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Perrin pushed himself to his feet。 〃I'm ing。〃 Not another attack； at any rate。 They were worst at night。
Faile snatched up her bow and joined him before he reached the door。 And Aram stood up； hesitating； from the shadows on the foot of the stairs。 Sometimes Perrin forgot the man was there； he kept so still。 He looked odd with that sword strapped on his back atop his grimy； yellow…striped Tinker coat； his eyes so bright； hardly ever seeming to blink； and his face without expression。 Neither Raen or Ila had spoken to their grandson since the day he picked up that sword。 Nor to Perrin； either。
〃If you're ing； e；〃 he said gruffly； and Aram fell in at his heels。 The man followed him like a hound whenever he was not pestering Tam or Ihvon or Tomas to teach him that sword。 It was as if he had replaced his family and people with Perrin。 Perrin would have done without the responsibility if he could； but there it was。
Moonlight shone down on thatched roofs。 Few houses had a light in more than one window。 Stillness clung to the village。 Some thirty of the panions stood guard outside the inn with their bows； as many wearing swords as could find them； everyone had adopted that name； and Perrin found himself using it； too； to his private disgust。 The reason for guards on the inn； or wherever Perrin was； lay on the Green； no longer so crowded with sheep and cows。 Campfires crowded above the Winespring； beyond where that fool wolfhead banner hung limp now； bright pools in the darkness surrounded by pale cloaks gleaming with the moon。
No one had wanted Whitecloaks in their homes； already crowded； and Bornhald did not want his soldiers split up in any case。 The man seemed to think the village would turn on him and his men any moment； if they followed Perrin； they must be Darkfriends。 Even Perrin's eyes could not make out faces around the fires； but he thought he could feel Bornhald's stare； waiting； hating。
Dannil readied ten panions to escort Perrin； all young men who should have been laughing and carousing with him； all with bows ready to see him safe。 Aram did not join them as Dannil led the way down the dark； dirt street； it was Perrin he was with and no one else。 Faile kept hard by Perrin's side； dark eyes shining in the moonlight； scanning the surroundings as though she were his whole protection。
Where the Old Road entered Emond's Field the blocking wagons had been drawn aside to admit the Whitecloak patrol； twenty snowy…cloaked men with lances who sat their horses in burnished armor； no less impatient than their stamping mounts。 They stood out in the night for any eye； and most Trollocs could see as well in darkness as Perrin； but the Whitecloaks insisted on their patrols。 Sometimes their scouting had brought warnings； and maybe their harassment kept the Trollocs a little off balance。 It would have been good； though； if he had known what they were doing before it was done。
A cluster of villagers and farmers wearing bits of old armor and a few rusty helmets stood clustered around a man in a farmer's coat lying in the roadway。 They gave way for Faile and him； and he went to one knee beside the mart。
The odor of blood was strong； sweat glistened on the man's moon…shadowed face。 A thumb…thick Trolloc arrow like a small spear was stuck through his chest。 〃Perrin … Goldeneyes；〃 he muttered hoarsely； laboring for breath。 〃Must … get through … to Perrin … Goldeneyes。〃
〃Has someone sent for one of the Aes Sedai？〃 Perrin demanded； lifting the man as gently as he could； cradling his head。 He did not listen for the answer； he did not think this man would last till an Aes Sedai came。 〃I am Perrin。〃
〃Goldeneyes？ I … cannot see … very well。〃 His wide； wild stare was right at Perrin's face； if he could see at all； the fellow must see his eyes shining golden in the dark。
〃I am Perrin Goldeneyes；〃 he said reluctantly。
The man seized his collar； pulling his face close with surprising strength。 〃We are … ing。 Sent to … tell you。 We are co …〃 His head fell back； eyes staring at nothing now。
〃The Light be with his soul；〃 Faile murmured； slinging her bow across her back。After a moment Perrin pried the man's fingers loose。 〃Does anyone know him？〃 The Two Rivers men exchanged glances； shook their heads。 Perrin looked up at the mounted Whitecloaks。 〃Did he say anything else while you were bringing him in？ Where did you find him？〃
Jaret Byar stared down at him； gaunt…faced and hollow…eyed； an image of death。 The other Whitecloaks looked away； but Byar always made himself meet Perrin's yellow eyes； especially at night； when they glowed。 Byar growled under his breath … Perrin heard 〃Shadowspawn！〃 … and booted his horse in the ribs。 The patrol galloped into the village； as eager to be away from Perrin as from Trollocs。 Aram stared after them； expressionless； one hand over his shoulder to finger his sword hilt。
〃They said they found him three or four miles south。〃 Dannil hesitated； then added； 〃They say the Trollocs are all scattered out in little bunches； Perrin。 Maybe they're finally giving up。〃
Perrin laid the stranger back down。 We are ing。 〃Keep a close watch。 Maybe some family who tried to hold on to their farm is finally ing in。〃 He did not believe anyone could have survived out there this long； but it might be so。 〃Don't shoot anybody by mistake。〃 He staggered to his feet； and Faile put a hand on his arm。
〃It is time you were in bed； Perrin。 You have to sleep sometime。〃
He only looked at her。 He should have made her stay in Tear。 Somehow； he should have made her。 If he had only thought well enough he could have。
One of the runners； a curly…haired boy about chest…high； slipped through the Two Rivers men to tug at Perrin's sleeve。 Perrin did not know him； there were many families in from the countryside。 〃There's something moving in the Westwood； Lord Perrin。 They sent me to tell you。〃
〃Don't call me that；〃 Perrin told him sharply。 If he did not stop the children； the panions were going to start using it； too。 〃Go tell them I will be there。〃 The boy darted away。
〃You belong in your bed；〃 Faile said firmly。 〃Tomas can handle any attack very well。〃
〃It isn't an attack； or the boy would have said so； and somebody would be sounding Cenn's bugle。〃
She hung on to his arm； trying to pull him toward the inn； and so she was dragged along when he started the opposite way。 After a few futile minutes she gave up and pretended she had been merely holding his arm all along。 But she muttered to herself。 She still seemed to think that if she spoke softly enough he could not hear。 She began with 〃foolish；〃 〃mule…headed；〃 and 〃muscle…brained〃； after that it escalated。 It was quite a little procession； her muttering at him； Aram heeling him； Dannil and the ten panions surrounding him like a guard of honor。 If he had not been so tired； he would have felt a proper fool。
There were guards spaced in small clusters all along the sharp stake fence to watch the night； each with a boy for a runner。 At the west end of the village the men on guard were all gathered up against the inside of the broa