ae THE disAcicicnoas TO TEN IN THE WHEEL OF TIMEGLIMMERS THE PROLOGUE TO ROSSROADS OF ‘TWILIGHT Robert Jordan SCRIBNERé oa SERIBNER 1230 Avenne of the Americas New York, NY 10020 For more information about eBooks please visit: [Link] For more information about Rabert Jordan books please visi: wrrwaltagonmeuntcom wrrilllantern. com winwcarralonnet [Link] ‘This book isa work of fiction. Names, chatacters, places, and incidents either are products of the author's imagination or are used ritiously. Any resemblance to actual events or locales or persons living or dead, is entirely coincidental Copyright © 2002 by The Bandersnatch Group, Ine, Allrights reserved, including the night of reproduction in whale orin part in any form, scrraner and design are trademarks of Macmillan Library Reference USA, Inc., used under license bby Simon & Schuster, the publisher of chis work The phrases” The Wheel of Time™ and“ The Dragon Reborn and the snake-wheel symbol are trademarks of Robert Jordan. COVER ART BY DARRELL K. SWEET COVER DESIGN BY CAROL RUSSO DESIGN TEXT DESIGN BY ERICH HOBBING ISBN: 0-7432-4493-1eBooks by Robert Jordan SNOW: Tre Protoave to Wivren's HeantApDITIONAL REsouRcES For more information about characters in The Wheel of ‘Time™ series visit: [Link]/characterbios Por more information abour cultures, places and events in The Wheel of Time™ series visit: [Link]/encyelopediaHi, everybody, Thope you enjoy this early look at Crossroads of Tivilight. “Glimmers’ being the prologue, of course. I'm hard at worl: even as you read this, and I expect to complete the new book soon. For now enjoy"Glimmers.” —Robert JordanGLIMMERS OF THE PATTERN Prologue Rs Inmralde hated waiting, though he well knew it was the largest part of being a soldier. Wairing for the next battle, for the enemy to move, to make a mistake. He watched the winter forest and was as still as the trees. [he sun stood halfway to its peak, and gave no warmeh. His breath misted whire in front of his face, frosting his nearly trimmed mustache and the black fox-fur lining his hood. He was glad that his helmet hung at his pommel. His breastplate held the cold and radiated it chrongh his coat and all the lay ers of wool, silk and linen beneath. Even Darts saddle felt cold, as though the whice gelding were made of frozen milk. The helmet would have addled his brainGuiomters: The Prologue to Crossroans or Twiigit Winrer had come lare ro Arad Doman, very late, bur with a vengeance. From summer heat thar lingered unnar- ually into fall, to winter's hearr in less rhan a month. The leaves thar had survived che long summer's droughr had been frozen before they could change color, and now they glistened like strange, ice-covered emeralds in the morning sun. The horses of the twenty-odd armsmen around him occasionally stamped a hoof in the knee-deep snow. It had been a long ride this far, and they had further to go whether this day turned our good or ill Dark clonds roiled the sky ra northward. He did not need his weather-wise there to tell him the temperature would plummet before nightfall. They hac to be under shelcer by then. Notas rough as winter before last, is it, my Lor alam said quietly. The tall young officer hada way of reading [tu ralde's mind, and his voice was pitched tor the others to heat. ven so, I suppose some men would be dreaming of mu wine abour now. Nor this lot, of course. Remarkal abstemious. They all drink tea, [believe. Cold tea. IFthey had a few birch switches, they'd be scripping down for snow- barhs” “They'll have to keep their clothes on for the time being,” Iruralde replied drily; “but they might get some cold tea tonight, if they're lucky” Thar brought a few chuckles. Quiet chuckles. He had chosen these men with care, and they knew about noise at the wrong time. He himself could have done with a steaming cup of spiced wine, or even tea, Bur itwas a long time since merchancs had 8Guiomters: The Prologue to Crossroans or Twiigit brought tea to Arad Doman. A long time since any ourland merchant had ventured further than the border with Sal- daea. By the time news of the outside world reached him, it was as stale as last monch’s bread, ificwas more than rumor to begin. Thar hardly macrered truly was divided against irsel really were being called to € would have to do withour Rod was whole again. Por the mon han enough for any sane mar Once ag he fastest riders he had, to & in he reviewed the he King’s hver. They would Al would curse his name, but che Wolf won barrles. More, they t hear, but he did not care wher a where he said. Very soon they would be rid hat would not spring for mor divided as they were by bad blood and old feuds, chi when orders came from the W rature—well, not much—so long as they was taking. Complex plans had many way though. [fthe White ‘Tower £ or men who could channel faemlyn .. . well, the world el Ituralde until Arad Doman nent, Arad Doman was more nce go on with. orders he had sent, carried b very noble loyal to the King, still hared that much. Chey would gather their armies and ride ‘olf at least, so long as he held even hide in the mountains nd wai, at his order. Oh, they would chafe, and some y would obey. They knew the knew he won wars. The Lir- je Wolf, chey called him when they thought he could nec her they drew attention to his rode when and ng hard, moving to set a trap uiths. It was a long chance he co fall apart, and his plan hac layers inside ruined before it began if he fz 9 ayers. Ev erything would be led to provide the bait. Or ifGuiomters: The Prologue to Crossroans or Twiigit someone ignored his order to evade couriers from the King. They all knew his reasons, though, and even the most sciff- necked shared them, though few were willing to speak of the matter aloud. He himself had moved like a wraith racing on ascorm since he received Alsalam’s latese command. In his sleeve the folded paper lay tucked above the pale lace chat fell onto his steel-backed gauntlet. They had one last chance, one very small chance, to save Arad Dornan. Perhaps even to save Alsalam from himself before the Council of Merchants decided to pur anorher man on the throne in his place. He had been a good ruler, for over twen s. The Light send that he could be again. Aloud of his longsword. There was a faint creak of leather and ke to the south sent [turalde’s hand to the hilt metal as others eased their weapons. For the rest, silence. The forest was as still asa frozen tomb. Only a limb break- ing under the weight of snow. After a moment, he let him- self relax—as much as he had relaxed since the tales came north of the Dragon Reborn appearing in the sky at Falme. Perhaps the man really was che Dragon Reborn, perhaps he really had appeared in the sky, bur whatever the truch, those tales had set Arad Doman on fire. Truvalde was sure he could have put our thar fire, given a freer hand. It was not boasting to think so, He knew what he could do, with a bartle, a campaign, or a war. Bur ever since the Council had decided the King would be saler smuggled out of Bandar Eban, Alsa taken into his head that he was the rebirth of Artur Hawk- am seemed to have 10Guiomters: The Prologue to Crossroans or Twiigit wing, His signarure and seal had marked scores of batcle orders since, flooding out from wherever the Council had him hidden. They would not say where thar was, even to Iruralde himself, Every woman on the Council chat he con- fronted went flar-eyed and evasive ac any mention of the King. He could almost believe they did not know where Alsalam was. A ridiculous thought, of course. The Council kept an unblinking eye on the King. Ituralde had always believed the merchant Houses interfered too much, yet he wished they would interfere now. V Vhy they remained silent was a mystery who damaged trade did not remain long on the throne. He was loyal to his oaths, and Alsalam was a friend, e been besides, but the orders the King sent could not ha better written to achieve chaos. Nor could they be ignored. Alsalam was the King. Bur he had commanded Iruralde to march north with all possible speed against a grear gather- ing of Dragonsworn thar Alsalam supposedly knew of from secret spies; then ten days later, with no Dragonsworn yer in sight, an order came to move south again, with all possible speed, against another gathering thar never materialized. He had been commanded to concentrate his forces to defend Bandar Eban when a three-pronged attack might have ended ir all and to divide them when a hammer blow could have done the same, to harry ground he knew the Drag, onsworn had abandoned, and to march “from where he knew they Jsalam's orders often had gone amped. Worse directly to the powerful nobles who were supposed to be fol- 1