bunches where they were stuffed into his boots。 That had been all they had been able to find that would fit back in the abandoned village。 Perrin wondered if this one would be abandoned soon。 Half the stone houses were empty； and in front of the inn； up the dirt street from them； three ox carts； loaded too heavily in great mounds and everything covered with roped canvas； stood with families gathered around them。
As he watched them； huddling together and saying their goodbyes to those who were staying； at least for the time being； Perrin decided it was not lack of interest in strangers on the villagers' part； they were carefully avoiding looking at him and the others。 These people had learned not to show curiosity about strangers； even strangers who were obviously not Seanchan。 Strangers might be dangerous these days on Toman Head。 They had encountered the same studious indifference in other villages。 There were more towns here within a few leagues of the coast； every one holding itself independent。 At any rate； they had until the Seanchan came。
〃I say it's time to go get the horses；〃 Mat said； 〃before they decide to start asking questions。 There has to be a first time for it。〃
Hurin was staring at a big； blackened circle of ground that marred the brown grass of the village green。 It had a weathered look； but no one had done anything to erase it。 〃Maybe six or eight months ago；〃 he muttered； 〃and it still stinks。 The whole Village Council and their families。 Why would they do a thing like that？〃
〃Who knows why they do anything？〃 Mat muttered。 〃Seanchan don't seem to need a reason for killing people。 None I can figure out； anyway。〃
Perrin tried not to look at the charred patch。 〃Hurin； are you sure about Fain？ Hurin？〃 It had been hard to make the sniffer look at anything else since they entered the village。 〃Hurin！〃
〃What？ Oh。 Fain。 Yes。〃 Hurin's nostrils flared； and right away he wrinkled his nose。 〃There's no mistaking that； even old as it is。 Makes a Myrddraal smell like roses。 He passed through here all right； but I think he was alone。 No Trollocs； anyway； and if he had any Darkfriends with him； they hadn't been up to much lately。〃
There was some sort of agitation up by the inn； people shouting and pointing。 Not at Perrin and the other two； but at something Perrin could not see in the low hills east of the village。
〃Can we get the horses now？〃 Mat said。 〃That could be Seanchan。〃
Perrin nodded； and they broke into a run for where they had tied their horses behind an abandoned house。 As Mat and Hurin disappeared around the corner of the house； Perrin looked back toward the inn and stopped in astonishment。 The Children of the Light were riding into town； a long column of them。
He leaped after the others。 〃Whitecloaks！〃
They wasted only an instant staring at him in disbelief before they were scrambling into their saddles。 Keeping houses between them and the main street of the village； the three galloped out of the village westward； watching over their shoulders for pursuit。 Ingtar had told them to avoid anything that might slow them down； and Whitecloaks asking questions would certainly do that； even if they could manage answers that satisfied。 Perrin kept an even closer watch than the other two； he had his own reasons for not wanting to meet Whitecloaks。 The axe in my hands。 Light； what I wouldn't give to change that。
The lightly wooded hills soon hid the village； and Perrin began to think maybe there was nothing chasing them after all。 He reined in and motioned the other two to stop。 When they did； eyeing him questioningly； he listened。 His ears were sharper than they once had been； but he heard no sounds of hoofbeats。
Reluctantly； he reached out with his mind in search of wolves。 Almost immediately he found them； a small pack； lying up for the day in the hills above the village they had just left。 There were moments of astonishment so strong he almost thought it was his own； these wolves had heard rumors； but they had not really believed there were two…legs who could talk to their kind。 He sweated through the minutes it took to get past introducing himself … he gave the image of Young Bull in spite of himself； and added his own smell； according to the custom among wolves； wolves were great ones for formalities on first meetings … but finally he managed to get his question through。 They really had no interest in any two…legs who could not talk to them； but at last they glided down to take a look； unseen by the dull eyes of the two…legs。
After a time； images came back to him； what the wolves saw。 Whitecloaked men on horses crowding around the village； riding among the houses； riding around it； but none leaving。 Especially not westward。 The wolves said all they smelled moving west was himself and two other two…legs with three of the hard…footed tall ones。
Perrin let go the contact with the wolves gratefully。 He was aware of Hurin and Mat looking at him。
〃They aren't following；〃 he said。
〃How can you be sure？〃 Mat demanded。
〃I am！〃 he snapped； then more softly； 〃I just am。〃
Mat opened his mouth and closed it again； and finally said； 〃Well； if they aren't ing after us； I say we go back to Ingtar and get on Fain's trail。 That dagger isn't ing any closer just standing here。〃
〃We can't pick it up again this close to that village；〃 Hurin said。 〃Not without risking running into Whitecloaks。 I don't think Lord Ingtar would appreciate that； and not Verin Sedai； neither。〃
Perrin nodded。 〃We'll follow it on a few miles； anyway。 But keep a close lookout。 We can't be too far from Falme； now。 It won't do any good to avoid the Whitecloaks and ride right into a Seanchan patrol。〃
As they started out again； he could not help wondering what Whitecloaks were doing there。
Geofram Bornhald peered down the village street； sitting his saddle while the legion spread through the small town and surrounded it。 There had been something about the heavy…shouldered man who had dashed out of sight； something that tickled his memory。 Yes； of course。 The lad who claimed to be a blacksmith。 What was his name？
Byar pulled up in front of him； hand on heart。 〃The village is secured； my Lord Captain。〃
Villagers in heavy sheepskin coats milled uneasily as white…cloaked soldiers herded them together near the overloaded carts in front of the inn。 Crying children clung to their mothers' skirts； but no one looked defiant。 Dull eyes stared out of the adult faces； waiting passively for whatever was going to happen。 For that much； Bornhald was grateful。 He had no real desire to make an example of any of these people； and no wish at all to waste time。
Dismounting； he tossed his reins to one of the Children。 〃See that the men are fed； Byar。 Put the prisoners in the inn with as much food and water as they can carry； then nail all the doors and shutters closed。 Make them think I am leaving some men to stand guard； yes？〃
Byar touched his heart again and wheeled his horse to shout orders。 The herding began anew； into the flat…roofed inn； while other Children ransacked houses searching for hammers and nails。
Watching the sullen faces that filed past him； Bornhald thought it should be two or three days before any of them found enough courage to break out of the inn and find there were no guards。 Two or three days was all he needed； but he did not intend to risk alerting the Seanchan to his presence now。
Leaving enough men behind to make the Questioners believe his entire legion was still scattered across Almoth Plain； he had brought more than a thousand of the Children nearly the length of Toman Head without giving alarm； so far as he knew。 Three skirmishes with Seanchan patrols had ended quickly。 The Seanchan had grown used to facing already defeated rabble； the Children of the Light had been a deadly surprise。 Yet the Seanchan knew how to fight like the Dark One's hordes； and he could not help remembering the one skirmish that had cost him better than fifty men。 He was still not sure which of the two arrow…riddled women he had stared at afterwards had been t