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Asmodean's tent was not very far from his。 There had not been a sound out of it。 He whipped open the flap and ducked in。 Asmodean was sitting in the dark； chewing his lip。 He flinched when Rand appeared； and gave him no chance to speak。
〃You did not expect me to take a hand； did you？ I felt the Draghkar； but you could deal with those； you did。 I have never liked Draghkar； we should never have made them。 They have fewer brains than a Trolloc。 Give them an order； and they still sometimes kill whatever is closest。 If I had e out； if I had done something。。。 What if someone noticed？ What if they realized it could not be you channeling？ I …〃
〃Well for you that you didn't；〃 Rand cut him off； sitting cross…legged in the dark。 〃If I had felt you full of saidin out there tonight； I might have killed you。〃
The other man's laugh was shaky。 〃I thought of that； too。〃
〃It was Sammael who sent the attack tonight。 The Trollocs and Darkfriends； anyway。〃
〃It is not like Sammael to throw men away；〃 Asmodean said slowly。 〃But he'll see ten thousand dead； or ten times that； if it gains him what he thinks is worth the cost。 Maybe one of the others wants you to think it was him。 Even if the Aiel took prisoners。。。 Trollocs do not think of much besides killing； and Darkfriends believe what they are told。〃
〃It was him。 He tried to bait me into attacking him once in the same way； at Serendahar。〃 Oh； Light！ The thought drifted across the surface of the Void。 I said 〃me。〃 He did not know where Serendahar had been； or anything but what he had said。 The words had just e out。
After a long silence； Asmodean said quietly； 〃I never knew that。〃
〃What I want to know is； why？〃 Rand chose his words carefully； hoping that they were all his。 He remembered Sammael's face； a man … Not mine。 Not my memory … a pact man with a short yellow beard。 Asmodean had described all the Forsaken； but he knew this image was not made from that description。 Sammael had always wanted to be taller； and resented it that the Power could not make him so。 Asmodean had never told him that。 〃From what you've told me； he is not likely to want to face me unless he is sure of victory； and maybe not then。 You said he'd likely leave me to the Dark One； if he could。 So why is he sure he'll win now； if I decide to go after him？〃
They discussed it in the dark for hours without ing to any conclusion。 Asmodean held to the opinion that it had been one of the others； hoping to send Rand against Sammael and thus get rid of one or both； at least； Asmodean said that he did。 Rand could feel the man's dark eyes on him； wondering。 That slip had been too big to cover。
When he finally returned to his own tent； Adelin and the dozen Maidens all sprang to their feet； all of them at once telling him that Egwene was gone and Aviendha long asleep； that she was angry with him； they both were。 They gave so many different pieces of advice on handling the two women's anger； all at the same time； that he could understand none of it。 Finally they fell silent； looks passing between them； and Adelin spoke alone。
〃We must speak of tonight。 Of what we did； and what we failed to do。 We …〃
〃It was nothing；〃 he told her； 〃and if it was something； it's forgiven and forgotten。 I would like to have a few hours' sleep for once。 If you want to discuss it go talk to Amys or Bair。 I am sure they'll understand what you're after more than I do。〃 That shut them up； surprisingly； and let him get inside。
Aviendha was in her blankets； with one slim； bare leg sticking out。 He tried not to look at it； or her。 She had left a lamp lit。 He climbed into his own blankets gratefully and channeled the lamp out before releasing saidin。 This time he dreamed of Aviendha hurling fire； only she was not hurling it at a Draghkar； and Sammael was sitting at her side； laughing。
Chapter 23
（Dragon）
〃The Fifth； I Give You〃
Reining Mist around on a grassy hilltop； Egwene watched the streams of Aiel ing down from the Jangai Pass。 The saddle had pushed her skirts above her knees again； but she hardly noticed that now。 She could not spend every minute fussing with them。 And she had on stockings； it was not as though she were bare…legged。
In trotting columns the Aiel flowed by below her； arranged by clan and sept and society。 Thousands upon thousands； with their packhorses and mules； the gai'shain who would tend the camps while the rest fought； spreading a mile wide； and more still in the pass or already out of sight ahead。 Even without families； it seemed a nation on the march。 The Silk Path had been a road here； a full fifty paces wide and paved with broad white stones； slicing straight through hills carved to make a level。 Only occasionally was it visible through the mass of Aiel； although they seemed to prefer running on the grass； but many of the paving stones had lifted up at a corner or sunk down at one end。 More than twenty years had gone by since this road had carried more than local farmers' carts and a handful of wagons。
It was startling to see trees again； real trees； towering oaks and leatherleaf in actual thickets rather than an occasional wind…twisted； stunted shape； and tall grass waving in the breeze across the hills。 There was real forest to the north； and clouds in the sky； thin and high； yet clouds。 The air seemed blessedly cool after the Waste； and moist； though brown leaves and large brown swaths through the grass told her that in reality it might be hotter and drier than usual for the time of year。 Still； the countryside of Cairhien was a lush paradise pared to the other side of the Dragonwall。
A small stream meandered north beneath a nearly flat bridge； bordered by the dried clay of a broader bed； the River Gaelin lay not too many miles away in that direction。 She wondered what the Aiel would make of that river； she had seen Aiel near a river once before。 The shrunken band of water marked a definite break in the steady flow of people； as men and Maidens paused to stare in amazement before leaping across。
Kadere's wagons rumbled by on the road； the long mule teams working hard； but still losing ground to the Aiel。 It had taken four days to traverse the twists and turns of the pass； and Rand apparently intended to go as far into Cairhien as he could in the few hours of daylight remaining。 Moiraine and Lan rode with the wagons； not ahead of them； or even with Kadere's boxlike little white house on wheels； but alongside the second wagon； where the canvas…covered shape of the doorframe ter'angreal made a hump above the rest of the load。 Some of the load was wrapped carefully or packed in boxes or barrels that Kadere had brought into the Waste full of his goods； and some was simply stuck in wherever it would fit； odd shapes of metal and glass； a red crystal chair； two child…sized statues of a nude man and woman； rods of bone and ivory and strange black materials in varying lengths and thicknesses。 All sorts of things； including some Egwene could hardly begin to describe。 Moiraine had used every inch of space in all of the wagons。
Egwene wished that she knew why the Aes Sedai was so concern