Black Ajah
Author: Kerna Shedrian
Introduction
There is an eighth Ajah whose members reside within the other seven Ajahs. The Black Ajah is rumoured to be dedicated to the Dark One. For this reason, the existence of this Ajah is often hotly denied by Aes Sedai. Many refuse to believe such an Ajah exists (TWoRJTWoT).
Promised immortality and more by the Dark One, the Black Ajah have forsaken the Three Oaths, replacing them with a new trinity (ACoS, Ch. 40). They forsake their own Ajahs too, as they are required to relay every whisper within their supposed Ajah (TPoD, Ch. 25) and all the Ajah secrets (CoT, Ch. 21).
History
The Black Ajah first revealed itself two thousand years ago during the Trolloc Wars when armies of Trollocs commanded by Dreadlords came out of the Blight and ransacked the land. Though not all the Dreadlords were female, it is considered that the majority of the female Dreadlords were Black Ajah (TWoRJTWoT).
Since then, the Black Ajah has dwelt unseen among the others, cloaked in secrecy. In the prelude to Tarmon Gai'don, the Black Ajah has come into the open once more (TGH, Ch. 49).
Organization
Due to the secrecy of the Black Ajah, not even all of its members know one another. The Ajah is organized into hearts but is ruled by a Supreme Council. A heart has three members; each member of the heart knows the other two members of the heart and one member of another heart that the other two do not (CoT, Prologue).
There are thirteen members on the Supreme Council, and one of these is the head of the Supreme Council. Alviarin is the current head. She was handpicked by Ishamael, replacing Jarna after she had Tamra put to the question. Galina is Alviarin's second (ACoS, Prologue).
Ordinary members of the Black Ajah are brought before the Supreme Council only if they are being honoured, being given a very important assignment or being put to the question (KoD, Prologue).
Secrets
The secret hand signal of the Black Ajah is hands held at the side with both thumbs thrust hard between the first two fingers (LoC, Ch. 30).
The trinity of oaths undertaken are unknown, but one is suspected to be an oath against betraying cohorts (TPoD, Ch. 20).
The Supreme Council's meetings are held with faces covered and voices disguised (LoC, Prologue). If one of the members are out of the Tower, another member is brought in to make up the numbers (KoD, Prologue).
Miscellaneous
- Orders are left on pillows or in cloaks. The ink vanishes if touched by another hand (LoC, Prologue). Some are ciphered (KoD, Prologue). Each member has a secret place to leave messages (LoC, Prologue), and some messages are marked in a way to tell where the message must be left (KoD, Prologue).
- To put someone to the question, the Black Ajah forces her into a circle against her will and guides the circle to inflict pain (KoD, Prologue).
- The Black Ajah put Tamra Ospenya to the question and killed the Aes Sedai she had set to search for the Dragon Reborn (NS, Ch. 18).
- Many murders took place just after the Aiel War as the Black Ajah killed any male they suspected could channel. They do not know when the Dragon was reborn, they just know he has been (NS, Epilogue).
- At least two members of the Black Ajah were present at the meeting with Ba'alzamon (TGH, Prologue).
- Thirteen members of the Black Ajah did murder as they stole ter'angreal and fled from the Tower (TDR, Ch. 13).
- No Black Ajah were sent to the Black Tower (ACoS, Prologue).
- Elaida unwittingly sends Seaine Herimon on a hunt for the Black Ajah within the White Tower (ACoS, Ch. 32). Doesine, Pevara, Saerin and Yukiri eventually join her (ACoS, Ch. 32; TPoD, Prologue). They discover that Atuan Larisett, Karale Sanghir, Marris Thornhill and Talene Minly are members of the Black Ajah and force them to re-swear the Three Oaths plus an oath to obey the hunters (TPoD, Ch. 26; WH, Prologue; CoT, Prologue; KoD, Prologue).
