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t。 He was so tired he could have dropped off to sleep at once if he had not hurt so much。 As well he did hurt； then； because he surely could not sleep。 Not for a long time； yet。
Sliding a hand beneath his coat； he touched his side； then surreptitiously wiped the blood off his fingers onto his shirt before bringing the hand out again。 No wonder that a fall like that had broken open the half…healed； never…healed wound。 He did not seem to be bleeding too badly； but if the Maidens saw it； or Egwene； or even Aviendha； he might have a fight to keep from being hauled off to Moiraine for Healing。 He had too much to do yet for that … being Healed on top of everything else would act on him like a cudgel to the temple … and besides； there must be far worse hurt than what he suffered for her to deal with。
Grimacing； suppressing another groan； he got to his feet with only a little help from Aviendha。 And promptly forgot about his injuries。
Sulin sat on the ground nearby； with Egwene bandaging a bloody split in her scalp and muttering fiercely at herself because she did not know how to Heal； but the white…haired Maiden was not the only casualty； and not the worst by far。 Everywhere cadin'sor…clad women were covering the dead with blankets； and tending those who had merely been burned； if 〃merely〃 could be used for lightning burns。 Except for Egwene's grumbling； the hilltop lay in near silence； even the injured women quiet save for hoarse breathing。
The log tower； all but unrecognizable now； had not spared the Maidens in its fall； breaking arms and legs； tearing open gashes。 He watched as a blanket was laid over the face of a Maiden with red…gold hair almost the shade of Elayne's； head twisted at an unnatural angle and glazed eyes staring。 Jolien。 One of those who first crossed the Dragonwall to search for He Who es With The Dawn。 She had gone to the Stone of Tear for him。 And now she was dead。 For him。 Oh； you've done well at keeping the Maidens from harm； he thought bitterly。 Very well indeed。
He could still feel the lightning； or rather the residue of its making。 Almost like the after…image burned into his eyes earlier； he could trace the weave； though it was fading。 To his surprise； it led west； not back toward the tents。 Not Asmodean； then。
〃Sammael。〃 He was sure of it。 Sammael had sent that attack in the Jangai； Sammael was behind the pirates and the raids in Tear； and Sammael had done this。 His lips peeled back in a snarl； and his voice was a harsh whisper。 〃Sammael！〃 He did not realize he had taken a step until Aviendha seized his arm。
A moment later； Egwene had the other； the pair of them clinging to him as if they meant to root him to the spot。 〃Do not be a plete wool…head；〃 Egwene said； giving a start at his glare but not letting go。 She had redone the brown scarf around her head； but bing with her fingers had not put her hair back in order； and dust still covered her blouse and skirt。 〃Whoever did this； why do you think he waited so long； until you must be tired？ Because if he missed killing you； and you went after him； you would be easy meat。 You can barely stand on your own！〃
Aviendha was no readier to let go； meeting his stare with a flat one of her own。 〃You are needed here； Rand al'Thor。 Here； Car'a'carn。 Does your honor lie with killing this man； or here with those you have brought to this land？〃
A young Aielman came running up through the Maidens； shoufa around his shoulders； spears and buckler swinging easily。 If he thought it odd to find two women holding Rand between them； he gave no hint of it。 He eyed the shattered remnants of the tower and the dead and wounded with a slight curiosity； as though wondering how it might have happened and where the enemy dead might be。 Grounding his spearpoints in front of Rand； he said； 〃I am Seirin； of the Shorara sept of the Tomanelle。〃
〃I see you； Seirin；〃 Rand replied just as formally。 Not easy with a pair of women holding him as if they thought he might run。
〃Han of the Tomanelle sends word to the Car'a'carn。 The clans to the east are moving toward each other。 All four。 Han means to join with Dhearic； and he has sent to Erim to join them。〃
Rand drew a measured breath； and hoped the women thought his grimace was for the news； his side burned； and he could feel blood spreading slowly down his shirt。 So there would be nothing to force Couladin north when the Shaido broke。 If they broke； they had given no evidence of it yet that he had seen。 Why were the Miagoma and the others joining together？ If they meant to e against him； they were only giving warning。 But if they meant to e against him； Han and Dhearic and Erim would be outnumbered； and if the Shaido held long enough and the four clans broke through。。。 Across the wooded hills he could see that it had begun to rain over the city now that Egwene and Aviendha were not holding the clouds。 That would hamper both sides。 Unless the women were in better shape than they looked； they might be unable to regain control from this distance。
〃Tell Han to do what he must to keep them off our backs。〃
Young as he was … he was about Rand's age； e to that … Seirin raised an eyebrow in surprise。 Of course。 Han would not do differently； and Seirin knew it。 He waited only long enough to make certain that Rand had no further message： then he was off and running downhill； just as fast as he had e。 No doubt he hoped to get back without missing any more of the fighting than he had to。 For that matter； it might already have begun； there to the east。
〃I need someone to fetch Jeade'en；〃 Rand said as soon as Seirin had dashed off。 If he tried to walk that far； he really would need the women to hold him up。 The two of them looked nothing alike； yet they managed practically identical suspicion。 Those frowns must have been one of the things every girl was taught by her mother。 〃I am not going after Sammael。〃 Not yet。 〃I have to get closer to the city； though。〃 He nodded to the fallen tower； that was the only gesture available with them hanging on。 Master Tovere might be able to salvage the lenses from the looking glasses； but there were not three logs of the tower unbroken。 No more observing everything from on high today。
Egwene was plainly uncertain； but Aviendha barely paused before asking a young Maiden to go to the gai'shain。 To fetch Mist； too； which he had not counted on。 Egwene began brushing herself off； muttering under her breath at the dust； and Aviendha had found an ivory b and another scarf somewhere。 Despite the fall； somehow they already looked considerably less disheveled than he。 Weariness still marked their faces； but as long as they could channel at all； they would be useful。
That gave him pause。 Did he ever think of anyone now except as to how useful they were？ He should be able to keep them as safe as they had been atop the tower。 Not that the tower had been very safe； as it turned out； but this time he would manage things better。
Sulin stood as he approached； a pale cap of algode bandage covering the top of her head； her hair a white fringe below。
〃I am moving nearer the city；〃 he told her； 〃where