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| %%(display:block; text-align:center;) [{Image src='Chapter Icons/wheel_bw.gif' align='center' link='Wiki.jsp?page=Wheel Chapter Icon'}] ''[WH|Winters Heart]: Snow'' %% 
| [{Image src='Chapter Icons/btar_rgt.gif' link='Wiki.jsp?page=WH,Ch1' align='right'}]
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"The [seals|Seals] that hold back night shall weaken,\\
and in the heart of winter shall winter's heart be born\\
amid the wailing of lamentations and the gnashing of teeth,\\
for winter's heart shall ride a black horse,\\
and the name of it is Death.
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— from ''The [Karaethon Cycle|Karaethon Prophecies]:''      \\
''The [Prophecies of the Dragon|Karaethon Prophecies]''"
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! __Seaine Herimon__ POV

[Seaine|Seaine Herimon], [Saerin|Saerin Asnobar], [Pevara|Pevara Tazanovni], [Yukiri] and [Doesine|Doesine Alwain] are in the second basement of the [White Tower]. [Seaine|Seaine Herimon] uses an eavesdrop weave to make sure they are not disturbed. [Saerin|Saerin Asnobar] is in charge. They are questioning [Talene|Talene Minly] with the [Chair of Remorse], a %%ot [ter'angreal|Angreal]%% that recreates the consequences of one's crimes. [Seaine|Seaine Herimon] recalls seeing the heads of the [Ajahs|Aes Sedai] talking together, [Ferane Neheran] with [Jesse Bilal] of the [Brown Ajah] and with [Suana Dragand] of the [Yellow Ajah]. [Talene|Talene Minly] finally cracks. She forswears her [Black Ajah] oaths on the [Oath Rod] suffering wracking pain then reswears the Three Oaths. She also swears to obey the other five. [Talene|Talene Minly] admits to being [Black Ajah] then tells them that [Elaida|Elaida do Avriny aRoihan] is [Black Ajah]. They question this, but [Talene|Talene Minly] asserts that it must be true because the [Black Ajah] knows all her orders and decisions before anyone else.[1] They decide that they must keep their activities secret until they can bring down the whole [Black Ajah]. [Seaine|Seaine Herimon] is clearly at risk, as [Elaida|Elaida do Avriny aRoihan] knows she is searching for the [Black Ajah]. [Pevara|Pevara Tazanovni] and [Seaine|Seaine Herimon] then tell the others about [Zerah Dacan], [Bernaile Gelbarn] and the other eight moles from [Salidar]. They will make all ten swear obedience to them.
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More [Seaine Herimon POV]

! __Elayne__ POV

[Elayne|Elayne Trakand] is in the [Royal Palace] with [Dyelin|Dyelin Taravin] and [Birgitte|Birgitte Trahelion].[2] [Birgitte|Birgitte Trahelion] is now Captain General of the [Queen's Guards|Caemlyn]. She is supposedly from [Kandor]. She has been back only a few days. She is annoyed because [Nynaeve|Nynaeve alMeara] and [Vandene|Vandene Namelle] are not back yet. They are making arrangements with [Reanne|Reanne Corly] to rescue the [Kin] trapped in [Seanchan|Seanchan (People)] territory. [Vandene|Vandene Namelle] is consumed with finding [Adeleas|Adeleas Namelle]' killer. [Birgitte|Birgitte Trahelion] is busy recruiting mercenaries, as none of the armsmen from [Elayne|Elayne Trakand]'s estates have arrived yet. [Dyelin|Dyelin Taravin] and [Birgitte|Birgitte Trahelion] do not get along. They go over the strong Houses of [Andor] and who sides with whom. [Nasin|Nasin Caeren] of House Caeren supports [Arymilla|Arymilla Marne]. [Naean|Naean Arawn] and [Elenia|Elenia Sarand] are imprisoned in [Aringill], but [Jarid|Jarid Sarand] of House Sarand still supports his wife. Houses Baryn and Anshar flirt with both. [Elayne|Elayne Trakand] thinks [Dyelin|Dyelin Taravin] and House Taravin support her. [Dyelin|Dyelin Taravin] says [Luan|Luan Norwelyn], [Ellorien|Ellorien Traemane] and [Abelle|Abelle Pendar], Norwelyn, Traemane and Pendar, will support [Elayne|Elayne Trakand], but [Elayne|Elayne Trakand] thinks they still be side with [Dyelin|Dyelin Taravin]. [Birgitte|Birgitte Trahelion] speaks up saying that [Gawyn|Gawyn Trakand] will come. [Elayne|Elayne Trakand] sent three couriers to [Tar Valon] with messages for him. Two [Sea Folk] women, [Renaile din Calon|Renaile din Calon Blue Star] and [Zaida din Parede Blackwing], enter with [Merilille|Merilille Ceandevin]. They are angry that [Elayne|Elayne Trakand] has not provided more teachers for them in accordance with their bargain. [Elayne|Elayne Trakand] suggests that they rejoin the [Sea Folk] ships at [Tear|Tear (Country)], but [Zaida|Zaida din Parede Blackwing] declines saying she must wait for [Rand|Rand alThor] to arrive. [Zaida|Zaida din Parede Blackwing] suggests that there are five other [Aes Sedai] in the [Royal Palace] including [Elayne|Elayne Trakand]. [Elayne|Elayne Trakand] counters that [Sareitha|Sareitha Tomares] and [Careane|Careane Fransi] might be able to help and [Zaida|Zaida din Parede Blackwing] calls it a Bargain.[3] 

[Reene Harfor] then enters and announces [Mazrim Taim]. Before she can admit him, [Taim|Mazrim Taim] enters with two other [Asha'man], one a bald fellow with a long, grizzled beard and blue eyes, the other an arrogant young man who is slim and dark-haired. [Elayne|Elayne Trakand] instinctively [link|Linking]s with [Merilille|Merilille Ceandevin] and [Renaile|Renaile din Calon Blue Star]. She wishes she had one of the three %%ot [angreal|Angreal]%% from [Ebou Dar]. [Zaida|Zaida din Parede Blackwing] and [Birgitte|Birgitte Trahelion] surreptitiously draw their knives. [Taim|Mazrim Taim] also tells [Elayne|Elayne Trakand] that [Rand|Rand alThor] has sent her a gift from the south. He will deliver it later.[4] In a tense discussion, [Elayne|Elayne Trakand] demands that [Taim|Mazrim Taim] let her guards into the [Black Tower]. [Taim|Mazrim Taim] agrees to let them in, but only with escorts. [Elayne|Elayne Trakand] says they will come every day and perhaps she will come as well. 

[Nadere], an [Aiel] [Wise One|Aiel], then enters and summons [Elayne|Elayne Trakand] to her first-sister ceremony with [Aviendha]. [Elayne|Elayne Trakand] must strip then and there, and then don a heavy cloak. [Nadere] takes her to a room where over a dozen [Wise Ones|Aiel] are gathered with [Aviendha]. They include [Amys], [Tamela], [Viendre], [Monaelle] and [Shyanda]. [Tamela] and [Viendre] are even stronger in the [One Power] than [Elayne|Elayne Trakand], but [Monaelle] is in charge. [Elayne|Elayne Trakand] notes that [Amys] must have [Traveled|Weaves#t] from [Cairhien|Cairhien (City)]. [Egwene|Egwene alVere] has been teaching the [Wise Ones|Aiel] in payment for their lessons on %%ot [Tel'aran'rhiod|TelAranRhiod]%%.[5] [Elayne|Elayne Trakand] wishes that [Melaine] were there, but [Monaelle] tells her that the [channeling|True Source] involved would be a risk to her babies.[6] [Elayne|Elayne Trakand] asks about her bond to [Birgitte|Birgitte Trahelion] and [Monaelle] responds that it will not be affected. They proceed with the ceremony. [Elayne|Elayne Trakand] and [Aviendha] are given to each other by surrogate mothers, then they must name what they most and least like about each other. After some hearty slaps, they embrace. The [Wise Ones|Aiel] [channel|True Source] and something like the [Warder|Warders] bond forms between [Elayne|Elayne Trakand] and [Aviendha]. They are first-sisters.
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More [Elayne POV]

! __Toveine Gazal__ POV

[Toveine|Toveine Gazal] wakes. She dreamed of throttling [Elaida|Elaida do Avriny aRoihan]. Feeling her bond to [Logain|Logain Ablar], she wishes she were still serving penance on Mistress [Doweel|Jara Doweel]'s farm. Leaving her room, she joins the other captive [Aes Sedai] including [Akoure|Akoure Vayet], [Desandre], [Jenare], [Lemai], [Carniele] and [Ayako|Ayako Norsoni]. They all blame her for their predicament. The [Asha'man] are building a perimeter wall around a four square mile area. They now number about five hundred. 

[Toveine|Toveine Gazal] sees five [Asha'man] escorting a dozen [Andoran|Andor] [Queen's Guards|Caemlyn] with [Elayne|Elayne Trakand] and [Birgitte|Birgitte Trahelion]. The [Asha'man] leading the tour is a bulky man in his middle years with oily hair, an oily smile, augur-like eyes and an [Illianer|Illian (Country)] accent. [Toveine|Toveine Gazal] feels [Logain|Logain Ablar]'s pull and goes to his house. [Gabrelle], the other [Aes Sedai] he bonded, spent the night with him. There are several [Dedicated|AshaMan] waiting at [Logain|Logain Ablar]'s house including [Evin Vinchova], [Donalo Sandomere], [Androl Genhald], [Mezar Kurin] and [Canler]. [Logain|Logain Ablar] comes out and the men make their reports. [Androl Genhald] found two men interested in learning the type of [Healing|Weaves#h] [Nynaeve|Nynaeve alMeara] used on [Logain|Logain Ablar]. [Vinchova|Evin Vinchova] reports that the [Two Rivers] men are a problem.[7] Two are only fourteen. [Donalo Sandomere] reports that [Mishraile|Atal Mishraile] is receiving private lessons from [Taim|Mazrim Taim]. [Welyn Kajima], another [Dedicated|AshaMan], runs up with news that [Taim|Mazrim Taim] is back from [Cairhien|Cairhien (City)][8] and that he posted the names of new deserters, seven of them full [Asha'man]. They are [Gedwyn|Charl Gedwyn], [Torval|Peral Torval], [Rochaid|Manel Rochaid], [Kisman|Raefar Kisman], [Dashiva|OsanGar], [Flinn|Damer Flinn], [Hopwil|Eben Hopwil] and [Narishma|Jahar Narishma].[9] [Logain|Logain Ablar] tells [Toveine|Toveine Gazal] and [Gabrelle] to go inside, then heads off with the [Dedicated|AshaMan]. Inside, [Gabrelle] says she learned that all the full [Asha'man] but [Logain|Logain Ablar] live in [Taim|Mazrim Taim]'s palace. She also tells [Toveine|Toveine Gazal] that [Logain|Logain Ablar] found her orders, then burned them. [Toveine|Toveine Gazal] is fearful, then relieved. [Elaida|Elaida do Avriny aRoihan]'s orders were to [gentle|stilling] then hang every man they found. [Gabrelle] convinces [Toveine|Toveine Gazal] that the captured [Aes Sedai] must put their differences aside and stand united. [Desandre] and [Lemai] have the highest standing. [Toveine|Toveine Gazal] agrees to submit to them.
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More [Toveine Gazal POV]

! __Rand__ POV

People watch as workmen clear the rubble around the [Sun Palace] in [Cairhien|Cairhien (City)]. [Rand|Rand alThor] is back in the city at his school with [Min|Min Farshaw], [Dobraine|Dobraine Taborwin] and [Idrien Tarsin]. He can feel [Alanna|Alanna Mosvani] sulking. They are at the school so [Min|Min Farshaw] can get [Herid Fel]'s books. [Dobraine|Dobraine Taborwin] tells him that some people think he is dead or kidnapped again. They think the attack was the [Forsaken] or the [Aes Sedai]. [Dobraine|Dobraine Taborwin] tells [Rand|Rand alThor] that [Flinn|Damer Flinn], [Narishma|Jahar Narishma] and [Hopwil|Eben Hopwil] are still at the [Sun Palace]. [Ailil Riatin] and [Shalon|Shalon din Togara Morning Tide] disappeared. Thinking about having left them bound, [Rand|Rand alThor] tells [Dobraine|Dobraine Taborwin] that [Cadsuane|Cadsuane Melaidhrin] is probably holding them like she is holding [Caraline Damodred] and [Darlin Sisnera]. Holding [Shalon|Shalon din Togara Morning Tide] might give her leverage with [Harine|Harine din Togara Two Winds]. 

In the courtyard below, [Mervin Poel]'s steamwagon begins moving under its own power. [Idrien|Idrien Tarsin] tells [Rand|Rand alThor] about other accomplishments at the school. [Kin Tovere] has finished his telescope. [Maryl Harke] has built a glider. [Jander Parentakis] has built a riverboat with waterwheels. [Ryn Anhara] has built a lightning jar. Another researcher is [Niko Tokama]. As [Rand|Rand alThor] thinks of the inventions, [Lews Therin|Lews Therin Telamon] murmurs, "I thought I could build. I was wrong. We are not builders, Not you, or I, or the other one.[10] We are destroyers." 

[Rand|Rand alThor] has decided who will rule in [Cairhien|Cairhien (Country)] and [Tear|Tear (Country)]. [Rand|Rand alThor] gives [Dobraine|Dobraine Taborwin] two packets. The first contains instructions for [Dobraine|Dobraine Taborwin] as steward of [Cairhien|Cairhien (Country)]. He tells [Dobraine|Dobraine Taborwin] to cede to [Elayne|Elayne Trakand] when she claims the [Sun Throne|Sun Palace]. He then tells [Dobraine|Dobraine Taborwin] to deliver the second when it is appropriate.[11] [Rand|Rand alThor] has a third in his pocket for [Gregorin den Lushenos|Gregorin Panar den Lushenos] as steward of [Illian|Illian (Country)]. After [Dobraine|Dobraine Taborwin] and [Idrien|Idrien Tarsin] leave, [Rand|Rand alThor] has a dizzy spell. He is used to them when [channeling|True Source], but this is the first time without %%ot [saidin|Said]%%. 

[Rand|Rand alThor] opens a gateway to a clearing five hundred miles from [Cairhien|Cairhien (Country)], nearer to [Tar Valon]. Yesterday they [Traveled|Weaves#t] to [Rhuidean] where [Rand|Rand alThor] asked about [Shara], then last night they [Traveled|Weaves#t] to [Tear|Tear (Country)] and [Rand|Rand alThor] asked about [Chachin]. He is laying false trails for those who would pursue him. He still has the bag with the two [control statue|Control Statue] %%ot [ter'angreal|Angreal]%%. He tells [Min|Min Farshaw] that he plans to cleanse the taint on %%ot [saidin|Said]%%, but first he must kill [Dashiva|OsanGar] and the others.
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More [Rand POV]
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! Notes (Possible Spoilers)

[#1] [Elaida|Elaida do Avriny aRoihan] is not [Black Ajah] ([ACoS,Prologue]). It is [Alviarin|Alviarin Freidhen] who passes on the information.
\\[#2] This scene is a few days after [TPoD,Ch28] and appears to be the day before [TPoD,Ch29].
\\[#3] In return for this teaching [Zaida|Zaida din Parede Blackwing] will allow the [Windfinders|Sea Folk] to make gateways when [Caemlyn] is under siege. ([CoT,Ch12])
\\[#4] The "gift" is the captured %%ot [sul'dam|Seanchan (People)]%% and %%ot [damane|Seanchan (People)]%%.
\\[#5] This confirms how [Sorilea] knew [Traveling|Weaves#t] so she could teach [Cadsuane|Cadsuane Melaidhrin]. ([TPoD,Ch12])
\\[#6] This is generally regarded as proof that [Aviendha] is not pregnant.
\\[#7] So the "blackberry bush" that [Taim|Mazrim Taim] harvested personally was, indeed, the [Two Rivers]. ([ACoS,Ch2], [TPoD,Ch14])
\\[#8] This places the scene as the same day or the day after [TPoD,Ch29].
\\[#9] Why did he post [Flinn|Damer Flinn], [Hopwil|Eben Hopwil] and [Narishma|Jahar Narishma]? Is he somehow mistaken or is this all part of some plot? For a discussion on [Taim|Mazrim Taim] and his true allegiance see the [FAQ, Section 1.5.6|WoTFAQ:node/67.html].
\\[#10] The other one, the blurred face from [Rand|Rand alThor]'s dreams ([TPoD,Ch21]) is [Moridin]. ([KoD,Ch18]) [Lews Therin|Lews Therin Telamon] also refers to "we three" in [WH,Ch22].
\\[#11] Lord [Darlin|Darlin Sisnera]. He will leave for [Tear|Tear (Country)] accompanied by [Caraline Damodred]. ([WH,Ch13])
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