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"Such trouble it causes killing a man, even when he deserves killing. Kill a man who needs killing, and sometimes others pay for it. The question is, was it worth doing anyway? There's always a balance, you know. Good and evil. Light and Shadow. We would not be human if there wasn't a balance."
   — Thom Merrilin


Book Index

0 I II III IV V VI VII
VIII IX X XI XII XIII XIV

Chapters
Fortress of the Light
1 Waiting
2 Saidin
3 News from the Plain
4 Shadows Sleeping
5 Nightmares Walking
6 The Hunt Begins
7 The Way Out of the Mountains
8 Jarra
9 Wolf Dreams
10 Secrets
11 Tar Valon
12 The Amyrlin Seat
13 Punishments
14 The Bite of the Thorns
15 The Gray Man
16 Hunters Three
17 The Red Sister
18 Healing
19 Awakening
20 Visitations
21 A World of Dreams
22 The Price of the Ring
23 Sealed
24 Scouting and Discoveries
25 Questions
26 Behind a Lock
27 Tel'aran'rhiod
28 A Way Out
29 A Trap to Spring
30 The First Toss
31 The Woman of Tanchico
32 The First Ship
33 Within the Weave
34 A Different Dance
35 The Falcon
36 Daughter of the Night
37 Fires in Cairhien
38 Maidens of the Spear
39 Threads in the Pattern
40 A Hero in the Night
41 A Hunter's Oath
42 Easing the Badger
43 Shadowbrothers
44 Hunted
45 Caemlyn
46 A Message Out of the Shadow
47 To Race the Shadow
48 Following the Craft
49 A Storm in Tear
50 The Hammer
51 Bait for the Net
52 In Search of a Remedy
53 A Flow of the Spirit
54 Into the Stone
55 What Is Written in Prophecy
56 People of the Dragon


Harp-icon
<<<   The Woman of Tanchico    >>>
Setting: Tar Valon

Summary[]

Point of view: Matrim Cauthon

Thom is performing atop a table as Mat walks in to the inn. Thom looks sad which surprises Mat. Mat sits down and orders a drink for himself and one for Thom. Thom finishes his story and stumbles toward Mat's table. He sits with Mat and complains that the patrons want his stories in Common rather than Plain Chant or High Chant. Mat has never seen Thom drunk like this and he always used to put his harp away right after playing. At least he is still complaining about his audience. Two maids come over, Mada and Saal, and the women try to get Thom to rest and sleep. Thom has already emptied his tankard. Thom talks about the beautiful women he's had in his life, Morgase and Dena. He is clearly depressed over the death of Dena and blames himself. Mat is hungry and orders several chickens. Thom wants more drink, but the women refuse and insist he eat some chicken instead.

Mat and Thom talk a bit about Rand and Thom mentions his regret that Moiraine is an Aes Sedai. Mat asks what Thom is doing in Tar Valon, as he had heard that Thom was doing well for himself in Cairhien. Mention of Cairhien makes Thom think of Dena again and he regrets the trouble that can result from killing a man.[1] Mat tries to get Thom to come out of his stupor while devouring his three chickens. Eventually he convinces Thom to go to Caemlyn with him. Having renewed purpose, Thom gets up to gather his belongings and is no longer stumbling. Mat wonders if he has time to order another chicken but Thom returns quickly. Saal tells Mat she is very happy to see Thom's uplifted spirits and even gives him a silver mark in gratitude.

As they leave the inn Mat notices that the corpse of the man he killed is gone, but the guards are not present to investigate. Mat mutters about footpads and Thom tells him there are no footpads in Tar Valon, as the Aes Sedai make it very unpleasant to be a thief. Mat wonders who was following him earlier. Mat decides they will catch the first ship heading downriver, even if it is sinking.

Characters[]

Referenced[]

In Stories[]

Places[]

Notes

  1. Thom must have killed King Galldrian to avenge Dena's death which resulted in civil war over the succession in Cairhien.
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