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| [{Image src='Chapter Icons/btar_lft.gif' link='Wiki.jsp?page=TPoD,Ch15'}] 
| %%(display:block; text-align:center;) [{Image src='Chapter Icons/tar_valon_bw.gif' align='center' link='Wiki.jsp?page=Tar Valon Chapter Icon'}] ''[TPoD|The Path of Daggers]: Unexpected Absences'' %% 
| [{Image src='Chapter Icons/btar_rgt.gif' link='Wiki.jsp?page=TPoD,Ch17' align='right'}]
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! __Egwene__ POV

The next morning before dawn [Egwene|Egwene alVere] sends [Sheriam|Sheriam Bayanar] to call a meeting of the [Hall|Sitters]. There are now half again as many [novices] as sisters. [Egwene|Egwene alVere] almost runs into [Carlinya] embarrassing her. When the [Hall|Sitters] gathers she announces that they will rest for two or three days. [Romanda|Romanda Cassin] leaves followed by [Magla|Magla Daronos], [Saroiya] and [Varilin]. [Lelaine|Lelaine Akashi] leaves with [Faiselle], [Takima] and [Lyrelle|Lyrelle Arienwin]. [Carlinya], [Beonin|Beonin Marinye], [Nisao|Nisao Dachen], [Anaiya], [Morvrin] and [Myrelle|Myrelle Berengari] are still upset and scared at having to swear fealty to [Egwene|Egwene alVere]. [Egwene|Egwene alVere] sees [Morvrin] talking to [Takima] and wonders why she did not chose [Janya|Janya Frende] or [Escaralde] if she wanted a [Sitter|Sitters] of her own [Ajah|Aes Sedai].[1] Back in her study, [Selame] serves her tea. [Egwene|Egwene alVere] and [Siuan|Siuan Sanche] go over petitions from [Sitters] [Moria Karentanis], [Malind Nachenin] and [Salita Toranes] on how to solve their money problems. [Egwene|Egwene alVere] must learn more of the [White Tower]'s history from [Siuan|Siuan Sanche]. She will avoid the fate of [Shein Chunla] if she can, but she will not remain impotent like [Cemaile Sorenthaine] was.
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More [Egwene POV]

! __Aran'gar__ POV

[Aran'gar|AranGar] buries a body in the snow.[2] She thinks about tonight's dreams.[3] She could wipe out all these [Aes Sedai], but the [Great Lord|ShaiTan] would not be pleased.
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More [Aran'gar POV]

! __Egwene__ POV

[Lelaine|Lelaine Akashi] accompanied by [Faolain|Faolain Orande], then [Romanda|Romanda Cassin] accompanied by [Theodrin|Theodrin Dabei] enter her study.[4] They want to talk about [Rand|Rand alThor] visiting the [Sea Folk]. [Romanda|Romanda Cassin] wants to approach the [Sea Folk] in [Cairhien|Cairhien (City)]. [Lelaine|Lelaine Akashi] wants [Elayne|Elayne Trakand] and [Nynaeve|Nynaeve alMeara] to pass a message to [Merilille|Merilille Ceandevin] to contact the [Sea Folk] in [Caemlyn]. They refuse to believe that [Windfinders|Sea Folk] are better at [Cloud Dancing|Weaves#cl] than [Aes Sedai]. [Chesa] brings tea and complains that [Meri] has wandered off. The [Sitters] leave. 

[Siuan|Siuan Sanche] goes to get lunch for them; [Selame] has wandered off, too. [Siuan|Siuan Sanche] has a report of soldiers moving south out of [Kandor].[5] All that [Egwene|Egwene alVere] has heard from the [Wise Ones|Aiel] is that [Merana|Merana Ambrey] is waiting for [Rand|Rand alThor] to return. There are rumors that [Mattin Stepaneos|Mattin Stepaneos den Balgar] was either killed by [Rand|Rand alThor] or kidnapped. [Siuan|Siuan Sanche] thinks there is an odd pattern among the [Sitters].[6] The [Sitters] chosen in [Salidar] are too young. After [Romanda|Romanda Cassin] and [Moria|Moria Karentanis], [Escaralde] is the oldest and she is about seventy. The [Hall|Sitters] has rarely had more than one [Sitter|Sitters] under a hundred, but in [Salidar], "here we have eight."[7] [Lelaine|Lelaine Akashi], [Lyrelle|Lyrelle Arienwin] and [Moria|Moria Karentanis] are the [Blue|Blue Ajah] [Sitters]. 

[Romanda|Romanda Cassin] returns and orders [Siuan|Siuan Sanche] to leave. She found out about the meeting with [Pelivar|Pelivar Coelan] and [Arathelle|Arathelle Renshar]. She tells [Egwene|Egwene alVere] to delegate her to do the talking. As soon as [Romanda|Romanda Cassin] leaves [Lelaine|Lelaine Akashi] enters with an identical message. She told the entire [Hall|Sitters] about [Egwene|Egwene alVere]'s plot. [Siuan|Siuan Sanche] returns and confirms that everyone now knows. She heard from [Bryne|Gareth Bryne] that the meeting is set for tomorrow and that [Aemlyn|Aemlyn Carand] will also attend. [Egwene|Egwene alVere] is pleased that her plan is working![8]

! __Sheriam Bayanar__ POV

That evening, as [Sheriam|Sheriam Bayanar] enters her tent, she is shielded, stripped and beaten because she does not know [Egwene|Egwene alVere]'s plan. She wishes she never spoke to a sister in the [Hall|Sitters].[9]
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More [Sheriam Bayanar POV]
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! Notes (Possible Spoilers)

[#1] Why does [Egwene|Egwene alVere] think [Escaralde] or [Janya|Janya Frende] would be more likely choices than [Takima]? Does this discussion contribute to [Takima]'s cooperation in the War Vote in [TPoD,Ch19]?
\\[#2] [Meri|meri] and/or [Selame|selame].
\\[#3] [Egwene|Egwene alVere] has been having nightmares and evidently [Aran'gar|AranGar] is the cause.
\\[#4] [Faolain|Faolain Orande] and [Theodrin|Theodrin Dabei] swore fealty to [Egwene|Egwene alVere] so they must be acting as her spies. ([ACoS,Ch11])
\\[#5] The [Borderlands] leaders. ([TPoD,Prologue])
\\[#6] We get a resolution on this puzzle in [TGS,Ch43].
\\[#7] The original text read "and here we have nine" which caused a lot of discussion and theorizing. This correction brings the statement in line with [CoT,Ch18] and [TGS,Ch43].
\\[#8] All is explained in [TPoD,Ch19].
\\[#9] What are [Sheriam|Sheriam Bayanar]'s true loyalties and who is her tormentor? We learn more in [TGS,Ch25].
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