Bors POV#

Bors attends the Darkfriend Social. There are a hundred attendees from all over the Westlands.[1] They are in a large room with no windows. Blank-eyed servants offer refreshments.[2] He tries to identify some of his companions:

• an Illianer noblewoman wearing a low cut scarlet dress and golden slippers,
• a figure in a gray cloak and hood,
• a Domani woman with a swan neck and very long black hair wearing a golden bracelet identifying her House,
• a right handed Shienaran soldier wearing a sky blue coat,[3]
• people from Kandor, Cairhien, Saldaea and Ghealdan,
• a Tinker wearing green pants and a yellow coat,[4]
• a Tairen High Lord with silver worked boots,[5]
• an Andoran Queen's Guards with golden lion-head spurs,[6]
• a Sea Folk man, very slender, with a six-pointed star tattoo on his right hand,
• two Aes Sedai.[7]

The doors to the room open and two Trollocs enter followed by a Myrddraal. The Myrddraal smiles[8] and announces that their Master comes. A man appears. Bors wonders if it is the Dark One himself or if one of the Forsaken is now free. The man identifies himself as Ba'alzamon and says the room is near Shayol Ghul.[9] He shows them images of Rand, Mat and Perrin. He tells them the Dragon is reborn and that it is better if the Dragon is turned to serve him. Ba'alzamon gives individual orders. The Illianer woman nods eagerly. The Sea Folk man is reluctant. The Shienaran looks confused. One of the Aes Sedai is shocked. Ba'alzamon tells Bors to return to Tarabon, continue his good works, watch for the three boys and keep quiet about those who have landed at Toman Head.[10] Bors sees a series of images - the Shayol Ghul sky, a young woman dressed in white, a raven, a Seanchan soldier, the Horn, a wolf. Ba'alzamon has implanted secret commands.[11] Bors returns to his room and dons his clothes. He is a Whitecloak Questioner.