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een before tonight。
Perrin stared back defiantly。 His mouth curled into a tight smile at the thought of his teeth meeting in the man's throat。
Abruptly his smile faded； and he shook himself。 My teeth？ I'm a man； not a wolf！ Light； there has to be an end to this！ But he still met Byar's glare； hate for hate。
〃I do not care about wolf…hide rugs； Child Byar。〃 The rebuke in the Lord Captain's voice was gentle； but Byar's back snapped rigid again； his eyes locking to the wall of the tent。 〃You were reporting on what we achieved this night； no？ If we achieved anything。〃
〃I would estimate the pack that attacked us at fifty beasts or more； my Lord Captain。 Of that； we killed at least twenty； perhaps thirty。 I did not consider it worth the risk of losing more horses to have the carcasses brought in tonight。 In the morning I will have them gathered and burned； those that aren't dragged off in the dark。 Besides these two； there were at least a dozen other men。 I believe we disposed of four or five； but it is unlikely we will find any bodies； given the Darkfriends' propensity for carrying away their dead to hide their losses。 This seems to have been a coordinated ambush； but that raises the question of 。。。〃
Perrin's throat tightened as the gaunt man went on。 Elyas？ Cautiously； reluctantly； he felt for Elyas； for the wolves 。。。 and found nothing。 It was as if he had never been able to feel a wolf's mind。 Either they're dead； or they've abandoned you。 He wanted to laugh； a bitter laugh。 At last he had what he had been wishing for； but the price was high。
The gray…haired man did laugh； just then； a rich； wry chuckle that made a red spot bloom on each of Byar's cheeks。 〃So； Child Byar； it is your considered estimate that we were attacked in a planned ambush by upwards of fifty wolves and better than half a score of Darkfriends？ Yes？ Perhaps when you've seen a few more actions 。。。 〃
〃But； my Lord Captain Bornhald 。。。 〃
〃I would say six or eight wolves； Child Byar； and perhaps no other humans than these two。 You have the true zeal； but no experience outside the cities。 It is a different thing； bringing the Light； when streets and houses are far distant。 Wolves have a way of seeming more than they are； in the night … and men； also。 Six or eight at most； I think。〃 Byar's flush deepened slowly。 〃I also suspect they were here for the same reason we are： the only easy water for at least a day in any direction。 A much simpler explanation than spies or traitors within the Children； and the simplest explanation is usually the truest。 You will learn； with experience。〃
Byar's face went deathly white as the grandfatherly man spoke； by contrast； the two spots in his hollow cheeks deepened from red to purple。 He cut his eyes toward the two prisoners for an instant。
He hates us even more； now； Perrin thought； for hearing this。 But why did he hate us in the first place？
〃What do you think of this？〃 the Lord Captain said； holding up Perrin's axe。
Byar looked a question at his mander and waited for an answering nod before he broke his rigid stance to take the weapon。 He hefted the axe and gave a surprised grunt； then whirled it in a tight arc above his head that barely missed the top of the tent。 He handled it as surely as if he had been born with an axe in his hands。 A look of grudging admiration flickered across his face； but by the time he lowered the axe he was expressionless once more。
〃Excellently balanced； my Lord Captain。 Plainly made； but by a very good weaponsmith； perhaps even a master。〃 His eyes burned darkly at the prisoners。 〃Not a villager's weapon； my Lord Captain。 Nor a farmer's。〃
〃No。〃 The gray…haired man turned toward Perrin and Egwene with a weary； slightly chiding smile； a kindly grandfather who knew his grandchildren had been up to some mischief。 〃My name is Geofram Bornhald；〃 he told them。 〃You are Perrin； I understand。 But you； young woman； what is your name？〃
Perrin glowered at him； but Egwene shook her head。 〃Don't be silly； Perrin。 I'm Egwene。〃
〃Just Perrin； and just Egwene；〃 Bornhald murmured。 〃But I suppose if you truly are Darkfriends； you wish to hide your identities as much as possible。 〃
Perrin heaved himself up to his knees； he could rise no further because of the way he was bound。 〃We aren't Darkfriends；〃 he protested angrily。
The words were not pletely out of his mouth before Byar reached him。 The man moved like a snake。 He saw the handle of his own axe swinging toward him and tried to duck； but the thick haft caught him over the ear。 Only the fact that he was moving away from the blow kept his skull from being split。 Even so； lights flashed in his eyes。 Breath left him as he struck the ground。 His head rung； and blood ran down his cheek。
〃You have no right；〃 Egwene began； and screamed as the axe handle whipped toward her。 She threw herself aside； and the blow whistled through empty air as she tumbled to the ground cloth。
〃You will keep a civil tongue；〃 Byar said； 〃when speaking to an Anointed of the Light； or you will have no tongue。 〃 The worst of it was his voice still had no emotion at all。 Cutting out their tongues would give him no pleasure and no regret； it was just something he would do。
〃Go easy； Child Byar。〃 Bornhald looked at the captives again。 〃I expect you do not know much about the Anointed； or about Lords Captain of the Children of the Light； do you？ No； I thought not。 Well； for Child Byar's sake； at least； try not to argue or shout； yes？ I want no more than that you should walk in the Light； and letting anger get the better of you won't help any of us。〃
Perrin looked up at the gaunt…faced man standing over them。 For Child Byar's sake？ He noticed that the Lord Captain did not tell Byar to leave them alone。 Byar met his eyes and smiled； the smile touched only his mouth； but the skin of his face drew tighter； until it looked like a skull。 Perrin shivered。
〃I have heard of this thing of men running with wolves；〃 Bornhald said musingly； 〃though I have not seen it before。 Men supposedly talking with wolves； and with other creatures of the Dark One。 A filthy business。 It makes me fear the Last Battle is indeed ing soon。〃
〃Wolves aren't …〃 Perrin cut off as Byar's boot drew back。 Taking a deep breath； he went on in a milder tone。 Byar lowered his foot with a disappointed grimace。 〃Wolves aren't creatures of the Dark One。 They hate the Dark One。 At least； they hate Trollocs； and Fades。〃 He was surprised to see the gaunt…faced man nod as if to himself。
Bornhald raised an eyebrow。 〃Who told you that？〃
〃A Warder；〃 Egwene said。 She scrunched away from Byar's heated eyes。 〃He said wolves hate Trollocs； and Trollocs are afraid of wolves。〃 Perrin was glad she had not mentioned Elyas。
〃A Warder；〃 the gray…haired man sighed。 〃A creature of the Tar Valon witches。 What else would that sort tell you； when he is a Darkfriend himself； and a servant of Darkfriends？ Do you not know Trollocs have wolves' muzzles and teeth； and wolves' fur？〃
Perrin blinked； trying to clear his head。 His brain still felt like jellied pain； but there was something wrong here。 He could not get his thoughts straight enough to puzzle it out。
〃Not all of them；〃 Egwene muttered。 Perrin gave Byar a wary look； but the gaunt man only watched her。 〃Some of them have horns； like rams or goats； or hawks' beaks； or 。。。 or 。。。 all sorts of things。〃
Bornhald shook his head sadly。 〃I give you every chance； and you dig yourself deeper with every word。〃 He held up one finger。 〃You run with wolves； creatures of the Dark One。〃 A second finger。 〃You admit to being acquainted with a Warder； another creature of the Dark One。 I doubt he would have told you what he did if it was only in passing。〃 A third finger。 〃You； boy； carry a Tar Valon mark in your pocket。 Most men outside Tar Valon get rid of those as fast as they can。 Unless they serve the Tar Valon witches。〃 A fourth。 〃You carry a fighting man's weapon while you dress like a farmboy。 A skulker； then。〃 The thumb rose。 〃You know Trollocs； and Myrddraal。 This far south； only a few scholars and t