[{Table style='width:100%'

| [{Image src='Chapter Icons/btar_lft.gif' link='Wiki.jsp?page=CoT,Ch18'}] 
| %%(display:block; text-align:center;) [{Image src='Chapter Icons/tar_valon_bw.gif' align='center' link='Wiki.jsp?page=Tar Valon Chapter Icon'}] ''[CoT|Crossroads of Twilight]: Surprises'' %% 
| [{Image src='Chapter Icons/btar_rgt.gif' link='Wiki.jsp?page=CoT,Ch20' align='right'}]
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! __Egwene__ POV

[Egwene|Egwene alVere] sends [Siuan|Siuan Sanche] to fetch [Sheriam|Sheriam Bayanar] to escort her to the [Hall|Sitters] meeting. [Anaiya] thinks [Moria|Moria Karentanis] may call for a direct assault on the [White Tower]. [Myrelle|Myrelle Berengari] thinks [Malind|Malind Nachenin] will propose fleeing and regrouping to fight the [Forsaken].[1] [Morvrin] also gives advice. When [Sheriam|Sheriam Bayanar] takes too long, [Egwene|Egwene alVere] heads to the [Hall|Sitters] with the other three. 

It is high noon. [Nisao|Nisao Dachen], [Carlinya] and [Beonin|Beonin Marinye] join her at the [Hall|Sitters]. [Akarrin] is weaker than [Siuan|Siuan Sanche], yet she is still the strongest of the six investigators. The others include [Therva|Therva Maresis] - [Yellow|Yellow Ajah], [Shana], [Reiko] - an [Arafellin|Arafel] [Blue|Blue Ajah] and [Nisain] - [Gray|Gray Ajah]. Three too young [Sitters] arrive, [Salita|Salita Toranes], [Kwamesa] and [Berana]. [Malind|Malind Nachenin] and [Escaralde] are also too young, but [Moria|Moria Karentanis] has worn the shawl a hundred and thirty years. [Sheriam|Sheriam Bayanar] arrives late and upset.[2] In the [Hall|Sitters] the two oldest [Sitters] get to have their [Ajah|Aes Sedai] sit closest to the [Amyrlin|Aes Sedai]. After that it is first come first serve. [Romanda|Romanda Cassin] and [Salita|Salita Toranes] are already seated for the [Yellow|Yellow Ajah] and [Lelaine|Lelaine Akashi] and [Moria|Moria Karentanis] for the [Blue|Blue Ajah]. [Kwamesa] and [Berana] are choosing the middle rows for the [Gray|Gray Ajah] and [White|White Ajah], but [Malind|Malind Nachenin] for the [Green|Green Ajah] and [Escaralde] and [Takima] for the [Brown|Brown Ajah] were there ahead of them and oddly chose the back row. [Aledrin], [Saroiya], [Varilin] and [Magla|Magla Daronos] arrive. 

[Romanda|Romanda Cassin] starts the meeting. She was a [Sitter|Sitters] for almost eighty years. [Faiselle], [Lyrelle|Lyrelle Arienwin] and [Samalin] arrive.[3] The meeting starts as [Janya|Janya Frende] arrives. [Lelaine|Lelaine Akashi] wants to talk about the move to negotiate with [Elaida|Elaida do Avriny aRoihan], but [Moria|Moria Karentanis] calls for the report from [Akarrin] first. [Delana|Delana Mosalaine] finally arrives out of breath.[4] [Aledrin], the second youngest [Sitter|Sitters], calls the investigators to question. [Akarrin] reports the hole they found where [Shadar Logoth|Aridhol (City)] used to be and that it was an alien weave. They were chosen because of expertise in reading residues. [Nisain] is the best. She reports that there was far more %%ot [saidin|Said]%% than %%ot [saidar|Said]%%. They have no defense against such an attack. Clearly planned in advance, [Moria|Moria Karentanis], [Escaralde] and [Malind|Malind Nachenin] propose strengthening circles with men from the [Black Tower]. [Sheriam|Sheriam Bayanar] shrieks.[5] [Faiselle], [Varilin], [Saroiya], [Takima] and [Magla|Magla Daronos] react violently.[6] 

[Egwene|Egwene alVere] shuts down the near hysteria and calls for discussion and a vote. [Moria|Moria Karentanis] points out that the [Black Tower] is the only way they can possibly counter whatever happened at [Shadar Logoth|Aridhol (City)]. Also, cooperation will give them some slight control over the dangerously unstable [Asha'man]. [Sheriam|Sheriam Bayanar] sobs uncontrolled[5] and [Delana|Delana Mosalaine] looks green. [Magla|Magla Daronos], [Faiselle], [Varilin], [Saroiya] and [Takima] speak against the proposal. [Egwene|Egwene alVere] calls for the vote. [Janya|Janya Frende] stands first joining [Moria|Moria Karentanis], [Escaralde] and [Malind|Malind Nachenin]. [Samalin] follows, then [Salita|Salita Toranes], [Berana|berana], [Aledrin] and [Kwamesa]. After a time, [Romanda|Romanda Cassin] stands. [Lelaine|Lelaine Akashi] stands followed by [Lyrelle|Lyrelle Arienwin]. [Delana|Delana Mosalaine] stays seated with the five who spoke against the proposal, but twelve carries the lesser consensus. [Egwene|Egwene alVere] has to remind [Sheriam|Sheriam Bayanar] of her next duty, asking for the greater consensus. [Delana|Delana Mosalaine] stands but the other five refuse. They begin planning for an embassy to the [Black Tower].[7]
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More [Egwene POV]
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! Notes (Possible Spoilers)

[#1] [Myrelle|Myrelle Berengari] gives no hint that she might know more about [Shadar Logoth|Aridhol (City)] which she should from her bond to [Lan|al'Lan Mandragoran]. Has she fuzzed the bond so she does not know or is this deliberate deception on her part or an error on Robert Jordan's part?
\\[#2] Why is she late and upset? Last minute instructions from her tormentor?
\\[#3] Is there some useful information hidden in all the detail of order of arrival?
\\[#4] Last minute instructions from [Halima|AranGar]?
\\[#5] The proposed cooperation with the [Black Tower] is evidently contrary to [Sheriam|Sheriam Bayanar]'s marching orders.
\\[#6] The exact same five who proposed negotiating with [Elaida|Elaida do Avriny aRoihan]. They are also the same five who voted NO on the War Vote. ([TPoD,Ch19]) In that vote the margin was the same. [Romanda|Romanda Cassin] voted NO while [Delana|Delana Mosalaine] voted YES. We learn more about the motivations in these votes in [TGS,Ch43].
\\[#7] [Tarna Feir] also intends to approach the [Black Tower] with the intent of bonding the [Asha'man]. ([CoT,Ch22])
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