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than twice as much as the axe blade； but it was the axe that felt heavier by far every time he picked it up。 With the axe； he had。。。。 He scowled； not wanting to think about that。 She was right。 All he wanted was to be a blacksmith； to go home； and see his family again； and work at the smithy。 But it was not to be； he knew that。
He got to his feet long enough to pick up the hammer； then sat back down。 There was something forting in holding it。 〃Master Luhhan always says you can't walk away from what has to be done。〃 He hurried on； realizing that was a little too close to what she had called hairy…chested drivel。 〃He's the blacksmith back home； the man I was apprenticed to。 I've told you about him。〃
To his surprise； she did not take the opportunity to point out his near echo。 In fact； she said nothing； only looked at him； waiting for something。 After a moment it came to him。
〃Are you leaving； then？〃 he asked。
She stood up； brushing her skirt。 For a long moment she kept silent； as if deciding on her answer。 〃I do not know；〃 she said finally。 〃This is a fine mess you've put me in。〃
〃Me？ What did I do？〃
〃Well； if you don't know； I am certainly not going to tell you。〃
Scratching his beard again； he stared at the hammer in his other hand。 Mat would probably know exactly what she meant。 Or even old Thom Merrilin。 The white…haired gleeman claimed no one understood women； but when he came out of his tiny room in the belly of the Stone he soon had half a dozen girls young enough to be his granddaughters sighing and listening to him play the harp and tell of grand adventure and romance。 Faile was the only woman Perrin wanted； but sometimes he felt like a fish trying to understand a bird。
He knew she wanted him to ask。 He knew that much。 She might or might not tell him； but he was supposed to ask。
Stubbornly he kept his mouth shut。 This time he meant to wait her out。
Outside in the darkness； a cock crowed。
Faile shivered and hugged herself。 〃My nurse used to say that meant a death ing。 Not that I believe it； of course。〃
He opened his mouth to agree it was foolishness； though he shivered； too； but his head whipped around at a grating sound and a thump。 The axe had toppled to the floor。 He only had time to frown； wondering what could have made it fall； when it shifted again； untouched； then leaped straight for him。
He swung the hammer without thought。 Metal ringing on metal drowned Faile's scream； the axe flew across the room； bounced off the far wall； and darted back at him； blade first。 He thought every hair on his body was trying to stand on end。
As the axe sped by her； Faile lunged forward and grabbed the haft with both hands。 It twisted in her grip； slashing toward her wide…eyed face。 Barely in time Perrin leaped up； dropping the hammer to seize the axe； just keeping the half…moon blade from her flesh。 He thought he would die if the axe … his axe … harmed her。 He jerked it away from her so hard that the heavy spike nearly stabbed him in the chest。 It would have been a fair trade； to stop the axe from hurting her； but with a sinking feeling he began to think it might not be possible。
The weapon thrashed like a thing alive； a thing with a malevolent will。 It wanted Perrin … he knew that as if it had shouted at him … but it fought with cunning。 When he pulled the axe away from Faile； it used his own movement to hack at him； when he forced it from himself； it tried to reach her； as if it knew that would make him stop pushing。 No matter how hard he held the haft； it spun in his hands； threatening with spike or curved blade。 Already his hands ached from the effort； and his thick arms strained； muscles tight。 Sweat rolled down his face。 He was not sure how much longer it would be before the axe fought free of his grip。 This was all madness； pure madness； with no time to think。
〃Get out；〃 he muttered through gritted teeth。 〃Get out of the room； Faile！〃
Her face was bloodless pale； but she shook her head and wrestled with the axe。 〃No！ I will not leave you！〃
〃It will kill both of us！〃
She shook her head again。
Growling in his throat； he let go of the axe with one hand … his arm quivered with holding the thing one…handed； the twisting haft burned his palm … and thrust Faile away。 She yelped as he wrestled her to the door。 Ignoring her shouts and her fists pounding at him； he held her against the wall with a shoulder until he could pull the door open and shove her into the hallway。
Slamming the door behind her； he put his back against it； sliding the latch home with his hip as he seized the axe with both hands again。 The heavy blade； gleaming and sharp； trembled within inches of his face。 Laboriously； he pushed it out to arm's length。 Faile's muted shouts penetrated the thick door； and he could feel her beating on it； but he was barely conscious of her。 His yellow eyes seemed to shine； as if they reflected every scrap of light in the room！
〃Just you and me； now；〃 he snarled at the axe。 〃Blood and ashes； how I hate you！〃 Inside； a part of him came close to hysterical laughter。 Rand is the one who's supposed to go mad； and here I am； talking to an axe！ Rand！ Burn him！
Teeth bared with effort； he forced the axe back a full step from the door。 The weapon vibrated； fighting to reach flesh； he could almost taste its thirst for his blood。 With a roar he suddenly pulled the curved blade toward him； threw himself back。 Had the axe truly been alive； he was sure he would have heard a cry of triumph as it flashed toward his head。 At the last instant； he twisted； driving the axe past himself。 With a heavy thunk the blade buried itself in the door。
He felt the life … he could not think what else to call it … go out of the imprisoned weapon。 Slowly； he took his hands away。 The axe stayed where it was； only steel and wood again。 The door seemed a good place to leave it for now； though。 He wiped sweat from his face with a shaking hand。 Madness。 Madness walks wherever Rand is。
Abruptly he realized he could no longer hear Faile's shouts； or her pounding。 Throwing back the latch； he hastily pulled the door open。 A gleaming arc of steel stuck through the thick wood on the outside； shining in the light of wide…spaced lamps along the tapestry…hung hallway。
Faile stood there； hands raised； frozen in the act of beating on the door。 Eyes wide and wondering； she touched the tip of her nose。 〃Another inch；〃 she said faintly； 〃and。。。。〃
With a sudden start； she flung herself on him； hugging him fiercely； raining kisses on his neck and beard between incoherent murmurs。 Just as quickly； she pushed back； running anxious hands over his chest and arms。 〃Are you hurt？ Are you injured？ Did it。。。 ？〃
〃I'm all right；〃 he told her。 〃But are you？ I did not mean to frighten you。〃
She peered up at him。 〃Truly？ You are not hurt in any way？〃
〃pletely unhurt。 I …〃 Her full…armed slap made his head ring like hammer on anvil。
〃You great hairy lummox！ I thought you were dead！ I was afraid it had killed you！ I thought …！〃 She cut off as he caught her second