Sareitha Tomares.

This theory makes two rather sizeable assumptions, proof for either of which will invalidate the whole. First, RJ is not jerking us around with more red herrings, and second, the reasoning of Kirstian and Zarya is sound.

That being said, let's look at the evidence.

"Worse." Vandene looked around, then moved a few paces to the center of where the hallways crossed, forcing Elayne to follow. From that vantage, they could see anyone coming alongeither corridor. The novices attentively maintained their positions relative to the Green. Maybe they had already gotten that flea, for all their eagerness. There were plenty of servants in sight, but no one approaching, no one close enough to overhear. Vandene lowered her voice anyway. Quietness did nothing to mask her displeasure. "They reasoned out that the killer must be Merilille, Sareitha or Careane. Good thinking

on their part, I suppose, but they shouldn't have been thinking about it in the first place. They should have been kept at their lessons so hard they had no time to think of anything else." Despite the scowl she directed at Kirstian and Zarya, the two overaged novices beamed with delight. There had been a compliment buried in the scolding, and Vandene was sparing of compliments.

WH, Chapter 8, Sea Folk and Kin.

Temaile knew exactly her effect on them. She should have hung her head at Eldrith's lecture, fainthearted as it was, and apologized for going against her wishes. Instead, she smiled. That smile never reached her eyes, though, large and dark and much too bright. "You were right, Eldrith. Right that Elayne would come here, and right that Nynaeve would come with her, it seems. They were together, and it is clear they are both in the Palace."

"Yes," Eldrith said, squirming slightly under Temaile's gaze. "Well." And she licked her lips, and shifted her feet, too. "Even so, until we can see how to get at them past all those wilders—"

"They are wilders, Eldrith." Temaile threw herself down in a chair, limbs sprawling carelessly, and her tone hardened. Not enough to seem commanding, but still more than merely firm. "There are only three sisters to trouble us, and we can dispose of them. We can take Nynaeve, and perhaps Elayne in the bargain."

WH, Ch. 10, A Plan Succeeds.

"That's as may be," Marillin said darkly. She cast a sidelong glance at Falion and grimaced. "Now, Moghedien instructed me to offer you what assistance I thought I could give, but I'll tell you right now, I won't enter the Royal Palace. The whole city has too many sisters in it for my taste, but the Palace is stuffed with wilders on top. I wouldn't get ten feet without someone knowing I was there."

Sighing, Shiaine leaned back and crossed her legs, idly kicking a slippered foot. Why did people always think you did not know as much as they? The world was full of fools!

"Moghedien ordered you to obey me, Marillin. I know, because Moridin told me. He did not say so right out, but I think when he snaps his fingers, Moghedien jumps." Talking about the Chosen this way was dangerous, but she had to make matters clear. "Do you want to tell me again what you won't do?"

The narrow-faced Aes Sedai licked her lips, darting another glance at Falion. Did the woman fear she would end up that way? Truth to tell, Shiaine would have traded Falion for a proper lady's maid in a heartbeat. Well, as long as she could retain her other services. Very likely, they both would have to die when this was finished. Shiaine did not like leaving loose ends.

"I wasn't lying about that," Marillin said slowly. "I really wouldn't get ten feet. But there's a woman already in the Palace. She can do what you need. It may take time to make contact, though."

"Just make sure it's not too long a time, Marillin." So. Oneof the sisters in the Palace was Black Ajah, was she? She would have to be Aes Sedai, not just a Darkfriend, to do what Shiaine needed.

WH, Ch. 10, A Plan Succeeds.

Surrounded by the light of saidar, Nynaeve and Talaan faced one another at four paces in front of the fireplace, where a brisk blaze had managed to take all chill out of the air. Or maybe it was effort that had warmed her, Nynaeve thought sourly. This lesson had lasted an hour already, by the ornate clock on the carved mantel. An hour of channeling without rest would warm anyone. Sareitha was supposed to be here, not her, but the Brown had slipped out of the Palace leaving a note about an urgent errand in the city. Careane had refused to take two days in a row, and Vandene still refused to take any, on the ridiculous grounds that teaching Kirstian and Zarya left her no time.

WH, Ch.11, Ideas of Importance.

The next bit of evidence comes from CoT, Ch. 11, Talk of Debts, the last 4 pages of the chapter, 299-302. I'll summarize here. Doilan Mellar, aka Daved Hanlon, a known Darkfriend and the Captain of Elayne's bodyguard, has led a sortie during Elayne's absence to bring in a contingent of soldiers from a High Seat that may or may not support Elayne's bid for the Lion Throne. Elayne, Aviendha and Birgitte all disapprove of the action, for the reasons listed on the cited pages. Sareitha is absolutely bubbling about how heroic and brilliant Mellar's actions were, and defends him against the criticism of Birgitte. When Mellar is dismissed, seething at the public rebuke he receives from Elayne, Sareitha again comes to his defense. Careane and Merilille, both present, highly approve of the action, evincing a strong personal and professional dislike of Mellar on their part.

So what do we have to work with?

1. Two of the Kin, now novices, Kirstian Chalwin and Zarya Alkaese, reason that Merilille, Sareitha or Careane is the killer.

2. Temaile Kinderode states that there are only three sisters in the palace that can hinder their efforts to kidnap Nynaeve and Elayne. However, there are four Aes Sedai in the palace: Vandene, Merilille, Sareitha and Careane. Who would not hinder Black Sisters? Another Black Sister, of course.

3. Marillin Gemalphen tells Lady Shiaine that she herself cannot get into the palace, but that there is a woman already in place who can do what Shiaine wants. Shiaine thinks that it must be an Aes Sedai, a member of the Black Ajah.

4. Sareitha is unexpectedly absent from her lessons with the Windfinders the very next day following Marillin and Shiaine's discussion.

5. Sareitha is the only woman, and Aes Sedai to boot, defending the actions of a womanizer universally despised by all the women he has encountered, actions which endangered the entire city. Mellar is a known darkfriend acting under the orders of Lady Shiaine, as is, presumably, the Black Ajah sister in the palace.

The evidence is all circumstantial, of course, and as I stated at the beginning, utterly dependant upon two assumptions. It all points toward Sareitha Tomares as the killer, however, and unless or until stronger evidence appears which contradicts it, it is the best case that can be made.