The Gathering Storm

coming for you, Lord Rand. So you see, they want to meet with you. Very badly.'

'But?'

'But, well, last time you were in Far Madding there was—'

Rand held up a finger. Hurin quieted, and all grew still. Even the horses seemed to hold their breaths.

'The Borderlanders are in Far Madding?' Rand asked.

'Yes, Lord Rand.'

'They want to meet with me there?'

'Yes, Lord Rand. You'll have to come inside the protection of the Guardian, you see, and—'

Rand waved a curt hand, cutting off Hurin. A gateway opened immediately. It didn't appear to lead to Far Madding, however; it just led back a short distance, to the road where Rand and the others had been riding a short time before.

Rand released Hurin, gesturing for the Aiel to let the man mount, then moved Tai'daishar through the gateway. What was going on? Everyone else followed. Once through, Rand created another gateway, this one opening into a small wooded hollow. Nynaeve thought she recognized it; this was where they had camped following their visit to Far Madding with Cadsuane.

Why the first gateway? Nynaeve thought, confused. And then it occurred to her. One didn't need to learn an area to Travel a short distance from it—and Traveling to a place taught someone that location well enough to create gateways from it.

So by Traveling a short hop first, Rand memorized the location well enough to create gateways wherever he wanted—while skipping the time needed to learn the area! It was extremely clever, and Nynaeve felt herself blushing that she hadn't seen the possibility before. How long had Rand known of this trick? Had memory of it come from that . . . voice in his head?

Rand rode Tai'daishar out into the hollow, the horse's hooves stirring fallen leaves as he worked his way through the underbrush. Nynaeve followed, trying to urge her docile mare to keep up with Rand. That stable- master was going to hear from her for certain. His ears would burn when she was through with him!

Hurin trotted his horse out as well, and the Aiel loped along, subtly keeping him surrounded. They had their faces veiled, spears or bows in hand. Past the trees and underbrush, Rand stopped Tai'daishar, looking across the open meadow toward the ancient city of Far Madding.

It wasn't large, not by the measure of the Great Cities. Nor was it beautiful, not when compared with the Ogier-built wonders Nynaeve had seen. But it was big enough, and it was certainly home to fine architecture and ancient relics. Set upon an island in a lake, it was actually faintly reminiscent of Tar Valon. Three broad bridges crossed the calm waters, and were the only means of entering the city.

A very large army was encamped around the lake, perhaps covering more ground than Far Madding itself. Nynaeve counted dozens of different pennons marking dozens of different houses. There were lines upon lines of horses, and tents like rows of summer crops, carefully planted and organized, awaiting harvest. The Borderlander army.

'I've heard of this place,' Naeff said, riding up, close-cropped, dark brown hair ruffling in the wind. He narrowed his eyes, rectangular face dissatisfied. 'It's like a stedding, only not as safe.'

Far Madding's massive ter'angreal—known as the Guardian—created invisible protective bubbles that blocked people from touching the One Power. That could be worked around through the use of a very specialized ter'angreal, one of which Nynaeve happened to be wearing. But it would help only slightly.

The army looked close enough to be within the bubble that prevented men from channeling, which extended about a mile out around the city.

'They will know we've come,' Rand said softly, eyes narrowed. 'They'll have been waiting for it. They expect me to ride into their box.'

'Box?' Nynaeve asked hesitantly.

'The city is a box,' Rand said. 'The whole city and the area round it. They want me where they can control me, but they don't understand. Nobody controls me. Not anymore. I've had enough of boxes and prisons, of chains and ropes. Never again will I put myself into the power of another.'

Still staring at the city, he reached to its place on his saddle and removed the statuette of a man holding aloft a globe. Nynaeve felt a sharp chill. Did he have to bring that with him everywhere he went?

'Perhaps they need to be taught,' Rand said. 'Given encouragement to do their duty and obey me.'

'Rand. . . .' Nynaeve tried to think. She couldn't let this happen again!

The access key began to glow faintly. 'They want to capture me,' he said softly. 'Hold me. Beat me. They did it once in Far Madding already. They—'

'Rand!' Nynaeve said sharply.

He stopped, looking at her, seeing her as if for the first time.

'These are not slaves with their minds already burned away by Graendal. That is an entire city full of innocent people!'

'I wouldn't harm the people of the city,' Rand said, voice emotionless. 'That army deserves the demonstration, not the city. A rain of fire upon them, perhaps. Or lightning to strike and bite.'

'They have done nothing other than ask you to meet with them!' Nynaeve said, edging her horse closer to him. That ter'angreal sat like a viper in his hand. Once, it had cleansed the Source. If only it had melted away as the female one had!

She wasn't certain what would happen if he aimed a weave into the protective bubble of Far Madding, but she suspected it would still work. The Guardian didn't stop weaves from being made; Nynaeve had been able to craft weaves just fine, when she'd drawn upon her Well.

Either way, she knew that she had to stop Rand from turning his anger—or whatever it was he felt—upon his allies. 'Rand,' she said softly. 'If you do this, there will be no turning back.'

'There's already no turning back for me, Nynaeve,' he said, his eyes intense. Those eyes shifted, sometimes seeming gray, sometimes blue. Today, they looked iron gray. He continued, voice flat. 'My feet started on this path the moment Tarn found me crying on that mountain.'

'You don't have to kill anyone today. Please.'

He turned to look back at the city. Slowly, mercifully, the access key stopped glowing. 'Hurin!' he barked.

He must be close to fraying, Nynaeve thought. His anger is slipping out in his voice.

The thief-taker rode up to the front of the group. The Aiel kept their distance, however. 'Yes, Lord Rand?'

'Return to your masters inside of their box,' Rand said, voice under control again. 'You are to give them a message for me.'

'What message, Lord Rand?'

Rand hesitated, then slipped the access key back in its place. 'Tell them that it will not be long before the Dragon Reborn rides to battle at Shayol Ghul. If they wish to return to their posts with honor, I will provide them with transport back to the Blight. Otherwise, they can remain here, hiding. Let them explain to their children and grandchildren why they were hundreds of leagues away from their posts when the Dark One was slain and the prophecies fulfilled.'

Hurin looked shaken. 'Yes, Lord Rand.'

With that, Rand turned his horse about and rode back toward the clearing. Nynaeve followed, too slowly. Beautiful though Moonlight was, she'd have traded the beautiful mare in an instant for a biddable, dependable Two Rivers horse like Bela.

Hurin stayed behind. He still looked shaken. His reunion with 'Lord Rand' had obviously been far from what he expected. Nynaeve gritted her teeth as the trees obscured her view of him. Inside the clearing, Rand had opened another gateway, a direct gateway to Tear.

They rode out into the Traveling ground prepared outside the Stone of Tear's stableyards. The air was hot and muggy in Tear, despite the overcast sky, and thick with the sounds of men training and gulls shrieking. Rand rode out to where stablehands waited, then dismounted, his face unreadable.

As Nynaeve climbed off of Moonlight and handed the reins to a ruddy-faced stable worker, Rand walked past