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| %%(display:block; text-align:center;) [{Image src='Chapter Icons/dragon_bw.gif' align='center' link='Wiki.jsp?page=Dragon Chapter Icon'}] ''[LoC|Lord of Chaos]: The Wheel of a Life'' %% 
| [{Image src='Chapter Icons/btar_rgt.gif' link='Wiki.jsp?page=LoC,Ch18' align='right'}]
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! __Rand__ POV

[Rand|Rand alThor] [Travels|Weaves#t] to the [Sun Palace] in [Cairhien|Cairhien (Country)] six hundred miles away. [Aviendha], [Sulin] and her [Maidens|Maidens of the Spear] and [Urien] and his [Red Shields] accompany [Rand|Rand alThor]. He still vaguely feels [Alanna|Alanna Mosvani] to the west. [Lews Therin|Lews Therin Telamon] mutters in [Rand|Rand alThor]'s head. The hall of the [Sun Palace] is guarded by [Brothers of the Eagle] led by [Corman] of the [Mosaada] [Goshien]. There are also [Mayener|Mayene] soldiers led by [Havien Nurelle], Lord Lieutenant of the [Winged Guards|Mayene]. [Aviendha] quickly slips away.[1] [Rand|Rand alThor] orders the men to take him to [Berelain|Berelain sur Paendrag] and [Rhuarc]. 

On the way he notes the decorations of the palace and wishes [Dyelin|Dyelin Taravin] could see them to put her mind to rest. The [Aiel] took only their fifth in [Cairhien|Cairhien (Country)] and [Bael] reluctantly agreed to take nothing in [Andor]. [Rand|Rand alThor] and his entourage finally find [Berelain|Berelain sur Paendrag] and [Rhuarc]. [Lews Therin|Lews Therin Telamon] hums when [Rand|Rand alThor] looks at her. [Rand|Rand alThor] shouts at him and the voice disappears. [Berelain|Berelain sur Paendrag] asks after [Perrin|Perrin Aybara] and [Mat|Matrim Cauthon]. They both tell [Rand|Rand alThor] that things are going well in [Cairhien|Cairhien (Country)]. They all understand that he put [Berelain|Berelain sur Paendrag] in charge because she is the only one with leadership skills whom the [Cairhienin|Cairhien (Country)] would not see as a threat. [Rand|Rand alThor] asks after [Egwene|Egwene alVere]. [Berelain|Berelain sur Paendrag] and [Egwene|Egwene alVere] do not like each other.[2] The [Wise Ones|Aiel] said [Egwene|Egwene alVere] still needs rest and light exercise. [Rand|Rand alThor] says he would like to see her. 

In a courtyard below [Rand|Rand alThor] sees women practicing swords. [Berelain|Berelain sur Paendrag] explains that they are mimicking the [Maidens|Maidens of the Spear]. [Rhuarc] is disgusted. He says they make a mockery of %%ot [ji'e'toh|Aiel]%% and asks [Rand|Rand alThor] to forbid it. [Rand|Rand alThor] says let them be, supporting [Berelain|Berelain sur Paendrag]. They go to the study and [Rand|Rand alThor] dismisses the [Aiel] guards except [Sulin] and [Urien]. [Berelain|Berelain sur Paendrag] says there is talk of [Caraline Damodred] and [Toram Riatin] in the streets. They are gathering forces in the foothills of the [Spine of the World]. Lots of [Andoran|Andor] soldiers have joined them.[3] [Rhuarc] says their force is small, but so is a [yellowfly|Aiel Waste Creatures] yet it is deadly. [Rand|Rand alThor] asks what [Sevanna] is doing. [Rhuarc] says the [Shaido] are building holds in [Kinslayer's Dagger|Kinslayers Dagger]. He adds that there is fighting in [Shara] for the first time since the [Trolloc Wars]. It is also known as [Shamara|Shara], [Co'dansin|Shara], [Tomaka|Shara] or [Kigali|Shara]. [Sharans|Shara] are compulsive liars. [Rand|Rand alThor] remembers reading that in ''The Travels of [Jain Farstrider|Jain Charin]''. [Rand|Rand alThor] stresses that they have to remain focused on [Sammael]. One step at a time. Commerce is starting up again with merchants arriving from [Andor], [Tear|Tear (Country)], [Murandy] and the [Borderlands]. A [Sea Folk] ship docked this morning.[4] [Rand|Rand alThor] thinks that [Berelain|Berelain sur Paendrag] seems different.[5] [Berelain|Berelain sur Paendrag] likes [Rand|Rand alThor]'s [School of Cairhien], but thinks they should make something practical. 

[Jalani] enters and announces [Mangin]. [Mangin] tells [Rand|Rand alThor] that he killed a [Cairhienin|Cairhien (Country)] man for tattooing a dragon on his arm. It happened six days ago. [Rand|Rand alThor] tells him he is to be hanged for murder and [Mangin] agrees. [Rand|Rand alThor] is angry that [Rhuarc] and [Berelain|Berelain sur Paendrag] knew about it but waited for him to do the dirty work. [Lews Therin|Lews Therin Telamon] starts murmuring again.
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! Notes (Possible Spoilers)
[#1] To meet with the [Wise Ones|Aiel]. ([LoC,Ch18])
\\[#2] [Egwene|Egwene alVere] thinks [Berelain|Berelain sur Paendrag] is a trull, but it is not at all clear why [Berelain|Berelain sur Paendrag] should dislike [Egwene|Egwene alVere].
\\[#3] Many of them are [Gaebril|Rahvin]'s displaced [White Lions|Caemlyn]. ([ACoS,Ch35])
\\[#4] The ship is the ''[White Spray]'' with [Wavemistress|Sea Folk] [Harine din Togara Two Winds]. It was docked at [Aringill] in [LoC,Ch5].
\\[#5] Is this just a casual observation or does it indicate that something has changed with [Berelain|Berelain sur Paendrag]?
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