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h Rand's eyes。
Merana's ageless features revealed even less than the clan chiefs'。 Smoothing her pale gray skirts under； she knelt beside Rand and lifted the teapot。 A massive ball of gold…washed silver； with leopards for feet and handle and another crouched on the lid； it required both of her hands and wavered a little as she carefully filled Rand's cup。 Her manner seemed to say she did this because she wanted to； for reasons of her own that none of them could begin to understand； her manner shouted Aes Sedai louder than her face did。 Was that to the good； or the bad？
〃I do not allow them to channel without permission；〃 he said。 The clan chiefs kept silent。 Merana rose and moved to kneel beside each in turn。 Mandelain covered his cup with a broad hand to indicate he wanted no more。 The other two held out theirs； blue…gray eyes and green alike studying her。 What did they see？ What more could he do？
Replacing the heavy teapot on the thick leopard…handled tray； she remained on her knees。 〃May I serve my Lord Dragon in any way else？〃
Her voice was self…possession itself； but after he motioned her back to her corner； after she had risen and turned； slim hands clutched at her skirts for an instant。 Yet that might have been because turning brought her to face Dashiva and Narishma。 The two Asha'man … to be precise； Narishma was still only a soldier； the lowest level of Asha'man； with neither the sword nor the Dragon on his collar … the Asha'man stood impassively between two of the tall golden…framed mirrors that lined the walls。 At least； the younger man looked impassive； at first glance。 Thumbs tucked behind his sword belt； he ignored Merana and paid little more attention to Rand or the Aielmen； yet at a second glance you saw that his dark too…big eyes never rested； as if he expected the unexpected to leap out of the air any moment。 And who could say it would not？ Dashiva appeared to have his head in the clouds； his lips moved soundlessly； and he blinked and frowned at nothing。
Lews Therin snarled when Rand looked at the Asha'man； but it was Merana who occupied the dead man inside Rand's head。 Only a fool thinks a lion or a woman can truly be tamed。
Irritably； Rand suppressed the voice to a muted buzz。 Lews Therin could break through； but not without effort。 Grabbing hold of saidin； he rewove the ward that shut Merana away from their voices。 Releasing the Source again increased his irritation； the hissing in his head； the water drops on red coals。 An echo pulsing in time with Lews Therin's mad； distant rage。
Merana stood behind the barrier she could neither see nor feel； head high and hands folded at her waist as if a shawl were looped over her arms。 Aes Sedai to her toenails。 She watched him and the clan chiefs with cool eyes； light brown flecked with yellow。 My sisters do not all realize how very much we need you； she had told him this morning in this very room； but all of us who swore will do whatever you ask that would not violate the Three Oaths。 He had just wakened when she came with Sorilea escorting her。 Neither seemed to care at all that he was still in a robe； with only one bite taken from his breakfast bread。 I have more than a little skill in negotiation and mediation。 My sisters have other skills。 Let us serve you； as we pledged。 Let me serve you。 We need you； but you have some need of us； too。
Ever present； Alanna lay nestled in a corner of his brain。 She was weeping again。 He could not understand why she wept so often。 He had forbidden her to e near him unless summoned； or leave her room without an escort of Maidens … the sisters who had sworn to him had been found rooms last night； in the Palace where he could keep an eye on them … but he had sensed tears from the moment she bonded him； tears and a raw grief like being ripped by claws。 Sometimes it was less； sometimes more； yet always there。 Alanna also had told him he needed the sworn sisters； screamed it at him finally； with her face red and tears rolling down her cheeks； before literally running from his presence。 And she had spoken of serving； too； though he doubted that Merana's present tasks were what either had in mind。 Perhaps some sort of livery would make it clear？
The clan chiefs watched Merana watch them。 Not so much as the flicker of an eyelash betrayed their thoughts。
〃The Wise Ones have told you where the Aes Sedai stand；〃 Rand said bluntly。 Sorilea had told him they knew； but the fact would have been clear from the lack of surprise when they first saw Merana fetch and curtsy。 〃You've seen her bring the tray and pour your tea。 You've seen her e and go as I say。 If you want； I'll have her dance a jig。〃 Convincing the Aiel that he was not on the end of an Aes Sedai leash was the most needed service any of the sisters could do him right now。 He would have them all doing jigs； if necessary。
Mandelain adjusted the gray…green patch over his right eye； the way he did when he wanted a moment to think。 A thick puckered scar ran up his forehead from behind the leather patch and halfway across his mostly bald head。 When he finally spoke； it was only a little less blunt than Rand。 〃Some say an Aes Sedai will do anything to have what she wants。〃
Indirian lowered heavy white eyebrows and peered down his long nose at his tea。 Of only average height for an Aielman； he was shorter than Rand by half a hand； yet everything about him seemed long。 The heat of the Waste appeared to have melted away every spare ounce of flesh and a few more besides。 His cheekbones stood out sharp； and his eyes were emeralds set in caves。 〃I do not like speaking of Aes Sedai。〃 His deep； rich voice was always a shock； ing from that gaunt face。 〃What is done； is done。 Let the Wise Ones deal with them。〃
〃Better to speak of the Shaido dogs；〃 Janwin said mildly。 Which was almost as great a shock； ing from his fierce face。 〃Within a few months； less than half a year at most； every Shaido who can be will be dead … or made gai'shain。〃 Just because his voice was soft did not mean he was。 The other two nodded； Mandelain smiled eagerly。
They still seemed unconvinced。 The Shaido had been the professed reason for this meeting； and no less important for not being the most important。 Not unimportant … the Shaido had made trouble long enough … just not on the same page with the Aes Sedai in his book。 They did present problems； though。 Three clans joining Timolan's Miagoma； already near Kinslayer's Dagger； might well be able to do as Janwin said； but there were those who could not be made gai'shain and could not be killed。 Some were more critical than others。 〃What of the Wise Ones？〃 he asked。
For a moment their faces became unreadable； not even Aes Sedai could do that so well as Aiel。 Facing the One Power did not frighten them； not where it showed； at least； no one could outrun death； so Aiel believed； and a hundred Aes Sedai in a rage could not make a lone Aiel lower the veil once raised。 But learning that Wise Ones had taken part in the fighting at Dumai's Wells had hit them like watching the sun rise by night and the moon by day in a blood…red sky。
〃Sarinde tells me almost all of the Wise Ones will run with the algai'd'siswai；〃 Indirian said at last； reluctantly。 Sarinde was the Wise One who had followed him from Red Springs； clan hold of the Codarra。 Or perhaps 〃followed〃 was not the right word； Wise Ones seldom did。 In any case； most of the Codarra Wise Ones； and the Shiande and the Daryne； would go north with the spears。 〃The Shaido Wise Ones will be。。。 dealt with。。。 by Wise Ones。〃 His mouth twisted with disgust。
〃All things change。〃 Janwin's voice was even softer than usual。 He believed； but he did not want to。 Wise Ones taking part in battle violated custom as old as the Aiel。
Mandelain set his cup down with exaggerated care。 〃Corehuin wishes to see Jair again before the dream ends； and so do I。〃 Like Bael and Rhuarc； he had two wives； the other chiefs had only one each； except Timolan； but a widowed chief seldom remained so long。 The Wise Ones saw to that if he did not。 〃Will any of us ever see the sun rise again in the Three…fold Land？〃
〃I hope so；〃 Rand said slowly。 As the plow breaks the earth shall he break the lives of men； and all that was shall be consumed in the fire of his eyes。 The trumpets of war shall sound at his footsteps； the ravens feed at his voice； and he shall wear a crown of swords。 The Prophecies of the Dragon gave little hope for anything except victory over the Dark One； and only a chance of that。 The Prophecy of Rhuidean； the Aiel Prophecy； said he would destroy them。 The bleakness swept through the clans because of him and ancient customs were ripped apart。 Even without the Aes Sedai； small wonder if some chiefs pondered whether they were right to follow Rand al'Thor； Dragons on his arms or no。 〃I hope so。〃
〃May you always find water and shade； Rand al'Thor；〃 Indirian said。
After they left； Rand sat frowning into his cup； finding no answers in the dark tea。 Finally he set it beside the tray and pushed his sleeves down。 Merana's eyes were intent on him； as if trying to pull out his thoughts。 There was a hint of impatience about her； too。 He ha