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Out back； maybe。 Charn liked to sit under the spiceapple trees behind the inn； and tell his stories of the days when he was young。
Coumin ran out the back door； and tripped； falling on his face。 It was an empty boot that had caught his toe。 One of Charn's red dress boots that he wore all the time； now that he no longer joined in the singing。 Something made Coumin look up。
Charn's white…haired body hung from a rope pulled over the ridgepole； one foot bare where he had kicked his boot off； the fingers of one hand caught at his neck where he had tried to pull the rope free。
〃Why？〃 Coumin said。 〃We are Da'shain。 Why？〃 There was no one to answer。 Clutching the boot to his chest； he knelt there； staring up at Charn； as the noise of revelry washed over him。
Rand quivered。 The light from the columns was a shimmering blue haze that seemed solid； that seemed to claw the nerves out of his skin。 The wind howled； one vast whirlwind sucking inward。 Muradin had managed to veil himself； bloody sockets stared blindly above the black veil。 The Aiel was chewing； and bloody froth dripped onto his chest。 Forward。
Charn made his way down the side of the wide； crowded street beneath the spreading chora trees； their trefoil leaves spreading peace and contentment in the shadows of silvery buildings that touched the sky。 A city without choras would seem bleak as wilderness。 Jo…cars hummed quietly down the street； and a great white sho…wing darted across the sky； carrying citizens to elle or Tzora or somewhere。 He seldom used the sho…wings； himself … if he needed to go very far； an Aes Sedai usually Traveled with him … but tonight he would； to M'jinn。 Today was his twenty…fifth naming day； and tonight he intended to accept Nalla's latest offer of marriage。 He wondered if she would be surprised； he had been putting her off for a year； not wanting to settle down。 It would mean changing his service to Zorelle Sedai； whom Nalla served； but Mierin Sedai had already given her blessing。
He rounded a corner and just had time to see a dark； wide…shouldered man with a fashionably narrow beard before the man's shoulder sent him crashing to his back； head bouncing on the walkway so he saw spots。 Dazed； he lay there。
〃Watch where you are going；〃 the bearded man said irritably； adjusting his sleeveless red coat and flicking the lace at his wrists。 His black hair； hanging to his shoulders； was gathered in back。 That was the latest fashion； too； as near as anyone who had not sworn to the Covenant would e to imitating Aiel。
The pale…haired woman with him laid a hand on his arm； her dress of shimmery white streith being more opaque with her sudden embarrassment。 〃Jom； look at his hair。 He is Aiel； Jom。〃
Feeling his head to see if it was cracked； Charn's fingers brushed through short…cut； reddish…gold hair。 He gave the longer tail at his nape a tug in lieu of shaking his head。 A bruise； he thought； but no more。
〃So he is。〃 The man's annoyance vanished in consternation。 〃Forgive me； Da'shain。 I am the one who should be watching where he walks。 Let me help you up。〃 He was already suiting his words； hoisting Charn to his feet。 〃Are you all right？ Let me call a jumper to take you where you are going。〃
〃I am not hurt； citizen；〃 Charn said mildly。 〃Truly； it was my fault。〃 It had been； hurrying like that。 He could have injured the man。 〃Did I harm you？ Please； forgive me。〃
The man opened his mouth to protest … citizens always did； they seemed to think Aiel were made of spinglass … but before he could speak； the ground rippled under their feet。 The air rippled； too； in spreading waves。 The man looked about uncertainly； pulling his stylish fancloth cloak around himself and his lady so their heads seemed to float disembodied。 〃What is it； Da'shain？〃
Others who had seen Charn's hair were gathering around him anxiously asking the same questions； but he ignored them； not even thinking of whether he was being rude。 He actually began to push through the crowd； his eyes fixed on the Sharom； the white sphere； a thousand feet in diameter； floated as high above the blue and silver domes of the Collam Daan。
Mierin had said today was the day。 She said she had found a new source for the One Power。 Female Aes Sedai and male would be able to tap the same source； not separate halves。 What men and women could do united would be even greater now that there would be no differences。 And today she and Beidomon would tap it for the first time … the last time men and women would work together wielding a different Power。 Today。
What seemed a tiny chip of white spun away from the Sharom in a jet of black fire； it descended； deceptively slow； insignificant。 Then a hundred gouts spurted everywhere around the huge white sphere。 The Sharom broke apart like an egg and began to drift down； falling； an obsidian inferno。 Darkness spread across the sky； swallowing the sun in unnatural night； as if the light of those flames was blackness。 People were screaming； screaming everywhere。
With the first spurt of fire； Charn broke into a run toward the Collam Daan； but he knew he was too late。 He was sworn to serve Aes Sedai； and he was too late。 Tears rolled down his face as he ran。
Blinking to dispel the spots fluttering across his vision； Rand squeezed his head with both hands。 The image still drifted through his head； that huge sphere； burning black； falling。 Did I really see the hole being drilled into the Dark One's prison？ Did I？ He stood at the edge of the glass columns； staring out at Avendesora。 A chora tree。 A city is a wilderness without chora。 And now there's only one。 The columns sparkled in the blue glow from the dome of fog above； but once again the light seemed only brilliant reflections。 There was no sign of Muradin； he did not think the Aiel had e out of the glass forest。 Or ever would。
Suddenly something caught his eye； low in the branches of the Tree of Life。 A shape swinging slowly。 A man； hanging from a pole laid across two branches by a rope around his neck。
With a wordless roar； he ran for the tree； grabbing at saidin； the fiery sword ing into his hands as he leaped； slashing at the rope。 He and Mat hit the dusty white paving stones with twin thuds。 The pole jarred free and clattered down beside them； not a pole； but an odd black…hafted spear with a short sword blade in place of a spearpoint； slightly curved and single edged。 Rand would not have cared if it was made of gold and cuendillar set with sapphires and firedrops。
Letting sword and Power go； he ripped the rope away from Mat's neck and pressed an ear to his friend's chest。 Nothing。 Desperately； he tore open Mat's coat and shirt； breaking the leather cord that held a silver medallion on Mat's chest。 He tossed the medallion aside； listened again。 Nothing。 No heartbeat。 Dead。 No！ He'd be all right if I hadn't let him follow me here。 I can't let him be dead！
As hard as he could he pounded his fist against Mat's chest； listened。 Nothing。 Again he hammered； listened。 Yes。 There。 A faint heartbeat。 It was。 So faint； so slow。 And slowing。 But Mat was still alive despite