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| [{Image src='Chapter Icons/btar_lft.gif' link='Wiki.jsp?page=CoT,Ch23'}] 
| %%(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 Strengthening Storm'' %% 
| [{Image src='Chapter Icons/btar_rgt.gif' link='Wiki.jsp?page=CoT,Ch25' align='right'}]
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! __Rand__ POV

It is mid-afternoon and there is a terrific storm outside. [Rand|Rand alThor] is resting in his bedroom with [Min|Min Farshaw]. He can sense [Elayne|Elayne Trakand] and [Aviendha] in the direction of [Caemlyn]. He wonders how he can keep the three of them safe. [Lews Therin|Lews Therin Telamon] mutters. [Rand|Rand alThor] wonders if he should ask [Cadsuane|Cadsuane Melaidhrin] about him or about the murky, almost recognizable face he sometimes sees. The wounds in his side hurt more since [Shadar Logoth|Aridhol (City)]. 

The new arrivals include [Bashere|Davram Bashere] and a hundred of his horsemen, eight [Aes Sedai] and over half a dozen [Asha'man] including [Logain Ablar]. All but one of the [Aes Sedai] are bonded to the [Asha'man]. [Rand|Rand alThor] figured that it would only be a matter of time until someone used his sworn [Aes Sedai]'s [Warders] to locate him. Since [Shadar Logoth|Aridhol (City)], [Lews Therin|Lews Therin Telamon] seems a touch less mad. [Min|Min Farshaw] says that [Logain|Logain Ablar]'s aura "still speaks of glory, stronger than ever." There is something dark in the images around [Bashere|Davram Bashere]. [Rand|Rand alThor] thinks of [Thom Merrilin] and [Mat|Matrim Cauthon], and colors swirl. 

[Elza|Elza Penfell] knocks on the door to admit [Loial]. He waits until [Elza|Elza Penfell] is out of sight to seize %%ot [saidin|Said]%% because he still gets dizzy and nauseous even with the taint gone. [Lews Therin|Lews Therin Telamon] murmurs that it is clean again. [Rand|Rand alThor] spins a ward to shield their conversation. [Loial] is pleased that Lord [Algarin|Algarin Pendaloan] has six [Ogier] rooms. His book ''Essays of [Willim of Maneches|Willim Maneches]'' got wet. [Loial] reports that he and [Karldin|Karldin Manfor] visited all the %%ot [stedding|Steddings]%% except for [Stedding Shangtai]. He left word at [Stedding Daiting] that is close by. The %%ot [stedding|Steddings]%% in the [Borderlands] and [Stedding Shadoon] and [Stedding Mardoon] on the [Shadow Coast] would not listen, but all the others agreed to post guards at the [Waygates|Ways]. [Stedding Shangtai] is holding a Great Stump - the first time since the [War of the Hundred Years]. He knows Elder [Haman] does not like the [Waygate|Ways] so he will surely agree to post guards. [Rand|Rand alThor] suggests that [Loial] go home for a few days, but [Loial] panics at the thought of his mother[1] marrying him to [Erith]. [Rand|Rand alThor] says that he needs to talk to [Bashere|Davram Bashere] and [Logain|Logain Ablar]. [Rand|Rand alThor] thinks that he can use [Loial] given what [Alivia] told him about the [Seanchan|Seanchan (People)].[2] [Loial] tells him about the [Asha'man] bonding [Aes Sedai].
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More [Rand POV]

! __Cadsuane__ POV

[Samitsu|Samitsu Tamagowa] reports to [Cadsuane|Cadsuane Melaidhrin]. She is sure that the [Asha'man] have bonded the other [Aes Sedai], not vice versa like [Merise|Merise Haindehl], [Corele|Corele Hovian] and [Daigian|Daigian Moseneillin]. [Logain|Logain Ablar] has two, [Toveine|Toveine Gazal] and [Gabrelle]. [Cadsuane|Cadsuane Melaidhrin] is disgusted at this turn of events. [Samitsu|Samitsu Tamagowa] is bitter that [Sashalle|Sashalle Anderly] and [Sorilea] have completely undermined her authority. [Cadsuane|Cadsuane Melaidhrin] pumps her up and tells her to go back to [Cairhien|Cairhien (City)] to keep an eye on [Sashalle|Sashalle Anderly]. [Samitsu|Samitsu Tamagowa] asks what [Rand|Rand alThor] intends to do. [Cadsuane|Cadsuane Melaidhrin] replies that it is something very dangerous.[3]
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More [Cadsuane POV]

! __Rand__ POV

[Rand|Rand alThor] interviews [Logain|Logain Ablar] and [Bashere|Davram Bashere] with [Loial] there. [Min|Min Farshaw] left to read [Herid Fel]'s books. He is furious at the [Asha'man] for bonding [Aes Sedai]. [Elaida|Elaida do Avriny aRoihan] want them all dead and he may have to offer [Asha'man] to be bonded by [Aes Sedai] to appease [Egwene|Egwene alVere].[4] [Logain|Logain Ablar] replies that it was [Taim|Mazrim Taim]'s order[5] and everyone assumed that meant the order came from [Rand|Rand alThor]. When [Rand|Rand alThor] suggested to [Merise|Merise Haindehl] that she unbond [Jahar Narishma] she was shocked.[6] He suspects [Corele|Corele Hovian] and [Damer|Damer Flinn] would feel the same. [Logain|Logain Ablar] tells [Rand|Rand alThor] that [Taim|Mazrim Taim] has his own coterie of all the full [Asha'man] except himself. He put [Flinn|Damer Flinn]'s, [Narishma|Jahar Narishma]'s and [Karldin|Karldin Manfor]'s names on the deserter's list. He thinks most of the [Black Tower] would follow [Taim|Mazrim Taim] rather than [Rand|Rand alThor]. [Logain|Logain Ablar] is skeptical that he was responsible for cleansing the taint. [Rand|Rand alThor] thinks about the [Creator]'s plan, then is surprised at himself. That is more typical of [Lews Therin|Lews Therin Telamon] than [Rand|Rand alThor]. [Rand|Rand alThor] says that [Taim|Mazrim Taim] will have to wait. He asks [Bashere|Davram Bashere] if he has anything more to report other than [Dobraine|Dobraine Taborwin]'s stabbing. He answers that his own quarters were attacked as well. Someone was searching for the three intact [seals|Seals]. Three are already broken. They wonder where the seventh is.[7] [Rand|Rand alThor] ends by ordering [Bashere|Davram Bashere], [Logain|Logain Ablar] and [Loial] to negotiate a truce with the [Seanchan|Seanchan (People)].

! __Elza Penfell__ POV

[Elza|Elza Penfell] listens to the report from her [Warder|Warders] [Fearil]. None of her own heart came to [Cairhien|Cairhien (City)], but she learned that [Fera] of the [White Ajah] is also [Black|Black Ajah]. She orders [Fearil] to kill anyone who threatens the [Dragon Reborn|Rand alThor] so he can reach [Tarmon Gai'don|Creator] to be defeated by the [Great Lord|ShaiTan].
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More [Elza Penfell POV]
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! Notes (Possible Spoilers)

[#1] Her name is [Covril].
\\[#2] To negotiate with the [Gardeners|Ogier]?
\\[#3] Negotiating with the [Seanchan|Seanchan (People)] or something else?
\\[#4] That is exactly what [Rand|Rand alThor] will do. ([KoD,Ch23])
\\[#5] Curious. In ([TPoD,Ch26]) [Vinchova|Evin Vinchova] thinks [Taim|Mazrim Taim] does not approve of the bonding.
\\[#6] Releasing a [Warder|Warders] bond is possible, but without extreme cause it is considered disgraceful. An example would be a dying [Aes Sedai] releasing her [Warder|Warders] to spare him the pain of her death. (Tor Q&A)
\\[#7] They are missing the one that [Nynaeve|Nynaeve alMeara] found in the [Panarch's Palace|Panarchs Palace]. It also broke on the trip to [Salidar]. ([TFoH,Ch50])
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