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rse … not his fault； of course； he was a wonderful horseman … and him lifting her up in front of him on his saddle； declaring he would be her Warder … she would be Green Ajah； of course … and。。。〃Sahra Covenry？〃
Sahra jumped at the sharp voice； but it was not Mistress Elward。 She curtsied as best she could； with her skirts gathered up。 〃The day's greeting； Aes Sedai。 Have you e to take me back to the Tower？〃
The Aes Sedai moved closer； not caring that her skirts dragged through the dirt of the vegetable patch。 Despite the summer warmth of the morning； she wore a cloak； the hood pulled up to shadow her face。 〃Just before you left the Tower； you took a woman to the Amyrlin Seat。 A woman calling herself Elmindreda。〃
〃Yes； Aes Sedai；〃 Sahra said； a slight question in her voice。 She did not like the way the Aes Sedai had said that； as if she had left the Tower for good。
〃Tell me everything that you heard or saw； girl； from the moment you took the woman in charge。 Everything。〃
〃But I heard nothing； Aes Sedai。 The Keeper sent me away as soon as …〃 Pain racked her； digging her toes into the dirt； arching her back； the spasm lasted only moments； but it seemed eternal。 Struggling for breath； she realized her cheek was pressed to the ground； and her still trembling fingers dug into the soil。 She did not remember falling。 She could see Mistress Elward's laundry basket lying on its side near the stone farmhouse； damp linens spilled out in a heap。 Dazed； she thought that that was odd； Moria Elward would never leave her washing lying like that。
〃Everything； girl；〃 the Aes Sedai said coldly。 She was standing over Sahra now； making no move to help her。 She had hurt her； it was not supposed to be that way。 〃Every person this Elmindreda spoke to； every word she said； every nuance and expression。〃
〃She spoke to Lord Gawyn； Aes Sedai；〃 Sahra sobbed into the earth。 〃That is all I know； Aes Sedai。 All。〃 She began to weep in earnest； sure that was not enough to satisfy this woman。 She was right。 She did not stop screaming for a long time； and when the Aes Sedai left there was not a sound around the farmhouse except for the chickens； not even breathing。
Chapter 18
（Leaf）
Into the Ways
Buttoning up his coat； Perrin paused； looking at the axe； still secured on the wall as he had left it since drawing it out of the door。 He did not like the idea of carrying the weapon again； but he untied the belt from the peg and buckled it around his waist anyway。 The hammer he tied to his already stuffed saddlebags。 Draping saddlebags and blanket roll over his shoulder； he gathered a filled quiver and his unstrung longbow from the corner。
The rising sun poured heat and light through the narrow windows。 The rumpled bed was the only proof that anyone had stayed here。 Already the room had lost the feel of him； it even seemed to smell empty； despite his own scent on the sheets。 He never stayed anywhere long enough to make that feel cling past his readiness to leave。 Never long enough to put down roots； make it any kind of home。 Well； I'm going home now。
Turning his back on the already unoccupied room； he went out。
Gaul rose easily from where he had been squatting against the wall beneath a tapestry of men on horseback hunting lions。 He bore all of his weapons； with two leather water bottles； and a rolled blanket and a small cookpot were strapped beside the worked…leather bow case on his back。 He was alone。〃The others？〃 Perrin asked； and Gaul shook his head。
〃Too long away from the Three…fold Land。 I warned you of that； Perrin。 These lands of yours are too wet； the air is like breathing water。 There are too many people； too close together。 They have seen more than they want of strange places。〃
〃I understand；〃 Perrin said； though what he understood was that there would be no rescue after all； no pany of Aiel to drive the Whitecloaks out of the Two Rivers。 He kept his disappointment inside。 It was sharp after thinking he had escaped his fate； but he could not say he had not prepared himself for the alternative。 No point in crying when the iron split； you just reforged it。 〃Did you have any trouble doing what I asked？〃
〃None。 I told one Tairen to take each thing you want to the Dragonwall Gate stable and tell no one of it； they will have seen one another there； but they will think the things are for me； and they will keep silent。 The Dragonwall Gate。 You would think the Spine of the World was just over the horizon； instead of a hundred leagues or more off。〃 The Aiel hesitated。 〃The girl and the Ogier make no secret of their preparations； Perrin。 She has been trying to find the gleeman； and telling everyone she means to travel the Ways。〃
Scratching his beard； Perrin breathed heavily； close to a growl。 〃If she gives me away to Moiraine； I vow she'll not sit down for a week。〃
〃She is very handy with those knives；〃 Gaul said in a neutral tone。
〃Not handy enough。 Not if she's given me away。〃 Perrin hesitated。 No pany of Aiel。 The gallows still waited。 〃Gaul； if anything happens to me； if I give you the word； take Faile away。 She might not want to go； but take her anyway。 See her safely out of the Two Rivers。 Will you promise me that？〃
〃I will do what I can； Perrin。 For the blood debt I owe you； I will。〃 Gaul sounded doubtful； but Perrin did not think Faile's knives would be enough to stop him。
They took back passages as much as possible； and narrow stairs meant to carry servants unobtrusively。 Perrin thought it too bad the Tairens had not given servants their own corridors； as well。 Still； they saw few people even in the broad hallways with their gilded lamp stands and ornate hangings； and no nobles at all。
He mented on the absence； and Gaul said； 〃Rand al'Thor has called them to the Heart of the Stone。〃
Perrin only grunted； but he hoped Moiraine had been among those summoned。 He wondered whether this was Rand's way of helping him escape her。 Whatever the reason； he was glad enough to take advantage of it。
They stepped out of the last cramped stairway onto the ground floor of the Stone； where cavernous hallways as wide as roads led to all the outer gates。 There were no wall hangings here。 Black iron lamps in iron brackets high on the walls lit the windowless passages； and the floor was paved with broad； rough stones able to stand long wear from horses' shod hooves。 Perrin picked his pace up to a trot。 The stables lay just in sight ahead down the great tunnel； the wide Dragonwall Gate itself standing open beyond and only a handful of Defenders for guard。 Moiraine could not intercept them now； not without the Dark One's own luck。
The stable's open doorway was an arch fifteen paces across。 Perrin took one step inside and stopped。
The air was heavy with the smell of straw and hay； underlaid with grain and oats； leather and horse manure。 Stalls filled with fine Tairen horses； prized everywhere； lined the walls； with more in rows across the wide floor。 Dozens of grooms were at work； currying and bing； mucking out； mending tack。 Without pausing； one or another sometimes glanced at where Faile and