The Shadow Rising

"It is quite all right, Mistress al'Vere," Verin interrupted in a soothing tone. "You did exactly the correct thing. Perrin is in the right hands, now. Also I will enjoy the chance to learn more about the Aiel, and it is always a pleasure to talk with an Ogier. I will pick your brain, Loial. I have found some fascinating things in Ogier books."

Loial gave her a pleased smile; anything to do with books seemed to please him. Gaul, on the other hand, exchanged guarded looks with Bain and Chiad.

"It is all right as long as you do not do it again," Ala

"Why are you here?" he demanded right back.

"Perrin!" Mistress al'Vere said sharply. "Mind your ma

"Do not trouble yourself," Verin told her.. "Perrin and I are old friends now. I understand him. " Her dark eyes glittered at him for a moment.

"We will take care of him." Ala

Verin smiled and patted Marin's shoulder. "You had better go on back to the village. We don't want anyone wondering why you are walking in the woods."

Mistress al'Vere nodded. Pausing by Perrin, she put a hand on his arm. "You know you have my sympathy," she said gently. "Just remember that getting yourself killed won't help anything.. Do what the Aes Sedai tell you. " He mumbled something noncommittal, but it seemed to satisfy her.

When Mistress al'Vere had gone, Verin said, "You have our sympathy as well, Perrin. If there was anything we could have done, we would have."

He did not want to think of his family now. "You still haven't answered my question."

"Perrin!" Faile managed to copy Mistress al'Vere's tone almost exactly, but he paid it no mind.

"Why are you here? It seems awfully coincidental. Whitecloaks and Trollocs, and the two of you just happen to be here at the same time."

"Not coincidental at all," Verin replied. "Ah, the tea water is ready." The water subsided from a boil as she began to bustle about, tossing a handful of leaves into the kettle, directing Faile to find metal cups in one of the bundles against the wall. Ala

Ala

"I think not," Verin replied calmly. "Even if we could find women willing to bear children by gentled men, there is no guarantee the children would be able to cha

"She would not be," Ala

"Her expression was... interesting, " the Brown sister said musingly. "Calm yourself, Perrin. I will give you the rest of your answer. Tea?"

Trying to wipe the glare from his face, somehow he found himself seated on the floor, his bow beside him and a metal cup full of strong tea in his hand. Everyone sat in a circle in the middle of the room.. Ala

"Here in the Two Rivers, where I suspect no Aes Sedai had visited in a thousand years, Moiraine found two women who could not only be taught to cha

"Not to mention three ta'veren, Verin murmured into her tea.

"Do you have any idea," Ala

"It was difficult to be sure," Verin added. "She is only twelve. None have anywhere near the potential of Egwene or Nynaeve, but the number is still nothing less than remarkable. There might be another two or three just around Watch Hill. We have had no chance to examine girls here, or farther south. Taren Ferry was a disappointment, I must say. Too much interchange of bloodlines with the outside, I suppose. "

Perrin had to admit it made sense. But it did not answer all his questions, or settle all his doubts. He shifted, stretching out his leg. The spear wound in his thigh hurt. "I don't understand why you are hiding here. Whitecloaks arresting i

Loial muttered under his breath, a muted rumble. Perrin caught "angering Aes Sedai" and "hornet's nest," but he continued to hammer at them. "Why aren't you doing something? You're Aes Sedai! Burn me, why aren't you doing something?"

"Perrin!" Faile hissed before turning an apologetic smile to Verin and Ala

"An easy ma

Ala

"As for Trollocs," Verin added, "we have done for a number of them, and two Myrddraal, but there are limits. Halfmen can sense cha

Perrin scratched at his beard. He should have expected this, should have known. He had seen Moiraine face Trollocs, and he had some idea of what she could do and what not. He realized he had been thinking of how Rand had killed all the Trollocs in the Stone, only Rand was stronger than either of these Aes Sedai, probably stronger than both together. Well, whether they helped him or not, he still meant to finish every Trolloc in the Two Rivers. After he rescued Mat's family, and the Luhhans. If he thought about it carefully enough, he had to find a way. His thigh ached miserably.