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| Setting: Stone of Tear, Tar Valon |
Summary[]
- Point of view: Thomdril Merrilin
Thom uses his skills to boost morale in the Stone following the Trolloc attack. He spreads rumors about the High Lords to strengthen support for Rand among the commoners. Returning to his room, he discovers Moiraine looking through his belongings, including the plots he has been developing for Rand. He finds himself unexpectedly attracted to her. Moiraine channels to lessen his fatigue from the long night.
Moiraine says High Lord Carleon was accidentally shot by Tedosian, but Thom denies knowledge. Tedosian later falls ill, with his devoted wife, Alteima, caring for him. Thom asserts that such schemes are not a concern for a simple gleeman. Finally, Moiraine reveals she knows Thom's true identity as Thomdril Merrilin, also called the Gray Fox, the former Court Bard and lover of Queen Morgase, and expert player of the Game of Houses. She hints that he may be responsible for Taringail's death. Shocked by Moiraine's knowledge, Thom tries to regain control by discussing her background as a scion of the powerful House Damodred in Cairhien, and the niece of infamous King Laman. He highlights how Moiraine has aided the Dragon Reborn, even before confirming his true identity. These risks suggest powerful support within the White Tower, perhaps multiple Sitters in the Hall. Thom implies it would be best for Moiraine to leave his secrets alone lest her secrets be exposed as well.
Moiraine is unfazed however and Thom finally asks her what she wants. Moiraine asks Thom to go with Elayne and Nynaeve to Tanchico to help them survive. Thom, not wanting to leave Rand alone and at the mercy of Moiraine's manipulations, declines. Moiraine flatly guarantees that he will leave Tanchico alive and that she will see him again, and Thom knows that she must know this for certain due to the First Oath.[1] Thom presses her on why he would want to go to Tanchico and Moiraine suggests that he would want to protect Elayne. Finally, Moiraine adds that she will reveal the Red Sisters who were involved in gentling Owyn without following White Tower law. After shakily asking Moiraine to leave, Thom knows that she has pressed just the right buttons with Owyn and Elayne to get him to do what she wants.
- Point of view: Min Farshaw
Laras, the Mistress of the Kitchens, is teaching Min how to be a proper but also a lively young woman. Min hates her guise as Elmindreda except for the pretty dresses. She is working on her embroidery when Gawyn and Galad come by to visit. Leane had pointed out that embroidery would be perfect for allowing her to sit around and watch everyone for viewings.[2] She seems familiar to Galad but he does not recognize her and Gawyn has agreed to keep her secret, even from Galad. Gawyn is concerned that Galad is considering joining the Whitecloaks and hopes Min will dissuade him. The role Min plays though doesn't allow her to have a serious conversation on a topic like that and she cannot help much. Gawyn mentions that the Amyrlin speaks to her every day and asks if she knows anything about Elayne or Egwene. This annoys Min greatly and she has to pretend to be clueless to maintain her cover.
Logain appears accompanied by an Accepted and Min has a new viewing, showing a flaring halo around his head, radiant in gold and blue. The halo shouted of glory and power for Logain. Min is not sure how that could come about to someone who has been gentled, but her viewings always come true. She makes an excuse so she can leave to tell the Amyrlin of such an important viewing. Gawyn accompanies her and she cannot tell him off without blowing her cover. She lets her anger out at him since he was close to ruining her alibi with his questions in front of Galad. Gawyn mentions the news of a new false Dragon in Tear and Min probes him, but he will not believe the news about the Stone falling unless he sees it for himself. After agreeing to tell him if she has any news of Elayne, he leaves her to go on alone.
Although normally Min has to wait for the Amyrlin to seemingly run into her by coincidence, she feels the viewing about Logain is too important. She reaches the Amyrlin's Study and manages to sneak in to see Siuan with Leane looking at messages. Besides the usual news about famine in Cairhien and Trolloc attacks in the Borderlands, they also hear about the Prophet in Ghealdan and that the Blight has mysteriously receded by miles everywhere, which has not happened in living memory. Min tells them of the new viewing of Logain, and when pressed by Siuan, admits she really wants to leave the Tower and go to Rand in Tear. Min entreats Siuan to tell Gawyn and Galad where their sister is but Siuan will have none of it and the story cannot be changed now in any case.
While Min is there new messages arrive. Mazrim Taim has escaped, freed at the village of Denhuir. Siuan orders Leane to send a dozen sisters, as reliable as she can manage, with a thousand Tower Guards to recapture and gentle Taim immediately, despite the law. Leane is shocked by this but obeys. The other message is from Moiraine discreetly saying that Rand has Callandor and so has fulfilled the prophecy.[3] Siuan can now move forward openly with plans to guide the Dragon Reborn. Leane is sent out to convene the Hall of the Tower immediately.
- Point of view: Sahra Covenry
Sahra is working on a farm in the surrounding countryside of Tar Valon and does not understand why she was sent here, away from her studies as a novice. An Aes Sedai arrives and asks her about her meeting with Elmindreda. Sahra says she really doesn't know anything until pain wracks her body. The Aes Sedai wishes to know everything that happened. When the Aes Sedai is finished interrogating Sahra, she kills her.[4]
Characters[]
Referenced[]
- Rand
- Carleon
- Tedosian
- Morgase
- Taringail Damodred
- Laman Damodred
- Elayne
- Nynaeve
- Owyn Merrilin
- Lothair Mantelar
- Egwene
- Darvan
- Goemal
- Valda
- Sheriam
- Coulin
- Mazrim Taim
- Tenobia
- Guaire Amalasan
- Moria Elward
Places[]
Referenced[]
- Andor
- Caemlyn
- Tanchico
- Tar Valon
- Tarabon
- Tear
- Ghealdan
- Cairhien
- Borderlands
- Arad Doman
- Saldaea
- Maradon
- Blight
- Shienar
- Maule
- Denhuir
- Black Hills
Items[]
Referenced[]
Notes
- ↑ Moiraine likely learned about this future from one of her questions to the Aelfinn in The Shadow Rising, Chapter 15.
- ↑ Siuan must have told Leane about Min's talent recently since Leane did not know in The Shadow Rising, Chapter 1.
- ↑ Since Moiraine would have needed time to question the two Black Ajah sisters after Rand took the Stone, her messages sent in The Shadow Rising, Chapter 6 regarding the plot to free Mazrim Taim must not have arrived yet. Joiya Byir may have known that the plot was already executed and thus safe to reveal. (The Shadow Rising, Chapter 5)
- ↑ Sahra's murderer is never revealed, but it was most likely Alviarin since she spoke to Elaida in The Shadow Rising, Chapter 1.
- At least one edition has the wheel icon for this chapter.
