Their presense with an army is hostile.


Again, How many chances do they get? Why should Aiel risk their lives so Rand can coddle deserters?

And you don't see why their friendliness toward a place that held Rand prisoner when he was there is justification for his hostility? It doesn't matter whether or not they are welcome in Far Madding. They came after Rand with an army. That's hostile. They refused a peaceful meeting on even terms and would not meet Rand without their armies present.

So? They are still guilty of dereliction of duty, and thus liable to whatever falls on their heads. As you note, they have not sworn to Rand, so he owes them NOTHING.

And so what? It is not a guarantee of invincibility or safety. They would still be going in among people who have made absolutely no friendly gestures or offered any good faith whatsoever, and helpless except for the tiny capacity of Nynaeve's well. If she couldn't take on a few cops, how is it supposed to protect her and the most important man in the world against a professional veteran army?

A fat lot of good that will do them if they cut his throat! And even if they only try to take him prisoner (and just because we know it's highly unlikely to work does not mean they know it), we're back to getting lots of soldiers killed for their loyalty and fidelity to the Dragon Reborn! Rand prevents either possibility by just wiping out the Borderland armies.

A force that will not cooperate is worse than useless. A force that is theoretically on the side of the Light does not march thousands of miles from the battle with the Shadow to accost the Dragon Reborn in unfriendly ways.

It's an expression. There is no such thing as an innocent soldier. All soldiers are valid military targets.

It does not matter if an individual soldier shows inclinations. By wearing the uniform and serving under the colors of his ruler, he is a legitimate target of all enemies of his ruler. What the hell is the matter with you that you cannot understand these basic principles of warfare?

They are where they have no business being, in apparently friendly contact with an enemy city and have refused perfectly reasonable offers for parley. Their insistance on Rand being entirely in their power is in no way, shape or form a show of good faith. He is under no obligation to grant their request for a meeting, and having an army outside of their countries is an act of war on the rest of the world (baring those countries they make exceptions with, such as Andor), and anyone would have the perfect right to stop them! What on earth do you think they meant by all that doom and gloom when they met to make their oath? They knew exactly how their actions would be perceived and that they were likely to face exactly this sort of reaction. The fact that Rand is usually much nicer and more accomodating than he is required to be does not change the fact that pissed or not, he is still perfectly within his rights.