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abrupt chuckle held no mirth。 〃He had to know it would pull free。〃
〃Did you save him？〃 Rand asked； but Asmodean did not answer。
As Rand started for the doorway； the sounds of 〃The March of Death〃 began again behind him。
The strings of beads fell together behind him； and the five Maidens who had been waiting in the wide； empty hall flowed easily to their feet from where they had been squatting on the pale blue tiles。 They were all but one tall for women； though not for Aiel women。 Their leader； Adelin； lacked little more than a hand of being able to look him in the eyes。 The exception； a fiery redhead named Enaila； was no taller than Egwene； and extremely touchy about being so short。 Like the clan chiefs'； their eyes were all blue or gray or green； and their hair； light brown or yellow or red； was cut short except for a tail at the nape of the neck。 Full quivers balanced the long…bladed knives at their belts； and they wore cased horn bows on their backs。 Each carried three or four short； long…bladed spears and a round； bull…hide buckler。 Aiel women who did not want hearth and children had their own warrior society； Far Dareis Mai； the Maidens of the Spear。
He acknowledged them with a small bow； which made them smile； it was not an Aiel custom； at least not the way he had been taught to do it。 〃I see you； Adelin；〃 he said。 〃Where is Joinde？ I thought she was with you earlier。 Has she taken ill？〃
〃I see you； Rand al'Thor；〃 she replied。 Her pale yellow hair seemed paler framing her sun…dark face； which had a fine white scar across one cheek。 〃In a way she has。 She had been talking to herself all day； and not an hour ago； she went off to lay a bridal wreath at the feet of Garan； of the Jhirad Goshien。〃 Some of the others shook their heads； marrying meant giving up the spear。 〃Tomorrow is his last day as her gai'shain。 Joinde is Black Rock Shaarad；〃 she added significantly。 It was significant； marriages came frequently with men or women taken gai'shain； but very seldom between clans with blood feud； even blood feud in abeyance。
〃It is an illness that spreads；〃 Enaila said heatedly。 Her voice was usually as hot as her hair。 〃One or two Maidens make their bridal wreaths every day since we came to Rhuidean。〃
Rand nodded with what he hoped they took for sympathy。 It was his fault。 If he told them； he wondered how many would still risk staying near him。 All； probably； honor would hold them； and they had no more fear than the clan chiefs。 At least it was only marriages； so far； even Maidens would think marrying better than what some had experienced。 Maybe they would。 〃I will be ready to go in a moment；〃 he told them。
〃We will wait with patience；〃 Adelin said。 It hardly seemed patience； standing there； they all appeared poised on the edge of sudden movement。
It really did take him only a moment to do what he wanted； weave flows of Spirit and Fire into a box around the room and tie them so the weave held on its own。 Anyone could go in or out … except a man who could channel。 For himself or Asmodean walking through that doorway would be like walking through a wall of solid flame。 He had discovered the weave … and that Asmodean； blocked； was too weak to channel through it … by accident。 No one was likely to question the doings of a gleeman； but if someone did； Jasin Natael had simply chosen to sleep as far from Aiel as he could manage in Rhuidean。 That was a choice that Hadnan Kadere's drivers and guards； at least； could sympathize with。 And this way Rand knew exactly where the man was of a night。 The Maidens asked him no questions。
He turned away。 The Maidens fo1lowed him； spread out and wary as if they expected an attack right there。 Asmodean was still playing the lament。
Arms outstretched to either side； Mat Cauthon walked the wide white coping of the dry fountain； singing to the men who watched him in the fading light。
〃We'll drink the wine till the cup is dry；
and kiss the girls so they'll not cry；
and toss the dice until we fly
to dance with Jak o' the Shadows。〃
The air felt cool after the day's heat； and he thought briefly of buttoning up his fine green silk coat with the golden embroidery； but the drink the Aiel called oosquai had put a buzz in his head like giant flies； and the thought flittered away。 The white stone figures of three women stood on a platform in the dusty basin； twenty feet tall and unclothed。 Each had been made with one hand upraised； the other holding a huge stone jar tilted over her shoulder for water to pour from； but one was missing her head and upraised hand； and on another the jar was a shattered ruin。
〃We'll dance all night while the moon runs free；
and dandle the lasses upon our knee；
and then you'll ride along with me；
to dance with Jak o' the Shadows。〃
〃A fine song to be singing about death；〃 one of the wagon drivers shouted in a heavy Lugarder accent。 Kadere's men kept themselves in a tight knot apart from the Aielmen around the fountain； they were all tough； hard…faced men； but every one was sure any Aiel would slit his throat for a wrong glance。 They were not far wrong。 〃I heard my old grandmother talk about Jak o' the Shadows；〃 the big…eared Lugarder went on。 〃'Tisn't right to sing about death that way。〃
Mat muzzily considered the song he had been singing and grimaced。 No one had heard 〃Dance with Jak o' the Shadows〃 since Aldeshar fell； in his head； he could still hear the defiant song rising as the Golden Lions launched their last； futile charge at Artur Hawkwing's encircling army。 At least he had not been babbling it in the Old Tongue。 He was not as juicy as he looked by half； but there had indeed been too many cups of oosquai。 The stuff looked and tasted like brown water； but it hit your head like a mule's kick。 Moiraine will pack me off to the Tower yet； if I'm not careful。 At least it would get me out of the Waste and away from Rand。 Maybe he was drunker than he thought； if he considered that a fair trade。 He shifted to 〃Tinker in the Kitchen。〃
〃Tinker in the kitchen； with a job of work to do。
Mistress up above； slipping on a robe of blue。
She dances down the staircase； her fancy all so free；
crying； Tinker； oh； dear Tinker； won't you mend a pot
for me？〃
Some of Kadere's men joined in the song as he danced back to where he had begun。 The Aiel did not； among them； men did not sing except for battle chants or laments for the slain； and neither did Maidens； except among themselves。
Two Aielmen were squatting on the coping； showing none of the effects of the oosquai they had consumed； unless their eyes were the faintest bit glassy。 He would be glad to get back where light…colored eyes were a rarity； growing up； he had not seen anything but brown or black except on Rand。
A few pieces of wood … wormholed arms and legs from chairs … lay on the broad paving stones； in the area left open by the watchers。 An empty red pottery crock lay beside the coping； as did another that still held oosquai； and a silver cup。 The game was to take a drink； then try to hit a target thrown into the air with a knife。 None of Kadere's men and few of the Aiel