Chapter 35: Stedding Tsofu

Rand and the others ride south of Cairhien for two days at Verin's insistence, following Padan Fain's trail toward Stedding Tsofu. Ingtar grumbles constantly — he doubts Fain told them his real destination, and resents riding away from Toman Head — but presses the pace regardless.

At the boundary of the stedding a chill washes through the riders. Rand feels the void go empty — saidin is gone, completely unreachable inside a stedding. A young Ogier woman steps out to greet them: Erith, daughter of Iva daughter of Alar, who welcomes them warmly and leads them inside. She asks that most of the armed Shienarans stay outside, and Ingtar obeys.

As they move deeper into the stedding, Loial explains the Longing to Perrin and Mat: during the Breaking, Ogier were scattered for generations and could not find the stedding. The fatal yearning to return took more than half of them before the stedding were rediscovered. Any Ogier who stays Outside too long still risks it. Loial insists he is nowhere near that point, but grows visibly nervous as Ogier women appear one by one to inspect him.

The group reaches the center of town — enormous Great Trees, grass-mound houses, and the vast polished stump of a felled Great Tree. There they encounter three Aiel Maidens of the Spear. The women veil at once upon seeing armed men and advance with spears ready. Ingtar draws his sword; Rand grips his heron-mark blade. An Ogier named Juin strides in and invokes the Pact — the oath of safety all accept within a stedding — and the Maidens halt, unveiling in shame.

Rhian, the Maiden with reddish hair and gray eyes, explains they came for sung wood from the stedding's Treesingers. But Perrin quietly notes to Rand that the Aiel may actually be searching for He Who Comes With the Dawn — an encounter with an Aielman at Kinslayer's Dagger had suggested as much. Mat agrees. Rand refuses to accept it.

While they wait for the Elders, Loial huddles in a corner with a book. Ogier women come one by one to call, each departing with a pointed look at him. He confesses to Rand and Mat that if the Elders learn he left Stedding Shangtai without permission, they will send word to his mother — and a wife chosen for him will make certain he never goes Outside again. Mat finds this far too funny.

Juin returns to take them to the Elders. Mat observes grimly that they really do have to travel the Ways. Loial weighs his options: stay and be married off, or face the Ways with ta'veren for company.