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If there were others； they had to be in the next thicket； more than two hundred paces ahead； or in the last one； twice that distance behind。 Too far to threaten。 Unless they have bows。 But they would have to be good with them。 Back home； in the petitions at Bel Tine and Sunday； only the best bowmen shot at any distance much beyond two hundred paces。
But she still felt better knowing she could hurl a lightning bolt at anyone who tried such a shot。
〃We are women of the White Tower；〃 Nynaeve said calmly。 She was very obvious in not looking around for other Aiel。 Even Elayne was peering about。 〃Whether you would consider any of us wise is another matter；〃 Nynaeve went on。 〃What do you want of us？〃
Aviendha smiled。 She was really quite lovely； Egwene realized； the grim expression had masked it。 〃You talk as the Wise Ones do。 To the point； and small suffering of fools。〃 Her smile faded； but her voice remained calm。 〃One of us lies gravely hurt； perhaps dying。 The Wise Ones often heal those who would surely die without them； and I have heard Aes Sedan can do more。 Will you aid her？〃
Egwene almost shook her head in confusion。 A friend of hers is dying？ She sounds as if she is asking if we'll lend her a cup of barley flour！
〃I will help her if I can；〃 Nynaeve said slowly。 〃I cannot make promises； Aviendha。 She may die despite anything I can do。〃
〃Death es for us all；〃 the Aiel said。 〃We can only choose how to face it when it es。 I will take you to her。〃
Two women in Aiel garb stood up no more than ten paces away； one out of a little fold in the ground that Egwene would not have supposed could hide a dog； and the other in grass that reached only halfway to her knees。 They lowered their black veils as they stood … that gave her another jolt； she was sure Elayne had told her the Aiel only hid their faces when they might have to do killing … and settled the cloth that had wrapped their heads about their shoulders。 One had the same reddish hair as Aviendha； with gray eyes； the other dark blue eyes and hair like fire。 Neither was any older than Egwene or Elayne； and both looked ready to use the short spears in their hands。
The woman with fiery hair handed Aviendha weapons； a long； heavy…bladed knife to belt at her waist； and a bristling quiver for the other side； a dark； curved bow that had the dull shine of horn； in a case to fasten on her back； and four short spears with long points to grip in her left hand along with a small； round hide buckler。 Aviendha wore them as naturally as a woman in Emond's Field would wear a scarf； just as her panions did。 〃e；〃 she said； and started for the thicket they had already passed。
Egwene finally released saidar。 She suspected all three of the Aiel could stab her with those spears before she could do anything about it； if that was what they wanted； but though they were wary； she did not think they would。 And what if Nynaeve can't Heal their friend？ I wish she would ask before she makes these decisions that involve all of us！
As they headed for the trees； the Aiel scanned the land around them as if they expected the empty landscape to hold enemies as adept at hiding as themselves。 Aviendha strode ahead； and Nynaeve kept up with her。
〃I am Elayne of House Trakand；〃 Egwene's friend said as if making conversation； 〃Daughter…Heir to Morgase； Queen of Andor。〃
Egwene stumbled。 Light； is she mad？ I know Andor fought them in the Aiel War。 It might be twenty years； but they say Aiel have long memories。
But the flame…haired Aiel closest to her only said； 〃I am Bain； of the Black Rock sept of the Shaarad Aiel。〃
〃I am Chiad；〃 the shorter； blonder woman on her other side said； 〃of the Stones River sept of the Goshien Aiel。〃
Bain and Chiad glanced at Egwene； their expressions did not change； but she had the feeling they thought she was showing bad manners。
〃I am Egwene al'Vere；〃 she told them。 They seemed to expect more； so she added； 〃Daughter of Marin al'Vere； of Emond's Field； in the Two Rivers。〃 That seemed to satisfy them； in a way； but she would have bet they understood it no more than she did all these septs and clans。 It must mean families； in some way。
〃You are first…sisters？〃 Bain seemed to be taking in all three of them。
Egwene thought they must mean sisters as it was used for Aes Sedai； and said 〃Yes；〃 just as Elayne said 〃No。〃
Chiad and Bain exchanged a very quick look that suggested they were talking to women who might not be pletely whole in their minds。
〃First…sister；〃 Elayne told Egwene as if she were lecturing； 〃means women who have the same mother。 Second…sister means their mothers are sisters。〃 She turned her words to the Aiel。 〃We neither of us know a great deal of your people。 I ask you to excuse our ignorance。 I sometimes think of Egwene as a first…sister； but we are not blood kin。〃
〃Then why do you not speak the words before your Wise Ones？〃 Chiad asked。 〃Bain and I became first…sisters。〃
Egwene blinked。 〃How can you bee first…sisters？ Either you have the same mother； or you do not。 I do not mean to offend。 Most of what I know about the Maidens of the Spear es from the little Elayne has told me。 I know you fight in battle and don't care for men； but no more than that。〃 Elayne nodded； the way she had described the Maidens to Egwene had sounded much like a cross between female Warders and the Red Ajah。
That look flashed back across the Aiel's faces； as if they were not certain how much sense Egwene and Elayne had。
〃We do not care for men？〃 Chiad murmured as if puzzled。
Bain knotted her brow in thought。 〃What you say es near truth； yet misses it pletely。 When we wed the spear； we pledge to be bound to no man or child。 Some do give up the spear； for a man or a child〃 … her expression said she herself did not understand this … 〃but once given up； the spear cannot be taken back。〃
〃Or if she is chosen to go to Rhuidean；〃 Chiad put in。 〃A Wise One cannot be wedded to the spear。〃
Bain looked at her as if she had announced the sky was blue； or that rain fell from clouds。 The glance she gave Egwene and Elayne said perhaps they did not know these things。 〃Yes； that is true。 Though some try to struggle against it。〃
〃Yes； they do。〃 Chiad sounded as though she and Bain were sharing something between them。
〃But I have gone far from the trail of my explanation；〃 Bain went on。 〃The Maidens do not dance the spears with one another even when our clans do； but the Shaarad Aiel and the Goshien Aiel have held blood feud between them over four hundred years； so Chiad and I felt our wedding pledge was not enough。 We went to speak the words before the Wise Ones of our clans … she risking her life in my hold； and I in hers … to bond us as first…sisters。 As is proper for first…sisters who are Maidens； we guard each other's backs； and neither will let a man e to her without the other。 I would not say we do not care for men。〃 Chiad nodded； with just the hint of a smile。 〃Have I made the truth clear to you； Egwene？〃
〃Yes；〃 Egwene said faintly。 She glanced at Elayne and saw the bewildermen