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all； was a far cry from the woods by night。 On the other hand； it seemed days since he had seen the black…cloaked rider on the road； weeks since he and Tam had gone in for their supper。 He no longer felt the strip of cloth digging into his shoulders； but then he felt nothing in his shoulders except numbness； nor in his feet； for that matter。 In between； it was another matter。 His breath came in labored pants that had long since set his throat and lungs to burning； and hunger twisted his stomach into queasy sickness。
Tam had fallen silent some time before。 Rand was not sure how long it had been since the murmurs ceased； but he did not dare halt now to check on Tam。 If he stopped he would never be able to force himself to start out again。 Anyway； whatever Tam's condition； he could do nothing beyond what he was doing。 The only hope lay ahead； in the village。 He tried wearily to increase his pace； but his wooden legs continued their slow plod。 He barely even noticed the cold； or the wind。
Vaguely he caught the smell of woodsmoke。 At least he was almost there if he could smell the village chimneys。 A tired smile had only begun on his face； though； when it turned to a frown。 Smoke lay heavy in the air … too heavy。 With the weather； a fire might well be blazing on every hearth in the village； but the smoke was still too strong。 In his mind he saw again the Trollocs on the road。 Trollocs ing from the east； from the direction of Emond's Field。 He peered ahead； trying to make out the first houses； and ready to shout for help at the first sight of anyone； even Cenn Buie or one of the Coplins。 A small voice in the back of his head told him to hope someone there could still give help。
Suddenly a house became visible through the last bare…branched trees； and it was all he could do to keep his feet moving。 Hope turning to sharp despair； he staggered into the village。
Charred piles of rubble stood in the places of half the houses of Emond's Field。 Soot…coated brick chimneys thrust like dirty fingers from heaps of blackened timbers。 Thin wisps of smoke still rose from the ruins。 Grimy…faced villagers； some yet in their night clothes； poked through the ashes； here pulling free a cookpot； there simply prodding forlornly at the wreckage with a stick。 What little had been rescued from the flames dotted the streets； tall mirrors and polished sideboards and highchests stood in the dust among chairs and tables buried under bedding； cooking utensils； and meagre piles of clothing and personal belongings。
The destruction seemed scattered at random through the village。 Five houses marched untouched in one row； while in another place a lone survivor stood surrounded by desolation。
On the far side of the Winespring Water； the three huge Bel Tine bonfires roared； tended by a cluster of men。 Thick columns of black smoke bent northward with the wind； flecked by careless sparks。 One of Master al'Vere's Dhurran stallions was dragging something Rand could not make out over the ground toward the Wagon Bridge； and the flames。
Before he was well out of the trees； a sooty…faced Haral Luhhan hurried to him； clutching a woodsman's axe in one thick…fingered hand。 The burly blacksmith's ash…smeared nightshirt hung to his boots； the angry red welt of a burn across his chest showing through a ragged tear。 He dropped to one knee beside the litter。 Tam's eyes were closed； and his breathing came low and hard。
〃Trollocs； boy？〃 Master Luhhan asked in a smoke…hoarse voice。 〃Here； too。 Here； too。 Well； we may have been luckier than anyone has a right to be； if you can credit it。 He needs the Wisdom。 Now where in the Light is she？ Egwene！〃
Egwene； running by with her arms full of bed sheets torn into bandages； looked around at them without slowing。 Her eyes stared at something in the far distance； dark circles made them appear even larger than they actually were。 Then she saw Rand and stopped； drawing a shuddering breath。 〃Oh； no； Rand； not your father？ Is he 。。。 ？ e； I'll take you to Nynaeve。〃
Rand was too tired； too stunned； to speak。 All through the night Emond's Field had been a haven； where he Tam would be safe。 Now all he could seem to do was stare in dismay at her smoke…stained dress。 He noticed odd details as if they were very important。 The buttons down the back of her dress were done up crookedly。 And her hands were clean。 He wondered why her hands were clean when smudges of soot marked her cheeks。
Master Luhhan seemed to understand what had e over him。 Laying his axe across the shafts； the blacksmith picked up the rear of the litter and gave it a gentle push； prodding him to follow Egwene。 He stumbled after her as if walking in his sleep。 Briefly he wondered how Master Luhhan knew the creatures were Trollocs； but it was a fleeting thought。 If Tam could recognize them； there was no reason why Haral Luhhan could not。
〃All the stories are real；〃 he muttered。
〃So it seems； lad；〃 the blacksmith said。 〃So it seems。〃
Rand only half heard。 He was concentrating on following Egwene's slender shape。 He had pulled himself together just enough to wish she would hurry； though in truth she was keeping her pace to what the two men could manage with their burden。 She led them halfway down the Green； to the Calder house。 Char blackened the edges of its thatch； and smut stained the whitewashed walls。 Of the houses on either side only the foundation stones were left； and two piles of ash and burned timbers。 One had been the house of Berin Thane； one of the miller's brothers。 The other had been Abell Cauthon's。 Mat's father。 Even the chimneys had toppled。
〃Wait here；〃 Egwene said； and gave them a look as if expecting an answer。 When they only stood there； she muttered something under her breath； then dashed inside。
〃Mat；〃 Rand said。 〃Is he 。。。 ？〃
〃He's alive；〃 the blacksmith said。 He set down his end of the litter and straightened slowly。 〃I saw him a little while ago。 It's a wonder any of us are alive。 The way they came after my house； and the forge； you'd have thought I had gold and jewels in there。 Alsbet cracked one's skull with a frying pan。 She took one look at the ashes of our house this morning and set out hunting around the village with the biggest hammer she could。 dig out of what's left of the forge； just in case any of them hid instead of running away。 I could almost pity the thing if she finds one。〃 He nodded to the Calder house。 〃Mistress Calder and a few others took in some of those who were hurt； the ones with no home of their own still standing。 When the Wisdom's seen Tam； we'll find him a bed。 The inn； maybe。 The Mayor offered it already； but Nynaeve said the hurt folk would heal better if there weren't so many of them together。〃
Rand sank to his knees。 Shrugging out of his blanket harness； he wearily busied himself with checking Tam's covers。 Tam never moved or made a sound； even when Rand's wooden hands jostled him。 But he was still breathing； at least。 My father。 The other was just the fever talking。
〃What if they e back？〃 he said dully。
〃The Wheel weaves as the Wheel wills；〃 Master Luhhan said uneasily。 〃If they e back 。。。 Well； they're gone； now。 So we pick up the pieces； build up what's been torn down。〃 He sighed； his face going slack as he knuckled the small of his back。 For the first time Rand realized that the heavyset man was as tired as he was himself； if not more so。 The blacksmith looked at the village； shaking his head。 〃I don't suppose today will be much of a Bel Tine。 But we'll make it through。 We always have。〃 Abruptly he took up his axe； and his face firmed。 〃There's work waiting for me。 Don't you worry； lad。 The Wisdom will take good care of him； and the Light will take care of us all。 And if the Light doesn't； well； we'll just take care of ourselves。 Remember； we're Two Rivers folk。〃
Still on his knees； Rand looked at the village as the blacksmith walked away； really looked for the first time。 Master Luhhan was right； he thought； and was surprised that he was not surprised by what he saw。 People still dug in the ruins of their homes； but even in the short time he had been there more of them had