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She kept strictly to the truth as she saw it； she could tell the truth as quickly as a lie when it was necessary。 Morgase sipped her wine and listened； Alteima might have thought her lounging indolently； except that her eyes showed she was taking in every word and storing it。 〃You must understand；〃 Alteima finished； 〃that I have only touched the surface。 Rand al'Thor and what he has done in Tear are subjects for hours。〃
〃You will have them；〃 Morgase said； and in her mind Alteima smiled。 Success。 〃Is it true；〃 the Queen went on； 〃that he brought Aiel with him to the Stone？〃
〃Oh； yes。 Great savages with their faces hidden half the time； and even the women ready to kill as soon as look。 They followed him like dogs； terrorizing everyone； and took whatever they wanted from the Stone。〃
〃I had thought it must be the wildest rumor；〃 Morgase reflected。 〃There have been rumors this past year； but they have not e out of the Waste in twenty years； not since the Aiel War。 The world certainly does not need this Rand al'Thor bringing the Aiel down on us again。〃 Her look sharpened again。 〃You said 'followed。' They have gone？〃
Alteima nodded。 〃Just before I left Tear。 And he went with them。〃
〃With them！〃 Morgase exclaimed。 〃I feared he was in Cairhien right this …〃
〃You have a guest； Morgase？ I should have been told； so I could greet her。〃
A big man strode into the room； tall； his gold…embroidered red silk coat fitting massive shoulders and a deep chest。 Alteima did not need to see the radiant look on Morgase's face to name him as Lord Gaebril； the assurance with which he had interrupted the Queen did that。 He lifted a finger； and the serving woman curtsied and left quickly； he did not ask Morgase's permission to dismiss her servants from her presence； either。 He was darkly handsome； incredibly so； with wings of white at his temples
posing her face to monplace； Alteima put on a marginally weling smile； suitable for an elderly uncle with neither power； wealth nor influence。 He might be gorgeous； but even if he did not belong to Morgase； he was not a man she would try manipulating unless she absolutely had to。 There was perhaps even more of an air of power about him than about Morgase。
Gaebril stopped by Morgase and put his hand on her bare shoulder in a very familiar way。 She clearly came close to resting her cheek on the back of his hand； but his eyes were on Alteima。 She was used to men looking at her； but these eyes made her shift uneasily； they were far too penetrating； saw far too much。
〃You e from Tear？〃 The sound of his deep voice sent a tingle through her； her skin； even her bones； felt as though she had been dipped in icy water； but oddly her momentary anxiety melted。
It was Morgase who answered； Alteima could not seem to find her tongue with him watching her。 〃This is the High Lady Alteima； Gaebril。 She has been telling me all about the Dragon Reborn。 She was in the Stone of Tear when it fell。 Gaebril； there really were Aiel …〃 The pressure of his hand cut her off。 Irritation flashed across her face； but then it was gone； replaced by a smile beaming up at him。
His eyes； still on Alteima； sent that shiver through her again； and this time she gasped aloud。 〃So much talking must have fatigued you； Morgase；〃 he said without shifting his gaze。 〃You do too much。 Go to your bedchamber and sleep。 Go now。 I will wake you when you have rested enough。〃
Morgase stood immediately； still smiling at him devotedly。 Her eyes seemed slightly glazed。 〃Yes； I am tired。 I will take a nap now； Gaebril。〃
She glided from the room with never a glance at Alteima； but Alteima's attention was all on Gaebril。 Her heart beat faster； her breath quickened。 He was surely the handsomest man she had ever seen。 The grandest； the strongest； the most powerful。。。 Superlatives rolled through her mind like a flood。
Gaebril paid no more attention to Morgase's leaving than she did。 Taking the chair the Queen had vacated； he leaned back with his boots stretched out in front of him。 〃Tell me why you came to Caemlyn； Alteima。〃 Again the chill ran through her。 〃The absolute truth； but keep it brief。 You can give me details later if I want them。〃
She did not hesitate。 〃I tried to poison my husband and had to flee before Tedosian and that trull Estanda could kill me instead； or worse。 Rand al'Thor meant to let them do it； as an example。〃 Telling made her cringe。 Not because it was a truth she had kept hidden so much as because she found she wanted to please him more than anything else in the world； and she feared that he might send her away。 But he wanted the truth。 〃I chose Caemlyn because I could not bear Illian and though Andor is little better； Cairhien is in near ruins。 In Caemlyn； I can find a wealthy husband； or one who thinks he is my protector if need be； and use his power to …〃
He stopped her with a wave of his hand； chuckling。 〃A vicious little cat； though pretty。 Perhaps pretty enough to keep； with your teeth and claws drawn。〃 Suddenly his face became more intent。 〃Tell me what you know of Rand al'Thor； and especially his friends； if he has any； his panions； his allies。〃
She told him； talking until her mouth and throat went dry； and her voice cracked and rasped。 She never raised her goblet until he told her to drink； then she gulped the wine down and spoke on。 She could please him。 She could please him better than Morgase could think of。
The maids working in Morgase's bedchamber dropped hasty curtsies； surprised to see her there in the middle of the morning。 Waving them out of the room； she climbed onto her bed still in her dress。 For a time she lay staring at the gilded carvings of the bedposts。 No Lions of Andor here； but roses。 For the Rose Crown of Andor； but roses suited her better than lions。。。
Stop being stubborn； she chided herself； then wondered why。 She had told Gaebril she was tired； and … Or had he told her？ Impossible。 She was the Queen of Andor； and no man told her to do anything。 Gareth。 Now why had she thought of Gareth Bryne？ He had certainly never told her to do anything； the Captain…General of the Queen's Guards obeyed the Queen； not the other way around。 But he had been stubborn； entirely capable of digging in his heels until she came around to his way。 Why am I thinking of him？ I wish he were here。 That was ridiculous。 She had sent him away for opposing her； about what no longer seemed quite clear； but that was not important。 He had opposed her。 She could remember the feelings she had had for him only dimly； as though he had been gone for years。 Surely it had not been so long？ Stop being stubborn！
Her eyes closed； and she fell immediately into sleep； a sleep troubled by restless dreams of running from something she could not see。
Chapter 2
（Dragon）
Rhuidean
High in the city of Rhuidean； Rand al'Thor looked out from a tall window； whatever glass might have once been in it was long since gone。 The shadows below slanted sharply east。 A bard…harp played softly in the room behind him。 Sweat evaporated from his face almost as soon as it appeared； his red silk coat； d