business。
To his surprise； Egeanin had herself rowed to the dock with her damane。 There was another woman wearing the bracelet this time； with the red panels and forked lightning on her dress； but the damane was the same sad…faced woman who never looked up unless the other spoke to her。 Egeanin had Domon and his crew herded off the ship to sit on the dock under the eyes of a pair of her soldiers … she seemed to think no more were needed； and Domon was not about to argue with her … while others searched Spray under her direction。 The damane was part of the search。
Down the dock； a thing appeared。 Domon could think of no other way to describe it。 A hulking creature with a leathery； gray…green hide and a beak of a mouth in a wedge…shaped head。 And three eyes。 It lumbered along beside a man whose armor bore three painted eyes； just like those of the creature。 The local people； dockmen and sailors in roughly embroidered shirts and long vests to their knees； shied away as the pair passed； but no Seanchan gave them a second glance。 The man with the beast seemed to be directing it with hand signals。
Man and creature turned in among the buildings； leaving Domon staring and his crew muttering to themselves。 The two Seanchan guards sneered at them silently。 No my business； Domon reminded himself。 His business was his ship。
The air had a familiar smell of salt water and pitch。 He shifted uneasily on the stone； hot from the sun； and wondered what the Seanchan were searching for。 What the damane was searching for。 Wondered what that thing had been。 Gulls cried； wheeling above the harbor。 He thought of the sounds a caged man might make。 It is no my business。
Eventually Egeanin led the others back onto the dock。 The Seanchan captain had something wrapped in a piece of yellow silk； Domon noted warily。 Something small enough to carry in one hand； but which she held carefully in both。
He got to his feet … slowly； for the soldiers' sake； though their eyes held the same contempt Caban's did。 〃You see； Captain？ I do be only a peaceful trader。 Perhaps your people would care to buy some fireworks？〃
〃Perhaps； trader。〃 There was an air of suppressed excitement about her that made him uneasy； and her next words increased the feeling。 〃You will e with me。〃
She told two soldiers to e along； and one of them gave Domon a push to get him started。 It was not a rough shove； Domon had seen farmers push a cow in the same way to make it move。 Setting his teeth； he followed Egeanin。
The cobblestone street climbed the slope； leaving the smell of the harbor behind。 The slate…roofed houses grew larger and taller as the street climbed。 Surprisingly for a town held by invaders； the streets held more local people than Seanchan soldiers； and now and again a curtained palanquin was borne past by bare…chested men。 The Falmen seemed to be going about their business as if the Seanchan were not there。 Or almost not there。 When palanquin or soldier passed； both poor folk； with only a curling line or two worked on their dirty clothes； and the richer； with shirts； vests； and dresses covered from shoulder to waist in intricately embroidered patterns； bowed and remained bent until the Seanchan were gone。 They did the same for Domon and his guard。 Neither Egeanin nor her soldiers so much as glanced at them。
Domon realized with a sudden shock that some of the local people they passed wore daggers at their belts； and in a few cases swords。 He was so surprised that he spoke without thinking。 〃Some of them be on your side？〃
Egeanin frowned over her shoulder at him； obviously puzzled。 Without slowing； she looked at the people and nodded to herself。 〃You mean the swords。 They are our people； now； trader； they have sworn the oaths。〃 She stopped abruptly； pointing at a tall； heavy…shouldered man with a heavily embroidered vest and a sword swinging on a plain leather baldric。 〃You。〃
The man halted in mid…step； one foot in the air and a frightened look suddenly on his face。 It was a hard face； but he looked as if he wanted to run。 Instead； he turned to her and bowed； hands on knees； eyes fixed on her boots。 〃How may this one serve the captain？〃 he asked in a tight voice。
〃You are a merchant？〃 Egeanin said。 〃You have sworn the oaths？〃
〃Yes； Captain。 Yes。〃 He did not take his eyes from her feet。
〃What do you tell the people when you take your wagons inland？〃
〃That they must obey the Forerunners； Captain； await the Return； and serve Those Who e Home。〃
〃And do you never think to use that sword against us？〃
The man's hands went white…knuckled gripping his knees； and there was suddenly sweat in his voice。 〃I have sworn the oaths； Captain。 I obey； await； and serve。〃
〃You see？〃 Egeanin said； turning to Domon。 〃There is no reason to forbid them weapons。 There must be trade； and merchants must protect themselves from bandits。 We allow the people to e and go as they will； so long as they obey； await； and serve。 Their forefathers broke their oaths； but these have learned better。〃 She started back up the hill； and the soldiers pushed Domon after her。
He looked back at the merchant。 The man stayed bent as he was till Egeanin was ten paces up the street； then he straightened and hurried the other way； leaping down the sloping street。
Egeanin and his guards did not look around； either； when a mounted Seanchan troop passed them； climbing the street。 The soldiers rode creatures that looked almost like cats the size of horses； but with lizards' scales rippling bronze beneath their saddles。 Clawed feet grasped the cobblestones。 A three…eyed head turned to regard Domon as the troop climbed by； aside from everything else； it seemed too … knowing … for Domon's peace of mind。 He stumbled and almost fell。 All along the street； the Falmen were pressing themselves back against the fronts of the buildings； some closing their eyes。 The Seanchan paid them no heed。
Domon understood why the Seanchan could allow the people as much freedom as they did。 He wondered if he would have had nerve enough to resist。 Damane。 Monsters。 He wondered if there was anything to stop the Seanchan from marching all the way to the Spine of the World。 No my business； he reminded himself roughly； and considered whether there was any way to avoid the Seanchan in his future trading。
They reached the top of the incline； where the town gave way to hills。 There was no town wall。 Ahead were the inns that served merchants who traded inland； and wagon yards and stables。 Here； the houses would have made respectable manors for the minor lords in Illian。 The largest of them had an honor guard of Seanchan soldiers out front； and a blue…edged banner bearing a golden； spread…winged hawk rippling above it。 Egeanin surrendered her sword and dagger before taking Domon inside。 Her two soldiers remained in the street。 Domon began to sweat。 He smelled a lord in this； it was never good to do business with a lord on the
lord's own ground。
In the front hall Egeanin left Domon at the door and spoke to a servant。 A local man； judging by the full sleeves of his shirt and the spirals embroidered across his chest； Domon believed he caught the words 〃High Lord。〃 The servant hurried away； returning finally to lead them to what was surely the largest room in the house。 Every stick of furniture had been cleared out of it； even the rugs； and the stone floor was polished to a bright gleam。 Folding screens painted with strange birds hid walls and windows。
Egeanin stopped just inside the room。 When Domon tried to ask where they were and why； she silenced him with a savage glare and a wordless growl。 She did not move； but she seemed on the point of bouncing on her toes。 She held whatever it was she had taken from his ship as if it were precious。 He tried to imagine what it could be。
Suddenly a gong sounded softly； and the Seanchan woman dropped to her knees； setting the silk…wrapped something carefully beside her。 At a look from her； Domon got down as well。 Lords had strange ways； and he suspected Seanchan lords might have stranger ones than he knew。
Two men appeared in the d