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a blade as dark as its cloak； a sword hammered at the forges of Thakan'dar； and if that cut him； he was as good as dead unless Moiraine appeared quickly with her Healing。 But there was only one sure way to take down a Fade。 All…out attack； you had to overwhelm it before it overwhelmed you； and a thought for defense could be a good way to die。 He could not even spare a glance for the battle raging around him in the night。
The Myrddraal's blade flickered like a serpent's tongue； darted like black lightning； but to counter Mat's attack。 When raven…marked Power…wrought steel met Thakan'dar…made metal； blue light flashed around them； a crackle of sheet lightning。
Suddenly Mat's slashing attack struck flesh。 Black sword and pale hand flew away； and the reverse stroke sliced open the Myrddraal's throat； but Mat did not stop。 Thrust through the heart； cut to one hamstring； then the other； all in rapid succession。 Only then did he step away from the thing still thrashing on the ground； flailing about with its good hand and severed stump； wounds spilling inky blood。 Halfmen took a long time to admit that they were dead； they did not die pletely except with a setting sun。
Looking around； Mat realized that the attack was over。 Whatever Darkfriends or Trollocs were not dead； had fled； at least； he saw none standing except Aiel。 Some of them were down； too。 He plucked a kerchief from the neck of a Darkfriend corpse to wipe the Myrddraal's black blood from his spearpoint。 It would etch the metal if left too long。
This night assault made no sense。 By the bodies he could see in the moonlight； Trolloc and human； none had made it much past the first line of tents。 And without far greater numbers； they could not have hoped for more。
〃What was that you called out？ Carai something。 The Old Tongue？〃
He turned to look at Melindhra。 She had unveiled； but she still wore not a stitch more than her shoufa。 There were other Maidens about； and men； wearing as little； and showing as little concern； though most did seem to be heading back to their tents without lingering。 They had no modesty； that was it。 No modesty at all。 She did not even seem to feel the cold； though her breath made wisps of mist。 He was as sweaty as she； and freezing now that he had no fight for his life to occupy his mind。
〃Something I heard once；〃 he told her。 〃I liked the sound of it。〃 Carai an Caldazar！ For the honor of the Red Eagle。 The battle cry of Manetheren。 Most of his memories were from Manetheren。 Some of those he had had before the twisted doorway。 Moiraine said it was the Old Blood ing out。 Just as long as it did not e out of his veins。
She put an arm around his shoulders as he started back toward their tent。 〃I saw you with the Nightrunner； Mat Cauthon。〃 That was one of the Aiel names for Myrddraal。 〃You are as tall as a man needs to be。〃
Grinning； he slipped his arm around her waist； but he could not get the attack out of his head。 He wanted to … his thoughts were too snarled in his borrowed memories … but he could not。 Why had anyone launched such a hopeless assault？ No one but a fool attacked overwhelming force without a reason。 That was the thought he could not pry out of his head。 No one attacked without a reason。
The birdcalls pulled Rand awake immediately； and he seized saidin as he tossed the blankets aside and ran out； coatless； in his stocking feet。 The night was cold and moonlit； faint sounds of battle drifting up from the hills below the pass。 Around him； Aiel stirred like scurrying ants； rushing into the night to where an attack might e here in the pass。 The wards would signal again … Shadowspawn in the pass would cause a winterfinch to call … until he unraveled them in the morning； but there was no point in taking foolish chances。
Soon the pass was still again； the gai'shain in their tents； forbidden weapons even now； the other Aiel off at the places that might need defending。 Even Adelin and the other Maidens had gone； as if they knew he would have held them back if they waited。 He could hear a few mutters from the wagons near the town walls； but neither the drivers nor Kadere showed themselves； he did not expect them to。 The faint sounds of battle … men shouting； screaming； dying … came from two directions。 Both below； well away from him。 People were out around the Wise Ones' tents； too； staring toward the fighting； it seemed。
An attack down there made no sense。 It was not the Miagoma； not unless Timolan had taken Shadowspawn into his clan； and that was as likely as Whitecloaks recruiting Trollocs。 He turned back toward his tent； and even enclosed in the Void he gave a start。
Aviendha had e out into the moonlight； a blanket wrapped around her。 Just beyond her stood a tall man shrouded in a dark cloak； moonshadows drifted over a gaunt face that was too pale； with eyes too large。 A crooning rose； and the cloak opened into wide； leathery wings like those of a bat。 Moving as in a dream； Aviendha drifted toward the waiting embrace。
Rand channeled； and finger…thin balefire burned past her； an arrow of solid light； to take the Draghkar in the head。 The effect of that narrower stream was slower； but no less sure than with the Darkhounds。 The creature's colors reversed； black to white； white to black； and it became sparkling motes that melted in air。
Aviendha shook herself as the crooning ended； stared at the last particles as they vanished； and turned to Rand； gathering the blanket closer。 Her hand came up； and a stream of fire as thick as his head roared toward him。
Startled even inside the emptiness； never thinking of the Power； he threw himself to the ground beneath the billowing flames。 They died in an instant。
〃What are you doing？〃 he barked； so angry； so shocked； that the Void cracked and saidin vanished from him。 He scrambled to his feet； stalking toward her。 〃This tops any ingratitude I ever heard of！〃 He was going to shake her until her teeth rattled。 〃I just saved your life； in case you failed to notice； and if I offended some bloody Aiel custom； I don't give a …！〃
〃The next time；〃 she snapped back； 〃I will leave the great Car'a'carn to deal with matters by himself！〃 Awkwardly clutching the blanket close； she ducked stiff…backed into the tent。
For the first time； he looked behind him。 At another Draghkar； crumpled on the ground in flames。 He had been so angry that he had not heard the crackling and popping as it burned； had not smelled the odor of burning grease。 He had not even sensed the evil of it。 A Draghkar killed by first sucking the soul away； and then life。 It had to be close； touching； but this one lay no more than two paces from where he had been standing。 He was not certain how effective a Draghkar's crooning embrace was against someone filled with saidin； but he was glad he had not found out。
Drawing a deep breath； he knelt beside the tent flap。 〃Aviendha？〃 He could not go in。 A lamp was lit in there； and she could be sitting there naked for all he knew； mentally ripping him up and down the way he deserved。 〃Aviendha； I am sorry。 I apologize。 I was a fool to speak as I did without ask