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Book Index

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

Chapters
Distinctions
1 Apples First
2 Questions of Leadership
3 The Amyrlin's Anger
4 The Pattern Groans
5 Writings
6 Questioning Intentions
7 Lighter than a Feather
8 The Seven-Striped Lass
9 Blood in the Air
10 After the Taint
11 An Unexpected Letter
12 An Empty Ink Bottle
13 For What Has Been Wrought
14 A Vow
15 Use a Pebble
16 Shanna'har
17 Partings, and a Meeting
18 The Strength of This Place
19 Talk of Dragons
20 A Choice
21 An Open Gate
22 The End of a Legend
23 Foxheads
24 To Make a Stand
25 Return to Bandar Eban
26 Parley
27 A Call to Stand
28 Oddities
29 A Terrible Feeling
30 Men Dream Here
31 Into the Void
32 A Storm of Light
33 A Good Soup
34 Judgment
35 The Right Thing
36 An Invitation
37 Darkness in the Tower
38 Wounds
39 In the Three-fold Land
40 A Making
41 An Unexpected Ally
42 Stronger than Blood
43 Some Tea
44 A Backhanded Request
45 A Reunion
46 Working Leather
47 A Teaching Chamber
48 Near Avendesora
49 Court of the Sun
50 Choosing Enemies
51 A Testing
52 Boots
53 Gateways
54 The Light of the World
55 The One Left Behind
56 Something Wrong
57 A Rabbit for Supper

And After

Cairhien-icon
<<<   Choosing Enemies    >>>
Setting: Royal Palace of Andor in Caemlyn

Summary[]

Point of view: Elayne Trakand

Elayne Trakand sits in her throne room listening to the distant booms of the Dragons. She has Birgitte Silverbow taking the Cairhienin nobles around the castle to witness demonstrations of the dragons. The Andoran High Seats sit in the throne room, enjoying refreshments. Charlz Guybon brings through the three High Seat prisoners Arymilla Marne, Elenia Sarand and Naean Arawn. Just as the prisoners are brought to their knees before Elayne, the Cairhienin nobles return to witness Elaynes judgement. The Queen strips House Marne, Sarand and Arawn of all titles and estates and their lands are now forfeit to the Crown. The three women are horrified. The nobles would prefer execution, as this means the lands and House is passed on to the heir. Birgitte then leads the Cairhienin nobles forward, with Bertome Saighan and Lorstrum Aesnan the most prominent. Bertrome is troubled by this punishment as his cousin was Colavaere Saighan.[1] This elevated Bertrome to High Seat and although not open rebellious against Rand, was a very private critic of him. Lorstrum rose to prominence after Rand disappeared from Cairhein. [2] Again he never rebelled against Rand, but never allied with him. Rumor says that he is considering making a play for the Sun Throne. Ailil Riatin is present, although not High Seat due to her brother Toram Riatin holding that position. [3] She is a very vocal supporter of Elayne. The rest of the nobles gathered are of middling power. Elayne asks if the Cairheinin enjoyed the dragon demonstrations. She then asks if Cairhein would enjoy the strength and stability that Andor displays. Elayne then offers Andoran estates just confiscated by the Crown to some of the Cairheinin nobles. The throne room goes dead quiet. Elayne creates multiple bonds between Andor and Cairhein by giving some of these Andoran estates to Cairheinin nobles. It would also seem less likely that she would be seen as trying to steal Cairheinin land and titles when she moves for the Sun Throne. Lorstrum and Bertrome catch onto her plan and agree that such alliances would be greatly appreciated. Elayne plans to give part of an estate to Ailil for her support. Elayne then calls forward Elenia Sarand. Elayne pledges to give some of the land revitalized from her alliance with Ghealdan to Elenia and her husband. [4] [5] Unfortunately Elayne can't make these decisions for both Andor and Cairhein. Bertrome and Lorstrum pledge to give Elayne the support she needs to arrange this situation. Elayne gives them an hour.

Later Birgitte sits confused at what had happened. Morgase Trakand calls the move brilliant. Both Morgase and Dyelin Taravin explain that giving Andoran land to the Cairhenin is a bribe. Elayne will not be seen by the Cairheinin as a conqueror, but rather creates strong bonds between the nations. Elayne also taking the Sun Throne would mean that she holds Cairheinin land. She will not be the only person to own land in both countries now. Dyelin warns that Lorstrum took the lands not as a bribe, but rather a chance at taking the thrones in both countries. Both him and Bertrome are the most powerful Cairheinin nobles now that Dobraine Taborwin has gone [6] [7] and will need to be watched. Both will probably make a move for the thrones of both countries, but will wait for some time while the countries stabilize. Elayne plans to play them off one another during that time to limit their strength. However, in the present both men are now massive allies of Elayne and should have the power to orchestrate giving Elayne the crown. The former High Seat prisoners will be given some land out of Elaynes own Cairheinin estates with a promise of a fresh start. Birgitte is concerned that Elayne will be surrounded by enemies, but Elayne retorts that it is just as well she has Birgitte around as her Warder.

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Notes

  1. A Crown of Swords, Chapter 5
  2. The Path of Daggers, Chapter 29
  3. Although now he is dead
  4. May be difficult as he is probably not alive now
  5. A Memory of Light, Prologue
  6. Dobraine is in Tear. His storyline is confusing as it goes nowhere and he isn't even mentioned in the last book. He is confirmed to have survived the Last Battle by Sanderson, but unclear whether he gained any glory for following the Dragon Reborn so loyally
  7. The Gathering Storm, Chapter 42
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