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〃Good morning； Perrin；〃 he rumbled； removing the pipe。 〃You slept well？ Not easy； after such a night as that。 Myself； I have been up half the night； writing down what happened。〃 He had a pen in his other hand； and ink stains on his sausage…thick fingers。
Books lay everywhere； on Ogier…sized chairs and the huge bed and the table that stood as high as Perrin's chest。 That was no surprise； but what was a little startling was the flowers。 Flowers of every sort； in every color。 Vases of flowers； baskets of them； posies tied with ribbon or even string； great woven banks of flowers standing about like lengths of garden wall。 Perrin had certainly never seen the like inside a room。 Their scent filled the air。 Yet what really caught his eye was the swollen knot on Loial's head； the size of a man's fist； and the heavy limp in Loial's walk。 If Loial had been hurt too badly to travel。。。 He felt ashamed at thinking of it that way … the Ogier was a friend … but he had to。
〃You were injured； Loial？ Moiraine could Heal you。 I'm sure she will。〃
〃Oh； I can get around with no trouble。 And there were so many who truly needed her help。 I would not want to bother her。 It certainly is not enough to hamper me in my work。〃 Loial glanced at the table where a large cloth…bound book … large for Perrin； but it would fit in one of the Ogier's coat pockets … lay open beside an uncorked ink bottle。 〃I hope I wrote it all down correctly。 I did not see very much last night until it was done。〃
〃Loial；〃 Faile said； standing up from behind one of the banks of flowers with a book in her hands； 〃is a hero。〃
Perrin jumped； the flowers had masked her scent pletely。 Loial made shushing noises； his ears twitching with embarrassment； and waved his big hands at her； but she went on； her voice cool but her eyes hot on Perrin's face。
〃He gathered as many children as he could … and some of their mothers … into a large room； and held the door alone against Trollocs and Myrddraal through the entire fight。 These flowers are from the women of the Stone； tokens to honor his steadfast courage； his faithfulness。〃 She made 〃steadfast〃 and 〃faithfulness〃 crack like whips。
Perrin managed not to flinch； but only just。 What he had done was right； but he could not expect her to see it。 Even if she knew why； she would not see it。 It was the right thing。 It was。 He only wished he felt better about the entire matter。 It was hardly fair that he could be right and still feel in the wrong。
〃It was nothing。〃 Loial's ears twitched wildly。 〃It is just that the children could not defend themselves。 That's all。 Not a hero。 No。〃
〃Nonsense。〃 Faile marked her place in the book with a finger and moved closer to the Ogier。 She did not e up to his chest。 〃There is not a woman in the Stone who would not marry you； if you were human； and some would anyway。 Loial well named； for your nature is loyalty。 Any woman could love that。〃
The Ogier's ears went stiff with shock； and Perrin grinned。 She had obviously been feeding Loial honey and butter all morning in hope the Ogier would agree to take her along no matter what Perrin wanted； but in trying to prick him she had just fed Loial a stone without knowing it。 〃Have you heard from your mother； Loial？〃 he asked。
〃No。〃 Loial managed to sound relieved and worried at the same time。 〃But I saw Laefar in the city yesterday。 He was as surprised to see me as I to see him； we are not a mon sight in Tear。 He came from Sledding Shangtai to negotiate repairs on some Ogier stonework in one of the palaces。 I have no doubt the first words out of his mouth when he returns to the stedding will be 'Loial is in Tear。' 〃
〃That is worrying；〃 Perrin said； and Loial nodded dejectedly。
〃Laefar says the Elders have named me a runaway and my mother has promised to have me married and settled。 She even has someone chosen。 Laefar did not know who。 At least； he said he did not。 He thinks such things are funny。 She could be here in a month's time。〃
Faile's face was a picture of confusion that almost made Perrin grin again。 She thought she knew so much more than he did about the world … well； she did； in truth … but she did not know Loial。 Stedding Shangtai was Loial's home； in the Spine of the World； and since he was barely past ninety； he was not old enough to have left on his own。 Ogier lived a very long time； by their standards； Loial was ho older than Perrin； maybe younger。 But Loial had gone anyway； to see the world； and his greatest fear was that his mother would find him and drag back to the stedding to marry； never to leave again。
While Faile was trying to figure out what was going on； Perrin stepped into the silence。 〃I need to go back to the Two Rivers； Loial。 Your mother won't find you there。〃
〃Yes。 That is true。〃 The。 Ogier gave an unfortable shrug。 〃But my book。 Rand's story。 And yours； and Mat's。 I have so many notes already； but。。。〃 He moved around behind the table； peering down at the open book； the pages filled with his neat script。 〃I will be the one to write the true story of the Dragon Reborn； Perrin。 The only book by someone who traveled with him； who actually saw it unfold。 The Dragon Reborn； by Loial； son of Arent son of Halan； of Sledding Shangtai。〃 Frowning； he bent over the book； dipping his pen in the ink bottle。 〃That is not quite right。 It was more …〃
Perrin put a hand on the page where Loial was going to write。 〃You'll write no book if your mother finds you。 Not about Rand； at least。 And I need you； Loial。〃
〃Need； Perrin？ I do not understand。〃
〃There are Whitecloaks in the Two Rivers。 Hunting me。〃
〃Hunting you？ But why？〃 Loial looked almost as confused as Faile had； Faile； on the other hand； had donned a placent smugness that was worrisome。 Perrin went on anyway。
〃The reasons don't matter。 The fact is that they are。 They may hurt people； my family； looking for me。 Knowing Whitecloaks； they will。 I can stop it； if I can get there quickly； but it must be quickly。 The Light only knows what they've done already。 I need you to take me there； Loial； by the Ways。 You told me once there was a Waygate here； and I know there was one at Manetheren。 It must still be there； in the mountains above Emond's Field。 Nothing can destroy a Waygate； you said。 I need you； Loial。〃
〃Well； of course I will help；〃 Loial said。 〃The Ways。〃 He exhaled noisily； and his ears wilted a bit； 〃I want to write of adventures； not have them。 But I suppose one more time will not hurt。 The Light send it so；〃 he finished fervently。
Faile cleared her throat delicately。 〃Are you not forgetting something； Loial？ You promised to take me into the Ways whenever I asked； and before you took anyone else。〃
〃I did promise you a look at a Waygate；〃 Loial said； 〃and what it is like inside。 You can have that when Perrin and I go。 You could e with us； I suppose； but the Ways are not traveled lightly； Faile。 I would not enter them myself if Perrin did not have need。〃
〃Faile will not be ing；〃 Perrin said firmly。 〃Just you and me； Loial。〃
Ignoring him； Faile smiled up at Loial as if he were teasing her； 〃You pr