A Memory of Light

Haman laughed a rumbling laugh. “The Great Stump did not meet, did not debate this long time, to send you three dozen of our numbers. The Ogier will fight alongside humans. All of us. Every one of us who can hold an axe or long knife.”
    “Wonderful!” Elayne said. “I will put you to good use.”
    An older Ogier woman shook her head. “So hasty. So quick. Know this, young one. There were some who would have abandoned you, and the world, to the Shadow.”
    Elayne blinked in shock. “You would have actually done it? Just . . . left us alone? To fight?”
    “Some argued for it,” Haman said.
    “I myself took that position,” the woman said. “I made the argument, though I did not truly believe it was right.”
    “What?” Loial asked, stumbling forward. This seemed news to him. “You didn’t?”
    The woman looked to him. “Trees will not grow if the Dark One claims this world.”
    Loial looked surprised. “But why did you—”
    “An argument must have opposition if it is to prove itself, my son,” she said. “One who argues truly learns the depth of his commitment through adversity. Did you not learn that trees grow roots most strongly when winds blow through them?” She shook her head, though she did seem fond. “That is not to say you should have left the stedding when you did. Not alone. Fortunately, that has been taken care of.”
    “Taken care of?” Perrin asked.
    Loial blushed. “Well, you see, Perrin, I am married now.”
    “You didn’t mention this earlier!”
    “Everything has come so quickly. I am married to Erith, though, you see. She’s just over there. Did you hear her singing? Isn’t her song beautiful? Being married is not so bad, Perrin. Why didn’t you tell me it was not so bad? I think I am rather fond of it.”
    “I am pleased for you, Loial,” Elayne cut in. Ogier could talk quite long on tangents if one was not careful. “And thankful, to all of you, for joining us.”
    “It is worth the price, perhaps,” Haman said, “just to see these trees. In all my life, men have only cut Great Trees. To see someone growing them instead . . . We made the correct decision. Yes, yes, we did. The others will need to see this . . .”
    Loial waved to Perrin, apparently wanting to catch up. “Allow me to borrow him for a moment, Loial,” Elayne said, steering Perrin toward the center of the grove.
    Faile and Birgitte joined her, and Loial waited behind. He seemed distracted by the mighty trees.
    “I have a duty I want to assign you,” Elayne said softly to Perrin. “Losing Caemlyn threatens to send our armies into a supply crisis. Despite complaints of food prices, we had been keeping everyone fed, as well as accumulating stores for the battle ahead. Those stores are now gone.”
    “What of Cairhien?” Perrin asked.
    “It still has some food,” Elayne said. “As do the White Tower and Tear. Baerlon has good supplies of metals and powder—I need to find what we can draw from the other nations, and discover their food situation. It will be a massive task to coordinate stores and rations for all the armies. I’d like one person in charge of it all.”
    “You were thinking of me?” Perrin said.
    “Yes.”
    “I’m sorry,” Perrin said. “Elayne, Rand needs me.”
    “Rand needs us all.”
    “He needs me more,” Perrin said. “Min saw it, he said. Without me at the Last Battle, he’ll die. Besides, I have a few fights to finish.”
    “I’ll do it,” Faile said.
    Elayne turned toward her, frowning.
    “It is my duty to manage the affairs of my husband’s army,” Faile said. “You are his liege lady, Your Majesty, so your needs are his needs. If Andor is to command the Last Battle, then the Two Rivers will see it fed. Give me access to gateways large enough for wagons to drive through, give me troops to protect my movements, and give me access to the quartermaster records of anyone I want. I will see it done.”
    It was logical and rational, but not what Elayne needed. How far did she trust this woman? Faile had proven herself deft at politics. That was useful, but did she really consider herself part of Andor? Elayne studied the woman.
    “There is nobody better you can trust with this task, Elayne,” Perrin said. “Faile will see it done.”
    “Perrin,” Elayne said. “There is a different matter involved in this. May we speak privately for a moment?”
    “I’ll just tell her what it is when we're done, Your Majesty,” Perrin said. “I don’t