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〃Aram； I want you to go talk to Tallanvor and that lot。 Tell them what Balwer said to me。 Just slide it into the talk； but tell everything。〃 That should soothe fears of tale…bearing。 Faile said servants needed to be made to feel at home。 〃Make friends with them if you can； Aram。 But if you decide to moon over one of the women； be sure it's Lini。 The other two are taken。〃
The man had a smooth tongue for any pretty woman； but he managed to look surprised and offended； both。 〃As you wish； Lord Perrin；〃 he muttered sulkily。 〃I'll catch you up quickly。〃
〃I will be over with the Aiel。〃
Aram blinked。 〃Ah。 Yes。 Well； it might take a while； at that； if I'm to make friends with them。 They don't look like they much want friends； to me。〃 This from a fellow who stared suspiciously at anyone except Faile who came near Perrin and never smiled for anyone not wearing a skirt。
Nevertheless； he went over and squatted on his heels where he could speak to Gill and the others。 Even from a distance their standoffishness was plain。 They continued with their work； only now and then saying a word to Aram； and they looked at each other as often as at him。 Skittish as green quail in summer； when the foxes were teaching the cubs to hunt。 But at least they were talking。
Perrin wondered what mischief Aram had gotten up to with the Aiel … there did not seem to have been any time for it！ … but he did not wonder long。 Any serious trouble with Aiel usually meant someone dead； and not the Aiel。 In truth； he was not so eager to meet the Wise Ones himself。 He walked around the curve of the hill； but instead of climbing the slope； his feet carried him all the way to the Mayeners。 He had stayed away from their camp as much as possible； too； and not simply because of Berelain。 There were disadvantages to having too keen a nose。
Fortunately； a freshening breeze was carrying most of the stink away； though it did little for the heat。 Sweat rolled down the faces of the mounted sentries in their red armor。 At the sight of him； they sat up even more rigidly in their saddles； which was saying something。 Where the Two Rivers men rode like fellows heading out to the fields； the Mayeners usually were statues on horseback。 They could fight； though。 The Light send there was no need。
Havien Nurelle came running； buttoning up his coat； before Perrin was well past the sentries。 The dozen or so other officers followed at Nurelle's heels； all coated and some fastening the straps of their red breastplates。 Two or three carried helmets with thin red plumes tucked under their arms。 Most were years older than Nurelle； some twice his age； graying men with hard； scarred faces； but Nurelle's reward for helping to rescue Rand had been to be named Gallenne's second； his First Lieutenant； they called it。
〃The First hasn't returned； yet； Lord Perrin；〃 Nurelle said； making a bow mirrored by the others。 A tall slender man； he did not look as young as he had before Dumai's Wells。 There was an edge to his eyes； which had seen more blood than most veterans of twenty battles。 But if his face was harder； there was still an eagerness to please in his scent。 To Havien Nurelle； Perrin Aybara was a man who could fly or walk on water as he chose。 〃The morning patrols saw nothing； those that are back。 I would have reported； otherwise。〃
〃Of course；〃 Perrin told him。 〃I。。。 just wanted to look about a bit。〃
He simply meant to walk around until he could work up his nerve to face the Wise Ones； but the young Mayener followed him with the rest of the officers； anxiously watching for Lord Perrin to find some flaw in the Winged Guards； wincing whenever they came on bare…chested men tossing dice on a blanket or some fellow snoring away with the sun on the climb。 He need not have bothered； to Perrin； the camp looked laid out with a plumb line and level。 Each man had his blankets； and his saddle for a pillow； not more than two paces from where his horse was tied to one of the long ropes drooping between chest…high poles set upright in the ground。 A cook fire stood every twenty paces； with lances stacked in steel…tipped cones between。 The whole made a sort of box around five peaked tents； one striped gold…and…blue and larger than the other four bined。 All very different from the Two Rivers men's every…which…way arrangement。
Perrin walked along briskly； trying not to look too much a fool。 He was not sure how much success he was having。 He itched to stop and look over a horse or two … just to be able to pick up a hoof without somebody practically fainting … but mindful of what Aram had said； he kept his hands to himself。 Everyone seemed as startled as Nurelle at his pace。 Tough…eyed bannermen chivvied men to their feet only to have Perrin stride by with a nod before they were all upright。 A puzzled murmur trailed in the air behind him； and his ears caught a few ments about officers； lords in particular； that he was just as glad Nurelle and the others missed。 Finally； he found himself on the verge of the camp； staring up the brushy slope toward the Wise Ones' tents。 Only a few of the Maidens were visible among the scattered trees up there； and some of the gai'shain。
〃Lord Perrin；〃 Nurelle said hesitantly。 〃The Aes Sedai。。。 〃 He stepped closer and lowered his voice to a hoarse whisper。 〃I know they swore to the Lord Dragon； and。。。 I've seen things； Lord Perrin。 They do camp chores！ Aes Sedai！ This morning； Masuri and Seonid came down to fetch water！ And yesterday； after you returned。。。 Yesterday； I thought I heard someone up there。。。 crying out。 It couldn't have been one of the sisters； of course；〃 he added hurriedly； and laughed to show how ridiculous the idea was； a very shaky laugh。 〃You。。。 You will see that everything is。。。 all right。。。 with them？〃 He had ridden into forty thousand Shaido leading two hundred lancers； but talking about this had him hunching his shoulders and shifting his feet。 Of course； he had ridden into forty thousand Shaido because an Aes Sedai wanted him to。
〃I'll do what I can；〃 Perrin muttered。 Maybe matters were worse than he had thought。 Now he had to stop them getting worse still。 If he could。 He would rather have faced the Shaido again。
Nurelle nodded as though Perrin had promised all he asked and more。 〃That is well； then；〃 he said； sounding relieved。 Casting sideways glances at Perrin； he worked himself up to say something else； but apparently this was not so touchy as the Aes Sedai。 〃I heard that you let the Red Eagle stay。〃
Perrin very nearly jumped。 Even for just around the hill； news had traveled fast。 〃It seemed the thing to do；〃 he said slowly。 Berelain would have to know the truth； yet if too many knew； that truth would spread from the next village they passed； the next farm。 〃This used to be part of Manetheren；〃 he added； as if Nurelle did not know that perfectly well。 Truth！ He had gotten so he could bend truth like an Aes Sedai； and to men on his side。 〃Not the first time that flag's been raised around here； I'll warrant； but none of those fellows had the Dragon Reborn behind him。〃 And if that did not set the necessary seeds； he did not know how to plow a furrow。
Abruptly he realized that what seemed every last one of the Winged Guards was watching him with their officers。 No doubt wondering what he was saying； after all but running through that way。 Even the lean balding old soldier Gallenne called his dogrobber had e out to stare； and Berelain's maids； a pair of plump plain…faced women garbed to match their mistress's tent。 Perrin had hardly seen a thing； but he knew he had to give some sort of praise。
Raising his voice enough to carry； he said； 〃The Winged Guards will do Mayene proud if we ever face another Dumai's Wells。〃 Those were the first words that came to mind； but he winced at saying them。
To his shock； shouting rose straight away among the soldiers； cheering； 〃Perrin Goldeneyes！〃 and 〃Mayene for Goldeneyes！〃 and 〃Goldeneyes and Manetheren！〃 Men danced and capered； and some snatched lances from the stacks to shake them so the red streamers waved in the breeze。 Grizzled bannermen watched them with arms folded； nodding approval。 Nurelle beamed； and not only him。 Officers with gray in their hair and scars on their faces grinned like boys praised at their lessons。 Light； he was the only sane man left！ He prayed never to see another battle！
Wondering whether this was going to cause trouble with Berelain； he made his goodbyes with Nurelle and the others and tramped up the slope through dead or dying brush； none of it waist…high。 Brown weeds crackled beneath his boots。 Shouting still filled the Mayener camp。 Even after she learned the truth； the First might not be pleased to have her soldiers cheering him this way。 Of course； that could have good points。 Maybe she would be angry enough to stop pestering him。
Short of the crest； he paused； listening to the cheers finally fade away。 No one was going to cheer him here。 All of the side flaps were down on the Wise Ones' low gray…brown tents； closing them in。 Only a few of the Maidens were in sight； now。 Squatting easily on their heels beneath a leatherleaf that still showed some