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aine suggesting that instead of sleep Aviendha should perhaps spend the night digging holes and filling them in to clear her head。 The threats were not intended to coerce her； Egwene realized； these women expected and intended to be obeyed。 Any useless labor Aviendha earned herself would be for being stubborn。 That stubbornness seemed to be shrinking； with four sets of Wise Ones' eyes boring at her … she settled into more of a defensive crouch； on her knees … but she was holding on。
Egwene leaned over to put a hand on Aviendha's shoulder。 〃You've told me we are near…sisters； and I think we are。 Will you do it for me？ Think of it as looking after him for Elayne。 You like her； too； I know。 You can tell him she says she meant what she said in her letters。 He will like hearing that。〃
Aviendha's face spasmed。 〃I will do it；〃 she said； slumping。 〃I will watch him for Elayne。 For Elayne。〃
Amys shook herself。 〃Foolishness。 You will watch him because we told you to； girt。 If you think you have another reason； you will find you are painfully mistaken。 More water。 The steam is fading。〃
Aviendha hurled another handful onto the rocks as though hurling a spear。 Egwene was glad to see her spirit returning； but she thought she would caution her when they were alone。 Spirit was all very well； but there were some women … these four Wise Ones； for example； and Siuan Sanche … with whom it was mon sense to keep a check on your spirit。 You could shout at the Women's Circle all day； and you still ended up doing what they wanted anyway； wishing you had kept your mouth shut。
〃Now that that is settled；〃 Bair said； 〃let us enjoy the steam in silence while we can。 There is much for some of us yet to do tonight； and for nights to e； if we are to bring a gathering to Alcair Dal for Rand al'Thor。〃
〃Men always find ways to make work for women；〃 Amys said。 〃Why should Rand al'Thor be different？〃
Quiet settled over the tent except for the hiss when Aviendha tossed more water on the hot rocks。 The Wise Ones sat with hands on knees； breathing deeply。 It was really quite pleasant； even relaxing； the damp heat； the slick； cleansing feel of sweat on the skin。 Egwene thought it was worth missing a little sleep。
Moiraine did not look relaxed； though。 She stared at the steaming kettle as if seeing something else； far off。
〃Was it bad？〃 Egwene said softly so as not to disturb the Wise Ones。 〃Rhuidean； I mean？〃 Aviendha looked up quickly； but said nothing。
〃The memories fade；〃 Moiraine said； just as quietly。 She did not look away from her distant vision； and her voice was almost chill enough to take away the heat in the air。 〃Most are already gone。 Some； I knew already。 Others。。。 The Wheel weaves as the Wheel wills； and we are only the thread of the Pattern。 I have given my life to finding the Dragon Reborn； finding Rand； and seeing him ready to face the Last Battle。 I will see that done； whatever it requires。 Nothing and no one can be more important than that。〃
Shivering despite her sweat； Egwene closed her eyes。 The Aes Sedai did not want forting。 She was a lump of ice； not a woman。 Egwene settled herself to trying to recapture that pleasant feeling。 She suspected such would be few and far between in the days to e。
Chapter 36
（Crescent Moon and Stars）
Misdirections
The Aiel broke camp early and were away from Rhuidean while the not…yet…risen sun still sharply silhouetted the far mountains。 In three parties they wound around Chaendaer； down onto rough flats broken by hills and tall stone spires and flat…topped buttes； gray and brown and every hue between； some streaked with long swirls in shades of red and ocher。 Occasionally a great natural arch loomed as they moved north and west； or strange； huge slabs of rock balanced improbably； forever on the brink of falling。 Every way Rand looked； jagged mountains reared in the distance。 All the wreckage of the Breaking of the World seemed gathered here in the place called the Aiel Waste。 Where the hard ground was not cracked clay； yellow or brown or something between； it was stony and stark； and everywhere split by dry gulleys and hollows。 The scattered vegetation was sparse and low； thorny bushes and leafless things with spines； the few blossoms； white or red or； yellow； were startling in their isolation。 Occasionally stretches of tough grass covered the ground； and rarely； there was a stunted tree also likely to have thorns or spines。 pared to Chaendaer and the valley of Rhuidean； it almost looked lush。 The air was so clear； the land so barren； it seemed Rand could see for miles and miles。
That air was no less dry； though； the heat no less relentless； with the sun a lump of molten gold high in a cloudless sky。 Rand had wrapped a shoufa around his head in an effort to keep the sun off； and drank from the waterbag on Jeade'en's saddle frequently。 Oddly； wearing his coat seemed to help； he did not sweat any less； but his shirt stayed damp beneath the red wool； cooling him somewhat。 Mat used a strip of cloth to tie a large white kerchief atop his head； like some odd cap that hung down the back of his neck； and he kept shading his eyes against the glare。 He carried the raven…marked sword…spear like a lance； the butt tucked into his stirrup。
Four hundred or so Jindo prised their party； Rand and Mat rode at the front alongside Rhuarc and Heirn。 The Aiel walked； of course； their tents and some of the booty from Tear on pack mules and horses。 A number of the Jindo Maidens fanned ahead as scouts； and Stone Dogs trailed behind as a rear guard； with the main column hedged by watchful eyes； ready spears； and bows with arrows nocked。 Supposedly the Peace of Rhuidean extended until those who had gone to Chaendaer returned to their own holds； but as Rhuarc explained to Rand； mistakes had been known to happen； and apologies and bloodprice did not bring the dead out of their graves。 Rhuarc seemed to think a mistake especially likely this time； certainly in part because of the Shaido party。
The lands of the Shaido clan lay beyond those of the Jindo's Taardad； in the same direction from Chaendaer； and they paralleled the Jindo some quarter of a mile distant。 According to Rhuarc； Couladin should have waited another day for his brother to return。 That Rand had seen Muradin after he had plucked out his own eyes made no difference； ten days was the time allotted。 To leave sooner was to abandon whoever had entered Rhuidean。 Yet Couladin had set the Shaido to folding their tents as soon as he saw the Jindo pack animals being loaded。 The Shaido moved along now with their own scouts and rear guard； seemingly ignoring the Jindo； but the space between never widened much beyond three hundred paces。 It was usual to have witnesses from perhaps half a dozen of the larger septs when a man sought the marking of a clan chief。 Couladin's people outnumbered the Jindo by at least two to one。 Rand suspected that the third party； halfway between Shaido and Taardad； was the reason the interval did not narrow suddenly and violently。
The Wise Ones walked just like all the other Aiel； including those strange； white…robed men and women Rhua