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| %%(display:block; text-align:center;) [{Image src='Chapter Icons/aes_sedai_bw.gif' align='center' link='Wiki.jsp?page=Aes Sedai Chapter Icon'}] ''[CoT|Crossroads of Twilight]: Whirlpools of Color'' %% 
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! __Perrin__ POV

The returning scouts are [Elyas Machera] and [Elienda]. The [Maiden|Maidens of the Spear] goes to report to the [Wise Ones|Aiel]. [Elyas|Elyas Machera] reports that they found the [Shaido] camped around a large town forty miles east.[1] There are nine or ten septs with at least ten thousand spear fighters. [Perrin|Perrin Aybara] knows that many septs would also have about fifty [Wise Ones|Aiel] who can [channel|True Source].[2] [Aram] wants to attack anyway, but [Elyas|Elyas Machera] puts him down. [Arganda|Gerard Arganda] suggests a ransom. [Marline] says it is against customs, but the [Shaido] have broken so many that they may consider it. [Berelain|Berelain sur Paendrag] offers her jewels and gold. [Gallenne|Bertain Gallenne] says it would be foolish to trust the [Shaido] and give away their position. [Annoura|Annoura Larisen] counters, suggesting negotiation. 

[Perrin|Perrin Aybara] ends the discussion saying no ransom. He wants [Elyas|Elyas Machera] to show him the camp. [Perrin|Perrin Aybara] recalls [Nat Torfinn], a blind man who could work blacksmith's puzzles by touch, but [Perrin|Perrin Aybara] must see a puzzle to work it. He sends [Aram] to bring [Grady|Jur Grady] to the [Traveling|Weaves#t] ground. [Elyas|Elyas Machera] smells the [Darkhound] trace. A [Shadowbrother|Darkhound] is the soul of a wolf corrupted by the [Shadow|Creator]. [Darkhound] and wolves will fight in the [Last Battle|Creator]. The [Pattern|Wheel of Time] is so complex it makes [Sovarra|Other Locations] lace look simple. [Darkhound] can eat the souls of wounded wolves turning them into more [Darkhound]. [Perrin|Perrin Aybara] wonders if they can eat the soul of a [Wolfbrother|Wolf]. [Perrin|Perrin Aybara] paces with [Stepper] until [Aram], [Dannil|Dannil Lewin] and two dozen [Two Rivers] scouts arrive with [Jur Grady]. He is tired, but [Fager Neald] is just as tired and [Grady|Jur Grady] is a bit stronger. He makes a gateway and [Perrin|Perrin Aybara] rides through followed by [Marline], [Aram] and the [Two Rivers] men, [Gallenne|Bertain Gallenne] and some [Mayeners|Mayene], [Arganda|Gerard Arganda] and some [Ghealdanin|Ghealdan], and finally [Annoura|Annoura Larisen] and [Grady|Jur Grady]. The gateway is bigger than the first one [Perrin|Perrin Aybara] remembers [Grady|Jur Grady] making.[3] [Arganda|Gerard Arganda] fought in the [Aiel War] at [Tar Valon]. 

They work their way upslope and meet [Sulin] and [Tuandha]. The [Shaido] sent some of the people from the city north. [Jondyn Barran], [Get Ayliah] and [Hu Marwin] followed to get information. [Gaul] and the other [Maidens|Maidens of the Spear] are circling the city again. From the top of the slope they can see the entire area. The size of the city and the camp is daunting. [Marline] reports sensing too many [channelers|True Source]. She thinks all the [Shaido] [channeling|True Source] [Wise Ones|Aiel], between four and five hundred, are down there.[2] [Annoura|Annoura Larisen] says, "Oh, Light!"[4] 

A road leads north and south from the city. There is an aqueduct that brings water from a lake five miles north. Suddenly colors erupt in [Perrin|Perrin Aybara]'s head and he sees an image of [Rand|Rand alThor] and [Nynaeve|Nynaeve alMeara] facing each other. He forces the image away. [Grady|Jur Grady], [Marline] and [Annoura|Annoura Larisen] are looking northwest and are badly shaken. [Annoura|Annoura Larisen] wonders if the [Forsaken] have a %%ot [sa'angreal|Angreal]%% or maybe even the [Dark One|ShaiTan] is loose.[4] She wants to go investigate, but [Perrin|Perrin Aybara] tells them it is [Rand|Rand alThor]'s business. He orders [Sulin] to get him some prisoners. He will solve the puzzle, free [Faile|Zarine Bashere] and destroy the [Shaido].
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! Notes (Possible Spoilers)

[#1] The town is [Malden]. ([CoT,Ch9])
\\[#2] [Sevanna] kept all the [Wise Ones|Aiel] who can [channel|True Source] with her so the total is, indeed, over four hundred. ([ACoS,Ch40])
\\[#3] Unlike women, the ultimate strength of male [channelers|True Source] cannot be predicted. They grow in strength in irregular spurts.
\\[#4] Although [Annoura|Annoura Larisen]'s actions have been suspicious, this seems an odd spontaneous reaction from a [Darkfriend|Darkfriends].
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