The Dragon Reborn/Chapter 38

==Summary==
:
After having been startled by the sudden appearance of a figure, Egwene al'Vere simultaneously embraces saidar and screams. She notes that Elayne Trakand has also done so. After wondering if help will come from the Blue Crane, she weaves Air and Fire so she can channel lightning. Nynaeve al'Meara merely stands there with her arms crossed. The subject of their surprise is a woman about Egwene's age, though taller.
Egwene calms down, but she does not let go of saidar, though she notes that Elayne has and muses that the Daughter-Heir holds foolish notions about what is safe. Few men would think the woman in front of her is not dangerous.
Egwene feels an odd affinity for the woman and thinks that she looks like Rand's cousin. She recognizes the woman as Aiel and wonders what Aiel are doing out here. Aiel are deadly, even the Maidens of the Spear, but she strangely feels no fear.
The woman introduces herself as Aviendha of the Nine Valleys sept of the Taardad Aiel. She and her companions are Maidens of the Spear. She asks them if they are Aes Sedai. Egwene hears the plural in the woman's first statement and wonders where the others are with a bit of unease but concludes that with saidar flowing through her, they are no threat.
Nynaeve replies that they are women of the White Tower and asks what they want. Aviendha smiles and says that they talk like Aiel Wise Ones and then informs them that they have a companion close by who is gravely hurt and asks for their aid. Egwene marvels that they talk like they are asking for some small favor rather than something involving life or death.
Nynaeve agrees to try to Heal their companion but makes no promises. Aviendha acknowledges this and offers to take them to her. Immediately, and very close by, two additional Aiel stand, surprising Egwene. One of them lowers a black veil which startles Egwene because she remembers Elayne telling her that Aiel only cover their faces when they are ready to kill. These two new Aiel women are armed and look ready to fight.
Elayne introduces herself on the way, and the second Aiel woman introduces herself as Bain of the Black Rock sept of the Shaarad Aiel. The third Aiel woman introduces herself as Chiad of the Stones River sept of the Goshen Aiel. Both Aiel women glance at Egwene, who takes the hint and introduces herself, belatedly adding her family name and home town.
Bain asks if they are first-sisters and, comically Egwene answers yes at the same time that Elayne answers no. Elayne then explains the meaning of first-sisters to Egwene. She then explains to the Aiel that she doesn't know a lot about Aiel ways and asks their pardon. She then also says that she sometimes thinks of Egwene as a first-sister, but they are not blood kin.
Chiad asks them why they don't become first-sisters. Egwene asks how that can happen and in the process shows her ignorance, especially when she says that Maidens don't care for men. Inside her head she compares them to the Red Ajah. Both Aiel women are surprised by that assertion and explains that being wed to the spear means being bound to no man, but Maidens do sometimes given up the spear for a man or a child. They also explain that a woman who goes to Rhuidean to become a Wise One cannot remain a Maiden either. It seems to Egwene that Bain and Chiad are communicating something secret between the two of them in the way that they say this last.
They also explain that their particular clans have blood feud with each other, so they decided that even though Maidens do not lift the spear against one another, they needed to go further. They risked their lives to go to each others' clans to become first-sisters. Then Bain says coyly that she wouldn't say they don't like men. Then she asks if she has made things clear and Egwene replies in the affirmative and silently changes her perception of them to women from the Green Ajah.
The Maidens encourage them to go to their Wise Ones and "say the words" but then are puzzled about how they can say the words if they are already Wise Ones. Both Egwene and Elayne are obviously thinking about what it might be like to share Rand, but Egwene silently thinks that Rand can't be shared by either of them.
Elayne explains that she and Egwene already guard each others' backs, and Chiad shows puzzlement and ask why there is need. The three are freed from answering by their arrival at their destination.
They meet Jolien of the Salt Flat sept of the Nakai Aiel and Dailin, of Aviendha's sept and clan. It is Dailin who is injured. Aviendha explains that Cairhienin soldiers, which she calls "tree-killers" attacked, and in the encounter Dailin took a sword wound to her torso.
Nynaeve looks at the wounds and asks if the woman has been moved. Aviendha answers yes, because Dailin wanted to die near water. Nynaeve chastises them for risking her, then pulls out herbs and a cup, telling Chiad to fill it with water. Bain accompanies Chiad to the river—both women act as if they are afraid of the river.
Aviendha gently reproves Nynaeve for her scolding. Nynaeve sniffs and starts mixing herbs vigorously, since she needs to be angry in order to channel. The Aiel admit surprise that an Aes Sedai uses herbs to Heal, and Nynaeve snaps out "I use what I use!" This causes Chiad to observe that Nynaeve does sound like a Wise One.
Still worried about the Aiel becoming violent, Egwene decides to get them talking. She asks them about their uneasiness around the river, saying that they could swim in it if they wanted. Aviendha admits that she once saw a Shienaran swim. Egwene asks Jolien about the Stones River, and Jolien reasons out that "swimming" means getting into water. She also explains that the Stones River is dry and that she has never seen running water she could not step across.
After a reproachful look from Elayne, Egwene realizes that she has put the Aiel even more ill at ease. She decides that if they will try anything she will hold them with Air, though she doesn't know if she can hold four at once. She embraces saidar, though Elayne does not and Egwene wonders again at that. Aviendha abruptly states that they would never harm Aes Sedai. She continues that she would never use her spear against another woman.
Elayne replies "so long as we do not attack you, you will not try to harm us." Again, while she is trying to calm down Egwene, not the Aiel, nevertheless all four Aiel women are shocked. 
Nynaeve feeds Dailin her concoction, ordering her to drink. Dailin complies with difficulty.
Aviendha continues the conversation by revealing that even if the Aes Sedai offered them violence, she would not retaliate with violence. She says that once the Aiel served the Aes Sedai and they failed in that service; she does not know how or why, however.
Elayne promises that they are not going to destroy them. Aviendha continues by saying that the old stories say they must not fight the Aes Sedai even if they come with balefire and lightning. They may dance with the lightning, but they would never harm an Aes Sedai.
Meanwhile, in her ministrations to Dailin, Nynaeve continues to try to make herself angry.
Still seeking distraction Egwene asks Aviendha what balefire is. Aviendha tells her that she does not know, except that it is fearsome. Egwene offers that perhaps the White Tower has forgotten much as well. She muses that she knew of it in "that dream" in Tel'aran'rhiod.
Nynaeve snaps out "no right to tear bodies so!" Aviendha asks if she is angry and looks worried. Elayne says that it is all right, and Egwene says that it is better than all right. Nynaeve is finally angry enough to channel, and Egwene and Elayne lean forward to watch what is happening. Dailin starts up with a scream. Almost immediately Nynaeve lowers her down; Dailin shuts her eyes and pants.
Egwene thinks that she saw some of what Nynaeve did, and it was like weaving four carpets at once while blindfolded.
Nynaeve cleans the Aiel woman's belly with the bloody bandages; no wound and no scar can be seen where the woman had once been hurt. Nynaeve stands, tosses the old bandages away, and orders the other Aiel women to finish cleaning her, and feed her as she will be hungry.
==Characters ==
*Nynaeve al'Meara
*Egwene al'Vere
*Aviendha
*Bain
*Chiad
*Jolien
*Dailin
*Elayne Trakand
===Referenced===
*Chin Ellisor
*Rand
*Morgase
*Marin al'Vere
*Mat
==Places==
*Cairhien
*The River Erinin
===Referenced===
*Aiel Waste
*Emond's Field
*Andor
*Two Rivers
*Rhuidean
==Items ==
*Blue Crane