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〃I will try to remember；〃 he said finally。 Even so； she looked ready to lecture more。 〃What news of the Miagoma and the other three clans？〃 he asked； as much to divert her as because he wanted to know。 Women seldom seemed willing to stop until they had hammered you into the ground； unless you managed to distract them。
It worked。 She was full of what she knew； of course； and as eager to instruct as to scold。 Asmodean's soft strumming … for once； something pleasant； even pastoral … made an odd background for her words。
The Miagoma； the Shiande； the Daryne and the Codarra were camped within sight of one another； a few miles to the east。 A steady stream of men and Maidens moved between the camps； including Rand's； but only among societies； and Indirian and the other chiefs were not stirring。 There was no doubt now that they would e to Rand eventually； but not until the Wise Ones finished their talks。
〃They are still talking？〃 Rand said。 〃What under the Light do they have to discuss that takes so long？ The chiefs are ing to follow me； not them。〃
She gave him a flat look that would have done credit to Moiraine。 〃The Wise Ones' words are for Wise Ones； Rand al'Thor。〃 Hesitating； she added； as if making a concession； 〃Egwene may tell you something of it。 When it is done。〃 Her tone implied that Egwene might not； too。
She resisted his attempts to learn more； and finally he let it lie。 Perhaps he would find out before it bit him； and perhaps not； but either way； he was not going to pry one word out of her that she did not want to speak。 Aes Sedai had nothing on Aiel Wise Ones when it came to guarding their secrets and surrounding themselves with mystery。 Aviendha was absorbing that particular lesson very well。
Egwene's presence at the meeting of Wise Ones came as a surprise； and so did Moiraine's absence … he would have expected her to be in the middle； twitching strings to her plans … but it turned out that one grew from the other。 The new…e Wise Ones had wanted to meet with one of the Aes Sedai who followed the Car'a'carn； and although she was back on her feet after Healing him； Moiraine claimed to have no time。 Egwene had been routed from her blankets as a replacement。
That made Aviendha laugh。 She had been outside when Sorilea and Bair practically dragged Egwene from her tent； trying to pull on her clothes while they hustled her along。 〃I called to her that she would have to dig holes in the ground with her teeth this time if she had been caught in a misdeed； and she was so sleepy she believed me。 She began protesting that she would not； so hard that Sorilea began demanding what she had done to think she deserved to。 You should have seen Egwene's face。〃 She laughed so hard that she nearly toppled over。
Asmodean actually looked at her askance … though why he should； being what and who he was； was beyond Rand … but Rand only waited patiently until she caught her breath。 For Aiel humor； this was mild。 More the sort of thing he would have expected from Mat than from any woman； but mild even so。
When she straightened； wiping her eyes； he said； 〃What of the Shaido； then？ Or are their Wise Ones also at this conclave？〃
She answered still giggling into her wine； she considered the Shaido finished； hardly worth considering now。 Thousands of prisoners had been taken； with a trickle still being brought in； and the fighting had died down except for a few small skirmishes here and there。 Yet the more he got out of her； the less he could see them as done for。 With the four clans keeping Han occupied； the bulk of Couladin's people had crossed the Gaelin in good order； even carrying away most of the Cairhienin prisoners they had captured。 Worse； they had destroyed the stone bridges behind them。
That did not concern her； but it did him。 Tens of thousands of Shaido north of the river； no way to get at them until the bridges were replaced； and even wooden spans would take time。 It was time that he did not have。
At the very end； when it seemed there was no more to say on the Shaido； she told him what made him forget worrying about the Shaido and what trouble they would cause。 She just tossed it in； as if she had almost forgotten。
〃Mat killed Couladin？〃 he said incredulously when she was done。 〃Mat？〃
〃Did I not say so？〃 The words were sharp； but halfhearted。 Peering at him over her winecup； she seemed more interested in how he would take the news than in whether he doubted her word。
Asmodean plucked a few chords of something martial； the harp seemed to echo to drums and trumpets。 〃In some ways； a young man of as many surprises as you。 I truly look forward to meeting the third of you； this Perrin； one day。〃
Rand shook his head。 So Mat had not escaped the pull of ta'veren to ta'veren after all。 Or maybe it was the Pattern that had caught him； and being ta'veren himself。 Either way； he suspected Mat was not too happy right that moment。 Mat had not learned the lesson that he had。 Try to run away； and the Pattern pulled you back； often roughly； run in the direction the Wheel wove you； and sometimes you could manage a little control over your life。 Sometimes。 With luck； maybe more than any expected； at least in the long haul。 But he had more urgent concerns than Mat； or the Shaido。
A glance at the entrance told him the sun was well up； though all he saw otherwise was two Maidens squatting just outside； spears across their knees。 A night and most of a morning with him unconscious； and Sammael had either not tried to find him or had failed。
He was careful to use that name； even to himself； though another floated in the back of his mind now。 Tel Janin Aellinsar。 No history recorded the name； no fragment in the library at Tar Valon； Moiraine had told him everything the Aes Sedai knew of the Forsaken； and it was little more than was told in village tales。 Even Asmodean had always called him Sammael； if for a different reason。 Long before the War of the Shadow ended； the Forsaken had embraced the names men had given them； as if symbols of rebirth in the Shadow。 Asmodean's own true name … Joar Addam Nesossin … made the man flinch； and he claimed to have forgotten the others in the course of three thousand years。
Perhaps there was no real reason to hide what was going on inside his head … maybe it was only an attempt to deny reality to himself … but Sammael the man would remain。 And as Sammael； he would pay in full for every Maiden he had killed。 The Maidens Rand had not been able to keep safe。
Even as he made the resolution； he grimaced。 He had made a beginning by sending Weiramon back to Tear … the Light willing； only he and Weiramon knew how much of one； so far … but he could not go chasing off after Sammael； whatever he wanted or vowed。 Not yet。 There were matters to be seen to here in Cairhien； first。 Aviendha might think he did not understand ji'e'toh； and perhaps he did not； but he understood duty； and he had one to Cairhien。 Besides； there were ways to tail it in with Weiramon。
Sitting up … and trying not to show the effort of it … he covered himself as decently as he could in the blanket and