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nner they chose。
Adelin and the other four left him to join their friends； but he was hardly alone as he climbed higher in the building； along curving flights of wide white stairs。 He had to answer the same questions at practically every step。 No； he was not hungry。 Yes； he knew he was not used to the heat yet； and no； he had not spent too much time in the sun。 He bore it all patiently； but he did heave a sigh of relief when he reached the second story above the huge window。 Here there were no Maidens and no gai'shain in the broad hallways or on the stairs that led on upward。 The bare walls and empty chambers emphasized the absence of people； but after traversing the floors below； he found solitude a blessing。
His bedroom was a windowless chamber near the center of the building； one of the few that was not huge； though its ceiling still reached high enough to make height the room's longest dimension。 What it had been meant for originally； he had no idea； a mosaic of vines around the small fireplace was the only ornamentation。 A servant's room； he would have said； but servants' rooms did not have a door sheathed in bronze； however plain； that he pushed most of the way shut。 Gai'shain had polished the metal to a dull gleam。 A few tasseled cushions lay scattered on the blue floor tiles for sitting； and a thick pallet； atop bright layered rugs； for sleeping。 A simple blue…glazed pitcher of water and。 a dark green cup sat on the floor near the 〃bed。〃 That was it； except for two three…pronged stand…lamps； already lit； and a pace…high pile of books in one corner。 With a tired sigh； he lay down on the pallet still in his coat and boots； no matter how he shifted it was not much softer than sleeping on the bare floor。
The night's chill was already seeping into the room； but he did not bother to light the dried cow dung on the hearth； he was readier to face the cold than the smell。 Asmodean had tried to show him a simple way to keep the room warm； simple； but something the man did not have enough strength to do himself。 The one time Rand had tried it； he had awakened in the middle of the night； gasping for breath while the edges of the rugs smoldered from the heat of the floor。 He had not made another attempt。
He had chosen this building for his quarters because it was whole and near to the plaza； its great high ceilings gave a semblance of coolness even to the hottest part of the day； and its thick walls kept out the worst of the cold at night。 It had not been the Roof of the Maidens then； of course。 One morning he simply awakened to find it so； Maidens in every room on the first two floors and their guards on the doors。 It had taken him a while to realize that they intended the building for their society's Roof in Rhuidean； yet expected him to continue to stay in it。 In fact； they were ready to move the Roof wherever he went。 That was why he had to meet the clan chiefs elsewhere。 The best he had been able to manage was to make the Maidens agree to stay below the floor where he slept； that had amused them all no end。 Even the Car'a'carn is not a king； he reminded himself wryly。 Twice already he had moved upward as the numbers of Maidens increased。 Idly he tried to calculate how many more could e in before he was sleeping on the roof。
That was better than remembering how he had let Moiraine get under his skin。 He had not meant her to learn his plans until the day the Aiel moved。 She knew exactly how to manipulate his emotions； how to make him so angry that he said more than he wanted to。 I never used to get so angry。 Why is it so hard to hold on to my temper？ Well； there was nothing she could do to stop him。 He did not think there was。 He had to remember to be careful around her。 His increasing abilities occasionally made him careless toward her； but if he was far stronger； she still knew more than he； even with Asmodean's teaching。
In a way； letting Asmodean know his plans was less important than revealing his intentions to the Aes Sedai。 To Moiraine I'm still just a shepherd she can use for the Tower's ends； but to Asmodean I'm the only branch he can hold on to in a flood。 Strange to think he could probably trust one of the Forsaken more than he could Moiraine。 Not that he could trust either very far。 Asmodean。 If his bonds to the Dark One had shielded him from the taint on saidin； there had to be another way to do it。 Or to cleanse it。
The trouble was that before they went over to the Shadow； the Forsaken had been among the most powerful Aes Sedai in the Age of Legends； when things the White Tower never dreamed of were monplace。 If Asmodean did not know a way； it probably did not exist。 It has to。 There has to be something。 I'm not going to just sit until I go mad and die。
That was plain foolish。 Prophecy had made a rendezvous for him at Shayol Ghul。 When； he did not know； but afterward； he would not have to worry about going mad any longer。 He shivered and thought about unfolding his blankets。
The faint sound of soft…soled footsteps in the hall snapped him upright。 I told them！ If they can't。。。！ The woman who pushed open the door； her arms full of thick wool blankets； was not anyone he expected。
Aviendha paused just inside the room to regard him with cool； blue…green eyes。 A more than pretty woman； of an age with him； she had been a Maiden until she gave up the spear to bee a Wise One； not very long ago。 Her dark reddish hair still came well short of her shoulders and hardly needed the folded brown scarf to keep it out of her face。 She seemed a bit awkward with her brown shawl； a bit impatient with her full gray skirts。
He felt a stab of jealousy at the silver necklace she wore； an elaborate string of intricately worked discs； each different。 Who gave her that？ She would not have chosen it herself； she did not seem to like jewelry。 The only other piece she wore was a wide ivory bracelet； carved in finely detailed roses。 He had given her that； and he was not sure she had forgiven him for it yet。 It was foolish of him to be jealous in any case。
〃I haven't seen you in ten days；〃 he said。 〃I thought the Wise Ones would have tied you to my arm once they found out I'd blocked them out of my dreams。〃 Asmodean had been amused at the first thing he wanted to learn； and then frustrated at how long Rand took to learn it。
〃I have my training to do； Rand al'Thor。〃 She would be one of the few Wise Ones who could channel； that was part of what she was being taught。 〃I am not one of your wetlander women； to stand about so you can look at me whenever you wish。〃 Despite knowing Egwene； and Elayne for that matter； she had an oddly wrongheaded view of what she called wetlander women； and of wetlanders in general。 〃They are not pleased at what you have done。〃 She meant Amys； Bair and Melaine； the three Wise One dreamwalkers who were teaching her； and trying to watch him。 Aviendha shook her head ruefully。 〃They were especially not pleased that I had let you know they were walking your dreams。〃
He stared at her。 〃You told them？ But you didn't really say anything。 I figured it out myself； and I would have eventually even if you hadn't let a hint slip