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The thought blossomed in his mind； a clear burst of light in the midst of chaos； so startling that for a moment he forgot everything else； even where he was。 Dapple was alive。 Elyas； he thought at the wolf； demanding without words to know if the man was alive。 An image came back。 Elyas； lying on a bed of evergreen branches beside a small fire in a cave； tending a wound in his side。 It all took only an instant。 He gaped at Byar； and his face broke into a foolish grin。 Elyas was alive。 Dapple was alive。 Help was ing。
Byar paused； risen only to a crouch； looking at him。 〃Some thought has e to you； Perrin of the Two Rivers； and I would know what it is。〃
For a moment Perrin thought he meant the thought from Dapple。 Panic fled across his face； followed by relief。 Byar could not possibly know。
Byar watched his changes of expression； and for the first time the Whitecloak's eyes went to the rock he had tossed on the ground。
He was reconsidering； Perrin realized。 If he changed his mind about the rock； would he dare risk leaving them alive to talk？ Ropes could be frayed after the people wearing them were dead； even if it made for risk of discovery。 He looked into Byar's eyes … the shadowed hollows of the man's eye sockets made them appear to stare at him from dark caves … and he saw death decided。
Byar opened his mouth； and as Perrin waited for sentence to be pronounced； things began to happen too fast for thought。
Suddenly one of the guards vanished。 One minute there were two dim shapes； the next the night swallowed one of them。 The second guard turned； the beginning of a cry on his lips； but before the first syllable was uttered there was a solid tchunk and he toppled over like a felled tree。
Byar spun； swift as a striking viper； the axe whirling in his hands so fast that it hummed。 Perrin's eyes bulged as the night seemed to flow into the lantern light。 His mouth opened to yell； but his throat locked tight with fear。 For an instant he even forgot that Byar wanted to kill them。 The Whitecloak was another human being； and the night had e alive to take them all。
Then the darkness invading the light became Lan； cloak swirling through shades of gray and black as he moved。 The axe in Byar's hands lashed out like lightning 。。。 and Lan seemed to lean casually aside； letting the blade pass so close he must have felt the wind of it。 Byar's eyes widened as the force of his blow carried him off balance； as the Warder struck with hands and feet in rapid succession； so quick that Perrin was not sure what he had just seen。 What he was sure of was Byar collapsing like a puppet。 Before the falling Whitecloak had finished settling to the ground； the Warder was on his knees extinguishing the lantern。
In the sudden return to darkness； Perrin stared blindly。 Lan seemed to have vanished again。
〃Is it really 。。。 ？〃 Egwene gave a stifled sob。 〃We thought you were dead。 We thought you were all dead。〃
〃Not yet。〃 The Warder's deep whisper was tinged with amusement。
Hands touched Perrin； found his bonds。 A knife sliced through the ropes with barely a tug； and he was free。 Aching muscles protested as he sat up。 Rubbing his wrists； he peered at the graying mound that marked Byar。 〃Did you 。。。 ？ Is he 。。。 ？〃
〃No；〃 Lan's voice answered quietly from the darkness。 〃I do not kill unless I mean to。 But he won't bother anyone for a while。 Stop asking questions and get a pair of their cloaks。 We do not have much time。〃
Perrin crawled to where Byar lay。 It took an effort to touch the man； and when he felt the Whitecloak's chest rising and falling he almost jerked his hands away。 His skin crawled as he made himself unfasten the white cloak and pull it off。 Despite what Lan said； he could imagine the skull…faced man suddenly rearing up。 Hastily he fumbled around till he found his axe； then crawled to another guard。 It seemed strange； at first； that he felt no reluctance to touch this unconscious man； but the reason came to him。 All the Whitecloaks hated him； but that was a human emotion。 Byar felt nothing beyond that he should die； there was no hate in it； no emotion at all。
Gathering the two cloaks in his arms； he turned … and panic grabbed him。 In the darkness he suddenly had no sense of direction； of how to find his way back to Lan and the others。 His feet rooted to the ground； afraid to move。 Even Byar was hidden by the night without his white cloak。 There was nothing by which to orient himself。 Any way he went might be out into the camp。
〃Here。 〃
He stumbled toward Lan's whisper until hands stopped him。 Egwene was a dim shadow； and Lan's face was a blur； the rest of the Warder seemed not to be there at all。 He could feel their eyes on him； and he wondered if he should explain。
〃Put on the cloaks；〃 Lan said softly。 〃Quickly。 Bundle your own。 And make no sound。 You aren't safe yet。〃
Hurriedly Perrin passed one of the cloaks to Egwene； relieved at being saved from having to tell of his fear。 He made his own cloak into a bundle to carry； and swung the white cloak around his shoulders in its place。 He felt a prickle as it settled around his shoulders； a stab of worry between his shoulder blades。 Was it Byar's cloak he had ended up with？ He almost thought he could smell the gaunt man on it。
Lan directed them to hold hands； and Perrin gripped his axe in one hand and Egwene's hand with the other； wishing the Warder would get on with their escape so he could stop his imagination from running wild。 But they just stood there； surrounded by the tents of the Children； two shapes in white cloaks and one that was sensed but not seen。
〃Soon；〃 Lan whispered。 〃Very soon。〃
Lightning broke the night above the camp； so close that Perrin felt the hair on his arms； his head； lifting as the bolt charged the air。 Just beyond the tents the earth erupted from the blow； the explosion on the ground merging with that in the sky。 Before the light faded Lan was leading them forward。
At their first step another strike sliced open the blackness。 Lightning came like hail； so that the night flickered as if the darkness were ing in momentary flashes。 Thunder drummed wildly； one roar rumbling into the next； one continuous； rippling peal。 Fear…stricken horses screamed； their whinnies drowned except for moments when the thunder faded。 Men tumbled out of their tents； some in their white cloaks； some only half clothed； some dashing to and fro； some standing as if stunned。
Through the middle of it Lan pulled them at a trot； Perrin bringing up the rear。 Whitecloaks looked at them； wild…eyed； as they passed。 A few shouted at them； the shouts lost in the pounding from the heavens； but with their white cloaks gathered around them no one tried to stop them。 Through the tents； out of the camp and into the night； and no one raised a hand against them。
The ground turned uneven under Perrin's feet； and brush slapped at him as he let himself be drawn along。 The lightning flickered fitfully and was gone。 Echoes of thunder rolled across the sky before they； too； faded away。 Perrin looked over his shoulder。 A handful of fires burned back there； among the tents。 Some of the lightning must have struck home； or perhaps men had knocked over lamps in their panic。 Men still shouted； voices tiny in the night； trying to restore order； to find out what had happened。 The land began to slope upwards； and tents and fires and shouting were left behind。
Suddenly he almost trod on Egwene's heels as Lan stopped。 Ahead in the moonlight stood three horses。
A shadow stirred； and Moiraine's voice came； weighted with irritation。 〃Nynaeve has not returned。 I fear that young woman has done something foolish。〃 Lan spun on his heel as if to return the way they had e； but a single whip…crack word from Moiraine halted him。 〃No！〃 He stood looking at her sideways； only his face and hands truly visible； and they but dimly shadowed blurs。 She went on in a gentler tone； gentler but no less firm。 〃Some things are more important than others。 You know that。〃 The Warder did not move； and her voice hardened again。 〃Remember your oath