women are quite worthy … some might have done well； had they e to the Tower … but you cannot simply hand Aes Sedai over to them。 It is unthinkable！ Bera Sedai and I will … 〃
Rand raised a hand； and her words stopped in their tracks。 Maybe it was his stare； like blue…gray stone。 Or maybe it was what showed clearly through his torn sleeve； one of the red…and…gold Dragons that wound around his forearms。 The Dragon glittered in the sunlight。 〃Did you swear fealty to me？〃 Kiruna's eyes popped as though something had struck her in the pit of her stomach。
After a moment； she nodded； however unwillingly。 She looked as disbelieving now as she had the day before； when she knelt down there by the wells at battle's end and swore beneath the Light and by her hope of salvation and rebirth to obey the Dragon Reborn and serve him until the Last Battle had e and gone。 Perrin understood her shock。 Even without the Three Oaths； had she denied it； he would have doubted his own memories。 Nine Aes Sedai on their knees； faces aghast at the words ing out of their mouths； reeking of disbelief。 Right now Bera's mouth was puckered up as though she had bitten a bad plum。
An Aielman joined the small group； a tall man about the same height as Rand； with a weathered face and touches of gray in his dark red hair； who nodded to Perrin and touched Amys' hand lightly。 She might have pressed his hand for a moment in return。 Rhuarc was her husband； but that was about as much affection as Aiel displayed in front of others。 He was also clan chief of the Taardad Aiel … he and Gaul were the only two men who did not wear the siswai'aman headband … and since last night he and a thousand spears had been out scouting in force。
A blind man in another country could have sensed the temper around Rand； and Rhuarc was no fool。 〃Is this the right moment； Rand al'Thor？〃 When Rand motioned him to speak； he went on。 〃The Shaido dogs are still fleeing east as fast as they can run。 I saw men with green coats on horses to the north； but they avoided us； and you said to let them go unless they gave trouble。 I think they were hunting any Aes Sedai who escaped。 There were several women with them。〃 Cold blue eyes glanced at the two Aes Sedai； anvil flat and anvil hard。 Once； Rhuarc had walked lightly around Aes Sedai … any Aiel had … but that had ended yesterday； if not before。
〃Good news。 I'd give almost anything to have Galina； but still； good news。〃 Rand touched the hilt of his sword again； eased the blade in its dark scabbard。 The action seemed unconscious。 Galina； a Red； had been in charge of the sisters who held him prisoner； and if he was calm about her today； yesterday he had been in a fury that she had gotten away。 Even now his calm was icy； the sort that could hide smoldering rage； and his scent made Perrin's skin crawl。 〃They are going to pay。 Every one of them。〃 There was nothing to say whether Rand meant the Shaido or the Aes Sedai who had escaped or both。
Bera moved her head uneasily； and he turned his attention back to her and Kiruna。 〃You swore fealty； and I trust that。〃 He held up his hand； thumb and forefinger nearly touching to show how far。 〃Aes Sedai always know better than anybody else； or so they think。 So I trust you to do what I say； but you won't so much as take a bath without my permission。 Or a Wise One's。〃
This time it was Bera who looked as though she had been struck。 Her light brown eyes swiveled to Amys and Sorilea with astonished indignation； and Kiruna quivered with the effort of not doing the same。 The two Wise Ones merely shifted their shawls； but once again their aromas were identical。 Contentment rolled off of them in waves； a very grim contentment。 Perrin thought it a good thing the Aes Sedai did not have his nose； or they would have been ready to go to war right then and there。 Or maybe run； and dignity be hanged。 That was what he would have done。
Rhuarc stood there idly examining the point of one of his short spears。 This was Wise Ones' business； and he always said he did not care what the Wise Ones did so long as they kept their fingers out of clan chiefs' business。 But Taim。。。 He made a show of not caring； folding his arms and looking around the camp with a bored expression； yet his scent was strange； plex。 Perrin would have said the man was amused； definitely in a better humor than before。
〃The oath we took；〃 Bera said at last； planting her hands； on her ample hips； 〃is sufficient to hold anyone but a Darkfriend。〃 The twist she gave to 〃oath〃 was almost as bleak as the one she gave 〃Darkfriend。〃 No； they did not like what they had sworn to。 〃Do you dare to accuse us …？〃
〃If I thought that；〃 Rand snapped； 〃you would be on your way to the Black Tower with Taim。 You swore to obey。 Well； obey！〃
For a long moment Bera hesitated； then in an instant was as regal from head to toe as any Aes Sedai could be。 Which was saying something。 An Aes Sedai could make a queen on her throne look a slattern。 She curtsied slightly； stiffly inclining her head a fraction。
Kiruna； on the other hand； made a visible effort to take hold of herself； the calm she assumed hard and brittle as her voice。 〃Must we then request permission of these worthy Aiel women to ask whether you are willing to be Healed yet？ I know Galina treated you harshly。 I know you are welts from shoulders to knees。 Accept Healing。 Please。〃 Even 〃please〃 sounded part of an order。
Min stirred at Rand's side。 〃You should be grateful for it； as I was； sheepherder。 You don't like hurting。 Somebody has to do it； or else。。。〃 She grinned mischievously； very nearly the Min Perrin remembered from before she was kidnapped。 〃。。。 or else you won't be able to sit a saddle。〃
〃Young men and fools；〃 Nandera said suddenly to no one in particular； 〃sometimes bear pain they do not have to as a badge of their pride。 And their foolishness。〃
〃The Car'a'carn；〃 Sulin added dryly； also to the air； 〃is not a fool。 I think。〃
Rand smiled back at Min fondly； and gave Nandera and Sulin wry looks； but when he raised his eyes to Kiruna again； they were stone once more。 〃Very well。〃 As she started forward； he added； 〃But not from you。〃 Her face grew so stiff it appeared ready to crack。 Taim's mouth quirked in a wry almost…smile； and he stepped toward Rand； but without taking his eyes from Kiruna； Rand flung out a hand behind him。 〃From her。 e here； Alanna。〃
Perrin gave a start。 Rand had pointed straight to Alanna with never so much as a glance。 That prickled something in the back of his head； but he could not make out what。 It seemed to catch Taim； as well。 The man's face became a bland mask； yet dark eyes flickered between Rand and Alanna； and the only name Perrin could put to the scent that writhed in his nose was 〃puzzled。〃
Alanna gave a start； too。 For whatever reason； she had been on edge ever since joining Perrin on his way here； her serenity at best a thin veneer。 Now she smoothed her skirts； shot a defiant stare at Kiruna and Bera of all people； and glided around in front of Rand。 The other two sisters watched her； like teachers intending to make sure a pupil performed well and still not convinced she would。 Which made no sense。 One of them might be the leader； yet Alanna was Aes Sedai； the same as they。 It all deepened Perrin's suspicion。 Mixing with Aes Sedai was too much like wading the streams in the Waterwood near to the Mire。 However peaceful the surface； currents beneath could snatch you off your feet。 More undercurrents seemed to appear here every moment； and not all from the sisters。
Shockingly； Rand cupped Alanna's chin； turning her face up。 There was a hiss of indrawn breath from Bera； and for once； Perrin agreed。 Rand would not have been so forward with a girl at a dance back home； and Alanna was no girl at a dance。 Just as surprising； her reaction was to blush and smell of uncertainty。 Aes Sedai did not blush； in Perrin's experience； and they were never uncertain。
〃Heal me；〃 Rand said； a mand； not a request。 The red in Alanna's face deepened； and anger touched her scent。 Her hands trembled as she reached up to take his head between them。
Unconsciously Perrin rubbed the palm of