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"I should report," Padra said to Ronaed them"

There were uncoon’s Peace for them to enter Arad Doman," said Tavalad, clan chief of the Goshien Aiel

"Nor is it wrong for us to kill the too close, clan chief," Padra replied "The Aiel are not bound by the Dragon’s Peace If the Seanchan wish to risk inspecting our camp, then they need to know that it is a risk"

Several of the others--more than she would have expected--nodded at that colanced at Janduin, and he raised an eyebrow She covertly raised two fingers Two Seanchan, dead by her spear She would have liked to take theai’shain They also made terrible prisoners Better to spare them the shame and let them die

"We should speak e came to say," said Alalved, chief of the Tomanelle Aiel Padra did a quick count All eleven chiefs were accounted for, including those who had blood oaths against one another Alike this hadn’t been seen in years, not since her father had been preparing for the Last Battle

"And what did we come to say?" asked one of the others

Alalved shook his head "The spears grow restless The Aiel are notcrops We are warriors"

"The Dragon asked for peace," Tavalad said

"The Dragon asked others for peace," Alalved replied "He excluded the Aiel"

"That is true," said Darvin, chief of the Reyn

"Do we return to raiding one another after all of these years of holding our blood feuds in abeyance?" Ronam asked softly He was an excellent clan chief, much as Rhuarc had been Wise, yet not afraid of battle

"What would be the point?" asked Shedren, chief of the Daryne Aiel

Others nodded But that raised a larger problem, one her mother had often spoken of What was it to be Aiel, now that their duty to the past had been fulfilled, their toh as a people cleansed?

"How long can ait," Alalved said, "knowing that they have Aiel women captive with those bracelets of theirs? It has been years, and they still continue to refuse all offers of payment and barter! They return our civility with rudeness and insults"

"We are not ed Bruan "The Aiel will soon become milk-fed wetlanders"

All nodded at his words Wise Bruan had lived through the Last Battle

"If only the Seanchan Empress…" Rona The old e the days of the Last Battle, had been considered a wo had nearly been reached with her, so it was said But ardless," Ronaht when they meet It is our nature If the Seanchan won’t listen to reason, then what cause do we have to leave the, anyway," Alalved said "Skirh none speak of them The Car’a’carn required promises of the monarchs, but there is no enforcement Many wetlanders cannot be held at their word, and I worry that the Seanchan will devour them while they squabble"

There were many nods Only Darvin and Tavalad did not seem convinced

Padra held her breath They had known this was co The skirmishes with the Seanchan, the restlessness of the clans She had dreaained great ji in battle Padra had had few chances to prove herself