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〃Water Seekers；〃 Dhearic agreed； sounding pleased。 That had been his society before he became clan chief。
Sulin and the other Maidens gave Rand flat stares as the Reyn chief walked away downslope。 He had chosen scouts from other societies for the last three days； when he had begun to fear what he might find here； and he had the feeling they knew he was not just giving the others their turns。 He tried to ignore their looks。 Sulin's was especially difficult； the woman could have driven nails with those pale blue eyes。
〃Rhuarc； once the survivors are found； see that they're fed。 And well treated。 We will take them with us。〃 His gaze was drawn to the town wall。 Some Aiel were already using their curved horn bows to kill ravens。 Sometimes Shadowspawn used ravens and other animals that fed on death as spies； Shadoweyes； the Aiel called them。 These barely paused in the frenzied feeding until they fell transfixed with an arrow； but a wise man did not take chances with ravens or rats。 〃And see that the dead are buried。〃 At least in that； right and necessity were the same。
Chapter 21
（Rising Sun）
The Gift of a Blade
The camp began to go up quickly； in the mouth of Jangai Pass； if away from Taien； and spreading over the hills around the approaches； among the scattered thornbushes； and even onto the slopes of the mountains。 Not that anything was very visible except what was inside the pass； Aiel tents blended into the stony soil so well that you could miss them even when you knew what you were looking for and where。 In the hills the Aiel camped by clan； but those in the pass itself grouped themselves by society。 They were mostly Maidens； but the men's societies sent their representatives； too； some fifty each； spreading tents well above the ruins of Taien in slightly separated camps。 Everyone understood； or thought they did； about the Maidens carrying Rand's honor； but all societies wanted to guard the Car'a'carn。
Moiraine … and Lan； of course … went to get Kadere's wagons settled； just below the town； the Aes Sedai fussed over what was in those wagons nearly as much as she did over Rand。 The drivers muttered and cursed about the town's smell； and avoided watching the Aiel cut bodies down from the wall； but after their months in the Waste； they seemed to like being close even to the wreckage of what they saw as civilization。
Gai'shain were erecting the Wise Ones' tents … those of Amys and Bair and Melaine … below the town； astride the faded track that led up out of the hills。 Rand was sure they would say they had chosen the spot to be available to him as well as to the countless dozens of Wise Ones below； but he thought it no coincidence that anyone ing up from the hills to him would have to go through or around their camp to reach him。 He was a little surprised to see Melaine directing the white…robed figures。 Only three nights before； she had married Bael； in a ceremony that made her his wife and first…sister to his other wife； Dorindha。 That part had been just as important as the marriage； apparently； Aviendha had been shocked at his surprise； or maybe angry。
When Egwene arrived with Aviendha up behind her on the gray mare； those full skirts pushed above their knees； they looked a matched pair despite their different coloring and Aviendha being tall enough to look over Egwene's shoulder without stretching； each with just one ivory bracelet and one necklace。 The work of removing the hanged corpses had barely begun。 Most of the ravens lay dead； bundles of black feathers littering the ground； and the rest had flown； but vultures too gorged to flap aloft still waddled through the ashes inside the walls。
Rand wished that there was some way he could keep the two women from having to see； but to his surprise； neither went running to empty her stomach。 Well； he had not really expected anything of the sort from Aviendha； she had seen death often enough； and dealt it out； too； and her face remained expressionless。 But he had not expected the pure pity in Egwene's eyes as she gazed at the bloated dead ing down。
She drew Mist over to Jeade'en and leaned to put a hand on his arm。 〃I am so sorry； Rand。 There was no way you could have stopped this。〃
〃I know；〃 he told her。 He had not even known there was a town here until Rhuarc mentioned it casually five days ago … his councils with the chiefs had all been on whether they could cover more ground in a day； and what Couladin would do when he cleared the Jangai … and by that time the Shaido had finished here and gone。 He had done with cursing himself for a fool then。
〃Well； just you remember it。 It was not your fault。〃 She heeled Mist on； and began talking to Aviendha before she was out of earshot。 〃I am glad he is taking it so well。 He has the habit of feeling guilty over things he cannot control。〃
〃Men always believe they are in control of everything around them；〃 Aviendha replied。 〃When they find out they are not； they think they have failed； instead of learning a simple truth women already know。〃
Egwene giggled。 〃That is the simple truth。 Once I saw those poor people； I thought we would find him heaving somewhere。〃
〃Is his stomach so tender？ I。。。〃
Their voices faded away as the mare ambled on。 Rand pulled himself back upright in the saddle； flushing。 Trying to eavesdrop on them； he was behaving like an idiot。 That did not stop him frowning at their departing backs。 He only took responsibility for what he was accountable for； if only to himself。 Just for things he could do something about。 And what he should have done something about。 He did not like them talking about him。 Behind his back； or under his nose。 The Light only knew what they were saying。
Dismounting； he led Jeade'en in search of Asmodean； who seemed to have wandered off。 After so many days in the saddle； it was good to walk。 Various clusters of tents were springing up along the pass； the mountain slopes and cliffs made formidable barriers； but the Aiel still arranged themselves as if they could expect attack from them。 He had tried walking with the Aiel； but half a day was enough to put him back on the horse。 It was hard enough to keep up with them mounted； they could wear out horses when they pressed。
Mat was down； too； squatting with his reins in one hand and that black…hafted spear across his knees； peering at the gaping gates； studying the town and muttering to himself while Pips tried to nibble at a thornbush。 Mat was studying； not just staring。 Where had that remark about sentries e from？ Mat said odd things at times now； since their first visit to Rhuidean。 Rand wished that he were willing to talk about what had happened； but he still denied that anything had； despite the foxhead medallion； the spear； and that scar around his neck。 Melindhra； the Shaido Maiden that Mat had taken up with； was off to one side； watching Mat； until Sulin came and chased her away on some errand。 Rand wondered if Mat knew the Maidens were laying bets on whether Melindhra would give up the spear for him。 And on whether she would teach him to sing； too； though they only laughed when Rand asked what that meant。