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at all for books； and he won't talk。 What happened to you？ We all ran off and hid in the woods until Moiraine Sedai sent Lan to find us； but she would not let us look for you。 Why were you gone so long； Rand？〃
〃I ran and ran；〃 he said slowly； 〃until I fell down a hill and hit my head on a rock。 I think I hit every rock on the way down。〃 That should explain his bruises。 He tried to watch the Aes Sedai； and Nynaeve and Egwene； too； but their faces never changed。 〃When I came to； I was lost； and finally I stumbled back here。 I think Aginor is dead； burned。 I found some ashes； and pieces of his cloak。〃
The lies sounded hollow in his ears。 He could not understand why they did not laugh with scorn and demand the truth； but his friends nodded； accepting； and made sympathetic sounds as they gathered around the Aes Sedai to show her what they had found。
〃Help me up；〃 Moiraine said。 Nynaeve and Egwene lifted her until she was sitting； they had to support her even then。
〃How could these things be inside the Eye；〃 Mat asked； 〃without being destroyed like that rock？〃
〃They were not put there to be destroyed；〃 the Aes Sedai said curtly； and frowned away their questions while she took the pottery fragments； black and white and shiny； from Mat。
They seemed like rubble to Rand； but she fitted them together deftly on the ground beside her； making a perfect circle the size of a man's hand。 The ancient symbol of the Aes Sedai； the Flame of Tar Valon joined with the Dragon's Fang； black siding white。 For a moment Moiraine only looked at it； her face unreadable； then she took the knife from her belt and handed it to Lan； nodding to the circle。
The Warder separated out the largest piece； then raised the knife high and brought it down with all his might。 A spark flew； the fragment leaped with the force of the blow； and the blade snapped with a sharp crack。 He examined the stump left attached to the hilt； then tossed it aside。 〃The best steel from Tear；〃 he said dryly。
Mat snatched the fragment up and grunted； then showed it around。 There was no mark on it。
〃Cuendillar；〃 Moiraine said。 〃Heartstone。 No one has been able to make it since the Age of Legends； and even then it was made only for the greatest purpose。 Once made； nothing can break it。 Not the One Power itself wielded by the greatest Aes Sedai who ever lived aided by the most powerful sa'angreal ever made。 Any power directed against heartstone only makes it stronger。〃
〃Then how 。。。 ？〃 Mat's gesture with the piece he held took in the other bits on the ground。
〃This was one of the seven seals on the Dark One's prison；〃 Moiraine said。 Mat dropped the piece as if it had bee white…hot。 For a moment； Perrin's eyes seemed to glow again。 The Aes Sedai calmly began gathering the fragments。〃It doesn't matter anymore；〃 Rand said。 His friends looked at him oddly； and he wished he had kept his mouth shut。
〃Of course；〃 Moiraine replied。 But she carefully put all the pieces into her pouch。 〃Bring me the chest。〃 Loial lifted it closer。
The flattened cube of gold and silver appeared to be solid； but the Aes Sedai's fingers felt across the intricate work； pressing； and with a sudden click a top flung back as if on springs。 A curled； gold horn nestled within。 Despite its gleam； it seemed plain beside the chest that held it。 The only markings were a line of silver script inlaid around the mouth of the bell。 Moiraine lifted the horn out as if lifting a babe。 〃This must be carried to Illian；〃 she said softly。
〃Illian！〃 Perrin growled。 〃That's almost to the Sea of Storms； nearly as far south of home as we are north now。 〃
〃Is it 。。。 ？〃 Loial stopped to catch his breath。 〃Can it be 。。。 ？〃
〃You can read the Old Tongue？〃 Moiraine asked； and when he nodded； she handed him the horn。
The Ogier took it as gently as she had； delicately tracing the script with one broad finger。 His eyes went wider and wider； and his ears stood up straight。 〃Tia mi aven Moridin isainde vadin；〃 he whispered。 〃The grave is no bar to my call。 〃
〃The Horn of Valere。〃 For once the Warder appeared truly shaken； there was a touch of awe in his voice。
At the same time Nynaeve said in a shaky voice； 〃To call the heroes of the Ages back from the dead to fight the Dark One。〃
〃Burn me！〃 Mat breathed。
Loial reverently laid the horn back in its golden nest。
〃I begin to wonder；〃 Moiraine said。 〃The Eye of the World was made against the greatest need the world would ever face； but was it made for the use to which。。。 we。。。 put it； or to guard these things？ Quickly； the last； show it to me。〃
After the first two； Rand could understand Perrin's reluctance。 Lan and the Ogier took the bundle of white cloth from him when he hesitated； and unfolded it between them。 A long； white banner spread out； lifting on the air。 Rand could only stare。 The whole thing seemed of a piece； neither woven； nor dyed； nor painted。 A figure like a serpent； scaled in scarlet and gold； ran the entire length； but it had scaled legs； and feet with five long； golden claws on each； and a great head with a golden mane and eyes like the sun。 The stirring of the banner made it seem to move； scales glittering like precious metals and gems； alive； and he almost thought he could hear it roar defiance。
〃What is it？〃 he said。
Moiraine answered slowly。 〃The banner of the Lord of the Morning when he led the forces of Light against the Shadow。 The banner of Lews Therin Telamon。 The banner of the Dragon。〃 Loial almost dropped his end。
〃Burn me！〃 Mat said faintly。
〃We will take these things with us when we go；〃 Moiraine said。 〃They were not put here by chance； and I must know more。〃 Her fingers brushed her pouch； where the pieces of the shattered seal were。 〃It is too late in the day for starting now。 We will rest； and eat； but we will leave early。 The Blight is all around here； not as along the Border； and strong。 Without the Green Man； this place cannot hold long。 Let me down；〃 she told Nynaeve and Egwene。 〃I must rest。〃
Rand became aware of what he had been seeing all along； but not noticing。 Dead； brown leaves falling from the great oak。 Dead leaves rustling thick on the ground in the breeze； brown mixed with petals dropped from thousands of flowers。 The Green Man had held back the Blight； but already the Blight was killing what he had made。
〃It is done； isn't it？〃 he asked Moiraine。 〃It is finished。〃
The Aes Sedai turned her head on its pillow of cloaks。 Her eyes seemed as deep as the Eye of the World。 〃We have done what we came here to do。 From here you may live your life as the Pattern weaves。 Eat； then sleep； Rand al'Thor。 Sleep； and dream of home。〃
Chapter 53
The Wheel Turns
Dawn revealed devastation in the Green Man's garden。 The ground was thick with fallen leaves； almost knee…deep in places。 All the flowers were gone except a few clinging desperately to the edge of the clearing。 Little could grow in the soil under an oak； but a thin circle of flowers and grass centered on the thick trunk above the Green Man's grave。 The oak itself retained only half its leaves； and that was far more than any other tree had； as if some remnant of the Green Man still fought to hold there。 The cool breezes had died； replaced by a growing sticky heat； the butterflies were gone； the birds silent。 It was a silent group who prepared to leave。
Rand climbed into the bay's saddle with a sense of loss。 It shouldn't be this way。 Blood and ashes； we won！
〃I wish he had found his other place；〃 Egwene said as she mounted Bela。 A litter； fashioned by Lan； was slung between the shaggy mare and Aldieb； to carry Moiraine； Nynaeve would ride beside with the white mare's reins。 The Wisdom dropped her eyes whenever she saw Lan glance at her； avoiding his gaze； the Warder looked at her whenever her eyes were averted； but he would not speak to her。 No one had to ask who Egwene meant。
〃It is not right；〃 Loial said； staring at the oak。 The Ogier was the only one still not mounted。 〃It is not right that Treebrother should fall to the Blight。〃 He handed the reins of his big horse to Rand。 〃Not right。〃
Lan opened his mouth as the Ogier walked to the great oak。 Moiraine； lying on the litter； weakly raised her hand； and the Warder said nothing。
Before the oak； Loial knelt； closing his eyes and stretching out his arms。 The tufts on his ears stood straight as he lifted his face to the sky。 And he sang。Rand could not say if there were words； or if it was pure song。 In that rumbling voice it was as if the earth sang； yet he was sure he heard the birds trilling again； and spring breezes sighing softly； and the sound of butterfly wings。 Lost in the song； he thought it lasted only minutes； but when Loial lowered his arms and opened his eyes； he was surprised to see the sun stood well above the horizon。 It had been touching the trees when the Ogier began。 The leaves still on the oak seemed greener； and more firmly attached than before。 The flowers encircling it stood straighter； the morningstars white and fresh； the loversknots a strong crimson。
Mopping sweat from his broad face； Loial rose and took his reins from Rand。 His long eyebrows drooped； abashed； as if they might think he had been showing off。 〃I've never sung so hard before。 I could not have done it if something of Treebrother was not still there。 My Treesongs do not have his power。〃 When he settled himself in his saddle； there was satisfaction in the look he gave the oak and the flowers。 〃This little space； at least； will not sink into the Blight。 The Blight will not have Treebrother。〃
〃You are a good man； Ogier；〃 Lan said。
Loial grinned。 〃I will take that as a pliment； but I do not know what Elder Haman would say。〃
They rode in a single file； with Mat behind the Warder where he could use his bow to effect if needed； and Perrin bringing up the rear with his axe across the pommel of his saddle。 They crested a hill； and in an eyeblink the Blight was all around them； twisted and rotted in virulent rainbow hues。 Rand looked over his shoulder； but the Green Man's garden was nowhere to be seen。 Only the Blight stretching behind them as before。 Yet he thought； just for a moment； that he saw the towering top of the oak tree； green and lush； before it shimmered and was gone。 Then there was only the Blight。
He half expected they would have to fight their way out as they fought their way in； but the Blight was as quiet and still as death。 Not a single branch trembled as if to lash at them； nothing screamed or howled； neither nearby nor in the distance。 The Blight seemed to crouch； not to pounce； but as if it had been struck a great blow and waited for the next to fall。 Even the sun was less red。
When they passed the necklace of lakes； the sun hung not far past its zenith。 Lan kept them well away from the lakes and did not even look at them； but Rand thought the seven towers seemed taller than when he first saw them。 He was sure the jagged tops were further from the ground； and above them something almost seen； seamless towers gleaming in the sun； and banners with Golden Cranes flying on the wind。 He blinked and stared； but the towers refused to vanish pletely。 They were there at the edge of vision until the Blight hid the lakes once more。
Before sunset the Warder chose a campsite； and Moiraine had Nynaeve and Egwene help her up to set wards。 The Aes Sedai whispered in the other women's ears before she began。 Nynaeve hesitated； but when Moiraine closed her eyes； all three women did so together。
Rand saw Mat and Perrin staring； and wondered how they could be surprised。 Every woman is an Aes Sedai； he thought mirthlessly。 The Light help me； so am I。 Bleakness held his tongue。
〃Why is it so different？〃 Perrin asked as Egwene and the Wisdom helped Moiraine to her bed。 〃It feels 。。。〃 His thick shoulders shrugged as if he could not find the word。
〃We struck a mighty blow at the Dark One；〃 Moiraine replied； settling herself with a sigh。 〃The Shadow will be a long time recovering。〃
〃How？〃 Mat demanded。 〃What did we do？〃
〃Sleep；〃 Moiraine said。 〃We