There really was nothing to do but straighten her green coat； glance into the stand…mirror to make sure of her hair … and take his hand。 The trouble was； she was ready to leap if he crooked a finger； she just wanted to make sure he never found out。
In the anteroom； he made a gateway atop the golden Rising Sun set in the floor； and she let him lead her through onto a hilly forest floor carpeted with dead leaves。 A bird flashed away； flaring red wings。 A squirrel appeared on a branch and chittered at them； lashing a furry white…tipped tail。
It was hardly the sort of woods she remembered from near Baerlon； there were not many real forests anywhere close to the city of Cairhien。 Most of the trees stood four or five or even ten paces apart； tall leatherleafs and pines； taller oaks and trees she did not know； running across the flat she and Rand stood on and up a slope that began only a few spans off。 Even the undergrowth seemed thinner than back home； the bushes and vines and briars spread out in patches； though some of those were not small。 Everything was brown and dry。 She plucked a lace…edged handkerchief from her sleeve and dabbed at the sweat that suddenly seemed to pop out on her face。
〃Which way do we go？〃 she asked。 By the sun； north lay over the slope； the direction she would choose。 The city should lie about seven or eight miles in that direction。 With luck； they could walk all the way back without encountering anyone。 Or better； given her heeled boots and the terrain； not to mention the heat； Rand could decide to give up and make another gateway back to the Sun Palace。 The palace rooms were cool pared to this。
Before he could answer； crackling brush and leaves announced someone ing。 The rider who appeared on a long…legged gray gelding with bright…fringed bridle and reins was a Cairhienin woman； short and slender in a dark blue； nearly black； silk riding dress； horizontal slashes of red and green and white running from her neck to below her knees。 The sweat on her face could not diminish her pale beauty； or make her eyes less than large dark pools。 A small clear green stone hung on her forehead from a fine golden chain fastened in black hair that fell in waves to her shoulders。
Min gasped； and not for the hunting crossbow the woman carried casually raised in one green…gloved hand。 For a moment； she was sure it was Moiraine。 But。。。
〃I do not recall seeing either of you in the camp；〃 the woman said in a throaty； almost sultry； voice。 Moiraine's voice had been crystal。 The crossbow lowered； still quite casually； until it pointed rock…steady at Rand's chest。
He ignored it。 〃I thought I might like to take a look at your camp；〃 he said with a slight bow。 〃I believe you are the Lady Caraline Damodred？〃 The slender woman inclined her head； acknowledging the name。
Min sighed regretfully； but it was not as if she had really expected Moiraine to turn up alive。 Moiraine was the only viewing of hers that had ever failed。 But Caraline Damodred herself； one of the leaders of the rebellion against Rand here in Cairhien； and a claimant to the Sun Throne。。。 He really was pulling all the threads of the Pattern around him； to have her appear。
Lady Caraline slowly raised the crossbow to one side； the cord made a loud snap； launching the broadhead bolt into the air。
〃I doubt one would do any good against you；〃 she said； walking her gelding slowly toward them； 〃and I would not like you to think I was threatening you。〃 She looked once at Min … just a glance that ran head to toe； though Min was sure everything about her was filed away … but aside from that； Lady Caraline kept her eyes on Rand。 She drew rein three paces away； just far enough so he could not reach her afoot before she could dig in her heels。 〃I can only think of one gray…eyed man with your height who might suddenly appear out of nowhere； unless perhaps you are an Aiel in disguise； but perhaps you will be so kind as to supply a name？〃
〃I am the Dragon Reborn；〃 Rand said； every bit as arrogant as he had been with the Sea Folk； yet if any ta'veren swirling of the Pattern was at work； the woman on the horse gave no evidence。
Rather than leaping down to fall to her knees； she merely nodded； pursing her lips。 〃I have heard so very much about you。 I have heard you went to the Tower to submit to the Amyrlin Seat。 I have heard you mean to give the Sun Throne to Elayne Trakand。 I have also heard that you killed Elayne； and her mother。〃
〃I submit to no one；〃 Rand replied sharply。 He stared up at her with eyes fierce enough to snatch her out of the saddle by themselves。 〃Elayne is on her way to Caemlyn as we speak； to take the throne of Andor。 After which； she will have the throne of Cairhien as well。〃 Min winced。 Did he have to sound like a pillow stuffed full of haughty？ She had hoped he had calmed down a bit after the Sea Folk。
Lady Caraline laid her crossbow across the saddle in front of her； running a gloved hand along it。 Perhaps regretting that loosed bolt？ 〃I could accept my young cousin on the throne … better she than some； at least … but。。。 〃 Those big dark eyes that had seemed so liquid suddenly became stone。 〃But I am not sure I can accept you in Cairhien； and I do not mean only your changes to laws and customs。 You。。。 change fate by your very presence。 Every day since you came； people die in accidents so bizarre no one can believe them。 So many husbands abandon their wives； and wives their husbands； that no one even ments upon it now。 You will tear Cairhien apart just by remaining here。〃
〃Balance；〃 Min broke in hastily。 Rand's face was so dark； he looked ready to burst。 Maybe he had been right to e after all。 Certainly there was no point letting him throw this meeting away in a tantrum。 She gave no one a chance to speak。 〃There is always a balance of good against bad。 That's how the Pattern works。 Even he doesn't change that。 As night balances day； good balances harm。 Since he came； there hasn't been a single stillbirth in the city； not one child born deformed。 There are more marriages some days than used to be in a week； and for every man who chokes to death on a feather； a woman tumbles head over heels down three flights of stairs and； instead of breaking her neck； stands up without a bruise。 Name the evil； and you can point to the good。 The turning of the Wheel requires balance； and he only increases the chances of what might have happened anyway in nature。〃 Suddenly she colored； realizing they were both looking at her。 Staring； more like。
〃Balance？〃 Rand murmured； eyebrows lifting。
〃I've been reading some of Master Fel's books；〃 she said faintly。 She did not want anyone to think she was pretending to be a philosopher。 Lady Caraline smiled at her tall saddlebow and toyed with her reins。 The woman was laughing at her。 She would show this woman what she could laugh at！
Abruptly a tall black gelding with the look of a warhorse came crashing through the undergrowth； ridden by a man well into his middle years； with close…cropped hair and a pointed beard。 Despite his yellow Tairen coat； the fat sleeves striped with green satin； eyes of a startling pretty blue looked out of his damp； dark face； like pale polished sapphires。 Not a particularly pretty man； but those eyes made up for a too…long nose。 He carried a crossbow in one leather…gauntleted hand； and brandished a broadhead bolt in the other。
〃This came down inches from my face； Caraline； and it has your markings！ Just because there's no game is no reason … 〃 He became aware of Rand and Min just then； and his drawn crossbow lowered toward them。 〃Are these strays； Caraline； or did you find spies from the city？ I've never believed al'Thor would continue to let us sit here unhindered。〃
Half a dozen more riders appeared behind him； sweating men in fat…sleeved coats with satin stripes and perspiring women in riding dresses with wide； thick lace collars。 All carrying crossbows。 The last of those riders had not halted； horses stamping and tossing heads； before twice as many came struggling through the brush from another direction and pulled up near Caraline； slight； pale men and women in dark clothes wi