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ng； mucking out； mending tack。 Without pausing； one or another sometimes glanced at where Faile and Loial stood； booted and ready for travel。 And beside them； Bain and Chiad； accoutered like Gaul with weapons and blankets； water bottles and cooking pot。
〃Are they why you only said you would try？〃 Perrin asked quietly。
Gaul shrugged。 〃I will do what I can； but they will take her side。 Chiad is Goshien。〃
〃Her clan makes a difference？〃
〃Her clan and mine have blood feud； Perrin； and I am no spear…sister to her。 But perhaps the water oaths will hold her。 I will not dance spears with her unless she offers。〃
Perrin shook his head。 A strange people。 What were water oaths？ What he said； though； was 〃Why are they with her？〃
〃Bain says they wish to see more of your lands； but I think it is the argument between you and Faile which fascinates them。 They like her； and when they heard of this journey； they decided to go with her instead of you。〃
〃Well； as long as they keep her out of trouble。〃 He was surprised when Gaul threw back his head and laughed。 It made him scratch his beard worriedly。
Loial came toward them； long eyebrows sagging anxiously。 His coat pockets bulged； as was usual when he was traveling； mainly with the angular shapes of books。 At least his limp seemed better。 〃Faile is being impatient； Perrin。 I think she might insist on leaving any minute。 Please hurry。 You could not even find the Waygate without me。 Not that you should try； certainly。 You humans make me leap about so I can hardly find my own head。 Please hurry。〃
〃I will not leave him；〃 Faile called。 〃Not even if he is yet too stubborn and foolish to ask a simple favor。 Should that be the case； he may still follow me like a lost puppy。 I promise to scratch his ears and take care of him。〃 The Aiel women doubled over laughing。 。
Gaul leaped straight up suddenly； kicking higher； two paces or more above the floor； while twirling one of his spears。 〃We will follow like stalking ridgecats；〃 he shouted； 〃like hunting wolves。〃 He landed easily； lightly。 Loial stared at him in amazement。
Bain； on the other hand； lazily bed her short； fiery hair with her fingers。 〃I have a fine wolfskin with my bedding in the hold；〃 she told Chiad in a bored voice。 〃Wolves are easily taken。〃
A growl rose in Perrin's throat； pulling both women's eyes to him。 For a moment Bain looked on the point of saying something more； but she frowned at his yellow stare and held her peace； not afraid； but suddenly wary。
〃This puppy is not well housebroken yet；〃 Faile confided to the Aiel women。
Perrin refused to look at her。 Instead he went to the stall that held his dun stallion； as tall as any of the Tairen animals but heavier in shoulder and haunch。 Waving away a groom； he bridled Stepper and led him out himself。 The grooms had walked the horse； of course； but he had been confined enough to frisk in the quick steps that had made Perrin give him his name。 Perrin soothed him with the sure confidence of a man who had shoed many horses。 It was no trouble at all putting his high…cantled saddle on and lashing his saddlebags and blanket roll behind。
Gaul watched with no expression。 He would not ride a horse unless he had to； and then not a step farther than absolutely necessary。 None of the Aiel would。 Perrin did not understand why。 Pride； perhaps； in their ability to run for long distances。 The Aiel made it seem more than that； but he suspected none of them could have explained。
The packhorse had to be readied too； of course； but that was quickly done； since everything Gaul had ordered was waiting in a neat pile。 Food and water skins。 Oats and grain for the horses。 None of that would be available in the Ways。 A few other things； like hobbles； some horse medicines just in case； spare tinderbox and such。 Most of the space in the wicker hampers went for leather bottles like those the Aiel used for water； only larger and filled with lamp oil。 Once the lanterns； on long poles； were strapped atop the rest； it was done。
Thrusting his unstrung bow under the saddle girth； he swung up into Stepper's saddle with the pack animal's lead in hand。 And then had to wait； seething。
Loial was already mounted； on a huge； hairy…fetlocked horse； taller than any other in the stable by hands yet reduced nearly to pony size by the Ogier's long legs hanging down。 There had been a time when the Ogier was almost as unwilling a rider as the Aiel； but he was at home on a horse now。 It was Faile who took her time； examining her mount almost as if she had never seen the glossy black mare before； though Perrin knew she had put the horse through her paces before buying； soon after they came to the Stone。 The horse； Swallow by name； was a fine animal of Tairen breeding； with slender ankles and an arched neck； a prancer with the look of speed and endurance both； though shod too lightly for Perrin's taste。 Those shoes would not last。 It was all another effort to put him in his place； whatever she thought that was。
When Faile finally mounted； in her narrow divided skirts； she reined closer to Perrin。 She rode well； woman and horse moving as one。 〃Why can you not ask； Perrin？〃 she said softly。 〃You tried to keep me away from where I belong； so now you have to ask。 Can such a simple thing be so difficult？〃
The Stone rang like a monstrous bell； the stable floor leaping； the ceiling quivering on the point of ing down。 Stepper leaped； too； screaming； head flailing； it was all Perrin could do to keep his seat。 Grooms scrambled off the floor where they had fallen and ran desperately to quiet horses rearing； shrieking； attempting to climb out of their stalls。 Loial clung to the neck of his huge mount； but Faile sat Swallow surely as the mare danced and squealed wildly。
Rand。 Perrin knew it was him。 The pull of ta'veren dragged at him； two whirlpools in a stream drawing one another。 Coughing in the falling dust； he shook his head as hard as he could； straining not to dismount and run back up into the Stone。 〃We ride！〃 he shouted while tremors still shook the fortress。 〃We ride now； Loial！ Now！〃
Faile seemed to see no more point to delay； she heeled her mare out of the stable beside Loial's taller horse； their two pack animals pulled along； all galloping before they reached the Dragonwall Gate。 The Defenders took one look and scattered； some still on hands and knees； it was their duty to keep people out of the Stone； and they had no orders to keep these in。 Not that they would necessarily have been able to think straight enough to do so if they had had orders； not with the tremors just subsiding and the Stone still groaning above them。
Perrin was right behind with his own packhorse； wishing the Ogier's animal could run faster； wishing he could leave Loial's lumbering mount behind and outrun the suction trying to draw him back； that pull of ta'veren to ta'veren。 They galloped together through the streets of Tear； toward the rising sun； barely slowing to avoid carts and carriages。 Men in tight coats and women with layered aprons； still shaken by the upheaval； stared at them； dazed； so