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plaza； revealed enough that the chiefs and Wise Ones could not turn aside when asked the rest。 If there was an Aiel in the Waste who did not know the truth now； he had not spoken to anyone in a month。
Far from the glorious heritage of battle most believed in； the Aiel had begun as helpless refugees from the Breaking of the World。 Everyone who survived had been refugees then； of course； but the Aiel had never seen themselves as helpless。 Worse； they had been followers of the Way of the Leaf； refusing to do violence even in defense of their lives。 Aiel meant 〃dedicated〃 in the Old Tongue； and it had been to peace that they were dedicated。 Those who called themselves Aiel today were the descendants of those who had broken a pledge of untold generations。 Only one remnant of that belief remained： an Aiel would die before taking up a sword。 They had always believed it a part of their pride； of their separateness from those who lived outside the Waste。
He had heard Aiel say that they had mitted some sin to be placed in the desolate Waste。 Now they knew what it was。 The men and women who had built Rhuidean and died here … those called the Jenn Aiel； the clan that was not； on the few occasions they were spoken of … had been the ones who kept faith with the Aes Sedai of the time before the Breaking。 It was hard to face the knowledge that what you had always believed was a lie。
〃It had to be told；〃 Rand said。 They had a right to know。 A man shouldn't have to live a lie。 Their own prophecy said I would break them。 And I couldn't have done differently。 The past was past and done； he should be worrying about the future。 Some of these men dislike me； and some hate me for not being born among them； but they follow。 I need them all。 〃What of the Miagoma？〃
Erim； lying between Rhuarc and Han； shook his head。 His once bright red hair was half white； but his green eyes were as strong as any younger man's。 His big hands； wide and long and hard； said his arms were as strong； too。 〃Timolan does not let his feet know which way he will jump until after he has leaped。〃
〃When Timolan was young as a chief；〃 Jheran said； 〃he tried to unite the clans and failed。 It will not sit well with him that at last one has e to succeed where he failed。〃
〃He will e；〃 Rhuarc said。 〃Timolan never believed himself He Who es With the Dawn。 And Janwin will bring the Shiande。 But they will wait。 They must settle matters in their own minds first。〃
〃They must settle He Who es With the Dawn being a wetlander；〃 Han barked。 〃I mean no offense； Car'a'carn。〃 There was no obsequiousness in his voice； a chief was not a king； and neither was the chief of chiefs。 At best he was first among equals。
〃The Daryne and the Codarra will e eventually； as well； I think；〃 Bruan said calmly。 And quickly； lest silence should grow to a reason for dancing the spears。 First among equals at best。 〃They have lost more than any other clans to the bleakness。〃 That was what the Aiel had taken to calling the long period of staring before someone tried to run away from being Aiel。 〃For the moment； Mandelain and Indirian are concerned with holding their clans together； and both will want to see the Dragons on your arms for themselves； but they will e。〃
That left only one clan to be discussed； the one none of the chiefs wanted to mention。 〃What news of Couladin and the Shaido？〃 Rand asked。
Silence answered him； broken only by the softly serene sounds of the harp in the background； each man waiting for another to speak； all ing as close as Aiel could to showing disfort。 Jheran frowned at his thumbnail； and Bruan toyed with one of the silvery tassels on his green cushion。 Even Rhuarc studied the carpet。
Graceful； white…robed men and women moved into the hush； pouring worked silver goblets of wine to set beside each man； bringing small silver plates with olives； rare in the Waste； and white ewe's…milk cheese； and the pale； wrinkled nuts the Aiel called pecara。 The Aiel faces looking out of those pale cowls had downcast eyes and an unfamiliar meekness on their features。
Whether captured in battle or on a raid； the gai'shain were sworn to serve obediently for one year and a day； touching no weapon； doing no violence； at the end returning to their own clan and sept as if nothing had happened。 A strange echo of the Way of the Leaf。 Ji'e'toh； honor and obligation； required it； and breaking ji'e'toh was nearly the worst thing an Aiel could do。 Perhaps the worst。 It was possible that some of these men and women were serving their own clan chief； but neither would acknowledge it by the blink of an eye so long as the period of gai'shain held； not even for a son or daughter。
It struck Rand suddenly that this was the real reason that some Aiel took what he had revealed so hard。 To those； it must seem that their ancestors had sworn gai'shain； not only for themselves but for all succeeding generations。 And those generations … all； down to the present day … had broken ji'e'toh by taking up the spear。 Had the men in front of him ever worried along those lines？ Ji'e'toh was very serious business to an Aiel。
The gai'shain departed on soft slippered feet； barely making a sound。 None of the clan chiefs touched their wine； or the food。
〃Is there any hope that Couladin will meet with me？〃 Rand knew there was not； he had stopped sending requests for a meeting once he learned Couladin was having the messengers skinned alive。 But it was a way to start the others talking。
Han snorted。 〃The only word we have had from him is that he means to flay you when next he sees you。 Does that sound as if he will talk？〃
〃Can I break the Shaido away from him？〃
〃They follow him；〃 Rhuarc said。 〃He is not a chief at all； but they believe he is。〃 Couladin had never entered those glass columns； he might even still believe as he claimed； that everything Rand had said was a lie。 〃He says that he is the Car'a'carn； and they believe that as well。 The Shaido Maidens who came； came for their society； and that because Far Dareis Mai carried your honor。 None else will。〃
〃We send scouts to watch them；〃 Bruan said； 〃and the Shaido kill them when they can … Couladin builds the makings of half a dozen feuds … but so far he shows no signs of attacking us here。 I have heard that he claims we have defiled Rhuidean； and that attacking us here would only deepen the desecration。〃
Erim grunted and shifted on his cushion。 〃He means there are enough spears here to kill every Shaido twice over and to spare。〃 He popped a piece of white cheese into his mouth； growling around it。 〃The Shaido were ever cowards and thieves。〃
〃Honorless dogs；〃 Bael and Jheran said together； then stared at one another as though each thought the other had tricked him into something。
〃Honorless or not；〃 Bruan said quietly； 〃Couladin's numbers are growing。〃 Calm as he sounded； he still took a deep drink from his goblet before going on。 〃You all know what I am speaking of。 Some of those who run； after the bleakness； do not throw away their spears。 Instead they join with their societies among the Shaido。〃
〃No Tomanelle has ever