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| %%(display:block; text-align:center;) [{Image src='Chapter Icons/women_bw.gif' align='center' link='Wiki.jsp?page=Women Chapter Icon'}] ''[CoT|Crossroads of Twilight]: A Mark'' %% 
| [{Image src='Chapter Icons/btar_rgt.gif' link='Wiki.jsp?page=CoT,Ch22' align='right'}]
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! __Alviarin__ POV

[Alviarin|Alviarin Freidhen] returns from [Tremalking] to a sub-basement of the [White Tower] library. She knows the name of every [Black Ajah] sister and their organization. She is ticked at [Mesaana] for using her as an errand girl. She has been gone nearly a month,[1] so [Elaida|Elaida do Avriny aRoihan] has probably been running loose. There are rats about, the [Great Lord|ShaiTan]'s eyes, because the wardings have failed.[2] She wonders how she might delicately ask [Mesaana] about the huge flare of the [One Power]. [Alviarin|Alviarin Freidhen] took it upon herself to visit the site, but learned nothing. The Library is divided into twelve Depositories each dedicated to a different branch of knowledge. There is also a secret Thirteenth Depository that houses the [White Tower] secret records. She runs into one of the librarians, [Zemaille] of the [Brown Ajah]. She wonders how [Zemaille] would react if she knew what was happening on [Tremalking].[3] [Zemaille] consoles [Alviarin|Alviarin Freidhen] who wonders why. [Aiden], another [Brown|Brown Ajah] sister, is nearby so [Alviarin|Alviarin Freidhen] quickly leaves. The two of them and [Nyein] were [Sea Folk] and normally stay on the upper levels where the secret records are kept. 

[Alviarin|Alviarin Freidhen] walks from the Library to the [White Tower] and climbs the levels to [Elaida|Elaida do Avriny aRoihan]'s apartments. [Elaida|Elaida do Avriny aRoihan] is at her desk with over half the [Sitters] including [Suana|Suana Dragand], [Doesine|Doesine Alwain], [Ferane|Ferane Neheran], [Shevan], [Andaya|Andaya Forae], [Yukiri], [Talene|Talene Minly], [Rubinde Acedone] and [Rina|Rina Hafden]. The head of the [Yellow Ajah] is known as the First Weaver. The head of the [White Ajah] is known as the First Reasoner. [Alviarin|Alviarin Freidhen] is shocked to learn that the rebels have rediscovered [Traveling|Weaves#t] and already surround [Tar Valon]. The [Sitters] are discussing the possibility of negotiations with the rebels. [Suana|Suana Dragand], [Ferane|Ferane Neheran] and [Shevan] support negotiations. [Elaida|Elaida do Avriny aRoihan] asks [Talene|Talene Minly] what she thinks, but [Talene|Talene Minly] curiously defers to [Doesine|Doesine Alwain] and [Yukiri].[4] As [Rina|Rina Hafden] has worn the shawl less than fifty years, [Rubinde Acedone] replies in the affirmative. It is clear that she personally disagrees but she is carrying out the wishes of [Adelorna|Adelorna Bastine], the [Green Ajah] Captain-General. [Elaida|Elaida do Avriny aRoihan] agrees that negotiations may begin, but non-negotiable points include extinction of the [Blue Ajah] and all the rebels serving penance and begging readmission to their [Ajahs|Aes Sedai]. The [Sitters] leave. 

[Alviarin|Alviarin Freidhen] starts to threaten [Elaida|Elaida do Avriny aRoihan] but [Elaida|Elaida do Avriny aRoihan] stops her. There are rampant rumors of [Aes Sedai] obeying [Rand|Rand alThor], but everyone blames [Coiren|Coiren Saeldain] for that. There are far more men in the [Black Tower] than supposed, but [Toveine|Toveine Gazal] will be blamed for any defeat for not scouting appropriately. [Elaida|Elaida do Avriny aRoihan] then shields [Alviarin|Alviarin Freidhen] and slaps her. The [Hall|Sitters] replaced her as [Keeper|Aes Sedai][5] because she was absent when the rebels arrived. They assumed she fled and was hiding in the city. [Elaida|Elaida do Avriny aRoihan] is still looking for proof of treason. She orders [Alviarin|Alviarin Freidhen] to serve penance with [Silviana|Silviana Brehon] and then dismisses her. 

[Alviarin|Alviarin Freidhen] flees back to her quarters fearing discovery of her true allegiance. She touches a [tiny red rod] %%ot [ter'angreal|Angreal]%% with [Fire|One Power] and [Earth|One Power] to signal [Mesaana]. In a few minutes [Mesaana] arrives. [Alviarin|Alviarin Freidhen] begs for help, but [Mesaana] starts to punish her. Suddenly the shadows in the room change. [Mesaana] now appears as a tantalizingly familiar woman with blue eyes, just short of her middle years.[6] A huge [Myrddraal|Fade][7] clad in dark armor is in the room and the [True Source] has vanished. He smiles at her, radiating fear. [Mesaana] starts to challenge him, but he grows to two spans in height and wraps her in black fire. She was summoned but did not come.[8] [Alviarin|Alviarin Freidhen] is convinced that he is the [Great Lord|ShaiTan] incarnate. He touches her on the forehead, marking her as his.[9] The dark armor falls off of him; he is clothed all in black. He then orders her to find who is hunting the [Black Ajah] and deliver them to him. She flees the room as [Mesaana] begins to scream. She remembers how [Talene|Talene Minly] looked at [Yukiri] and [Doesine|Doesine Alwain] and thinks about channels to contact her. She will make sure that [Elaida|Elaida do Avriny aRoihan] is at the head of her list of [Black Ajah] hunters. 
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More [Alviarin POV]
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! Notes (Possible Spoilers)

[#1] This places the timing of this chapter nearly a month after the fourth segment of [CoT,Prologue].
\\[#2] More evidence of things generally falling apart. See the discussion in the [FAQ, Section 2.3.17|WoTFAQ:node/108.html].
\\[#3] Being one of the [Sea Folk], [Zemaille] would be devastated. ([KoD,Ch22]) What was [Alviarin|Alviarin Freidhen] doing on [Tremalking]?
\\[#4] The [Black Ajah] hunters have [Talene|Talene Minly] fully under control. ([WH,Prologue])
\\[#5] By [Tarna Feir] ([CoT,Ch22])
\\[#6] She does not look ageless. Thus she is either posing as some sort of noble resident in the [White Tower] or she is posing as an [Aes Sedai] with a slight disguise. We learn more in [ToM,Ch42].
\\[#7] [Shaidar Haran]
\\[#8] To help out at [Shadar Logoth|Aridhol (City)].
\\[#9] This mark is not the same as the [Forsaken] receive from the [Dark One|ShaiTan]. [Shadowspawn] will recognize and not harm her, but they will not obey her and she is not one of the [Chosen|Forsaken]. ([Tor Website Q&A|Guide#3])
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