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| %%(display:block; text-align:center;) [{Image src='Chapter Icons/lion_bw.gif' align='center' link='Wiki.jsp?page=Lion Chapter Icon'}] ''[ACoS|A Crown of Swords]: Pitfalls and Tripwires'' %% 
| [{Image src='Chapter Icons/btar_rgt.gif' link='Wiki.jsp?page=ACoS,Ch8' align='right'}]
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! __Rand__ POV

That night he is holding %%ot [saidin|Said]%%. If a blade cut off his hand he would feel the pain but keep going.[1] It does not make him as sick any more and that worries him. He goes through all the things that are worrying him: Why did [Berelain|Berelain sur Paendrag] not tell him about [Annoura|Annoura Larisen]? Who are the [Aes Sedai] who just arrived? Why are the rebels camped south of [Cairhien|Cairhien (Country)]? [Rhuarc] has scouts looking for [Sevanna]. [Elayne|Elayne Trakand] and [Aviendha]. [Perrin|Perrin Aybara] and [Faile|Zarine Bashere], are their loyalties to him or to each other? [Perrin|Perrin Aybara] was with [Kiruna|Kiruna Nachiman] a long time. He thinks he will trust [Mat|Matrim Cauthon] and [Perrin|Perrin Aybara] and [Min|Min Farshaw]. 

[Min|Min Farshaw] is asleep, worn out from days of [Galina|Galina Casban]'s questioning. [Lews Therin|Lews Therin Telamon] raves at him to wipe them out. Holding %%ot [saidin|Said]%% brings him out. He began seeing flashes of color in the chest after beatings by [Galina|Galina Casban], [Katerine|Katerine Alruddin] and [Erian|Erian Boroleos].[2] They make him think of [Mat|Matrim Cauthon] and [Perrin|Perrin Aybara]. 

[Sulin] brings him out of his reverie. He is with twenty [Maidens|Maidens of the Spear] and three [Asha'man] - [Jonan Adley], [soldier|AshaMan], [Eben Hopwil], [Dedicated|AshaMan] and [Fedwin Morr], [Dedicated|AshaMan]. [Fedwin|Fedwin Morr] is dressed as a merchant. The [Maidens|Maidens of the Spear] include [Sulin], [Enaila], [Somara], [Jalani], [Corana] and [Nerilea]. [Rand|Rand alThor] thinks [Taim|Mazrim Taim] made good weapons of the [Asha'man]. He has three destinations tonight, one for him alone [3]. [Rand|Rand alThor] opens a gateway to the [Caemlyn] palace stables. He can sense the strength of the three [Asha'man] as they pass because their holding as much %%ot [saidin|Said]%% as they can. [Fedwin|Fedwin Morr] is the strongest. Men [channelers|True Source] grow strong faster than women. All eight [Asha'man] that [Rand|Rand alThor] brought can make a gateway. [Lews Therin|Lews Therin Telamon] rants about killing [Sammael] and [Demandred]. [Rand|Rand alThor] follows the [Maidens|Maidens of the Spear] and [Asha'man] though the gateway to [Caemlyn] and lets it close. [Lews Therin|Lews Therin Telamon] is puzzled by [Alanna|Alanna Mosvani]'s bond. [Nerilea] goes to the palace to find [Bashere|Davram Bashere] and [Bael] who leads the [Aiel] in [Caemlyn]. Five [Maidens|Maidens of the Spear] hood and bind [Rand|Rand alThor] and [Fedwin|Fedwin Morr] and take them into the palace. In the palace they meet [Bashere|Davram Bashere] and [Bael], clan chief of [Goshien] with [Deira|Deira Bashere], [Melaine] and [Dorindha|Dorindha (Roofmistress)]. [Bair] told [Melaine] that [Colavaere|Colavaere Saighan] is not important. [Rand|Rand alThor] tells them she's gone. [Rand|Rand alThor] asks if [Elayne|Elayne Trakand] is back. All the secrecy was in case [Elayne|Elayne Trakand] or [Aviendha] had returned! 

[Bashere|Davram Bashere] reports rumors of [Aes Sedai] with an army which could be [Mat|Matrim Cauthon]'s[4] in [Murandy] or [Altara]. He supposes they are the ones who fled when [Siuan|Siuan Sanche] was deposed. [Bael] wants to attack the [White Tower]. [Rand|Rand alThor] says he will leave [Elaida|Elaida do Avriny aRoihan] alone if she leaves him alone. [Rand|Rand alThor] gets out maps.[5] He needs [Mat|Matrim Cauthon] if [Perrin|Perrin Aybara] will not lead the army. From [Lews Therin|Lews Therin Telamon] [Rand|Rand alThor] knows [Sammael] was at his best defending. [Rand|Rand alThor] thinks about [Sammael]'s hillforts in the [Doirlon Hills] just inside [Illian|Illian (Country)]. [Bashere|Davram Bashere] is worried about [Caraline|Caraline Damodred], [Toram] and [Darlin|Darlin Sisnera]. [Dyelin Taravin] has imprisoned [Naean Arawn] and [Elenia Sarand] for claiming the [Andor] throne. [Rand|Rand alThor] is worried about finding his %%ot [angreal|Angreal]%% before confronting [Sammael]. [Melaine] tells [Rand|Rand alThor] there are nine [Aes Sedai] at [The Silver Swan], eight arrived almost a month ago just after [Rand|Rand alThor] left. Some come and go, a few [Reds|Red Ajah] twice, probably scouting the [Black Tower].[6] [Rand|Rand alThor] wonders why [Taim|Mazrim Taim] did not mention them. [Bashere|Davram Bashere] is building an army with [Taim|Mazrim Taim]'s rejects. 

Word of [Colavaere|Colavaere Saighan]'s coronation arrived three days ago. [Naean|Naean Arawn] and [Elenia|Elenia Sarand] declared for the throne. [Dyelin|Dyelin Taravin], [Pelivar|Pelivar Coelan] and [Luan|Luan Norwelyn] arrested them and the next day made [Dyelin|Dyelin Taravin] regent in [Elayne|Elayne Trakand]'s name. [Lir|Lir Baryn], [Arymilla|Arymilla Marne] and the others who supported [Naean|Naean Arawn] or [Elenia|Elenia Sarand] have fled the city. [Rand|Rand alThor] is leaving [Fedwin|Fedwin Morr] as a secret messenger and taking the other two [Asha'man] to Lord [Semaradrid|Semaradrid Maravin] and High Lord [Weiramon|Weiramon Saniago]. He will send the troops forward tonight.
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! Notes (Possible Spoilers)

[#1] More foreshadowing that [Rand|Rand alThor] will lose a hand.
\\[#2] These flashes will continue to grow ([ACoS,Ch18], [ACoS,Ch41]) and to include [Mat|Matrim Cauthon] and [Perrin|Perrin Aybara]. ([WH,Ch11])
\\[#3] The third trip will be to [Rhuidean] to fetch the two [access keys|Control Statues]. ([ACoS,Ch33])
\\[#4] None of them knows about [Mat|Matrim Cauthon], [Elayne|Elayne Trakand], and [Aviendha] being in [Ebou Dar].
\\[#5] The rest of this chapter is somewhat disjointed as [Rand|Rand alThor] (POV) is distracted by his maps and his own thoughts while conversations are going on.
\\[#6] These are probably members of [Toveine|Toveine Gazal]'s party sent to take out the [Black Tower]. ([ACoS,Prologue])
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