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face and ask why they had gotten you drunk and made a game of taking your clothes off and putting you to bed？
So many differences； so few that made much sense that he could see； and no telling which might trip him up and ruin all his plans。 Yet he could not afford to wait。 He glanced over his shoulder。 What was done； was done。 And who can say what's yet to e？
Well behind； the Taardad followed him。 Not just the Nine Valley Taardad and the Jindo； but the Miadi and the Four Stones； the Chumai and the Bloody Water and more； broad columns surrounding the peddlers' lurching wagons and the Wise Ones' party； reaching back two miles through the shimmering heat haze； ringed by scouts and outrunners。 Every day more had e in response to the runners Rhuarc had sent that first day； a hundred men and Maidens here； three hundred there； five hundred； according to the size of each sept and what each hold needed to keep for safety。
In the distance to the south and west； another band was approaching at a run； trailing dust for their pace； perhaps they belonged to some other clan on its way to Alcair Dal； but he thought not。 Only two…thirds of the septs represented yet； but he estimated there were well over fifteen thousand Taardad Aiel strung out behind him。 An army on the march； and still growing。 Nearly an entire clan ing to a meeting of chiefs； in violation of all custom。
Suddenly Jeade'en topped a rise； and there in a long； wide hollow below was the fair gathered for the meeting； and on the hills beyond； the camps of the clan and sept chiefs who had already arrived。
Spread among two or three hundred of the low； wall…less tents； all widely spaced； were pavilions of the same grayish brown material that were tall enough to stand beneath； with goods displayed on blankets in the shade； brightly glazed pottery and even brighter rugs； jewelry in silver or gold。 Aiel crafts mainly； but there would be things from beyond the Waste as well； including perhaps silk and ivory from far to the east。 No one seemed to be trading； the few men and women in sight sat in one or another of the pavilions； usually alone。
Of the five camps scattered on heights around the fair； four looked just as empty； only a few dozen men or Maidens stirring amid tents set up for as many as a thousand。 The fifth camp sprawled over twice as much ground as any of the others； with hundreds of people visible； and likely as many more inside the tents。
Rhuarc trotted up the hill behind Rand with his ten Aethan Dor； Red Shields； followed by Heirn with ten Tain Shari； True Bloods； and forty…odd more sept chiefs with their escorts for honor； all with spears and bucklers； bows and quivers。 It made a formidable force； more than had taken the Stone of Tear。 Some of the Aiel in the camps and among the pavilions were peering at the hilltop。 Not at the Aiel gathered there； Rand suspected。 At him； a man on a horse。 A thing seen very seldom in the Three…fold Land。 He would show them more before he was done。
Rhuarc's gaze settled on the largest camp； where more Aiel in cadin'sor were boiling out of the tents； all to stare in their direction。 〃Shaido； unless I mistake myself；〃 he said quietly。 〃Couladin。 You are not the only one to break custom； Rand al'Thor。〃
〃Perhaps as well I did。〃 Rand dragged the shoufa from around his head and stuffed it into his coat pocket atop the angreal； the carving of a round…faced man with a sword across his knees。 The sun began baking his bare head to show him how much protection the cloth had been。 〃If we had e according to custom。。。〃 The Shaido were loping toward the mountains； leaving behind apparently empty tents。 And causing some little stir in the other camps； and the fair； the Aiel gave over staring at a man on a horse to peer after the Shaido。 〃Could you have forced a way into Alcair Dal against two…to…one odds or better； Rhuarc？〃
〃Not before nightfall；〃 the clan chief replied slowly； 〃not even against Shaido dogrobbers。 This is more than violation of custom！ Even Shaido should have more honor than this！〃
Angry mutters of agreement rose from the other Taardad on the hilltop。 Except the Maidens； for some reason they had gathered around Aviendha off to one side； talking seriously among themselves。 Rhuarc spoke a few quiet words to one of his Red Shields； a green…eyed fellow who looked as if his face had been used to pound fence posts； and the man turned downhill； running swiftly back toward the approaching Taardad。
〃Did you expect this？〃 Rhuarc asked Rand as soon as the Red Shield left。 〃Is that why you summoned the entire clan？〃
〃Not this exactly； Rhuarc。〃 The Shaido began forming lines before a narrow gap into the mountains； they were veiling themselves。 〃But there was no other reason for Couladin to leave in the night except that he was eager to be somewhere； and where would he better like to be than here； causing me trouble？ Are the others already in Alcair Dal？ Why？〃
〃The opportunity presented by chiefs meeting is not to be missed； Rand al'Thor。 There will be discussions of boundary disputes； grazing rights； a dozen things。 Water。 If two Aiel from different clans meet； they discuss water。 Three from three clans； and they discuss water and grazing。〃
〃And four？〃 Rand asked。 Five clans represented already； and the Taardad made six。
Rhuarc hesitated a moment； hefting one of his short spears unconsciously。 〃Four will dance the spears。 But it should not be so here。〃
The Taardad parted to let the Wise Ones through； shawls over their heads； with Moiraine and Lan and Egwene riding behind。 Egwene and the Aes Sedai wore those white cloths around their temples； in damp imitation of the Aiel women's head scarves。 Mat rode up； too； off by himself； black…hafted spear across his pommel。 His wide…brimmed hat shadowed his face as he studied what lay ahead。
The Warder nodded to himself when he saw the Shaido。 〃That could be messy；〃 he said softly。 His black stallion rolled an eye at Rand's dapple； only that； and Lan was intent on the Aiel ranks before the gap； yet he patted Mandarb's neck soothingly。 〃But not now； I think。〃
〃Not now；〃 Rhuarc agreed。
〃If only you would。。。 allow me to go in with you。〃 Except for that one slight hitch； Moiraine's voice was as serene as ever； cool calm painted her ageless features； but her dark eyes looked at Rand as if her gaze alone could force him to relent。
Amys's long pale hair； hanging below her shawl； swung as she shook her head firmly。 〃It is not his decision； Aes Sedai。 This is the business of chiefs； men's business。 If we let you go into Alcair Dal now； the next time Wise Ones meet； or roofmistresses； some clan chief will want to put his nose in。 They think we meddle in their affairs； and often try to meddle in ours。〃 She gave Rhuarc a quick smile meant to convey that she did not include him； her husband's lack of expression told Rand he thought otherwise。
Melaine gripped her shawl under her chin； precisely staring at Rand。 If she did not agree with Moraine； at least she mistrusted what he would do。 He had hardly slept since leaving Cold Rocks； if they had peered into his dreams； they had seen only nightmares。
〃Be careful； Rand al'Thor；〃 Bair said as if she had read his thoughts。 〃A tired man makes mistakes。 You cannot afford mistakes today。〃 She pulled her shawl down around her thin shoulders； and her thin voice took on an almost angry note。 〃We cannot afford for you to make mistakes。 The Aiel cannot afford it。〃
The ing of more riders to the hilltop had drawn eyes back to them。 Among the pavilions several hundred Aiel； men in cadin'sor and long…haired women in skirts and blouses and shawls； made a watchful crowd。 Its attention shifted when Kadere's dusty white wagon appeared behind its team of mules off to the right； with the heavy； cream…coated peddler on the driver's seat； and Isendre all in white silk holding a matching parasol。 Keille's wagon followed； with Natael handling the reins at her side； and the canvas…topped wagons； and finally the three big water wagons like huge barrels on wheels with their long mule teams。 They looked at Rand as the wagons rambled past in a squeal of ungreased axles； Kadere and Isendre； Natael in his gleeman's patch…covered cloak； Keille's great bulk encased in snowy white； a white lace shawl on her ivory bs。 Rand patted Jeade'en's arched neck。 Men and women began spilling out of the fair below to meet the approaching wagons。 The Shaido were waiting。 Soon； now。
Egwene moved her gray close to Jeade'en； the dapple stallion tried to nuzzle Mist and got nipped for his trouble。 〃You've not given me any chance to speak to you since Cold Rocks； Rand。〃 He said nothing； she was Aes Sedai now； and not just because she called herself one。 He wondered if she had spied on his dreams； too。 Her face looked tight； her dark eyes tired。 〃Do not keep to yourself； Rand。 You do not fight alone。 Others do battle for you； too。〃
Frowning； he tried not to look at her。 His first thought was of Emond's Field and Perrin； but he did not see how she could know where Perrin had gone。 〃What do you mean？〃 he said finally。
〃I fight for yo