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riding。 But Rand did not think so。
Mat galloped up trailing a cloud of yellowish brown dust； hat pulled low and spear resting upright on his stirrup iron like a lance。 〃What is this place； Rand？〃 he asked loudly； to be heard over the shouts。 〃All those women would say was 'Move faster。 Move faster。' 〃 Rand told him； and he frowned at the towering rock face of the butte。 〃You could hold that thing for years； I suppose； with supplies； but it isn't a patch on the Stone； or the Tora Harad。〃
〃The Tora what？〃 Rand said。 。
Mat rolled his shoulders before answering。 〃Just something I heard of； once。〃 He stood in his stirrups to peer back over the heads of the Jindo toward the peddlers' train。 〃At least they're still with us。 I wonder how long before they finish trading and go。〃
〃Not before Alcair Dal。 Rhuarc says there's a sort of fair whenever clan chiefs meet； even if it's only two or three。 With all twelve ing； I don't think Kadere and Keille will want to miss it。〃
Mat did not look pleased at the news。
Rhuarc led the way straight to the widest fissure in the sheer stone wall； ten or twelve paces across at the broadest； and shadowed by the height of its sheer sides as it wove deeper and deeper； dark and even cool beneath a ribbon of sky。 It felt odd to be in so much shade。 The Aiels' wordless shouts swelled； magnified between the gray…brown walls； when they suddenly ceased； the silence； broken only by the clatter of mules' hooves and the creak of wagon wheels far behind； seemed very loud。
They rounded another curve； and the fissure opened abruptly into a wide canyon； long and almost straight。 From every side； shrill ululating cries broke from hundreds of women's mouths。 A thick crowd lined the way； women in bulky skirts； shawls wrapped about their heads； and men wearing grayish brown coats and breeches； the cadin'sor； and Maidens of the Spear； too； waving their arms in wele； beating on pots or whatever could make a noise。
Rand gaped； and not just for the pandemonium。 The canyon walls were green； in narrow terraces climbing halfway up both sides。 Not all were really terraces； he realized。 Small； flat…roofed houses of gray stone or yellow clay seemed to be stacked practically atop one another； in clusters with paths winding between； and every roof a garden of beans and squashes； peppers and melons and plants he did not know。 Chickens ran loose； redder than those he knew； and some strange sort of fowl； larger and speckled gray。 Children； most garbed like their elders； and white…robed gai'shain moved among the rows with big clay pitchers； apparently watering individual plants。 The Aiel did not have cities； he had always been told； but this was certainly a fair…sized town at least； if as odd a one as he had ever seen。 The din was too great for him to ask any of the questions that popped into his head … such as； what were those round fruits； too red and shiny for apples； growing on low； pale…leafed bushes； or those straight； broad…leafed stalks lined with long； fat； yellow…tasseled sprouts？ He had been too long a farmer not to wonder。
Rhuarc and Heirn slowed； and so did Couladin； but only to a quick walk； thrusting their spears through the bow…case harnesses on their backs。 Amys ran on ahead； laughing like a girl； while the men continued their steady advance along the crowd…lined canyon floor； the cries of the hold's women vibrating in the air and nearly overshadowing the clanging of pots。 Rand followed； as Aviendha had told him to。 Mat looked as if he wanted to turn around and ride right back out again。
At the far end of the canyon； the wall leaned inward； making a deep； dark pocket。 The sun never reached to the back of it； so Aviendha had said； and the rocks there； always cool； gave the hold its name。 In front of the shadows； Amys stood with another woman atop a wide gray boulder； its top smoothed for a platform。
The second woman； slender in her bulky skirts； scarf…bound yellow hair spilling below her waist and touched with white from her temples； appeared older than Amys though certainly more than handsome； with a few fine wrinkles at the corners of her gray eyes。 She was dressed the same as Amys； a plain brown shawl over her shoulders； her necklaces and bracelets of gold and carved ivory no finer or richer； but this was Lian； the roofmistress of Cold Rocks Hold。
The wavering； high…pitched cries dwindled away to nothing as Rhuarc halted before the boulder； a step closer than Heirn and Couladin。 〃I ask leave enter your hold； roofmistress；〃 he announced in a loud； carrying tone。
〃You have my leave； clan chief；〃 the yellow…haired woman replied formally； and just as loudly。 Smiling； she added in a much warmer voice； 〃Shade of my heart； you will always have my leave。〃
〃I give thanks； roofmistress of my heart。〃 That did not sound particularly formal； either。
Heirn stepped forward。 〃Roofmistress； I ask leave to e beneath your roof。〃
〃You have my leave； Heirn；〃 Lian told the stocky man。 〃Beneath my roof； there is water and shade for you。 The Jindo sept is always wele here。〃
〃I give thanks； roofmistress。〃 Heirn clapped Rhuarc on the shoulder and left to rejoin his people； Aiel ceremony was short； it seemed； and to the point。
Swaggering； Couladin joined Rhuarc； 〃I ask leave to enter your hold； roofmistress。〃
Lian blinked； frowning at him。 A murmur rose behind Rand； an astonished buzz from hundreds of throats。 A sudden feel of danger hung in the air。 Mat certainly felt it； too； fingering his spear and half…turning to see what the mass of Aiel was doing。
〃What is the matter？〃 Rand asked quietly over his shoulder。 〃Why doesn't she say something？〃
〃He asked as if he were a clan chief；〃 Aviendha whispered disbelievingly。 〃The man is a fool。 He must be mad！ If she refuses him； it will mean trouble with the Shaido； and she may； for such an insult。 Not blood feud … he is not their clan chief； however swollen his head … but trouble。〃 Between one breath and the next her voice sharpened。 〃You did not listen； did you？ You did not listen！ She could have refused permission even to Rhuarc； and he would have had to leave。 It would break the clan； but it is in her power。 She can refuse even He Who es With the Dawn； Rand al'Thor。 Women are not powerless among us； not like your wetlander women who must be queens or nobles or else dance for a man if they wish to eat！〃
He shook his head slightly。 Every time he was on the point of berating himself for how little he had learned about the Aiel； Aviendha reminded him how little she knew about anyone not Aiel。 〃Someday I would like to introduce you to the Women's Circle in Emond's Field。 It will be。。。 interesting。。。 to hear you explain to them how powerless they are。〃 He felt her shifting against his back； trying to get a good look at his face； and carefully kept his expression smooth。 〃Maybe they'll explain a few things to you； too。〃
〃You have my leave；〃 Lian began … Couladin smiled； swelling up where he stood …〃to step beneath my roof。 Water and shade will be found for you。〃 Soft gasps from hundreds of mouths made quite a loud sound。
The fire…haired man quivered as if struck； face red with rage。 He did not seem to know what to do。 He took a challenging step forward； staring up at Lian and Amys； clutching his own forearms as though to keep his hands from his spears； then whirled and strode back toward the gathering； glaring this way and that； daring anyone to speak。 Finally he stopped not far from where he had begun； staring at Rand。 Coals could not have been hotter than his blue eyes。
〃As one friendless and alone；〃 Aviendha whispered。 〃She has weled him as a beggar。 The gravest insult to him； and none to the Shaido。〃 Suddenly she fisted Rand so hard in the ribs that he grunted。 〃Move； wetlander。 You hold such honor as I have left in your hands； all will know I have taught you！ Move！〃
Swinging a leg over； he slid from Jeade'en's back and strode up beside Rhuarc。 I am not Aiel； he thought。 I do not understand them； and I cannot let myself e to like them too much。 I cannot。
None of the other men had done so； but he bo