Rand POV#

Rand and Mat return to Chaendaer where they are met by the Bair. Couladin claims Rand murdered Muradin and attacks him. Before any damage is done, Bair stops them and has Rand show the signs. Couladin and the Shaido stand on one side. Rhuarc, Heirn and the Jindo stand on another. Lan stands in between. Egwene, Amys, Melaine and Seana come out of the tents. They all see that Rand has dragons on both arms. Bair announces that a Car'a'carn, "chief of chiefs" in the Old Tongue, has been chosen. Couladin looks enraged, but the rest of the Aiel look resigned. All the Aiel but Rhuarc go back to their tents. Egwene tells them that Aviendha and Moiraine also went to Rhuidean and that they have been gone seven days. Rand asks Amys and Melaine to Heal Mat who is in real pain, but they say they have no Talent for Healing. Egwene explains that few can Heal well. The best Healers are Yellow Ajah. Sheriam can barely Heal a bruise. Seana directs everyone to the tents where they will make up ointments. Amys and Melaine had to hold down Lan half the night to keep him from going after Moiraine.

Rand asks Rhuarc about his visions but the Wise Ones say it is forbidden. Rand tells them he is changing the rules and asks again. Rhuarc tells him that different men see roughly the same things but through different eyes. He explains that the sharing of water was the Cairhienin which eventually led to Laman cutting down Avendoraldera and the Aiel War.

Back in the tents, the Wise Ones tend to Rand's and Mat's wounds. Rhuarc recommends that they all go to Cold Rocks Hold, then to Alcair Dal, a place used for meetings of the clan chiefs. The Wise Ones agree to visit all the clan chiefs and other Wise Ones in their dreams to have them come to Alcair Dal with all speed.

Rand asks Amys about his mother and Amys tells him the story. Maidens found her in the Aiel Waste and followed her till she was near death. She called herself Shaiel and said she was sent by an Aes Sedai named Gitara Moroso. She was bitter that she left her husband and son behind. They trained her as a Maiden and she was adopted by the Chumai sept of the Taardad. During the Aiel War she became pregnant by the clan chief, Janduin. He was a very charismatic leader.[1] When she was lost, he resigned as clan chief and went to the Blight where he was killed by a man. Janduin refused to defend himself because the man looked like Shaiel.[2] Rand is stunned that he has a half-brother.[3]

As the day progresses, Rand asks Bair why they do not kill him if his destiny is to destroy the Aiel. She tells him more of Aiel prophecy:

So he is their only hope of survival. At mid-afternoon Aviendha returns. She stares hatefully at Rand. He assumes that is because of what she saw in the glass columns.[4] Late that afternoon he sees Moiraine stumbling up the hill. Lan rushes out and carries her to the tents. As Rand and Mat talk, Rand thinks that he will break the rules in a way no one expects.

More Rand POV