al at all。〃
Rand frowned。 A shepherd would not be very acceptable to a formal Cairhienin noble House。 Light； Mat's right about you。 You're crazy； and with a big head to boot。 But if I could marry 。。。
He wished he could stop thinking； and before he realized it； the void had formed within him； making thoughts distant things； as if part of someone else。 Saidin shone at him； beckoned to him。 He gritted his teeth and ignored it； it was like ignoring a burning coal inside his head； but at least he could hold it at bay。 Barely。 He almost left the void； but the Darkfriends were out there in the night； and closer； now。 And the Trollocs。 He needed the emptiness； needed even the uneasy calm of the void。 I don't have to touch it。 I don't。
After a time； he reined in Red。 They stood at the base of a hill； the wide…scattered trees on its slopes black in the night。 〃I think we must be close by now；〃 he said softly。 〃Best we go the rest of the way on foot。〃 He slid from the saddle and tied the bay's reins to a branch。
〃Are you all right？〃 Loial whispered； climbing down。 〃You sound odd。〃
〃I'm fine。〃 His voice sounded tight； he realized。 Stretched。 Saidin called to him。 No！ 〃Be careful。 I can't be sure exactly how far it is； but that fire should be somewhere just ahead of us。 On the hilltop； I think。〃 The Ogier nodded。
Slowly Rand stole from tree to tree； placing each foot carefully； holding his sword tight so it did not clatter against a tree trunk。 He was grateful for the lack of undergrowth。 Loial followed like a big shadow； Rand could not see much more of him than that。 Everything was moonshadows and darkness。
Suddenly some trick of the moonlight resolved the shadows ahead of him； and he froze； touching the rough bole of a leatherleaf。 Dim mounds on the ground became men wrapped in blankets； and apart from them a group of larger mounds。 Sleeping Trollocs。 They had doused the fire。 One moonbeam； moving through the branches； caught a shine of gold and silver on the ground； halfway between the two groups。 The moonlight seemed to brighten； for an instant he could see clearly。 The shape of a sleeping man lay close by to the gleam； but that was not what held his eye。 The chest。 The Horn。 And something atop it； a point of red flashing in the moonbeam。 The dagger！ Why would Fain put 。。。 ？
Loial's huge hand settled over Rand's mouth； and a good part of his face besides。 He twisted to look at the Ogier。 Loial pointed off to his right； slowly； as if motion might attract attention。
At first Rand could not see anything； then a shadow moved； not ten paces away。 A tall； bulky shadow； and snouted。 Rand's breath caught。 A Trolloc。 It lifted its snout as if sniffing。 Some of them hunted by scent。
For an instant the void wavered。 Someone stirred in the Darkfriend camp； and the Trolloc turned to peer that way。
Rand froze； letting the calm of emptiness envelope him。 His hand was on his sword； but he did not think of it。 The void was all。 Whatever happened； happened。 He watched the Trolloc without blinking。
A moment longer the snouted shadow watched the Darkfriend camp； then； as if satisfied； folded itself down beside a tree。 Almost immediately a low sound； like coarse cloth ripping； drifted from it。
Loial put his mouth close to Rand's ear。 〃It's asleep；〃 he whispered incredulously。
Rand nodded。 Tam had told him Trollocs were lazy； apt to give up any task but killing unless fear kept them to it。 He turned back to the camp。
All was still and quiet there again。 The moonbeam no longer shone on the chest； but he knew now which shadow it was。 He could see it in his mind； floating beyond the void； glittering golden； chased with silver； in the glow of saidin。 The Horn of Valere and the dagger Mat needed； both almost within reach of his hand。 Selene's face drifted with the chest。 They could follow Fain's party in the morning； and wait until Ingtar joined them。 If Ingtar did e； if he still followed the trail without his sniffer。 No； there would never be a better chance。 All within reach of his hand。 Selene was waiting on the mountain。
Motioning for Loial to follow； Rand dropped to his belly and crawled toward the chest。 He heard the Ogier's muffled gasp； but his eyes were fixed on that one shadowed mound ahead。
Darkfriends and Trollocs lay to left and right of him； but once he had seen Tam stalk close enough to a deer to put his hand on its flank before the animal bounded off； he had tried to learn from Tam。 Madness！ The thought flew by dimly； almost out of reach。 This is madness！ You…are…going …mad！ Dim thoughts； someone else's thoughts。
Slowly； silently； he slithered to that one special shadow； and put out a hand。 Ornate traceries worked in gold met his touch。 It was the chest that held the Horn of Valere。 His hand touched something else； on the lid。 The dagger； bare…bladed。 In the dark； his eyes widened。 Remembering what it had done to Mat； he jerked back； the void shifting with his agitation。
The man sleeping nearby … no more than two paces from the chest； no one else lay so close by spans … groaned in his sleep and thrashed at his blankets。 Rand allowed the void to sweep thought and fear away。 Murmuring uneasily in his sleep； the man stilled。
Rand let his hand go back to the dagger； not quite touching it。 It had not harmed Mat in the beginning。 Not much； at least； not quickly。 In one swift motion he lifted the dagger； stuck it behind his belt； and pulled his hand away； as if it might help to minimize the time it touched his bare skin。 Perhaps it would； and Mat would die without the dagger。 He could feel it there； almost a weight pulling him down； pressing against him。 But in the void sensation was as distant as thought； and the feel of the dagger faded quickly to something he was used to。
He wasted only a moment more staring at the shadow…wrapped chest … the Horn had to be inside； but he did not know how to open it and he could not lift it by himself … then he looked around for Loial。 He found the Ogier crouched not far behind him； massive head swiveling as he peered back and forth from sleeping human Darkfriends to sleeping Trollocs。 Even in the night it was plain Loial's eyes were as wide as they could go； they looked as big as saucers in the light of the moon。 Rand reached out and took Loial's hand。
The Ogier gave a start and gasped。 Rand put a finger across his lips； set Loial's hand on the chest； and mimed lifting。 For a time … it seemed forever； in the night； with Darkfriends and Trollocs all around； it could not have been more than heartbeats … Loial stared。 Then； slowly； he put his arms around the golden chest and stood。 He made it seem effortless。
Ever so carefully； even more carefully than he had e in； Rand began to walk out of the camp； behind Loial and the chest。 Both hands on his sword； he watched the sleeping Darkfriends； the still shapes of the Trollocs。 All those shadowed figures began to be swallowed deeper in the darkness as they drew away。 Almost free。 We've done it！
The man who had been sleeping near the chest suddenly sat up with a strangled yell； then leaped to his feet。 〃It's gone！ Wake； you filth！ It's gooonnne！〃 Fain's voice； even in the void Rand recognized it。 The others scrambled erect； Darkfriends and Trollocs； calling to know what was happening； growling and snarling。 Fain's voice rose to a howl。 〃I know it is you； al'Thor！ You're hiding from me； but I know you are out there！ Find him！ Find him！ Al'Thoooor！〃 Men and Trollocs scattered in every direction。
Wrapped in emptiness； Rand kept moving。 Almost forgotten in entering the camp； saidin pulsed at him。
〃He cannot see us；〃 Loial whispered low。 〃Once we reach the horses … 〃
A Trolloc leaped out of the dark at them； cruel eagle's beak in a man's face where mouth and nose should have been； scythe…like sword already whistling through the air。
Rand moved without thought。 He was one with the blade。 Cat Dances on the Wall。 The Trolloc screamed as it fell； screamed again as it died。
〃Run； Loial！〃 Rand manded。 Saidin called to him。 〃Run！〃
He was dimly aware of Loial lu