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e you of treason； the penalty for which is death。〃
Rand's head went back； eyes closed。 His mouth moved slightly； but Perrin knew that only he and Rand heard what was said。 〃No。 I cannot。 I will not。〃 Perrin understood the delay now。 Rand was searching for a way out。 Perrin wished he could see one。
Colavaere certainly did not hear； but she wanted a way out； too。 She looked around wildly； to the Sun Throne； to her other attendants； to the assembled nobility； as though they might step forward to defend her。 Their feet could as well have been set in cement； a sea of carefully blank； sweaty faces confronted her； and eyes that avoided hers。 Some of those eyes rolled toward the Asha'man； but not too openly。 The already considerable space between nobles and Asha'man widened noticeably。
〃Lies！〃 she hissed； hands knotted in her skirts。 〃All lies！ You sneaking little …！〃 She took a step toward Faile。 Rand stretched his arm between them； though Colavaere appeared not to see it； and Faile looked as though she wished he had not。 Anyone who attacked her was in for a surprise。
〃Faile does not lie！〃 Perrin growled。 Well； not about something like this。
Once again Colavaere recovered herself。 Slight as her height was； she drew up every inch of it。 Perrin almost admired her。 Except for Meilan； and Maringil； and this Maire； and the Light alone knew how many others。 〃I demand justice； my Lord Dragon。〃 Her voice was calm； stately。 Royal。 〃There is no proof of any of this。。。 this filth。 A claim that someone who is no longer in Cairhien says I spoke words I never did？ I demand the Lord Dragon's justice。 By your own laws； there must be proof。〃
〃How do you know she is no longer in Cairhien？〃 Dobraine demanded。 〃Where is she？〃
〃I assume she has gone；〃 She addressed her answer to Rand。 〃Maire left my service； and I replaced her with Reale； there。〃 She gestured toward the third attendant on the left： 〃I have no idea where she is。 Bring her forward if she is in the city； and let her make these ridiculous charges to my face。 I will fling her lies in her face。〃 Faile looked murder at her。 Perrin hoped she would not produce one of those knives she kept hidden about her； she had a habit of doing that when she became angry enough。
Annoura cleared her throat。 She had been studying Rand much too closely for Perrin's fort。 She reminded him of Verin suddenly； that look of a bird examining a worm。 〃May I speak； Master。。。 ah。。。 my Lord Dragon？〃 At his curt nod； she went on； adjusting her shawl。 〃Of young Maire； I know nothing except that one morning she was here； and before nightfall； she was nowhere to be found and none knew where she had gone。 But Lord Maringil and High Lord Meilan； they are a different matter。 The First of Mayene； she brought with her two most excellent thief…catchers； men experienced in ferreting out crimes。 They have brought before me two of the men who waylaid the High Lord Meilan in the streets； though both insist they only held his arms while others did the stabbing。 Also they brought me the servant who put poison in the spiced wine Lord Maringil liked to drink at bedtime。 She also protests her true innocence； her invalid mother would have died； and she herself； had Lord Maringil not。 So she says； and in her case； I believe she speaks truly。 Her solace at confession was not false； I think。 Both the men and the woman agree in this： the orders for their actions came from the mouth of Lady Colavaere herself。〃
Word by word the defiance leached out of Colavaere。 She still stood； yet it seemed a wonder； she appeared as limp as a damp rag。 〃They promised；〃 she mumbled to Rand。 〃They promised you would never return。〃 Too late； she clamped both hands over her mouth。 Her eyes bulged。 Perrin wished he could not hear the sounds ing from her throat。 No one should make sounds like that。
〃Treason and murder。〃 Dobraine sounded satisfied。 Those whimpered screams did not touch him。 〃The penalty is the same； my Lord Dragon。 Death。 Except； by your new law； it is hanging for murder。〃 For some reason； Rand looked at Min。 She returned his gaze with profound sadness。 Not for Colavaere。 For Rand。 Perrin wondered whether a viewing was involved。
〃I … I demand the headsman；〃 Colavaere managed in a strangled voice。 Her face sagged。 She had bee old on the spot； and her eyes were mirrors of stark terror。 But with nothing left； she fought on； for the scraps。 〃It is … it is my right。 I will not be。。。 hanged like some moner！〃
Rand seemed to struggle with himself； shaking his head in that disturbing way。 When he spoke at last； his words were winter cold and anvil hard。 〃Colavaere Saighan； I strip you of your titles。〃 He drove the words like nails。 〃I strip of you of your lands and estates and possessions； of everything but the dress you stand in。 Do you own … did you own a farm？ A small farm？〃
Each sentence staggered the woman。 She swayed drunkenly on her feet； soundlessly mouthing the word 〃farm〃 as if she had never heard it before。 Annoura； Faile； everyone stared at Rand in amazement or curiosity or both。 Perrin not least。 A farm？ If there had been silence in the Grand Hall before； now it seemed that no one even breathed。
〃Dobraine； did she own a small farm？〃
〃She owns。。。 owned。。。 many farms； my Lord Dragon；〃 the Cairhienin replied slowly。 Clearly he understood no more than Perrin did。 〃Most are large。 But the lands near the Dragonwall have always been divided into smallholdings； less than fifty hides。 All of the tenants abandoned them during the Aiel War。〃
Rand nodded。 〃Time to change that。 Too much land has lain fallow too long。 I want to move people back there； to farm again。 Dobraine； you will find out which farm of those Colavaere owned near the Dragonwall is the smallest。 Colavaere； I exile you to that farm。 Dobraine will see you're provided with what is needed to make a farm work； and with someone to teach you how to till the soil。 And with guards to see that you never go farther from it than you can walk in a day； so long as you live。 See to it； Dobraine。 In a week I want her on her way。〃 A bewildered Dobraine hesitated before nodding。 Perrin could catch murmurs from the assembly behind him now。 This was unheard of。 None understood why she was not to die。 And the rest！ Estates had been confiscated before； but never all； never nobility itself。 Nobles had been exiled； even for life； but never to a farm。
Colavaere's response was immediate。 Eyes rolling up in her head； she collapsed； crumpling backward toward the steps。
Perrin darted to catch her； but someone was ahead of him。 Before he had taken a full step； her fall simply stopped。 She slumped in midair； slanting over the steps to the dais； head dangling。 Slowly； her unconscious form rose； swung around and settled gently in front of the Sun Throne。 Rand。 Perrin was sure the Asha'man would have let her fall。
Annoura tsked。 She did not appear surprised； or perturbed； except that her thumbs rubbed her forefingers nervously。 〃I suspect she would have preferred the headsman。 I will see to her if you have your man； your。。。 Asha'man。。。 〃
〃She's not your concern；〃 Rand said roughly。 〃She is alive； and。。。 She is alive。〃 He drew a long； ragged breath。 Min was there before he let it out； she only stood near him； yet she looked as if she wanted to do something more。 Slowly his face firmed。 〃Annoura； you will take me to Berelain。 Release her； Jahar； she'll be no trouble。 Not with one of her and nine of us。 I want to find out what has been going on while I was away； Annoura。 And what Berelain means bringing you here behind my back。 No； don't speak。 I'll hear it from her。 Perrin； I know you want some time with Faile。 I … 〃
Rand's gaze swept slowly around the hall； over all the nobles waiting silently。 Under his stare； none dared move a muscle。 The scent of fear far outweighed any other； convulsing sharply。 Except for the Hunters； everyone there had given him the same oath as had Colavaere。 Perhaps just being in this gathering was treason； too？ Perrin did not know。
〃This audience is at an。 end；〃 Rand said。 〃I will forget every face that departs now。〃
Those at the front； the highest…ranking； the most powerful； began their progress toward the doors without too much haste； avoiding the Maidens and the Asha'man standing in the aisle； while the rest waited their turn。 Every mind must have been turning over what Rand had said； though。 What precisely did he mean by 〃now〃？ Purposeful strides quickened； skirts were lifted。 Hunters； nearest the doors； began slipping out； first one at a time； then in a flood； and seeing them； lesser nobles among the Cairhienin and Tairens darted ahead of the higher。 In moments it was a milling mass at the doors； men and women pushing and elbowing to get out。 Not one looked back at the woman stretched out before the throne she had held so briefly。
Chapter 6
（Wolf）
Old Fear； and New Fear
Rand passed through the struggling mob without any difficulty； of course。 Maybe it was the presence of the Maidens and the Asha'man； or maybe Rand or one of the black…coated fellows did something with the Power； but the crowd parted for him； with Min holding to his arm； and a very subdued Annoura attempting to speak to him； and Loial； who was still trying with some difficulty to write in his book and carry his axe。 Staring at one another； Perrin and Faile missed their chance to join them before the crowd closed up again。
She said nothing for a time； and neither did he； not what he wanted to say； not with Aram there； staring at them like some worshipful hound。 And Dobraine； frowning down at the unconscious woman put in his charge。 No one else remained on the dais。 Havien had gone with Rand； to find Berelain； and as soon as Rand went； the other attendants had darted away toward the doors without a second glance at Perrin or Faile。 Or Colavaere。 Without the first glance； for that matter。 They just lifted their striped skirts and ran。 Grunts and curses drifted from the pack； not all in men's voices。 Even with Rand gone those people wanted to be elsewhere； and now。 Perhaps they thought Perrin stayed to watch and report； though had any glanced back； they would have seen his eyes were not on them。
Climbing the rest of the way； he took Faile's hand and breathed in the scent of her。 This close； the lingering perfumes did not matter。 Anything else could wait。 She produced a red lace fan from somewhere； and before spreading it to cool herself； touched first her cheek； then his。 There was a whole language of fans in her native Saldaea。 She had taught him a little。 He wished he knew what the cheek…touching meant； it must be something good。 On the other hand； her scent carried a spiky shading he knew too well。
〃He should have sent her to the block；〃 Dobraine muttered； and Perrin shrugged unfortably。 From the man's tone； it was not clear whether he meant that that was what the law called for or that it would have been more merciful。 Dobraine did not understand。 Rand could have sprouted wings first。
Faile's fan slowed to barely moving； and she eyed Dobraine sideways over the crimson lace。 〃Her death might be best for everyone。 That is the prescribed penalty。 What will you do； Lord Dobraine？〃 Sidelong or not； it still managed to be very direct； a very meaningful gaze。
Perrin frowned。 Not a word for him； but questions for Dobraine？ And there was that undertone of jealousy in her aroma； making him sigh。
The Cairhienin gave her a level look in return while thrusting his gauntlets behind his sword belt。 〃What I was manded to do。 I keep my oaths； Lady Faile。〃
The fan snapped open and shut； faster than thought。 〃He actually sent Aes Sedai to the Aiel？ As prisoners？〃 Disbelief tinged her voice。
〃Some； Lady Faile。〃 Dobraine hesitated。 〃Some swore fealty on their knees。 This I saw with my own eyes。 They went to the Aiel； too； but I do not think they can be called prisoners。〃
〃I saw it； too； my Lady；〃 Aram put in from his place on the steps； and a wide smile split his face when she glanced at him。
Red lace described a fluttering hitch。 What she did with the fan seemed almost unconscious。 〃You both saw。〃 The relief in h