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| %%(display:block; text-align:center;) [{Image src='Chapter Icons/wheel_bw.gif' align='center' link='Wiki.jsp?page=Wheel Chapter Icon'}] ''[TFoH|The Fires of Heaven]: The First Sparks Fall'' %% 
| [{Image src='Chapter Icons/btar_rgt.gif' link='Wiki.jsp?page=TFoH,Ch1]' align='right'}]
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! Header

"With his coming are the dread fires born again. The hills burn, and the land turns sere. The tides of men run out, and the hours dwindle. The wall is pierced, and the veil of parting raised. Storms rumble beyond the horizon, and the fires of heaven purge the earth. There is no salvation without destruction, no hope this side of death.
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—fragment from ''The [Prophecies of the Dragon|Karaethon Prophecies]''\\
believed translated by [N'Delia Basolaine|NDelia Basolaine]\\
First Maid and Swordfast to [Raidhen] of Hol Cuchone\\
(circa 400 AB)"
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! __Elaida__ POV

[Elaida|Elaida do Avriny aRoihan], as [Amyrlin|Aes Sedai], meets with her Council in her study. It is less than two months since she was raised. With her are [Alviarin|Alviarin Freidhen], her [Keeper|Aes Sedai], and a Council of other [Aes Sedai]. [Alviarin|Alviarin Freidhen] was made [Keeper|Aes Sedai] as part of a deal to have the [White Ajah] back [Elaida|Elaida do Avriny aRoihan]. She was the first to join with [Elaida|Elaida do Avriny aRoihan]. The Council comprises:[1]

* [Brown Ajah] - [Danelle]
* [Gray Ajah] - [Andaya|Andaya Forae] and [Evanellein]
* [Green Ajah] - [Joline|Joline Maza]
* [Red Ajah] - [Javindhra|Javindhra Doraille], [Teslyn|Teslyn Baradon] and two others
* [White Ajah] - two or three sisters
* [Yellow Ajah] - [Shemerin]

There are no [Blue Ajah] sisters. The Council members make their reports. [Danelle] reports that [Aiel] raids through the [Niamh Passes|Spine of the World] appear to have increased, but the main news is that [Shienarans|Shienar] are fighting each other. [Alviarin|Alviarin Freidhen] comments that the entire [Blight] is unusually quiet. [Teslyn|Teslyn Baradon] reports that the Marshal-General of [Saldaea], [Davram Bashere], is moving an army southeast. This implies that word of [Taim|Mazrim Taim]'s escape has leaked out and [Bashere|Davram Bashere] and/or [Tenobia|Tenobia si Bashere Kazadi] no longer trusts the [White Tower] to deal with him. [Alviarin|Alviarin Freidhen] suggests that an [Aes Sedai] be sent to [Saldaea] to counsel [Tenobia|Tenobia si Bashere Kazadi]. After some discussion [Alviarin|Alviarin Freidhen] suggests [Memara] of the [Red Ajah]. [Elaida|Elaida do Avriny aRoihan] is inwardly furious that they do not even ask her opinion. Everyone on the council has sworn personal allegiance to her. [Alviarin|Alviarin Freidhen] asks if there is any news from [Arad Doman] or [Tarabon]. She is concerned that [Pedron Niall] may soon run the entire west coast. [Evanellein|evanellein] reports that the [Panarch|Tarabon] [Amathera|Amathera Aelfdene Casmir Lounault] of [Tarabon] has apparently vanished, and it seems that an [Aes Sedai] may have been involved.[2] [Andaya|Andaya Forae] asks if there is news of [Elayne|Elayne Trakand] or [Galad|Galad Damodred]. There is none. [Javindhra|Javindhra Doraille] has placed a newly raised [Red Ajah] sister is in the [Royal Palace] in [Caemlyn]. Since she is newly raised, she has not taken on the [agelessness|Ageless] that came with long use of the Power.[3] [Morgase|Morgase Trakand] is absorbed with [Gaebril|Rahvin] and making her claim on [Cairhien|Cairhien (Country)]. [Alviarin|Alviarin Freidhen] has a clerk forging letters from [Elayne|Elayne Trakand] to [Morgase|Morgase Trakand] to keep her calm. [Joline|Joline Maza] comments that at least [Gawyn|Gawyn Trakand] is still around but [Teslyn|Teslyn Baradon] is angry that he and his [Younglings] skirmish with [Whitecloaks|Children of the Light]. He too often acts on his own. [Danelle|danelle] adds that [Pedron Niall] is conducting secret negotiations, trying to convince [Altara] and [Murandy] to cede land to [Illian|Illian (Country)], and thus keeping the [Council of Nine|Illian (Country)] from invading one or both. [Elaida|Elaida do Avriny aRoihan] is furious that her Council does not give her the respect she deserves. She looks at the two paintings on her wall. One is of [Bonwhin|Bonwhin Meraighdin], the last [Red Ajah] to have been raised to the [Amyrlin|Aes Sedai], a thousand years before. [Bonwhin|Bonwhin Meraighdin] was stripped of her stole. The other painting is of [Rand|Rand alThor]. [Elaida|Elaida do Avriny aRoihan] forces the discussion to the hunt for [Siuan Sanche]. [Alviarin|Alviarin Freidhen] comments that it is difficult as they are promoting the rumor that she was executed. [Joline|Joline Maza] has charge of the search. [Elaida|Elaida do Avriny aRoihan] orders her to serve a penance because of her lack of progress. On bringing back the sisters who fled, [Javindhra|Javindhra Doraille] reports that there are difficulties. [Elaida|Elaida do Avriny aRoihan] orders her to submit a full written report. [Elaida|Elaida do Avriny aRoihan] is torn because she cannot trust any of those who fled, especially the [Blue Ajah], yet the [White Tower] must be whole and strong. 

[Elaida|Elaida do Avriny aRoihan] finally forces them to discuss [Rand al'Thor|Rand alThor]. He left [Tear|Tear (Country)], but they do not know where he has gone. She asserts that he is the [Dragon Reborn|Rand alThor] whereupon [Shemerin] collapses. [Elaida|Elaida do Avriny aRoihan] thinks that she will do for an example.[4] She tells them that finding [Rand|Rand alThor] and bringing him under control of the [White Tower] is far more important than any of the other items they discussed. She commands them all to focus their efforts on him. [Elaida|Elaida do Avriny aRoihan] dismisses the council. An [Accepted] comes in and announces that [Padan Fain] has arrived. In passing, she mentions that [Silviana|Silviana Brehon] is the new [Mistress of Novices|Aes Sedai].
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More [Elaida POV]

! __Padan Fain__ POV

[Fain|Padan Fain] enters [Elaida|Elaida do Avriny aRoihan]'s study.[5] He notices the tension between [Elaida|Elaida do Avriny aRoihan] and [Alviarin|Alviarin Freidhen] and loves it. [Elaida|Elaida do Avriny aRoihan] dismisses [Alviarin|Alviarin Freidhen]. He has a feeling that [Alviarin|Alviarin Freidhen] knows too much about him, but does not know why.[6] He knows that the [Horn of Valere] is in the [White Tower] and he can sense the [ruby dagger|Ruby Dagger]. He wants both.[7] The [ruby dagger|Ruby Dagger] will make him feel whole again. If he returned to [Shadar Logoth|Aridhol (City)] he might be trapped again. They start talking about [Rand|Rand alThor]. He tells [Elaida|Elaida do Avriny aRoihan] that she must tie a string to one of the few that he trusts if she wants to lead him.[8]
\\%%follow [Follow Padan Fain|ToM,Prologue]%%
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More [Padan Fain POV]

! __Rahvin__ POV

[Rahvin] is in the [Royal Palace] in [Caemlyn]. He receives a report from a young [Red Ajah] [Aes Sedai] that he has under [Compulsion|Weaves].[3] He debates with himself whether to keep [Morgase|Morgase Trakand] around or kill her. After the report is finished, he has Lord [Elegar], a [Darkfriend|Darkfriends], take her away. Without warning, [Lanfear] [Travels|Weaves] in from a place of snowy white hangings.[9] [Lanfear] chides him about the [Aes Sedai] and he replies that someone in the [White Tower] warned him.[10] She tells him that others are coming then [Sammael] [Travels|Weaves] in from a place of marble arches and balconies with gulls in the sky.[11] [Graendal] is the last to arrive, from a palace full of beautiful entertainers. There is a disconsolate lean old man in their midst.[12] [Rahvin] asks if [Demandred] is coming; he has been lording over the others since [Ishamael]'s death. [Lanfear] says it will be just the four of them. [Sammael] asks if [Asmodean] is truly a traitor and [Lanfear] confirms it.[13] They discuss how to deal with [Rand|Rand alThor]. [Rahvin] thinks he is stronger than [Graendal], but she would [link|Linking] with [Lanfear] if he tried anything.[14] [Ishamael] tried to control him, then tried to kill him, but he was more than half mad. [Lanfear] proposes that the four of them work together. She notes that someone else is trying to control him. She suspects [Moghedien] or [Demandred].[15] She will stay close to [Rand|Rand alThor], but the others must keep their distance. [Rahvin] thinks that he will follow her plan as long as it does not interfere with his own plans.
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More [Rahvin POV]
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! Notes (Possible Spoilers)

[#1] There are four [Red Ajah] sisters altogether. The total number is not given, but by [TFoH,Ch49] [Elaida|Elaida do Avriny aRoihan] has reduced the Council from at least eleven down to six.\\
[#2] [Nynaeve|Nynaeve alMeara] and [Elayne|Elayne Trakand] ([TSR,Ch55]) \\
[#3] [Elaida|Elaida do Avriny aRoihan] sends a young [Red Ajah] sister to spy on [Morgase|Morgase Trakand], but [Rahvin] quickly turns her to his own purposes.\\
[#4] She makes good on this. ([TFoH,Ch49])\\
[#5] The last we saw of [Fain|Padan Fain], he was leaving the [Two Rivers] heading for [Caemlyn], then [Tar Valon]. ([TSR,Ch56]) Did he ever make it to [Caemlyn] and, if so, what did he do there?\\
[#6] Does [Alviarin|Alviarin Freidhen] really have suspicions about him? Why? In [TFoH,Ch19] she really does not seem to know anything about him.\\
[#7] Why does he still want the [Horn of Valere]? He has never shown interest in anything but [Rand|Rand alThor] and the [ruby dagger|Ruby Dagger] before.\\
[#8] Does [Fain|Padan Fain]'s influence contribute to [Elaida|Elaida do Avriny aRoihan]'s increasingly erratic behavior in the future?\\
[#9] [Lanfear]'s home is an unknown mystery.\\
[#10] [Alviarin|Alviarin Freidhen] or someone else?\\
[#10] [Illian|Illian (City)]\\
[#12] Who is this old man? The most common speculation was King [Alsalam|Alsalam Saeed Almadar] but that is not correct. ([ToM,Ch32])\\
[#13] Hiding the fact that it was really her doing.\\
[#14] This is the first direct reference to [Linking] though we saw it when the [Aes Sedai] [Healed|Weaves] [Mat|Matrim Cauthon]. ([TDR,Ch18])\\
[#15] Is this true or is she lying?\\
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