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Bornhald hesitated。 Fifty Children together； or even a hundred； could enter any land without question； at least without open question； but an entire legion。。。 〃Is it war； my Lord Captain mander？ There is talk in the streets。 Wild rumors； mainly； about Artur Hawkwing's armies e back。〃 The old man did not speak。 〃The King。。。〃
〃Does not mand the Children； Lord Captain Bornhald。〃 For the first time there was a snap in the Lord Captain mander's voice。 〃I do。 Let the King sit in his palace and do what he does best。 Nothing。 You will be met at a village called Alcruna； and there you will receive your final orders。 I expect your legion to ride in three days。 Now go； Geofram。 You have work to do。〃
Bornhald frowned。 〃Pardon； my Lord Captain mander； but who will meet me？ Why am I risking war with Tarabon？〃
〃You will be told what you must know when you reach Alcruna。〃 The Lord Captain mander suddenly looked more than his age。 Absently he plucked at his white tunic； with the golden sunburst of the Children large on the chest。 〃There are forces at work beyond what you know； Geofram。 Beyond what even you can know。 Choose your men quickly。 Now go。 Ask me no more。 And the Light ride with you。〃
Now Bornhald straightened in his saddle； working a knot out of his back。 I am getting old； he thought。 A day and a night in the saddle； with two pauses to water the horses； and he felt every gray hair on his head。 He would not even have noticed a few years ago。 At least I have not killed any innocents。 He could be as hard on Darkfriends as any man sworn to the Light … Darkfriends must be destroyed before they pulled the whole world under the Shadow … but he wanted to be sure they were Darkfriends first。 It had been difficult avoiding Taraboner eyes with so many men； even in the backcountry； but he had managed it。 No tongues had needed to be silenced。
The scouts he had sent out came riding back； and behind them came more men in white cloaks； some carrying torches to ruin the night vision of everyone at the head of the column。 With a muttered curse； Bornhald ordered a halt while he studied those who came to meet him。
Their cloaks bore the same golden sunburst on the breast as his； the same as every Child of the Light； and their leader even had golden knots of rank below it equivalent to Bornhald's。 But behind their sunbursts were red shepherd's crooks。 Questioners。 With hot irons and pinchers and dripping water the Questioners pulled confession and repentance from Darkfriends； but there were those who said they decided guilt before ever they began。 Geofram Bornhald was one who said it。
I have been sent here to meet Questioners？
〃We have been waiting for you； Lord Captain Bornhald；〃 the leader said in a harsh voice。 He was a tall； hook…nosed man with the gleam of certainty in his eyes that every Questioner had。 〃You could have made better time。 I am Einor Saren； second to Jaichim Carridin； who mands the Hand of the Light in Tarabon。〃 The Hand of the Light … the Hand that dug out truth； so they said。 They did not like the name Questioners。 〃There is a bridge at the village。 Have your men move across。 We will talk in the inn。 It is surprisingly fortable。〃
〃I was told by the Lord Captain mander himself to avoid all eyes。〃
〃The village has been 。。。 pacified。 Now move your men。 I mand； now。 I have orders with the Lord Captain mander's seal； if you doubt。〃
Bornhald suppressed the growl that rose in his throat。 Pacified。 He wondered if the bodies had been piled outside the village； or if they had been thrown into the river。 It would be like the Questioners； cold enough to kill an entire village for secrecy and stupid enough to throw the bodies into the river to float downstream and trumpet their deed from Alcruna to Tanchico。 〃What I doubt is why I am in Tarabon with two thousand men； Questioner。〃
Saren's face tightened； but his voice remained harsh and demanding。 〃It is simple； Lord Captain。 There are towns and villages across Almoth Plain with none in authority above a mayor or a Town Council。 It is past time they were brought to the Light。 There will be many Darkfriends in such places。〃
Bornhald's horse stamped。 〃Are you saying； Saren； that I've brought an entire legion across most of Tarabon in secrecy to root a few Darkfriends out of some grubby villages？〃
〃You are here to do as you are told； Bornhald。 To do the work of the Light！ Or are you sliding from the Light？〃 Saren's smile was a grimace。 〃If battle is what you seek； you may have your chance。 The strangers have a great force on Toman Head； more than Tarabon and Arad Doman together may be able to hold； even if they can stop their own bickering long enough to work together。 If the strangers break through； you will have all the fighting you can handle。 The Taraboners claim the strangers are monsters； creatures of the Dark One。 Some say they have Aes Sedai to fight for them。 If they are Darkfriends； these strangers； they will have to be dealt with； too。 In their turn。〃
For a moment； Bornhald stopped breathing。 〃Then the rumors are true。 Artur Hawking's armies have returned。〃
〃Strangers；〃 Saren said flatly。 He sounded as if he regretted having mentioned them。 〃Strangers； and probably Darkfriends； from wherever they came。 That is all we know； and all you need to know。 They do not concern you now。 We are wasting time。 Move your men across the river； Bornhald。 I will give you your orders in the village。〃 He whirled his horse and galloped back the way he had e； his torchbearers riding at his heels。
Bornhald closed his eyes to hasten the return of his night sight。 We are being used like stones on a board。 〃Byar！〃 He opened his eyes as his second appeared at his side； stiffening in his saddle before the Lord Captain。 The gaunt…faced man had almost the Questioner's light in his eyes； but he was a good soldier despite。 〃There is a bridge ahead。 Move the legion across the river and make camp。 I will join you as soon as I can。〃
He gathered his reins and rode in the direction the Questioner had taken。 Stones on a board。 But who is moving us？ And why？
Afternoon shadows gave way to evening as Liandrin made her way through the women's apartments。 Beyond the arrowslits； darkness grew and pressed on the light from the lamps in the corridor。 Twilight was a troubled time for Liandrin of late； that and dawn。 At dawn the day was born； just as twilight gave birth to night； but at dawn； night died； and at twilight； day。 The Dark One's power was rooted in death； he gained power from death； and at those times she thought she could feel his power stirring。 Something stirred in the half dark； at least。 Something she almost thought she could catch if she turned quickly enough； something she was sure she could see if she looked hard enough。
Serving women in black…and…gold curtsied as she passed； but she did not respond。 She kept her eyes fixed straight ahead； and did not see them。
At the door she sought； she paused for a quick glance up and down the hall。 The only women in sight were servants； there were no men； of course。 She pushed open the door and went in without knocking。
The outer room of the Lady Amalisa's chambers was brightly lit； and a blazing fire on the hearth held back the chill of the Shienaran night。 Amalisa and her ladies sat about the room； in chairs and on the layered carpets； listening while one of their number； standing； read aloud to them。 It was The Dance of the Hawk and the Hummingbird； by Teven Aerwin； which purported to set forth the proper conduct of men toward women and women toward men。 Liandrin's mouth tightened； she certainly had not read it； but she had heard as much as she needed about it。 Amalisa and her ladies greeted each pronouncement with gales of laughter； falling against each other and drumming their heels on the carpets like girls。
The reader was the first to bee aware of Liandrin's presence。 She cut off with a surprised widening of her eyes。 The others turned to see what she was staring at； and silence replaced laughter。 All but Amalisa scrambled to their feet； hastily smoothing hair and skirts。
The Lady Amalisa rose gracefully； with a smile。 〃You honor us with your presence； Liandrin。 This is a most pleasant surprise。 I did not expect you until tomorrow。 I thought you would want to rest after your long jour… 〃
Liandrin cut her off sharply； addressing the air。 〃I will speak to the Lady Amalisa alone。 All of you will leave。 Now。〃
There was a moment of shocked silence； then the other women made their goodbyes to Amalisa。 One by one they curtsied to Liandrin； but she did not acknowledge them。 She continued to stare straight ahead at nothing； but she saw them； and heard。 Honorifics offered with breathy unease at the Aes Sedai's mood。 Eyes falling when she ignored them。 They squeezed past her to the door； pressing back awkwardly so their skirts did not disturb hers。
As the door closed behind the last of them； Amalisa said； 〃Liandrin； I do not underst…〃
〃Do you walk in the Light； my daughter？〃 There would be none of that foolishness of calling her sister here。 The other woman was old