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it so calmly； her stomach seemed to be trying to writhe up into her throat； and her hands and feet felt like ice。 〃More than fond。〃 That was enough； she was not going to make a fool of herself。 He has to say more than 〃like；〃 first。 She almost giggled hysterically。 I will keep control of myself。 I will not let him see me behave like a moon…eyed girl。 I will not。
〃I am fond of you；〃 he said slowly。
〃I am not usually so forward。〃 No； that might make him think of Berelain。 There was red in his cheeks； he was thinking of Berelain。 Burn him！ Her voice came as smooth as silk。 〃Soon I will have to go； Rand。 To leave Tear。 I may not see you again for months。〃 Or ever； a tiny voice cried in her head。 She refused to listen。 〃I could not go without letting you know how I feel。 And I am。。。 very fond of you。〃
〃Elayne； I am fond of you。 I feel。。。 I want。。。〃 The scarlet spots on his cheeks grew。 〃Elayne； I don't know what to say； how to。。。〃
Suddenly it was her face that was flaming。 He must think she was trying to force him into saying more。 Aren't you？ the small voice mocked； which only made her cheeks hotter。 〃Rand； I am not asking for。。。〃 Light！ How to say it？ 〃I only wanted you to know how I feel。 That is all。〃 Berelain would not have let it go at that。 Berelain would have been wrapped around him by now。 Telling herself she would not let that half…dressed snip better her； she moved closer to him； took the glittering cloth from his arm； and dropped it on the carpet。 For some reason he seemed taller than he ever had before。 〃Rand。。。 Rand； I want you to kiss me。〃 There。 It was out。
〃Kiss you？〃 he said as if he had never heard of kissing before。 〃Elayne； I don't want to promise more than。。。 I mean； it isn't as if we were betrothed。 Not that I am suggesting we should be。 It's just that。。。 I am fond of you； Elayne。 More than fond。 I just do not want you to think I。。。〃
She had to laugh at him； with all his confused earnestness。 〃I do not know how things are done in the Two Rivers； but in Caemlyn you don't wait until you are betrothed before kissing a girl。 And it does not mean you must bee betrothed； either。 But perhaps you do not know how …〃 His arms went around her almost roughly； and his lips came down on hers。 Her head spun； her toes tried to curl up in her slippers。 Some time later … she was not certain how long … she realized she was leaning against his chest； knees trembling； trying to gulp air。
〃Forgive me for interrupting you；〃 he said。 She was glad to hear a touch of breathlessness in his voice。 〃I am just a backward shepherd from the Two Rivers。〃
〃You are uncouth；〃 she murmured against his shirt； 〃and you did not shave this morning； but I would not say you are backward。〃
〃Elayne； I …〃
She put a hand over his mouth。 〃I do not want to hear anything from you that you do not mean with your whole heart；〃 she said firmly。 〃Not now； or ever。〃
He nodded； not as if he understood why； but at least as if he understood that she meant what she said。 Straightening her hair … the strand of sapphires was tangled beyond mending without a mirror … she stepped out of his encircling arms； not without reluctance； it would be all too easy to remain there； and she had already been more forward than she had ever dreamed of before。 Speaking up like that； asking for a kiss。 Asking！ She was not Berelain。
Berelain。 Perhaps Min had had a viewing。 What Min saw； happened； but she would not share him with Berelain。 Perhaps she needed to do a bit more plain speaking。 Obliquely plain； at least。 〃I expect you will not lack for pany after I go。 Just remember that some women see a man with their hearts； while others see no more than a bauble to wear； no different than a necklace or a bracelet。 Remember that I will e back； and I am one who sees with her heart。〃 He looked confused； at first； then a little alarmed。 She had said too much； too fast。 She had to divert him。 〃Do you know what you have not said to me？ You have not tried to frighten me away by telling me how dangerous you are。 Don't try now。 It is too late。〃
〃I did not think of it。〃 Another thought came to him； though； and his eyes crinkled with suspicion。 〃Did you and Egwene scheme this up between you？〃
She managed to bine wide…eyed innocence with mild outrage。 〃How could you even consider such a thing？ Do you imagine we would hand you around between us like a package？ You think a good deal of yourself。 There is such a thing as being overproud。〃 He did look confused； now。 Quite satisfactory。 〃Are you sorry for what you did to us； Rand？〃
〃I did not mean to frighten you；〃 he said hesitantly。 〃Egwene made me angry； she's always been able to without half trying。 That's no excuse； I know。 I said I was sorry； and I am。 Look what it got me。 Burned tables and another mattress ruined。〃
〃And for。。。 the pinch？〃
His face reddened again； but he faced her firmly even so。 〃No。 No； I am not sorry for that。 The two of you； talking over my head； as if I were a lump of wood with no ears。 You deserved as much； both of you； and I won't say different。〃
For a moment she considered him。 He rubbed his arms through his coat sleeves as she momentarily embraced saidar。 She did not know Healing to any degree； but she had learned bits and pieces on the edge of it。 Channeling； she soothed away the hurt she had given him for the pinch。 His eyes widened in surprise； and he shifted on his feet as if testing the absence of pain。 〃For being honest；〃 she told him simply。
There was a rap at the door； and Gaul looked in。 At first the Aielman had his head down； but after a quick glance at them he raised it。 Color flooded Elayne's face as she realized he had suspected that he might be interrupting something he should not see。 She very nearly embraced saidar again and taught him a lesson。
〃The Tairens are here；〃 Gaul said。 〃The High Lords you were expecting。〃
〃I will go； then；〃 she told Rand。 〃You must tell them about … taxes； was it not？ Think on what I have said。〃 She did not say 〃think of me；〃 but she was sure the effect would be the same。
He reached out as if to stop her； but she slipped away from him。 She had no intention of putting on a display in front of Gaul。 The man was Aiel； but what must he think of her； wearing perfume and sapphires at that hour of the morning？ It required real effort not to pull the neckline of her dress up higher。
The High Lords entered as she reached the door； a cluster of graying men in pointed beards and colorful； ornate coats with puffy sleeves。 They crowded out of her way with reluctant bows； their bland faces and polite murmurs not hiding their relief that she was leaving。
She glanced back once from the doorway。 A tall； broad…shouldered young man in a plain green coat among the High Lords in their silks and satin stripes； Rand looked like a stork among peacocks； yet there was something about him； a presence that said he manded there by right。 The Tairens recognized it； bending their stiff necks reluctantly。 He thought probably they bowed just because he was the Dragon Reborn； and perhaps they thought so； too。 But she had seen men；