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ake his ears burn； while the other named him a coldhearted wretch she never wanted to see again and then proceeded to rip him up one side and down the other； better than Aviendha ever had。 Women were definitely odd。 〃I don't have time to think about women anyway。 The only thing on my mind is uniting the Aiel； even the Shaido if I can。 I …〃 He cut off with a groan as the very last woman he could have hoped for swayed into the room in a clatter of jewelry； carrying a silver tray with a blown…glass flagon of wine and two silver cups。
A diaphanous red silk scarf wrapped around Isendre's head did nothing to hide her palely beautiful； heart shaped face。 Her long dark hair and dark eyes never belonged to any Aiel。 Her full； pouting lips were curved enticingly … until she saw Aviendha。 Then the smile faded to a sickly thing。 Aside from the scarf she had on a dozen or more necklaces of gold and ivory； some set with pearls or polished gems。 As many bracelets weighted each wrist； and even more bunched around her ankles。 That was it； she wore not another thing。 He made himself keep his eyes strictly on her face； but even so his cheeks felt hot。
Aviendha looked like a thunderhead about to spit lightning； Isendre like a woman who had just learned she was to be boiled alive。 Rand wished he were in the Pit of Doom； or anywhere but there。 Still； he got to his feet； he would have more authority looking down on them than the other way around。 〃Aviendha；〃 he began； but she ignored him。
〃Did someone send you with that？〃 she asked coldly。
Isendre opened her mouth； the intended lie plain on her face； then gulped and whispered； 〃No。〃
〃You have been warned about this； sorda。〃 A sorda was a kind of rat； especially sly according to the Aiel； and good for absolutely nothing； its flesh was so rank that even cats seldom ate the ones they killed。 〃Adelin thought the last time would have taught you。〃
Isendre flinched； and swayed as if about to faint。
Rand gathered himself。 〃Aviendha； whether she was sent or not doesn't matter。 I am a little thirsty； and if she was kind enough to bring me wine； she should be thanked for it。〃 Aviendha glanced coolly at the two cups and raised her eyebrows。 He took a deep breath。 〃She should not be punished just for bringing me something to drink。〃 He was careful not to look at the tray himself。 〃Half the Maidens under the Roof must have asked if I …〃
〃She was taken by the Maidens for theft from Maidens； Rand al'Thor。〃 Aviendha's voice was even colder than it had been for the other woman。 〃You have meddled too much already in the business of Far Dareis Mai； more than you should have been allowed。 Not even the Car'a'carn can thwart justice； this is no concern of yours。〃
He grimaced … and let it go。 Whatever the Maidens did to her； Isendre certainly had ing。 Just not for this。 She had entered the Waste with Hadnan Kadere； but Kadere had not cracked his teeth when the Maidens took her for stealing the jewelry that was now all they let her wear。 It had been all Rand could do to keep her from being sent off to Shara tethered like a goat； or else dispatched naked toward the Dragonwall with one water bag； watching her plead for mercy once she realized what the Maidens intended； he had not been able to make himself stay out of it。 Once he had killed a woman； a woman who meant to kill him； but the memory still burned。 He did not think he would ever be able to do it again； even with his life in the balance。 A foolish thing； with female Forsaken likely seeking his blood or worse； but there it was。 And if he could not kill a woman； how could he stand by and let a woman die？ Even if she deserved it？
That was the rub。 In any land west of the Dragonwall； Isendre would face the gallows or the headsman's block for what he knew about her。 About her； and Kadere； and probably most of the merchant's men if not all。 They were Darkfriends。 And he could not expose them。 Not even they were aware that he knew。
If any one of them was revealed as a Darkfriend。。。 Isendre endured as best she could； because even being a servant and kept naked was better than being tied hand and foot and left for the sun； but none would keep silent once Moiraine had her hands on them。 Aes Sedai had no more mercy for Darkfriends than for anyone else； she would loosen their tongues in short order。 And Asmodean had e into the Waste with the merchant's wagons； too； just another Darkfriend so far as Kadere and the others knew； though one with authority。 No doubt they thought he had taken service with the Dragon Reborn on orders from some still higher power。 To keep his teacher； to keep Moiraine from trying to kill both of them very probably； Rand had to keep their secret。
Luckily； no one questioned why the Aiel kept such a close watch on the merchant and his men。 Moiraine thought it was the usual Aiel suspicion of outsiders in the Waste； magnified by them being in Rhuidean； she had had to use all of her persuasion to make the Aiel let Kadere and his wagons into the city。 The suspicion was there； Rhuarc and the other chiefs likely would have set guards even if Rand had not asked。 And Kadere just seemed happy he did not have a spear through his ribs。
Rand had no idea how he was going to resolve the situation。 Or if he could。 It was a fine mess。 In gleemen's stories； only villains got caught in a cleft stick like this。
Once she was sure that he was not going to try to interfere further； Aviendha turned her attention back to the other woman。 〃You may leave the wine。〃
Isendre half…knelt gracefully to set the tray beside his pallet； a peculiar grimace on her face。 It took Rand a moment to recognize an attempt to smile at him without letting the Aiel woman see。
〃And now you will run to the first Maiden you can find；〃 Aviendha went on； 〃and tell her what you have done。 Run； sorda！〃 Moaning and wringing her hands； Isendre ran in a great rattle of jewelry。 As soon as she was out of the room； Aviendha rounded on him。 〃You belong to Elayne！ You have no right to try luring any woman； but especially not that one！〃
〃Her？〃 Rand gasped。 〃You think I …？ Believe me； Aviendha； if she were the last woman on earth； I'd still stay as far from her as I could run。〃
〃So you say。〃 She sniffed。 〃She has been switched seven times … seven！ … for trying to sneak to your bed。 She would not persist like that without some encouragement。 She faces Far Dareis Mai justice； and she is no concern of even the Car'a'carn。 Take that as your lesson for today on our customs。 And remember that you belong to my near…sister！〃 Without letting him get a word in； she stalked out wearing such a look that he thought Isendre might not survive if Aviendha caught up to her。
Letting out a long breath； he got up long enough to put the tray and its wine in a corner of the room。 He was not about to drink anything Isendre brought him。
Seven times she's tried to reach me？ She must have learned that he interceded for her； no doubt to her way of thinking； if he was willing to do that for a smoky look and a smile； what might he do for more？ He shivered at the thought as much as the increasi