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She flushed； but her reply came in a level tone。 〃It is most likely to be a raid； for goats or sheep； either could be herded at Imre for pasture； but most likely goats； because of the water。 Probably it was the Chareen； the White Mountain sept or the Jarra。 They are closest。 Or it might be a sept from the Goshien。 The Tomanelle are too far； I think。〃
〃Will there be fighting？〃 He reached out for saidin； the sweet rush of the Power flooded him。 The rancid taint oozed through him； and fresh sweat burst from every pore。 〃Aviendha？〃
〃No。 Adelin would have said if the raiders were still there。 The herd and the gai'shain are miles gone by now。 We cannot recover the herd because we must acpany you。 〃
He wondered why she did not mention recovering the captives； the gai'shain； but he did not wonder long。 The effort of staying upright while holding on to saidin； of not folding up and being swept away； left little room for thought。
Rhuarc and the Jindo swept ahead at a run； already veiling their faces； and Rand followed more slowly。 Aviendha shot him impatient frowns； but he kept Jeade'en to a brisk walk。 He would not go galloping into someone else's trap。 At least Mat was in no hurry； he hesitated； looking at the peddlers' wagons； before cantering Pips up。 Rand never glanced at the wagons。
The Shaido fell behind； slowing until the Wise Ones began to move again。 Of course。 This was Taardad land。 Couladin would not care if someone raided here。 Rand hoped the clan chiefs could be gathered at Alcair Dal quickly。 How could he unite a people who seemed to fight each other all the time？ The least of his worries； now。
When Imre Stand finally came in sight； it was something of a surprise。 A few widely scattered clumps of long…haired white goats browsed on patches of tough grass and even the leaves of thorny bushes。 At first he did not see the crude stone building set against the base of a tall butte； the rough stonework blended in perfectly； and several thornbushes had taken root on the dirt covered roof。 Not very big； it had arrowslits for windows and only one door that he could see。 After a moment he spotted another building； no larger； tucked onto a ledge some twenty paces higher。 A deep crevice ran up to the ledge and beyond from behind the stone house at the base； there was no other evident way to reach the ledge。
Rhuarc； standing openly four hundred or so paces from the butte with his veil lowered； was the only Jindo in sight。 That did not mean the others were not there； of course。 Rand reined in beside him and dismounted。 The clan chief continued to study the stone buildings。
〃The goats；〃 Aviendha said； sounding troubled。 〃Raiders would not have left any goats behind。 Most are gone； but it almost looks as if the herd has just been allowed to wander。〃
〃For days；〃 Rhuarc agreed； not taking his eyes from the buildings； 〃or more would remain。 Why does no one e out？ They should be able to see my face； and know me。〃 He started forward； and made no objection when Rand joined him leading Jeade'en。 Aviendha had one hand on her belt knife； and Mat； riding behind； carried that black…hafted spear as if he expected to need it。
The door was rough wood； pieced together from short； narrow planks。 Some of the stout bracing was broken； hacked by axes。 Rhuarc hesitated a moment before pushing it open。 He hardly glanced inside before turning to run his eyes over the surrounding country。
Rand put his head in。 There was no one there。 The interior； light streaming in bars through the arrowslits； was all one room and plainly not a dwelling； just a place for herdsmen to shelter； and defend themselves if attacked。 There were no furnishings； no tables or chairs。 A raised open hearth stood beneath a sooty smoke hole in the roof。 The wide crevice at the back had steps chiseled into the gray rock。 The place had been ransacked。 Bedding； blankets； pots； all lay scattered across the stone floor amid slashed cushions and pillows。 Some liquid had been splashed over everything； the walls； even the ceiling； and had dried black。
When he realized what it was； he jerked back； the Power…wrought sword ing into his hands before he even thought。 Blood。 So much blood。 There had been slaughter done here； as savage as anything he could imagine。 Nothing moved out there except the goats。
Aviendha backed out as fast as she went in。 〃Who？〃 she demanded incredulously； her large blue…green eyes filled with outrage。 〃Who would do this？ Where are the dead？〃
〃Trollocs；〃 Mat muttered。 〃It looks like Trolloc work to me。〃
She snorted contemptuously。 〃Trollocs do not e into the Three…fold Land； wetlander。 No more than a few miles below the Blight； at least； and then seldom。 I have heard they call the Three…fold Land the Dying Ground。 We hunt Trollocs； wetlander； they do not hunt us。〃
Nothing moved。 Rand let the sword go； pushed saidin away。 It was hard。 The sweetness of the Power was nearly enough to overe the feel of filth from the taint； the sheer exhilaration almost enough to make him not care。 Mat was right whatever Aviendha said； but this was old； the Trollocs gone。 Trollocs in the Waste； at a place he had e to。 He was not fool enough to think it coincidence。 But if they think I am； maybe they'll grow careless。
Rhuarc signaled the Jindo to e in … they seemed to rise out of the ground … and some time later the others appeared； the Shaido and the peddlers' wagons and the Wise Ones' party。 Word spread quickly of what had been found； and among the Aiel； tension became palpable。 They moved as if they expected momentary attack； perhaps from each other。 Scouts fanned out in every direction。 Unharnessing their mules； the wagon drivers looked around jerkily； and seemed ready to dive under their wagons at the first shout。
For a time all was a stirred hive of ants。 Rhuarc made sure the peddlers lined their wagons up on the edge of the Jindo camp。 Couladin glowered； since it meant any Shaido who wanted to trade had to go to the Jindo； but he did not argue。 Perhaps even he could see that might lead to dancing the spears； now。 The Shaido tents went up a scant quarter…mile away； with the Wise Ones； as usual； in between。 The Wise Ones examined the inside of the building； and Moiraine and Lan did； as well； but if they reached any conclusions； they told no one。
The water at Imre Stand turned out to be a tiny spring at the back of the crevice； feeding a deep； roughly round pool … what Rhuarc called a tank … less than two paces across。 Enough for herdsmen； enough for the Jindo to fill some of their waterskins。 No Shaido went near； in Taardad land； the Jindo had first claim on water。 It seemed the goats got their moisture purely from the thick leaves of the thorny bushes。 Rhuarc assured Rand there would be much more water at the next night's stop。
Kadere produced a surprise while the wagon drivers were unhitching their teams and fetching buckets from the water…wagons。 When he came out of his wagon； a dark…haired young woman acpanied him； in a red silk gown and red velvet slippers more suited to a palace than to the Waste。 A filmy red scarf wound almost like shoufa and veil provided no protection from the sun； and certainly did nothing to hide a palely beautiful heart…shaped face。 Clinging to the peddler's thick arm； she swayed enticingly as he took her to see the blood…splashed room； Moiraine and the others had gone off to where the gai'shain were erecting the Wise Ones' camp。 When the pair came back out； the young woman shuddered delicately。 Rand was sure it was pretense； just as he was sure she had asked to view that butcher's workroom。 Her show of revulsion lasted all of two seconds； and then she was peering about interestedly at the Aiel。
It appeared that Rand himself was one of the sights she wanted to see。 Kadere seemed ready to take her back to the wagon； but she guided him to Rand instead； the alluring smile on her full lips plain behind her diaphanous veil。 〃Hadnan has been telling me of you；〃 she said in a smoky voice。 She might have been hanging on the peddler； but her dark eyes traced Rand boldly。 〃You are the one the Aiel talk of。 He Who es With the Dawn。〃 Keille and the gleeman came out of the second wagon and stood together at a distance； watching。
〃It seems I am；〃 he said。
〃Strange。〃 Her smile became wickedly mischievous。 〃I thought you would be handsomer。〃 Patting Kadere on the cheek； she sighed。 〃This dreadful heat is so wearing。 Do not be too long。〃
Kadere did not speak until she had climbed the steps back inside。 His hat had been replaced by a long white scarf tied atop his head； the ends handing down his neck。 〃You must forgive Isendre； good sir。 She is。。。 too forward； sometimes。〃 His voice was mollifying； but his eyes belonged on a bird of prey。 He hesitated； then went on。 〃I have heard other things。 I have heard that you took Callandor out of the Heart of the Stone。〃
The man's eyed never changed。 If he knew about Callandor； he knew Rand was the Dragon Reborn； knew he could wield the One Power。 And his eyes never changed。 A dangerous man。 〃I have heard it said；〃 Rand told him； 〃that you should believe