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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 I can see what is happening； and maybe do something about it。 Everyone who is injured is to remain here； alone with enough others to protect them if need be。 Make it a strong guard； Sulin； I only need a handful with me； and it's poor repayment for the honor the Maidens have shown me if I let their wounded be slaughtered。〃 That should hold the greater part of them away from the fighting。 He himself would have to stay clear to keep the rest out； but the way he felt； that would be no burden。 〃I want you to stay here； and …〃
〃I am not one of the injured；〃 she said stiffly； and he hesitated； then nodded slowly。
〃Very well。〃 He had no doubt that her injury was serious； but neither did he doubt that she was tough。 And if she stayed； he might be stuck with someone like Enaila leading his guard。 Being treated like a brother was nowhere near as annoying as being treated like a son； and he was in no mood to put up with the latter。 〃But I trust you to see that no one follows who is injured； Sulin。 I will have to keep moving。 I can't afford anyone who will slow me down or must be left behind。〃
She nodded so quickly that he was convinced she would make any Maiden with as much as a scratch remain behind。 Except herself； of course。 This was one time he felt no guilt over using someone。 The Maidens had chosen to carry the spear； but they had chosen to follow him； too。 Maybe 〃follow〃 was not precisely the word； considering some of the things they did； but that did not change anything； to his mind。 He would not； he could not； order a woman to her death； and that was that。 In truth； he had expected some sort of protest before this。 He was only grateful that it had not e。 I must be more subtle than I think。
Two pale…robed gai'shain arrived leading Jeade'en and Mist； and behind them followed a crowd of others； arms full of bandages and ointments and over their shoulders bulging water bags in layers； under the direction of Sorilea and a dozen other Wise Ones whom he had met。 At most he thought he might know the names of half。
Sorilea was very definitely in charge； and she quickly had gai'shain and other Wise Ones alike circulating among the Maidens tending wounds。 She eyed Rand and Egwene and Aviendha； frowning thoughtfully and pursing her thin lips； obviously thinking that all three looked tossed about enough to need their injuries bathed。 That look was enough to send Egwene scrambling into the gray's saddle with a smile and a nod for the aged Wise One； though if Aiel had been more familiar with riding； Sorilea would have realized that Egwene's awkward stiffness was not usual。 And it was a measure of Aviendha's condition that she let Egwene pull her up behind the saddle without the slightest protest。 She smiled at Sorilea； too。
Gritting his teeth； Rand pulled himself into his own saddle in one smooth motion。 Aching muscles' protests were buried under an avalanche of pain in his side； as though he had been stabbed anew； and it took a full minute before he could breathe again； but he let none of it show。
Egwene reined Mist close to Jeade'en； near enough to whisper。 〃If you cannot mount a horse any better than that； Rand al'Thor； maybe you should forget about riding at all for a while。〃 Aviendha wore one of those blank Aiel expressions； but her eyes were intent on his face。
〃I noticed you mounting； too；〃 he said quietly。 〃Maybe you ought to stay here and help Sorilea until you feel better。〃 That shut her up； even if it did tighten her mouth sourly。 Aviendha gave Sorilea another smile； the old Wise One was still watching。
Rand booted the dapple to a trot downhill。 Every step sent a jolt up his side that had him breathing through his teeth； but he had ground to cover； and he could not do it at a walk。 Besides； Sorilea's stare had been starting to get on his nerves。
Mist joined Jeade'en before he was fifty paces down the overgrown slope； and another fifty brought Sulin and a stream of Maidens； some running to position themselves ahead。 More than he had hoped for； but it should not matter。 What he had to do would not involve getting very close to the fighting。 They could stay back in safety with him。
Seizing saidin was an effort in and of itself； even through the angreal； and the sheer weight of it seemed to press down on him greater than ever； the taint stronger。 At least the Void shielded him from his own pain。 Somewhat； anyway。 And if Sammael tried to play games with him again。。。
He quickened Jeade'en's pace。 Whatever Sammael did； he still had his own job to do。
Rain dripped from the brim of Mat's hat； and periodically he had to lower his looking glass and wipe off the end of the tube。 The downpour had slackened in the last hour； but the sparse branches overhead gave no shelter at all。 His coat was long since soaked； and Pips' ears were down； the horse stood as if not intending to move however Mat thumped his heels。
He did not know for sure what time of day it was。 Somewhere in the middle of the afternoon； he thought； but the dark clouds had not thinned along with the rain； and they hid the sun where he was。 On the other hand； it felt very much like three or four days since he had ridden down to warn the Tairens。 He was still not sure why he had done that。
It was southward that he peered； and a way out that he looked for。 A way out for three thousand men； easily that many survived yet； though they had no idea what he was up to。 They believed he was hunting another fight for them； but three so far were three too many by his book。 He thought he could have escaped on his own； now； so long as he kept his eyes open and his wits about him。 Three thousand men； however； drew eyes whenever they moved； and they did not move quickly； what with more than half their number afoot。 That was why he was on this Light…forsaken hilltop； and why the Tairens and Cairhienin were all jammed into the long； narrow hollow between this hill and the next。 If he simply made a break for it。。。
Jamming the looking glass back to his eye； he glared south at sparsely wooded hills。 Here and there were thickets； some fairly large； but most of the land was scrub or grass even here。 He had worked back to the east； using every fold in the ground that would hide a mouse； bringing the column with him out of the treeless terrain and into some proper cover。 Out of those bloody lightning strikes and fireballs； he was not sure whether it was worse when they came； or when the earth simply erupted in a roar for no apparent reason。 All that effort to find that the battle was shifting with him。 He could not seem to get out of the center of the thing。
Where's my bloody luck now that I really need it？ He was a pea…brained fool for staying。 Just because he had managed to keep the others alive this long did not mean he could keep it up。 Soon or late； the dice would e up the Dark One's Eyes。 They're the flaming soldiers。 I should leave them to it and ride。
But he kept searching； scan