"I think we had best avoid them," Mave said as they wheeled away from the edge of the plateau and continued their trek up into the mountains. The arrival of the First of Mayene, during the declaration of the Hunt for the Horn no less, was bound to stir things up in Illian. It was unlikely one could throw a rock without hitting a spy for Illian, Mayene or Tear, and very possibly all three. Such a meeting would also draw the attention of darkfriends seeking to pervert it to their own ends as well as the White Tower who would seek to shape things in which ever direction the Amrylin, the Hall, or individual sisters thought best. None of which boded well for Mave and her mission, or for her newfound problem of what to do with this strange boy with his maroon eyes.

Even with Ali's tracking skill it took them to midmorning to find the old mill that had been spoken of the previous night. The mountains frequently sent down enough snow melt to burst the channels of the major streams which then cut other temporary ruts in the rocky earth. Such channels appeared to be dry streams, even if they had only flowed for a single season. When they finally reached the mill however they found they were not alone. Tanil and Deslan both sat on the tumbled down pile of mud bricks beside not only their horses but Mave's also. Tanil was whittling a piece of timber with a small knife while Delsan seemed to be watching the clouds above.

"What are you doing here?" Mave demanded as she walked out of the woods. The warmth of Saidar already surrounded her ready to be woven if they showed any sign of threat. Tanil immediately dropped his carving and the knife and Delsan sat up looking nervous.

"We came to find you," Tanil said hurriedly, glancing between Mave and Ali who had his bow in his hands and an arrow nooked if not drawn.

"Look we know something was up with Darius, something...wrong," Delsan cut in.

"Neither of you are murderers, we havent known you long but long enough to know that the light burn it," Tanil hurried on. 

"So something strange is going on and... well that is what Hunters do right? Follow something strange? Whatever it is you two are up to we can help, we brought your horses and the supplies," Delsan said helpfully.