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They examine the Horn of Valere. Agelmar gave it to Siuan as soon as she arrived. "And prophecy said it would only be found just in time for the Last Battle." Siuan wonders if Logain or Mazrim Taim could possibly be the real Dragon Reborn. There are sisters after Taim right now. Moiraine says no. Siuan quotes the Karaethon Cycle, "For he shall come like the breaking dawn, and shatter the world again with his coming, and make it anew." Moiraine shows her the broken seal. The seals were all lost since the Trolloc Wars. Siuan can see ta'veren; Rand blazed like the sun. Moiraine tells Siuan about Mat's ruby dagger. They will try to Heal him. They plan to have Rand, Mat and Perrin take the Horn to Illian and have Rand present it to the Council of Nine. Moiraine has destroyed their clothes and will cleanse them before they leave so there will be no traces for Shadowspawn to follow. As she leaves, Moiraine thinks that she is still holding something back from Siuan.[1]
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Geofram Bornhald leads two thousand Whitecloaks into the village of Alcruna near the Almoth Plain. He recalls his interview with Pedron Niall in Amador. He has been a Whitecloak for thirty-six years. In Caemlyn he received orders to return to Amador. He is annoyed, as he thought Morgase was near to being overthrown. Eamon Valda insisted on following Elayne's procession to Tar Valon. Dain Bornhald also joined them. Niall told him to take a legion of Whitecloaks to Alcruna in Tarabon where he would receive further orders.[2] He asks if this has to do with rumors of Artur Hawkwing's army returning, but Niall will not answer. As he nears Alcruna, he is met by a group of Questioners led by Einor Saren, second in command to Jaichim Carridin. He tells Geofram Bornhald that there are strangers on Toman Head who have monsters.[3] Geofram Bornhald calls Byar and tells him to lead the men into Alcruna.
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As evening approaches, Liandrin enters Lady Amalisa's quarters. One of her attendants is reading The Dance of the Hawk and the Hummingbird by Teven Aerwin. Liandrin sends the attendants away. She threatens Amalisa and Agelmar with talk of Darkfriends. She asks about Moiraine and the Darkfriend, and then she uses Compulsion on Amalisa and tells her to find the three boys. She says they must be taken secretly to Tar Valon because of the Black Ajah. Amalisa is terrified and agrees. As Liandrin leaves, she feels watched.[4] Liandrin still has much to do before dawn. Her orders were explicit.
Padan Fain is sitting in the dark waiting. The door to the outer guardroom opens and the light outlines a figure in the doorway. Fain says, "You! Not who I expected. Surprises for everyone, eh?" A lamp comes into his cell chamber. He whispers, "It isn't over yet. The battle's never over."[5]
[#1] She did not tell Siuan that at least some of the Forsaken are loose, but it is not clear why. (TGH,Ch7)
[#2] Pedron Niall's grand plan is to reform the nation of Almoth as a Whitecloak empire then squeeze Tarabon between Almoth and Amadicia. (TDR,Prologue)
[#3] The Seanchan (People).
[#4] This seems to be the same feeling Rand had in TGH,Ch3.
[#5] In an interview, Robert Jordan stated that Ingtar was the one who freed Fain. As the cell is dark, it seems that this scene depicts the arrival of Mat and Egwene. (TGH,Ch6)