of the common room, muttered something about ale, and scurried to a table in a corner, alone. The Aes Sedai brushed aside the innkeeper’s solicitous hopes that she had enjoyed herself, and silently led Rand and the rest to the private dining room.
Perrin looked up from The Travels of Jain Farstrider when they walked in, and frowned when he saw their faces. “It didn’t go well, did it?” he said, closing the leatherbound book. Lamps and beeswax candles around the room gave a good light; Mistress Tiedra charged heavily, but she did not stint.
Verin carefully folded her shawl and laid it across the back of a chair. “Tell me again. The Darkfriends took the Horn through a Waygate? At Barthanes’s manor?”
“The ground under the manor used to be an Ogier grove,” Loial explained. “When we built. . . .” His voice trailed off and his ears wilted under her look.
“Hurin followed them right to it.” Rand wearily threw himself into a chair. I have to follow more than ever, now. But how? “I opened it to show him he could still follow the trail wherever they went, and the Black Wind was there. It tried to reach us, but Loial managed to close the gates before it could come all the way out.” He colored a little at that, but Loial had closed the gates, and for all he knew Machin Shin might have made it out without that. “It was standing guard.”
“The Black Wind,” Mat breathed, frozen halfway into a chair. Perrin was staring at Rand, too. So were Verin and Ingtar. Mat dropped into the chair with a thump.
“You must be mistaken,” Verin said at last. “Machin Shin could not be used as a guard. No one can constrain the Black Wind to do anything.”
“It’s a creature of the Dark One,” Mat said numbly. “They’re Darkfriends. Maybe they knew how to ask it for help, or make it help.”
“No one knows exactly what Machin Shin is,” Verin said, “unless, perhaps, it is the essence of madness and cruelty. It cannot be reasoned with, Mat, or bargained with, or talked to. It cannot even be forced, not by any Aes Sedai living today, and perhaps not by any who ever lived. Do you really think Padan Fain could do what ten Aes Sedai could not?” Mat shook his head.
There was an air of despair in the room, of hope and purpose lost. The goal they had sought had vanished, and even Verin’s face wore a floundering expression.
“I’d never have thought Fain had the courage for the Ways.” Ingtar sounded almost mild, but suddenly he banged his fist against the wall. “I do not care how, or even if, Machin Shin works on Fain’s behalf. They have taken the Horn of Valere into the Ways, Aes Sedai. By now they could be in the Blight, or halfway to Tear or Tanchico, or the other side of the Aiel Waste. The Horn is lost. I am lost.” His hands dropped to his sides, and his shoulders slumped. “I am lost.”
“Fain is taking it to Toman Head,” Rand said, and was immediately the object of all eyes again.
Verin studied him narrowly. “You said that before. How do you know?”
“He left a message with Barthanes,” Rand said.
“A trick,” Ingtar sneered. “He’d not tell us where to follow.”
“I don’t know what the rest of you are going to do,” Rand said, “but I am going to Toman Head. I have to. I leave at first light.”
“But, Rand,” Loial said, “it will take us months to reach Toman Head. What makes you think Fain will wait there for us?”
“He will wait.” But how long before he decides I’m not coming? Why did he set that guard if he wants me to follow? “Loial, I mean to ride as hard as I can, and if I ride Red to death, I’ll buy another horse, or steal another, if I have to. Are you sure you want to come?”
“I’ve stayed with you this long, Rand. Why would I stop now?” Loial pulled out his pipe and pouch and began thumbing tabac into the big bowl. “You see, I like you. I would like you even if you weren’t ta’veren. Maybe I like you despite it. You do seem to get me neck-deep in hot water. In any case, I am going with you.” He sucked on the pipestem to test the draw, then took a splinter from the stone jar on the mantel and thrust it into
<<Previous page The great hunt - By Robert Jordan - Page 1 The great hunt - By Robert Jordan - Page 2 The great hunt - By Robert Jordan - Page 3 The great hunt - By Robert Jordan - Page 4 The great hunt - By Robert Jordan - Page 5 The great hunt - By Robert Jordan - Page 6 The great hunt - By Robert Jordan - Page 7 The great hunt - By Robert Jordan - Page 8 The great hunt - By Robert Jordan - Page 9 The great hunt - By Robert Jordan - Page 10 The great hunt - By Robert Jordan - Page 11 The great hunt - By Robert Jordan - Page 12 The great hunt - By Robert Jordan - Page 13 The great hunt - By Robert Jordan - Page 14 The great hunt - By Robert Jordan - Page 15 The great hunt - By Robert Jordan - Page 16 The great hunt - By Robert Jordan - Page 17 The great hunt - By Robert Jordan - Page 18 The great hunt - By Robert Jordan - Page 19 The great hunt - By Robert Jordan - Page 20 The great hunt - By Robert Jordan - Page 21 The great hunt - By Robert Jordan - Page 22 The great hunt - By Robert Jordan - Page 23 The great hunt - By Robert Jordan - Page 24 The great hunt - By Robert Jordan - Page 25 The great hunt - By Robert Jordan - Page 26 The great hunt - By Robert Jordan - Page 27 The great hunt - By Robert Jordan - Page 28 The great hunt - By Robert Jordan - Page 29 The great hunt - By Robert Jordan - Page 30 The great hunt - By Robert Jordan - Page 31 The great hunt - By Robert Jordan - Page 32 The great hunt - By Robert Jordan - Page 33 The great hunt - By Robert Jordan - Page 34 The great hunt - By Robert Jordan - Page 35 The great hunt - By Robert Jordan - Page 36 The great hunt - By Robert Jordan - Page 37 The great hunt - By Robert Jordan - Page 38 The great hunt - By Robert Jordan - Page 39 The great hunt - By Robert Jordan - Page 40 The great hunt - By Robert Jordan - Page 41 The great hunt - By Robert Jordan - Page 42 The great hunt - By Robert Jordan - Page 43 The great hunt - By Robert Jordan - Page 44 The great hunt - By Robert Jordan - Page 45 The great hunt - By Robert Jordan - Page 46 The great hunt - By Robert Jordan - Page 47 The great hunt - By Robert Jordan - Page 48 The great hunt - By Robert Jordan - Page 49 The great hunt - By Robert Jordan - Page 50 The great hunt - By Robert Jordan - Page 51 The great hunt - By Robert Jordan - Page 52 The great hunt - By Robert Jordan - Page 53 The great hunt - By Robert Jordan - Page 54 The great hunt - By Robert Jordan - Page 55 The great hunt - By Robert Jordan - Page 56 The great hunt - By Robert Jordan - Page 57 The great hunt - By Robert Jordan - Page 58 The great hunt - By Robert Jordan - Page 59 The great hunt - By Robert Jordan - Page 60 The great hunt - By Robert Jordan - Page 61 The great hunt - By Robert Jordan - Page 62 The great hunt - By Robert Jordan - Page 63 The great hunt - By Robert Jordan - Page 64 The great hunt - By Robert Jordan - Page 65 The great hunt - By Robert Jordan - Page 66 The great hunt - By Robert Jordan - Page 67 The great hunt - By Robert Jordan - Page 68 The great hunt - By Robert Jordan - Page 69 The great hunt - By Robert Jordan - Page 70 The great hunt - By Robert Jordan - Page 71 The great hunt - By Robert Jordan - Page 72 The great hunt - By Robert Jordan - Page 73 The great hunt - By Robert Jordan - Page 74 The great hunt - By Robert Jordan - Page 75 The great hunt - By Robert Jordan - Page 76 The great hunt - By Robert Jordan - Page 77 The great hunt - By Robert Jordan - Page 78 The great hunt - By Robert Jordan - Page 79 The great hunt - By Robert Jordan - Page 80 The great hunt - By Robert Jordan - Page 81 The great hunt - By Robert Jordan - Page 82 The great hunt - By Robert Jordan - Page 83 The great hunt - By Robert Jordan - Page 84 The great hunt - By Robert Jordan - Page 85 The great hunt - By Robert Jordan - Page 86 The great hunt - By Robert Jordan - Page 87 The great hunt - By Robert Jordan - Page 88 The great hunt - By Robert Jordan - Page 89 The great hunt - By Robert Jordan - Page 90 The great hunt - By Robert Jordan - Page 91 The great hunt - By Robert Jordan - Page 92 The great hunt - By Robert Jordan - Page 93 The great hunt - By Robert Jordan - Page 94 The great hunt - By Robert Jordan - Page 95 The great hunt - By Robert Jordan - Page 96 The great hunt - By Robert Jordan - Page 97 The great hunt - By Robert Jordan - Page 98 The great hunt - By Robert Jordan - Page 99 The great hunt - By Robert Jordan - Page 100 The great hunt - By Robert Jordan - Page 101 The great hunt - By Robert Jordan - Page 102 The great hunt - By Robert Jordan - Page 103 The great hunt - By Robert Jordan - Page 104 The great hunt - By Robert Jordan - Page 105 The great hunt - By Robert Jordan - Page 106 The great hunt - By Robert Jordan - Page 107 The great hunt - By Robert Jordan - Page 108 The great hunt - By Robert Jordan - Page 109 The great hunt - By Robert Jordan - Page 110 The great hunt - By Robert Jordan - Page 111 The great hunt - By Robert Jordan - Page 112 The great hunt - By Robert Jordan - Page 113 The great hunt - By Robert Jordan - Page 114 The great hunt - By Robert Jordan - Page 115 The great hunt - By Robert Jordan - Page 116 The great hunt - By Robert Jordan - Page 117 The great hunt - By Robert Jordan - Page 118 The great hunt - By Robert Jordan - Page 119 The great hunt - By Robert Jordan - Page 120 The great hunt - By Robert Jordan - Page 121 The great hunt - By Robert Jordan - Page 122 The great hunt - By Robert Jordan - Page 123 The great hunt - By Robert Jordan - Page 124 The great hunt - By Robert Jordan - Page 125 The great hunt - By Robert Jordan - Page 126 The great hunt - By Robert Jordan - Page 127 The great hunt - By Robert Jordan - Page 128 The great hunt - By Robert Jordan - Page 129 The great hunt - By Robert Jordan - Page 130 The great hunt - By Robert Jordan - Page 131 The great hunt - By Robert Jordan - Page 132 The great hunt - By Robert Jordan - Page 133 The great hunt - By Robert Jordan - Page 134 The great hunt - By Robert Jordan - Page 135 The great hunt - By Robert Jordan - Page 136 The great hunt - By Robert Jordan - Page 137 The great hunt - By Robert Jordan - Page 138 The great hunt - By Robert Jordan - Page 139 The great hunt - By Robert Jordan - Page 140 The great hunt - By Robert Jordan - Page 141 The great hunt - By Robert Jordan - Page 142 The great hunt - By Robert Jordan - Page 143 The great hunt - By Robert Jordan - Page 144 The great hunt - By Robert Jordan - Page 145 The great hunt - By Robert Jordan - Page 146 The great hunt - By Robert Jordan - Page 147 The great hunt - By Robert Jordan - Page 148 The great hunt - By Robert Jordan - Page 149 The great hunt - By Robert Jordan - Page 150 The great hunt - By Robert Jordan - Page 151 The great hunt - By Robert Jordan - Page 152 The great hunt - By Robert Jordan - Page 153 The great hunt - By Robert Jordan - Page 154 The great hunt - By Robert Jordan - Page 155 The great hunt - By Robert Jordan - Page 156 The great hunt - By Robert Jordan - Page 157 The great hunt - By Robert Jordan - Page 158 The great hunt - By Robert Jordan - Page 159 The great hunt - By Robert Jordan - Page 160 The great hunt - By Robert Jordan - Page 161 The great hunt - By Robert Jordan - Page 162 The great hunt - By Robert Jordan - Page 163 The great hunt - By Robert Jordan - Page 164 The great hunt - By Robert Jordan - Page 165 The great hunt - By Robert Jordan - Page 166 The great hunt - By Robert Jordan - Page 167 The great hunt - By Robert Jordan - Page 168 The great hunt - By Robert Jordan - Page 169 The great hunt - By Robert Jordan - Page 170 The great hunt - By Robert Jordan - Page 171 The great hunt - By Robert Jordan - Page 172 The great hunt - By Robert Jordan - Page 173 The great hunt - By Robert Jordan - Page 174 The great hunt - By Robert Jordan - Page 175 The great hunt - By Robert Jordan - Page 176 The great hunt - By Robert Jordan - Page 177 The great hunt - By Robert Jordan - Page 178 The great hunt - By Robert Jordan - Page 179 The great hunt - By Robert Jordan - Page 180 The great hunt - By Robert Jordan - Page 181 The great hunt - By Robert Jordan - Page 182 The great hunt - By Robert Jordan - Page 183 The great hunt - By Robert Jordan - Page 184 The great hunt - By Robert Jordan - Page 185 The great hunt - By Robert Jordan - Page 186 The great hunt - By Robert Jordan - Page 187 The great hunt - By Robert Jordan - Page 188 The great hunt - By Robert Jordan - Page 189 The great hunt - By Robert Jordan - Page 190 The great hunt - By Robert Jordan - Page 191 The great hunt - By Robert Jordan - Page 192 The great hunt - By Robert Jordan - Page 193 The great hunt - By Robert Jordan - Page 194 The great hunt - By Robert Jordan - Page 195 The great hunt - By Robert Jordan - Page 196 The great hunt - By Robert Jordan - Page 197 The great hunt - By Robert Jordan - Page 198 The great hunt - By Robert Jordan - Page 199 The great hunt - By Robert Jordan - Page 200 The great hunt - By Robert Jordan - Page 201 The great hunt - By Robert Jordan - Page 202 The great hunt - By Robert Jordan - Page 203 The great hunt - By Robert Jordan - Page 204 The great hunt - By Robert Jordan - Page 205 The great hunt - By Robert Jordan - Page 206 The great hunt - By Robert Jordan - Page 207 The great hunt - By Robert Jordan - Page 208 The great hunt - By Robert Jordan - Page 209 The great hunt - By Robert Jordan - Page 210 The great hunt - By Robert Jordan - Page 211 The great hunt - By Robert Jordan - Page 212 The great hunt - By Robert Jordan - Page 213 The great hunt - By Robert Jordan - Page 214 The great hunt - By Robert Jordan - Page 215 The great hunt - By Robert Jordan - Page 216 The great hunt - By Robert Jordan - Page 217 The great hunt - By Robert Jordan - Page 218 The great hunt - By Robert Jordan - Page 219 The great hunt - By Robert Jordan - Page 220 The great hunt - By Robert Jordan - Page 221 The great hunt - By Robert Jordan - Page 222 The great hunt - By Robert Jordan - Page 223 The great hunt - By Robert Jordan - Page 224 The great hunt - By Robert Jordan - Page 225 The great hunt - By Robert Jordan - Page 226 The great hunt - By Robert Jordan - Page 227 The great hunt - By Robert Jordan - Page 228 The great hunt - By Robert Jordan - Page 229 The great hunt - By Robert Jordan - Page 230 The great hunt - By Robert Jordan - Page 231 The great hunt - By Robert Jordan - Page 232 The great hunt - By Robert Jordan - Page 233 The great hunt - By Robert Jordan - Page 234 The great hunt - By Robert Jordan - Page 235 The great hunt - By Robert Jordan - Page 236 The great hunt - By Robert Jordan - Page 237 The great hunt - By Robert Jordan - Page 238 The great hunt - By Robert Jordan - Page 239 The great hunt - By Robert Jordan - Page 240 The great hunt - By Robert Jordan - Page 241 The great hunt - By Robert Jordan - Page 242 The great hunt - By Robert Jordan - Page 243 The great hunt - By Robert Jordan - Page 244 The great hunt - By Robert Jordan - Page 245 The great hunt - By Robert Jordan - Page 246 The great hunt - By Robert Jordan - Page 247 The great hunt - By Robert Jordan - Page 248 The great hunt - By Robert Jordan - Page 249 The great hunt - By Robert Jordan - Page 250 The great hunt - By Robert Jordan - Page 251 The great hunt - By Robert Jordan - Page 252 The great hunt - By Robert Jordan - Page 253 The great hunt - By Robert Jordan - Page 254 The great hunt - By Robert Jordan - Page 255 The great hunt - By Robert Jordan - Page 256 The great hunt - By Robert Jordan - Page 257 The great hunt - By Robert Jordan - Page 258 The great hunt - By Robert Jordan - Page 259 The great hunt - By Robert Jordan - Page 260 The great hunt - By Robert Jordan - Page 261 The great hunt - By Robert Jordan - Page 262 The great hunt - By Robert Jordan - Page 263 The great hunt - By Robert Jordan - Page 264 The great hunt - By Robert Jordan - Page 265 The great hunt - By Robert Jordan - Page 266 The great hunt - By Robert Jordan - Page 267 The great hunt - By Robert Jordan - Page 268 The great hunt - By Robert Jordan - Page 269 The great hunt - By Robert Jordan - Page 270 The great hunt - By Robert Jordan - Page 271 The great hunt - By Robert Jordan - Page 272 The great hunt - By Robert Jordan - Page 273 The great hunt - By Robert Jordan - Page 274 The great hunt - By Robert Jordan - Page 275 The great hunt - By Robert Jordan - Page 276 The great hunt - By Robert Jordan - Page 277 The great hunt - By Robert Jordan - Page 278 The great hunt - By Robert Jordan - Page 279 The great hunt - By Robert Jordan - Page 280 The great hunt - By Robert Jordan - Page 281 The great hunt - By Robert Jordan - Page 282 The great hunt - By Robert Jordan - Page 283 The great hunt - By Robert Jordan - Page 284 The great hunt - By Robert Jordan - Page 285 The great hunt - By Robert Jordan - Page 286 The great hunt - By Robert Jordan - Page 287 The great hunt - By Robert Jordan - Page 288 The great hunt - By Robert Jordan - Page 289 The great hunt - By Robert Jordan - Page 290 The great hunt - By Robert Jordan - Page 291 The great hunt - By Robert Jordan - Page 292 The great hunt - By Robert Jordan - Page 293 The great hunt - By Robert Jordan - Page 294 The great hunt - By Robert Jordan - Page 295 The great hunt - By Robert Jordan - Page 296 The great hunt - By Robert Jordan - Page 297 The great hunt - By Robert Jordan - Page 298 The great hunt - By Robert Jordan - Page 299 The great hunt - By Robert Jordan - Page 300 The great hunt - By Robert Jordan - Page 301 The great hunt - By Robert Jordan - Page 302 The great hunt - By Robert Jordan - Page 303 The great hunt - By Robert Jordan - Page 304 The great hunt - By Robert Jordan - Page 305 The great hunt - By Robert Jordan - Page 306 The great hunt - By Robert Jordan - Page 307 The great hunt - By Robert Jordan - Page 308 The great hunt - By Robert Jordan - Page 309 The great hunt - By Robert Jordan - Page 310 The great hunt - By Robert Jordan - Page 311 The great hunt - By Robert Jordan - Page 312 The great hunt - By Robert Jordan - Page 313 The great hunt - By Robert Jordan - Page 314 The great hunt - By Robert Jordan - Page 315 The great hunt - By Robert Jordan - Page 316 The great hunt - By Robert Jordan - Page 317 The great hunt - By Robert Jordan - Page 318 The great hunt - By Robert Jordan - Page 319 The great hunt - By Robert Jordan - Page 320 The great hunt - By Robert Jordan - Page 321 The great hunt - By Robert Jordan - Page 322 The great hunt - By Robert Jordan - Page 323 The great hunt - By Robert Jordan - Page 324 The great hunt - By Robert Jordan - Page 325 The great hunt - By Robert Jordan - Page 326 The great hunt - By Robert Jordan - Page 327 The great hunt - By Robert Jordan - Page 328 The great hunt - By Robert Jordan - Page 329 The great hunt - By Robert Jordan - Page 330 The great hunt - By Robert Jordan - Page 331 The great hunt - By Robert Jordan - Page 332 The great hunt - By Robert Jordan - Page 333 The great hunt - By Robert Jordan - Page 334 The great hunt - By Robert Jordan - Page 335 The great hunt - By Robert Jordan - Page 336 The great hunt - By Robert Jordan - Page 337 The great hunt - By Robert Jordan - Page 338 The great hunt - By Robert Jordan - Page 339 The great hunt - By Robert Jordan - Page 340 The great hunt - By Robert Jordan - Page 341 The great hunt - By Robert Jordan - Page 342 The great hunt - By Robert Jordan - Page 343 The great hunt - By Robert Jordan - Page 344 The great hunt - By Robert Jordan - Page 345 The great hunt - By Robert Jordan - Page 346 The great hunt - By Robert Jordan - Page 347 The great hunt - By Robert Jordan - Page 348 The great hunt - By Robert Jordan - Page 349 The great hunt - By Robert Jordan - Page 350 The great hunt - By Robert Jordan - Page 351 The great hunt - By Robert Jordan - Page 352
Next page>>