The Strike at Shayol Ghul

by Robert Jordan

  Jorille Mondevin at the Palace of Aesdaishan in Chachin.

  End Notes

  (1) Speculation of the wilder sort is rife among some who call themselves

  historians, and the discovery of this material has resulted in the expected from

  the usual quarters. Would the great sa'angreal have proven effective used as

  Patra Posae desired? Had the seals been placed by a circle comprised of men and

  women together, might the men, or even saidin itself, have been protected in

  some fasion from the Dark One's counter stroke? Or would saidar have been

  tainted as well? The last possibility is enough to curdle the coldest blood, yet

  the fact is that events transpired as they transpired, and such speculation is

  no more than a fireside game to frighten the gullible. Those I speak of will

  know who I mean.

  (2) According to the manuscript pages, all of the agents responsible for this

  smuggling were caught, though that was not known until events had far outrun

  anyone's plans. They were brave men and women, for although those who were not

  killed outright were tortured, and though some revealed the purpose of their

  mission, none betrayed the location of any of the access ter'angreal. Still, the

  only real result was that the ter'angreal were widely scattered across areas

  held for the Shadow, their locations and even their existence to remain hidden

  for millennia.

  (3) The manuscript indicates that there were several peace factions during the

  course of the war. Or perhaps only one, with fortunes that waxed and waned. It

  is clear that several times during the war this group sent parties at its own

  initiative to the Forsaken seeking a negotiated settlement, and that upon

  returning, members of each of these delegations were later discovered carrying

  out activities that aided the Shadow's cause, though it seems that in some

  instances, they were completely unaware of what they had done. It is a wonder

  that those people did not remember a saying that is supposed to have originated

  during the War of the Shadow. "There is never peace with the Shadow."

  (4) Before her death during the Breaking (which cannot be specified from the

  evidence of the manuscript, unfortunately either as to time or place), Latra

  Posae apparently rose to a prominence which rivaled that of Lews Therin before

  her. During the fighting aginst the Shadowsworn before the Breaking put an end

  to what by that time seemed inconsequential by comparison, she gained the name

  Shadar Nor, best translated as "Cutter of the Shadow" or perhaps "Slicer of the

  Shadow" (the difficulties of precise translation from the Old Tongue, with all

  its multiple meanings, will always remain with us). It is thus ironic that no

  other document yet discovered so much as mentions her name or acomplishments.

  Perhaps this will serve to restore Latra Posae Decume to her proper place in

  history.