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He was drifting again； away from what was important。
However long ago the sun had gone down； it had sunk on fighting； lengthening shadows gradually overwhelming the golden…red light； the men killing and dying。 Now； vagrant winds still brought distant shouts and screams。 Because of Couladin； true； but at the heart of it； because of himself。
For a moment he could not remember his name。
〃Rand al'Thor；〃 he said aloud； and shivered； though his coat was damp with sweat。 For an instant； that name had sounded strange to him。 〃I am Rand al'Thor； and I need to。。。 I need to see。〃
He had not eaten since morning； but then； the taint on saidin drove hunger away。 The Void quivered constantly； and he hung on to the True Source by his fingernails。 It was like riding a bull driven mad by redwort； or swimming naked in a river of fire churned to rapids by jagged boulders of ice。 Yet when he was not on the brink of being gored or battered or drowned； it seemed that saidin was the only strength left in him。 Saidin was there； filing at the edges of him； trying to erode or corrode his mind； but ready to be used。
With a jerky nod； he channeled； and something burned high in the sky。 Something。 A ball of bubbling blue flame that banished shadows in harsh light。
Hills mounded up all around； trees black in the stark illumination。 Nothing moved。 A faint sound came to him on a gust of wind。 Cheering perhaps； or singing。 Or maybe he was imagining things； it was so tiny； he could well have been； and it died with the wind。
Suddenly he became aware of the Maidens around him； hundreds of them。 Some； including Sulin； were staring at him； but many had their eyes squeezed shut。 It took him a moment to realize they were trying to preserve night vision。 He frowned； searching。 Egwene and Aviendha were no longer there。 Another long moment passed before he remembered to loose the weave of his channeling and let blackness reclaim the night。 A deep blackness to his eyes； now。
〃Where are they？〃 He was vaguely irritated when he had to say who he meant； and just as vaguely aware that he had no reason for it。
〃They went to Moiraine Sedai and the Wise Ones at dusk； Car'a'carn；〃 Sulin replied； moving closer to Jeade'en。 Her short white hair shone in the moonlight。 No； her head was bandaged。 How could he have forgotten？ 〃A good two hours gone。 They know that flesh is not stone。 Even the strongest legs can run only so far。〃
Rand frowned。 Legs？ They had been riding Mist。 The woman was making no sense。 〃I have to find them。〃
〃They are with Moiraine Sedai and the Wise Ones； Car'a'carn；〃 she said slowly。 He thought she was frowning too； but it was hard to be sure。
〃Not them；〃 he muttered。 〃Have to find my people。 They're still out there； Sulin。〃 Why was the stallion not moving？ 〃Can you hear them？ Out there； in the night。 Still fighting。 I need to help them。〃 Of course； he had to dig his heels into the dapple's ribs。 But when he did； Jeade'en only shifted sideways； with Sulin holding on to his bridle。 He did not remember that she had been holding the bridle。
〃The Wise Ones must speak to you now； Rand al'Thor。〃 Her voice had changed； but he was too weary to say how。
〃Can't it wait？〃 He must have missed the runner with the message。 〃I must find them； Sulin。〃
Enaila seemed to spring up on the other side of the stallion's head。 〃You have found your people； Rand al'Thor。〃
〃The Wise Ones are waiting for you；〃 Sulin added。 She and Enaila turned Jeade'en without waiting on his agreement。 Maidens crowded in for some reason as they started along a winding way down the side of the hill； faces reflecting moonlight as they stared up at him； so close their shoulders brushed the horse's flanks。
〃Whatever they want；〃 he grumbled； 〃they had best be quick。〃 There was no need for them to be leading the dapple； but it was too much effort to make a fuss over it。 He twisted to look back； grunting at the pain in his side； the crest was already swallowed in the night。 〃I have a lot to do yet。 I need to find。。。〃 Couladin。 Sammael。 The men who were fighting and dying for him。 〃I need to find them。〃 He was so tired； but he could not sleep yet。
Lamps on poles lit the Wise Ones' encampment； and small fires where kettles of water were hauled away and replaced by white…robed men and women as soon as they began boiling。 Gai'shain scurried everywhere； and Wise Ones as well； tending the wounded whose numbers swelled the camp。 Moiraine was moving slowly down the long lines of those who could not stand； only rarely pausing to lay hands on an Aiel who then thrashed in the throes of being Healed。 She swayed whenever she straightened； and Lan hovered behind her as if wanting to hold her up； or expecting to have to。 Sulin exchanged words with Adelin and Enaila； too low for Rand to make out； and the younger women ran to speak to the Aes Sedai。
Despite the numbers of wounded； not all of the Wise Ones were looking after them。 Inside a pavilion off to one side； perhaps twenty sat in a circle listening to one standing in the center。 When she sat； another took her place。 Gai'shain knelt around the outside of the pavilion； but none of the Wise Ones appeared to have any interest in wine； or anything except what they were hearing。 Rand thought the speaker was Amys。
To his surprise； Asmodean was also helping out with the wounded； the water bag hanging from each shoulder looking decidedly odd with his dark velvet coat and white lace。 Straightening from giving a drink to a man stripped to the waist except for bandages； he saw Rand and hesitated。
After a moment he handed the water bags to one of the gai'shain and wove his way through the Maidens toward Rand。 They ignored him … they all seemed to be watching Adelin and Enaila speaking to Moiraine or else eyeing Rand … and his face was tight by the time he had to pause for the solid circle of Far Dareis Mai around Jeade'en。 They were slow in parting； and did so just enough to let him through to Rand's stirrup。
〃I was sure you must be safe。 I was sure。〃 From his tone of voice； he had been no such thing。 When Rand did not speak； Asmodean shrugged unfortably。 〃Moiraine insisted I carry water。 A forceful woman； to not allow the Lord Dragon's bard to。。。〃 Trailing off； he licked his lips quickly。 〃What happened？〃
〃Sammael；〃 Rand said； but not in answer。 He was just speaking the thoughts that drifted through the Void。 〃I remember when he was first named Destroyer of Hope。 After he betrayed the Gates of Hevan and carried the Shadow down into the Rorn M'doi and the heart of Satelle。 Hope did seem to die that day。 Culan Cuhan wept。 What is wrong？〃 Asmodean's face had gone as white as Sulin's hair； he only shook his head mutely。 Rand peered at the pavilion。 Whoever was speaking now； he did not know her。 〃Is that where they are waiting for me？ Then I should join them。〃
〃They will not wele you yet；〃 Lan said； appearing beside Asmodean； who jumped； 〃or any man。〃 Rand had not heard or seen the Warder approach either； but he only turned his head。 Even that seemed an effort。 It seemed to be someone else's head。 〃