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Egwene wished that she knew why the Aes Sedai was so concerned with that particular wagon； perhaps no one else had noticed that Moiraine paid it more attention than all the others bined； but she had。 Not that she was likely to find out any time soon。 Her newfound equality with Moiraine was a tender thing； as she had learned when she asked that question； in the heart of the pass； and was told that her imagination was too vivid and if she had time to spy on the Aes Sedai； perhaps Moiraine should speak to the Wise Ones about intensifying her training。 She had apologized profusely； of course； and the soft words seemed to have worked。 Amys and the others were not taking any more of her nights than they had before。
A hundred or so Taardad Far Dareis Mai went trotting by on her side of the road； moving easily； veils hanging but ready to be donned； full quivers at hips。 Some carried their curved horn bows； arrows nocked； while others had their bows cased on their backs； spears and bucklers swinging rhythmically as they ran。 At their rear a dozen gai'shain in their white robes leading pack mules struggled to keep up。 One wore black； not white； Isendre labored hardest of all。 Egwene could pick Adelin out； and two or three others who had been guarding Rand's tent the night of the attack。 Each clutched a doll in addition to her weapons； a rough…made doll clothed in full skirts and white blouse； they looked even more stone…faced than usual； trying to pretend that they held no such thing。
She was not sure what that was about。 The Maidens who stood that guard had e in a group to see Bair and Amys when their stint was done； and had spent a long time with them。 The next morning； while camp was still breaking in the grayness before dawn； they had begun making those dolls。 She had not been able to ask； of course； but she had mented on it to one； a red…haired Tomanelle of the Serai sept named Maira； and the woman said it was to remind her that she was not a child。 Her tone made it clear that she did not want to talk。 One of the Maidens carrying a doll was no more than sixteen； yet Maira was at least as old as Adelin。 It made little sense； and that was frustrating。 Every time Egwene thought she understood Aiel ways； something demonstrated that she did not。
Despite herself； her eyes were drawn back to the mouth of the pass。 The row of stakes was still there； just visible； stretching from steep mountain slope to steep mountain slope except where Aiel had kicked some of them down。 Couladin had left another message； men and women impaled across their path； standing there seven days dead。 The tall gray walls of Selean clung to the hills at the right of the pass； nothing showing above them。 Moiraine said it had held only a shadow of its one…time glory； yet it had still been a considerable town； much larger than Taien； no more remained of it； however。 No survivors； either … except whoever the Shaido had carried off … although here some had probably run for places they thought safe。 There had been farms on these hills； most of eastern Cairhien had been abandoned after the Aiel War； but a town needed farms for food。 Now soot…streaked chimneys thrust up from blackened stone farmhouse walls； here a few charred rafters remained above a stone barn； there barn and farmhouse had collapsed from the heat。 The hill where she sat Mist's saddle had been sheep pasture； near the fence at the foot of the hill； flies still buzzed over the refuse of butchering。 Not an animal remained in any pasture； not a chicken scratching in a barnyard。 The crop fields were burned stubble。
Couladin and the Shaido were Aiel。 But so were Aviendha； and Bair and Amys and Melaine； and Rhuarc； who said she reminded him of one of his daughters。 They had been disgusted at the impalements； yet even they seemed to think it little more than the treekillers deserved。 Perhaps the only way to truly know the Aiel was to be born Aiel。
Casting a last glance at the destroyed town； she rode slowly down to the rough stone fence and let herself out at the gate； leaning down to refasten the rawhide thong out of habit。 The irony was that Moiraine had said that Selean might actually go over to Couladin。 In the shifting currents of Daes Dae'mar； in balancing an Aiel invader against a man who had sent Tairens into Cairhien； for whatever reason； the decision could have tipped either way； had Couladin given them a chance to choose。
She rode along the broad road until she caught up with Rand； in his red coat today； and joined Aviendha and Amys and thirty or more Wise Ones she barely knew besides the other two dreamwalkers； all following at a short distance。 Mat； with his hat and his black…hafted spear； and Jasin Natael； leather…cased harp slung on his back and crimson banner rippling in the breeze； were riding； but hurrying Aiel passed the party by on both sides； because Rand led his dapple stallion； talking with the clan chiefs。 Skirts or no skirts； the Wise Ones would have made a good job of keeping up with the passing columns if they were not sticking to Rand like pine sap。 They barely glanced at Egwene； their eyes and ears focused on him and the six chiefs。
〃。。。 and whoever es through after Timolan；〃 Rand was saying in a firm voice； 〃has to be told the same thing。〃 Stone Dogs left to watch at Taien had returned to report the Miagoma entering the pass a day behind。 〃I've e to stop Couladin despoiling this land； not to loot it。〃
〃A hard message；〃 Bael said； 〃for us as well； if you mean we cannot take the fifth。〃 Han and the rest； even Rhuarc； nodded。
〃The fifth； I give you。〃 Rand did not raise his voice； yet suddenly his words were driven nails。 〃But no part of that is to be food。 We will live on what can be found wild or hunted or bought … if there is anyone with food to sell … until I can have the Tairens increase what they're bringing up from Tear。 If any man takes a penny more than the fifth； or a loaf of bread without payment； if he burns so much as a hut because it belongs to a treekiller； or kills a man who is not trying to kill him； that man will I hang； whoever he is。〃
〃Dark to tell the clans this；〃 Dhearic said； almost as stony。 〃I came to follow He Who es With the Dawn； not to coddle oathbreakers。〃 Bael and Jheran opened their mouths as if to agree； but each saw the other and snapped his teeth shut again。
〃Mark what I said； Dhearic；〃 Rand said。 〃I came to save this land； not ruin it further。 What I say stands for every clan； including the Miagoma and any more who follow。 Every clan。 You mark me well。〃 This time no one spoke； and he swung back into Jeade'en's saddle； letting the stallion walk on among the chiefs。 Those Aiel faces showed no expression。
Egwene drew breath。 Those men were all old enough to be his father and more； leaders of their people as surely as kings for all they disclaimed it； hardened leaders in battle。 It seemed only yesterday that he had been a boy in more than age； a youth who asked and hoped rather than manded and expected to be obeyed。 He was changing faster than she could keep up with now。 A good thing； if he kept these men from doing to other cities what Couladin had done to Tai