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trust。 〃I've heard Egwene and others talk about Aes Sedai linking their powers。 If they can do it； why not you and I？〃
〃Because we can't。〃 Exasperation filled Asmodean's tone。 〃Ask a philosopher if you want to know why。 Why can't dogs fly？ Perhaps in the grand scheme of the Pattern； it's a balance for men being stronger。 We cannot link without them； but they can without us。 Up to thirteen of them can； anyway； a small mercy； after that； they need men to make the circle larger。〃
Rand was sure he had caught a lie； this time。 Moiraine said that in the Age of Legends men and women had been equally strong in the Power； and she could not lie。 He said as much； adding； 〃The Five Powers are equal。〃
〃Earth； Fire； Air； Water； and Spirit。〃 Natael strummed a chord for each。 〃They are equal； true； and it is also true that what a man can do with one； a woman can also。 In kind； at least。 But that has nothing to do with men being stronger。 What Moiraine believes to be truth； she tells as truth whether or not it is； one of a thousand weaknesses in those fool Oaths。〃 He played a bit of something that did indeed sound foolish。 〃Some women have stronger arms than some men； but in general it is the other way around。 The same holds with strength in the Power； and in about the same proportion。〃
Rand nodded slowly。 It did make a kind of sense。 Elayne and Egwene were considered two of the strongest women to train in the Tower for a thousand years or more； but he had tested himself against them once； and later Elayne had confessed that she felt like a kitten seized by a mastiff。
Asmodean was not finished。 〃If two women link； they do not double their strength … linking is not as simple as adding together the power of each … but if they are strong enough； they can match a man。 And when they take the circle to thirteen； then you must be wary。 Thirteen women who can barely channel could overpower most men； linked。 The thirteen weakest women in the Tower could overpower you or any man； and barely breathe hard。 I came across a saying in Arad Doman。 'The more women there are about； the softer a wise man steps。' It would not be bad to remember it。〃
Rand shivered； thinking of a time when he had been among many more than thirteen Aes Sedai。 Of course； most of them had not known who he was。 If they had。。。 If Egwene and Moiraine linked。。。 He did not want to believe Egwene had gone that far toward the Tower and away from their friendship。 Whatever she does； she does with her whole heart； and she's being Aes Sedai。 So is Elayne。
Swallowing half his wine did not pletely wash the thought away。 〃What more can you tell me about the Forsaken？〃 It was a question he was sure he had asked a hundred times； but he always hoped there was a scrap more to dig out。 Better than thinking about Moiraine and Egwene linking to。。。
〃I have told everything I know。〃 Asmodean sighed heavily。 〃We were hardly close friends at the best。 Do you believe I am holding back something？ I don't know where the others are； if that is what you want。 Except Sammael； and you knew he'd taken Illian for his kingdom before I told you。 Graendal was in Arad Doman for a time； but I expect she has gone now； she likes her forts too well。 I suspect Moghedien is or was in the west somewhere as well； but no one ever finds the Spider unless she wants to be found。 Rahvin has a queen for one of his pets； but your guess is as good as mine as to what country she rules for him。 And that is all I know that might help locate them。〃
Rand had heard all that before； it seemed he had heard all Asmodean had to say of the Forsaken fifty times already。 So often that at moments it seemed he had always known what the man was telling him。 Some of it he almost wished he had never learned … what Semirhage found amusing； for instance … and some made no sense。 Demandred had gone over to the Shadow because he envied Lews Therin Telamon？ Rand could not imagine envying someone enough to do anything because of it； and surely not that。 Asmodean claimed it had been the thought of immortality； of endless Ages of music； that seduced him； he claimed to have been a noted poser of music； before。 Senseless。 Yet in that mass of often blood…chilling knowledge might lie keys to surviving Tarmon Gai'don。 Whatever he told Moiraine； he knew he would have to face them then； if not before。 Emptying the goblet； he set it on the floor tiles。 Wine would not wash out facts。
The bead curtain rattled； and he looked over his shoulder as gai'shain entered； white…robed and silent。 While some began gathering up the food and drink that had been laid out for him and the chiefs； another； a man； carried a large silver tray to the table。 On it were covered dishes； a silver cup； and two large； green…striped pottery pitchers。 One would hold wine； the other water。 A gai'shain woman brought in a gilded lamp； already lit； and set it beside the tray。 Through the windows； the sky was beginning to take on the yellow…red of sunset； in the brief time between baking and freezing； the air actually felt fortable。
Rand stood as the gai'shain departed； but did not follow immediately。 〃What do you think of my chances when the Last Battle es； Natael？〃
Asmodean hesitated in pulling red…and…blue striped wool blankets from behind his cushions and looked up at him； head tilted in that sideways manner of his。 〃You found。。。 something。。。 in the square the day we met here。〃
〃Forget that；〃 Rand said harshly。 There had been two； not one。 〃I destroyed it； in any case。〃 He thought Asmodean's shoulders slumped a trifle。
〃Then the … Dark One … will consume you alive。 As for me； I intend to open my veins the hour I know he is free。 If I get the chance。 A quick death is better than what I'll find elsewhere。〃 He tossed the blankets aside and sat staring glumly at nothing。 〃Better than going mad； certainly。 I'm as subject to that as you； now。 You broke the bonds that protected me。〃 There was no bitterness in his voice； only hopelessness。
〃What if there was another way to shield against the taint？〃 Rand demanded。 〃What if it could be removed somehow？ Would you still kill yourself then？〃
Asmodean's barked laugh was utterly acid。 〃The Shadow take me； you must be beginning to think you really are the bloody Creator！ We are dead。 Both of us。 Dead！ Are you too blind with pride to see it？ Or just too thick…witted； you hopeless shepherd？〃
Rand refused to be drawn。 〃Then why not go ahead and end it？〃 he asked in a tight voice。 I wasn't too blind to see what you and Lanfear were up to。 I wasn't too thick…witted to fool her and trap you。 〃If there's no hope； no chance； not the smallest shred。。。 then why are you still alive？〃
Still not looking at him； Asmodean rubbed the side of his nose。 〃I once saw a man hanging from a cliff；〃 he said slowly。 〃The brink was crumbling under his fingers； and the only thing near enough to grasp was a tuft of grass； a few long blades with roots barely clinging to the rock。 The only chance he had of climbing back up on the cliff。 So he grabbed it。〃 His abrupt chuckle held no mirth。 〃He had to know it would pull free。〃
〃Did you save him？〃 Rand