Gaul's spear clashed with those of the oys. "Up! Keep your back up, Dannil."

"But I am keeping it up." the lad insisted. Gaul smiled, raising his red eyebrow. That was enough to convince the lad to continue on. You can't lecture an Aiel, Dannil.

Perrin kept looking at them and and lads were ever eager to learn to bear weapons, shouting about Manetheren. Tam and Abell taught them archery, Gaul, Chiad and Bain spear fighting and Tam would sometimes take turns teaching them sword fight, though his age seemed to have caught up with him. Now, some lads were quite eager to be trained by Chiad and Bain, thinking they will get a chance. At that, Perrin allowed himself a few chuckles. Trying to court an Aiel - Light, sometimes even just to be friends with them! - is like trying to catch a deer. From afar it looks like a good hunt, but you will only get tired in the process. He had grown to love all his Aiel, but that was more because of the time they spent together than any intentional attempt.

In the corner, a young man, slightly younger than Perrin, was just looking at the others training sword fight with Tam. From time to time, Perrin would forget his name: the pale man of black hair and blue eyes simply did not speak much. Nasdin's entire family was killed by Trollocs too when the Two Rivers were attacked, so Perrin felt responsibiliy for him. "Friend."

Nasdin stood up in respect and took his hat off. Though always silent and keeping himself down, either out of humility or fear, he was among the tallest in the Two Rivers, as tall as Perrin. "My lord Perrin."

Perrin sighed. "I think I have said many times I don't anyone to call me like that."

Nasdin cleared his throat. "Yes, I..." he looked down. "Forgive me Perrin. Everyone has been calling you like that, so I thought that is what you want. You certainly deserve that title after saving us."

"The people of Two Rivers saved themselves. I just helped." he would say that when Faile was not around. Otherwise, she would always get frustrated.

"You lead us." Nasdin insisted. "Without you, we would have never defeated the Trollocs. But if you do not want me to call you lord, fine."

"May I ask you something?"

Nasdin twisted his eyebrow. "Why? Anything, of course."

One would think when you speak so little you wouldn't want to, he wanted to say, but thought it would not be polite. "I gave you a sword during the battle, but I saw you throw it away in the middle of it. Not merely lose it, you threw it and picked the spear instead. Why? That is not a smart thing to do at all in the middle of the battlefield."

Nasdin glanced at Tam teaching other lads how to fight with blades. Though older, the former soldier still had great skill and it seemed Nasdin admired the man. However, the sound of swords made him turn away. "I do not like swords."

"Huh?"

"That's it, Perrin. I do not like swords. I cannot stand their sounds. They...they echo in my mind long after I hear it." he shook his head. "I cannot bear to hear one, let alone touch them."

Aiel hated swords too and refused to use them, along with horses, but that was because of their customs. Customs that never made sense to Perrin, but it was tradition, so he could understand why they were so much against them. But he never heard this before, from someone who practically grew around swords.

Swords are just steel. Why would you hate their sound? "Swords are probably the most practical weapon. I prefer the axe, but with swords you are on an even with your opponent."

"Spears are sacred." Gaul stepped in. The Aiel was sweating because of the heat, but otherwise took it pretty well. "And yet, I must admit, though I hold no love for swords, they are useful. I saw how your people defended the village with them. I and no one else can make me bear one, but I will admit they are not terrible weapons."

Perrin nodded in approval. "Are you certain, Nasdin?"

"Yes." He did not think twice before answering. "I do not want to hold a sword. Never." He looked at Gaul. "If I need to fight...could you please teach me how to fight with spears? I want to protect the Two Rivers and serve you all, but I cannot use a sword. I cannot."

Gaul nodded. "I saw you fight with it during the battle. You are not on par with anyone among Shae'en M'taal, but you are not bad either. Not bad at all. I think it will work. However..." he narrowed his eyes. "I must warn you, we Aiel are very different from you wetlanders."

"I think I will be fine with that."

"Good!" Perrin smiled and placed a hand on his shoulder. "You will train with him then. Just don't disappoint."

"Do not worry. I won't." Other people would have asked when to start and Gaul would respond: "Now, of course." Nasdin, however, just followed the Aiel without a word uttered. Perrin scratched his beard, thinking. We need every man we can get, after all. Just to fight.

Rumours have started coming from all corners of the world to the Two Rivers. Some said Rand stayed in Caemlyn and proclaimed himself a king there. Others said that he was killed by Rahvin, who proclaimed himself the new Dragon. Some have even went so far as to say the Creator himself descended from heaven in fiery glory and ended everything that was happening there. But most reliable people told Perrin that Rand is in Caemlyn, that he is gathering people and making peace around the land as much as he can. Whenever he closed his eyes while thinking about him, he would see his friend. Now, Rand was standing above some man who was lying on the ground in the middle of the street. The Pattern was pulling him back to Rand, it seemed from their ta'veren link. He will be happy when he finds out everything is fine here now. Maybe it will lift some burden off of him too. Bringing Tam, when he eventually goes to Rand, would probably be smart too.

Master Luhhan was exactly where Perrin expected him to be, in his forgery crafting new weapons, while Alsbet was helping him. The elder blacksmith was still a big and stouty man, and yet as kind as a lamb. He rarely smelled frustrated.

"Ah, Perrin!" Luhhan smiled. "I am happy to see you. Or maybe I should start calling you lord Aybara?"

"People will not stop calling me like that, right?"

Alsbet shrugged. "Sorry, dear. I think you are our new leader now."

"Women's Circle would beg to differ." he said. "But..." Master Luhhan pulled a chair and placed it for him, keeping a smile on while doing so. Perrin could not stop shaking his head. "I used to be the one doing this." He sat down, chuckling and rubbing his nose. "Light, this must be the Creator's sense of humour. Not that different from Mat."

"How could tell?" Luhhan put his hammer down. "He does not really care about anything that happens in the world."

"Master Luhhan, I didn't mean..."

"Ah, be good lad!" he slapped him on the shoulder and then pulled chairs for himself and Alsbet. "I know you are joking. Want some?"

"Just one."

The blacksmith brought three cups of red wine, giving it to his wife and apprentice. They were the closest thing Perrin had to family left. Yet, as much as they tried, they could not but stare at his eyes.

"So...what they say is true?" Alsbet said, pointing at him. "You speak with wolves?"

"It's a bit more complicated than that." he said. "But...it's not incorrect either."

"Perrin..." Haral said. "I trust you. As far as I'm concerned, you're still that young, kind lad who I taught since he was ten. Those eyes change nothing, and, if I'm not wrong, everyone here still trusts you. But I need to ask...is that safe?"

"I also wish I didn't have it." he sighed. "Hopper told me I need to get used to it more, but..."

"Hopper?"

"My friend, the wolf." No other way to put it, honestly.

"Ah. Wise words from that...fellow." Luhhan scratched his head.

"Pretty smart for an animal, no?" Alsbet added.

"Wolves are almost as smart and self-aware as people." Perrin said. "They just...show it in different ways. Through dreams mostly."

"And people like you can...do the same things like them?"

"Mostly." He remembered Noam and how he was barking and crawling like a wolf. As much as he loved wolves, he would hate himself if that fate was his too.

"Perrin," Master Luhhan cleared his throat. "you say wolves are like people. Well, does that mean there are some...bad apples among them?"

He narrowed his eyes. "What do you mean by that?"

"Two days ago, Mistress Ahan was attacked by a pack of them. Out of nowhere. Thank the Light she survived, but she had absolutely no food to attract them, nor did she attack them first."

"What?" he stood up from his chair. "Why didn't I know about this!"

"Perrin." Mistress Luhhan said in a surprisingly soft tone. "We didn't want you to be disturbed. Mael is completely fine, nothing happened to her."

"But we all agreed it'd be the best for us to tell you."

They fear me, don't they? They think I am with the wolves now and will defend them at all cost. They said otherwise, but he smelled they were not telling complete truth. Too bad you are wrong. "How large was that pack?"

"Three wolves." Master Luhhan said. "Two males, one female. One of the males walked with a limp, if I remember correctly."

"And the female?"

"Uh...she was grey I think." Master said. "What's strange is...they were larger than her, but it looked like she was in charge."

Perrin did not need a second guess to know who it was. "I must go now, forgive me." He put the cup down quickly and walked away from them."

"Lad...where are you going?"

"To get some sleep."

To be fair, however, he would wake up more tired from it more often than relieved. Aes Sedai, Elyas and Hopper called it a gift, but sometimes the World of Dreams would be terribly exhausting. Sometimes his mind would imagine it as a large castle of many great kings who ruled in the distant past. Other times it was a simple blackness, with nothing except him. And sometimes, when wolves were in charge, it looked like a great garden, filled with tall white trees. This time it was the blackness, blackness in which no sound except the howling of wolves could be heard. The three of them appeared right there behind him. Hopper, as it seemed, was there the whole time and his spirit did not leave Perrin at any moment. He just did not talk to him.

Young Bull. Dapple walked towards him first, even Hopper being silent to listen. You smell angry.

"You can bet I am!" Perrin said. "The woman with a scar on her cheek." He did not wait for introductions. "The one you attacked two days ago. Was she doing anything to disturb you?" Humans scared and angered wolves in many ways, completely unaware how. But Perrin thought he could forgive the wolves if they did it out of misunderstanding or fear.

But the way Burn narrowed his eyes and Wind looked down stated otherwise. No, Young Bull. Dapple said. She did not.

If he had his axe, he would have grabbed it. It almost appeares in his hand, but he kept it away. "Then why did you attack her, Light burn you all!"

Young Bull. Wind approached him. He was the eldest among them and, as Perrin perceived, the most gentle. We do not know what happened. It just...

Dapple stepped forward. We do not answer to every scar humans suffer, Young Bull. We are by ourselves , as you are. Wind wanted to protest, but Burn pushed him slowly.

"I understand you wolves." Perrin said. "I respect you. Light, you are my brothers and sisters. But the people from Emond's Field are my people too. I will protect them just like I protected Hopper, don't think I won't!"

Try that, she said. And you will regret it, cub. She showed her teeth.

Stop this! Hopper stood between Dapple and Perrin. We cannot argue here, it is too dangerous. This is how Humans settle their squabbles.

Good. He is human too.

He is our brother. Hopper looked towards Perrin. And we are your brothers too.

"You had no right to do that." Perrin almost ignored them.. "If someone else wronged you, you should have told me."

No one wronged us, Young Bull. Hopper said.

"Then what was this!"

A mistake. Hopper looked at Dapple the way Nynaeve would often look at Perrin when he was younger. A mistake that will not be repeated.

Dapple looked at him, then at Perrin. We will answer his call again, Hopper. Burn and Wind all looked at her, and Perrin could smell fear in them.

Hopper's eyes widened too. What?

The Father called us. She smelled cold and merciless. He told us to strike. We would have never had the courage otherwise, yes, but when he howled, so did we. You heard it too.

Hopper now smelled the way Perrin never felt before. He smelled like anger. I did not answer, did I? So why did you?

We will do it again when he calls.

You keep calling him Father, he barked. He could not care less about any wolf in Creation!

And Humans care? They never treated us better.

We are neither his or his master's slaves. Is that what you want to be?

"What are you talking about?" Perrin asked. The wolves almost forgot he was there at all. "Who are you calling father?"

Dapple snarled, terrifying him. Hopper showed his teeth as well, standing between the two of them. He smelled of fear and anger at the same time, exchanging looks with Dapple and the other two wolves who stared surprised. Then he turned to Perrin. You must leave, Young Bull.

"Leave? You do not understand what just happened. You attacked my friend, Mistress Ahan could have lost her life because of you. Hopper, tell me what is going on, now!"

I said leave! Hopper barked twice, louder than he did at Dapple. Perrin, for the first time ever, felt the urge to return that hostility, but one look at Wind and Burn, who were smelling of concern made him stay still.

Young Bull, Wind said. Please leave.

He looked down at Hopper, who was still snarling and Dapple who was just as angry, even if for different reasons. Wind's gentle voice was eventually the only clear one. Please.

Perrin gave them one short glance. "Fine." he turned to leave, but just once more, raising his finger. "If that happens again..." he did not finish. They already knew.

As he left Tel'aran'rhiod, he still heard barks in the distance of his mind.