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lass columns； each nearly as tall as the tree and so slender it seemed the first storm…wind must bring them all crashing down。 Even with an edge of shadow touching them； the columns caught and refracted the sunlight in glitters and sparkles。 For countless years Aiel men had entered that array and returned marked as Rand was； but on only one arm； marked as clan chiefs。 They came out marked or did not e out。 Aiel women had e to this city as well； on the path toward being Wise Ones。 No one else； not and live。 A man may go to Rhuidean once； a woman twice； more means death。 That was what the Wise Ones had said； and it had been truth； then。 Now anyone could enter Rhuidean。
Hundreds of Aiel walked the streets； and increasing numbers actually dwelled in the buildings； each day more of the dirt strips down the streets showed beans or squash or zemai； arduously watered from clay pots hauled from the huge new lake that filled the south end of the valley； the only such body of water in the entire land。 Thousands made their camps in the surrounding mountains； even on Chaendaer itself； where before they had e only with ceremony； to send a single man or woman at a time into Rhuidean。
Wherever he went； Rand brought change and destruction。 This time； he hoped against hope that the change was for the good。 It might yet be so。 The burned tree mocked him。 Avendesora； the legendary Tree of Life； the stories never said where it was； and it had been a surprise to find it here。 Moiraine said it still lived； that it would put out shoots again； but so far he saw only blackened bark and bare branches。
With a sigh； he turned from the window into a big room； though not the biggest in Rhuidean； with tall windows on two sides； its domed ceiling worked in a fanciful mosaic of winged people and animals。 Most of the furniture left in the city had long since rotted away even in the dryness； and much of the little that remained was riddled with beetles and worms。 But on the far side of the room stood one high…backed chair； solid； and its gilding largely intact； but mismatched with its table； a wide thing with legs and edges thickly carved in flowers。 Someone had polished the wood with beeswax till it shone dully despite its age。 The Aiel had found them for him； though they shook their heads at such things； there were few trees in the Waste that could have produced wood straight and long enough to make that chair； and none to make the table。
That was all the furniture； as he thought of it。 A fine silk Illianer carpet in blue and gold； booty in some long…ago battle； covered the middle of the dark red floor tiles。 Cushions lay scattered about； in bright silks； and tasseled。 Those were what Aiel used instead of chairs； when they did not merely sit on their heels； as fortable as he would be in a padded chair。
Six men reclined against cushions on the carpet。 Six clan chiefs； representing the clans that had so far e to follow Rand。 Or rather； to follow He Who es With the Dawn。 Not always eagerly。 He thought Rhuarc； a broad…shouldered； blue…eyed man with heavy streaks of gray in his dark red hair； might have some friendship for him； but not the rest。 Only six of the twelve。
Ignoring the chair； Rand sat down cross…legged； facing the Aiel。 Outside of Rhuidean； the only chairs in the Waste were chief's chairs； used only by the chief and only for three reasons： to be acclaimed as clan chief； to accept the submission of an enemy with honor； or to pass judgment。 Taking the chair with these men now would imply that he meant to do one of those。
They wore the cadin'sor； coats and breeches in shades of brown and gray that would fade into the ground； and soft boots that laced to the knee。 Even here； meeting with the man they had proclaimed the Car'a'carn； the chief of chiefs； each had a heavy…bladed knife at his belt and the gray…brown shoufa draped like a wide scarf around his neck； if any man covered his face with the black veil that was part of the shoufa； he would be ready to kill。 It was not beyond possibility。 These men had fought one another in a never…ending cycle of clan raids and battles and feuds。 They watched him； waited for him； but an Aiel's waiting always spoke of a readiness to move； suddenly and violently。
Bael； the tallest man Rand had ever seen； and Jheran； blade…slender and whip…quick； lay as far from one another as they could manage and still be on the carpet。 There was blood feud between Bael's Goshien and Jheran's Shaarad； suppressed for He Who es With the Dawn but not forgotten。 And perhaps the Peace of Rhuidean still held； despite all that had happened。 Still； the tranquil sounds of the harp made a sharp contrast with the hard refusal of Bael and Jheran to look at one another。 Six sets of eyes； blue or green or gray； in sun…dark faces； Aiel could make hawks look tame。
〃What must I do to bring the Reyn to me？〃 he said。 〃You were sure they would e； Rhuarc。〃
The chief of the Taardad looked at him calmly； his face could have been carved stone for all its expression。 〃Wait。 Only that。 Dhearic will bring them。 Eventually。〃
White…haired Han； lying next to Rhuarc； twisted his mouth as if about to spit。 His leathery face wore a sour look； as usual。 〃Dhearic has seen too many men and Maidens sit staring for days； then throw down their spears。 Throw them down！〃
〃And run away；〃 Bael added quietly。 〃I have seen them myself； among the Goshien； even from my own sept； running。 And you； Han； among the Tomanelle。 We all have。 I do not think they know where they are running to； only what they are running from。〃
〃Cowardly snakes；〃 Jheran barked。 Gray streaked his light brown hair； there were no young men among Aiel clan chiefs。 〃Stinkadders； wriggling away from their own shadows。〃 A slight shift of his blue eyes toward the far side of the carpet made it clear he meant it for a description of the Goshien； not just those who had thrown down their spears。
Bael made as if to rise； his face hardening further； if that was possible； but the man next to him put a quieting hand on his arm。 Bruan； of the Nakai； was big enough and strong enough for two blacksmiths； but he had a placid nature that seemed odd for an Aiel。 〃All of us have seen men and Maidens run。〃 He sounded almost lazy； and his gray eyes looked so； yet Rand knew otherwise； even Rhuarc considered Bruan a deadly fighter and a devious tactician。 Luckily； not even Rhuarc was stronger for Rand than Bruan。 But he had e to follow He Who es With the Dawn； he did not know Rand al'Thor。 〃As you have； Jheran。 You know how hard it was to face what they face。 If you cannot name coward those who died because they could not face it； can you name coward those who run for the same reason？〃
〃They should never have learned；〃 Han muttered； kneading his red…tasseled blue cushion like an enemy's throat。 〃It was for those who could enter Rhuidean and live。〃
He spoke the words to no one in particular； but they had to be for Rand's ears。 It was Rand who had revealed to everyone what a man learned amid the glass columns in the plaza； revealed enough that the chiefs and Wise Ones could not turn aside when asked the rest。 If t