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〃The Traveling People live for their songs；〃 Loial said。 〃For all songs； for that matter。 For the search for them； at least。 I met some Tuatha'an a few years back； and they wanted to learn the songs we sing to trees。 Actually； the trees won't listen to very many anymore； and so not many Ogier learn the songs。 I have a scrap of that Talent； so Elder Arent insisted I learn。 I taught the Tuatha'an what they could learn； but the trees never listen to humans。 For the Traveling People they were only songs； and just as well received for that； since none was the song they seek。 That's what they call the leader of each band； the Seeker。 They e to Stedding Shangtai； sometimes。 Few humans do。〃
〃If you please； Loial；〃 Moiraine said； but he cleared his throat suddenly and went on in a quick rumble as if afraid she might stop him。
〃I've just remembered something； Aes Sedai； something I have always wanted to ask an Aes Sedai if ever I met one； since you know many things and have great libraries in Tar Valon； and now I have； of course； and 。。。 may I？〃
〃If you make it brief；〃 she said curtly。
〃Brief；〃 he said as though wondering what it meant。 〃Yes。 Well。 Brief。 There was a man came to Stedding Shangtai a little time back。 This was not unusual in itself； at the time； since a great many refugees had e to the Spine of the World fleeing what you humans call the Aiel War。〃 Rand grinned。 A little time back； twenty years； near enough。 〃He was at the point of death； though there was no wound or mark on him。 The Elders thought it might be something Aes Sedai had done〃 … Loial gave Moiraine an apologetic look … 〃since as soon as he was within the stedding he quickly got well。 A few months。 One night he left without a word to anyone； simply sneaked away when the moon was down。〃 He looked at Moiraine's face and cleared his throat again。 〃Yes。 Brief。 Before he left； he told a curious tale which he said he meant to carry to Tar Valon。 He said the Dark One intended to blind the Eye of the World； and slay the Great Serpent； kill time itself。 The Elders said he was as sound in his mind as in his body； but that was what he said。 What I have wanted to ask is； can the Dark One do such a thing？ Kill time itself？ And the Eye of the World？ Can he blind the eye of the Great Serpent？ What does it mean？〃
Rand expected almost anything from Moiraine except what he saw。 Instead of giving Loial an answer； or telling him she had no time for it now； she stood there staring right through the Ogier； frowning in thought。
〃That's what the Tinkers told us；〃 Perrin said。
〃Yes；〃 Egwene said； 〃the Aiel story。〃
Moiraine turned her head slowly。 No other part of her moved。 〃What story？〃
It was an expressionless look she gave them； but it made Perrin take a deep breath； though when he spoke he was as deliberate as ever。 〃Some Tinkers crossing the Waste … they said they could do that unharmed … found Aiel dying after a battle with Trollocs。 Before the last Aiel died； she … they were all women； apparently … told the Tinkers what Loial just said。 The Dark One … they called him Sightblinder … intends to blind the Eye of the World。 This was only three years ago； not twenty。 Does it mean something？〃
〃Perhaps everything；〃 Moiraine said。 Her face was still； but Rand had the feeling her mind raced behind those dark eyes。
〃Ba'alzamon；〃 Perrin said suddenly。 The name cut off all sound in the room。 No one appeared to breathe。 Perrin looked at Rand； then at Mat； his eyes strangely calm and more yellow than ever。 〃At the time I wondered where I'd heard that name before 。。。 the Eye of the World。 Now I remember。 Don't you？〃
〃I don't want to remember anything；〃 Mat said stiffly。
〃We have to tell her；〃 Perrin continued。 〃It's important now。 We can't keep it secret any longer。 You see it； don't you； Rand？〃
〃Tell me what？〃 Moiraine's voice was harsh； and she seemed to be bracing for a blow。 Her gaze had settled on Rand。
He did not want to answer。 He did not want to remember any more than Mat； but he did remember … and he knew Perrin was right。 〃I've 。。。〃 He looked at his friends。 Mat nodded reluctantly； Perrin decisively； but at least they had done it。 He did not have to face her alone。 〃We have had 。。。 dreams。〃 He rubbed the spot on his finger where the thorn had stuck him once； remembering the blood when he woke。 Queasily remembering the sunburned feel of his face another time。 〃Except maybe they weren't dreams； exactly。 Ba'alzamon was in them。〃 He knew why Perrin had used that name； it was easier than saying the Dark One had been in your dreams； inside your head。 〃He said 。。。 he said all sorts of things； but once he said the Eye of the World would never serve me。〃 For a minute his mouth was as dry as dust。
〃He told me the same thing；〃 Perrin said； and Mat sighed heavily； then nodded。 Rand found he had spit in his mouth again。 〃You aren't angry with us？〃 Perrin asked； sounding surprised； and Rand realized that Moiraine did not seem angry。 She was studying them； but her eyes were clear and calm； if intent。
〃More with myself than you。 But I did ask you to tell me if you had strange dreams。 In the beginning； I asked。〃 Though her voice remained level； a flash of anger crossed her eyes； and was gone in an instant。 〃Had I known after the first such； I might have been able to。。。 There has not been a Dreamwalker in Tar Valon for nearly a thousand years； but I could have tried。 Now it is too late。 Each time the Dark One touches you； he makes the next touching easier for him。 Perhaps my presence can still shield you somewhat； but even then 。。。 Remember the stories of the Forsaken binding men to them？ Strong men； men who had fought the Dark One from the start。 Those stories are true； and none of the Forsaken had a tenth of the strength of their master； not Aginor or Lanfear； not Balthamel or Demandred； not even Ishamael； the Betrayer of Hope himself。 〃
Nynaeve and Egwene were looking at him； Rand saw； him and Mat and Perrin all three。 The women's faces were a blood…drained blend of fear and horror。 Are they afraid for us； or afraid of us？
〃What can we do？〃 he asked。 〃There has to be something。〃
〃Staying close by me；〃 Moiraine replied； 〃will help。 Some。 The protection from touching the True Source extends around me a little； remember。 But you cannot always remain close to me。 You can defend yourself； if you have the strength for it； but you must find the strength and will within yourself。 I cannot give it to you。〃
〃I think I've already found my protection；〃 Perrin said； sounding resigned rather than happy。
〃Yes；〃 Moiraine said； 〃I suppose you have。〃 She looked at him until he dropped his eyes； and even then she stood considering。 Finally she turned to the others。 〃There are limits to the Dark One's power inside you。 Yield even for an instant and he will have a string tied to your heart； a string you may never be able to cut。 Surrender； and you will be his。 Deny him； and his power fails。 It is not easy when he touches your dreams； but it can be done。 He can still send Halfmen against you； and Trollocs； and Draghkar； and other things； but he cannot make you his unless you let him。〃
〃Fades are bad enough；〃 Perrin said。
〃I don't want him inside my head again；〃 Mat growled。 〃Isn't there any way to keep him out？〃
Moiraine shook her head。 〃Loial has nothing to fear； nor Egwene； nor Nynaeve。 Out of the mass of humanity； the Dark One can touch an individual only by chance； unless that person seeks it。 But for a time； at least； you three are central to the Pattern。 A Web of Destiny is being woven； and every thread leads straight to you。 What else did the Dark One say to you？〃
〃I don't remember it all that well；〃 Perrin said。 〃There was something about one of us being chosen； something like that。 I remember him laughing；〃 he finished bleakly； 〃about who we were chosen by。 He said I … we could serve him or die。 And then we'd still serve him。〃
〃He said the Amyrlin Seat would try to use us；〃 Mat added； his voice fading as he remembered to whom he was speaking。 He swallowed and went on。 〃He said just like Tar Valon use