storms and war.
Narishma hissed softly, riding behind. Min glanced at him. The Asha'man's face had gone hard. Apparently, they'd passed inside the bubble of the Guardian's influence. Rand gave no indication he'd noticed. He didn't seem to be having the trouble with sickness when he channeled any longer, which relieved her. Or was he just covering it?
She turned her mind to the task at hand. The Borderlander armies had never explained why they'd defied custom and logic by marching south to find Rand. They were needed desperately. Rand's intervention at Maradon had saved what was left of the city, but if that sort of thing was happening all across the border with the Blight…
Twenty soldiers—lances upheld with narrow, blood-red banners flapping from them like streamers— intercepted Rand's group long before it reached the army. Rand stopped and let them approach.
'Rand al'Thor,' one of the men announced. 'We are representatives of the Unity of the Border. We will provide escort.'
Rand nodded, and the procession started forward again, this time with guards.
'They didn't call you Lord Dragon,' Min whispered to Rand. He nodded thoughtfully. Perhaps the Borderlanders did not believe he was th Dragon Reborn.
'Do not be arrogant here, Rand al'Thor,' Cadsuane said, trotting up to ride beside him. 'But do not back down. Most Borderlanders will respond to strength when they see it.'
So. Cadsuane called Rand by name, instead of naming him 'boy.' It seemed a victory, and it made Min smile.
'I will have that gateway ready,' Cadsuane continued more softly. 'But it will be very small. The Well will only give me enough to make one we'd have to crawl through. We shouldn't need it. These people will fight for you. They will want to fight for you. Only bumbling foolishness could keep them from it.'
'There is more to it than that, Cadsuane Sedai,' Rand replied, his voice hushed. 'Something drove them southward. This is a challenge, one I am uncertain how to meet. But your advice is appreciated.'
Cadsuane nodded. Eventually, Min picked out a line of people waiting at the forefront of the army. There were thousands of soldiers behind, standing in rows. Saldaeans, with their bowed legs. Shienarans in topknots. Arafellin, each soldier with two swords strapped to his back. Kandori, with forked beards.
The group at the head stood on the ground, without mounts. They wore fine clothing. Two women and two men, all with what were obviously Aes Sedai at their sides, some with an attendant or two behind.
'The one at the front is Queen Ethenielle,' Cadsuane whispered. 'She is a stern woman, but fair. She is known for meddling in the affairs of the southern nations, and I suspect the others will let her take the lead today. The handsome man beside her is Paitar Nachiman, King of Arafel.'
'Handsome?' Min asked, inspecting the balding older Arafellin. '.Him?'
'It depends on one's perspective, child,' Cadsuane said without missing a beat. 'He was once known widely for his face, and he is still known for his sword. Beside him is King Easar Togita of Shienar.'
'So sad,' Rand said softly. 'Who did he lose?'
Min frowned. Easar didn't look particularly sad to her. Solemn, perhaps.
'He's a Borderlander,' Cadsuane said. 'He's fought the Trollocs all his life; I'd suspect he's lost many a person dear to him. His wife did die some years back. He's said to have the soul of a poet, but he is an austere man. If you could earn his respect, it would mean much.'
'The last one is Tenobia, then,' Rand said, rubbing his chin. 'Still wish I had Bashere with us.' Bashere had said that his face might fuel Tenobia's anger, and Rand had listened to reason on that count.
'Tenobia,' Cadsuane said, 'is a wildfire. Young, impertinent and reckless. Don't let her draw you into an argument.'
Rand nodded. 'Min?'
'Tenobia has a spear hovering over her head,' Min said. 'Bloody, but shining in the light. Ethenielle will soon be wed—I see that by white doves. She plans to do something dangerous today, so be careful. The other two have various swords, shields and arrows hovering about them. Both will fight soon.'
'In the Last Battle?' Rand asked.
'I don't know,' she admitted. 'It could be here, today.'
Their escort led them up to the four monarchs. Rand slid out of the saddle, patting Tai'daishar on the neck as the horse snorted. Min moved to dismount, as did Narishma, but Rand held up a hand to stop them.
'Blasted fool,' Cadsuane muttered from beside Min, low enough that nobody else could hear. 'He asks me to be ready to get him out, then leaves us?'
'He likely meant that you should get me away,' Min said softly. 'Knowing him, he's more worried about me than himself.' She paused. 'Blasted fool.'
Cadsuane shot her a glance, then smiled slightly before turning back to watch Rand.
He stepped up to the four monarchs and stopped, raising his arms to the sides, as if to ask, 'What is it you wish of me?'
Ethenielle took the lead, as Cadsuane had guessed. She was a plump woman, her dark hair pulled away from her face and tied at the back. She strode up to Rand, a man walking beside her and carrying a sheathed sword in his arm, hilt pointed toward her.
Nearby, the Maidens rustled. They stepped up beside Rand. As usual, they assumed that commands to stay back didn't include them.
Ethenielle raised a hand and slapped Rand across the face.
Narishma cursed. The Maidens raised their veils and drew spears. Min nudged her horse forward, breaking through the line of guards.
'Stop!' Rand said, raising his hand. He turned, looking at the Maidens.
Min stilled her mare, patting her on the neck. She was skittish, as might be expected. The Maidens reluctantly backed down, though Cadsuane did take the opportunity to move her horse up beside Min's.
Rand turned back to Ethenielle and rubbed his face. 'I hope that's some traditional Kandori greeting, Your Majesty.'
She raised an eyebrow, then gestured to the side, and King Easar of Shienar stepped up to Rand. The man backhanded Rand across the mouth the force of it causing Rand to stumble.
Rand righted himself, again waving the Maidens down. He met Easar's eyes. A trickle of blood ran down Rand's chin. The Shienaran studied him for a moment, then nodded and stepped back.
Tenobia came next. She slapped Rand with her left hand, a strong blow that cracked in the air. Min felt a flash of pain from Rand. Tenobia shook her hand afterward.
King Paitar came last. The aging Arafellin with only a fringe of hair walked with his hands behind his back, contemplative. He stepped up to Rand and reached over and dabbed at the blood on Rand's cheek. Then he backhanded Rand with a blow that sent him to his knees, a spray of blood flying from his mouth.
Min couldn't sit by any longer. 'Rand!' she said, jumping down from her saddle and running to him. She reached his side, steadying him while glaring at the monarchs. 'How dare you! He came to you peacefully.'
'Peacefully?' Paitar said. 'No, young woman, he did not come to this world in peace. He has consumed the land with terror, chaos and destruction.'
'As the prophecies said that he would,' Cadsuane said, walking up as Min helped Rand back to his feet. 'You lay before him the burdens of an entire Age. You cannot hire a man to rebuild your house, then reproach him when he must knock down a wall to do the job.'
'That presumes that he is the Dragon Reborn,' Tenobia said, folding her arms. 'We—'
She cut off as Rand stood, then carefully slid Callandor from its sheath, glittering blade rasping. He held it forth. 'Do you deny this, Queen Tenobia, Shield of the North and Sword of the Blightborder, High Seat of House Kazadi? Will you look upon this weapon and call me a false Dragon?'
That quieted her. To the side, Easar nodded. Behind them, ranks of silent troops watched with lances, pikes and shields held high. As if in salute. Or as if in preparation to attack. Min looked up, and could faintly make out people lining the walls of Far Madding to watch.
'Let us proceed,' Easar said. 'Ethenielle?'
'Very well,' the woman said. 'I will say this, Rand al'Thor. Even if you do prove to be the Dragon Reborn, you have much to answer for.'
