Previously - Elaida gathered a group of supporters who helped her boot out Siuan and Leane:
Danelle - Brown Ajah. Brought in a bunch of men disguised as Masons who purposely stirred up the fighting in the Tower after Siuan and Leane were deposed. Is actually Mesaana.
Alviarin - Keeper. Was the first one Elaida discussed her thoughts about Siuan with. Black Ajah. Will later try to Blackmail Elaida to take control of all her decisions.
Teslyn and Joline - Elaida later sends them to Ebou Dar, where they meet with Mat and the girls, and escape with Mat when the Seanchan invade.
Shemerin - the one who sounds like Sheriam, but isn't. Shemerin ends up being demoted by Elaida, and then fleeing the Tower where she is found by Egwene hiding out as a washing-woman in the rebel camp.
Javindhra - later goes to the Black Tower with Pevara, and is Turned to the shadow by Taim.
Evanellein - Black Ajah. Very concerned with her appearance. Interested in what both men and women think of her appearance. Thinks she has a big bum, but a nice bosom. She fights in telrod in the fight where Egwene turns Mesaana into a drooler. Evanellein in the one who Egwene first tries out the turn-into-a-drooler trick on.
Andaya - doesn't do anything notable during the books.
Also in the Tower: Gawyn and The Younglings fought for Elaida during the Amyrlin changeover.
But he helped Min get Siuan, Leane and Logain away after Min and Laras freed them.
News of the rest of the world:
Mazrim was captured, then freed (by Demo and followers). Bashere is bringing his men to try to re-capture him.
Pedron is implementing his plan to stir up trouble in Tarabon, Arad Doman, etc, then step in and save the day. He plans to gain enough influence across many nations and lead the world's armies in the Last Battle.
Nynaeve and Elayne saved Panarch Amathera from Blackies in Tanchico.
Morgase plans to try to claim the throne of Cairhien. Or, Rahvin plans to make her make a claim.
Rand sent a Tairen army to Cairhien to restore order and distribute food.
The Prophet is stirring things up in Ghealdan.
Elaida has made these women "sworn to obey" her. Doesn't matter to the Blackies, but the others cannot lie, so must hold to the oath. I've not noticed this before. I will keep an eye on the activities of these Sedai and see if there are any actions they do that were forced because of their swearing.
They wonder where Galad is. He ran off to join the Whitecloaks before all the troubles in the Tower happened.
They report that there is "A red sister is in place in the Royal Palace" in Andor, keeping an eye on Morgase, and making sure they keep good relations with her. This Aes Sedai appears later in this prologue.
Previously - Fain left the Two Rivers and was going to head to Tar Valon. Now he is there.
The dagger is there. So is the Horn of Valere - both brought from Falme by Verin and the girls (and Mat)
Fain has a feeling that that Alviarin "knew too much about him". This might be true - she is a Blacky, and the shadow know about Fain.
"He had been broken and remade because of al'Thor" - Darky gave him the power to track down Dragon.
"That remaking had given him the means of revenge" - He can still sense where Rand is, so can find and kill him.
Previously - Rahvin, aka Lord Gaebril, is hanging out with Morgase, telling her what to do.
The White Tower sent a newly-raised Red Ajah to Caemlyn to advise Morgase and keep up the good relations between Tower and Andor.
Lanfear trappen Asmo into joining Rand, and teaching him to channel.
"Oddly, a lean old man in a wrinkled coat sat disconsolately among the performers" - very out-of-place among Graendal's pets. This is Jain Farstrider - aka Noal. He is later released with some compulsion to find a cache of angreal and ter'angreal for her. The same collection where the girls find the Bowl of the Winds.
"Someone else is trying to control him [Rand]" - that would be Moggy, she was checking out the black collar last book when Nynaeve was searching for it.
So, we have Lanfear, Sammael, Rahvin and Graendal plotting together. I always forget what the Forsaken are plotting. Their plans never get very far lol.
This is chapter number 250 overall! (Only 450-something to go lol)
Also, warning, this is an ORLY long chapter. Not counting prologues and not counting mega-last-battle chapter, this is the 3rd longest chapter in all the books!
Just for interest, the longest one you have already read. It was at the start of Book 4 - it was the chapter where the Bubbles of Evil hit all the boys (Perrin's axe attacks, Mat's cards come to life, Rand's reflections attack)
Anyway, back to the story…
Previously - Min, Siuan, Leane and Logain escaped from the White Tower.
Siuan promised Logain the oppotunity to get revenge on the Red Ajah.
Gareth Bryne used to be Captain-General of the Andoran armies, working alongside Morgase. But she kicked him out once she was under the influence of "Gaebril"
Siuan must have heard rumours of a gathering of Aes Sedai. This is what she is looking for.
Logain wanted to take the fake name "Guaire". This was the name of a famous false dragon from the past. Guaire Amalasam.
Bryne has "no wife, no son, no daughter. The line ended with him" - yes it does. GHD before him and Siuan get to have any little General Sedai's.
Previously - High Lady Alteima is from Tear. She was having an affair with another High Lord.
Thom left a sneaky note that let her husband (Tedosian) know what was going on, and he "accidentally" killed the other guy in a hunting accident.
Next thing, the husband Tedosian was ill (poisoned by Alteima, presumably as revenge for killing her lover), and she was "looking after him", wanting to make it all look like he died of illness.
So Rand sent her off with the armies to Cairhien to help with restoring order and giving out food.
He left Tedosian in the care of Alteima's rival, Estanda. Presumably she will nurse him back to health so they can work together to bring Altiema down. Bloody nobles.
"His deep voice sent a tingle through her; her skin, even her bones felt as though they had been dipped in icy water" - yeah, probs not his voice doing that. That'd be the One Power.
Morgase is not totally under Rahvin's compusion. She has a strong enough mind that she can still see clearly occasionally, but can't work out why she keeps choosing to do unusual things.
There's no long-term point to this part of the story. We never hear from Alteima again. The encyclopedia says that after Rahvin and his compulsion fades, she runs off and hides out by becoming a ladies maid. lol
Previously - Rand battled Asmo is Rhuidean over the super-angreal. Rhuidean is now opened up like a normal city. No fog, no wardings or sheilding around it.
Rand grabbed the two super-angreal (one male, one female), and Lanfear tied up Asmo with a shield that only lets him channel a little bit.
At Alcair Dal, Rand revealed the secret past history of the Aiel in order to prove he had been to Rhuidean and Couladin hadn't. But now all know the secret, and many CAN'T HANDLE THE TRUTH.
Be on the lookout during this book. Moiraine knows her fate, and often gives hints in her actions and words that she knows it.
Not all of the Clans are with Rand. The ones who were at the meeting where he proclaimed himself are with him. The ones that hadn't yet arrived at the meeting are hanging back, waiting.
"Until the Last Day - to Shayol Ghul itself" - yes, that is indeed where the Aiel are sent to fight in the Last Battle.
Moiraine is gathering up all the objects of the power she can from Rhuidean. And loading them on to wagons. Thousands of years ago, they arrived on the wagons of the Aiel as well. Irony. Coincidence. Or just that no one has anything better than wagons lol.
Rand has a bunch of sneaky Lews memories coming out. He calls Moiraine "Little Sister" - maybe what senior Sedai called more junior ones back in Lews day?
"Can Breat" - no idea what it is, but Asmo recognises it.
Then he remembers Ilyena. She is described as having "exactly the same shade as Elayne's" - many people think Elayne is Ilyena reborn. Same hair, similar name, lover of Dragon. Makes sense.
Rand wonders how the Seals can be breaking if even the One Power can't damage cuendillar. I believe the answer is something to do with True Power. Something about the way the bore was sealed means Darky's power is able to seep through into them slowly, and that weakens them.
Rand also breaks the male-collar with True Power, and it is supposedly made of a form a cuendillar. So True Power can indeed break this substance.
Rand asks where the Forsaken are - how many can you remember? lol
"I suppose it wouldn't hurt to be civil" Rand thinks. That's all Cadsuane tries to do when she is advising him later.
Rand says Aes Sedai cannot heal the madness. But Nynaeve works it out in the later books, and heals some of the asha'man.
Previously - Rand's goblet floated to him while Egwene was still in the room. Rand is unhappy with Asmo…
Asmo has a shield on him that makes him only able to channel a little bit. Put there by Lanfear.
Rand got the two super-angreal access keys from Rhuidean.
Rand cut Asmodean's black cables that link him to Darky.
Moiraine is gathering up all she can from Rhuidean to take back to Tar Valon on the peddler's wagons.
Asmo says Graendal was in Arad Doman. She still is there. And will be until Rand balefires her palace.
Mat sings "Tinker in the Kitchen" - the YouTube guy's theme song!!!
Moiraine is taking particular care of the red doorway. She knows it will be needed!
Melindhra, Mat's new woman. Soz, Mat, she's a darky.
Previously - everyone is hanging out at Rhuidean.
Rand gave Avi a bracelet as a gift, and all the Maidens thought it was because he liked her.
Isendre is being punished by the Maidens for stealing things from them.
In book 3 - Rand killed a female darkfriend by chopping off her head with his fire-sword. The only woman he has ever killed.
Burning dried cow dung because there's not enough wood in the Waste to be burning it. Yum.
Asmodean doesn't know a way to cleanse the taint. Probably beause it's something that never happened ever before, so even Age of Legends people wouldn't have known how to. But they could probably have worked it out eventually.
Rand sees Avi wearing a silver necklace and wonders who gave it to her. It was Egwene (you find that out in a few chapters)
"I hate you with all of my heart. And I always will" Avi says. Lies. It is dishonourable to lie.
Isendre just keep getting punished more and more every time she tries to sneak into Rand's room/tent. And "she would not persist like that without some encouragement" - this is true. But the encouragement is not from Rand, it is orders from her Darkfriend superiors (i.e. Kadere)
Rand thinks he has to keep Asmo a secret from Moiraine. She actually knows though, just isn't saying anything.
Previously - many Aiel cannot stand the revelation that they came from peaceful people in the past, and broke their vows to become what they now are. So they either make themselves gaishain forever, or just throw away their weapons and run off. Or they don't believe and so go join Couladin and the Shaido.
Some call the shock and depression that claims them "the bleakness"
Egwene accidentally let Rand know the Wise Ones were watching his dreams. But he already assumed that. He now shields his dreams (Asmo taught him), so Wise Ones, Forsaken, etc cannot watch them.
Aviendha gave Rand a belt buckle made from her old weapons. She was supposed to give gifts to people she hated. But she doesn't hate Rand. Lies.
Isendre is being punished by the Maidens for stealing things from them.
Typical Wise One plan - tell all your apprentices that they should be as good as the other ones, because they are so great, but you are just a naughty little girl.
Sorilea, the "strongest-willed" Wise One. She becomes Cadusane's BFF in trying to teach Rand in the later books.
They think Rand must be encouraging Isendre to keep coming to his room, otherwise who would she ignore the punishments. Nah, it's because Kadere commands her to keep trying.
Previously - Moiraine said in the first few books that channellers can sense shadowspawn. It isn't mentioned often after that, but in this chapter Rand finds that he now has the ability.
Previously this book - Mat chatted up a Maiden called Melindra
Mat has refused Healing a few times since being in the Waste. He doesn't yet know that his foxhead stops the Power, because he hasn't let anyone use it on him since he got it.
Last book, Rand and Asmo fought over the super-angreal, and crushed mountains and parts of the land around Rhuidean.
Rand has only killed one woman before. A darkfriend he beheaded with his flame sword.
Not all Darkhounds do the melt-back-together thing. These are special. Or "a new breed" or something.
These ones cannot be killed by normal things. Balefire can do it. Perrin's magic hammer can kill them. So can ghost wolves lol. RAFO.
Rand says he "saw Moiraine use it [Balefire] one", even though it is banned. That was when she killed Be'lal in the Stone of Tear. The only other time she used it was against Darkhounds that were chasing them in Illian. Only Perrin, Faile and Loial were with them at that time, so Rand didn't see that one.
The chiefs tell Rand that all the clans are moving. That includes all the ones that hadn't made it to the Alcair Dal meeting, and were not with Rand in Rhuidean. He doesn't yet know if they will support him or not.
Previously - the Aiel are to move out and chase the Shaido.
Egwene and Aviendha were made to run around the camp 50 times as punishment for being lazy, slow, whatever lol
Amys told Egwene she was to find her dream last night, as part of her training.
Moiraine has been loading up the peddlers' wagons with as many objects of the power as she can from Rhuidean. To take to Tar Valon.
Rand gave Avi a bracelet as a gift, and all the Maidens thought it was because he liked her.
Avi gave Rand a dragon belt buckle, made from her old weapons, because she claimed she hates him.
Avi had a silver necklace, and Rand was a bit jealous, wondering who gave it to her.
The Wise Ones are making Avi stay with Rand, even all night now.
Moiraine has decided it is important to help Rand as much as possible before her time is up, so she promised to obey him just so she can get him to listen to her advice.
Egwene looked as Isendre's dreams, and she was being tortured and Egwene felt someone was watching her. Probably Lanfear was actually in Isendre's dream actually torturing her lol
Previously - Elayne, Nynaeve, Thom and Juilin are leaving Tanchico. They recovered a Seal and the black collar.
They are heading back to Tar Valon. They are currently approaching the border to Amadicia - the nation where the Whitecloaks have their headquarters.
"The Lord Captain Commander sends food into Tarabon. Otherwise, we would have Taraboner vermin over the border" - probably that reason, but also because he wants the Whitecloaks to be seen to be helping Tarabon, so he can gain more influence there.
Along with the Seal and black collar, apparently the girls also got several more of the dream ter'angreal the Blackies had taken from the White Tower.
Previously - in Tanchico, Moggy came the girls and compulsioned them to tell her who they were and what they were up to. Later, Nynaeve fought Moggy, but she got away.
Forkroot - no one knows about its effect on channelers. This Ronde Macura seems to be the first person to have discovered it.
The girls don't understand the message from the Tower, because they don't know Siuan has been kicked out
Previously - the girls were drugged by a Yellow Ajah agent when they went in to hear a message she had.
The message was that "All sisters are welcome to return to the White Tower. The Tower must be whole and strong." They don't know about Siuan and Elaida yet.
Narenwin, the Aes Sedai the woman reports to, she is only seen once in person in the books. She is sent by Elaida to help Gawyn and the Younglings when Egwene/Gareth's army show up outside Tar Valon.
Elaida wants Elayne specifically brought back for two reasons: first to keep up good relations with Andor, since Morgase was very upset that Elayne vanished last time. Second, because she has a foretelling about the Royal Famliy of Andor being important to the Last Battle.
Previously - the girls were to be bundled up and put on a wagon to Tar Valon, permanently dosed with Forkroot.
But they escaped. Now they must get away quickly, and in disguise, as they know the Tower are looking for Elayne.
Noy Torvald - the man who owns the coach they are going to take to get away in.
Therin Lugay - the man who Ronde Macura recruited to take the girls to Tar Valon. He is doing the favour because she once healed his wife of a bad disease.
Avi Shendar -the man who own's the pigeons that Ronde uses to send reports to Tar Valon.
The second pigeon is sent west. The only thing that way is Tanchico. Not sure who she is reporting to.
The third pigeon is sent another direction. Also no idea. The most common guess is that he works for the Whitecloaks and reports to them.
I will be on the lookout for more clues about this. But I don't think there is a definitive answer.
Previously - Siuan, Min and Logain are off and running, away from Gareth Bryne. Who decided to chase them.
Siuan is looking for a rumoured gathering of Sedai who fled the White Tower - presumably of Blue Ajah.
Kore Springs - the village they got in trouble with Gareth.
They are in Murandy, and Siuan notes the politics there. All the nobles do their own thing, and the King doesn't really have any control over the whole nation. Later in the books, the current King carries out a plan to unite them all with him. This plan made many people think this King was Demo in disguise, because he was "gathering his army"
Salidar is "one of the last places anyone would look for Aes Sedai" - beause it is right near the border with Amadicia, where the Whitecloaks live. Also, because it's an abandoned town in the middle of nowhere lol
The name of the inn that Siuan goes to isn't mentioned, because she thinks it's too raunchy lol. It is called "The Good Night's Ride"
Previously - Gareth Bryne is off after Siuan (and Min and Leane) for breaking their oath to work for him to pay off the cost of burning down some dude's barn.
Logain knocked out a guy called Joni to help the girls escape from their punishment.
Siuan found out where the Blue Ajah were gathering by getting info from an innkeeper she knew was one of the Blue Ajah eyes-and-ears reporters.
Siuan acted suspicious in front of some Whitecloaks.
"Lots of new fellows in. Lots… the sort that like to cause trouble" - Rahvin replacing the Queen's Guard with his own men.
"Some call themselves the White Lions and answer only to this Gaebril" - this group is led by Daved Hanlon (aka Doilan Mellar), the darkfriend who is made captain of Elayne guard later on.
Bryne tells the story about something to do with Murandy and Morgase and Siuan, and says it was probably "Aes Sedai business. They don't tell the likes of you and me what they are up to". But Siuan does tell him what it was later when they meet up. But I can't remember. It's not important lol.
Previously - Elayne and Nynaeve are off and running again. Elayne now has black hair as a disguise.
They are disguised as some random noble.
They are in Amadicia - Whitecloak Country.
More previously - when Elayne travelled with the Sea Folk, she learned about working with the weather from the Windfinders.
No noteds here.
Previously - Elayne and Nynaeve met Ronde Macura who gave them a message from the Tower (which they didn't understand) and drugged them. But Thom and Juilin saved them.
Nynaeve is off to telrod for their scheduled meeting with Egwene.
Nynaeve previously met BER-GIT-A in telrod and she warned her about who Moghedien was.
Semirhage - the Forsaken who likes to torture people.
Rahvin, Sammael, Graendal and Lanfear had a meeting, and made some plan. Who knows what it was.
Couladin is leading the Shaido out of the Waste. Rand is taking his Aiel in pursuit.
Moiraine is obeying Rand, hoping to have more chance to help him.
In this chapter, it says that Gaidal Cain "refused to acknowledge her existence, scowling when Birgitte spoke to her". I though last time it said he didn't know she was talking to her. Hmmm, maybe this is a better explanation.
Moggy knows Birgitte (from when she was actually alive) and wants revenge on her for some unspecified thing that happened between them in that life.
"Image trying to feed forkroot to someone who knows herbs as well as I do" lol, lies, no one knows about the effects of forkroot on a channeller before this.
Nynaeve thinks Melaine has her eye on Lan. Lol, nah, she's got her eye on clan chief Bael.
Previously - Nynaeve met Egwene. She lied about what happened with the forkroot, not wanting to admit she was captured, and that the men had to rescue them.
They don't yet understand the message they got from Ronde Macura - "All sisters are welcome to return to the White Tower. The Tower must be whole and strong."
So Egwene was just getting cranky at Nynaeve to try to cover up the fact that she was not supposed to be out without the Wise One's permission.
Joline - the Sedai who wrote the note from about pennances - Elaida eventually punished her by sending her off to Ebou Dar with Teslyn. They end up with Mat in book 9 onwards.
A report about the army of Saldaea - Bashere is leading his men to try to re-catch Mazrim Taim.
"Some trouble between Illian and Murandy was abating - Pedron Niall was claiming credit." - yes, and he probably caused it to start with, on purpose.
Moiraine is eavesdropping on Rand. I though that she knew about who Asmo was from seeing the future when she went to Rhuidean. But she probably knows from doing this, actually.
Moiraine says she might as well "wish to live forever" - guess she'll die.
Rand sitting down in a chair, and somehow she knew that the chair’s owner would be murderously angry at having her chair taken - Rand claiming the throne of Andor. Both Morgase and Elayne will be not happy.
Perrin, lounging with Faile on his lap, kissing her while she played with the short-cut beard that he wore in the dream. Behind them two banners waved, a red wolf’s head and a crimson eagle. A man in a bright yellow coat stood near to Perrin’s shoulder, a sword strapped to his back; in some way she knew that he was a Tinker - Just what it says. No predictions here.
Every time he [the Tinker] moved closer to Perrin it was as if a chill of doom shot through everything. - Aram will become a little chit later, following the Prophet and going against Perrin.
Mat throwing dice with blood streaming down his face, the wide brim of his hat pulled low so she could not see his wound, while Thom Merrilin put his hand into a fire to draw out the small blue stone that now dangled on Moiraine’s forehead. - Rescuing Moiraine. Mat throws dice to decide which paths to take, loses and eye, and Thom has to reach through some kind of heat-trap to get to Moiraine.
A storm, great dark clouds rolling without wind or rain while forked lightning bolts, every one identical, rent the earth. - The Last Battle is coming.
Previously - Egwene and Nynaeve discovered that Elaida is Amyrin, by going to her office in telrod.
Egwene made some giant men attack Nynaeve in telrod to show her the dangers of the place.
Nynaeve saw a note about a gathering of Blue Ajah, but didn't get to read it properly, so doesn't know where it is.
Elayne got drunk one night when a serving boy kept her wine cup topped up all night, and remembered Thom's past with her.
She has pretended not to have remembered remembering, because she was drunk.
"Surely he [Gawyn] could not support Elaida" - well, not really, but he is against Siuan, for letting Elayne and Egwene run off on secret missions.
Thom mentions Salidar, and Nynaeve knows there was something familiar about what he had just said. That is the name of the place she saw in the note in Elaida's office, but doesn't remember it yet.
Elayne tells how her and Galad's father died. Thom killed him lol. Because he was secretly plotting to kill Morgase and take the throne for himself.
Previously - the girls are already in disguise to evade anyone looking for them on Elaida's orders.
Now they need more disguise and sneaking to get away from Galad, who they just encountered, and is a Whitecloak now.
Elayne knows he will do what is right. Even though there are 2 versions of "right" - both are bad. He will either try to take them back to Caemlyn, or he will report them for being Tower-trained people in Amadicia.
The "giant boar-horses" in Luca's show destroyed part of an inn in the town.
When working with Egeanin in Tanchico, Nynaeve was most disgusted that she had come to like a Seanchan person before knowing that she was one.
Nynaeve 'threatens' Valan Luca by saying maybe he "wants to offer me your wagon" - lol, he will want that later, when he decides he wants to marry her.
Aludra is back. She was last seen being saved by Thom and Mat from other illuminators in book 3. They were accusing her of giving away Illuminator secrets. And also they didn't like her because she had blamed them for the explosion in Cairhien in book 3 when Rand, Loial and Hurin fought trollocs in the Illuminator chapter house.
Previously - Liandrin's group of Black Ajah tried to find and take the black collar in Tanchico, but were foiled by the girls.
Temaile was the Blackie who had Amathera tied up and singing songs. Elayne knocked her out to free Amathera.
Jeaine was the Blackie who used the balefire rod to try to kill Nynaeve after she had battled Moggy.
Both of them are still alive and with the group. The only 2 of Liandrin's group that are gone are the 2 that Moiraine and the girls had in the Stone of Tear (and then were killed (by Slayer)).
There was also a serving woman called Gyldin there that Liandrin was really annoyed with.
The Blackies are now in Amador - capital of Amadicia - where Whitecloaks basically rule things.
Liandrin's "trick" she tried to use was her little knowledge of Compulsion. She used that previously in Tear on Juilin, where she made him tell where the girls were so they could kidnap them.
Moghedien calls Liandrin "little sister" - the same thing Rand said to Moiraine earlier in this book, as it was a memory from Lews.
We don't find out what tasks Moggy gave to most of these Blackies. Many of them are never heard from again until the Last Battle where they are all back fighting together with all other Blackies and bad-asha'man.
Previously - Rahvin controls Morgase.
Lady Alteima came from Tear (to escape Rand's schemes) to Andor, and was also compulsion-ed by Rahvin.
Tallanvor - the guardsman in the palace who brought both Rand and Mat to Morgase when they came into the palace (Rand by accident, and Mat to deliver Elayne's letter to mom in book 3).
Kore Springs - the village that Gareth Bryne is Lord of. Where Min, Siuan and Leane were arrested.
The nobles that Rahvin has gathered are the ones that were opposed to Morgase when she took the throne. They are also the ones that oppose Elayne later when she wants to take it.
Morgase mentions that her mother's name is Maighdin. She uses this name as a disguise when they end up travelling with Perrin in the later books.
She thinks about how she "found herself… in the middle of a struggle for the throne with no more support in the beginning than her House retainers and the House bard" - well, with that Bard on your side, it's no wonder you ended up as Queen. What a guy.
Morgase exiled a bunch of nobles who supported her previously. This causes trouble later for Elayne, as they are unsure whether to support her family still.
Thom was kicked out beause he "vanished without a word" - he had gone to try saving his nephew.
Gareth was a "treasonous fool" - nah, Rahvin just made you think he was.
Previously - Fain is in the White Tower. Trying to infect Elaida with his advising. And to get the dagger.
Fain thinks Alviarin "knows too much" about him. He is right. As she is a Blacky, and important Darkfriends would know about Fain.
Fain still has his corrupted Whitecloaks, Trollocs and a Myrddraal as followers, from Two Rivers.
Fain talks about getting "revenge against his ancient foe". It sounds like he's talking about the Dark One. I guess he is his "ancient foe", because Mordeth wasn't a Darkfriend, he just bred suspicion and paranoia among those he advised and those around him. Fain is a different "evil" to Darky.
The Accepted who comes to investigate is called Verine. No relation to Verin lol.
Previously - Rand's Aiel are chasing the Shaido. The other Clans are following also, but have not chosen a side.
Moiraine swore to obey Rand, trying to help him before her time is up.
Egwene discovered Elaida is Amyrlin in telrod.
Rhuarc mentions "human animals, such as the Sharans keep". Slavery is a big thing in Shara. Demo hides out as one to start with, before raising a rebellion and eventually becoming their prophecised leader.
Previously - Rand and his Aiel arrived at a town in the Mountains between the Waste and the wetlands.
Mat asked the townsfolk how the Aiel managed to attack, because the town sentries should have seen them coming.
Rand gave Aviendha a bracelet. Aviendha gave Rand a belt buckle. Egwene gave Avi a necklace.
Rand's original sword (heron-marked one, from Tam) was ruined during cloud fight.
Avi has been ordered to stay with Rand at all times, even sleeping in his tent.
"You carry [the banner] because you were chosen, Master Jasin Natael" Rand says. lol, good one. Get it?
Rand thinks maybe he can find someone new to carry the banner in Cairhien. PEVIN!
Hmm, I don't remember Rand sending Avi flowers, as he mentioned here.
Previously - Rand sets up wards around the Aiel camps each night to warn of Shadowspawn approaching.
Mat and Melindhra are getting it on. He gave her a necklace that started it, as she took it as being an indication of his interest.
Mat (and Moiraine) figured out what Mat's medallion does when she tried to heal him after the Darkhounds attacked. Rand had killed the Darkhounds with balefire.
Lanfear, Sammael, Graendal and Rahvin had a meeting and plotted something.
The Wise One Melaine married Bael. He already had a wife, Dorindha.
The attackers yell that they are working for Sammael. This is part of the trap the 4 forsaken are trying. They want to bait Rand into attacking Sammael, and they will have a trap set up for him there, with all 4 Forsaken there to take him down.
Avi killing the Draghkar and Rand getting annoyed before he knows about it - that reminds me of discarding a useful card in Hanabi before you are told you have the other one.
Moiraine appears flustered at being late to come and save Rand, and avoids answering when he asks where she was. This is never explained, but a popular idea is that she immediately went to Asmodean's tent, thinking that he was the target of the attack (remember, she sneaky knows who he is).
Also, if she did go to Asmo's tent, she would totally have interruted him and Isendre getting it on lol (RAFO)
"Do not make the mistake of thinking the Forsaken simple" Moiraine says. Yeah, they are complicated alright. Too complicated for their own good. If they WERE simple, maybe they'd be more effective.
At the end, the Maidens are shamed by the fact they ran off to fight and didn't stay to protect Rand. They will punish themselves.
Previously - Rand's Aiel will soon be through the mountains and into Cairhien. Soon = this chapter.
The Maidens guarding Rand's tent were shamed that they failed to be there to protect him from the Draghkar.
Avi gave Rand Laman's Sword. Rand accepted only the blade, because the hilt was just decorative (but super-valuable for all the gems and stuff on it)
Sorilea. Bad-ass boss Wise One.
The Maidens have dolls because they went to Wise Ones to ask for punishment over their failure to protect Rand. And the Wise Ones told them to stop being childish. And so made them carry dolls.
Rand lays down the law. He threatens to hang any of his Aiel who do anything wrong. Later, one of his buddy Aiel will come and admit to doing something unlawful, and that he should be hanged. So Rand has to do it, even though he doesn't really want to.
Sorilea mentions that Rand has given Avi a super-expensive "interest gift". So word had spread that Rand gave the sword hilt back to her, and this is how the Aiel interpreted it.
Previously - Elayne and Nynaeve are hiding in the travelling show (to escape Galad). Heading north into Ghealdan.
In the show, Elayne and Juilin will do tightrope walking (with the Power to help).
Last time they were in telrod, Egwene gave Nynaeve a stern talking to. Mostly to cover up the fact that she wasn't allowed be there without the Wise Ones. But Nynaeve was cowed. Moo.
"pale flat bread made of zemai" - zemai is corn. So it's corn-bread. They are totally having tacos lol
The Wise Ones say about the Seanchan that "Rand al'Thor defeated them" - interesting version of events. Mat blew the Horn and the Heroes defeated them. Rand just floated on his cloud. Although, it was said at the time that his battle with Ba'alzamon was reflected in the bigger battle.
Previously - Egwene tried to subtley tell Elayne to meet her in the White Tower in telrod
Rand layed down the law to his Aiel as they entered Cairhien. He will be harsh in punishing any who do wrong.
Nynaeve got in a fight with the show folk because a bunch of the guys were flirting with her and one of the other women got jealous.
Morgase ran away.
Moggy dislikes Birgitte because of something that happened between them in Age of Legends when Moggy was around and Birgitte was living one of her many lives. But Moggy doesn't yet know that Birgitte is helping the girls currently.
Random thought. Previously, Egwene and Nynaeve found out about Elaida being Amyrlin by searching in telrod. Egwene then told Moiraine. Now the Wise Ones also know. So - how did the Wise Ones think that anyone found out? Egwene is not allowed go off to telrod by herself. So unless she organised with Moiraine to pretend that Moiraine had found out somehow, it doesn't work.
Egwene recognises the name "Lord of Bashere" because she would have heard Faile's last name. She didn't know her true background before her and Perrin ran off.
There are "rumours that someone had taken Tanchico" - this is the Seanchan coming back. Their first location is Tanchico because it is already in chaos and easy to gain control of.
"A red sister in Caemlyn claims Morgase made a public appearance, but no one else has seen her" - this would be the Red that Elaida sent there, but Rahvin controls her as well. So she would say that to make all appear normal in Caemlyn.
A note about Elayne and Nynaeve getting away says to "make an example!" of Ronde Macura, who failed to capture them. She is punished, and then hates Sedai because of it. So when the seanchan comes to her area, she pledges to them, and gives them the secret of forkroot.
So, at the end, Moggy was manipulating telrod to make Galad, Siuan and Leane appear. And she must have been watching the whole conversation between the girls. She knows about Birgitte.
Previously - Siuan found out where the gathering of Sedai were.
Min sometimes sees an aura on Logain that shows he has great glory in his future.
Min sees a raven tattoo around Carlinya. Apparently this means that she will be killed by Black Ajah (in telrod, during the battle where Egwene turns Mesaana into a drooler). I think this is a bit dumb, because raven tattoos are totally a Seanchan thing.
Edesina is seen with a collar, but it shatters. She is one of the Sedai Mat rescues in Ebou Dar.
The Sedai Myrelle is the one that Lan will be bonded to automatically when Moiraine "dies"
Previously - Siuan and co arrived in Salidar
Logain has been travelling with the, but he was never told who Siuan and Leane really were.
Aeldene - Siuan previously mentioned that she was the person who took over the Blue Ajah eyes-and-ears network when Siuan became Amyrlin.
The stilled Sedai can lie. But no one else knows this.
Aeldene - Siuan previously mentioned that she was the person who took over the Blue Ajah eyes-and-ears network when Siuan became Amyrlin.
Duranda Tharne - the innkeeper that Siuan saw to get the info about where the Sedai were gathering. She had to pretend to be seeing her to get a job as a singer/dancer to talk to her.
In the past, Bryne and Siuan (and Morgase) had some disagreement about something to do with Murandy, and Siuan put them both in their places.
The Great Captains - Gareth, Pedron, Itsy, Bashere and Agelmar (from Shienar)
No noteds here.
Previously - Gareth has chased Siuan and friends all the way to Salidar. Because they broke their oath to take their punishment. And because he liked Siuan's eyes lol.
Ailron - King of Amadicia. Amadicia is the nation where the Whitecloaks live, and the border is just a few miles from Salidar.
Mara (Siuan) - Serenla (Min) - Dalyn (Logain) - Amaena (Leane)
Siuan will make Logain claim that the Red Ajah set him up. She has told the Sedai in Salidar this story, but hasn't yet told Logain that he is to say that.
Gareth thinks about his age compared to Siuan. Siuan is 42, Gareth is not exactly known, but he's at least mid-forties. I reckon he's in his 50s.
Min's viewing of Siuan and Gareth, and how they have to stay close by. During the Seanchan attack on the White Tower, they save each other's lives. It is assumed by all the characters this was the viewing… but they were wrong. It is probably an ongoing viewing that they must always stay around each other.
Previously - Kadere leads the band of darkfriend peddlers that came to the Waste.
He doesn't know that Lanfear was in disguise, and doesn't know that Natael is Asmodean. He just knows they are high-ranking darkfriends that he is to obey.
Isendre is being punished by the Maidens for stealing, and is being punished more and more every time she tries to sneak into Rand's room/tent.
Kadere's note is from a female Aiel darkfriend. Who could it be?
Lol, Isendre and Asmo.
Isendre thinks that Avi is sleeping with Rand because she is in his tent every night, and because the Maidens all think they are a thing. This is the first Kadere knows of Avi and Rand. It will cause trouble later.
Previously - Rand continues to chase Couldain towards Cairhien.
In book 4 - Rand sent lords and armies of Tear to Cairhien to restore order and distribute food.
When Rand was ruling in Tear, he made laws that made things more fair for everyone from Lords all the way down to the poor. The Lords were unhappy about his ideas.
In Alcair Dal, rand made it rain in the Waste during the chief's meeting after Couladin revealed his dragon tattoos.
Taien - the first town in the mountain pass where Couladin had left bodies hung up on the walls.
The maidens who were supposed to be guarding Rand when the draghkar attacked are "punishing" themselves by carrying dolls.
No noteds here.
Previously - Avi is sleeping in Rand's room
IGLOO!
Avi wants to get "As far away as I can". As far as I can tell, she goes to the exact opposite side of the world from where they are in Cairhien.
Down in the south-eastern area of Seanchan. Check out your mega-world-map
Avi finally explains to the reader all her behaviour towards Rand: "I promised my near-sister to watch you. I ran from you as hard as I could, to shield my honor. And you followed me even here. The rings do not lie, and I can run no more."
Previously - Rand and Avi are in an igloo. In Seanchan (but they don't know that yet)
Rand and Avi don't know that sul'dam are peeps who can learn to channel.
"She can't mean never again" Rand thinks. Well, not until book 14 anyway lol.
Rand doesn't know the things the Seanchan refer to:
Seeker - like Seanchan police/detectives. A bit like the Whitecloak questioners, but not as fanatical and dumb.
Listeners - people who are secretly employed by the Seekers to gather information and report to them.
Tower of Ravens - headquarters of the Seekers.
The Empress "allowed me to gaze upon her" - there are 2 things about this:
(1) Even being allowed to look at someone of such higher rank than you is an honour in Seanchan
(2) The Throne of the Empress is actually a ter'angreal - it makes people looking at it (or whoever is sitting in it) feel great awe and wonder. I reckon it's a ter'angreal that does compulsion - those are the emotions that someone under compulsion feels when the channeller is giving them orders. This would mean that people are compelled to listen to the orders of the Empress.
All that about the throne is totes irrelevant to the story. But whatever.
Asmodean's comments about people who can hold a gateway open are a bit weird. It's such an odd thing to know exactly who can do it and who cannot. Whatevs.
Previously - Elayne and Nynaeve are hiding out in Luca's travelling show. They are hiding from Galad, and from any who may be working for the White Tower, who have orders to return them - so they have dyed their hair different colours.
Nynaeve has gotten into several disagreements and fights with people in the show lol
Rand's Aiel have arrived in the nation of Cairhien, still chasing the Shaido who are causing havoc ahead of them.
Rahvin (Gaebril) sent Andoran troops into Cairhien also to start making a claim for the throne there (on Morgase's behalf, obvi)
Nynaeve is still trying to remember the name of the town where the rebel Sedai are gathering. She saw it briefly on a note in Elaida's study in telrod.
Cerandin - the s'redit (elephant) trainer in the show. She is Seanchan.
Aludra has creates matches!
Yeah, I got nothing else.
Previously - Still just hanging out in the show. At least something interesting is about to happen.
Birgitte is checking out what the Forsaken are up to in telrod - especially Moggy.
Lanfear, Sammael, Graendal and Rahvin are plotting together. They want to lure Rand into attacking Sammael in Illian. You first hear some detail of this plan in this chapter.
Moggy is hanging out with Liandrin and her Black Ajah - she gave them all different orders, but kept a few with her to help hunt down Nynaeve.
When she first took charge, Liandrin tried to overpower Moggy with her lame little version of compulsion.
You previously asked whether compulsion wears off. It does, in general, but Moggy says in this chapter "a command to do what someone wants to do in their inmost depths will hold for a lifetime"
In this case, she means: "people by default want to stay alive - so commanding Liandrin not to try to die (even if I make your life unbearable) will still be followed after a long period of time".
Moggy tells Chesmal and Temaile to get fast horses and follow her. She will obvi Travel, but doesn't want the Blackies to see how it is done, so makes them follow on horses. SAD.
Previously - Moggy seemed to have killed Birgitte in telrod. This happened just outside the girls' wagon in the show in telrod.
Moggy had tried to compulsion Nynaeve to capture Elayne and then come to her in the real world.
Elayne has an a'dam from Cerandin, and she thinks she has worked out how it works and how to make them.
Elayne says something about Moghedien using a "link" to make Nynaeve feel pain without marking her body. That's not necessarily true - you can just do One Power stuff inside someone's body without cutting them open. And Semirhage causes great pain just by manipulating sensors in the brain that generate pain signals. So… link, maybe, whatever.
Previously - Bigitte is now in the real world. Elayne bonded her to save her life.
Thom and Juilin initially found her. Nynaeve feels responsible for it happening.
Thom throwing knives at Nynaeve is currently one of Luca's ideas for an act in his circus.
Elayne doesn't tell the men everything because "some events in Tanchico had been too shaming for her to want to think of them" - this refers to when Moggy appeared and compulsioned them to tell her everything about what they are up to.
Previously - Birgitte is in the real world. Thom and Juilin have a pretty good idea who she really is.
Nynaeve is racked with guilt about how it was her fault that Birgitte was brought here.
The show is near the town where the Prophet is.
The show contains "brown-furred creatures with big eyes and round ears that sat placidly eating leaves from branches gripped in their forepaws" - Lemurs? Or Tarsiers??
You know who the one-eyed man with a topknot is!
Previously - Nynaeve found someone she recognised.
During book 2, a group of Shienarans (led by Ingtar, and his sniffer Hurin) accompanied Rand, Mat and Perrin as they chased Fain to get the Horn and the Dagger back. They all ended up in Falme.
At the start of Book 3, Rand ran off the Tear, and Moiraine sent the Shienarans to wait somewhere in Ghealdan. They are still there. One of them, Masema, started preaching about Rand and ended up being 'The Prophet'
Nynaeve would have met the Shienarans twice before - once in Fal Dara where Fain stole the Horn and Dagger, and before they all departed. Second after Falme, where they would have been together for a short time after everyone reunited, before the girls went back to the Tower.
In the show, Birgitte calls herself Maerion, as she does not want to be known by her well-known name.
No noteds here
Previously - Uno is taking Nynaeve into town to mee the Prophet.
The Shienarans remember Nynaeve as having a sharp tongue lol
Queen Alliandre, who was meeting with the Prophet, comes back into the story later. When Perrin comes looking for the Prophet, she joins him. She is a bit strange.
"Even what had occurred at Falme had a rational explanation. Sort of" - LIES! There is no explanation! I bet even Robert Jordan had no idea lol
"Sometimes he orders things, and sometimes he forgets, or puts it off… you would be surprised at what his followers accept" - so the Prophet is like Donald Trump. Noted.
"Hunting accident" seems to be a common way for people to 'accidentally' die in theses books. Thom made Morgase's husband die that way. A High Lord of Tear died that way after cheating with some other High Lord's wife. And now one of the Shienarans had it happen as well.
Previously - Galad came across the girls while in Amadicia, and they ran from him.
Now he has found Nynaeve again, as she walks around Samara with Uno.
The Prophet has promised to find a ship for Nynaeve to leave so she can travel to be with the Lord Dragon.
Galad is known as a great swordsman after his training in the White Tower.
Nynaeve still has not been able to remember the name of the town where the Sedai are gathering
Ok, now both Galad AND the Prophet are looking for a boat for them. Everything is sorted.
Previously - Rand has a cut-off spear from his trip to Seanchan that was chopped by the gateway closing. Now he carries it around.
Rand has gathered Cairhien soldiers, and ones from Tear (that he sent here in the first place), on his way to fight Couladin's Shaido.
Weiramon's banner is similar to Lanfear's - but it's just coincidence. Stars and cresent moons are probs pretty common choices to use in symbols.
Weirdy brings new from Tear that Illian have started launching little attacks against Tear. This is more of the Forsaken's plans to make Rand attack Sammy (who is in Illian)
Egwene agrees to take part in the battle, even though Sedai cannot use the Power as a weapon most of the time. So the Wise One's should notice this and work out she is not Sedai. But they don't. Clearly they don't know enough about Sedai.
Flags of Tear and the Dragon fly over Cairhien. Tear were supposed to send their soldiers to help, but it seems they've all tried to take command as well. Obvi.
Rand ponders whether the granaries burning happened before or after the King was killed. Well, we know they weren't the cause of the King's death - lol - Thom - lol
The giant spear that they see coming from the city and killing Shaido is from a contraption invented by someone in the city. They become part of Rand's "school" for making inventions later. Other than that, it's totally irrelevant.
Previously - Mat keeps wanting to get away from Rand, but always finds reasons to stay.
Melindhra, Mat's Maided of the Spear.
Some of the clans are with Rand - the others are still following behind, strung out between Rand's location and the mountains that border the Waste. We still don't know which side they will take when they arrive.
The bleakness - the name given to when Aiel decide to give up on some part of their Aiel life because they learned the truth about their past. Some run off to join the Shaido, some deicde to be permanent gai'shain. Some just run off.
Mat feels the dice spinning in his head. The second time he has said he felt this. The first time was when he was looking for the girls in Tear, trying to go rescue them.
And he thinks he's going to leave lol
"What do miners have to do with battle?" Apparently it's some tactic where you dig tunnels, or use existing ones, to you advantage. I had to look it up.
Perrin is probably "showing off Faile to his mother and sisters" - nah, they're dead. Soz.
Previously - Rand and his Aiel are preparing to battle Couladin's Shaido, and save the city of Cairhien.
The Shaido already ravaged every town they passed on the way in.
Egwene agreed to use the power to help in the fighting.
Mat is leaving, finally getting away from Rand to go off and live his own life.
But not after he accidentally let everyone know that he has mad-battle-knowledge by talking to Lan about the plan of attack for today's battle.
Weiramon used to be in charge of the Tear forces here, but Rand sent him back to Tear to deal with raids from Illian peeps.
Melindhra mutters to herself about "Far Dareis Mai above all" when she leaves to go join the Maidens. She is probably telling herself that the honour of the maidens goes even above her being a darkfriend hehe
Talmanes appears for the first time in this chapter.
This group of Tairen and Cairhienin soldiers that Mat saves and leads will become the basis of the Band of the Red Hand. Despite the fact that they hate each other, they unite under Mat's rad leadership and follow him from now on.
Previously - the battle for Cairhien is underway.
Melanril - the lord who was leading the forces that Mat took over. He died because he didn't follow Mat's orders.
Before the battle, Rand saw spears being fired from the city walls, killing Shaido. He doesn't know where they came from or how they were being lauched with so much force.
The maidens are guarding the tower where Rand, Eggy and Avi are. They are using the Power to help with the fighting.
Don't forget about the other clans that are hanging out nearby. Rand still doesn't know what they will do.
Mat has taken command of the Tear/Cairhien forces.
"You have taken away what we are, what we were. You must give us something in return, something to be. We need you" - Avi is raving about how Rand broke the Aiel by revealing past secrets and she hopes he gives them a new purpose now they have left the Waste. This is an issue in the last few books when Rand wants to leave them out of his Peace Treaty.
Rand assumes the One Power attack is from Sammy. But it could have been anyone really - the fact that it came "from the West" is meaningless because whoever it was would have to have Travelled to be somewhere near the battle. Sammy could not have done it from Illian.
The only real conclusion Rand could have drawn from the direction is that was not Asmo, who was in his tent.
Moiraine made Asmo carry water. She knows who he is, so I wonder if she just wanted to keep an eye on him. Or maybe she thought he could help with some sneaky healing.
At the very end, Asmo tries to do a bit of healing on Rand.
Previously - Battle. It is over. The Shaido have lost.
Mat led the Cairhien and Tear soldiers to many victories. Last we saw they were about to face a group led by Couladin himself.
The Tairens and Cairhienin still don't like each other lul
During the battle, Rand's tower was destroyed by a male One Power attack.
Meilan - High Lord who leads the Tairens that Rand sent to Cairhien a couple of books ago.
Dobraine, Maringil, Colavaere - Highest ranking nobles of Cairhien.
Asmo tried to help healing Rand when he collapsed at the end of the last chapter.
The Tairen lords in Cairhien think they are now the BOSS there.
Talmanes and Nalesean even try to one-up each other by offering their serving men to work for Mat. This goes on for ages. Mat ends up with two serving men, one from each of them.
Rand hopes "only he and Weiramon know how much" of a start he has made on his plans to attack Sammy. Rand sent Weirdy back to start gathering an army to later attack Illian. This turns into a HUGE army that Rand gathers just to be a decoy for his real attack on Sammy/Illian in book 7.
Previously - Rand is going to go into Cairhien after their victory over the Shaido, where he will be greeted by the nobles.
The Tear nobles that Rand sent to Cairhien in book 4 seem to have taken command in Cairhien now.
Kadere killed Isendre, because she was losing it, and he was sure she was about to betray them as darkfriends. No one other than Kadere know what happened to her.
Cairhien nobles wear coats with horizontal stripes on them - the more stripes they have (the further down the coat or dress they go) marks them as being more powerful.
PEVIN! My fave.
The Aiel are wearing red headbands with the ying-yang-like symbol on it. And no one wants to talk about it. The idea is that these Aiel are breaking their usual custom of not really having leaders - although they have Cheifs and stuff, they are usually considered "first among equals" kind of thing.
These so-called siswai'aman - which means "Spears belonging to the Dragon" have shown that they consider Rand to be their leader, and are sworn to him. Or whatever.
Colavaere was "eyeing Aviendha" at one point - she is planning to try tempting Rand by sending young ladies to him, and must be checking out what she thinks Avi's relationship to him is.
Previously - The girls found both Galad and Uno in the town of Samara. Now both the Whitecloaks and the Prophet's men are looking to get a boat for the girls to get on their way.
They want to get to Salidar to join the Aes Sedai there.
Birgitte and Nynaeve are the latest attraction in Valan Luca's show - Birgitte shooting arrows at Nynaeve.
No noteds here.
Previously - There is a boat. The girls are to leave. But the fighting between the Whitecloaks and Prophet's followers (who were both trying to get the boat for the same reason!) have started riots in and around the town.
Nynaeve has gotten into several disagreements and fights with people in the show lol
This is the chapter where I think Nynaeve broke a seal. She could feel the evil seeping out of it, and then she shoves it in her bag and can't feel it any more. I'm less convinced by my theory reading it this time. I thought she dropped it last time.
Galad is rad at swordfighting. He'd be one of the best in the world.
Nynaeve convinces the captian to take as many refugees as can possibly fit on the ship. Several of them will cause problems for them in the longer term.
Previously - the girls are on a boat, heading to Salidar. Nynaeve made the captain take lots of refugees with them as well.
Egwene has been appearing in the girls' dreams to give them messages. But she's been doing it without the Wise Ones' permission.
After victory in Cairhien, Rand has been sending some of his armies south towards Tear. He wants to gather a giant army to attack Illian/Sammael.
Shemerin - one of Elaida's helpers, but she is a sookie-la-la and Elaida thinks very little of her.
That is such a short and exciting chapter.
Elayne says that Moggy would "have to be on the ship with us" to detect her channelling. Well - SAD.
Nicola and Ariena will cause problems for Eggy and co in Salidar in the future. Nicola is found to be able to channel, and has foretelling. She tries to blackmail Eggy (the Amyrlin) to be able to learn faster when she is a novice. Her threat is to reveal that Eggy, Elayne and Nynaeve had pretended to be full Sedai during their travels.
Marigan is also a problem. Her two kids aren't really hers.
In telrod, they see "only half-a-dozen stools" in Elaida's study. She originally had a group of "advisors" (the Sedai who conspired together to get Siuan booted out) - but she has been slowly firing them lol
"Davram Bashere could not be found" - one of the notes in Elaida's stuff says. He was off trying to re-capture Mazrim. He will show up at the end of this book.
Previously - the girls are in Salidar. With Nicola, Ariena, Marigan and her two kids. And Uno and the Shienarans
Neres - the captain of the boat they just got off.
When the girls left the Tower in book 3 to chase Blackies, Verin gave them the ter'angreal that lets them go into telrod.
The Salidar Sedai sent two of them (Bera and Kiruna) to meet with Rand when he was in the Waste. They are still on their way there, even though Rand is back in the wetlands.
Thom and Gareth are both ex-lovers of Morgase. Gareth was leading the guards and armies of Caemlyn when Thom ran off to try saving his nephew and Morgase got poopy at him.
Then, more recently, Morgase exiled Gareth under the control of Rahvin.
Nynaeve thought she "detected a distinct chill between" Siuan and Leane. They are pretending to not like each other so no one will suspect that they are plotting together.
"How many of the seven seals still hold?" - three. Broken ones were found: Eye of the World, Falme (from Seanchan lord Turak), Falme (from Domon), Tanchico. Unbroken ones are from: Rhuidean and Stone of Tear (Moiraine has them). One is un-discovered as yet.
People who can channel always have auras and images around them for Min. In book 14, she uses this fact to identify Moggy hiding among the Seanchan. But she is unable to notice Moggy hiding out here in Salidar.
"There was too much that Aes Sedai were willing to call hopeless and let go at that to suit her." - this is a good summary of why Sedai are so hopeless in these books. They should be super-powerful and amazing, but they are so wrapped up in thei schemes and plots, and in traditions and unwilling to explore new things that they just end up being the same as they have been for thousands of year.
This is chapter number 300!!!
"News Comes to Cairhien" is an ominous chapter title for one of these characters. They will realise something is about to happen.
Previously - now that the Shaido are defeated, Rand is sending many of his peeps (soldiers and Aiel) down to Tear, to start gathering a giant army to attack Illian/Sammael.
Four of the Aiel clans only joined Rand at the last minute while the fight with the Shaido was happening.
Meilan, Torean, Aracome - Tear High Lords
Lord Dobraine (terrible picture guy), Lady Colavaere - Cairhien nobles.
During the Cairhien troubles (due to the King being assassinated many books ago) - Andor (i.e. Rahvin) sent troops in to take some of their land. And to try to get Morgase on the throne there.
Rand has (off-screen) sent Mat and his followers to fight off the Andoran soldiers. Known as the "White Lions", they are Rahvin's troops that he sent into Cairhien.
Rand thinks about putting Berelain in charge of Cairhien temporarily when she arrives. This he will indeed do.
Elaida says she will send Sedai to bring Rand to Tar Valon. Yes, she will… in a box.
Alviarin (Black Ajah and Keeper) has a letter praising Rand. Not sure what her plot was with that. Just trying to make it look like she is separate from Elaida, perhaps.
Moiraine claims Sedai cannot write lies. But the oath they take is "to speak no word that is not true". Surely Sedai, who are known for being able to wriggle around from the oaths when needed should realise "speaking" is not "writing".
Morgase is obvi not dead, she just ran away. Moiraine "whispers something that might have been a prayer"… probably not for Morgase, but for herself.
At the end, Rand is going to send Mat and the Band down to join his giant army in Tear, and take command of it. But Mat will come up with a slightly different idea.
Previously - Moiraine knows that the time is near.
Melindhra, Mat's Aiel woman
Kadere and the peddlers/darkfriends are still carting the stuff from Rhuidean for Moiraine.
Melindhra attacks Mat after hearing that Rand is going to Cairhien. Rahvin, Sammy, Granny have a plan that Rand is to attack Sammy next. Melindhra wants to kill Mat and make it look like someone working for Sammy did it, to get Rand focussed back on Illian.
That's why she attacked him with a "golden bees' knife.
Previously - Rand has heard that Morgase is dead, and plans to go kill Rahvin.
Lady Colavaere was sending her little ho's to Rand, trying to get to get close to him. But Rand made out that he wanted her.
Rand has the male and female super-angreal's hidden in Rhiudean still.
Melindhra, who was a darkfriend, tried to kill Mat, to draw attention to Sammy in Illian.
Rand is sending Mat to lead the giant army preparing to attack Illian.
Kadere received a note from an unknown Aiel darkfriend. Possibly Melindhra.
His wagons are still filled with objects from Rhuidean, which Moiraine loaded.
Mat's famous hat was originally purchased from Kadere. Lol.
Back in book 3, Rand killed a female darkfriend by chopping her head off with a One Power sword. That was the last time he harmed a woman.
Classic!
Previously - CRASH TACKLE!!
Moiraine gave Rand two letters. One for him and one for Thom. The one for Thom is about rescuing her.
When Rand came down to the docks, the Maidens that are usually all over him were not around.
Moiraine knows who Asmo is from eavesdropping on conversations between him and Rand.
Moiraine knows nothing else of the future except "one small thing which does not concern you" - I guess this is that she may be rescued.
She also says that Thom's letter is about "a small matter that I once told him of which I must make clear for his peace of mind". This implies she is going to tell him who the Sedai were that illegally gentled his nephew. But actually the letter is nothing even close to that.
The Maidens ORLY don't like Rand keeping them out of the fights lol
"Let's do it" lol
Previously - Rand is off to kill Rahvin. He will allow the maidens to come with him.
At different times in the past, Rand and Mat have both snuck into the Caemlyn Royal Palace over a wall.
Nynaeve and Elayne will be teaching some of the Salidar Sedai how to use telrod. They will also secretly be giving Siuan and Leanne extra lessons.
Asmodean calls the dark place through the gateway "a dream of a dream". This implies that it is something telrod-related. Which makes sense as Rand is able to make the platform just by thinking of it.
He wonders about why the platform cannot get bigger than a certain size. Perhaps it depends how good you are at having strong thoughts of things that can manipulate telrod. Like if a dreamwalker-trained Wise One did it, maybe they could make a bigger platform.
Mat's foxhead actually DOES protect from saidin as well as saidar. It's just that the lightning was not "made of" the power, just caused by it. I guess Rahvin just creates lots of electricity in the air, then lets the lightning naturally strike down from it.
Previously - Rahvin killed Mat, Avi and Asmo, among many of Rand's other followers.
Rand and Rahvin are battling.
Nynaeve has captured Moggy with an a'dam in telrod.
In the Stone of Tear (end of book 3), while Rand battled Ishy, they made gateways to go into telrod in person.
Nynaeve knows Moggy is in Salidar. I guess she'll just go look for whoever is sleeping and cannot be woken, as she is fork-rooted.
Pevin! Noooooooooooo!
Previously - Mat, Avi and Asmo were killed by Rahvin, but brought back to life when Rand used mad-balefire on Rahvin.
But Pevin died :(
Mazrim Taim was captured by Sedai as a false dragon, but was freed. Davram Bashere has his soldiers and is trying to re-capture Taim.
Morgase ran away with Tallanvor, Lini, Basel Gill the innkeeper, Lamgwin the inn's bouncer, and Lamgwin's woman Breane.
They were originally going to go to find Gareth Bryne to help, but he would have been gone (chasing Siuan and friends)
Morgase is going into Amadicia (whitecloak country) to try to find help.
Who killed Asmo???
Book 5 ENDE!
