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| %%(display:block; text-align:center;) [{Image src='Chapter Icons/dice_bw.gif' align='center' link='Wiki.jsp?page=Dice Chapter Icon'}] ''[TFoH|The Fires of Heaven]: Pale Shadows'' %% 
| [{Image src='Chapter Icons/btar_rgt.gif' link='Wiki.jsp?page=TFoH,Ch4]' align='right'}]
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! __Rand__ POV

After [Egwene|Egwene alVere] leaves, [Rand|Rand alThor] talks with [Asmodean]. [Lanfear]'s shield is still in effect. [Rand|Rand alThor] cannot see it, of course, and [Asmodean] says it is inverted so a woman could not see it either. [Rand|Rand alThor] asks him if he would ever turn back. [Asmodean] says any of the [Forsaken] but [Lanfear] would kill him on sight. He would give himself to [Semirhage] before he would face the [Great Lord|Shaitan] for betrayal. He says [Lanfear] wants [Rand|Rand alThor] trained, but not fully. She wants to be the stronger this time. He thinks [Rand|Rand alThor] and [Lanfear] planned to trap him. [Asmodean] explains that men cannot [link|linking] without a woman. It balances that men, on average, are stronger. Strength is not exactly additive on [Linking]. Nevertheless, thirteen weak women [linked|linking] can overwhelm any man. [Asmodean] has spent some time in [Arad Doman].[1] [Asmodean] suggests using [Moiraine|Moiraine Damodred] or [Egwene|Egwene alVere] to [link|linking], but [Rand|Rand alThor] dismisses the idea. [Rand|Rand alThor] asks again about the [Forsaken] and [Asmodean] again tells what he knows. [Sammael] is in [Illian|Illian (Country)]. [Graendal] was in [Arad Doman] for a time. [Moghedien] is somewhere in the west. [Rahvin] has a queen for a pet.[2] [Asmodean] does not know where the others may be. [Semirhage] has some disgusting amusements. [Demandred] went over because of his envy of [Lews Therin|Lews Therin Telamon]. [Asmodean] went over for immortality. [Rand|Rand alThor] asks [Asmodean] what his chances are at the [Last Battle|Creator]. [Asmodean] mentions something [Rand|Rand alThor] found in the plaza. [Rand|Rand alThor] says he destroyed it.[3] [Asmodean] then says the [Dark One|Shaitan] will consume him alive. [Asmodean] says he will kill himself before he goes mad from the taint on %%ot [saidin|Said]%%. [Rand|Rand alThor] muses on removing the taint.[4] Five [Maidens|Maidens of the Spear] including [Adelin] and [Enaila] arrive to escort [Rand|Rand alThor] back to his rooms. [Rand|Rand alThor] asks where [Joinde] is. [Adelin] tells [Rand|Rand alThor] that [Joinde] of the [Black Rock] [Shaarad] has made a bridal wreath for [Garan] of the [Jhirad] [Goshien].[5] He was her %%ot [gai'shain|Aiel]%%. [Rand|Rand alThor] attributes the number of marriages to his %%ot [ta'veren|Wheel of Time]%% effect. [Rand|Rand alThor] weaves a shield of [Spirit|One Power] and [Fire|One Power] around the room. It will prevent [Asmodean] from leaving. He leaves, followed by the [Maidens|Maidens of the Spear].
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More [Rand POV]

! __Mat__ POV

[Mat|Matrim Cauthon] is in the streets of [Rhuidean], drinking %%ot oosquai%%, singing and dancing with a crowd of [Aiel] and [Kadere|Hadnan Kadere]'s men. He realizes one of his songs was last sung in [Aldeshar] before it fell to [Artur Hawkwing]. He has been playing a knife throwing game with two [Aiel], [Corman] and [Jenric]. They want to quit but [Mat|Matrim Cauthon] proceeds to hit the target blindfolded. One of [Kadere|Hadnan Kadere]'s men comments on his luck and [Mat|Matrim Cauthon] says in the [Old Tongue], "%%ot [Sene sovya caba'donde ain dovienya|Compleat]%%" ("Luck is a horse to ride like any other.)"  [Mat|Matrim Cauthon] considers his new memories.[6] He remembers attacking [Trollocs] at [Maighande] and dancing in the court of [Tarmandewin|Other History]. He has his %%ot [ashandarei]%% and the [foxhead medallion|Foxhead Medallion] with him. One of the [Maidens|Maidens of the Spear] watching, [Melindhra] of the [Jumai] [Shaido] takes an intense interest in [Mat|Matrim Cauthon].[7] [Mat|Matrim Cauthon] gives her an elaborate necklace and [Melindhra] accepts it. [Mat|Matrim Cauthon] sees [Rand|Rand alThor] with several [Maidens|Maidens of the Spear] and joins them. He is cautious around [Adelin] and [Enaila] because of previous confrontations. He tells [Rand|Rand alThor] that he plans to leave with [Moiraine|Moiraine Damodred] and [Kadere|Hadnan Kadere]. [Rand|Rand alThor] does not try to dissuade him, but warns not to trust [Kadere|Hadnan Kadere]. [Mat|Matrim Cauthon] thinks about [Rand|Rand alThor], [Perrin|Perrin Aybara] and himself being %%ot [ta'veren|Wheel of Time]%%. He has learned all he can about %%ot [ta'veren|Wheel of Time]%% such as [Artur Hawkwing] and [Mabriam en Shereed] who founded the [Compact of the Ten Nations|History]. [Melindhra] rejoins him. He asks her if she ever heard of the [Daughter of the Nine Moons|Tuon]. She says no. [Melindhra] whispers in his ear and they go off together grinning.
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More [Mat POV]
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! Notes (Possible Spoilers)

[#1] What was he doing there? Was he involved in some way with [Graendal]?\\
[#2] Queen [Morgase|Morgase Trakand] of [Andor].\\
[#3] [Rand|Rand alThor] actually has the two [control statue|Control Statue] %%ot [ter'angreal|Angreal]%% hidden in his bedroom at the [Roof of the Maidens]. ([TFoH,Ch6])\\
[#4] This is the first hint of things to come. How to cleanse %%ot [saidin|Said]%% was one of [Rand|Rand alThor]'s questions to the [Aelfinn|Finn]. ([TSR,Ch15])\\
[#5] This is particularly surprising because of the blood feud between the [Goshien] and the [Shaarad].\\
[#6] The [Aelfinn|Finn] and [Eelfinn|Finn] accumulated these memories over the centuries from previous visitors via the [twisted red doorway|Twisted Red Doorway]s and the [Tower of Ghenjei]. ([Glimmers Q&A|Guide])\\
[#7] This meeting is probably not accidental. ([TFoH,Ch51])\\
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