanning himself with a broad…brimmed black hat and adjusting his neck scarf as he spoke to a stooped； white…haired man。 Carridin recognized the young man。
Suddenly he felt as though a knotted rope had been fastened around his head and was being drawn ever tighter。 For an instant a face hidden behind a red mask filled his vision。 Night…dark eyes stared at him； and then were endless caverns of flame； and still staring。 Within his head； the world exploded in fire； cascading images that battered him an