Chapters 20-23 Summary

Chapter 20

Rand leads the Aiel through Kinslayer's Dagger in pursuit of Couladin and the Shaido. They approach the town of Taien on the Jangai Pass. The town is ravaged. The Shaido killed many and have hung their bodies on the walls of the town. They also took many of the citizens as gai'shain, a state of servitude the Aiel expect from those that are captured in battle. The Aiel Wise Ones tell Rand that taking non-Aiel, or wetlanders, as the Aiel call them, is against ji'e'toh.

Chapter 21

Thinking Rand had not understood that her gift of the dragon buckle canceled debt between them, Aviendha presents him with another gift. It is the sword of king Laman, the Cairhienin king that the Aiel call the Treekiller, because he cut down the Avendesora tree that stood as a sign of the compact between...