amps as she spun； and landed on her feet on the hands of a man who was already standing atop another's shoulders。 He lifted her up on outstretched arms as the man below raised him in the same way； and she spread her arms as if for applause。 None of the Cairhienin seemed to notice。
Verin and Ingtar drifted into the crowd。 The Shienaran received a few wary looks； some looked at the Aes Sedai with wide eyes； others with the worried frowns of those finding a rabid wolf within arm's reach。 The latter came from men more often than women； and some of the women spoke to her。
Rand realized that Mat and Hurin had already disappeared to the kitchens； where all the servants who had e with the guests would be gathering until sent for。 He hoped they would not have trouble sneaking away。
Loial bent down to speak for his ear alone。 〃Rand； there is a Waygate nearby。 I can feel it。〃
〃You mean this was an Ogier grove？〃 Rand said softly； and Loial nodded。
〃Stedding Tsofu had not been found again when it was planted； or the Ogier who helped build Al'cair'rahienallen would not have needed a grove to remind them of the stedding。 This was all forest when I came through Cairhien before； and belonged to the King。〃
〃Barthanes probably took it away in some plot。〃 Rand looked around the room nervously。 Everyone was still talking； but more than a few were watching the Ogier and him。 He could not see Ingtar。 Verin stood at the center of a knot of women。 〃I wish we could stay together。〃
〃Verin says not； Rand。 She says it would make them all suspicious and angry； thinking we were holding ourselves aloof。 We have to allay suspicion until Mat and Hurin find whatever they find。〃
〃I heard what she said as well as you； Loial。 But I still say； if Barthanes is a Darkfriend； then he must know why we're here。 Going off by ourselves is just asking to be knocked on the head。〃
〃Verin says he won't do anything until he finds out whether he can make use of us。 Just do what she told us； Rand。 Aes Sedai know what they are about。〃 Loial walked into the crowd； gathering a circle of lords and ladies before he had gone ten steps。
Others started toward Rand； now that he was alone； but he turned in the other direction and hurried away。 Aes Sedai may know what they're about； but I wish I did。 I don't like this。 Light； but I wish I knew if she was telling the truth。 Aes Sedai never lie； but the truth you hear may not be the truth you think it is。
He kept moving to avoid talking with the nobles。 There were many other rooms； all filled with lords and ladies； all with entertainers： three different gleemen in their cloaks； more jugglers and tumblers； and musicians playing flutes； bitterns； dulcimers； and lutes； plus five different sizes of fiddle； six kinds of horn； straight or curved or curled； and ten sizes of drum from tambour to kettle。 He gave some of the horn players a second look； those with curled horns； but the instruments were all plain brass。
They wouldn't have the Horn of Valere out here fool； he thought。 Not unless Barthanes means to have dead heroes e as part of the entertainment。
There was even a bard in silver…worked Tairen boots and a yellow coat； strolling through the rooms plucking his harp and sometimes stopping to declaim in High Chant。 He glared contemptuously at the gleemen and did not linger in the rooms where they were； but Rand saw little difference between him and them except for their clothes。
Suddenly Barthanes was walking by Rand's side。 A liveried servant immediately offered his silver tray with a bow。 Barthanes took a blown…glass goblet of wine。 Walking backwards ahead of them still bowing； the servant held the tray toward Rand until Rand shook his head； then melted into the crowd。
〃You seem restless；〃 Barthanes said； sipping。
〃I like to walk。〃 Rand wondered how to follow Verin's advice； and remembering what she had said about his visit to the Amyrlin； he settled into Cat Crosses the Courtyard。 He knew no more arrogant way to walk than that。 Barthanes's mouth tightened； and Rand thought perhaps the lord found it too arrogant； but Verin's advice was all he had to go by； so he did not stop。 To take some of the edge off； he said pleasantly； 〃This is a fine party。 You have many friends； and I've never seen so many entertainers。〃
〃Many friends；〃 Barthanes agreed。 〃You can tell Galldrian how many； and who。 Some of the names might surprise him。〃
〃I have never met the King； Lord Barthanes； and I don't expect I ever will。〃
〃Of course。 You just happened to be in that flyspeck village。 You were not checking on the progress of retrieving that statue。 A great undertaking； that。〃
〃Yes。〃 He had begun thinking of Verin again； wishing she had given him some advice on how to talk with a man who assumed he was lying。 He added without thinking； 〃It's dangerous to meddle with things from the Age of Legends if you don't know what you are doing。〃
Barthanes peered into his wine； musing as if Rand had just said something profound。 〃Are you saying you do not support Galldrian in this？〃 he asked finally。
〃I told you； I've never met the King。〃
〃Yes； of course。 I did not know Andormen played at the Great Game so well。 We do not see many here in Cairhien。〃
Rand took a deep breath to stop from telling the man angrily that he was not playing their Game。 〃There are many grain barges from Andor in the river。〃
〃Merchants and traders。 Who notices such as they？ As well notice the beetles on the leaves。〃 Barthanes's voice carried equal contempt for both beetles and merchants； but once again he frowned as if Rand had hinted at something。 〃Not many men travel in pany with Aes Sedai。 You seem too young to be a Warder。 I suppose Lord Ingtar is Verin Sedai's Warder？〃
〃We are who we said we are；〃 Rand said； and grimaced。 Except me。Barthanes was studying Rand's face almost openly。 〃Young。 Young to carry a heron…mark blade。〃
〃I am less than a year old；〃 Rand said automatically； and immediately wished he had it back。 It sounded foolish； to his ear； but Verin had said act as he had with the Amyrlin Seat； and that was the answer Lan had given him。 A Borderman considered the day he was given his sword to be his nameday。
〃So。 An Andorman； and yet Borderland…trained。 Or is it Warder…trained？〃 Barthanes's eyes narrowed； studying Rand。 〃I understand Morgase has only one son。 Named Gawyn； I have heard。 You must be much like him in age。〃
〃I have met him；〃 Rand said cautiously。
〃Those eyes。 That hair。 I have heard the Andoran royal line has almost Aiel coloring in their hair and eyes。〃
Rand stumbled； though the floor was smooth marble。 〃I'm not Aiel； Lord Barthanes； and I'm not of the royal line； either。〃
〃As you say。 You have given me much to think on。 I believe we may find mon ground when we talk again。〃 Barthanes nodded and raised his glass in a small salute； then turned to speak to a gray…haired man with many stripes of color down his coat。
Rand shook his head and moved on； away from more conversation。 It had been bad enough talking to one Cairhienin lord； he did not want to risk two。 Barthanes appeared to find deep meanings in the most trivial ments。 Rand realized he had just now learned enough of Daes Dae'mar to know he had no idea at all how it was played。 Mat； Hurin； find something fast； so we can get out of here。 These people are crazy。
And then he entered another room； and the gleeman at the end of it； strumming his harp and reciting a tale from The Great Hunt of the Horn； was Thom Merrilin。 Rand stopped dead。 Thom did not seem to see him； though the gleeman's gaze passed over him twice。 It seemed that Thom had meant what he said。 A clean break。
Rand turned to go； but a woman stepped smoothly in front of him and put a hand on his chest； the lace falling back from a soft wrist。 Her head did not quite e to his shoulder； but her tall array of curls easily reached as high as his eyes。 The high neck of her gown put lace ruffles under her chin； and stripes covered the front of her dark blue dress below her breasts。 〃I am Alaine Chuliandred；