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| %%(display:block; text-align:center;) [{Image src='Chapter Icons/xyz_bw.gif' align='center' link='Wiki.jsp?page=xyz Chapter Icon Usage'}] ''[TFoH|The Fires of Heaven]: title'' %% 
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! __Rand__ POV

[Rand|Rand alThor] and his forces are five miles east of [Cairhien|Cairhien (City)]. The [Shaido] surround the city. [Rand|Rand alThor] is on a hill studying the three camps below him. One camp holds some eight hundred [Tairens|Tear (Country)], of which half are [Defenders of the Stone|../geography/tear/tear/index]. The second camp is the [Cairhienin|Cairhien (Country)] camp, and it has around nine hundred men. The third is the infantry, which is mostly [Cairhienin|Cairhien (Country)] and it has at least seventeen hundred men. They were all brought in from the south by Lord [Weiramon|Weiramon Saniago] the day before. For a moment, [Rand|Rand alThor] examines [Weiramon|Weiramon Saniago] who is nearby with two young [Tairen|Tear (Country)] nobles.[1] The two talk about the news from [Tear|Tear (Country)] that [Weiramon|Weiramon Saniago] has brought - pirates and brigands from [Illian|Illian (Country)].[2] The king of [Illian|Illian (Country)] is [Mattin Stepaneos den Balgar|../characters/m/mattin_stepaneos]. [Sulin] and a hundred [Maidens|Maidens of the Spear] surround the hilltop. [Enaila] and two [Maidens|Maidens of the Spear] hover near [Weiramon|Weiramon Saniago] and his lordlings. [Aviendha] is talking to a dozen or more [Wise Ones|Aiel], including [Amys], [Bair] and [Sorilea]. Lately she has been almost friendly towards [Rand|Rand alThor]. [Melaine] is with [Bael].[3] He then encounters a gathering of [Aiel]: [Heirn|heirn], chief of the [Jindo] [Taardad], [Mangin|mangin], [Juranai|juranai], leader of the [Red Shields] and [Roidan|roidan], the leader of the Walkers|../organizations/aiel/thunder_walkers]=[Thunder Walkers] Walkers|../organizations/aiel/thunder_walkers]. [Rand|Rand alThor] thinks that he could be friends with [Mangin|mangin]. [Rand|Rand alThor] then heads to the highest point on the hill where there stands a log tower twenty spans tall. [Egwene|Egwene alVere], [Moiraine|Moiraine Damodred] and [Lan|al'Lan Mandragoran] are there. [Egwene|Egwene alVere] reluctantly tells [Rand|Rand alThor] that she will help in the battle. [Moiraine|Moiraine Damodred] asks [Rand|Rand alThor] why he is wearing a sword. [Rand|Rand alThor], several of the [clan chiefs|../organizations/aiel/index] and [Lan|al'Lan Mandragoran] climb the tower's ladder to the top. On the platform, [Kin Tovere|../characters/k/kin_tovere] and his two helpers, [Jol|jol] and [Cail|cail], are setting up two large looking glasses. [Rand|Rand alThor] looks through one of them and sees a group of [Shaido] about a mile from [Cairhien|Cairhien (City)], [Couladin] among them. [Asmodean] admitted marking [Couladin]'s arms. He then sees a spear skewer two of the [Shaido]. Swinging the looking glass he sees another come from the tops of [Cairhien|Cairhien (City)]'s walls.[4] [Rhuarc] also sees the spears as he is looking in the other telescope. [Rand|Rand alThor] thinks he will do what he must to stop the [Shaido].
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More [Rand POV]
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! Notes (Possible Spoilers)

[#1] One is [Melanril|melanril]. ([TFoH,Ch43]) The other is never identified.
\\[#2] Is this more of [Sammael]'s work?
\\[#3] She is interceding on [Sulin]'s behalf. [Rand|Rand alThor] ordered the [Maidens|Maidens of the Spear] to guard the tower while he goes to battle. ([TFoH,Ch43])
\\[#4] [Idrien Tarsin|../characters/i/idrien] built the giant crossbow that launches these spears. ([LoC,Ch18])
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