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So far, the Wise Ones had allowed Aviendha so her serve punishments, but she didn’t kno she had sha would--of course--only bring more shame Until she unwove the probleer of her ain Until she sorted out this problem, she would re an honorable bridal wreath to Rand al’Thor

Aviendha gritted her teeth Another woood would that have done? Whatever her ht it upon herself, and it was her duty to right it She would find honor again and she would marry Rand al’Thor before he died at the Last Battle

That meant that whatever it was she had to learn, she needed to do so quickly Very quickly

Theyaround was thick with discarded brown needles, the sky broken by the towering trunks The group was small by the standards of clans and septs, barely two hundred people In thethe characteristic brooolen skirt and white blouse Aviendha wore similar attire, which now felt as natural to her as the cadin’sor once had The scouting party split up,to join members of their clans or societies Rhuarc joined the Wise Ones, and Aviendha followed hiave her a glance Bair, the only Aiel with the group asn’t Taardad or Goshien, had arrived only recently, perhaps to coordinate with the others Whatever the reason, none of them seemed pleased Aviendha hesitated If she left noould it see to avoid their attention? Did she instead dare stay, and risk incurring their further displeasure?

"Well?" Ah A In her case, this wasn’t due to working the Power-- her hair had started turning silver when she’d been a child

"It was as the scouts described, shade of my heart," Rhuarc said "Another pitiful band of wetlander refugees I saw no hidden danger in them"

The Wise Ones nodded, as if this hat they had expected "That is the tenth band of refugees in less than a week," said aged Bair, her watery blue eyes thoughtful

Rhuarc nodded "There are rumors of Seanchan attacks on harbors to the west Perhaps the people lanced at Amys "This country boils like water spilled on a hearthstone The clans are uncertain what Rand al’Thor wishes of them"

"He was very clear," Bair noted "He will be pleased that you and Dobraine Taborwin secured Bandar Eban, as he asked"

Rhuarc nodded "But still, his intentions are not clear He asked for us to restore order Are we then to be like wetlander city guardsmen? That is no place for the Aiel We are not to conquer, so we do not get the fifth

And yet it feels very much like conquest, e do The Car’a’carns orders can be clear yet confusing at the saift in that area, I think"

Bair s with these refugees"

"And ould we do?" A her head "Are we Shaido, expected to ai’sbain froht of both Shaido and the idea of reement As Rhuarc said, the Car’a’carn had sent them to Arad Doman to "restore order" But that was a wetlander concept; Aiel brought their own order with them There was chaos to war and battle, true, but each and every Aiel understood his place, and would act within that place The little children understood honor and toh, and a hold would continue to function after all of the leaders and Wise Ones were killed

It was not so etlanders They ran about like a basket of wild lizards suddenly dropped onto hot stones, taking no care for provisions when they fled As soon as their leaders were occupied or distracted, banditry and chaos ruled The strong took from the weak, and even blacksmiths were not safe

What could Rand al’Thor expect the Aiel to do about it? They could not teach ji’e’tob to an entire nation Rand al’Thor had told the Domani troops But those troops--often corrupt and turned to banditry themselves--were part of the problem

"Perhaps he will explain more e arrive at this old hair catching the light Her pregnancy was just beginning to show beneath her Wise One blouse "And if he does not, then surely it is better for us to be here in Arad Do back in the land of the treekillers"

"As you say," Rhuarc agreed "Let us move on, then There is still a distance to run" He moved off to speak with Bael Aviendha took a step away, but a harsh glance from Amys made her freeze

"Aviendha," said the hard, white-haired woee train?"

"None but me," Aviendha admitted

"Oh, and are you a Wise One now?" Bair asked

"No," Aviendha said, quickly, then sha "I spoke poorly"

"Then you shall be punished," Bair said "You are no longer a Maiden, Aviendha It is not your place to scout; that is a task for others"

"Yes, Wise One," Aviendha said, looking down She had not thought that going with Rhuarc would bring her shame--she had seen other Wise Ones do similar tasks

But I am not a Wise One, she reminded herself / am an apprentice only Bair had not said that a Wise One could not scout; only that it had not been Aviendha’s place to go It was about Aviendha herself And about whatever it was she had done--or perhaps continued to do--to provoke the Wise Ones

Did they think she had grown soft by spending time with Elayne? Aviendha herself worried that that was true During her days in Cae the silks and baths By the end, she had objected only feebly when Elayne had come up with an excuse to dress her in soarment with embroidery and lace It ell that the others had co at her expectantly, faces like red desert stones, iain She would complete her apprenticeship and find honor She would

The call ca, and cadin’sor-c\&d roups The Wise Ones moved as easily as the soldiers, despite their bulky skirts Amys touched Aviendha’s arm "You will run with me so that we can discuss your punishment"

Aviendha fell into pace beside the Wise One at a brisk jog It was a speed any Aiel could roup, fro from Bandar Eban to meet with Rand al’Thor in the western part of the country Dobraine Taborwin, a Cairhienin, was stillorder in the capital city, where he’d reportedly located a roup of Aiel could have Traveled through a gateway the rest of the distance But it was not far--only a few days by foot--and they had left early enough to arrive at the appointed ti the One Power Rhuarc wanted to scout for himself some of the landscape near theas a base Other bodies of Goshien or Taardad Aiel would join theateways, if needed

"What do you think of the Car’a’carn’s demands of us here in Arad Doman, Aviendha?" Amys asked as they ran