Chapter 37

Both of them turned, looking up. The voice came from a girl, perched on a higher rooftop. She sat with her legs crossed, gazing down at them with a curious smile. Her golden shimmering hair fell loosely, and her eyes sparkled as if she knew more than she should.

"Who are you?" Rand asked, instinctively stepping between her and Helena.

The girl merely laughed, swinging her feet in the air as if playing a childish game.Finally, she jumped down from the wall with surprising precision, landing gently on the garden floor. She made a subtle gesture for Rand and Helena to follow. Still startled by her agility, Rand helped Helena down, and both reached the ground with relative ease.

In the garden, besides the girl, was a young man watching them closely, his hand resting on the hilt of a dagger at his belt. Rand gave him a friendly smile before turning his attention back to the girl, whose appearance seemed strangely familiar, though he couldn't remember from where. Helena, on the other hand, remained silent, her head bowed—an unusual behavior for her.

"You're hurt," said the girl, approaching Rand gracefully. "You must have injured yourself while slipping. Lucky you didn't fall, but your hand is wounded."With confidence, she took his arm and positioned it so she could better examine the injury.

"Stay still," she ordered—not rudely, but with a tone that clearly expected obedience.

"It doesn't look too bad, thanks to the Light," she said, pulling from the inner pockets of her cloak a handful of small vials and twisted paper packets, along with some bandages.

Rand watched in surprise at the collection of items. It was the kind of thing he'd expect a Wisdom to carry, not someone dressed like this girl.

"Give me your canteen, Gawyn," she said.The young man beside her handed over a leather flask, then crouched easily at Rand's feet, arms resting over his knees. The girl continued her task diligently, washing Rand's hand with the cold water from the canteen.

Gawyn smiled as he watched the scene.

"She's always finding stray cats and birds with broken wings. You're the first human she's worked on." He paused, then added, "No offense. I'm not calling you a stray dog."

Rand smiled, and looking at Helena, he noticed she was trying to suppress a laugh, still with her head bowed.The girl began wrapping the bandage expertly around Rand's hand.

"You can't use that," Rand protested.

"I already told you to stay still," she replied calmly.

Rand looked at Gawyn.

"Does she always expect everyone to do as she says?"

A flicker of surprise passed over the young man's face, and his mouth tightened, revealing his amusement.

"Most of the time, yes. And most people do."This time, Helena couldn't hold back the laugh, which came out a bit louder.

"Most people do exactly what she tells them," Gawyn continued with a fond smile above her head. "Most people. Not Mother, of course. Nor Elaida."

That was when realization hit Rand.

"Your mother?"

Elayne's eyes widened in surprise, but Gawyn spoke in an ordinary tone that made his words even more shocking."Morgase, by the Grace of the Light, Queen of Andor, Defender of the Realm, Protector of the People, High Seat of House Trakand."

"The Queen," Rand murmured. He looked at Helena, who was now staring back with those eyes that said, "You didn't realize when you saw her?"

Don't draw any attention.Just fall into the Queen's garden and let the Daughter-Heir tend to your wounds like any healer. He started to laugh.Taking a deep breath, he stood quickly.

"I think we need to go. I don't want to cause any unnecessary trouble for me and my daughter."

"You truly had no idea," Elayne said, looking just as astonished as he felt. "You mean to say you climbed that wall to see Logain without even knowing where you were? You could've had a much better view from the streets below."

"I... I don't like crowds. They're a pain in the ass," he muttered. "With your permission, I'll leave now. Uh... thank you."

"Without even telling us your name?" Gawyn asked."A poor payment for Elayne's care. I've been wondering about you. Your accent sounds like a man from Andor, though not from Caemlyn, certainly, but you seem... Well, you know our names. Courtesy suggests you tell us yours."

"My name is Rand Al'thor from Emond's Field, in the Two Rivers. And this is my daughter, Helena Al'thor.""From the west," Gawyn murmured. "Far in the west. They say the people from the Two Rivers are stubborn. They can be led, if they think you're worthy, but the more you try to push them, the harder they resist. Elayne should choose her husband from there. It'd take a man with a will of stone not to be steamrolled by her."

Rand stared at him. Elayne did too. Gawyn seemed as composed as she was, but he was rambling. Why?

"What is that?"

The two jumped at the sound of the voice