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Rand shifted in his saddle； shrinking away from the icy fog。 Knowing that Moiraine could do things； even seeing her do them； was one thing； having those things leave his skin damp was something else again。 He realized he was holding his breath； too； and called himself nine kinds of idiot。 He could not ride all the way to Taren Ferry without breathing。 She had used the One Power on Tam； and he seemed all right。 Still； he had to make himself let that breath go and inhale。 The air was heavy； but if colder it was otherwise no different than that on any other foggy night。 He told himself that； but he was not sure he believed it。
Lan encouraged them to keep close now； to stay where each could see the outlines of others in that damp； frosty grayness。 Yet the Warder still did not slacken his stallion's dead run。 Side by side； Lan and Moiraine led the way through the fog as if they could see clearly what lay ahead。 The rest could only trust and follow。 And hope。
The shrill cries that had hounded them faded as they galloped； and then were gone； but that gave small fort。 Forest and farmhouses； moon and road were shrouded and hidden。 Dogs still barked； hollow and distant in the gray haze； when they passed farms； but there was no other sound save the dull drumming of their horses' hooves。 Nothing in that featureless ashen fog changed。 Nothing gave any hint of the passage of time except the growing ache in thigh and back。
It had to have been hours； Rand was sure。 His hands had clutched his reins until he was not sure he could release them； and he wondered if he would ever walk properly again。 He glanced back only once。 Shadows in the fog raced behind him； but he could not even be certain of their number。 Or even that they really were his friends。 The chill and damp soaked through I his cloak and coat and shirt； soaked into his bones； so it seemed。 Only the rush of air past his face and the gather and stretch of the horse beneath him told him he was moving at all。 It must have been hours。
〃Slow；〃 Lan called suddenly。 〃Draw rein。〃
Rand was so startled that Cloud forced between Lan and Moiraine； forging ahead for half a dozen strides before he could pull the big gray to a halt and stare。
Houses loomed in the fog on all sides； houses strangely tall to Rand's eye。 He had never seen this place before； but he had often heard descriptions。 That tallness came from high redstone foundations； necessary when the spring melt in the Mountains of Mist made the Taren overflow its banks。 They had reached Taren Ferry。
Lan trotted the black warhorse past him。 〃Don't be so eager； sheepherder。〃
Disfited； Rand fell into place without explaining as the party moved deeper into the village。 His face was hot； and for the moment the fog was wele。
A lone dog； unseen in the cold mist； barked at them furiously； then ran away。 Here and there a light appeared in a window as some early…riser stirred。 Other than the dog； no sound save the muted clops of their horses' hooves disturbed the last hour of the night。
Rand had met few people from Taren Ferry。 He tried to recall what little he knew about them。 They seldom ventured down into what they called 〃the lower villages；〃 with their noses up as if they smelled something bad。 The few he had met bore strange names； like Hilltop and Stoneboat。 One and all； Taren Ferry folk had a reputation for slyness and trickery。 If you shook hands with a Taren Ferry man； people said； you counted your fingers afterwards。
Lan and Moiraine stopped before a tall； dark house that looked exactly like any other in the village。 Fog swirled around the Warder like smoke as he leaped from his saddle and mounted the stairs that rose to the front door； as high above the street as their heads。 At the top of the stairs Lan hammered with his fist on the door。
〃I thought he wanted quiet；〃 Mat muttered。
Lan's pounding went on。 A light appeared in the window of the next house； and someone shouted angrily； but the Warder kept on with his drumming。
Abruptly the door was flung back by a man in a nightshirt that flapped about his bare ankles。 An oil lamp in one hand illumined a narrow face with pointed features。 He opened his mouth angrily； then let it stay open as his head swiveled to take in the fog； eyes bulging。 〃What's this？〃 he said。 〃What's this？〃 Chill gray tendrils curled into the doorway； and he hurriedly stepped back away from them。
〃Master Hightower；〃 Lan said。 〃Just the man I need。 We want to cross over on your ferry。〃
〃He never even saw a high tower；〃 Mat snickered。 Rand made shushing motions at his friend。 The sharp…faced fellow raised his lamp higher and peered down at them suspiciously。
After a minute Master Hightower said crossly； 〃The ferry goes over in daylight。 Not in the night。 Not ever。 And not in this fog； neither。 e back when the sun's up and the fog's gone。〃
He started to turn away； but Lan caught his wrist。 The ferryman opened his mouth angrily。 Gold glinted in the lamplight as the Warder counted out coins one by one into the other's palm。 Hightower licked his lips as the coins clinked； and by inches his head moved closer to his hand； as if he could not believe what he was seeing。
〃And as much again；〃 Lan said； 〃when we are safely on the other side。 But we leave now。〃
〃Now？〃 Chewing his lower lip； the ferrety man shifted his feet and peered out at the mist…laden night； then nodded abruptly。 〃Now it is。 Well； let loose my wrist。 I have to rouse my haulers。 You don't think I pull the ferry across myself； do you？〃
〃I will wait at the ferry；〃 Lan said flatly。 〃For a little while。〃 He released his hold on the ferryman。
Master Hightower jerked the handful of coins to his chest and； nodding agreement； hastily shoved the door closed with his hip。
Chapter 12
Across the Taren
Lan came down the stairs； telling the pany to dismount and lead their horses after him through the fog。 Again they had to trust that the Warder knew where he was going。 The fog swirled around Rand's knees； hiding his feet； obscuring everything more than a yard away。 The fog was not as heavy as it had been outside the town； but he could barely make out his panions。
Still no human stirred in the night except for them。 A few more windows than before showed a light； but the thick mist turned most of them to dim patches； and as often as not that hazy glow； hanging in the gray； was all that was visible。 Other houses； revealing a little more； seemed to float on a sea of cloud or to thrust abruptly out of the mist while their neighbors remained hidden； so that they could have stood alone for miles around。
Rand moved stiffly from the ache of the long ride； wondering if there was any way he could walk the rest of the way to Tar Valon。 Not that walking was much better than riding at that moment； of course； but even so his feet were almost the only part of him that was not sore。 At least he was used to walking。
Only once did anyone speak loudly enough for Rand to hear clearly。 〃You must handle it；〃 Moiraine said in answer to something unheard from Lan。 〃He will remember too much as it is； and no help for it。 If I stand out in his thoughts。。。〃
Rand grumpily shifted his now…sodden cloak on his shoulders keeping close with the others。 Mat and Perrin grumbled to themselves； muttering under their breaths； with bitten…off exclamations whenever one stubbed a toe on something unseen。 Thom Merrilin grumbled； too； words like 〃hot meal〃 or 〃fire〃 and 〃mulled wine〃 reaching Rand； but neither the Warder nor the Aes Sedai took notice。 Egwene marched along without a word； her back straight and her head high。 It was somewhat painfully hesitant march； to be sure； for she was unused to riding as the rest。
She was getting her adventure； he thought glumly； and long as it lasted he doubted if she would notice little things like fog or damp or cold。 There must be a difference in what you saw； it seemed to him； depending on whether you sought adventure or had it forced on you。 The stories could no doubt make galloping through a cold fog； with a Draghkar and the Light alone knew what