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〃Aviendha？ e here。〃
Aviendha had been squatting disconsolately off to one side； arms wrapped around her knees； staring at the ground。 She stood slowly。 If Egwene had not known better； she would have thought the other woman was afraid。 Aviendha's feet dragged as she climbed to where the Wise Ones stood and set her bag and rolled wall hangings at her feet。
〃It is time；〃 Bair said； not ungently。 Still； there was no promise in her pale blue eyes。 〃You have run with the spears as long as you can。 Longer than you should have。〃
Aviendha flung up her head defiantly。 〃I am a Maiden of the Spear。 I do not want to be a Wise One。 I will not be！〃
The Wise Ones' faces hardened。 Egwene was reminded of the Women's Circle back home confronting a woman who was heading off into some foolishness。
〃You have already been treated more gently than it was in my day；〃 Amys said in a voice like stone。 〃I； too； refused when called。 My spear…sisters broke my spears before my eyes。 They took me to Bair and Coedelin bound hand and foot and wearing only my skin。〃
〃And a pretty little doll tucked under your arm；〃 Bair said dryly； 〃to remind you how childish you were。 As I remember； you ran away nine times in the first month。〃
Amys nodded grimly。 〃And was made to blubber like a child for each of them。 I only ran away five times the second month。 I thought I was as strong and hard as a woman could be。 I was not smart； though； it took me half a year to learn you were stronger and harder than I could ever be； Bair。 Eventually I learned my duty； my obligation to the people。 As you will； Aviendha。 Such as you and I； we have that obligation。 You are not a child。 It is time to put away dolls … and spears … and bee the woman you are meant to be。〃
Abruptly； Egwene knew why she had felt such a kinship with Aviendha from the first； knew why Amys and the others meant her to be a Wise One。 Aviendha could channel。 Like herself； like Elayne and Nynaeve … and Moiraine； for that matter … she was one of those rare women who not only could be taught to channel； but who had the ability born in her； so she would touch the True Source eventually whether she knew what she was doing or not。 Moiraine's face was still； calm； but Egwene saw confirmation in her eyes。 The Aes Sedai had surely known from the first time she came within arm's reach of the Aiel woman； Egwene realized she could feel that same kinship with Amys and Melaine。 Not with Bair or Seana； though。 Only the first two could channel； she was sure of it。 And now she could sense the same in Moiraine。 It was the first time she had ever felt that。 The Aes Sedai was a distant woman。
Some of the Wise Ones； at least； apparently saw more in Moiraine's face。 〃You meant to take her to your White Tower；〃 Bair said； 〃to make her one of you。 She is Aiel； Aes Sedai。〃
〃She can be very strong if she is trained properly；〃 Moiraine replied。 〃As strong as Egwene will be。 In the Tower； she can reach that strength。〃
〃We can teach her as well； Aes Sedai。〃 Melaine's voice was smooth enough； but contempt tinged her unwavering green…eyed stare。 〃Better。 I have spoken with Aes Sedai。 You coddle women in the Tower。 The Three…fold Land is no place for coddling。 Aviendha will learn what she can do while you would still have her playing games。〃
Egwene gave Aviendha a concerned look； the other woman was staring at her feet； defiance gone。 If they thought training in the Tower was coddling。。。 。 She had been worked harder and disciplined more strictly as a novice than ever before in her life。 She felt a true pang of sympathy for the Aiel woman。
Amys held out her hands； and Aviendha reluctantly laid her spears and buckler in them； flinching when the Wise One threw them aside to clatter on the ground。 Slowly Aviendha slid her cased bow from her back and surrendered it； unbuckled the belt holding her quiver and sheathed knife。 Amys took each offering and tossed it away like rubbish； Aviendha gave a little jerk each time。 A tear trembled at the corner of one blue…green eye。
〃Do you have to treat her this way？〃 Egwene demanded angrily。 Amys and the others turned flat stares on her； but she was not about to be intimidated。 〃You are treating things she cares about as trash。〃
〃She must see them as trash；〃 Seana said。 〃When she returns … if she returns … she will burn them and scatter the ashes。 The metal she will give to a smith to make simple things。 Not weapons。 Not even a carving knife。 Buckles； or pots； or puzzles for children。 Things she will give away with her own hands when they are made。〃
〃The Three…fold Land is not soft； Aes Sedai；〃 Bair said。 〃〃Soft things die； here。〃
〃The cadin'sor； Aviendha。〃 Amys gestured to the discarded weapons。 〃Your new clothes will await your return。〃
Mechanically； Aviendha stripped； tossing coat and breeches； soft boots； everything onto the pile。 Naked； she stood without wriggling a toe； though Egwene thought her own feet would blister through her shoes。 She remembered watching as the clothes she had worn to the White Tower were burned； a severing of ties to an earlier life； but it had not been like this。 Not this stark。
When Aviendha started to add the sack and the wall hangings to the pile； Seana took them from her。 〃These you can have back。 If you return。 If not； they will go to your family； for remembrance。〃
Aviendha nodded。 She did not seem afraid。 Reluctant； angry； even sullen； but not afraid。
〃In Rhuidean；〃 Amys said； 〃you will find three rings； arranged so。〃 She drew three lines in the air； joining together in the middle。 〃Step through any one。 You will see your future laid before you； again and again； in variation。 They will not guide you wholly； as is best； for they will fade together as do stories heard long ago； yet you will remember enough to know some things that must be； for you； despised as they may be； and some that must not； cherished hopes that they are。 This is the beginning of being called wise。 Some women never return from the rings； perhaps they could not face the future。 Some who survive the rings do not survive their second trip to Rhuidean； to the heart。 You are not giving up a hard and dangerous life for a softer； but for a harder and more dangerous。〃
A ter'angreal。 Amys was describing a ter'angreal。 What kind of place was this Rhuidean？ Egwene found herself wanting to go down there herself； to find out。 That was foolish。 She was not here to take unnecessary risks with ter'angreal she knew nothing about。
Melaine cupped Aviendha's chin and turned the younger woman's face to her。 〃You have the strength；〃 she said with quiet conviction。 〃A strong mind and a strong heart are your weapons now； but you hold them as surely as you ever held a spear。 Remember them； use them； and they will see you through anything。〃
Egwene was surprised。 Of the four； she would have picked the sun…haired woman last to show passion。
Aviendha nodded； and even managed a smile。 〃I will beat those men to Rhuidean。 They cannot run。〃
Each Wise One in turn kissed her lightly on each cheek； murmuring； 〃e back to us。〃
Catching Aviendha's hand； Egwene squeezed it and got a squeeze in return。 Then the Aiel woman was running down the mountainside in leaps。 It seemed she might well catch up to Rand and Mat。 Egwene watched her go worriedly。 This was something like being raised to Accepted； it seemed； but without any novice training first； without anyone to give small fort afterward。 What would it have been like to be raised Accepted on her first day in the Tower？ She thought she might have gone mad。 Nynaeve had been raised so； because of her strength； she thought at least some of Nynaeve's distaste for Aes Sedai came from what she had experienced then。 e back to us； she thought。 Be steadfast。
When Aviendha passed out of sight； Egwene sighed and turned back to the Wise Ones。 She had her own purpose here； and holding back from it would help no one。 〃Amys； in Tel'aran'rhiod you told me I should e to you to learn。 I have。〃
〃Haste；〃 the white haired woman said。 〃We have been hasty； because Aviendha struggled so long against her toh； because we feared the Shaido might don veils； even here； if we did not send Rand al'Thor into Rhuidean before they could think。〃
〃You believe they'd have tried to kill him？〃 Egwene said。 〃But he's the one you sent people over the Dragonwall to find。 He Who es With the Dawn。〃
Bair shifted her shawl。 〃Perhaps he is。 We shall see。 If he lives。〃
〃He has his mother's eyes；〃 Amys said； 〃and much of her in his face as well as something of his father； but Couladin could see only his clothes； and his horse。 The other Shaido would have as well； and perhaps the Taardad； too。 Outlanders are not allowed on this ground； and now there are five of you。 No； four； Rand al'Thor is no outlander； wherever he was raised。 But we have already allowed one to enter Rhuidean； which is also forbidden。 Change es like an avalanche whether we want it or not。〃
〃It must e；〃 Bair said； not sounding happy。 〃The Pattern plants us where it will。〃
〃You knew Rand's parents？〃 Egwene asked cautiously。 Whatever they said； she still thought of Tam and Kari al'Thor as Rand's parents。
〃That is his story；〃 Amys said； 〃if he wants to hear it。〃 By the firmness of her mouth； she would not say another word on the subject。
〃e；〃 Bair said。 〃There is no need for haste； now。 e。 We offer you water and shade。〃
Egwene's knees nearly buckled at the mention of shade。 The once…sopping kerchief around her forehead was almost dry； the top of her head felt baked； and the rest of her scarcely less。 Moiraine seemed just as grateful to follow the Wise Ones up to one of the small clusters of low； open…sided tents。
A tall man in sandals and hooded white robes took their horses' reins。 His Aiel face looked odd in the deep soft cowl； with downcast eyes。
〃Give the animals water；〃 Bair said before ducking into the low； unwalled tent； and the man bowed to her back； touching his forehead。
Egwene hesitated over letting the man lead Mist away。 He seemed confident； but what would an Aiel know of horses？ Still； she did not think he would harm them； and it did look wonderfully darker inside the tent。 It was； and delightfully cool pared to outside。
The roof of the tent rose to a peak around a hole； but even under that there was barely room to stand。 As if to make up for the drab colors the Aiel wore； large gold tasseled red cushions lay scattered over brightly colored carpets layered thickly enough to pad the hard ground beneath。 Egwene and Moiraine imitated the Wise Ones； sinking to the carpet and leaning on one elbow on a cushion。 They were all in a circle； nearly close enough to touch the next woman。
Bair struck a small brass gong； and two young women entered with silver trays； bending gracefully； robed in white； with deep cowls and downturned eyes； like the man who had taken the horses。 Kneeling in the middle of the tent； one filled a small silver cup with wine for each of the women reclining on a cushion； and the other poured larger cups of water。 Without a word； they backed out bowing； leaving the gleaming trays and pitchers； beaded with condensation。
〃Here is water and shade；〃 Bair said； lifting her water； 〃freely given。 Let there be no constraints between us。 All here are wele； as first…sisters are wele。〃
〃Let there be no constraints；〃 Amys and the other two murmured。 After one sip of water； the Aiel women named themselves formally。 Bair； of the Haido sept of the Shaarad Aiel。 Amys； of the Nine Valleys sept of the Taardad Aiel。 Melaine； of the Jhirad sept of the Goshien Aiel。 Seana； of the Black Cliff sept of the Nakai Aiel。
Egwene and Moiraine followed the ritual； though Moiraine's mouth tightened when Egwene called herself an Aes Sedai of the Green Ajah。
As if the sharing of water and names had broken down a wall； the mood in the tent changed palpably。 Smiles from the Aiel women； a subtle relaxation； and said formalities were done。
Egwene was more grateful for the water than for the wine。 It might be cooler in the tent than outside； but