# Character Notes from Crossroads of Twilight

## Chapter 8

- Perrin had  a dream about something bad. He is going more and more crazy on the hunt to save Faile. When he woke up, the first thing he had to face was one the of the Aiel imitators (that follow Faile) reporting that they found something up in Masema's camp. Then it waa something else about the snealy clerk gut suggesting something related to the Aes Sedai.


What a bummer that the fancy editor is broken. Oh well at least this one works. 

## Chapter 9: Traps (Faile)

Faile is still a prisoner (gai'shain) to the Shaido, who have settled for the last few days in the town of Malden, which they conquered. Faile witnesses several Wise Ones being distracted by Rand and Nynaeve's work on saidin, then talks with Chiad about how Bain and Chiad successfully helped Lucile and Arrela (Aiel imitators) escape, then Faile tried again, unsuccessfully, to talk Chiad into going with her when she tries to escape. 

Faile continues by going to do Sevanna's laundry, but is stopped by a random Aiel man, a Brotherless named Nadric, who intends to rape her. Nadric is stopped by Rolan, the Brotherless Aiel who made Faile gai'shain. Nadric then walks with her to pick up the spilled laundry, then carries the laundry for her while expressing that he wants her as a lover.

Reaching the table for doing laundry, Faile finds Alliandre and together they talk about how Maighdin (aka Queen Morgase) set out that morning to steal something from Therava's tent, and should be back by now. Then the two of them are approached by Galina, who begins to pressure them about getting a move on with the taks she gave them, when Maighdin walks up, having been caught trying to steal and punished for it. 

Just when Galina is about to tear into Maighdin, another gai'shain, Aravine, walks up and interrupts them to take Faile to Sevanna. On their way, Aravine takes them on a detour to show Faile that Arrela and Lacile had been captured, brought back, and punished extremely. Aravine takes this opportunity to swear fealty to Faile, because she overheard that Faile is planning to escape and wants to be taken with them.

From there Aravine actually takes Faile to Sevanna, and when Faile walks in Sevanna is in the middle of a not quite argument with Therava about whether to stay in this city, or go east (to get away from the massive source of saidar the Wise Ones can feel which is Rand cleansing saidin). Sevanna does not give in and insists that they will be staying here while they wait for as many as ten other septs to join her. 

Sevanna then moves on to reveal that the reason she called for Faile was that Faile's hidden knife had been found. Therava says that Faile should be punished by leaving her out overnight in the cold, hogtied and naked. Faile takes this punishment as she must, and fights extremely hard not to scream against the pain and cramps and cold, when Rolan appears with two braziers, placing them underneath the table she is on and begins massaging away the cramps. Faile laughs at what her life has become in just two short weeks of 22 days (huh?).

## Chapter 10: A Blazing Beacon (Elayne)

We open with Elayne getting ready in the morning inside House Matherin, while she recounts why she is out on a tour of Andor gathering men to defend Caemlyn in her support. Elayne's mood swings from being pregnant are very prominent in this chapter. Elayne grows frustrated at how slow the maid provided to her is being, until on the way out the maid screams in horror, explaining that she thought she saw the ghost of the late Lady of this house. Elayne meets Aviendha in the entry hall, and while talking about Rand, the servant of the house walks in explaining that preparations for Elayne and her party to leave are nearly ready. There's also a minor note between Elayne and Aviendha about the true reasoning behind this tour is not to gain men (because all the men fit for battle have already departed for Caemlyn when wind of trouble first started), but to spread news that Elayne is alive, and cares for her people and kingdom, to gain support for her to actually take the throne in the near future.

Aviendha is about to open a gateway to Travel back to Caemlyn when they feel Rand begin his work on cleansing saidar. Elayne wishes to go to him and help fight, assuming that this is trouble. Aviendha convinces her that this is a horrible idea, and they instead continue the plan of returning to Caemlyn.

## Chapter 11: Talk of Debts (Elayne)

Elayne and her entourage have arrived back at the palace in Caemlyn, by way of traveling. They are greeted by a very quiet palace, with not a single person channeling between all of the Aes Sedai, Windfinders, and Kin who are there. Elayne becomes frustrated and embarrassed when Birgitte appears in the stable yard and makes a bee line straight for Aviendha to check if Elayne has done all the things she is supposed to. 

Upon entering the palace, Elayne, Birgitte, and Aviendha are found by a group of Aes Sedai (Vandene, Merillile, Sareitha, and Careane). They are extremely worried about the massive use of the One Power they can all feel, and want to run in the opposite direction. Elayne refuses. The Aes Sedai also complain about Vandene not doing her fair share of working with the Kin or Windfinders, but Elayne insists she has freedom to take the time to mourn her sister. In reality, Vandene is hunting the Dark friend who killed her sister.

The whole group is then approached by Doilan Mellar, captain of Elayne's bodyguard. He is proud of how he went out of the gates to rescue a group of men from House Luan. However, House Luan is not yet sworn behind Elayne, so instead Elayne punishes Mellar by making him in charge of making sure the men he 'saved' are not here for nefarious reasons. 

## Chapter 12: A Bargain (Elayne)

Elayne takes a bath and discusses with Birgitte and Aviendha how efforts to keep Caemlyn stocked via Gateways (mainly opened by Windfinders) is going. Elayne also thinks about how she wishes Galad and Gawyn could make it back to Caemlyn. The bath is ended abruptly when the Wavemistress Zaida barges in with two Windfinders. She announces that the previous Wavemistress of the Seafolk has died, and she must go to meet with the other Wavemistresses to decide the next Wavemistress of the Seafolk. Zaida also announces her intent to fulfill their bargain by taking as many Aes Sedai with her as she can as instructors. This would leave Caemlyn severely hamstrung in their ability to get supplies, so Elayne negotiates it down to the Seafolk only taking one Aes Sedai, and leaving 8 Windfinders

## Chapter 13: High Seats (Elayne)

Elayne and Aviendha are nearly done dressing after the bath, when Birgitte walks in to tell Elayne that Dyelin has returned with the heads of 4 major houses. They proceed to the fancy meeting room to find that the reason Birgitte as confused is that the House Seats which have been sent are all teenagers! Specifically, Perival Mantear, Catalyn Haevin, Branlet Gilyard, Conail Northan. They go on to each proudly say that their House stands for Trakand, and make some or other mistake or twitch that reveals how new they are to being a High Seat. After the High Seats leave, Elayne, Aviendha, Birgitte, and Dyelin discuss for a moment how much this situation sucks, but is not untennable. The chapter ends with a servant announcing that the head maid and finance guy are ready to see Elayne.

## Chapter 14: What Wise Ones Know (Elayne)

Reene Harfor, the First Maid, and Halwin Norry, the First Clerk give reports to Elayne, Aviendha, Birgitte, and Dyelin about latest efforts to find a feed false information to spies, to block sabotage from people (including mercenaries in the guard) bribed by Arymilla, and to improve relations with bankers. It's not great. After dismissing the two of them, the 4 ladies turn to discussing the Borderlander armies that Elayne made a deal with in the last book. That's not looking great either.

They are interrupted when Monaelle, a Wise One, and Sumeko Karistovan, a Kinswoman, enter to use a weaving to check on Elayne and her baby. Monaelle announces that Elayne will have twins. The chapter concludes with a guard entering and sharing the news that Merilille and a Sea Folk apprentice are trying to leave the city.

## Chapter 15: Gathering Darkness (Elenia ?? & Daved Hanlon/Doilan Mellar)

The chapter starts with a very long and dry POV from Elenia, wife of a High Seat who is in Arymilla's camp, where we see her try to make a deal with a High Lady for fealty in a separate attempt for the crown. It sure is a lot of politics involving a lot of houses

Halfway through the chapter we switch to the POV of Doilan Mellar, a significant member of the army in Caemlyn (who we already knew was a Darkfriend, and is actually named Daved Hanlon), as he sneaks about Caemlyn in the night. He is being stalked, and pulls around a corner in order to catch his stalker and murder them, leaving the body in an alley and trying to make it look like a cutpurse did it. Hanlon is unable to identify the body, though, and he worries about who he might have angered or aroused suspicion in inside the palace that would set a tail on him. He then proceeds to the house of Shiaine Avarhin, a very minor house that some assume has died out. While waiting to meet with the Lady, we see Danlon talk to Falion, an Aes Sedai of the Black Ajah who must have angered the Dark One to be condemned to being a servant. The chapter concludes with Hanlon meeting with Shiaine, who gives him orders to do more to cause chaos in Caemlyn.

## Chapter 16: The Subject of Negotiations (Egwene)

> It's finally the next day! Only took 400 pages

We go to Egwene, on the river bank opposite Tar Valon, as she watches another group of boats full of soldiers arrive in Tar Valon. Gareth Bryne tries to convince her (repeatedly) that continuing to wait before attacking Tar Valon only increases the possible death toll, but Egwene still refuses and wishes to find another way. We also learn that since Egwene manipulated the Hall into declaring war on Elaida, they have set a group of "advisors" to effectively spy on Egwene. Fortunately for Egwene, she already has a sister from each Ajah who has sworn fealty directly to her, and each of them are able to worm their way into this position so that there is less spying and more intentional leaking of informatino going on.

The whole party of Egwene, her advisors, Bryne, and the collection of soldiers begin heading back to camp when Delana Sedia, a Sitter, approaches, and desires to talk privately with Egwene. Delana reveals that she has heard talk from several sisters, including other Sitters, of trying to open negotiations with Elaida. Egwene reacts by calling her advisors close to hear the information themselves, and they all react with incredulity. With the exception of Beonin, who thinks it might be worth it to try healing the Tower. The chapter concludes with Egwene giving permission to Beonin to take the sisters the Delana and try to have negotiations, on the condition that Elaida resign and is exiled.

## Chapter 17: Secrets (Egwene)

Upon dismissing Delana, Egwene's advisors continue to discuss how insane the idea of trying to talk to Elaida is. Egwene is not swayed. Upon returning to camp, they all go separate directions, as Egwene realizes that she is unusually camouflaged and unlikely to be recognized, so she decides to go on a walk to observe things in camp. She witnesses Phaedrine and Shemari, two Brown sisters, emerging from a Traveling gateway, and wonders what they are up to. Egwene continues and finds another tent that she decides to enter out of curiosity.