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hy the fellow had chosen it … a few more moments and Rand half…stepping around actually putting an end to it； and then Mat was outside。 There was a crowd out there； a good hundred Maidens spread about the hilltop and walking on tiptoe they were so ready to spear somebody； all seven clan chiefs waiting patient and still as stone； three Tairen lords trying to pretend that they were not sweating and the Aiel did not exist。
He had heard about the lords' arrival； and had even gone to take a look at their camp … or camps … but there had been no one there he knew； and no one wanting to take a turn at dice or cards。 These three eyed him up and down； frowning disdainfully； and apparently decided he was no better than the Aiel； which was to say not worth seeing。
Clapping his hat on his head and pulling the brim low over his eyes； Mat studied the Tairens coldly in return for a moment。 He had the pleasure of seeing the younger pair； at least； bee unfortably aware of him again before he started down the hill。 The gray…beard still looked all barely concealed impatience to enter Rand's tent； but it did not matter anyway。 He would never see any of them again。
He had no idea why he had not simply ignored them。 Except that his step was lighter and he felt full of vinegar。 No wonder； really； leaving tomorrow at last。 The dice seemed to be spinning in his head； and there was no knowing what pips would show when they landed。 Odd； that。 It must be Melindhra worrying him。 Yes。 He would definitely leave early； and as quietly as a mouse tiptoeing on feathers。
Whistling； he set off for his tent。 What was the tune？ Oh； yes。 〃Dance with Jak o' the Shadows。〃 He had no intention of dancing with death； but it had a merry sound； so he whistled it anyway as he tried to plan the best route away from Cairhien。
Rand stood staring after Mat long after the tent flaps had fallen to hide him。 〃I only heard the last bit；〃 he said finally。 〃Was it all like that？〃
〃Very nearly；〃 Lan replied。 〃With only a few minutes to study the maps； he laid out close to the battle plan that Rhuarc and the others made。 He saw the difficulties and the dangers； and how to meet them。 He knows about miners and siege engines； and using light cavalry to harry a defeated foe。〃
Rand looked at him。 The Warder showed no surprise； not the twitch of an eyelash。 Of course； he was the one who had said Mat seemed surprisingly knowledgeable about military matters。 And Lan was not going to ask the obvious question； either； which was good。 Rand had no right to give the little answer he had。
He could have asked a few questions himself。 Such as； What did miners have to do with battles？ Or maybe it was only sieges。 Whatever the answer； there was not a mine closer than the Dragon's Dagger； and no certainty anyone was still digging ore。 Well； this battle would be fought without。 The important thing was that he knew Mat had gained more on the other side of that doorway ter'angreal than a tendency to spout the Old Tongue when not thinking。 And knowing that； Rand would surely make use of it。
You don't have to get any harder； he thought bitterly。 He had seen Mat climbing toward this tent； and never hesitated in sending Lan in to discover what might e to the surface in idle conversation； alone。 That had been deliberate。 The rest might or might not be； but it would happen。 He hoped Mat had a fine time while he was free。 He hoped that Perrin was enjoying himself in the Two Rivers； showing off Faile to his mother and sisters； maybe marrying her。 He hoped it because he knew he would draw them back； ta'veren pulling at ta'veren； and he the strongest。 Moiraine had named it no coincidence； three such growing up in the same village； all nearly the same age； the Wheel wove happenstance and coincidence into the Pattern； but it did not lay down the likes of the three of them for no reason。 Eventually he would pull his friends back to him； however far they went； and when they came； he would use them； however he could。 However he had to。 Because he did have to。 Because whatever the Prophecy of the Dragon said； he was sure the only chance he had of winning Tarmon Gai'don lay in having all three of them； three ta'veren who had been tied together since infancy； tied together once more。 No； he did not need to bee hard。 You're rank enough already to make a Seanchan spew his supper！
〃Play 'March of Death；'〃 he manded in a harsher voice than he wanted； and Natael looked at him blankly for a moment。 The man had been listening to everything。 He would have questions； but he would find no answers。 If Rand could not tell Lan Mat's secrets； he would not spread them before one of the Forsaken； however tame he appeared。 This time he deliberately made his tone rough； and pointed the length of spear at the man。 〃Play it； unless you know a sadder。 Play something to make your soul weep。 If you have one still。〃
Natael gave him an ingratiating smile and a seated bow； but he went white around the eyes。 It was indeed 〃The March of Death〃 that he began； yet it had a sharper edge on his harp than ever before； a dirge…like keen that surely would make any soul weep。 He stared fixedly at Rand as if hoping to see some effect。
Turning away； Rand stretched out on the carpets with his head to the maps and a red…and…gold cushion under his elbow。 〃Lan； would you ask the others to e in now？〃
The Warder made a formal bow before stepping outside。 It was the first time that he had ever done that； but Rand noticed only absently。
The battle would begin tomorrow。 It was a polite fiction that he helped Rhuarc and the others plan。 He was smart enough to know what he did not know； and despite all of his talks with Lan and Rhuarc； he knew he was not ready。 I've planned a hundred battles this size or more and given orders that led to ten times as many。 Not his thought。 Lews Therin knew war … had known war … but not Rand al'Thor； and that was him。 He listened； asked questions … and nodded as if he understood when the chiefs said a thing should be done a certain way。 Sometimes he did understand and wished he did not； because he knew where that understanding came from。 His only real contribution had been to say that Couladin had to be defeated without destroying the city。 In any； case； this meeting would only add a few touches at most to what had already been decided。
Mat would have been useful； with his new…found knowledge。
No。 He would not think of his friends； of what he would do to them before it was all done。 Even leaving the battle aside； there was plenty to occupy him； things he could do something about。 The absence of Cairhienin flags above Cairhien marked a major problem； and the continued skirmishes with Andorans another。 What Sammael was up to warranted thought； and。。。
The chiefs filed in in no particular order。 This time Dhearic came first； Rhuarc and Erim together at the rear with Lan。 Bruan and Jheran took the places next to Rand。 They did not concern themselves with precedence among themselves； and Aan'allein they seemed to take as all but one of them。
Weiramon entered last； his lordlings at his heels and a tight…mou