This book is called "Crossroads of Twilight". According to this quote is sounds like it refers to the fact that the sun is setting on the third age. Things in the world start getting strange in this book - the Last Battle is getting very close, and the state of the world is still at a crossroads, and could go either way.
Translation done by Noal lol
This is the second-longest prologue in the books. But at least it starts with something cool to get you excited about it!
Previously - Graendal has been sending orders to different people around Arad Doman alledgedly from the King. Including to Rodel Ituralde.
The latest one came with a tale that a Grey Man had been sent to stop this message, to make it look extra important.
The King is missing, so he cannot give orders of his own. But Graendal doesn't have him.
Ituralde is now worried about the Seanchan coming up from the south.
There are Dragonsworn all over Arad Doman, and Itsy wants to use them to help fight the Seanchan.
There are Shaido groups all over as well, because they're everywhere lol
Ituralde thinks the Council have the King hidden somewhere. No. Some Aes Sedai actually took him for his own safety, but got stuck by the sudden onset of snow and so haven't reached Tar Valon. We don't find this out for ages.
Itsy's plan is as follows: send lots of small bands of soldiers in to Seanchan lands and launch lots of attacks on them, then run. He wants to make them chase him back north into Arad Doman where he will have traps and armies waiting for them to unexpectedly run into.
Previously - the Seanchan attacked and took over the Fortress of the Light. But Eamon Valda (Whitecloak Leader) and Rhadam Asunawa (Questioners leader) were out of town with a large contingent of Whitecloaks, so escaped the carnage.
They are now wandering, planning what to do next.
Ailron - King of Amadicia.
The "Andoran army in Murandy" is either Egwene's (led by Gareth Bryne, therefore people could think it was Andoran) or The Band of the Red Hand.
So Asunawa's plan is to destroy Aes Sedai. Yeah, not sure how he plans to do that, unless he thinks he can work with the Seanchan to collar them all.
Gabrelle and Toveine - the two Sedai that Logain bonded when the Aes Sedai came to the Black Tower to "deal with" all the men there.
Toveine was also the leader of that mission.
Gabrelle has started sleeping with Logain to try to find out his plans.
The bond the asha'man use also forces the bonded Sedai to obey them.
Desandre and Lemai - the two strongest Sedai in the mob that came to the Black Tower. They have taken over command of the sisters there, kicking out Toveine from that position due to the failure so far. Not that they can really do much 'leading' with everyone bonded to asha'man and forced to obey.
The only men in the Black Tower who have been raised to fuil Asha'man are those that side with Taim. Logain is the only exception.
I think Logain wants to go recruiting just so he has an excuse to get out of the Black Tower without seeming suspicious.
Logain says Mishraile "won't enjoy his dragon long - he's too free with his tongue". He knows Taim is up to no good and thinks Mishraile will be punished if he accidentally starts revealing things he shouldn't.
Logain is "going to war" I assume against Taim.
Previously - Seaine and Pevara started searching for Black Ajah, and found the 'ferrets' (Meidani is one of the ferrets)
They made these Ferret Sedai swear to obey them
Saerin, Yukiri, Doesine and Talene found them and joined the search as well. But it turned out Talene was a blackie herself.
Coiren - leader of the delegation to Rand that ended up kidnapping him. Some of the Sedai from that group have returned to Tar Valon, but Elaida sent them back out of the city, and it keeping quiet about their failure to protect herself.
Elaida (under Alviarin's direction) issued a decree that the White Tower would protect and oversee the Dragon Reborn.
Alviarin has been making Elaida ask for 'private pennances' with the Mistress of Novices.
The Ajah's are all starting to get against each other, thanks to things done by Alviarin via Elaida.
But the heads of the Ajah's are secretly working together to try to re-unite the Tower. One of their schemes was to choose certain people for the Hall of the Tower (both in the Tower and in the rebels) that would try to encourage events to move towards re-unification.
Siuan noticed the unsual choice of sitters in Salidar, and wonders what is going on with them.
Tamra Ospenya - the Amyrlin during New Spring that started Moiraine and Siuan searching for baby dragon. She was killed by Blackies trying to get info out of her about where dragon was.
She thinks about how Temaile left at the same time that three sisters were murdered. Temaile is part of the group that originally went with Liandrin (then taken over by Moghedien).
She also thinks about how Elaida pushed accepted that she favoured very hard once she became Sedai, as if to show she wasn't favouring them. Siuan was one of them. We saw this in New Spring.
Previously - Last time we saw Gawyn, he was leaving the site of the Battle-to-get-Rand-out-of-the-chest. He saw Galina get taken by the Shaido, but was unable to do anything about it.
Since then, he has returned to Tar Valon. Almost.
The sisters that were involved in Rand's kidnap were ordered by Elaida to stay out of the Tower, to cover up the failure. They are all now in the tiny village of Dorlan, just outside Tar Valon. Gawyn and the Younglings are there also.
Covarla - highest ranking Sedai that survived the battle and was not captured. She therefore led the group that returned to Tar Valon, and she reported to Elaida on events. Then they all got told to stay outside Tar Valon.
Katerine - Blacky was was involved in the kidnap, and was a prisoner with the Wise Ones. But she escaped (i.e. she was freed by fellow darkfriends, Verin assumes) and has just returned to join the others at Dorlan.
Tarna - Elaida sent her to Salidar to talk to the rebels. She was there a few books ago, and we haven't seen her since then. She has just come back to Tar Valon to find an army blocking her way in. She is also in Dorlan now.
The orders Elaida is going to give to Gawyn is to have the Younglings attack the rebels army camps as much as they can, to help disrupt the seige.
This will also be a helpful way for her to get rid of the Younglings. Guess they'll all eventually die before the large army is taken care of.
Previously - Bashere and some of the AIel were acting as Rand's soldiers in Caemlyn. But Elayne sent them out once she came along - not wanting to rely on foreigners to help her out, for political reasons.
There are 3 seals unbroken. Rand was in possession of them all, but has given them to others for safekeeping. At least one is with Dobraine, and at least one with Bashere (not that this is ever explicitly said during the books).
At the end of the previous book, armies were heading for Caemlyn. They are in support of Arymilla (the silly goose) who has gained much unexpected support by freeing two other important nobles (Naean & Elenia) from their imprisonment. But we haven't heard yet exactly who the army is yet.
Legion of the Dragon - army that Bashere gathered for Rand, made up (to start with) of men that tested at the Black Tower, but were unable to channel. I'm sure it has since expanded to include whoever else heard of them and wanted to join.
The Borderland rulers are in the woods just north of Andor.
Bashere wonders who was behind the attack and attempted robbery. It was actually Taim that is in charge of the effort to steal the Seals.
The general consensus is that "The man who came to me yesterday" was Logain. I think the next time we see Bashere he is visiting Rand with Logain and some others.
Previously - Rand was attacked by asha'man in the Sun Palace in Cairhien.
Fedwin Morr - asha'man was Rand set to guard Min during the attack. He went mad and tried to "build a shelter" for her out of the stones of the palace. Rand poisoned him.
Cadsuane was in Cairhine, but ran off to Far Madding to find and help Rand.
Several of Cadsuane's sedai have bonded Rand's asha'man as warders.
Damer Flinn is one of those asha'man. He is very good at healing, and has invented his own more efficient ways of healing things. And discovered how to Heal stilling.
Sashalle - one of the Sedai who was stilled by Rand during his escape from the box. She has since been Healed by Damer Flinn, and because she is very powerful (and back to full strength, as healing by the opposite sex brings all your power back, unlike Siuan) she is able to start ordering others around lol. She has (like all the others) also sworn to Rand.
Riatin - major House in Cairhien. Notable members are the former King (killed by Thom in book 2), Toram Riatin (rebel noble and follower of Fain, killed last book by Lan in Far Madding) and Lady Ailil (tied up under a bed by Rand and was pillow-friends with a windfinder).
Rand sent Loial and Karldin (an asha'man) off to try to deal with waygates (destroy them, get Ogier to guard them, block them, whatever I guess)
There are 3 seals unbroken. Rand was in possession of them all, but has given them to others for safekeeping. At least one is with Dobraine, and at least one with Bashere (not that this is ever explicitly said during the books).
We hear about the Ogier meeting for the Great Stump. They know the Last Battle is coming and are meeting to decide what they will do.
This is the first mention of someone seeing ghosts. But it just sounds like a woman hysterical over Dobraine's "death".
Again someone mentions "wasting" the One Power for mundane tasks. Lol. So dumb, pretty sure the One Power doesn't get used up.
Loial knows what the thieves were after. "If there were more than two. If they found…" - maybe Loial knows where two of the seals are, and reasons out that Dobraine may have the third one.
Previously - Mat made plans to get himself, all his people, and some Aes Sedai, out of Ebou Dar. But had to kidnap Tuon along the way. Here is a list of who is now with him, all hiding out in Valan Luca's show.
He set up the Sea Folk Windfinders to be able to free themselves as well. That escape caused some mayhem, which you will hear about in this chapter.
Leilwin was the name of a noblewoman in Tanchico. When Egeanin had people out helping her find lost sul'dam, Leilwin was one of those who was mistakenly kidnapped because she matched the description of one of the sul'dam she was seeking.
Regular Seanchan people continue to arrive and settle on this side of the ocean.
Beslan (son of Tylin) had been plotting rebellion against the Seanchan, and was to help start confusion in the city to help Mat get away by having some of his people start fires.
Mat tied Tylin up under her bed when she returned unexpectedly and found him about to leave.
Noal said he has "seen worse that damane and da'covale" - in Shara I guess. They have lots of slaves there. And channellers are all tattooed and confined to live in seprate villages to everyone else. Male channelers are never educated, only used for breeding, and killed before they have a chance to go mad.
Egeanin is right - Tuon's disappearance will not be publicised, as it would be shameful to those who are supposed to protect her, and would be a drop in morale for the entire mission to return to these lands.
Noal claims to have seen people with dark skin and blue eyes before. The man he is looking at is a Seanchan soldier, so maybe he's just seen some random Seanchan before like that.
Previously - Mat and friends are hiding out in Luca's show, and several of them have fake names and/or cover stories for who they are and whey they're there.
Aludra told Mat she would tell him all her secrets if he could work out why she needed a bell maker.
Luca got an exemption from Suroth to keep the show's horses because he had given shelter to a Seanchan (the elephant trainer)
Not sure what Noal went off to do when he vanished for a few minutes.
Previously - the dice are rattling away in Mat's head. He has had a couple of occasions recently where he hasn't known what they were warning his of.
Tuon has heard a foretelling about who she will marry. It is about foxes and ravens (the symbol on Mat's ring) and someone who remembers Artur Hawkwing's face.
Rand and Nynaeve are off cleansing saidin. Well - they already did it in the story, but this is taking place at about the same time. In fact, most of the things in this book are about what everyone else is doing at about the same time. This whole book covers only a couple of weeks.
The man Mat remembers being when he faced Hawkwing was "Culain" - there is an inn in Caemlyn called "Culain's Hound" which is maybe named after him. lol, such a random thing I remembered.
Also, Mat may remember Hawkwing's face from when he blew the Horn. But maybe this memory is more prominent to him now.
Making the deal with Tuon may just be a 'fateful' moment - not necessarily dangerous or a warning, as Mat seems to think all his dice are for.
Selucia notes Thom with his knives. As she is secretly Tuon's bodyguard (as well as just her servant) this is the kind of thing she would obviously look out for.
Interesting that Tuon didn't know there were Aes Sedai travelling with them. Maybe the dice stopping was a fateful moment because Tuon made her promise not to try to get away or raise the alarm BEFORE she found that out.
He might also be right about them being something to do with Rand. But I suspect not.
Previously - Tuon is gone, but her disappearance has not been publicised.
Furyk was involved in the battle against Rand's army and asha'man in the mountains between Illian and Ebou Dar. He took command of part of their forces when the original commander was killed.
He is a member of the Deathwatch Guard - the Empress' personal army.
The Seanchan think Elayne's exploding gateway in book 8 is a secret One Power weapon.
There is a Seeker who has concocted a grand conspiracy theory about Suroth secretly working with Aes Sedai. His investigation of Egeanin as being involved was the reason she wanted to leave Ebou Dar and so agreed to help Mat.
His theory also involves Thom being an agent of the White Tower.
Mylen - the really short damane/former-Aes-Sedai that belongs to Tuon.
Furyk notes there are rats. Another small sign of Last Battle approaching, rats getting around everywhere.
The Seeker notes the papers on Furyk's desk and asks is he is involved in Lord Yulan's plans. Lord Yulan is the man who leads the invasion of the White Tower later.
The Seeker tells of someone who looks and sounds like Tuon being seen around the city, committing crimes. This would be Smirhage in disguise. Some kind of plot to discredit Tuon, or just cause chaos. Whatever weird plans the Forsaken do.
Now his theory has extended to Tuon's kidnap being orchestrated by the White Tower (via Thom), and that higher ranked Seekers than himself are also involved
Furyk is off and running on his quest to find Tuon and save her from the mysterious Thom Merillin who works for the White Tower lol
Previously - Faile and some others were taken by the Shaido. Here is the Perrin Group diagram again
Elyas and some of the Aiel are out scouting to find the Shaido.
Masema brought his people to join Perrin. Pretty much all of them lul.
Faile's followers were spying for her, and discovered that Masema has been meeting with the Seanchan.
"The Broken Crown" is the crown of Saldaea that Faile is second in line for (after daddy Davram). Elyas told Perrin about it.
What is the thing that thing that wolves hate more than "Neverborn"? (Neverborn = Myrddraal)
As Perrin thinks, the reason the Shaido are zig-zagging around is almost certainly to meet up with and gather other groups of Shaido that are scattered around.
Masuri and Annoura are meeting with the Prophet for good old Aes Sedai reasons. They want to use him, make him useful to them in some way. They eventually change their mind after a number of meetings, as he's clearly a madman, and come to agree with Seonid and the Wise Ones that he is dangerous.
If Masema is sending people to Amador, it will be to see the Seanchan, not Whitecloaks. The Whitecloaks have moved on from there after the Seanchan took over.
Previously - Faile and some others were taken by the Shaido.
Perrin smelled something that wolves hate the most in a dream.
Masuri and Annoura have been secretly meeing with Masema. Sebban Balwer suggested Perrin send some of Faile's followers to hang out with the Aiel and see if they can find out why - since Masuri can't really do anything without the Wise One's permission.
Masema has been meeting with the Seanchan.
The Darkhounds are disappointingly never in the story again. They are not after Perrin, but I have no idea what they are actually doing, or what their target is.
Perrin's previous experience with Darkhounds was near Illian when he, Moiraine and co were on their way to Tear, chasing after Rand.
Previously - Faile and some others were taken by the Shaido.
Some of Perrin's people were having a good bit of banter about Darkhounds. They stopped laughing when Perrin showed them the footprints in stone.
The Prophet has been meeting with the Seanchan, and one of Berelain's men got his hands on a document from Suroth offering the Prophet protection and saying he is working on her behalf.
Aram is a bit of a fan of the Prophet, secretly. Well, it would be secret, except Perrin can smell his emotions when the Prophet is around.
Annoura starts acting a bit strange in this chapter, in particular around the other 2 Sedai (and it carries on for the next few chapters as well). She is the only one that is not an "apprentice" under the Wise Ones, but she seems to start looking to them for direction and taking instruction from them. I don't know what is going on there:
I assume it's something to do with the meeting with Masema. Maybe it's something to do with Berelain finding out about their meetings. Or maybe it's just that Annoura is lower Power than the other two, and they've decided that if they are going to be working together, Annoura must be defer to them.
Previously - Faile and some others were taken by the Shaido.
The scouts are back from their latest search for the Shaido.
Perrin found evidence of Darkhounds, but they were not after him, or anyone in the camp. Masuri said it was a pack she had never seen before.
The rumours of Perrin and Berelain continue to circulate, after Berelain kept him in his tent for a night when he stayed out in the cold too long.
Grady's gateway is bigger than before, Perrin notes. Because he is getting stronger. Just like novices and accepted take time to reach their full power, same with Asha'man, and Grady is still young enough that he is growing in strength.
The deduce that ALL Shaido Wise Ones who can channel are there. This is true. They were all together with Sevanna when Sammael scattered them around, so they all came here together.
Perrin wants prisoners - not sure what he thinks they're going to do. It's really unlikely that a random Aiel from the camp would just happen to know where Faile was.
Previously - Faile and some others were taken by the Shaido.
They have received 2 offers to help them get away. One from Therava (Wise One who hates Sevanna) to spy on Sevanna while they serve her, and report what she says. Another from Galina (Sedai who is oath-rod-bound to the Wise Ones) wanting them to steal the Oath Rod so she can free herself.
The other Wise Ones agreed that Sevanna speaks as the Shaido Clan Chief, but Therava is to be the Wise One advisor to the Clan Chief.
Lacile and Arella - two of Faile's followers who were also kidnapped.
Rolan - the Aiel who carried Faile when she was captured. And smacked her bum.
That was a really long chapter. But still no noteds here.
Previously - There was a list of people with Elayne in Caemlyn
Caemlyn in used seige by an army of all the nobles supporting Arymille (goose) for the throne.
Elayne doesn't care, she can just Travel out of the city whenever.
One of Dobraine's servants in Cairhien saw a ghost.
Aviendha used to struggle making gateways because she had PTSD (or something lol) from the first time she made one going on her igloo adventure.
Elayne is gather soldiers from supporters, but many have already headed towards Caemlyn for her. They won't be able to get into the city. Only the ones Elayne gathers herself will be able to via Travelling. We see at least one group of these trying to get into the city later.
Avi talks about her experience through the rings in Rhuidean where she saw many possible lives. It's very rare for anyone to talk about that experience directly. Moiraine knew about having to tackle Lanfear, but there's not many other examples.
Previously - Elayne is returning from visiting estates of minor nobles to get their support.
She only manged to get some pretty useless looking soldiers lol. Boys and old men.
Rand and Nynaeve are cleansing saidin.
Zarya and Kirstian - Kin revealed as runaways, now back as novices. Kirstian was not recognised because she ran away 300 years ago, she just admitted to it to avoid being caught out.
Aes Sedai are taking turns teaching the Windfinders as part of the Bargain of the Bowl. Well, Merilille is doing most of the teaching - everyone else is doing a reasonable job of getting out of it.
Rand came to Caemlyn and took Nynaeve (and Lan and Alivia) away to help chasing asha'man and cleasing saidin.
Captain Mellar - real name Daved Hanlon. Darkfriend who was made leader of Elayne's bodyguards.
Lord Luan - noble that will probably support Elayne, but she has not spoken to his house yet.
Elayne is right about her and Birgitte's bond. They mirror each other's emotions because they are both female. Different combos of sexes have different experiences with the bond. (But it also differs depending on the exact weave used - for example, the asha'man do it differently to Aes Sedai)
So the people that Mellar let in were an example of the soldiers from the previous chapter notes. Soldiers coming to Elayne's aid that she hadn't been able to get to for travelling into the city. Except they were from a house that she hadn't been to speak to yet, so she can't be sure of their loyalty.
Elayne is going to have a bath.
Rand and Nynaeve are still cleasing saidin.
High Lord Darlin - Rand's designated boss of Tear. He recently heard that the Stone of Tear was under seige. This is by nobles who were rebelling along with Darlin, and they are unhappy that Darlin now is representing Rand.
Back in book 4, when Siuan was deposed, Gawyn helped her and Min escape Tar Valon, despite being a supporter of Elaida (well, maybe not a supporter of Elaida, but an opponent of Siuan because of how she had kept putting Elayne in danger)
In book 5, Galad helped the girls get to Salidar by finding a boat - but his Whitecloaks had to fight the Prophet's men to get it, because Uno had the Prophet seeking a boat for them as well.
The Mistress of Ships has been beheaded and put on a stake outside the city. By the way Sea Folk work, this means her Windfinder will now drop down be regular pleb windfinder, and have to start again to work her way up. Her windfinder is Renaile - who leads the Windfinders in Caemlyn at the moment.
Along with the Bargain of the Bowl, Elayne made a separate bargain with the Windfinders to help her in Caemlyn by hanging around to have more people to make gateways for her.
The Aes Sedai at the Sliver Swan are mentioned many times over the books, but it's never really explained what they are doing. They are defintely neutral Sedai (not with Elaida or Egwene) and are following or working for Cadsuane somehow, but that's about all we ever know.
The Windfinders ask for one square mile of land near Caemlyn. The bargain that the Sea Folk made with Rand also included getting one square mile of land in each city he controlled. That means that either: this was a generic goal of the Sea Folk that they were all told to try to get before leaving their ships right at the start. Or she has heard about this bargain with Rand, and thinks they won't get the land in Andor (since Rand isn't here anymore) - so she's making sure she gets it from Elayne.
Previously - Some of the Windfinders are leaving to go to the meeting to select a new Mistress of Ships.
Dyelin has been sent off to find some of the other houses to rally to Elayne. Not sure if this was actually mentioned in the story anywhere before, but that's where she is right now.
Elayne wonders if Zaida is off quickly to the Se Folk meeting to "steal a march on a rival". If she is indeed doing that, she succeeds, as Zaida will indeed be voted the next Sea Folk Boss.
Birgitte and Aviendha talk about Birgitte using the bond to play a joke on Elayne. Something about "making her melt". I'm not sure what that is - maybe something to do with Birigtte getting drunk and making Elayne feel drunk herself.
Previously - Elayne has her head maid looking for spies in the palace working for her rivals for the throne.
Here is an updated list of Elayne's people now that some of the Sea Folk are gone, and with the baby High Seats staying with her lul.
Arymilla - main rival for the throne. Elenia and Naean - Arymilla's main supporters, after she freed them from imprisonment.
Some of the Sea Folk are leaving, as they must meet to choose a new Mistress of the Ships.
Elayne made a deal to keep some of them in Caemlyn to help her (by making gateways)
One of the elements of the bargain was to give the Sea Folk a square mile of land.
Elayne is hoping to use the presence of the Borderland army to gather people to her.
Bashere and Bael lead the Saldaean's, Legion of the Dragon, and Aiel that are also near Caemlyn (used to work for Rand, now just hanging out, keeping out of Elayne's way)
Merilille is the poor Sedai who keeps getting stuck teaching the Windfinders. One of the apprentices (Talaan) told Nynaeve she wanted to go to the White Tower.
The three houses that have taken out multiple large loans are the 3 mentioned in the pre-chapter notes. Arymilla, Elenia and Naean's houses.
Yep, more nobles names being rattled off left-right-and-centre. Basically, they were talking about the Andoran nobles that were down at the border with Murandy, and met with Egwene a while ago. They should all be supporters of Elayne, but they don't seem to be in any rush to get to Caemlyn. And most of them are now location-unknown.
They are mostly the ones who supported Dyelin. But she is convinced they will support Elayne in the end. If they can get to them.
In this part, we are out in the camp of the armies surrounding Caemlyn.
Arymilla leads the seige, hoping to claim the throne for herself.
Elenia and Naean are her main supporters, but were forced to offer support in exchange for Arymilla's people freeing them from imprisonment.
Jarid - Elenia's husband.
More political intrigues, with Elenia trying to escape from Arymilla's grasp to make her own claim for the throne. Fortunately, that never gets anywhere, otherwise things would just get needlessly complicated. In case they aren't already lol.
Doilan Mellar = Daved Hanlon the darkfriend. Head of Elayne's bodyguard, and not the father of her child.
He is working for Lady Shiane (who is working for Moridin).
A few Black Ajah, formaerly from Liandrin/Moghedien's group are also working for her. Falion, Marillin and Temaile.
There have been many arsons in the city recently.
The guy following him at the start was sent by Elayne/Birgitte to keep an eye on him. Probably as part of their efforts to check that he wasn't one of the spies in the palace that they are looking for.
This group plans to help the army outside Caemlyn get in. I think their goal is ultimately to keep anyone from getting the throne for as long as possible. Moridin wanting the world in as much disorder and dis-unity as possible for the Last Battle
Previously - Egwene's army surrounds Tar Valon.
Gawyn was given instructions by some Sedai that came to the village of Doilan, where he was hanging out. His instructions (off-screen) were to raid and attack the various camps of Egwene/Gareth's army, and cause what damage they could.
Egwene declared war on Elaida so she could make all the important decisions, according to being 'at war' under Tower law.
Delana - Sedai that has Shim as her "secretary"
They talk of blocking the harbours. Capturing and sinking boats is the main way it is done. But Egwene has a different plan, involving the chain that runs across the mouth of the harbour, which is raised and lowered as a kind of gate.
I'm still not sure why Delana wants to name Elaida as Black Ajah.
No one is allowed to weave a gateway where it can be seen. I can't believe that for all the intrigues that Aes Sedai get up to, that there aren't a bunch of Sedai in the rebel camp that are there as spies or moles. (There is only one, and she hasn't bothered to report to Elaida yet lol, because, you know, no one tells anyone anything, even when that's their job)
The Aes Sedai who have been suggesting negotiations are listed as: Varilin, Takima, Magla, Faiselle and Saroiya. These are some of the Sedai that were sepcifically sent to Salidar by the Heads of the Ajahs to try to work to reunite the Tower. Unsurprising that they are the instigators of negotiations.
Delana brought up the subject of negotiations just to give the Sedai something else to bicker about, and try to stop them re-unifying.
Previously - Delana pointed out that some Aes Sedai wanted to start negotiating. Egwene said they could do it, to the shock of some other Sedai. She assumes Delana was trying to achieve something other than just letting her know of others' thoughts.
Siuan has seen a pattern among the sitters chosen for the Hall, but doesn't yet know that it's part of a "conspiracy" by the Ajah heads to try to help re-unite the Tower more quickly.
Nicola has tried to blackmail Aes Sedai twice just to try to get them to allow her to learn faster. She tried to blackmail Egwene about how the girls pretended to be full Sedai during their previous adventures, and she blackmailed Myrelle and Nisao about keeping Lan's arrival and re-bonding a secret.
The ferrets efforts have "borne no apparent fruit so far" - probably doesn't help that the Black Ajah hunters found them, and are making them obey.
Food is crawling with weevils. Maybe the second mention of food going bad unexpectedly. It will get worse, of course.
"Sometimes I think we've gotten too set in our ways, too sure what can and cannot be done" - yep, good summary of why Sedai are dumb lol
Nicola has a bunch of fake foretellings, but the one about "an Amyrlin imprisoned" is probably a true one. That could be Egwene prisoner in the Tower, or Elaida prisoner of the Seanchan.
I was trying to think of "nine impossible things" the Dragon Reborn would do to make the other one true as well lol. I'm sure there are at least 9 things he does that people would think are impossible.
"Kairen had been sent off from Salidar on a very important mission, only to see it collapse in shambles" - she was one of the group from Salidar that went to Rand, but was left behind when they ran off to help save Rand. Firstly because Rand said only a certain number of them could follow him when he travelled to Cairhien (although they brought more than that number anyway), but also because some of them had to take the Two Rivers girls (that Verin and Alanna had been leading) to Salidar.
Some plan that Egwene has "would have to be Kairen and Leane". It is something to do with making cuendillar. These are the two best at it (other than herself).
Previously - Egwene allowed some Sedai to start negotiating with the Tower.
Siuan and Leane continue to pretend to hate each other, while secretly working together.
Siuan has seen a pattern among the sitters chosen for the Hall, but doesn't yet know that it's part of a "conspiracy" by the Ajah heads to try to help re-unite the Tower more quickly.
The borderland rulers/army is in Andor. Elayne is trying to use them. They have 13 Aes Sedai among them.
The general population of Sedai do not know about Elayne and Nynaeve's bargains with the Sea Folk. Particularly about Aes Sedai needing to teach Sea Folk, and about Sea Folk Sedai being allowed to return to the Sea if they wish.
Nor do they know about Egwene's plan to use the Kin as a place for Aes Sedai to 'retire'
Darlin rules in Tear, on Rand's behalf, but other nobles who don't like Rand are against him. Rand sent Alanna and others to deal with them. One of the others is Merana, who originally led the Salidar delegation to Rand, and now is one of the many who swore to him.
Akarrin - led a group of Sedai who went to investigate the huge surge of power that everyone felt (when Rand and Nyn were doing the cleansing)
"Beonin is ambitious, but I always thought she'd have gone scurrying back to Elaida if Sheriam and the others hadn't stiffened her backbone". Beonin was one of the original 6 leaders in Salidar. Siuan is very close to correct. Mwahahaha.
So Siuan discovered the same pattern of "unusual" choices for Sedai to be in the Hall of the Tower exists in the Tower as well as among the rebels.
Siuan suspects Cadsuane is a darkfriend probably because of Moiraine's encounter with her in New Spring. She just happened to pop up when there were Black Ajah out searching for Baby Dragon, so Siuan is suspicious. She is wrong, of course.
That chapter had lots of noteds, but really nothing happened. It was just a bit of a recap of all different things that are going on.
Previously - Sedai have returned to report on what they found where the huge use of One Power was.
Akarrin - led the group of Sedai who went to investigate it
Moria - the Sedai who called a sitting of the Hall to hear the news. Egwene assumes she has some other motivation as well for calling the meeting.
Beonin - one of those starting the negotiations with the Tower.
There are so many Sedai names in this chapter. Who is who doesn't matter really.
Sheriam is crying and "Delana's face had turned decidedly greenish" - clearly this suggestion is going against some of their orders as Darkfriends. Not sure what exactly, but they are both shocked and upset that it might happen.
The six who are listed specifically as speaking AGAINST joining with the asha'man are the same ones that were talking about negotiations in the first place. Previously I mentioned these were people specifically sent by the Ajah Heads to help reunite the Tower. They assume that joining the asha'man will make it even harder for the other side of the Sedai-split to want to re-join.
Previously - the Hall has voted to make an agreement with the Black Tower to join together to create Circles large enough to counter the Forsaken (and the apparent "weapon" they have, as they interpreted the destruction of Shadar Logoth)
Elayne hasn't seen Nynaeve since Rand came to Caemlyn and then ran off with her, Lan and Alivia (to go to kill asha'man in Far Madding then cleanse Saidin)
Nisao - Egwene made her swear to her after discovering she was helping Myrelle hide Lan's arrival and re-bonding.
Egwene's dreams:
Mat bowling and knocking down men - seeing as an illuminator has something to do with it, this is Mat and Aludra inventing cannons and therefore killing many people.
Egwene slipping off a cliff and having a Seanchan woman save her, and offer to help her reach the top - after Gawyn dies, Egwene temporarily bonds Egeanin (Shipless) to save her the pain of losing her warder, and allowing her to fight on.
And the last one is about the Seanchan attacking the White Tower, as Egwene knows.
And in other news:
Anaiya is dead. She is killed by Shim, of course. I will explain the reason after the next (related) murder happens.
Previously - Mesaana taught Alviarin to Travel.
Alviarin is controlling Elaida, blackmailing her with knowledge of her "failures" (Rand's kidnapping, and sending 50 sisters to the Black Tower who were captured).
Tremalking - the Sea Folk island where the giant female sa'angreal is buried. The peaceful people who live there had a prophecy about the day the sphere is seen glowing. Which of course has now happened.
Zemaille - Aes Sedai that is a Sea Folk.
Talene - the only Black Ajah so far discovered by the hunters.
Alivarin notices the wardings against rats in the Tower are failing. More evidence of Darky breaking free and bad stuff happening.
Alviarin noticed some oddities when the Sedai were talking to Elaida. In particular Talene was looking to Yukiri and Doesine, almost for permission to speak. They are two of the Black Ajah hunters, and she is the Blacky they found and made swear to obey them.
Alviarin interprets Elaida's use of the word "treason" exactly the same was as Seaine did when she set her looking for evidence against Alviarin. Seaine went off hunting Black Ajah. Alviarin assumes Elaida knows she is Black.
And now, because of this double-misunderstanding, Alviarin assumes (correctly) that some people are seeking the Black Ajah. She is going to question Talene about it. Again, a correct idea for her to do.
Alviarin sees Mesaana un-disguised and finds her "tantalisingly familiar". Mesaana took over from Danelle, who was a real Sedai before she arrived. She chose Danelle because she was a quiet, secluded person with few friends, and because she looked quite a lot like Mesaana. So Mesaana is able to use only a little disguise to fool everyone. That bit of disguise is why she is "familar" but not properly recognised. Alviarin knows Danelle and would recognise if it was exactly her.
"You were summoned and did not come" Shaidar Haran says. The Forsaken were told to go and attack Rand and stop him cleansing Saidin. Mesaana did not show up in that chapter to join the attack.
Previously - Elaida kicked Alviarin out of being keeper after Elaida's "failures" (which Alvi was blackmailing her with) became known in the Tower, but Sedai blamed others for them.
Tarna - Red Ajah. Sent by Elaida to visit Salidar back when the split first started, to try to get Sedai to return to the Tower.
She returned to Tar Valon, only to find it surrounded by Egwene's army, and was last seen in the small village where Gawyn and his men are. She was going to go with Katerine (Red/Blackie) to find a way to sneak back into the city.
She has actually been raised to be Elaida's new Keeper now, but we don't find that out until during this chapter.
Pevara - Red Ajah. One of the Sedai hunting for Blackies with the Oath Rod. Also the one who will be Androl's mind-reading buddy later.
During her Blackie-hunting she has learned that Galina (who used to be head of her Ajah) is Black.
The message they have received is from Toveine - she was the leader of the Sedai sent to take care of the Black Tower, and is now bonded to Logain. But the message was sent from Cairhien - she should not be there.
In the prologue we saw Logain leaving the Black Tower to go "recruiting" and then heard he was arriving in Cairhien (but never saw him there, and don't yet know what he is doing).
Toveine's message is telling about how they have been bonded by the Asha'man - which is relevant to the discussion they are having here, talking about Sedai bonding Asha'man to control them.
Previously - Rand and Nynaeve cleansed saidin. Cadsuane and friends were with them to help out. Now we will see they are all hiding out in a place down in the country in Tear somewhere. Here is list of peeps.
The lead Sea Folk will be gathering to elect a new Mistress of the Ships. The ones in Caemlyn left after talking to Elayne. Cadsuane has some with her also.
Harine, the leader of the Sea Folk with Rand, has been told by Min that she will be Sea Folk Boss one day.
Alanna, Rafella and Merana - Aes Sedai that Rand sent to Tear to deal with the nobles there.
Rand agreed to let Cadsuane be his advisor.
Several of Cadsuane's follwer Sedai have bonded Rand's loyal Asha'man as warders.
Daigian's ashie warder (Eben) was killed during the cleansing battles.
Cadsuane talks about her hair ornaments. Here is a list of what they all are.
Algarin - the noble whose house they are staying at - had a brother who could channel, named Emarin. And Algarin wants to be tested for channelling himself. He will end up going to the Black Tower and calling himself Emarin, and be one of Androl's followers.
When Cadsuane left Cairhien to come to Far Madding and help Rand, several of the Sedai with her left their normal warders (i.e. non-asha'man) in Cairhien. These are the ones they can feel coming at the end.
Previously - Rand is hiding out in the country in Tear. Some people are coming, including some of the Sedai's warders from Cairhien.
In the prologue - we saw Logain leaving the Black Tower to go "recruiting". Then we saw Bashere (Caemlyn) having his camp ransacked and wife attacked by thieves. At the very end of Bashere's part of the prologue he said he was going to go and see someone who had made him an offer (it was Logain).
Then - we saw Dobraine also get attacked by thieves, and Loial said they must have been after the Seals. Then Logain showed up in Cairhien - he would have been travelling with Bashere. So now, they are all coming to see Rand!
"All" means: Logain, some of his followers, and their Aes Sedai they have bonded. Bashere and a bunch of his men. Loial and Karldin (ashie who was helping him deal with waygates). Some of Cadsuane's Sedai she left in Cairhien. The Warders of the Sedai already here that stayed behind.
Min sees "something dark in Bashere's auras" and wonders "if he turns against you, or dies" - he will do both those things in the final book.
Rand still gets sick when channelling even thought the taint is gone. Because the sickness is something to do with his link to Moridin.
Rand thinks he can "use Loial, if what Alivia had told him about the Seanchan were true". Seanchan Ogier are often known as fighters, rather than peaceful-tree-people. I guess Rand wants Loial to see if Ogier here will fight.
"I may have to tell off Asha'man for Aes Sedai to bond until they have as many of you as you do of them" - Rand does indeed do this. The rebels were previously talking about an alliance with the Black Tower, and Rand decides part of that agreement is that they can bond ashies to make up for the Sedai Logain's men bonded. And, well, in the end, everyone bonds everybody, so whatever lol
"Taim would have to wait" - Rand never ends up getting around to dealing with the Black Tower. They have to sort out their own business. Well, Androl does lol
Rand doesn't know about the final seal. This is the one Nynaeve found in Tanchico, and then broke while taking it to Salidar. Rand never saw or heard of this one.
Elza is one of the Sedai that Verin compulsion-ed into swearing to Rand. She conviced herself it was the right thing to do because of the reasons given at the very end here - "he had to reach the Last Battle, otherwise how could the Great Lord defeat him there"
Previously - Faile and some others were taken by the Shaido. Here is the Perrin Group diagram again
They are near a town called So Habor, where they will go to re-supply the camp.
Perrin ordered the Aiel with him to go take some Shaido prisoners to get info out of them about the Faile and/or the Shaido camp.
Santes and Gendar - Berelain's theif catchers, who were spying on Masema (and found the letter he had from Suroth, stating that he was working for her). They have both vanished, presumed killed by Masema's people.
No noteds here
Same blue noteds as last chapter
Same black noteds as last chapter
This is CHAPTER 500!!!!
Previously - Faile and some others were taken by the Shaido.
They went to buy supplies from So Habor, but all the food is full of weevils, and there are ghosts.
Sebban Balwer came to So Habor, claiming he had a "friend" in the town who could give him information. Friend = agent who would have previously reported to him as Pedron's secretary.
Perrin ordered the Aiel with him to go take some Shaido prisoners to get info out of them about the Faile and/or the Shaido camp.
Annoura - Berelain's sedai, has been acting weird since her and Masuri started secretly meeting with Masema. I don't really know why.
Masema has been working with the Seanchan. And Berelain's men found a note from Suroth in his posession.
Perrin's sookie-la-la-ness turns into angry-la-la-cut-off-someones-hand. Lul. A bit extreme.
Previously - Mat and friends are hiding out in Luca's show, which is now moving north away from Ebou Dar. Here is the list of Mat's group again.
Tuon's disappearance has not been made public, but Furyk and friends have taken off to search for her.
As part of Mat's cover stories, Egeanin is calling herself Leilwin.
"An alliance had been conclused with someone powerful who was expected to give the High Lady Suroth access to many lands" - this rumour might have started from Suroth's dealings with Masema. But it's probably also included in the story for a bit of mystery - both Perrin and Rand ended their recent chapters saying they were going to try to make deals with the Seanchan, so readers are probably supposed to think that one (or both) of them have reached a deal and this rumour comes from that.
The prophecy Noal quotes is obvi about Mat. The man with much fortune/luck, with his raven/fox ring, and he "snatches the [Daughter of the Nine] Moons"
But the highlight of this chapter is Egeanin getting her porn name.
At the end, Mat makes Tuon a promise. It's just a promise that he will take her into the next town to buy cloth to have clothes made. It's not as scary as the writing makes out lol. The dice stopping is probably because while he goes awway from the show with Tuon, other things happen (which maybe would have been prevented if he had been around).
Previously - Mat promised he would take Tuon out of the show into the next town for an outing.
Thom has his letter from Moiraine that Mat delivered to him when he came to Salidar.
Coramen - the last main town the show passed, where they had to cross the river. There were many Seanchan there.
Mat gave Tuon a cluster of silk rosebuds, after giving Selucia a collection of different flowers. So random.
Yes, Tuon trained damane, therefore she is "sul'dam", therefore she can learn to channel. Mat, always getting caught up with Sedai or other channellers.
Mat says Renna is the third women he killed (or ordered killed). One was Melindhra (his Aiel darkfriend girlfriend that tried to kill him in book 5) and as far as I know the second one he counts is Tylin (because he tied her up and thinks he "killed her")
Previously - some of the rebel Sedai have started negotiating with the Tower.
Gawyn's men are making small assaults on the rebel army camp where they can, under orders from Elaida. The rebels don't know yet who is doing it.
Anaiya Sedai was killed with Saidin. Egwene sent Nisao to investigate.
Egwene has a plan that relates to making cuendillar. In order, the people who are best at it at the moment are: Egwene, Leane, Kairen Stang, Bode Cauthon. Egwene plans to send Leane and Kairen to carry out some plan.
Theodrin and Faolain swore to Egwene, and she sent them to spy on Romanda and Lelaine for her.
When the Hall were discussing an alliance with the Black Tower, Sheriam just had a sookie-la-la moment for most of the meeting.
Nicola, the novice who tried to blackmail Sedai to make them teach her quicker.
Egwene dreamed about the Seanchan attacking the White Tower.
The letter about something the yellow ajah are interested in is Damer Flinn the asha'man healing stilling. He healed the 3 Sedai that Rand stilled during his box escape.
They say that Faolain went "into hiding" - I think she is actually being kept somewhere by Lelaine who discovered she was spying for Egwene.
Nicola ran away - she has gone to the White Tower, hoping she can learn faster there.
Romanda used the word "ferrets" and Egwene is concerned she knows about the Sedai she calls "ferrets", but I think it's just a coincidence.
They talk about how the warder bond can be used to make Warders obey. This is something Sedai can choose to do at certain moments - if needed. The suggestion was to alter the bond they would use on asha'man so that it ONLY had the part that makes warders obey, and none of the other stuff. lul.
They don't know that the asha'man bond the Logain and others used forces Sedai to obey them.
"Something flashed across the moon" and Egwene thinks it might be a Draghkar. I'm surprised she didn't think it was a raken - which it probably was, scouting out the White Tower in the night.
"She had been betrayed" - nah, Elaida was just wary of possible plans to sneak Sedai into Tar Valon, so places some with the guards at each harbour.
Previously - Logain and Bashere arrived to see Rand. He sent them to make a truce with the Seanchan.
Suroth wants Rand to meet Tuon. But Tuon is gone. Hmmmmm
Remember it has been mentioned before that "Tuon" is in Ebou Dar extorting merchants, or whatever. This is Semirhage in disguise. Maybe Suroth has found this out and wants Rand to "meet" Semi.