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The Chronicles could hardly record the years of the Last Battle without mentioning the Dragon Reborn； but she knew that one name would be written larger than all others。 Elaida do Avriny a'Roihan； youngest daughter of a minor House in the north of Murandy； would go down in history as the greatest and most powerful Amyrlin Seat of all time。 The most powerful woman in the history of the world。 The woman who saved humankind。
The Aiel standing in a deep fold in the low； brown…grass hills seemed carved figures； ignoring sheets of dust sweeping ahead of a gusting wind。 That snow should have been deep on the ground this time of year did not bother them； none had ever seen snow； and this oven heat； with the sun still well short of its peak； was less than where they came from。 Their attention remained fixed on the southern rise； waiting for the signal that would announce the arrival of the destiny of the Shaido Aiel。
Outwardly； Sevanna looked like the others； though a ring of Maidens marked her out； resting easily on their heels； dark veils already hiding their faces to the eyes。 She also waited； and more impatiently than she let on； but not to the exclusion of everything else。 That was one reason why she manded and the rest followed。 The second was that she saw what could be if you refused to let outworn custom and stale tradition tie your hands。
A slight flicker of her green eyes to the left showed twelve men and one woman； each with round bull…hide buckler and three or four short spears； garbed in gray…and…brown cadin'sor that blended as well with the terrain here as in the Three…fold Land。 Efalin； short graying hair hidden by the shoufa wrapped around her head； sometimes glanced Sevanna's way； if a Maiden of the Spear could be said to be uneasy； Efalin was。 Some Shaido Maidens had gone south； joining the fools capering around Rand al'Thor； and Sevanna did not doubt others talked of it。 Efalin must be wondering whether providing Sevanna with an escort of Maidens； as if she had been Far Dareis Mai once herself； was enough to balance that。 At least Efalin had no doubts where true power lay。
Like Efalin； the men led Shaido warrior societies； and they eyed one another between watching the rise。 Especially blocky Maeric； who was Seia Doon； and scar…faced Bendhuin； of Far Aldazar Din。 After today； no longer would anything hold back the Shaido from sending a man to Rhuidean； to be marked as the clan chief if he survived。 Until that happened； Sevanna spoke as the clan chief since she was the widow of the last chief。 Of the last two chiefs。 And let those who muttered that she carried bad luck choke on it。
Gold and ivory bracelets clattered softly as she straightened the dark shawl over her arms and adjusted her necklaces。 Most of those were gold and ivory too； but one was a mass of pearls and rubies that had belonged to a wetlander noblewoman … the woman now wore white and hauled and fetched alongside the other gai'shain back in the mountains called Kinslayer's Dagger … with a ruby the size of a small hen's egg nestled between her breasts。 The wetlands held rich prizes。 A large emerald on her finger caught sunlight in green fire； finger rings were one wetlander custom worth adopting； no matter the stares often aimed at hers。 She would have more； if they matched this one for magnificence。
Most of the men thought Maeric or Bendhuin would be first to receive the Wise Ones' permission to try Rhuidean。 Only Efalin in that group suspected that none would； and she only suspected； she also was astute enough to voice her suspicions circumspectly to Sevanna and not at all to anyone else。 Their minds could not enpass the possibility of shedding the old； and in truth； if Sevanna was impatient to don the new； she was also aware that she must bring them to it slowly。 Much had changed already in the old ways since the Shaido crossed the Dragonwall into the wetlands … still wet； pared to the Three…fold Land … yet more would change。 Once Rand al'Thor was in her hands； once she had wed the Car'a'carn； the chief of chiefs of all the Aiel … this nonsense of the Dragon Reborn was wetlander foolishness … there would be a new way of naming clan chiefs； and sept chiefs as well。 Perhaps even the heads of the warrior societies。 Rand al'Thor would name them。 Pointing where she told him； of course。 And that would be only the beginning。 The wetlander notion of handing down rank to your children； and their children； for instance。
The wind swept higher for a moment； blowing south。 It would cover the sound of the wetlanders' horses and wagons。
She shifted her shawl again； then suppressed a grimace。 At all costs she must not appear nervous。 A glance to the right stilled worry as soon as begun。 Over two hundred Shaido Wise Ones clustered there； and normally at least some would be watching her like vultures； but their eyes were all on the rise。 More than one adjusted her shawl uneasily or smoothed bulky skirts。 Sevanna's lip curled。 Sweat beaded on some of those faces。 Sweat！ Where was their honor that they showed nerves before every gaze？
Everyone stiffened slightly as a young Sovin Nai appeared above them； lowering his veil as he scrambled down。 He came straight to her； as was proper； but to her irritation he raised his voice enough for all to hear。 〃One of their forward scouts escaped。 He was wounded； but still on his horse。〃
The society leaders began to move before he finished speaking。 That would never do。 They would lead in the actual fighting … Sevanna had never more than held a spear in her life … but she would not let them forget for a moment who she was。 〃Throw every last spear against them；〃 she ordered loudly； 〃before they can ready themselves。〃 They rounded on her as one。
〃Every spear？〃 Bendhuin demanded incredulously。 〃You mean except for the screens … 〃
Glowering； Maeric spoke right on top of him。 〃If we keep no reserve； we can be … 〃
Sevanna cut them both off。 〃Every spear！ These are Aes Sedai we dance with。 We must overwhelm them immediately！〃 Efalin and most of the others schooled their faces to stillness； but Bendhuin and Maeric frowned； ready to argue。 Fools。 They faced a few dozen Aes Sedai； a few hundred wetlander soldiers； yet with the more than forty thousand algai'd'siswai they had insisted on； they still wanted their screens of scouts and their spears in reserve as if they faced other Aiel or a wetlander army。 〃I speak as the clan chief of the Shaido。〃 She should not have to say that； but a reminder could do no harm。 〃They are a handful。〃 She weighted every word with contempt now。 〃They can be run down if the spears move quickly。 You were ready to avenge Desaine this sunrise。 Do I smell fear now？ Fear of a few wetlanders？ Has honor gone from the Shaido？〃
That turned their faces to stone； as intended。 Even Efalin showed eyes like polished gray gems as she veiled； her fingers moved in Maiden handtalk； and as the society leaders sprinted up the rise； the Maidens around Sevanna followed。 That was not what she had intended； but at least the spears were moving。 Even from the bottom of the fold she could see what had seemed bare ground disgorging cadin'sor…clad figures； all hurrying south with the long strides that could run down horses。 There was no time to waste。 With a thought to have words with Efalin later； Sevanna turned to the Wise Ones。
Chosen from the strongest of the Shaido Wise Ones who could wield the One Power； they were six or seven for every Aes Sedai around Rand al'Thor； yet Sevanna saw doubt。 They tried to hide it behind stony faces； but it was there； in shifting eyes； in tongues wetting lips。 Many traditions fell today； traditions old and strong as law。 Wise Ones did not take part in battles。 Wise Ones kept far from Aes Sedai。 They knew the ancient tales； that the Aiel had been sent to the Three…fold Land for failing the Aes Sedai； that they would be destroyed if ever they failed them again。 They had heard the stories； what Rand al'Thor had claimed before all； that as part of their service to the Aes Sedai； the Aiel had sworn to do no violence。
Once Sevanna had been sure those stories were lies； but of late she believed the Wise Ones knew them for truth。 None had told her so； of course。 It did not matter。 She herself had never made the two journeys to Rhuidean required to bee a Wise One； but the others had accepted her； however reluctant some had been。 Now they had no choice but to go on accepting。 Useless traditions would be carved into new。
〃Aes Sedai；〃 she said softly。 They leaned toward her in a muted clatter of bracelets and necklaces； to catch her low words。 〃They hold Rand al'Thor； the Car'a'carn。 We must take him from them。〃 There were scattered frowns。 Most believed she wanted the Car'a'carn taken alive in order to avenge the death of Couladin； her second husband。 They understood that； but they would not have e here for it。 〃Aes Sedai；〃 she hissed angrily。 〃We kept our pledge； but they broke theirs。 We violated nothing； but they have violated everything。 You know how Desaine was murdered。〃 And of course they did。 The eyes watching her were suddenly sharper。 Killing a Wise One ranked with killing a pregnant woman