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When Alijha started to pick up one of the swords； though； Lewin stopped him。 〃No； Alijha。 That is a weapon； made to kill people。 It has no other use。〃 Alijha said nothing； only ran his eyes over the four dead bodies； looked at the spears Luca was winding with blankets to carry Charlin's body on。 Lewin refused to look at the villagers。 〃A spear can put food in the pots； Alijha。 A sword cannot。 It is forbidden by the Way。〃
Alijha was still silent； but Lewin thought he sneered behind his dustveil。 Yet when they finally started away into the night； the swords remained by the dying coals and the dead men。
It was a long walk back through the darkness； carrying the makeshift stretcher bearing Charlin； the wind sometimes gusting to raise choking clouds of dust。 Maigran stumbled along； staring straight ahead； she did not know where she was； or who they were。 Colline seemed half terrified； even of her own brother； jumping if anyone touched her。 This was not how Lewin had imagined their return。 In his mind the girls had been laughing； happy to return to the wagons； they had all been laughing。 Not carrying Charlin's corpse。 Not hushed by the memory of what they had done。
The lights of the cook fires came into view； and then the wagons； harnesses already spread for men to take their places at sunrise。 No one left the shelter of the wagons after dark； so it surprised Lewin to see three shapes e hurrying toward them。 Adan's white hair stood out in the night。 The other two were Nerrine； Colline's mother； and Saralin； his and Maigran's。 Lewin lowered his dustveil with foreboding。
The women rushed to their daughters with forting arms and soft murmurs。 Colline sank into her mother's embrace with a weling sigh； Maigran hardly appeared to notice Saralin who looked close to tears at the bruises on her daughter's face。
Adan frowned at the young men； permanent creases of worry deepening in his face。 〃In the name of the Light； what happened？ When we found you were gone； too 。 。 。〃 He trailed off when he saw the stretcher holding Charlin。 〃What happened？〃 he asked again； as if dreading the answer。
Lewin opened his mouth slowly； but Maigran spoke first。
〃They killed them。〃 She was staring at something in the distance； her voice as simple as a child's。 〃The bad men hurt us。 They。。。 Then Lewin came and killed them。〃
〃You must not say things like that； child；〃 Saralin said soothingly。 〃You …〃 She stopped； peering into her daughter's eyes； then turned to stare uncertainly at Lewin。 〃Is it。。。 ？ Is it true？〃
〃We had to；〃 Alijha said in a pained voice。 〃They tried to kill us。 They did kill Charlin。〃
Adan stepped back。 〃You。。。 killed？ Killed men？ What of the Covenant？ We harm no one。 No one！ There is no reason good enough to justify killing another human being。 None！〃
〃They took Maigran； greatfather；〃 Lewin said。 〃They took Maigran and Colline； and hurt them。 They …〃
〃There is no reason！〃 Adan roared； shaking with rage。 〃We must accept what es。 Our sufferings are sent to test our faithfulness。 We accept and endure！ We do not murder！ You have not strayed from the Way； you have abandoned it。 You are Da'shain no longer。 You are corrupt； and I will not have the Aiel corrupted by you。 Leave us； strangers。 Killers！ You are not wele in the wagons of the Aiel。〃 He turned his back and strode away as if they no longer existed。 Saralin and Nerrine started after him； guiding the girls。
〃Mother？〃 Lewin said； and flinched when she looked back at him with cold eyes。 〃Mother； please 〃
〃Who are you that addresses me so？ Hide your face from me； stranger。 I had a son； once； with a face like that。 I do not wish to see it on a killer。〃 And she led Maigran after the others。
〃I am still Aiel；〃 Lewin shouted； but they did not look back。 He thought he heard Luca crying。 The wind rose； picking up dust； and he veiled his face。 〃I am Aiel！〃
Wildly darting lights bored into Rand's eyes。 The pain of Lewin's loss still clung to him； and his mind tumbled furiously。 Lewin had not carried a weapon。 He had not known how to use a weapon。 Killing terrified him。 It did not make sense。
He was almost abreast of Muradin now； but the man was not aware of him。 Muradin's snarl was a rictus； sweat beaded on his face； he quivered as though wanting to run。
Rand's feet took him forward； and back。
Chapter 26
（Serpent and Wheel）
The Dedicated
Forward； and back。
Adan lay in the sandy hollow clutching his dead son's weeping children； shielding their eyes against his ragged coat。 Tears rolled down his face； too； but silently； as he peered cautiously over the edge。 At five and six； Maigran and Lewin deserved the right to cry； Adan was surprised he had any tears left； himself。
Some of the wagons were burning。 The dead lay where they had fallen。 The horses had already been driven off； except for those still hitched to a few wagons that had been emptied onto the ground。 For once he took no notice of the crated things the Aes Sedai had given into Aiel charge； toppled carelessly into the dirt。 It was not the first time he had seen that； or dead Aiel； but this time he could not care。 The men with the swords and spears and bows； the men who had done the killing； were loading those empty wagons。 With women。 He watched Rhea； his daughter； shoved up into a wagon box with the others； crowded together like animals by laughing killers。 The last of his children。 Elwin dead of hunger at ten； Sorelle at twenty of fever her dreams told her was ing； and Jaren； who threw himself off a cliff a year ago； at nineteen； when he found he could channel。 Marind； this morning。
He wanted to scream。 He wanted to rush out there and stop them from taking his last child。 Stop them； somehow。 And if he did rush out？ They would kill him； and take Rhea anyway。 They might well kill the children； too。 Some of those bodies sprawled in their own blood were small。
Maigran clutched at him as if she sensed he might leave her； and Lewin stiffened as if he wanted to hold tighter but thought himself too old。 Adan smoothed their hair and kept their faces pressed against his chest。 He made himself watch； though； until the wagons wheeled away surrounded by whooping riders； after the horses that were already almost out of sight toward the smoking mountains that lined the horizon。
Only then did he stand up； prying the children loose。 〃Wait here for me；〃 he told them。 〃Wait until I e back。〃 Clinging to each other； they stared at him with tear…stained white faces； nodded uncertainly。
He walked out to one of the bodies； rolled her over gently。 Siedre could have been asleep； her face just the way it appeared beside him when he woke each morning。 It always surprised him to notice gray in her red…gold hair； she was his love； his life； and ever young and new to him。 He tried not to look at the blood soaking the front of her dress or the gaping wound below her breasts。
〃What do you mean to do now； Adan？ Tell us that！ What？〃
He brushed Seidre's hair from her face … she liked to be neat … and stood； turning slowly to confront the knot of angry；