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The Warderoutside It was the first time that he had ever done that, but Rand noticed only absently

The battle would begin tomorrow It was a polite fiction that he helped Rhuarc and the others plan He was sh to knohat he did not know, and despite all of his talks with Lan and Rhuarc, he kneas not ready I’ve planned a hundred battles this size or iven orders that led to ten tiht Lews Therin knear -- had knoar -- but not Rand al’Thor, and that was him He listened, asked questions -- and nodded as if he understood when the chiefs said a thing should be done a certain way Sometimes he did understand and wished he did not, because he knehere that understanding came from His only real contribution had been to say that Couladin had to be defeated without destroying the city In any, case, thiswould only add a few touches at most to what had already been decided

Mat would have been useful, with his newfound knowledge

No He would not think of his friends, of what he would do to the the battle aside, there was plenty to occupy hi about The absence of Cairhienin flags above Cairhien marked a major problem, and the continued skirmishes with Andorans another What Saht, and

The chiefs filed in in no particular order This tiether at the rear with Lan Bruan and Jheran took the places next to Rand They did not concern the themselves, and Aan’allein they seemed to take as all but one of thes at his heels and a tightmouthed scowl on his face Precedence certainlyinto his oiled beard, he stalked his way around the firepit, taking up a place behind Rand Until the chiefs’ flat stares finally broke through his shell, at least Aht position himself so, if there was the possibility of a knife in the back He still frowned at Jheran and Dhearic as though expecting one of theestured to the place beside him, across the maps from Rand, and after a pause, Weiraht ahead and looking like a er Tairens stood alrace to look embarrassed

Rand took note of him but said not a word, only thuh to light it He had to do so about Weiramon; the man exacerbated old problems and made new ones Not a flicker crossed Rhuarc’s features, but the other chiefs’ expressions ranged froust to Erim’s clear, coldeyed readiness to dance spears there and then Perhaps there was a way for Rand to rid hi on another of his worries at the saan filling pipes

"I see only sht, and sparking a glower froes concern the Goshien, or perhaps so Weira as they worked out what had to be altered froain one of the Aiel would glance at Natael, a brief tightness to eyes orin hiri nothing Tears were a luxury he could no longer afford, not even inside

Chapter 43

(Full Aes Sedai Sy Rand was up and dressed well before first light In truth, he had not slept, and it had not been Aviendha who kept hi before he could put out the la him that she was unable to see in the dark even if he could He made no reply, and hours later, had hardly noticed when she rose, a good hour before he did, dressed and left He did not even think to wonder where she was going

The thoughts that had had hih his head Men would die today A greathe did noould change it; today would run out according to the Pattern But over and over he mulled the decisions he had made since he first entered the Waste Could he have done so that would have avoided this day, this place? Next tith of spear lay atop his sword belt and scabbarded blade beside his blankets There would be a next tiain

While darkness still held, the chiefs came in a bunch for a few final words, to report that theirelse was expected Stonefaced as they were, soh, a skiht sood day, to see the end of the Shaido," he said finally He see," Bael said, his head brushing the roof of the tent, "ash the spears in Couladin’s blood before sunfall"

"Bad luck to talk of ill be," Han muttered The skim was very thin on hiht send it does not decide on too many of our number dead" He wished his concern were only that few men should die because men should not have their lives cut short, but there wereorder to this side of the Dragonwall That was a bone between him and Couladin every bit as much as the rest

"Life is a dreareement Life was only a dream, and all dreams had to end Aiel did not run toward death, yet they did not run fro, Bael paused "Are you certain of what you want the Maidens to do? Sulin has been speaking to the Wise Ones"

So that hat Melaine had been at Bael about The way Rhuarc stopped to listen, he had been hearing fro what they are supposed to without coame "If the Maidens want special consideration, Sulin can co to the Wise Ones"

Had they been anything but Aiel, Rhuarc and Bael would have been shaking their heads as they left Rand supposed each would get an earful from his wife, but they would have to live with it If Far Dareis Mai carried his honor, this time they would