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ing asked … after the third time he nicked himself and muttered about cold water。 In truth； this time he was bothered as much because she might see his unsteadiness as for any other cause。 You can bee used to anything if it goes on long enough； he thought wryly。
She misunderstood his head shaking。 〃Elayne will not mind if I look； Rand al'Thor。〃
Pausing with the laces of his shirt half done； he stared at her。 〃Do you really believe that？〃
〃Of course。 You belong to her； but she cannot own the sight of you。〃
Laughing silently； he went back to the laces。 It was good to be reminded that her newfound mystery hid ignorance； aside from anything else。 He could not help smiling smugly as he finished dressing； buckled on his sword and took up the tasseled Seanchan spearhead。 That last turned the smile a touch toward grimness。 He had meant it as a reminder that the Seanchan were still in the world； but it served to recall all the things that he must juggle。 Cairhienin and Tairens； Sammael and the other Forsaken； the Shaido and nations that did not know him yet； nations that would have to before Tarmon Gai'don。 Dealing with Aviendha was really quite simple pared with that。
Maidens leaped to their feet when he ducked out of the tent quickly to hide the unsteadiness of his legs。 He was not sure how far he succeeded。 Aviendha kept to his side as though she not only intended to catch him if he fell over but fully expected him to。 It did nothing for his mood when Sulin； in her cap of bandages； looked questioningly at her … not him； her！ … and waited for her nod before ordering the Maidens to be ready to move。
Asmodean came riding his mule up the hill； leading Jeade'en by the reins。 Somehow he had found time to don fresh clothes； all dark green silk。 With spills of white lace； of course。 The gilded harp hung on his back； but he had given up wearing the gleeman's cloak； and he no longer carried the crimson banner with its ancient symbol of the Aes Sedai。 That office fell to a Cairhienin refugee named Pevin； an expressionless fellow in a patched farmer's coat of rough dark gray wool； on a brown mule that should have been put out to grass from pulling a cart some years back。 A long scar； still red； ran up the side of his narrow face from jaw to thinning hair。
Pevin had lost his wife and sister to the famine； his brother and a son to the civil war。 He had no idea which Houses' men had killed them； or who they had supported for the Sun Throne。 Fleeing toward Andor had cost him a second son at the hands of Andoran soldiers and a second brother to bandits； and returning had cost the last son； dead on a Shaido spear； and his daughter as well； carried off while Pevin was left for dead。 The man rarely spoke； but as near as Rand could make out； his beliefs had been winnowed down to a bare three。 The Dragon had been Reborn。 The Last Battle was ing。 And if he stayed close to Rand al'Thor； he would see his family avenged before the world was destroyed。 The world would end； surely； but it did not matter； nothing did； so long as he saw that vengeance。 He bowed silently to Rand from his saddle as the mare reached the crest。 His face was absolutely blank； but he held the banner straight and steady。
Climbing onto Jeade'en； Rand pulled Aviendha up behind him without letting her use a stirrup； just to show her that he could； and kicked the dapple into motion before she was settled。 She flung both arms around his waist； grumbling only partly under her breath； he caught a few more snippets of her current opinion of Rand al'Thor； and of the Car'a'carn； too。 She made no move to let go； though； for which he was grateful。 Not only was it pleasant having her pressed against his back； the support was wele。 With her halfway to the saddle； he had suddenly not been sure whether she was ing up or he down。 He hoped she had not noticed。 He hoped that was not why she was holding on to him so tightly。
The crimson banner with its large black…and…white disc rippled behind Pevin as they zigzagged down the hill and along the shallow valleys。 As usual； the Aiel gave little attention to the party as it passed； though the banner marked his presence as surely as the encircling escort of several hundred Far Dareis Mai easily keeping pace with Jeade'en and the mules。 They went on about their business among the tents covering the slopes； at most glancing up at the sound of hooves。
It had been startling to hear of nearly twenty thousand prisoners taken from Couladin's followers … until leaving the Two Rivers； he had never really believed so many people could be in one place … but seeing them was twice the shock。 In clusters of forty or fifty； they dotted the hillsides like cabbages； men and women alike sitting naked in the sun； each cluster under the eyes of one gai'shain if that。 Certainly no one else paid them much mind； though now and again a cadin'sor…clad figure approached one of the groups and ordered a man or woman off on an errand。 Whoever was called out went at a run； unguarded； and Rand saw several returning to slip back into their places。 For the rest； they sat quietly； almost looking bored； as if they had no reason to be elsewhere； or desire to be； either。
Perhaps they would put on white robes just as calmly。 Yet he could not help remembering how easily these same people had violated their own laws and customs already。 Couladin might have begun the violation or ordered it； but they had followed and obeyed。
Frowning at the prisoners … twenty thousand； and more to e； he would certainly never trust one to hold to gai'shain … it took some time before he noticed an oddity among the other Aiel。 Maidens and Aielmen who carried the spear never wore anything on their heads except the shoufa； and never any color that would not fade into rocks and shadows； but now he saw men with a narrow scarlet headband。 Perhaps one in four or five had a strip of cloth knotted around his temples； with a disc embroidered or painted above the brows； two joined teardrops； black and white。 Perhaps most strangely of all； gai'shain wore it； too； most had their cowls up； but every last bareheaded one wore it。 And algai'd'siswai in their cadin'sor saw and did nothing； whether wearing the headband or not。 Gai'shain were never to wear anything that those who could touch weapons did。 Never。
〃I do not know；〃 Aviendha said curtly into his back when he asked what it meant。 He tried to sit up straighter； she really did seem to be holding to him more tightly than necessary。 After a moment； she went on； so softly that he had to listen sharp to catch it all。 〃Bair threatened to strike me if I mentioned it again； and Sorilea hit me across the shoulders with a stick； but I think they are those who claim we are siswai'aman。〃
Rand opened his mouth to ask the meaning … he knew a scant few words of the Old Tongue； no more … when interpretation floated to the surface in his mind。 Siswai'aman。 Literally； the spear of the Dragon。
〃Sometimes；〃 Asmodean chuckled； 〃it is difficult to see the difference between oneself and one's enemies。 They want to own the world； but it seems you already own a people。〃
Turning his