Niamh Passes

From A Wheel of Time Wiki

The Niamh Passes are a series of narrow footpaths leading through the Spine of the World mountain range, connecting the Borderland kingdom of Shienar to the northern-most part of the Aiel Waste.

The Aiel sometimes raid Shienar through the Niamh Passes. To defend against this, the Shienarans maintain a fortress called Ankor Dail at the western end of the passes. Although the Shienarans respect the Aiel as worthy adversaries, they also consider them a nuisance and distraction from the true war with the Shadow to the north.