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her spend three days digging shoulder…deep holes and filling them in again； but that was one of the few times Aviendha had ever seemed to put a foot wrong。 Amys and the other two had held her up to Egwene so often as a model of meek obedience and proper fortitude that sometimes Egwene wanted to shriek； even if Aviendha was a friend。
〃You took long enough in ing；〃 Bair said grumpily； while Egwene was still gingerly searching for a fortable seat。 Her voice was thin and reedy； but a reed of iron。 She continued to scrape her arms with a staera。
〃I am sorry；〃 Egwene said。 There； that should be meek enough。
Bair sniffed。 〃You are Aes Sedai beyond the Dragonwall； but here you are yet a pupil； and a pupil does not dally。 When I send for Aviendha； or send her for something； she runs； even if all I want is a pin。 You could do much worse than to pattern yourself after her。〃
Flushing； Egwene tried to make her voice humble。 〃I will try； Bair。〃 This was the first time a Wise One had made the parison in front of others。 She sneaked a glance at Aviendha and was surprised to find her looking thoughtful。 Sometimes she wished her 〃near…sister〃 were not always such a good example。
〃The girl will learn； Bair； or she will not；〃 Melaine said irritably。 〃Instruct her in promptness later； if she still needs it。〃 No more than ten or twelve years older than Aviendha； she usually sounded as if she had a burr under her skirts。 Maybe she was sitting on a sharp rock。 She would not move if she was； she would expect the rock to move。 〃I tell you again； Moiraine Sedai； the Aiel follow He Who es With the Dawn； not the White Tower。〃
Obviously； Egwene was meant to pick up what they were talking about as they went on。
〃It may be；〃 Amys said in a level voice； 〃that the Aiel will serve the Aes Sedai again； but that time has not e yet； Moiraine Sedai。〃 Her scraping barely paused as she eyed the Aes Sedai calmly。
It would e； Egwene knew； now that Moiraine was aware that some of the Wise Ones could channel。 Aes Sedai would be journeying into the Waste to find girls who could be taught； and would almost certainly be trying to take any Wise One with the ability back to the Tower； too。 Once she had worried about the Wise Ones being browbeaten and dominated； hauled away whenever they wanted； Aes Sedai never let any woman who could channel run free of the Tower for long。 She did not worry anymore； though the Wise Ones themselves seemed to。 Amys and Melaine could match any Aes Sedai will for will； as they showed every day with Moiraine。 Bair could very likely make even Siuan Sanche jump through hoops； and Bair could not even channel。
For that matter； Bair was not the strongest…willed Wise One。 That honor went to an even older woman； Sorilea； of the Jarra sept of the Chareen Aiel。 The Wise One of Shende Hold could channel less than most novices； but she was as likely to send another Wise One on an errand as a gai'shain。 And they went。 No； there was no reason to distress herself over Wise Ones being bullied。
〃It is understandable that you wish to spare your lands；〃 Bair put in； 〃but Rand al'Thor obviously does not mean to lead us to punish。 No one who submits to He Who es With the Dawn； and the Aiel； will be harmed。〃 So that was it。 Of course。
〃It is not only sparing lives or lands that concerns me。〃 Moiraine made wiping sweat from her brow with one finger into a queenly gesture； but her voice sounded nearly as tight as Melaine's。 〃If you allow this； it will be disastrous。 Years of planning are ing to fruition； and he means to ruin it all。〃
〃Plans of the White Tower；〃 Amys said； so smoothly she might have been agreeing。 〃Those plans have nothing to do with us。 We； and the other Wise Ones； must consider what is right for the Aiel。 We will see that the Aiel do what is best for the Aiel。〃
Egwene wondered what the clan chiefs would say about that。 Of course； they frequently plained that the Wise Ones meddled in matters that were not theirs； so perhaps it would not e as a surprise。 The chiefs all seemed to be hard…willed； intelligent men； but she believed they had as much chance against the bined Wise Ones as the Village Council back home did against the Women's Circle。
This time； though； Moiraine was right。
〃If Rand …〃 she began； but Bair stepped on her firmly。
〃We will hear what you have to say later； girl。 Your knowledge of Rand al'Thor is valuable； but you will hold your peace and listen until you are bidden to speak。 And stop looking sullen； or I will dose you with bluespine tea。〃
Egwene grimaced。 Respect for the Aes Sedai； though a respect between equals； included but little for the pupil； even one they believed was Aes Sedai。 She kept her tongue still； in any case。 Bair was capable of sending her to fetch her herb pouches and telling her to brew the incredibly bitter tea herself； it had no purpose at all except to cure sullenness or sulkiness or whatever else a Wise One might find disfavor with； which it did by taste alone。 Aviendha gave her a forting pat on the arm。
〃You believe it will not be a catastrophe for the Aiel as well？〃 It must have been difficult to sound as cool as a winter stream when you glistened from head to foot with condensed steam and your own sweat； but Moiraine apparently had no difficulty。 〃It will be the Aiel War all over again。 You will kill and burn and loot towns as you did then； until you have turned every man and woman against you。〃
〃The fifth is our due； Aes Sedai；〃 Melaine said； throwing her long hair back over her shoulder so she could work a staera across a smooth shoulder。 Even heavy and damp with the steam； her hair glistened like silk。 〃We took no more even from the treekillers。〃 Her glance at Moiraine was too bland not to be significant； they knew she was Cairhienin。 〃Your kings and queens take as much in their taxes。〃
〃And when the nations turn against you？〃 Moiraine persisted。 〃In the Aiel War； the nations united turned you back。 That can and will happen again； with great loss of life on both sides。〃
〃None of us fears death； Aes Sedai；〃 Amys told her； smiling gently as if explaining something to a child。 〃Life is a dream from which we all must wake before we can dream again。 Besides； only four clans crossed the Dragonwall under Janduin。 Six are here already； and you say Rand al'Thor means to take all of the clans。〃
〃The Prophecy of Rhuidean says he will break us。〃 The spark in Melaine's green eyes could have been for Moiraine or because she was not as resigned as she sounded。 〃What does it matter whether it is here or beyond the Dragonwall？〃
〃You will lose him the support of every nation west of the Dragonwall；〃 Moiraine said。 She looked as calm as ever； but an edge in her voice said she was ready to chew rocks。 〃He must have their support！〃
〃He has the support of the Aiel nation；〃 Bair told her in that fragile； unyielding voice。 She emphasized her words by gesturing with the slim metal blade。 〃The clans have never been a nation； but now he makes us one。〃
〃We will not help you turn him in this； Moiraine Sedai；〃 Amys added just as firmly。