Chapters 37-39 Summary

Nynaeve, Egwene, and Elayne sail downriver, heading for Tear. Their ship runs aground and, over the protests of the captain, who says the civil war in Cairhien has made the eastern shore lawless and dangerous, they decide to be put off and cover the distance to the next town on foot.

They have not gone far before several Aiel appear, all women. Aiel women who choose to lead the lives of warriors are called Maidens of the Spear. The leader of the group is named Aviendha, and she has with her Bain, Chiad, and Dailin. They recognize Nynaeve, Egwene, and Elayne as Wise Ones, the Aiel name for women who can channel, and they ask Nynaeve to heal Dailin, who has been mortally wounded by soldiers who mistook the Aiel women for brigands. Nynaeve miraculously heals Dailin.

After explaining to the...