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was！ Could he still tell himself that if he did this thing？ Alliandre stared up at him pleadingly。 Did ta'veren work on themselves； he wondered。 〃Under the Light； I； Perrin Aybara； accept your pledge。。。 〃 His throat was dry by the time he finished the words Faile had whispered。 Too late to stop and think now。
With a gasp of relief； Alliandre kissed his hands。 Perrin did not think he had ever been so embarrassed in his life。 Standing hurriedly； he drew her to her feet。 And realized he did not know what to do next。 A proudly beaming Faile whispered no further hints。 Berelain smiled； too； relief so strong on her face she might have just been pulled from a fire。
He was sure Annoura would speak … Aes Sedai always had plenty to say； especially when it gave an opportunity to take charge … but the Gray sister was holding out a winecup for Maighdin to refill。 Annoura watched him with an unreadable expression； and for that matter； so did Maighdin； so much so that she continued tilting her pitcher until punch slopped over onto the Aes Sedai's wrist。 At which Annoura gave a start； staring at the cup in her hand as though she had forgotten it was there。 Faile frowned； and Lini frowned even harder； and Maighdin scurried for a cloth to dry the sister's hand； all the while muttering under her breath again。 Faile was going to have fits if she ever heard those mutters。
Perrin knew he was taking too long。 Alliandre licked her lips anxiously； she expected more； but what？ 〃Now that we're done here； I have to find the Prophet next；〃 he said； and winced。 Too abrupt。 He had no feel for dealing with nobles； much less queens。 〃I suppose you'll want to get back to Bethal before anyone learns you're gone。〃
〃The last I heard；〃 Alliandre told him； 〃the Prophet of the Lord Dragon was in Abila。 That's a largish town in Amadicia； perhaps forty leagues south of here。〃
In spite of himself； Perrin frowned； though he smoothed his brow quickly。 So Balwer had been right。 Right in one thing did not mean right in all； but it might be worthwhile hearing what the man had to say about the Whitecloaks。 And the Seanchan。 How many Taraboners？
Faile glided to his side； laying a hand on his arm and directing a warm smile at Alliandre。 〃You cannot mean to send her away now； my heart。 Not when she has just arrived。 Leave us to talk here out of the sun before she must face the ride back。 I know you have important matters to see to。〃
He managed not to stare； with a little effort。 What could be more important than the Queen of Ghealdan？ Certain sure； nothing anyone would let him lay hand to。 Clearly she wanted to talk with Alliandre without him。 With luck； she would tell him why later。 With luck； she would tell him all of it。 Elyas might think he knew Saldaeans； but Perrin had learned on his own that only a fool tried to root out all of his wife's secrets。 Or let her know about those he had unearthed already。
Leaving Alliandre should no doubt involve as much ceremony as meeting her； but he managed a credible leg and made his bow； asking her pardon for going off； and she curtsied deeply； murmuring that he honored her too much； and that was that。 Except for jerking his head at Gallenne to follow him。 He doubted that Faile would send him off and want that one to stay。 What did she want to talk about alone？
Outside； the one…eyed man gave Perrin a clap on the shoulder that would have staggered a smaller man。 〃Burn me； I've never heard of the like！ Now I can say I've seen a ta'veren at work for true。 What did you want with me？〃 And what was he to say to that？
Just then； he heard shouting from the Mayener camp； the sound of arguing； loud enough that Two Rivers men stood to peer through the trees； though the side of the hill hid everything。
〃First let's see what all that is about；〃 Perrin replied。 That would give him time to think。 About what to say to Gallenne； and other things。
Faile waited a few moments after Perrin left before telling the servants that she and the others would see to themselves。 Maighdin was so busy staring at Alliandre that Lini had to pluck at her sleeve before she moved。 That would have to be handled later。 Setting her cup down； Faile followed the three women to the door of the tent as if hurrying them； but she paused there。
Perrin and Gallenne were striding off through the trees toward the Mayener camp。 Good。 Most of Cha Faile was squatting not far off。 Catching Parelean's eye； she gestured low in front of her waist； where no one behind her could see。 A quick circular motion followed by a clenched fist。 Immediately the Tairens and Cairhien broke apart in groups of two or three and spread out。 Far less elaborate than Maiden handtalk； Cha Faile's signals sufficed。 In moments a scattered ring of her people had surrounded the tent； apparently at random； talking idly or playing at cat's cradle。 But no one would e nearer than twenty paces without her receiving warning before they reached the threshold。
It was Perrin who worried her most。 She had expected something momentous as soon as Alliandre appeared in the flesh； if not what came； but he had been stunned by her vow。 If he took it into his head to return； to take another stab at making Alliandre feel fortable in her decision。。。 Oh； he did think with his heart when he should use his head。 And with his head when he should use his heart！ Guilt pricked her at the thought。
〃Peculiar servants you found by the side of the road；〃 Berelain said in tones of mock sympathy at her side； and Faile gave a start。 She had not heard the woman e up behind her。 Lini and the others were walking toward the carts； Lini shaking a finger at Maighdin； and Berelain shifted her gaze from Faile to them。 She kept her voice low； but the mocking tone remained。 〃The oldest at least seems to know her duties instead of simply having heard about them； but Annoura tells me the youngest is a wilder。 Very weak； Annoura says； negligible； but wilders always cause problems。 The others will carry tales about her； if they know； and sooner or later； she will run away。 Wilders always do； I hear。 That's what es of picking up your maids like stray dogs。〃
〃They suit me well enough；〃 Faile replied coolly。 Still； a long conversation with Lini was definitely needed。 A wilder？ Even if weak； that might prove useful。 〃I always thought you were fit for hiring servants。〃 Berelain blinked； uncertain what that meant； and Faile carefully did not let her satisfaction show。 Turning away； she said； 〃Annoura； will you make us private with a ward against listeners？〃
There seemed little chance that Seonid or Masuri would find any opportunity to eavesdrop using the Power … she was waiting for the explosion when Perrin found out just how tightly the Wise Ones had that pair haltered … yet the Wise Ones themselves might have learned。 Faile was sure Edarra and the others were wringing Seonid and Masuri dry。
The Gray sister's beaded braids clicked softly as she nodded。 〃It is done； Lady Faile；〃 she said； and Berelain's lips pressed briefly。 Quite satisfying。 The temerity of making the presentations here in Faile's own tent！ She deserved more than having someone step between her and her advisor； but it was satisfying。
Childishly satisfying； Faile admitted； when she should be focused on the matter at hand。 She almost bit her lip in aggravation。 She did not doubt her husband's love； but she could not treat Berelain as the woman deserved； and that forced her； against her will； to play a game with Perrin too often as the gaming board。 And the prize； so Berelain believed。 If only Perrin did not sometimes behave as if he might be。 Firmly she put all that out of her head。 There was a wife's work to be done here。 The practical side。
Alliandre glanced thoughtfully at Annoura when a ward was mentioned … she had to realize it meant serious talk … but what she said was 〃Your husband is a formidable man； Lady Faile。 I mean no offense when I say his bluff exterior belies a shrewd mind。 With Amadicia on our doorstep； we in Ghealdan play Daes Dae'mar of necessity； but I do not think I have ever been danced so swiftly or so deftly to a decision as your Lord did。 The hint of a threat here； a frown there。 A very formidable man。〃
This time hiding her smile took some effort on Faile's part。 These southlanders set a great store by the Game of Houses； and she did not think Alliandre would appreciate learning that Perrin simply said what he believed … too freely by half； at times … and people with devious minds saw calculation in his honesty。 〃He spent some time in Cairhien；〃 she said。 Let Alliandre make of that what she would。 〃We can speak freely here； safe behind Annoura Sedai's warding。 It is plain you do not want to return to Bethal yet。 Is your oath to Perrin； and his to you； not enough to tie him to you？〃 Some here in the south had peculiar ideas of what fealty entailed。
Berelain silently took a position to Faile's right； and a moment later Annoura did the same on her left； so that Alliandre found herself confronted by all three。 It surprised Faile that the Aes Sedai fell in with her plan without knowing what it was … without doubt An