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| [{Image src='Chapter Icons/btar_lft.gif' link='Wiki.jsp?page=CoT,Ch29'}] 
| %%(display:block; text-align:center;) [{Image src='Chapter Icons/tar_valon_bw.gif' align='center' link='Wiki.jsp?page=Tar Valon Chapter Icon Usage'}] ''[CoT|Crossroads of Twilight]: What the Oath Rod Can Do'' %% 
| [{Image src='Chapter Icons/btar_rgt.gif' link='Wiki.jsp?page=CoT,Ch31' align='right'}]
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! __Egwene__ POV

It is sunrise. The cold of winter seems to be hanging on longer than it should.[1] [Egwene|Egwene alVere] knows that today will be momentous and will end the farce of negotiations in [Darein]. She tries not to think about the weevils in her bowl of porridge that [Chesa] brought. [Halima|AranGar] left early this morning. [Nisao|Nisao Dachen] arrives with [Sarin Hoigan] who waits outside. She reports that [Kairen Stang] is dead. Testing for resonance showed her neck was broken with %%ot [saidin|Said]%%.[2] [Egwene|Egwene alVere] knows she will now have to replace [Kairen|Kairen Stang] with [Bodewhin Cauthon], but she says nothing as [Nisao|Nisao Dachen] is not in on the plan.[3] As she walks to her study, everyone is remote and touchy. It reminds her of the way people behaved when [Doral Barran|../characters/d/doral_barran] had to deal with spotted fever in [Emond's Field|Emonds Field]. At her study, her first visitor is [Theodrin|Theodrin Dabei]. She says that [Romanda|Romanda Cassin] requests a meeting. [Emara|emara] then brings a similar request from [Lelaine|Lelaine Akashi]. When [Emara|emara] is rude to [Theodrin|Theodrin Dabei], [Egwene|Egwene alVere] snaps at her adding to her reputation as another [Sereille Bagand]. After they leave, [Egwene|Egwene alVere] reads the note that [Theodrin|Theodrin Dabei] left. [Romanda|Romanda Cassin] sent two sisters to [Cairhien|Cairhien (City)] to investigate a rumor that has the [Yellow Ajah] excited. It is somehow connected to [Nynaeve|Nynaeve alMeara].[4] [Siuan|Siuan Sanche] enters. [Egwene|Egwene alVere] asks if she made the necessary plans to accommodate [Kairen|Kairen Stang]'s demise.[5] [Faolain|Faolain Orande] seems to have gone into hiding.[6] [Egwene|Egwene alVere] still does not think [Lelaine|Lelaine Akashi] and [Romanda|Romanda Cassin] respect her. [Siuan|Siuan Sanche] says that pair would not have followed [Deane Aryman|../characters/hist/deane_aryman] who saved the [White Tower] after [Bonwhin|Bonwhin Meraighdin]'s disaster with [Hawkwing|Artur Hawkwing]. They think [Egwene|Egwene alVere] is another [Edarna Noregovna|../characters/hist/edarna], the most politically skilled [Amyrlin|Aes Sedai] ever. [Egwene|Egwene alVere] just does not want to be a [Shein Chunla|../characters/hist/shein_chunla] who wound up a puppet of the [Hall|Sitters]. [Sheriam|Sheriam Bayanar] enters and [Siuan|Siuan Sanche] changes the subject. She has a report from [Tiana|Tiana Noselle] that [Nicola Treehill] is a runaway. [Egwene|Egwene alVere] wonders if [Areina|Areina Nermasiv] left with her.[7] She notes that [Nicola|Nicola Treehill] has been gone three or four days. The other [novices] in her family covered for her. [Tiana|Tiana Noselle] is punishing them severely. [Egwene|Egwene alVere] will not commute their punishment even though [Larine Ayellin|../characters/l/larine_ayellin] is one of them. [Egwene|Egwene alVere] told everyone about her dream of [Seanchan|Seanchan (People)] attacking the [White Tower] a week and a half ago. [Sheriam|Sheriam Bayanar] reports that the sisters are dismissing it. The [Seanchan|Seanchan (People)] are a thousand miles away and do not know how to [Travel|Weaves#t]. There will be ample warning if they march on [Tar Valon]. [Anaiya] was the only one who truly believed that [Egwene|Egwene alVere] is a [Dreamer|TelAranRhiod]. After [Sheriam|Sheriam Bayanar] leaves, [Egwene|Egwene alVere] wonders why she came by in the first place.[8] [Myrelle|Myrelle Berengari] and [Morvrin] arrive. [Varilin] has taken over the talks in [Darein] from [Beonin|Beonin Marinye]. [Myrelle|Myrelle Berengari] starts to say something about [Shadar Logoth|Aridhol (City)],[9] but stops when [Maigan|maigan] arrives. She is [Anaiya]'s replacement on [Egwene|Egwene alVere]'s advisory council. She stands as high as [Morvrin] or [Myrelle|Myrelle Berengari] and she blames [Siuan|Siuan Sanche] for the breaking of the [White Tower]. She sends [Siuan|Siuan Sanche] for tea and [Morvrin] leaves, too. Neither woman will talk much with the other present. [Siuan|Siuan Sanche] returns with [Ragan]. He brings a report from [Gareth Bryne] that [Elaida|Elaida do Avriny aRoihan]'s raiders are now operating on the west side of the river and he advises caution. [Siuan|Siuan Sanche] asks to be excused. [Egwene|Egwene alVere] notes that this means the boats are ready for [Leane|Leane Sharif] and [Bodewhin|bodewhin_cauthon] this evening. [Romanda|Romanda Cassin] arrives with [Theodrin|Theodrin Dabei]. She reports that the negotiations are going badly. [Varilin], [Magla|Magla Daronos], [Saroiya] are frustrated. [Romanda|Romanda Cassin] knows of the plan for tonight. [Egwene|Egwene alVere] felt it necessary to inform the [Hall|Sitters].[10] [Romanda|Romanda Cassin] brings up the subject of [Sea Folk] [wilders|Wilder] and the [Kin]. The [Yellow Ajah] first discovered that there are hundreds of [Windfinders|Sea Folk] in [Illian|Illian (Country)]. [Romanda|Romanda Cassin] wants to disperse the [Kin], but there are over a thousand scattered everywhere. [Egwene|Egwene alVere] proposes letting sisters, when they retire, forswear the [Oath Rod] and retire into the [Kin] for a longer life. [Romanda|Romanda Cassin] is shocked and leaves. [Myrelle|Myrelle Berengari] and [Maigan|maigan] are astonished. [Lelaine|Lelaine Akashi] arrives next. She says [Kairen|Kairen Stang]'s death put a crimp in talks about the [Black Tower].[11] She suggests that [Myrelle|Myrelle Berengari] take [Kairen|Kairen Stang]'s [Warder|Warders] [Llyw|llyw]. [Myrelle|Myrelle Berengari] responds that three are enough not revealing that she also has [Lan|al'Lan Mandragoran]'s bond from [Moiraine|Moiraine Damodred]. She quickly excuses herself and leaves. They discuss the [Black Tower]. They agree that [Anaiya]'s and [Kairen|Kairen Stang]'s deaths will not end the talks. [Egwene|Egwene alVere] thoughtlessly suggests that it might be [Logain|Logain Ablar]. [Maigan|maigan] and [Lelaine|Lelaine Akashi] try to browbeat [Egwene|Egwene alVere] on the [Asha'man], proposing a modification to the [Warder|Warders] bond that will make it almost [Compulsion|Weaves#co]. [Egwene|Egwene alVere] angrily refuses and they leave. [Chesa] brings her lunch, but she can barely eat. She thinks long about her duty to the [Tower|White Tower] and the law, "Unless the [Tower|White Tower] is at war by consensus of the [Hall|Sitters], the [Amyrlin|Aes Sedai] shall not..."[12] When [Siuan|Siuan Sanche] returns, [Egwene|Egwene alVere] asks if [Leane|Leane Sharif] and [Bodewhin|bodewhin_cauthon] have left. [Siuan|Siuan Sanche] answer yes and [Egwene|Egwene alVere] sends her to get [Bela]. [Egwene|Egwene alVere] sneaks out of the camp as the sun drops and rides to the River [Erinin River]. She finds where the men are preparing a boat for [Bodewhin|bodewhin_cauthon]. [Egwene|Egwene alVere] tells [Bodewhin|bodewhin_cauthon] that she is taking her place and sends her back to the camp. [Egwene|Egwene alVere] climbs into the boat and the oarsmen row her to [Northharbor|Tar Valon]. She sees something flash across the moon and wonders if it is a [Draghkar] or a bat.[13] [Egwene|Egwene alVere] [channels|True Source] [Earth|One Power], [Air|One Power] and [Fire|One Power] and touches the huge chain across the harbor with [Earth|One Power] and [Fire|One Power]. The entire chain flashes into %%ot [cuendillar|Cuendillar]%%.[14] She feels someone [channel|True Source] and then she is sinking in cold water.

She awakens to see and [ageless|Ageless] face as the woman pours a minty liquid into her mouth.[15] The women and soldiers know who she is and are excited and surprised. As she falls unconscious she wonders who betrayed her.[16]
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More [Egwene POV]
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! Notes (Possible Spoilers)

[#1] The weather is just slow getting back to normal due to the very late arrival of winter.
\\[#2]  [Kairen|Kairen Stang] was a close friend of [Cabriana Mecandes]. ([NS,Ch12]) [Aran'gar|AranGar] probably murdered her because [Kairen|Kairen Stang] asked [Halima|AranGar] too many questions about her.
\\[#3] This brings the crucial question of exactly who knows of [Egwene|Egwene alVere]'s plan.
\\[#4] This must be word of [Damer Flinn]'s [Healing|Weaves#h] the [stilled|../../main/true_source/stilling] [Aes Sedai].
\\[#5] So [Siuan|Siuan Sanche] is in on the plan.
\\[#6] [Lelaine|Lelaine Akashi] figured out [Faolain|Faolain Orande]'s spying and confronted her. ([KoD,Ch1])
\\[#7] Yes ([KoD,Prologue])
\\[#8] Good question. Does her tormentor have her watching out for unusual activity on [Egwene|Egwene alVere]'s part?
\\[#9] Is she finally preparing to tell [Egwene|Egwene alVere] that [Lan|al'Lan Mandragoran] was there? Why only now?
\\[#10] Which means that anyone in the [Hall|Sitters], notably [Delana|Delana Mosalaine], could be the rat.
\\[#11] Stalling the talks may have been a secondary goal for [Aran'gar|AranGar] but she chose [Kairen|Kairen Stang] and [Anaiya] because they knew too much about [Cabriana Mecandes]. ([NS,Ch12], [KoD,Ch23])
\\[#12] The exact wording of the law from [ACoS,Ch9] is "The [Amyrlin|Aes Sedai] being valued with the [White Tower] itself, as the very heart of the [White Tower], she must not be endangered without dire necessity, therefore unless the [White Tower] be at war by declaration of the [Hall of the Tower|Sitters], the [Amyrlin|Aes Sedai] shall seek the lesser consensus of the [Hall of the Tower|Sitters] before deliberately placing herself in the way of any danger, and she shall abide by the consensus that stands." This prevented [Egwene|Egwene alVere] from going to [Rand|Rand alThor] herself, but now they are at war.
\\[#13] Robert Jordan has confirmed that it is just a bat.
\\[#14] The chain is now a solid bar of %%ot [cuendillar|Cuendillar]%% permanently blocking [Northharbor|Tar Valon]. [Leane|Leane Sharif] converted half the [Southharbor|Tar Valon] chain before her capture. ([KoD,Prologue])
\\[#15] It must be [forkroot|Herbs].
\\[#16] Who, indeed? They apparently had some idea who to expect and it was not [Egwene|Egwene alVere]. See the discussion in the [FAQ, Section 2.6.8|WoTFAQ:node/138.html].
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