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not keep up on the slope。 Asmodean's … Jasin Natael's … patch…covered gleeman's cloak rippled behind him like the banner he carried at his stirrup； brilliant red with the white…and…black symbol of the ancient Aes Sedai at its center。 His face wore a sullen glower； he had not been best pleased at having to be the bannerman。 Under that sign he would conquer； the Prophecy of Rhuidean said； and perhaps it would not frighten the world so much as the Dragon Banner； Lews Therin's banner； that he had left flying over the Stone of Tear。 Few would know this sign。
The blotches on the walls of Taien were bodies； contorted in their final agonies； bloated in the sun and hanging by their necks in a row that seemed to encircle the town。 The birds were glossy black ravens； and vultures with their heads and necks befouled。 Some ravens perched on corpses； gorging； unconcerned for the new arrivals。 The sickly sweet stench of corruption hung in the dry air； and the acrid smell of char。 Iron…strapped gates stood gaping open on an expanse of ruin； soot…streaked stone houses and collapsed roofs。 Nothing moved except the birds。
Like Mar Ruois。 He tried to shake the thought away； but in his head he could see that great city after it was retaken； immense towers blackened and collapsing； the remains of great bonfires at every street crossing； where those who had refused to swear to the Shadow had been bound and thrown alive to the flames。 He knew whose memory it had to be； though he had not discussed it with Moiraine。 I am Rand al'Thor。 Lews Therin Telamon is dead three thousand years。 I am myself！ That was one battle he meant to win。 If he did have to die at Shayol Ghul； he would die as himself。 He made himself think of something else。
Half a month since he had left Rhuidean。 Half a month； though the Aiel had set a pace afoot from sunup to sundown that wearied the horses。 But Couladin had been moving this way a week before he learned of it。 If they had not managed to close any ground； he would have that long to ravage Cairhien before Rand could reach it。 Longer； before the Shaido could be brought to bay。 Not a much happier thought。
〃There's someone watching us from those rocks to the left；〃 Lan said quietly。 He seemed to be pletely engrossed in studying what remained of Taien。 〃Not Aiel； or I doubt I would have seen a glimmer。〃
Rand was glad that he had made Egwene and Aviendha stay with the Wise Ones。 The town gave him a new reason； but the watcher fit in with his original plan； when he had hoped that Taien had escaped。 Egwene still wore the same Aiel clothes as Aviendha； and Aiel would not have been very wele in Taien。 They were even less likely to be wele among the survivors。
He looked back at the wagons drawing to a halt a short distance down…slope。 Mutters drifted up from the drivers now that they could see the town clearly； and the wall's decorations。 Kadere； his bulk all in white again today； mopped at his hawk…nosed face with a large kerchief； he appeared unperturbed； merely pursing his lips thoughtfully。
Rand expected that Moiraine would have to find new drivers once they were through the pass。 Kadere and his crew would likely flee as soon as they had the chance。 And he would have to let them go。 It was not right … it was not justice … but it was necessary to protect Asmodean。 How long now had he been doing what was necessary instead of what was right？ In a fair world； they would be one and the same。 That made him laugh； a hoarse wheeze。 He was far from the village boy he had been； but sometimes that boy sneaked up on him。 The others looked at him； and he fought the urge to tell them that he was not mad yet。
Long minutes passed before two coatless men and a woman emerged from the rocks； all three ragged and dirty and barefoot。 They approached hesitantly； heads tilted uneasily； eyes darting from rider to rider； to the wagons and back； as though they might take flight at a shout。 Gaunt cheeks and wavering steps spoke of hunger。
〃Thank the Light；〃 one of the men said finally。 He was gray…haired … none of the three was young … his face deeply creased。 His eyes lingered a moment on Asmodean； with falls of lace at collar and cuffs； but the leader of this train would not be riding a mule and carrying a banner。 It was Rand's stirrup that he clutched anxiously。 〃The Light be praised that you came out of those terrible lands alive； my Lord。〃 That might have been Rand's blue silk coat； embroidered in gold on the shoulders； or the banner； or simple flattery。 The man certainly had no reason to think them other than merchants； if well dressed for it。 〃Those murdering savages have risen again。 It is another Aiel War。 They were over the wall in the night before anybody knew； killing everyone who raised a hand； stealing everything not mortared in place。〃
〃In the night？〃 Mat said sharply。 Hat pulled low； he was still studying the ruined town。 〃Were your sentries asleep？ You did have sentries this close to your enemies？ Even Aiel would have a hard time ing at you if you kept a good watch。〃 Lan gave him an appraising look。
〃No； my Lord。〃 The gray…haired man blinked at Mat； then gave his answer to Rand。 Mat's green coat was fine enough for a lord； but it hung open and looked slept in。 〃We。。。 We had only a watchman at each gate。 It has been long since any have even seen one of the savages。 But this time。。。 Whatever they did not steal； they burned； and drove us out to starve。 Filthy animals！ 'Thank the Light you have e to save us； my Lord； or we would all have died here。 I am Tal Nethin。 I am … I was … a saddlemaker。 A good one； my Lord。 This is my sister Aril； and her husband； Ander Corl。 He makes fine boots。〃
〃They stole people too； my Lord；〃 the woman said； her voice raw。 Somewhat younger than her brother； she might have been handsome once； but haggard worry had etched lines in her face that Rand suspected would never entirely go away。 Her husband had a lost look in his eyes； as if not exactly sure where he was。 〃My daughter； my Lord； and my son。 They took all the young ones； everyone above sixteen； and some twice that or more。 Said they were guy…something； and stripped them naked right in the street and herded them off。 My Lord； can you。。。？〃 She trailed off； eyes squeezing shut as the impossibility overwhelmed her； swaying。 Small odds that she would ever see her children again。
Moiraine was out of her saddle in an instant and by Aril's side。 The haggard woman gave a loud gasp as soon as the Aes Sedai's hands touched her； shivering to her toetips。 Her wondering look turned to Moiraine questioningly； but Moiraine only held her as if supporting her。
The woman's husband suddenly gaped； staring at Rand's gilded belt buckle； the gift from Aviendha。 〃His arms were marked like that。 Like that。 All twined around； like the cliff snake。〃
Tal looked up at Rand uncertainly。 〃The savages' leader； my Lord。 He … had markings like that on his arms。 He wore those strange clothes they all do； but he had his coatsleeves cut off； and he made sure everybody saw。〃
〃A gift I received in the Waste；〃 Rand said。 He made sure to keep his hands still on his pommel； his