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thought。〃
Suddenly Lan was at Rand's stirrup； in his gray…green scaled armor that would make him all but disappear in forest or darkness。 〃I need to talk to you； sheepherder。〃 He looked at Loial。 〃Alone； if you please； Builder。〃 Loial nodded and moved his big horse away。
〃I don't know if I should listen to you；〃 Rand told the Warder。 〃These fancy clothes； and all those things you told me； they didn't help much。〃
〃When you can't win a big victory； sheepherder； learn to settle for the small ones。 If you made them think of you as something more than a farmboy who'll be easy to handle； then you won a small victory。 Now be quiet and listen。 I've only time for one last lesson； the hardest。 Sheathing the Sword。〃
〃You've spent an hour every morning making me do nothing but draw this bloody sword and put it back in the scabbard。 Standing； sitting； lying down。 I think I can manage to get it back in the sheath without cutting myself。〃
〃I said listen； sheepherder；〃 the Warder growled。 〃There will e a time when you must achieve a goal at all costs。 It may e in attack or in defense。 And the only way will be to allow the sword to be sheathed in your own body。〃
〃That's crazy；〃 Rand said。 〃Why would I ever…？〃
The Warder cut him off。 〃You will know when it es； sheepherder； when the price is worth the gain； and there is no other choice left to you。 That is called Sheathing the Sword。 Remember it。〃
The Amyrlin appeared； striding across the crowded courtyard with Leane and her staff； and Lord Agelmar at her shoulder。 Even in a green velvet coat； the Lord of Fal Dara did not look out of place among so many armored men。 There was still no sign of the other Aes Sedai。 As they went by； Rand caught part of their conversation。
〃But； Mother；〃 Agelmar was protesting； 〃you've had no time to rest from the journey here。 Stay at least a few days more。 I promise you a feast tonight such as you could hardly get in Tar Valon。〃
The Amyrlin shook her head without breaking stride。 〃I cannot； Agelmar。 You know I would if I could。 I had never planned to remain long； and matters urgently require my presence in the White Tower。 I should be there now。〃
〃Mother； it shames me that you e one day and leave the next。 I swear to you； there will be no repetition of last night。 I have tripled the guard on the city gates as well as the keep。 I have tumblers in from the town； and a bard ing from Mos Shirare。 Why； King Easar will be on his way from Fal Moran。 I sent word as soon as 。。。〃
Their voices faded as they crossed the courtyard； swallowed up by the din of preparation。 The Amyrlin never as much as glanced in Rand's direction。
When Rand looked down； the Warder was gone； and nowhere to be seen。 Loial brought his horse back to Rand's side。 〃That is a hard man to catch and hold； isn't he； Rand？ He's not here； then he's here； then he's gone； and you don't see him ing or going。〃
Sheathing the Sword。 Rand shivered。 Warders must all be crazy。
The Warder the Amyrlin was speaking to suddenly sprang into his saddle。 He was at a dead gallop before he reached the wide…standing gates。 She stood watching him go； and her stance seemed to urge him to go faster。
〃Where is he headed in such a hurry？〃 Rand wondered aloud。
〃I heard；〃 Loial said； 〃that she was sending someone out today； all the way to Arad Doman。 There is word of some sort of trouble on Almoth Plain； and the Amyrlin Seat wants to know exactly what。 What I don't understand is； why now？ From what I hear； the rumors of this trouble came from Tar Valon with the Aes Sedai。〃
Rand felt cold。 Egwene's father had a big map back at home； a map Rand had pored over more than once； dreaming before he found out what the dreams were like when they came true。 It was old； that map； showing some lands and nations the merchants from outside said no longer existed； but Almoth Plain was marked； butting against Toman Head。 We will meet again on Toman Head。 It was all the way across the world he knew； on the Aryth Ocean。 〃It has nothing to do with us；〃 he whispered。 〃Nothing to do with me。〃
Loial appeared not to have heard。 Rubbing the side of his nose with a finger like a sausage； the Ogier was still peering at the gate where the Warder had vanished。 〃If she wanted to know； why not send someone before she left Tar Valon？ But you humans are always sudden and excitable； always jumping around and shouting。〃 His ears stiffened with embarrassment。 〃I am sorry； Rand。 You see what I mean about speaking before I think。 I'm rash and excitable sometimes myself； as you know。〃
Rand laughed。 It was a weak laugh； but it felt good to have something to laugh at。 〃Maybe if we lived as long as you Ogier； we'd be more settled。〃 Loial was ninety years old； by Ogier standards； not old enough by ten years to be outside the stedding alone。 That he had gone anyway was proof； he maintained； of his rashness。 If Loial was an excitable Ogier； Rand thought most of them must be made of stone。
〃Perhaps so；〃 Loial mused； 〃but you humans do so much with your lives。 We do nothing but huddle in our stedding。 Planting the groves； and even the building； were all done before the Long Exile ended。〃 It was the groves Loial held dear； not the cities men remembered the Ogier for building。 It was the groves； planted to remind Ogier Builders of the stedding； that Loial had left his home to see。 〃Since we found our way back to the stedding； we 。。。〃 His words trailed off as the Amyrlin approached。
Ingtar and the other men shifted in their saddles； preparing to dismount and kneel； but she motioned them to stay as they were。 Leane stood at her shoulder； and Agelmar a pace back。 From his glum face； he appeared to have given up trying to convince her to remain longer。
The Amyrlin looked at them one by one before she spoke。 Her gaze stayed on Rand no longer than on any other。
〃Peace favor your sword； Lord Ingtar；〃 she said finally。 〃Glory to the Builders； Loial Kiseran。〃
〃You honor us； Mother。 May peace favor Tar Valon。〃 Ingtar bowed in his saddle； and the other Shienarans did； too。
〃All honor to Tar Valon；〃 Loial said； bowing。
Only Rand； and his two friends on the other side of the party； stayed upright。 He wondered what she had said to them。 Leane's frown took in all three of them； and Agelmar's eyes widened； but the Amyrlin took no notice。
〃You ride to find the Horn of Valere；〃 she said； 〃and the hope of the world rides with you。 The Horn cannot be left in the wrong hands； especially in Darkfriend hands。 Those who e to answer its call； will e whoever blows it； and they are bound to the Horn； not to the Light。〃
There was a stir among the listening men。 Everyone believed that those heroes called back from the grave would fight for the Light。 If they could fight for the Shadow； instead 。。。
The Amyrlin went on； but Rand was no longer listening。 The watcher was back。 The hair stirred on the back of his neck。 He peered up at the packed archers' balconies overlooking the courtyard； at the rows of people jammed along the guardwalks atop the walls。 Somewhere among them was the set of eyes that had followed him unseen。 The gaze clung to him like dirty oil。 It can't be a Fade； not here。 Then who？ Or what？ He twisted in his saddle； pulling Red around； searching。 The bay began to dance again。
Suddenly something flashed across in front of Rand's face。 A man passing behind the Amyrlin cried out and fell； a black…fletched arrow jutting from his side。 The Amyrlin stood calmly looking at a rent in her sleeve； blood slowly stained the gray silk。
A woman screamed； and abruptly the courtyard rang with cries and shouts。 The people on the walls milled furiously； and every man in the courtyard had his sword out。 Even Rand； he was surprised to realize。
Agelmar shook his blade at the sky。 〃Find him！〃 he roared。 〃Bring him to me！〃 His face went from red to white when he saw the blood on the Amyrlin's sleeve。 He fell to his knees； head bowed。 〃Forgive； Mother。 I have failed your safety。 I am ashamed。〃
〃Nonsense； Agelmar；〃 the Amyrlin said。 〃Leane； stop fussing over me and see to that man。 I've cut myself worse than this more than once cleaning fish； and he needs help now。 Agelmar； stand up。 Stand up； Lord of Fal Dara。 You have not failed me； and you have no reason for shame。 Last year in the White Tower； with my own guards at every gate and Warders all around me； a man with a knife came within five steps of me。 A Whitecloak； no doubt； though I've no proof。 Please stand up； or I will be shamed。〃 As Agelmar slowly rose； she fingered her sliced sleeve。 〃A poor shot for a Whitecloak bowman； or even a Darkfriend。〃 Her eyes flickered up to touch Rand's。 〃If it was at me he aimed。〃 Her gaze was gone before he could read anything on her face； but he suddenly wanted to dismount and hide。
It wasn't aimed at her； and she knows it。
Leane straightened from where she had been kneeling。 Someone had laid a cloak over the face of the man who had taken the arrow。 〃He is dead； Mother。〃 She sounded tired。 〃He was dead when he struck the ground。 Even if I had been at his side