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     I stared at the ceiling; the events of my past whirled through my head.  Pictures, colors, friends, all flew in front of my eyes like a floating cloud born upon a fast blowing wind high up in the heavens.  It was the same every time, I would suddenly become dizzy and lay down on my bed, then the dots would appear, flashing in bright reds and greens, then the memories. They started at the day when my camp had been set upon by wetlanders in the borderlands during the Aiel war, and ran all the way through to the very moment the dizzy spell had come upon me.  The first time the memories came upon me I thought my life was going to end, that I would wake up from this dream so I could begin a new one, but I had lived. In nothing more than a few brief seconds my entire life flashed before me, and then everything returned to normal.  At first I had thought that it was due to the amount of stress I had been under the past weeks, that this would be the first and last time that it would happen.  I was wrong, they came again, and again, at first they were a once a week occurrence, but over time they steadily grew worse.  When they had reached the point that I could no longer leave my room without worrying that a spell would come upon me, I finally asked for help.
     I had hopped that I could get a Yellow to come and do a quick healing and then tell me that I was just overly stressed and needed to take a break for a few days and everything would be ok, but I was not that lucky.  Instead when I opened my door, I found a sister of the Brown Ajah waiting.  I had very clear memories of my first meetings with the Browns that did not require the dizzy spells to recall.  They had interrogated me worse than the White Cloak questioners about the three-fold land, the customs of the Aiel people and hundreds of other things they desired to know.  Although the Aiel had once again crossed the dragon wall to follow the Car’a’carn, little was still know about their culture.  The Browns had not been too happy with my report that I had lost any memory of my life before I had left the Aiel waste.  Now they hear I’m having fits where my life is flashing before me they were there faster than I could even summon the void.
     For the next hour I was examined in ways I did not even think possible. The Brown sisters were very thorough job, first questioning me about everything I saw, then running several tests with saidar, and after that much to their pleasure a fit came upon me, and whatever they did then I do not know I was too distracted. Finally after several more tests they left leaving me lying on my bed wondering why I had ever come to the Tower at all.  These thoughts and other like them drifted through my head, each one dissipating like smoke as soon as I tried to focus one of them for more then a second.  Suddenly, I noticed something I had not before, a small pieces of the puzzle I had completely over looked.  It was the reason why the Brown sisters had left somewhat disappointed.  All of the memories started after I had crossed the dragon wall, the part of my very early life was still a mystery.
     I had a few brief flashes of memory from that time it was true, ever since I had bonded those memories had begun to reemerge but they were still very foggy and scrambled. The only clear thing at all that stayed in my head for more than just brief flashes that came to me every now and then were the images of my mother and father.  Realizing this did not help my situation though, in fact things became worse, some days I could barely pull myself out of bed without one of the spells coming upon me.  Finally I decided that there was only one way to stop them, I would simply travel back to the waste, and find my lost memories.
 I made my plans for leaving shortly after, it was a fine summer day when I had everything set and ready, but the fits had stopped coming to me, and I became reluctant to leave.  The fits did not return for a long time and everything was as it should have been, for a brief time in the fall I even forgot about them, but when winter came they returned unexpectedly, and as bad as ever.

    It was a very cold winter’s day, the wind howled across the high snow tipped peak of dragon mount and screamed past the high reaches of the Tower.  In side my room a fire blazed in the fireplace, filling the room with light and sending warmth to every corner defying the wind which raged outside my closed window.  Yet still I felt chilled to the bone, the spells had come upon me over and over, offering me only a few brief seconds of respite before the next one came. Each one was more vivid than the last; each one filled with some new memory that I did not know I still possessed.  The day before had been just as bad, as had been the day before that, I hadn’t eaten in over three days, I was barely to get a sip of water down before I became dizzy and had to lie down again.  Few knew of what I had been going through only my closest friends had even seen me in the past week.
     Even with the fire and my attempts to use saidin to warm the room I still felt chilled to the bone.  I yearned for the hot sun beating down upon me, for the dry conditions of the three-fold land again like I had felt during my youth.  Everything in me screamed to go, to open a gateway and walk through to my homeland on the other side.  In that brief moment of calmness I scribbled out a quick note explaining my absence then placing my daggers in their hidden places upon my person, I grabbed my spears, and a few other pieces of equipment.  I grabbed up a bag packed with clothes more suitable to the conditions in the waste, I would change out of my black cadin’sor after I arrived.  I took hold of saidin, and removed the weave of invisibility which concealed the few packs of food I had kept stored for these past months.  Everything had been preserved with the one power, so I had no need to worry about the food having gone rotten.  I took one last look around the room then opened a gateway, and snatching up several filled water skins stepped through, the gateway snapping shut the instant I was completely through.
    I was only a few leagues west of the Jangai pass, I had decided that it would be best if I traveled into the three-fold land like normal men, I didn’t think suddenly appearing through a gateway would be the best way to gain acceptance. I remembered well hearing about the Aiel men who channeled, and I did not want it to color any decisions made about me by those who had been left behind.  I was taking a big risk in coming I knew that but I had to stop the fits that came upon me or go nuts before even the taint on saidin could get to me.  I quickly found a secluded spot out of sight and changed into the proper color cadin’sor, I knew that the cut of an Aiel’s coat tells other Aiel that man's clan and sept. Since I was of no clan or sept I had made a coat in an exact copy to that of the one I had worn when I was a child.  I wrapped the shoufa around my head, placed one of my golden daggers at my belt signifying that I was an Aiel warrior not just another man, and then I headed off into the waste.
     For a brief second, the instant I stepped through the gateway I felt a strange sense of wonder at seeing this land that I had no memory of ever really living in.  Then it was washed away completely by a feeling of comfort, like I had returned home from a long journey, and finally I would be able to rest.  Everything seemed as it should have, how I could think this I do not know but I knew that everything was in it proper place.  The first day of traveling I saw no one, perhaps it was that I didn’t have the skill anymore to spot them or perhaps I was too far from any settlements for watchers to be about.  I walked slowly taking in all of it; old memories once lost or buried reemerging with every step I took.  I knew the three-fold land as well as I knew the blight.  Every tall stone spire, every hill each silhouetted by the setting sun, in the colors of gray and brown, and every hue in between brought back another memory of a time long past. For the first time in months I felt completely at ease, my mind totally focused on what was ahead.
     I set camp that first night a top a small hill which gave me an amazing view of the entire are around me.  A few clouds floated in the sky, leaving the stars out in perfect view for all to see.  I remembered long ago, staring up at those stars as a kid, as I did then, wishing for a life full of adventure, but at that moment I only wished of the adventures to end.
     I woke up with the sun the next day and after a small breakfast started off at a quick run.  It appeared that I still had the stamina of the Aiel people, holding that quick pace for many miles, and finally when the sun began to fall I slowed and found myself a place to sleep for the night.  I lost track of time during those day, I wandered in a generally westward direction not quite sure exactly where I was going, I had always remembered that I was of the Taardad clan, but of my sept, and where I was born and raised remained a mystery.  The memories came back to me slowly, day by day a new piece to the puzzle was uncovered but it took a long time before I remembered it all, and even then I had to try to fit the pieces into their proper places.  Eventually I woke up one day realizing that I had born at Cold Rocks Hold, and lived there for the short time that I had lived in the waste.  Things often came to me that way, I would wake up one morning and know something about myself I had not known before.  I decided that very morning that I would go to Cold Rocks hold and see what I could find there.  I knew that many of the Aiel and crossed over the Dragon wall following the Car’a’carn and that many of those that had stayed had gone to Rhuidean, but I thought that perhaps they had not completely abandoned there old homes.  By this point I realized I was already nearing Rhuidean, and that in a few days I could be there, but I was not ready yet to deal with so may people, so I turned back, heading North and West.
     I had no problem finding food or water during my days of traveling, things just seemed to click into place, I knew what signs to look for and where to find them, it was like I had never left the three-fold land at all.  Finally after many days of traveling I reached my destination. The closer I had come the more people I had seen, they had been trying to remain hidden from my eyes much the way I had tried to remain unseen by theirs but we saw each other, although I’m sure I did not see them all. As I approached the fissured rock wall that was Cold Rocks, I lowered my shoufa, another thing I had remembered, quickly.  Somehow I knew the proper entrance, and made my way through, I had seen signs of life on my way so I was sure there would be someone around to at least send me in the right direction.
     I’m sure any idiot could have figured out the proper entrance, it was the largest fissure in the rock wall spanning ten to twelve paces across, and shadowed by the height of its sheer rock walls, but I knew by memory as if I had passed through it many times before.  I followed the wide corridor as it wove its way deeper and deeper into the rock until finally I emerged into a wide canyon.  On either side the walls were green, in terraces that ran up the lengths of both.  Flat roofed houses of yellow clay, stacked one upon the other in clusters, with paths winding between them covered the rock walls.  Many looked unused and only a few still had gardens on their roofs but most of the place looked empty.  A few women in skirts walked about along with several men wearing grayish brown coats and breeches.  A few children ran about playing but nothing more, I was glad for this I did not think I was ready for a confrontation with a large group of Aiel just yet.  I made my way to the far end of the canyon where the wall slanted inward creating a dark shadow in the back.  Just in front sat a wide gray boulder, it’s top smoothed for a platform.  A top it stood a slender woman, dressed similar to the wise ones fashion, she had yellow hair that was touched by gray at the temples.  She was a handsome woman with a few wrinkles at the corners of her graying hair.  I knew she was the roofmistress of the hold and that if I wished to stay even for the night I would have to gain her approval, but I was unsure how to continue.  It struck me as odd that she had even been waiting there at all, but then I remembered that I had spotted watchers for the past five day, she probably knew the instant I had stepped with in sight of Cold Rocks.  She was still staring at me and I knew that I had to do something or be put out of Cold Rocks and have to wander about again.
     I bowed formally “Roofmistress, I ask leave to come beneath your roof.” It seemed like the right thing to say, although my memory was till fragmented and some things still completely missing.
 She stared at me in silence for what seemed an eternity; sweat trickled down my forehead as I waited. “You have my leave” She intoned “Beneath my roof there is water and shade for you.”
     “I give thanks, roofmistress.”  I replied finishing the ceremony
     The sun had almost disappeared beyond the horizon spreading long shadows across the canyon floor.  I turned to find myself a place to sleep for the night, but the roofmistress caught me by the arm.
     “Where are you going stranger?  Do you have friends at Cold Rocks that you are staying with?”  She asked her gray eyes piercing me to the bone.
 “I thought perhaps I could find myself a quiet place where I could sleep tonight.  I know no one in Cold Rocks Hold, as you said yourself.  I’m a stranger, seeking guidance.”
     “How odd” the woman mused to herself “I know this face.” I barely caught it and was somewhat stunned. “You have the face and height of an Aiel man, but by your accent, I don’t think I could tell what country you come from at all.”
     I gave her a puzzled look “What do u mean, roofmistress?”
     “Like just now boy, had I not been able to see your face I would have sworn you were a Shienaran, but not a minute ago, you sounded like one of the tree-killers. A time before that you moved between an Andoran and a few other accents that I have no name for.”
     “I have lived a strange life, roofmistress.  I have seen much of the wetlands in my years.”
     “Yes, that’s obvious enough. What is your name lad, you are familiar to me.”
     “Cor Dazar, roofmistress.  I am a warder from the White Tower.”
     Her eyes flashed with recognition for a second but then it was gone replaced by a cool placid look.
    “A Warder?  Yes.  You have the look of one.”  She replied more to herself, seemingly lost in thought for the second
     “Well I can’t just have you bedding down in the streets come with me boy, you will stay in my home tonight and tell me all about this strange past that you mentioned.”  She started walking without looking back to see if I followed.
     The roofmistress home sat on the highest level of the West Side, with the steep canyon wall rising high above it.   It appeared to be a modest dwelling, a small rectangle made of large yellow clay bricks with narrow glassless windows that were covered by red curtains and like all the houses, a vegetable garden sat on the roof.  Inside was a large room floored with reddish brown tiles, beyond that first large room, others had been craved into the rock.  High ceilings with arched doorways and silver lamps giving off a sent that hinted of new life and growing things.  Intricately woven carpets covered the floor, and layered rugs each with a different design.  I recognized the work of several countries, but found it more familiar than anything else.  The room was filled with hundreds of colors and designs; thin porcelain vases and bowls sat in small niches in the walls.  Cushions of all shapes, sizes and colors were spread throughout the room.  From my bag I produced a golden statue of an Aiel man holding a spear in a fighting stance to give as a guest gift.  I had made when I was first learning to channel under the instructions of Sorhan Gaidin.  She marveled at the detail of it and after praising it and thanking me she set it in an empty niche in the far wall.
White clad gai’shain stepped forward carrying trays of food which they set before the roofmistress where she had stretched out on the floor.  She motioned for me to do that same.  As I did so I suddenly realized that I had not yet asked her name or been given it.  I opened to mouth to ask but she cut me off abruptly.
     “So tell me of this strange life you have had, many of my people have gone to Rhuidean and I do not hear many tales these days.”
    Forgetting my questions I launched into the story of my life, her gray eyes studying me carefully, compelling me to tell her everything.  We ate as we talked, she added in her own comments as the tale went along, asking questions about the people I had lived with.  Her eyes seemed to light up when I mentioned my hunts into the blight, and even told her, in detail, about several journeys.
     “It seems you have not completely forgotten your roots.” She said but that was all, and so I continued. Finally I came back to entering Cold Rocks Hold.
     “So you see roofmistress, I must find someone who can help me discover even a small bit of my past.  I have memories sometimes but they’re not clear.  I fear I will go crazy without at least learning some small piece of this puzzle.” I had purposefully left out the part of my life where I learned how to channel, and any events that could bring such a conclusion to mind. She nodded to herself thoughtfully and then looked at me again.
     “For five days I have heard reports of your coming, and each day I wondered who you were.  By the descriptions of your looks I would have thought you someone else, but he is far in the East with the Car’a’carn.  When I was told of how you acted though I knew for certain.”  I felt a little bit of pride that instant, I had spotted their watchers as soon as they had spotted me.
 “Why do you tell me this?  What does it have to do with my questions?”  I asked carefully when she lapsed into silence
     “The other man I mentioned, he was also from this hold.  His mother had been a maiden of the spear, so he had been given to another family to be raised.  I had watched him grow up here.”  She paused again, searching for the right words.
     “What does he have to do with me though?” I prodded gently.
     “He has everything to do with you.”  I gave her a puzzled look  “As I listened to your story, I knew you were not the same man, but your voice your face.  It’s as if I was looking at a perfect painting of him.  Even the way you act is almost identical to him.”  I still did not quite understand though and she saw it on my face
     “Cor, he is your twin brother.  I remember you two well now, always getting into mischief, and then we crossed over the dragon wall to avenge the killing of Avendoraldera, and you were gone.”  I realized my mouth was hanging open and I shut it quickly with a snap.
    “I remember all to well the arguments that took place over the fact that one so young as yourself should not be allowed to leave, but Lirelle, the wise one who wanted you to go, would not change her mind. She would have carried you to the spine of the world herself to get you across.”
     “But what about my brother?”
     She watched me carefully as she said the next part. “He and your twin sister went on with life as if you had never existed.  They seemed to know something was wrong for the first few years…” I cut her off
     “Twin sister?” I gasped in shock. “You said I had a twin brother, how can I possibly have a sister as well?”
     “You were what we call triplets.  It’s a very rare occurrence, but sometimes it does happen.”
     “Where is she now?”
    “She is also with the Car’a’carn, she became Far Dareis Mai as soon as she was able.”
 I could do little more than stare in shock by that point; the fact that I not only had a brother whom looked like me, but a sister as well.
     “Yes I just told you that.  Are you feeling well?”  I had not meant to speak the words aloud but they slipped out before I realized what was happening.
    “I'm fine just a little overwhelmed.  I’m sure my friends back at the tower will be glad to learn there are two others like me with even less wetlander humor than me.  Please continue”
     She gave me a warm motherly smile and continued telling me about my newly discovered family.  My brother, Rahien Dazar, old tongue for Dawn Eagle, was of the jindo sept; he had joined the ranks of the Far Aldazar Din (brothers of the Eagle) as soon as he was allowed.  My sister, Tai Dazar, old tongue for True Eagle, of the jindo sept became Far Dareis Mai the very day my brother had become Far Aldazar Din.  My father, Gartel, the man whose care I had been given to was one of the Aethan Dor (Red Shields), my mother, Sanrel, was not a warrior at all. She had moved to Rhuidean with the others and was staying there now, she had tried to convince Gartel to stay with her but he would not be turned for any reason and crossed the spine of the world with the thousands of others following the Car’a’carn.
     The different tales of their lives washed over me in a blur, my mind saving it all to be processed slowly later.  After a while I looked down and realized that the platters of food had been removed while we had been talking.  The roofmistress, whose name I still did not know saw me looking about and rose to her feet, I did the same wondering what would happen next.
 “It is late and you have had a long journey.  Tonight you will sleep in comfort and tomorrow we will see what else can be done to help you in your search.”
    I opened my mouth to protest still wanting to ask some more questions, but I was surrounded by gai’shain and quickly escorted to my room before a word could leave my mouth.  A pallet had been made up while we had talked. I quickly stripped off my shirt and lay down.  As soon as my head touched down I was asleep.  That night I slept peacefully, my dreams of nothing more than hunting in the three-fold land, stalking my prey in my brown cadin’sor.  I felt the eyes watching me, I knew of the world of Tel’aran’rhiod, and had heard from several people that the wise ones had the ability to travel it.  Why they would be watching my dreams, or how they even knew I was around, I could not guess but I did not like it.  Unfortunately I could no shield my dreams without the one power so I had to let them watch and hope I did not dream of anything I did not want them to see.
 I woke early the next day, dressing quickly I headed back out the main room so I could ask the roofmistress some of the questions that plagued my brain.  Especially what her name was which I still didn’t know.  She was sitting on the floor with an open book in her hands, looking up when I entered the room she gave me a smile.
     “Good, you’re up earlier than I had expected, you will have plenty of time to get ready.”
     “Ready?” I asked puzzled by her words “Ready for what?”
     “For your trip to Rhuidean of course.  There’s a group of Far Dareis Mai, and Far Aldazar Din going today and they agreed to take you with them.  I already explained to them the circumstances and were quite glad to help.”
     I was somewhat thrown off balance, something that seemed to be happening a lot lately.
     “But I still have so many questions to ask.”  I said as I regained my wits. In less than a day this woman had taken charge of my life more completely than any Aes Sedai had ever accomplished.
     “Now hurry along and stop gawking at me.  You might as well get to know some of them now.  I don’t want you to make such a long trip without any companionship. The light knows what can happen to a man who travels his life away with no friends.  No go get your stuff and get out of here.  They should already be gathering down by the main entrance.  They’re leaving in an hour so don’t wander off either.”
     Her instructions washed over me in a flood, she jumped subjects so quickly I had trouble keeping up.  When she had finished giving me instructions on where to go to find my mother in Rhuidean and who to go to if I wanted to join a warrior society, she handed me a small rolled up parchment.
     “This will help you to get into any of the societies you want, make sure you understand what each of them stands for before you just jump into it.  Now get going.”
     She gave me a slight nudge to get me started and since there was nothing else I could do, I went.  I picked up my small bag of clothes that I had brought with me, and one of the Water skins.  My spears and other weapons I secured on my person and then I headed down to where the group was supposed to be waiting.
     Everything was as the roofmistress, whose name I still did not and probably never would learn, had said.  There was already ten or fifteen men standing about and standing slightly to the one side of them was a group of women.  I had met a few Far Dareis Mai in my time in the tower but they had been through novice training, I had severe doubts that these were much like those in the Tower.  I approached cautiously looking for the man the roofmistress had told me I was to meet.  When I came near the entire group of people turned to look at me.  I took it in stride though approaching the group like I belonged there.
 A tall man with fiery red hair stepped from one of the buildings on the east wall.  He walked straight to me stopping when he was within several feet, had he been a hand taller he could have looked me in the eye.  His pale blue eyes looked me over, weighing me like a merchant weighs a piece of gold. I returned the stare equally, my pale gray eyes running over him and then along the others that stood near by.
     “I see you Cor Dazar,” He said abruptly, breaking the silence “May you find shade this day.”
     “I see you Coliran” I responded as if I had actually know the proper response and had been greeting people that way my entire life. “May you find shade this day.”
     It was a more formal greeting than what was probably required but I did not want to ask.  He smiled slightly then, a touch of surprise reaching his eyes.
     “I was told you did not know our ways, or have you been taking lessons?”
     “I sometimes remember things.” I replied honestly  “So are we ready to go, I have traveled a long way and have still many leagues ahead of me before it is all over.”
     Coliran smiled again, this time it did more than just touch the corners of his mouth.  “Yes I believe all is ready.”  He looked over to a man standing near by who nodded. “Just give me a time to round up the rest of my men.”  He looked over at the women who were still watching “Watch yourself with those ones, maidens of the spear are much harder than the wetlander women you are use to.
     I nodded in acknowledgement, and then turned to join the rest of the group.  They welcomed me warmly enough, as warm as an Aiel stranger can be anyways.  I shared a few stories of my past with them and in return they told me about themselves.  The maidens often turned to look at me but they never came near the group of men. Finally the rest of the group had arrived, there were almost forty people when we left, twenty-five Far Aldazar Din and fifteen Far Dareis Mai. Coliran seemed to be the chosen leader of both groups although the maidens did not always seem to do as he said.  He set a fast pace, but I kept up easily.  Just as I had done before, I let time slip past me, I did not care how long it took me to discover the answers to my questions.
     I made good friends with several of the men, especially Coliran, who was more than happy to tell me about the different warrior societies, although I think he talked most about the Far Aldazar Din than any of the others.  I also got lessons from the Aiel men at night on fighting hand to hand, and also in the spear.  They were amazed I had learned so much from what small bits I could remember and from what I read in a book, but I was still not as good as I could have been.  The maidens took their part in that training providing their own comments, which they considered encouraging.  As we traveled I became increasingly more interested in the Far Dareis Mai; their hand talk captured my attention above all else I think.  All the societies had their own signals and communications using the hands, but none were as advanced as that of the maidens of the spear.  I figured out certain signs from watching them, eventually I knew all the signs that showed what tone of voice the talk was supposed to be in.  The groups of men and women still remained fairly separated and I did not get any chance to talk with the maidens.
 When we finally made it to Rhuidean it was mid-day, I said farewell to Coliran and we parted ways for the time. I had promised him that I would seek him out after my business with my mother had been taken care of.  The groups broke apart each person going their own way.  I stood there for several minutes longer though, not quite sure what exactly I should do.  Finally I headed off down one of the smaller streets where the crowd was less in search of my mother.
 

    I followed the roofmistress instructions to the letter until I found myself in a smaller part of the city where the buildings were only several stories high.  Men and women moved in and out the doors in a broken stream sometimes there was no one sometimes groups of five or six people would pass in or out.  I walked up to the main entrance looking for someone who might be able to provide me with instructions.  A fairly tall woman was sweeping out the entrance with a straw broom.  She was dressed much like the roofmistress of Cold Rocks Hold. Gray light brown hair with a tint of red and several streaks of gray in it fell down to the middle of her back, which was turned to me.
    “Excuse me miss, I was wondering if you could help me.” I began but as she turned around her eyes widened in surprise and she threw her arms around me.
     “Rahien! You’ve come home.” She gasped in surprise.  For a second she held onto me in a hug that I thought might break my ribs, but then she suddenly released me and stepped back. “You are not my boy, he would not have addressed me so.”  She looked at me waiting for an answer.
     “But I am your boy, well one of them any ways.” I said before she interrupted me
     “Cor?  It can’t be they told us you were dead, that you had been attacked by wetlanders.”
     “No, I’m not dead yet, but come that’s not a story for out in the open.  Do you have a place where we can talk privately? I’ve wished for this day for a long time and do not want it to be interrupted.”
     She nodded and led me up several flights of stairs and into a large apartment that was apparently hers.  We talked for hours and when the sun went down she insisted that I stay for the night.  The next day she had more questions for me and I for her, but eventually I said good bye for the time.  I still wanted to meet Coliran and find myself my own lodging for the time that I was to stay in Rhuidean.
 
     After several months in Rhuidean I had become quite a highly respected member of the Far Aldazar Din, the warrior society which I had joined several weeks after my first day in Rhuidean.  I had talked with my mother many times sense then learning about the brother and sister I had never known.  I spent a large portion of my time with the Maidens though.  After I had arrived word spread quickly and pretty soon my entire past was well known to everyone.  When the Far Dareis Mai discovered that my true mother was a Maiden of the spear they took a good bit of interest in me.  Most treated me something like a younger brother, and some like a grown son that still needed watching over.  In all truths, one of them could have been my true mother.  I had learned years ago of the game Maidens Kiss and had stayed away knowing the rules far to well, but somehow I found myself often caught up in the game with the maidens.  While most treated me like one of their blood, there were still a few who still thought of me as just another man that they could toy with, and I let them.  In return I gained a good bit of knowledge about the Far Dareis Mai society, not as much as I would have liked but still more than most men learned.
 Even the wise ones took a small interest in me; I remember all to well that first meeting with them.  It was just after I had contacted several of my friends in the tower through their dreams letting them know I was all right and would return as soon as I was able.  I had blocked those who had been watching my dreams the past nights for the short time that I used Tel'aran'rhiod.  Coliran had woken me up earlier than usually telling me that the wise ones wished to speak to me.  I went to where I had been instructed and suddenly found myself surrounded.  I had thought the Brown sisters had interrogated me, but they didn’t hold a candle to the wise ones.  By the time I had my full life story out for them to analyze it was mid-day.  I had kept back some things of course but they did not seem to notice.  They talked about me like I wasn’t there, discussing parts of the tale I had told them when suddenly another appeared near by.  Lirelle, would you come over here for a second?  I knew that name and as she approached I realized I knew her face as well.
     “It was you.  You sent me from my home into the wetlands.”  She gave me a shocked look and then studying me for a second longer suddenly lowered her head.
     “Yes, I sent you, had I known what troubles were to befall you I think I might have thought differently, but it had to be done.”
     “It had to be done?” I asked incredulously “What do you mean it had to be done?”
     “That my boy is wise one business.  All will be reviled one day but for now I see that it was good that I sent you away.”  With that she and the others left me with hundreds of unanswered questions.
     After all that time in Rhuidean I became anxious to leave, my father and two siblings were still in Cairhien, and I had duties still in the Tower that I had neglected for far to long.  Finally I got in with a large group of Warriors that were going to join the other forces.  It took a small bit of persuading but finally the allowed me to join it. After many good byes, and promises to keep in touch I finally found myself marching with five hundred other Aiel of all warrior societies.  Over the next days of traveling, I made friends with a large fraction of the five hundred that I traveled with.  By that time I had become a master of the spear and of the Aiel way of fighting with hand and foot, I knew the three-fold land as well as those who had grown up in it.  For these things I had gained a well-deserved high social status.  I even had some suggest that if the chance arose that I should try to pass through the arches of Rhuidean and attempt to become a clan chief.  They did not seem to understand that I would have to leave eventually.
 

Part Two