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ing a Wise One ranked with killing a pregnant woman； a child or a blacksmith。 Some of those eyes were very sharp。 Therava's； Rhiale's； others'。 〃If we allow these women to walk away from that； then we are less than animals； we will have no honor。 I hold my honor。〃
On that she gathered her skirts with dignity and climbed the slope； head high； not looking back。 She was certain the others would follow。 Therava and Norlea and Dailin would see to that； and Rhiale and Tion and Meira and the rest who had acpanied her a few days past to see Rand al'Thor beaten and。 put back into his wooden chest by the Aes Sedai。 Her reminder had been for those thirteen even more than the others； and they dared not fail her。 The truth of how Desaine had died tied them to her。
Wise Ones with their skirts looped over their arms to free their legs could not keep up with the algai'd'siswai in cadin'sor however hard they ran； though race they did。 Five miles across those low rolling hills； not a long run； and they topped a crest to see the dance of spears already begun。 After a fashion。
Thousands of algai'd'siswai made a huge pool of veiled gray…and…brown surging around a circle of wetlander wagons； which itself surrounded one of the small clumps of trees that dotted this region。 Sevanna drew an angry breath。 The Aes Sedai had even had time to bring all of their horses inside。 The spears encircled the wagons； pressed in on them； showered arrows toward them； but those at the front seemed to push against an invisible wall。 At first the arrows that arched highest passed over this wall； but then they too began striking something unseen and bouncing back。 A low murmur rose among the Wise Ones。
〃You see what the Aes Sedai do？〃 Sevanna demanded； as though she also could see the One Power being woven。 She wanted to sneer； the Aes Sedai were fools； with their vaunted Three Oaths。 When they finally decided they must use the Power as a weapon instead of just to make barriers； it would be too late。 Provided the Wise Ones did not stand too long staring。 Somewhere in those wagons was Rand al'Thor； perhaps still doubled into a chest like a bolt of silk。 Waiting for her to pick him up。 If the Aes Sedai could hold him； then she could； with the Wise Ones。 And a promise。 〃Therava； take your half to the west now。 Be ready to strike when I do。 For Desaine； and the toh the Aes Sedai owe us。 We will make them meet toh as no one ever has before。〃
It was a foolish boast to speak of making someone meet an obligation they had not acknowledged； yet in the angry mutters from the other women； Sevanna heard other furious promises to make the Aes Sedai meet toh。 Only those who had killed Desaine on Sevanna's orders stood silent。 Therava's narrow lips tightened slightly； but finally she said； 〃It will be as you say； Sevanna。〃
At an easy lope； Sevanna led her half of the Wise Ones to the east side of the battle； if it could be called that yet。 She had wanted to remain on a rise where she could have a good view … that was how a clan chief or battle leader directed the dance of spears … but in this one thing she found no support even from Therava and the others who shared the secret of Desaine's death。 The Wise Ones made a sharp contrast with the algai'd'siswai as she lined them up in their white algode blouses and dark wool skirts and shawls； their glittering bracelets and necklaces and their waist…length hair held back by dark folded scarves。 For all their decision that if they were to be in the dance of the spears； they would be in it； not on a rise apart； she did not believe they yet realized that the true battle today was theirs to fight。 After today； nothing would be the same again； and tethering Rand al'Thor was the smallest part。
Among the algai'd'siswai staring toward the wagons only height quickly told men from Maidens。 Veils and shoufa hid heads and faces； and cadin'sor was cadin'sor aside from the differences of cut that marked clan and sept and society。 Those at the outer edge of the encirclement appeared confused； grumbling among themselves as they waited for something to happen。 They had e prepared to dance with Aes Sedai lightning； and now they milled impatiently； too far back even to use the horn bows still in leather cases on their backs。 They would not have to wait much longer if Sevanna had her way。
Hands on hips； she addressed the other Wise Ones。 〃Those to the south of me will disrupt what the Aes Sedai are doing。 Those to the north will attack。 Forward the spears！〃 With the mand； she turned to watch the destruction of the Aes Sedai who thought they had only steel to face。
Nothing happened。 In front of her the mass of algai'd'siswai seethed uselessly； and the loudest sound was the occasional drumming of spears on bucklers。 Sevanna gathered her anger； winding it like thread from the spinning。 She had been so sure they were ready after Desaine's butchered corpse was displayed to them； but if they still found attacking Aes Sedai unthinkable； she would chivvy them to it if she had to shame them all till they demanded to put on gai'shain white。
Suddenly a ball of pure flame the size of a man's head arched toward the wagons； sizzling and hissing； then another； dozens。 The knot in her middle loosened。 More fireballs came from the west； from Therava and the rest。 Smoke began to rise from burning wagons； first gray wisps； then thickening black pillars； the murmurs of the algai'd'siswai changed pitch； and if those directly in front of her moved little； there was a sudden sense of pressing forward。 Shouts drifted from the wagons； men yelling in anger； bellowing in pain。 Whatever barriers the Aes Sedai had made were down。 It had begun； and there could be only one ending。 Rand al'Thor would be hers； he would give her the Aiel； to take all of the wetlands； and before he died he would give her daughters and sons to lead the Aiel after her。 She might enjoy that； he was quite pretty； really； strong and young。
She did not expect the Aes Sedai to go down easily； and they did not。 Fireballs fell among the spears； turning cadin'sor…clad figures to torches； and lightnings struck from a clear sky； hurling men and earth into the air。 The Wise Ones learned from what they saw； though； or perhaps they already knew and had hesitated before； most channeled so seldom； especially where anyone besides Wise Ones could see； that only another Wise One knew whether any given woman could。 Whatever the reason； no sooner did lightning begin to fall among the Shaido spears than more struck toward the wagons。
Not all reached its target。 Balls of fire streaking through the air； some large as horses now； silver lightning stabbing toward the ground like spears from the heavens； sometimes suddenly darted aside as if striking an invisible shield； or erupted violently in midair； or simply vanished altogether。 Roars and crashes filled the air； warring with shouts and screams。 Sevanna stared at the sky in delight。 It was like the Illuminators' displays she had read about。
Suddenly the world turned white in her eyes； she seemed to be floating。 When she could see again； she was flat on the ground a dozen paces from where she had stood； aching in every muscle； struggling for breath and covered with a scattering of dirt。 Her hair wanted to lift away from her。
Other Wise Ones were down as well； around a ragged hole a span across torn in the ground； thin tendrils of smoke rose from the dresses of some。 Not everyone had fallen … the battle of fire and lightning continued in the sky … but too many。 She had to throw them back into the dance。
Forcing herself to breathe； she scrambled to her feet； not bothering to brush off the dirt。 〃Push spears！〃 she shouted。 Seizing Estalaine's angular shoulders； she started to drag the woman to her feet； then realized from her staring blue eyes that she was dead and let her fall。 She pulled a dazed Dorailla erect instead； then seized up a spear from a fallen Thunder Walker and waved it high。 〃Forward the spears！〃 Some of the Wise Ones seemed to take her literally； plunging into the mass of algai'd'siswai。 Others kept their heads better； helping those who could rise； and the storm of fire and lightning continued as she raged up and down the line of Wise Ones； waving her spear and shouting。 〃Push spears！ Forward the spears！〃
She felt like laughing； she did laugh。 With dirt all over her and the battle raging； she had never been so exhilarated before in her life。 Almost she wished she had chosen to bee a Maiden of the Spear。 Almost。 No Far Dareis Mai could ever be clan chief； any more than a man could be a Wise One； a Maiden's route to power was to give up the spear and bee a Wise One。 As wife of a clan chief she had been wielding power at an age when a Maiden was barely trusted to carry a spear or a Wise One's apprentice to fetch water。 And now she had it all； Wise One and clan chief； though it would take some doing yet to have that last title in truth。 Titles mattered little so long as she had the power； but why should she not have both？
A sudden scream made her turn； and she gaped at the sight of a shaggy gray wolf ripping Dosera's throat out。 Without thought she plunged her spear into i