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| [{Image src='Chapter Icons/btar_lft.gif' link='Wiki.jsp?page=ACoS,Ch41'}] 
| %%(display:block; text-align:center;) [{Image src='Chapter Icons/wheel_bw.gif' align='center' link='Wiki.jsp?page=Wheel Chapter Icon'}] ''[TPoD|The Path of Daggers]: Deceptive Appearances'' %% 
| [{Image src='Chapter Icons/btar_rgt.gif' link='Wiki.jsp?page=TPoD,Ch1' align='right'}]
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"Who would sup with the mighty must climb the path of daggers.

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—Anonymous notation found inked in\\
the margin of a manuscript history\\
(believed to date to the time of Arthur\\
[Hawkwing|Artur Hawkwing]) of the last days of the\\
[Tovan|Tova] Conclaves."
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"On the heights, all paths are paved with daggers.
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—Old [Seanchan|Seanchan (People)] saying."
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%%tabs
! __Ethenielle__ POV

[Ethenielle|Ethenielle Cosaru Noramaga], queen of [Kandor], is riding through the [Black Hills] with her advisor, Lady [Serailla], her Swordbearer, Lord [Baldhere], and fifty men. They are going to meet the rulers of the other [Borderlands] nations near a spire from the [Age of Legends]. Her ancestor was [Surasa]. [Baldhere] carries the sword of [Kirukan], a fabled warrior queen of [Aramaelle]. A scout, [Lomas], returns with news the meeting place is near. Despite rumors, her [Aes Sedai] advisor, [Nianh], said the spire is harmless. [Paitar Nachiman|Paitar Neramovni Nachiman], king of [Arafel], is there with [Ishigari Terasian] and [Kyril Shianri], and [Easar Togita], king of [Shienar], is accompanied by [Agelmar Jagad] and [Alesune Chulin], his %%ot [shatayan|Shienar]%%. [Paitar|Paitar Neramovni Nachiman]'s wife is [Menuki|Menuki Nachiman]. The [Blight] is very quiet lately. [Tenobia Kazadi|Tenobia si Bashere Kazadi], queen of [Saldaea], arrives with her uncle [Kalyan Ramsin]. [Ethenielle|Ethenielle Cosaru Noramaga]'s sister, [Einone], is married to another of [Tenobia|Tenobia si Bashere Kazadi]'s uncles. [Tenobia|Tenobia si Bashere Kazadi] is not likely to marry and [Davram Bashere] is next in line for the throne.[1] [Nianh] and [Easar|Easar Togita]'s [Aes Sedai] advisor, [Aisling|Aisling Noon], left abruptly when the [White Tower] split but [Paitar|Paitar Neramovni Nachiman]'s advisor, [Coladara], is with them along with seven other [Aes Sedai] who were visiting her. [Tenobia|Tenobia si Bashere Kazadi] left [Memara] behind but met up with five other [Aes Sedai] led by [Illeisien] at the [Saldaean|Saldaea] border. They all note the total of thirteen! [Ethenielle|Ethenielle Cosaru Noramaga]'s sister, [Nazelle], is married to Lord [Ismic]. She has not thought of remarrying since her husband, [Brys|Brys (Kandor)], died. The four rulers take a blood oath that they are one, to the death. They will find [Rand al'Thor|Rand alThor] and "do what needed to be done. Whatever the price."[2]
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More [Ethenielle POV]

! __Verin Mathwin__ POV

[Verin|Verin Mathwin] is in the [Aiel] camp near [Cairhien|Cairhien (City)] questioning [Turanna Norill] of the [White Ajah], one of the captured [Aes Sedai]. They have all been declared %%ot [da'tsang|Old Tongue]%%. She has seen [Coiren Saeldain] and [Sarene Nemdahl] laboring. She is willing to help the [Wise Ones|Aiel] shame the prisoners because it will help her.[3] [Verin|Verin Mathwin] does not understand the [Wise Ones|Aiel]' power structure except that no one gives orders to [Sorilea]. This morning [Sorilea] asked [Kiruna|Kiruna Nachiman] and the others in the [Sun Palace] what shames wetlanders the most. The others did not understand but [Verin|Verin Mathwin] made a list. The tent is guarded by [Coram] and [Mendan]. She is keeping secrets from her [Warder|Warder], [Tomas]. She tells the guards that she is done with [Turanna|Turanna Norill] and wants [Colinda] to send [Katerine|Katerine Alruddin] next. She only wants sisters without [Warder]. It has been seventy-one years since her last serious mistake.[4] She sees [Irgain Fatamed] of the [Green Ajah]. She is the third [Aes Sedai] [stilled|stilling] by [Rand|Rand alThor].[5] She is working with other [Aiel] women and not in black.  [Verin|Verin Mathwin] wonders why she is treated differently. 

Two [Wise Ones|Aiel] enter, [Daviena] and [Losaine]. They are [linked|Linking]. [Verin|Verin Mathwin] is certain the [Wise Ones|Aiel] did not know [Linking] even a few days ago and wonders who taught them.[6] They take away [Turanna|Turanna Norill]. [Cadsuane|Cadsuane Melaidhrin] appeared three days ago; [Verin|Verin Mathwin] only knows her vaguely. [Aeron], another [Wise One|Aiel] who cannot [channel|True Source], enters. [Verin|Verin Mathwin]'s job is to question the prisoners about the [White Tower]'s plan for [Rand|Rand alThor]. Two [Maidens|Maidens of the Spear], [Carahuin] and another, with another [Wise One|Aiel], [Tialin], enter bringing [Beldeine Nyram] instead of [Katerine|Katerine Alruddin]. A [Wise One|Aiel] and two %%ot [Cor Darei|Night Spears]%% were poisoned and she escaped. [Verin|Verin Mathwin] thinks about getting around truth in her statements. [Verin|Verin Mathwin] went to a lot of effort to convince [Sorilea] and [Amys] to let her question the prisoners. 

[Beldeine|Beldeine Nyram] thinks [Verin|Verin Mathwin] taught the [Aiel] to [link|Linking].[6] [Rand|Rand alThor]'s %%ot [ta'veren|Wheel of Time]%% effect caused [Verin|Verin Mathwin] to swear fealty. [Verin|Verin Mathwin] has had a small [flower brooch] %%ot [angreal|Angreal]%% for forty years. Weaving [Spirit|One Power] with [Wind|One Power] and [Water|One Power], [Fire|One Power] and [Earth|One Power], [Verin|Verin Mathwin] uses a form of [Compulsion|Weaves#co] on [Beldeine|Beldeine Nyram]! She learned it by piecing together information from [wilders|Wilder].[7] [Verin|Verin Mathwin] quizzes her about [Rand|Rand alThor]'s supporters in the [Tower|White Tower] but learns nothing. [Rand|Rand alThor] is certain he has supporters but [Verin|Verin Mathwin] does not understand why.[8] [Verin|Verin Mathwin] gives [Beldeine|Beldeine Nyram] instructions.[9] [Verin|Verin Mathwin] will not use [Compulsion|Weaves#co] on men because it works poorly on them. [Verin|Verin Mathwin] grew up in [Far Madding] and would have married [Eadwin] if her curiosity had not led her to the [White Tower]. She tells the guards she is done with [Beldeine|Beldeine Nyram] and asks them to have them bring [Irgain Fatamed] next. [Verin|Verin Mathwin] thinks she has to keep [Rand|Rand alThor] alive till it is time for him to die.
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More [Verin POV]

! __Moridin__ POV

[Moridin] is in a room with no doors or windows studying a game of %%ot [sha'rah|Age of Legends Items]%%.[10] %%ot [Sha'rah|Age of Legends Items]%%, %%ot [tcheran|Age of Legends Items]%% and %%ot [no'ri|Age of Legends Items]%% (now known as stones) were played in the [Age of Legends]. He wears two [mindtraps|Mindtrap]. A servant with blank eyes brings him wine.[11] The key piece in %%ot [sha'rah|Age of Legends Items]%% is the Fisher, a man with a blindfold and wounded side. "Only nine people living even remembered the game."[12] Recollection of a disaster brings him to fury and he seizes the [True Power] nearly crushing the [mindtraps|Mindtrap] and the Fisher piece. [Moridin] is playing both sides of the board in the [Westlands|Geography].
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More [Moridin POV]
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! Notes (Possible Spoilers)

[#1] And after [Davram|Davram Bashere] is [Faile|Zarine Bashere].
\\[#2] We finally learn the exact nature of their mission in [ToM,Ch51].
\\[#3] [Verin|Verin Mathwin]'s mission is not at all clear.
\\[#4] This mistake began her "project" of the last seventy years. ([LoC,Ch11]) We learn about them in [TGS,Ch39].
\\[#5] The other two being [Ronaille|Ronaille Vevanios] and [Sashalle|Sashalle Anderly]. ([WH,Ch25])
\\[#6] Most probably it was [Egwene|Egwene alVere] who is teaching the [Wise Ones|Aiel] in return for their help. ([WH,Prologue])
\\[#7] Such as [Theodrin|Theodrin Dabei]. ([LoC,Ch8])
\\[#8] It is not clear why, but [Rand|Rand alThor] still believes [Alviarin|Alviarin Freidhen]'s note. ([TFoH,Ch51])
\\[#9] The exact details of her instructions are not known, but [Beldeine|Beldeine Nyram] and four others shortly will swear fealty to [Rand|Rand alThor], all of them coming up with reasons that [Rand|Rand alThor] must reach the [Last Battle|Creator] alive. ([TPoD,Ch29])
\\[#10] The game of %%ot [sha'rah|Age of Legends Items]%% is a not so subtle metaphor for the struggle - [Rand|Rand alThor] and the Light vs. [Moridin] and the [Dark One|ShaiTan]. It is also the clearest reference to the Fisher King legend. See the discussion in the [FAQ, Section 3.06|WoTFAQ:node/156.html].
\\[#11] A %%ot [zomara]%%
\\[#12] This statement, apparently identifying the number of [Forsaken] still around, is very difficult to rationalize. See the discussion in the [FAQ, Section 1.2.5|WoTFAQ:node/44.html].

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