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| [{Image src='Chapter Icons/btar_lft.gif' link='Wiki.jsp?page=KoD,Ch20'}] 
| %%(display:block; text-align:center;) [{Image src='Chapter Icons/dragon_fang_bw.gif' align='center' link='Wiki.jsp?page=Dragon Fang Chapter Icon'}] ''[KoD|Knife of Dreams]: Within the Stone'' %% 
| [{Image src='Chapter Icons/btar_rgt.gif' link='Wiki.jsp?page=KoD,Ch22' align='right'}]
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! __Rand__ POV

[Rand|Rand alThor] and his party [Travel|Weaves#t] to [Stedding Shangtai][1] but all the humans are refused entrance. He then [Travels|Weaves#t] to [Tear|Tear (Country)] with [Cadsuane|Cadsuane Melaidhrin], [Nynaeve|Nynaeve alMeara], [Min|Min Farshaw], [Alivia] and six [Maidens|Maidens of the Spear] including [Sarendhra] who were selected by [Nandera]. [Rand|Rand alThor] rides [Tai'daishar]. They do not try to hide; if the [Forsaken] found him at Lord [Algarin|Algarin Pendaloan]'s there is no point. 

As they ride into the city they hear a shrill whistle. Two boys, [Com] and [Doni], tell them about the steamwagon from the [Academy of Cairhien|School of Cairhien]. [Mervin Poel]'s now travels a hundred miles in a day and can pull many wagons. [Tear|Tear (Country)] is cosmopolitan with numerous Outlanders from every nation. [Lews Therin|Lews Therin Telamon] is a regular nuisance. [Rand|Rand alThor] has his %%ot [ta'veren|Wheel of Time]%% effect on the city. The [Stone of Tear] can be seen from anywhere in the city, a square mile of stone on the River [Erinin River]. [Rand|Rand alThor] knows [Alanna|Alanna Mosvani] is there though he is not as sharply aware of her since [Elayne|Elayne Trakand], [Aviendha] and [Min|Min Farshaw] bonded him. 

The [Stone|Stone of Tear] is surrounded by besiegers so [Rand|Rand alThor] and his party stop at an inn newly renamed [The Dragon]. The innkeeper, [Agardo Saranche], tries to redirect them to [The Three Moons] but [Cadsuane|Cadsuane Melaidhrin] badgers him into giving them a room. In the common room an oddly dressed man is trying to sell silkworms.[2] [Rand|Rand alThor] hears a [Seanchan|Seanchan (People)] accent but cannot catch the man before he leaves. The innkeeper takes them to a room with a view of the [Stone|Stone of Tear]. The room is small for the whole party and [Rand|Rand alThor] and [Lews Therin|Lews Therin Telamon] get claustrophobia. [Rand|Rand alThor] seizes %%ot [saidin|Said]%% and [Lews Therin|Lews Therin Telamon] lets him hold it. He is dizzy and nauseated. He sees the face of the man from [Shadar Logoth|Aridhol (City)] furious and also looking sick. He feels like they are almost touching.[3] 

[Rand|Rand alThor] weaves [Spirit|One Power] and [Fire|One Power][4] to form a gateway into the Heart of the [Stone|Stone of Tear]. Thinking of %%ot [Callandor]%%, [Rand|Rand alThor] recalls from the Prophecies that, "Who draws it out shall follow after." He wonders what that means for [Narishma|Jahar Narishma] but he is otherwise occupied today.[5] There are two [Defenders of the Stone|Tear (City)] standing guard. [Iagin Handar] offers to take them to [Darlin|Darlin Sisnera] because the corridors have changed. This means the [Pattern|Wheel of Time] is loosening and [Dark One|ShaiTan] is touching the world more than since the [War of the Shadow|Shadow War]. [Rand|Rand alThor] leads the party to [Darlin|Darlin Sisnera]'s quarters by the bond to [Alanna|Alanna Mosvani]. He trusts [Alanna|Alanna Mosvani] somewhat because of [Min|Min Farshaw]'s [viewing|viewings], but [Aes Sedai] have their own goals like [Nynaeve|Nynaeve alMeara] and [Verin|Verin Mathwin]. The [Stone|Stone of Tear] has gaudy decorations. It held for three thousand years but now with [Traveling|Weaves#t] and [Blossoms of Fire|Weaves#bf] it is obsolete. 

The [Maidens|Maidens of the Spear] wait outside [Darlin|Darlin Sisnera]'s quarters while [Rand|Rand alThor] and the others enter. [Darlin|Darlin Sisnera], [Alanna|Alanna Mosvani], [Caraline Damodred], [Astoril Damara], [Weiramon Saniago] and [Anaiyella Narencelona] are there. The women are adopting [Min|Min Farshaw]'s fashion of coat and breeches. [Darlin|Darlin Sisnera] is still annoyed at [Cadsuane|Cadsuane Melaidhrin] for holding [Caraline|Caraline Damodred] and him captive in [Cairhien|Cairhien (Country)]. [Darlin|Darlin Sisnera] and [Caraline|Caraline Damodred] are close to engaged. [Rand|Rand alThor] is angry that [Weiramon|Weiramon Saniago] and [Anaiyella|Anaiyella Narencelona] are there. They were supposed to stay in [Cairhien|Cairhien (Country)]. They brought some armsmen who attacked the rebels and set back negotiations. The rebels hired every mercenary from the [Erinin River] to the [Bay of Remara]. [Rand|Rand alThor] shouts at them and [Cadsuane|Cadsuane Melaidhrin] spanks him with [Air|One Power]. [Darlin|Darlin Sisnera] tried three times to bring food into the city but the rebels stole it. 

[Bera Harkin] enters with news. [Sunamon|Sunamon Haellin], [Tolmeran] and the other High Lords are returning to [Tear|Tear (Country)] from [Illian|Illian (Country)] against [Rand|Rand alThor]'s orders. The good news is an agreement with the rebels, [Estanda], [Hearne], [Tedosian] and [Simaan]. [Seanchan|Seanchan (People)] were trying to bribe them. [Merana|Merana Ambrey] and [Rafela|Rafela Cindal] are preparing the documents. They want their titles back but they will accept [Darlin|Darlin Sisnera] as Steward and as King and swear fealty to him. All [Rand|Rand alThor]'s new laws stay. They will pay for feeding the city for a year. [Rand|Rand alThor] is angry at first but [Cadsuane|Cadsuane Melaidhrin] reminds him that the agreement meets the requirements he set. [Rand|Rand alThor] agrees. [Darlin|Darlin Sisnera] is incredulous at being named King; [Tear|Tear (Country)] has not had a King since [Moreina]. [Min|Min Farshaw] says she knows what his crown should look like.[6] [Rand|Rand alThor] orders [Darlin|Darlin Sisnera] to arrest the [Seanchan|Seanchan (People)] then to gather an army. [Asha'man] will take them to [Arad Doman] to prepare for [Tarmon Gai'don|Creator]. [Weiramon|Weiramon Saniago] and [Anaiyella|Anaiyella Narencelona] will go with them.
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! Notes (Possible Spoilers)

[#1] To drop off [Loial], [Covril] and [Erith].
\\[#2] A [Sharan|Shara]?
\\[#3] This link between [Rand|Rand alThor] and [Moridin] creates all sorts of interesting and dire possibilities.
\\[#4] Note that a %%ot [saidin|Said]%% gateway adds [Fire|One Power] while a %%ot [saidar|Said]%% gateway is pure [Spirit|One Power]. ([LoC,Ch37])
\\[#5] On his mission with [Merise|Merise Haindehl] to the [Salidar Aes Sedai]. ([KoD,Ch23])
\\[#6] From her [viewing|viewings] of [Darlin|Darlin Sisnera] wearing a crown. ([ACoS,Ch35])
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