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g easily on their heels beneath a leatherleaf that still showed some green； they eyed him curiously。 Their hands moved quickly in that way they had of talking among themselves with signs。 After a moment Sulin rose； shifting her heavy belt knife； and strode in his direction； a tall； wiry woman with a pink scar across her sun…dark cheek。 She glanced back down the way he had e and seemed relieved that he was alone； though it was often hard to tell with Aiel。
〃This is good； Perrin Aybara；〃 she said quietly。 〃The Wise Ones have not been pleased that you make them e to you。 Only a fool displeases Wise Ones； and I have not taken you for a fool。〃
Perrin scrubbed at his beard。 He had been keeping clear of the Wise Ones … and the Aes Sedai … as much as possible； but he had had no intention of forcing them to e to him。 He just found their pany unfortable。 To put it mildly。 〃Well； I need to see Edarra now；〃 he told her。 〃About the Aes Sedai。〃
〃Perhaps I was mistaken after all；〃 Sulin said dryly。 〃But I will tell her。〃 Turning； she paused。 〃Tell me something。 Teryl Wynter and Furen Alharra are close to Seonid Traighan … like first…brothers with a first…sister； she does not like men as men … yet they offered to take her punishment for her。 How could they shame her so？〃
He opened his mouth； but nothing came out。 A pair of gai'shain appeared from the reverse slope； each leading two of the Aiel's pack mules； the white…robed men passed within a few paces； heading down toward the stream。 He could not be sure； but he thought both were Shaido。 The pair kept their eyes meekly down； barely looking up enough to see where they were going。 They had had every opportunity to run away； doing chores like that without anyone to watch。 A peculiar people。
〃I see you are shocked； too；〃 Sulin said。 〃I had hoped you could explain。 I will tell Edarra。〃 As she started for the tents； she added over her shoulder； 〃You wetlanders are very strange； Perrin Aybara。〃
Perrin frowned after her； and when she vanished into one of the tents； he turned to frown at the two gai'shain leading the horses to water。 Wetlanders were strange？ Light！ So Nurelle had been right in what he heard。 It was beyond time to stick his nose into what was going on between the Wise Ones and the Aes Sedai。 He should have before this。 He wished he did not think it would be the same as sticking his nose into a hornets' nest。
It seemed to take a long time for Sulin to reappear； and she did little to help his mood when she did。 Holding the tentflap for him； she flicked his belt knife contemptuously with a finger as he ducked through。 〃You should be better armed for this dance； Perrin Aybara；〃 she said。
Inside； he was surprised to find all six Wise Ones sitting cross…legged on colorful tasseled cushions； their shawls tied around their waists and their skirts making carefully arranged fans across the layered rugs。 He had hoped for just Edarra。 None looked to be more than four or five years older than he； some no older at all； yet somehow they always made him feel as if he were facing the oldest members of the Women's Circle； the ones who had spent years learning to sniff out whatever you wanted to hide。 Separating one woman's scent from another's was all but impossible； but he hardly needed to。 Six sets of eyes latched on to him； from Janina's pale sky blue to Marline's purple twilight； not to mention Nevarin's sharp green。 Every eye could have been a skewer。
Edarra brusquely motioned him to take a cushion himself； which he did with gratitude； though it put him facing them all in a semicircle。 Maybe Wise Ones had designed these tents； to make men bend their necks if they wanted to stand upright。 Strangely； it was cooler in the dim interior； but he still felt like sweating。 Maybe he could not pick one from another； yet these women smelled like wolves studying a tethered goat。 A square…faced gai'shain who was half again as big as he was knelt to offer a golden cup of dark wine…punch on an elaborate silver tray。 The Wise Ones already held mismatched silver cups and goblets。 Unsure what it meant that he was being offered gold … maybe nothing； yet who could say； with Aiel？ … Perrin took it cautiously。 It gave off the scent of plums。 The fellow bowed meekly enough when Edarra clapped her hands； and bent himself out of the tent backward； but the half…healed slash down his hard face had to date from Dumai's Wells。
〃Now that you are here；〃 Edarra said as soon as the tentflap dropped behind the gai'shain； 〃we will explain again why you must kill the man called Masema Dagar。〃
〃We should not have to explain again；〃 Delora put in。 Her hair and eyes were nearly the same shade as Maighdin's； but no one would call her pinched face pretty。 Her manner was pure ice。 〃This Masema Dagar is a danger to the Car'a'carn。 He must die。〃
〃The dreamwalkers have told us； Perrin Aybara。〃 Carelle certainly was pretty； and though her fiery hair and piercing eyes made her look as though she had a temper； she was always mild。 For a Wise One。 And certainly not soft。 〃They have read the dream。 The man must die。〃
Perrin took a swallow of plum punch to gain a moment。 Somehow； the punch was cool。 It was always the same with them。 Rand had not mentioned any warning from the dreamwalkers。 The first time； Perrin had mentioned that。 Only the once； they had thought he was casting doubt on their word； and even Carelle had gone hot…eyed。 Not that Perrin thought they would lie。 Not exactly。 He had not caught them in one； anyway。 But what they wanted for the future and what Rand wanted … what he himself wanted； for that matter … might be very different things。 Maybe it was Rand who was keeping secrets。 〃If you could just give me some idea what this danger is；〃 he said； finally。 〃The Light knows； Masema's a madman； but he supports Rand。 A fine thing； if I go around killing people on our side。 That will certainly convince people to join Rand。〃
Sarcasm was lost on them。 They looked at him； unblinking。 〃The man must die；〃 Edarra said at last。 〃It is enough that three dreamwalkers have said so； and six Wise Ones tell you。〃 The same as always。 Maybe they did not know any more than that。 And maybe he should get on with why he had e。
〃I want to talk about Seonid and Masuri；〃 he said； and six faces turned to frost。 Light； these women could stare down a stone！ Setting the winecup beside him； he leaned toward them stubbornly。 〃I'm supposed to show people Aes Sedai sworn to Rand。〃 He was supposed to show Masema； actually； but this did seem a good time to mention that。 〃They aren't going to be very cooperative if you lot beat them！ Light！ They're Aes Sedai！ Instead of making them haul water； why don't you learn from them？ They must know all sorts of things you don't。〃 Too late； he bit his tongue。 The Aiel women did not take offense； though； not that it showed； anyway。
〃They know some things we do not；〃 Delora told him firmly； 〃and we know some they do not。〃 As firmly as a spearpoint in the ribs。
〃We learn what there is to learn； Perrin Aybara；〃 Marline said calmly； bing nearly black hair with her fingers。 She was one of the few Aiel he had seen with such dark hair； and she often toyed with it。 〃And we teach what there is to teach。〃
〃In any event；〃 Janira said； 〃it is none of your affair。 Men do not interfere between Wise Ones and apprentices。〃 She shook her head over his foolishness。
〃You may stop listening outside and e in； Seonid Traighan；〃 Edarra said suddenly。 Perrin blinked in surprise； but none of the women batted an eye。
There was a moment of silence； then the tentflap twitched aside； and Seonid ducked inside； kneeling quickly on the rugs。 That vaunted Aes Sedai serenity was shattered in her。 Her mouth was a thin line； her eyes tight； her face red。 She smelled of anger； frustration； and a dozen more emotions all whirling about so quickly that Perrin could barely separate any out。 〃May I speak to him？〃 she asked in a stiff voice。
〃If you take care what you say；〃 Edarra told her。 Sipping her wine； the Wise One watched over the rim of her cup。 A teacher watching a pupil？ A hawk watching a mouse？ Perrin could not be sure。 Except that Edarra was very sure of her place； whatever the pairing。 So was Seonid。 But that did not carry over to him。
She twisted around to face him on her knees； back going straight； eyes heated。 Anger raged in the smell of her。 〃Whatever you know；〃 she said angrily； 〃whatever you think you know； you will forget！〃 No； there was not a shred of serenity left in her。 〃Whatever is between the Wise Ones and us is for us alone！ You will stand aside； avert your eyes； and keep your mouth closed！〃
Amazed； Perrin raked his fingers through his hair。 〃Light； you're upset because I know you got a switching？〃 he said incredulously。 Well； he would have been； too； but not alongside the rest。 〃Don't you know these women would as soon cut your throat as look at you？ Slit your throat and leave you by the side of the road！ Well； I promised myself I wouldn't let that happen！ I don't like you； but I promised to protect you from the Wise Ones； or the Asha'man； or Rand himself； so e down off that high horse！〃 Realizing that he was shouting； he drew a deep； embarrassed breath and settled back on his cushion； snatched up his winecup and took a long drink。
Seonid went stiffer by the word with indignation； and her lip curled well before he finished。 〃You promised？〃 she sneered。 〃You think Aes Sedai need your protection？ You …？〃
〃Enough；〃 Edarra said quietly； and Seonid's jaw snapped shut； though her hands made white…knuckled fists clutching her skirts。
〃What makes you think we would kill her； Perrin Aybara？〃 Janina asked curiously。 Aiel seldom showed much on their faces； but the others frowned at him or looked with open incredulity。
〃I know how you feel；〃 he replied slowly。 〃I've known since I saw you with the sisters after Dumai's Wells。〃 He was not about to explain that he had smelled their hatred； their contempt； every time a Wise One looked at an Aes Sedai back then。 He did not smell it now； but no one could maintain that level of fury for long without bursting。 That did not mean it was gone； only that it had sunk deep； maybe into the bone。
Delora snorted； a sound like linen ripping。 〃First you say they must be coddled because you need them； and now because they are Aes Sedai and you have promised to protect them。 Which is truth； Perrin Aybara？〃
〃Both。〃 Perrin met Delora's hard gaze for a long moment； then eyed each of the others in turn。 〃Both are true； and I mean both。〃
The Wise Ones exchanged glances； the sort where every flicker of an eyelid held a hundred words and no man could make out a one。 Finally； in a shifting of necklaces and readjusting of tied shawls； they appeared to reach agreement。
〃We do not kill apprentices； Perrin Aybara；〃 Nevarin said。 She sounded shocked at the idea。 〃When Rand al'Thor asked us to apprentice them； perhaps he thought it was just to make them obey us； but we do not speak empty words。 They are apprentices； now。〃
〃They will remain so until five Wise Ones agree they are ready to be more；〃 Marline added； sweeping her long hair over her shoulder。 〃And they are treated no differently than any others。〃
Edarra nodded over her winecup。 〃Tell him the advice you would give him concerning Masema Dagar； Seonid Traighan；〃 she said。
The kneeling woman had practically writhed during Nevarin and Marline's short speeches； gripping her skirt until Perrin thought the silk might rip； but she wasted no time plying with Edarra's instructions。 〃The Wise Ones are right； whatever their reasons。 I do not say this because they wish it。〃 She drew herself up again； smoothing her features with a visible effort。 A touch of heat still flared in her voice； though。 〃I saw the work of so…called Dragonsworn before I ever met Rand al'Thor。 Death and destruction； to no purpose。 Even a faithful dog must be put down if it begins to foam at the mouth。〃
〃Blood and ashes！〃 Perrin grumbled。 〃How can I even let you in sight of the man after that？ You swore fealty to Rand； you know that isn't what he wants！ What about that '