The Amyrlin dropped back into her chair； but immediately leaned forward。 She seemed caught between weariness and hope。 〃But will he proclaim himself？ If he's afraid 。。。 The Light knows he should be； Moiraine； but men who name themselves as the Dragon want the power。 If he does not。。。〃
〃I have the means to see him named Dragon whether he wills it or not。 And even if I somehow fail； the Pattern itself will see him named Dragon whether he wills it or not。 Remember； he is ta'veren； Siuan。 He has no more control over his fate than a candle wick has over the flame。〃
The Amyrlin sighed。 〃It's risky； Moiraine。 Risky。 But my father used to say； 'Girl； if you won't take a chance； you'll never win a copper。' We have plans to make。 Sit down； this won't be done quickly。 I will send for wine and cheese。〃
Moiraine shook her head。 〃We have been closeted alone too long already。 If any did try listening and found your Warding； they will be wondering already。 It is not worth the risk。 We can contrive another meeting tomorrow。〃 Besides； my dearest friend； I cannot tell you everything； and I cannot risk letting you know I am holding anything back。
〃I suppose you are right。 But first thing in the morning。 There's so much I have to know。〃
〃The morning；〃 Moiraine agreed。 The Amyrlin rose； and they hugged again。 〃In the morning I will tell you everything you need to know。〃
Leane gave Moiraine a sharp look when she came out into the anteroom； then darted into the Amyrlin's chamber。 Moiraine tried to put on a chastened face； as if she had endured one of the Amyrlin's infamous upbraidings … most women； however strong…willed； returned from those big…eyed and weak…kneed … but the expression was foreign to her。 She looked more angry than anything else； which served much the same purpose。 She was only vaguely aware of the other women in the outer room； she thought some had gone and others e since she went in； but she barely looked at them。 The hour was growing late； and there was much to be done before the morning came。 Much； before she spoke to the Amyrlin Seat again。
Quickening her step； she moved deeper into the keep。
The column would have made an impressive sight under the waxing moon； moving through the Tarabon night to the jangle of harness； had there been anyone to see it。 A full two thousand Children of the Light； well mounted； in white tabards and cloaks； armor burnished； with their train of supply wagons； and farriers； and grooms with the strings of remounts。 There were villages in this sparsely forested country； but they had left roads behind； and stayed clear of even farmers' crofts。 They were to meet 。。。 someone 。。。 at a flyspeck village near the northern border of Tarabon； at the edge of Almoth Plain。
Geofram Bornhald； riding at the head of his men； wondered what it was all about。 He remembered too well his interview with Pedron Niall； Lord Captain mander of the Children of the Light； in Amador； but he had learned little there。
〃We are alone； Geofram；〃 the white…haired man had said。 His voice was thin and reedy with age。 〃I remember giving you the oath。。。 what 。。。 thirty…six years ago； it must be； now。〃
Bornhald straightened。 〃My Lord Captain mander； may I ask why I was called back from Caemlyn； and with such urgency？ A push； and Morgase could be toppled。 There are Houses in Andor that see dealing with Tar Valon as we do； and they were ready to lay claim to the throne。 I left Eamon Valda in charge； but he seemed intent on following the Daughter…Heir to Tar Valon。 I would not be surprised to learn the man has kidnapped the girl； or even attacked Tar Valon。 〃 And Dain； Bornhald's son； had arrived just before Bornhald was recalled。 Dain was full of zeal。 Too much zeal； sometimes。 Enough to fall in blindly with whatever Valda proposed。
〃Valda walks in the Light； Geofram。 But you are the best battle mander among the Children。 You will assemble a full legion； the best men you can find； and take them into Tarabon； avoiding any eyes attached to a tongue that may speak。 Any such tongue must be silenced； if the eyes see。〃
Bornhald hesitated。 Fifty Children together； or even a hundred； could enter any land without question； at least without open question； but an entire legion。。。 〃Is it war； my Lord Captain mander？ There is talk in the streets。 Wild rumors； mainly； about Artur Hawkwing's armies e back。〃 The old man did not speak。 〃The King。。。〃
〃Does not mand the Children； Lord Captain Bornhald。〃 For the first time there was a snap in the Lord Captain mander's voice。 〃I do。 Let the King sit in his palace and do what he does best。 Nothing。 You will be met at a village called Alcruna； and there you will receive your final orders。 I expect your legion to ride in three days。 Now go； Geofram。 You have work to do。〃
Bornhald frowned。 〃Pardon； my Lord Captain mander； but who will meet me？ Why am I risking war with Tarabon？〃
〃You will be told what you must know when you reach Alcruna。〃 The Lord Captain mander suddenly looked more than his age。 Absently he plucked at his white tunic； with the golden sunburst of the Children large on the chest。 〃There are forces at work beyond what you know； Geofram。 Beyond what even you can know。 Choose your men quickly。 Now go。 Ask me no more。 And the Light ride with you。〃
Now Bornhald straightened in his saddle； working a knot out of his back。 I am getting old； he thought。 A day and a night in the saddle； with two pauses to water the horses； and he felt every gray hair on his head。 He would not even have noticed a few years ago。 At least I have not killed any innocents。 He could be as hard on Darkfriends as any man sworn to the Light … Darkfriends must be destroyed before they pulled the whole world under the Shadow … but he wanted to be sure they were Darkfriends first。 It had been difficult avoiding Taraboner eyes with so many men； even in the backcountry； but he had managed it。 No tongues had needed to be silenced。
The scouts he had sent out came riding back； and behind them came more men in white cloaks； some carrying torches to ruin the night vision of everyone at the head of the column。 With a muttered curse； Bornhald ordered a halt while he studied those who came to meet him。
Their cloaks bore the same golden sunburst on the breast as his； the same as every Child of the Light； and their leader even had golden knots of rank below it equivalent to Bornhald's。 But behind their sunbursts were red shepherd's crooks。 Questioners。 With hot irons and pinchers and dripping water the Questioners pulled confession and repentance from Darkfriends； but there were those who said they decided guilt before ever they began。 Geofram Bornhald was one who said it。
I have been sent here to meet Questioners？
〃We have been waiting for you； Lord Captain Bornhald；〃 the leader said in a harsh voice。 He was a tall； hook…nosed man with the gleam of certainty in his eyes that every Questioner had。 〃You could have made better time。 I am Einor Saren； second to Jaichim Carridin； who mands the Hand of the Light in Tarabon。〃 The Hand of the Light … the Hand that dug out truth； so they said。 They did not like the name Questioners。 〃There is a bridge at the village。 Have your men move across。 We will talk in the inn。 It is surprisingly fortable。〃
〃I was told by the Lord Captain mander himself to avoid all eyes。〃
〃The village has been 。。。 pacified。 Now move your men。 I mand； now。 I have orders with the Lord Captain mander's seal； if you doubt。〃
Bornhald suppressed the growl that rose in his throat。 Pacified。 He wondered if the bodies had been piled outside the village； or if they had been thrown into the river。 It would be like the Questioners； cold enough to kill an entire village for secrecy and stupid enough to throw the bodies into the river to float downstream and trumpet their deed from Alcruna to Tanchico。 〃What I doubt is why I am in Tarabon with two thousand men； Questioner。〃
Saren's face tightened； but his voice remained harsh and demanding。 〃It is simple； Lord Captain。 There are towns and villages across Almoth Plain with none in authority above a mayo