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other will be。〃
Verin nodded； but frowned at the same time。 〃Yet； even if it is found； who can return it safely？ Whoever touches it risks the taint if they handle it long。 Perhaps in a chest； well wrapped and padded； but it would still be dangerous to those nearby for any great time。 Without the dagger itself to study； we cannot be sure how much it must be shielded。 But you saw it and more； Moiraine。 You dealt with it； enough for that young man to survive carrying it and to stop him infecting others。 You must have a good idea of how strong its influence is。〃
〃There is one；〃 Moiraine said； 〃who can retrieve the dagger without being harmed by it。 One whom we have shielded and buffered against that taint as much as anyone can be。 Mat Cauthon。〃
The Amyrlin nodded。 〃Yes； of course。 He can do it。 If he lives long enough。 The Light only knows how far it will be carried before Agelmar's men find it。 If they do find it。 And if the boy dies first 。。。 well； if the dagger is loose that long； we have another worry。〃 She rubbed her eyes tiredly。 〃I think we must find this Padan Fain； too。 Why is this Darkfriend important enough for them to risk what they did to rescue him？ Much easier for them just to steal the Horn。 Still risky as a winter gale in the Sea of Storms； ing into the very keep like that； but they pounded their risk to free this Darkfriend。 If the Lurks think he is that important〃…she paused； and Moiraine knew she was wondering if it truly was still only the Myrddraal giving mands…〃then so must we。〃
〃He must be found；〃 Moiraine agreed； hoping that none of the urgency she felt showed； 〃but it is likely he will be found with the Horn。〃
〃As you say； Daughter。〃 The Amyrlin pressed fingers to her lips to stifle a yawn。 〃And now； Verin； if you will excuse me； I will just say a few words to Moiraine and then sleep a little。 I suppose Agelmar will insist on feasting tonight since last night was spoiled。 Your help was invaluable； Daughter。 Please remember； say nothing of the nature of the boy's hurt to anyone。 There are some of your sisters who would see the Shadow in him instead of a thing men made on their own。〃
There was no need to name the Red Ajah。 And perhaps； Moiraine thought； the Reds were no longer the only ones of whom it was necessary to be wary。
〃I will say nothing； of course； Mother。〃 Verin bowed； but made no move toward the door。 〃I thought you might wish to see this； Mother。〃 She pulled a small notebook； bound in soft； brown leather； from her belt。 〃What was written on the walls in the dungeon。 There were few problems with translation。 Most was the usual … blasphemy and boasting； Trollocs seem to know little else … but there was one part done in a better hand。 An educated Darkfriend； or perhaps a Myrddraal。 It could be only taunting； yet it has the form of poetry； or song； and the sound of prophecy。 We know little of prophecies from the Shadow； Mother。〃
The Amyrlin hesitated only a moment before nodding。 Prophecies from the Shadow； dark prophecies； had an unfortunate way of being fulfilled as well as prophecies from the Light。 〃Read it to me。〃
Verin ruffled through the pages； then cleared her throat and began in a calm； level voice。
〃Daughter of the Night； she walks again。
The ancient war； she yet fights。
Her new lover she seeks； who shall serve her and die；
yet serve still。
Who shall stand against her ing？
The Shining Walls shall kneel。
Blood feeds blood。
Blood calls blood。
Blood is； and blood was； and blood shall ever be。
The man who channels stands alone。
He gives his friends for sacrifice。
Two roads before him； one to death beyond dying；
one to life eternal。
Which will he choose？ Which will he choose？
What hand shelters？ What hand slays？
Blood feeds blood。
Blood calls blood。
Blood is； and blood was； and blood shall ever be。
Luc came to the Mountains of Dhoom。
Isam waited in the high passes。
The hunt is now begun。 The Shadow's hounds now
course； and kill。
One did live； and one did die； but both are。
The Time of Change has e。
Blood feeds blood。
Blood calls blood。
Blood is； and blood was； and blood shall ever be。
The Watchers wait on Toman's Head。
The seed of the Hammer burns the ancient tree。
Death shall sow； and summer burn； before the Great
Lord es。
Death shall reap； and bodies fail； before the Great
Lord es。
Again the seed slays ancient wrong； before the Great
Lord es。
Now the Great Lord es。
Now the Great Lord es。
Blood feeds blood。
Blood calls blood。
Blood is； and blood was； and blood shall ever be。
Now the Great Lord es。〃
There was a long silence when she finished。
Finally the Amyrlin said； 〃Who else has seen this； Daughter？ Who knows of it？〃
〃Only Serafelle； Mother。 As soon as we had copied it down； I had men scrub the walls。 They didn't question； they were eager to be rid of it。〃
The Amyrlin nodded。 〃Good。 Too many in the Borderlands can puzzle out Trolloc script。 No need to give them something else to worry over。 They have enough。〃
〃What do you make of it？〃 Moiraine asked Verin in a careful voice。 〃Is it prophecy； do you think？〃
Verin tilted her head； peering at her notes in thought。 〃Possibly。 It has the form of some of the few dark prophecies we know。 And parts of it are clear enough。 It could still be only a taunt； though。〃 She rested a finger on one line。 〃'Daughter of the Night； she walks again。' That can only mean Lanfear is loose again。 Or someone wants us to think she is。〃
〃That would be something to worry us； Daughter；〃 the Amyrlin Seat said； 〃if it were true。 But the Forsaken are still bound。〃 She glanced at Moiraine； looking troubled for an instant before she schooled her features。 〃Even if the seals are weakening； the Forsaken are still bound。〃
Lanfear。 In the Old Tongue； Daughter of the Night。 Nowhere was her real name recorded； but that was the name she had taken for herself； unlike most of the Forsaken； who had been named by those they betrayed。 Some said she had really been the most powerful of the Forsaken； next to Ishamael； the Betrayer of Hope； but had kept her powers hidden。 Too little was left from that time for any scholar to say for certain。
〃With all the false Dragons that are appearing； it is not surprising someone would try to bring Lanfear into it。〃 Moiraine's voice was as unruffled as her face； but inside herself she roiled。 Only one thing for certain was known of Lanfear beside the name： before she went over to the Shadow； before Lews Therin Telamon met Ilyena； Lanfear had been his lover。 A plication we do not need。
The Amyrlin Seat frowned as if she had had the same thought； but Verin nodded as if it were all just words。 〃Other names are clear； too； Mother。 Lord Luc； of course； was brother to Tigraine； then the Daughter…Heir of Andor； and he vanished in the Blight。 Who Isam is； or what he has to do with Luc； I do not know； however。〃
〃We will find out what we need to know in time；〃 Moiraine said smoothly。 〃There is no proof as yet that this is prophecy。〃 She knew the name。 Isam had been the son of Breyan； wife of Lain Mandragoran； whose attempt to seize the throne of Malkier for her husband had brought the Trolloc hordes crashing down。 Breyan and her infant son had both vanished when the Trollocs overran Malkier。 And Isam had been blood kin to Lan。 Or is blood kin？ I must keep this from him； until I know how he will react。 Until we are away from the Blight。 If he thought Isam were alive 。。。
〃'The Watchers wait on Toman Head；'〃 Verin went on。 〃There are a few who still cling to the old belief that the armies Artur Hawkwing sent across the Aryth Ocean will return one day； though after all this time。。。 〃 She gave a disdainful sniff。 〃The Do Miere A'vron； the Watchers Over the Waves； still have a。。。 munity is the best word； I suppose。。。 on Toman Head； at Falme。 And one of the old names for Artur Hawkwing was Hammer of the Light。〃
〃Are you suggesting； Daughter；〃 the Amyrlin Seat said； 〃that Artur Hawkwing's armies； or rather their descendants； might actually return after a thousand years？〃
〃There are rumors of war on Almoth Plain and Toman Head；〃 Moiraine said slowly。 〃And Hawkwing sent two of his sons； as well as armies。 If they did survive in whatever lands they found； there could well be many descendants of Hawkwing。 Or none。〃
The Amyrlin gave Moiraine a guarded look； obviously wishing they were alone so she could demand to know what Moiraine was up to。 Moiraine made a soothing gesture； and her old friend grimaced at her。
Verin； with her nose still buried in her notes； noticed none of it。 〃I don't know； Mother。 I doubt it； though。 We know nothing at all of those lands Artur Hawkwing set out to conquer。 It's too bad the Sea Folk refuse to cross the Aryth Ocean。 They say the Islands of the Dead lie on the other side。 I wish I knew what they meant by that； but that accursed Sea Folk closemouthedness 。。。〃 She sighed； still not raising her head。 〃All we have is one reference to 'lands under the Shadow； beyond the setting sun； beyond the Aryth Ocean； where the Armies of Night reign。' Nothing there to tell us if the armies Hawkwing sent were enough by t