Previously - Asmo was killed.
"WHO BETRAYS ME SHALL DIE THE FINAL DEATH" - Asmo will not be brought back.
Previously - Siuan and Leanne agreed to let Nynaeve study their Stilling, in exchange for the girls not revealing that Siuan and Leane are working together and don't hate each other (which they are pretending to do)
Nynaeve captured Moggy in telrod with an a'dam.
They have a real-life a'dam with them, and will have put it on real life Moggy.
Rand has called an amnesty on men who can channel - he wants to gather them to join him.
Moiraine has killed two Forsaken - Be'lal (balefire in book 3) and Lanfear. Although actually Lanfear isn't dead, just trapped at the moment, like Moiraine.
The Sedai that Lan is now bonded to (Myrelle) is one of the leaders of the rebel Sedai. So Lan is on his way.
Nynaeve "suspected that she [Moggy] was some sort of swindler… before swearing her soul over to the Dark One" - well, maybe, she was an investment advisor LOL
Nynaeve wants to know about using different weaves to heal specific ailments. At the moment, Sedai use very generic Healing that just heals everything, but leaves the Healer and/or patient very exhausted.
Nynaeve had "seen Moiraine do it [invisibility with the Power] before" - I don't remember when this was
Previously - Perrin and Faile were not in the last book. They were just chillin' in Two Rivers.
Verin and Alanna had been in Two Rivers when the trolloc fights were happening.
Verin and Alanna have left. They will re-appear later this book.
Perrin feels Rand needing him. The need is that Rand is going to get kidnapped, and Perrin will be there to lead the rescue.
Previously - Gawyn led students in the White Tower who defeated their teachers (some of the Warders) when there was fighting over Elaida vs Siuan
Gawyn was on Elaida's side, because he hated Siuan for letting Elayne and the girls run off into danger.
Gawyn's student-followers are now a force known as "The Younglings".
Elaida has sent a delegation of Sedai to Rand (as her letter said she would).
She sent the Younglings with them as "guards", but really just because she doesn't like them, and wants them away from her.
This group of Sedai and Younglings are travelling from Tar Valon to Cairhien. They are passing the area where the defeated Shaido have re-grouped, north of Cairhien.
This is where Gawyn's hatred of Rand comes from.
Previously - some Shaido Wise Ones arrived to meet with the Tower Aes Sedai who are on their way to Cairhien to meet Rand.
Sevanne - self-proclaimed leader of the Shaido now that Couladin is dead.
Coiren - leader of the Sedai delegation.
Katerine and Galina - two other high-ranking sedai in the group, both of whom are Blackies.
Katerine wonders is the Aiel are "civilised enough to recognise" they are being honoured by the Sedai. Lol, no, different cultures means the Aiel think they are being insulted. RAFO, Sevanna explains this later.
Katerine mentions other Sedai who are "following a day behind". These will later be part of the plan to kidnap Rand.
Previously - the Shaido Wise Ones met with the Sedai. They (Sevanna) want access to Rand once the Sedai have him.
Sevanna claims leadership of the Shaido, as she was married to both the last two leaders (Suladric the former Chief - never seen in these books. And Couladin the psycho).
Sevanna thinks that Desaine (one of her fellow Wise Ones) "has too many listeners to be safely done away with". It's ok, Sevanna later comes up with a plan that involves killing Desaine lol. That plot involves having her Wise Ones kill Desaine with the One Power, making it look like Sedai did it, to turn the Shaido against the Sedai.
…but this is all going to happen later.
Sevanna thinks of the "strange wetlander man" who visited her recently. This is Sammy.
Previously - Morgase and friends went to Amadicia looking for help. Maybe from the king there (Ailron) and maybe from the Whitecloaks.
In book 1, while Rand and Mat were on their way to Caemlyn (after Thom "died"), they were attcked by many darkfriends. The most pathetic of them was a kid named Paitr in the village of Market Sheran.
Paitr basically just gave them half-arsed threats about other Darkfriends. Rand and Mat got cranky at him and he sulked away lol
Morgase hears rumours of:
Logain on the way to Amador. Well, he is in Salidar which is just across the border.
Rand having put up the Lion Throne as a conquest and replacing it with his own throne. Nah, he's set Lion Throne aside, awaiting the return of Elayne.
Rand having an army of Borderland ruffians. This is Bashere's men.
Jaichim Carridin - BORS!
Previously, Pedron sent Carridin on two missions. In book 2, he was at Almoth Plain. Pedron had sent him to take control of that area for the Whitecloaks. We saw him when Geofram (Daddy) Bornhald was sent there to help (but he decided to go fight the Seanchan instead).
He was then in Tanchico when the girls were there, in a plan to help out the Panarch and King to have them be indebted to the Whitecloaks.
Balwer - Pedron's secretary (and secretly his spymaster) will end up with Morgase and friends later.
And now Pedron is sending Carridin to stir up trouble in Altara and Murandy. He plans to have the Whitecloaks step in and save the day, to again try gaining influence with the leaders of those countries.
Previously - Demo went to Shayol Ghul and got orders from Darky.
Mesaana is hiding out in the White Tower. Not all the Forsaken know this though. She presumably was involved in planning the idea of kidnapping Rand.
Mesaana was a teacher back in her day.
Mesaana said she had gone to Shayol Ghul but Darky didn't talk to her. Not sure why. Guess he's just a psycho with his own way of doing things lol
Mesaana also talks about how Demo wants a sa'angreal to attack Rand with, but he cannot get one from the White Tower or Stone of Tear. It's ok, he knows where another one is (in Shara somewhere) and will go seeking it to use in last battle.
They also mention stasis boxes. These are boxes that can store stuff and keep them unchanged forever. Sammael will later find one that has some goodies in it… including gholam.
"Let the Lord of Chaos rule" - Darky wants the world in chaos so they cannot all unite to win Last Battle. Also chaos and destruction in general gives him power. Or something.
Previously - in Book 1, Aginor and Balthamel were the first forsaken to appear. Balthamel was killed by Tree Man. Aginor drew excessive power from the Eye of the World to stop Rand getting it, and killed himself.
Shim (previously Balthamel) has appeared.
Osan'gar, previously Aginor, will go hide out as an asha'man.
Previously - Rand rules Andor now as well, after killing Rahvin.
Arymilla, Elenia, Jarid, Naean and the other nobles here are all those who were not supporters of Morgase, and who followed Gaebril (but they're not darkies, they didn't know he was a forsaken)
They are also the ones who wil unite against Elayne in the later books when she is trying to become Queenie.
Davram Bashere has joined Rand. He was leading his men to try to find and re-capture Mazrim.
Rand has declared that men who can channel may come and join him.
Elaida sent a young Sedai to be advisor to Morgase. She was compulsioned by Rahvin, of course.
Someone says that Rand "must be the best swordsman in the world". I think Lan probably is. Galad, Gawyn, Rand, and anyone who is a blademaster would be the other best.
"To live, you must die" - Rand says he was told this somewhere that he knew it was true. This was one of the things the snakey-foxy people told him when he asked his questions.
Rand, Mat and Bashere have worked out a plan to attack Sammael. The giant army Rand is gathering is just a diversion.
Previously - Mazrim has arrived, apparently.
When this book was written, Mazrim was supposed to be Demo in disguise. I will point out all the "clues" that could have been hinting at that as they come up.
The seal given to Rand is the final one. We now know where they all are. Rand doesn't know about the one the girls found in Tanchico (which Nyn broke lol)
Rand gives the seal to Bashere to look after. He still has it in the later books when Darkfriends attack his wife in an attempt to find it.
Hints about Mazrim/Demo:
Demo looks very similar to Mazrim - same hair, same nose, same height.
Bashere is not sure if this person is Mazrim because "he shaved" apparently. Or because it was Demo!
Lews starts ranting about killing Forsaken when Mazrim appears. Lews would recognise the Forsaken.
Mazrim seems to have a half-smile but doesn’t ever smile properly. Demo is described as someone who "doesn't smile"
Mazrim tries to make Bashere ask him a question that only the real Mazrim would know… but then just launches into a story to "prove" who he is. So maybe he just knew a few things about Mazrim and used that story as proof, but never actually let Bashere ask him anything.
Previously - Taim has arrived.
When Taim is testing Damer, Rand feels the 'echo' before Taim does. Maybe because Rand is stronger than Taim? I don't know.
Rand's guess of how many Sedai there are (about a thousand) is pretty close to correct.
Hints about Mazrim/Demo:
Mazrim says Rand doesn't know how to "test for the talent". That's a very Age of Legends sounding phrase.
Mazrim knows how to test someone if they can channel. Seems an odd thing to know.
Mazrim seems interested in sa'angreal. Which we know Demo also is.
Taim's strength in the power is just less than Rand. Same as Demo.
Taim seems "shaken" when Rand mentions the Forsaken may try to sneak in. This doesn't make sense in any case, because he is a Darky, and one of them probably helped him escape from the Sedai.
Previously - Rand is gathering a giant army, supposedly to attack Illian. It is composed of Cairhien and Tear peeps, and lots of Aiel.
Rand is sending Mat to lead this army. Apparently. But it's just part of a different sneaky plan.
Many Aiel have started wearing red headbands marking themselves as "Spears of the Dragon". But none talk about it, as Aiel traditionally should not be declaring their allegience to, or ownership by, a certain person.
During the fight vs the Shaido at Cairhien, Rand was attacked by lightning from a male channellers. He assumed it was Sammael.
Bashere told Rand a story of a totally mad general (who had suspicious trees killed and then buried, for example), but his men followed him because he was a great leader and won battles.
How bad is Rand's joke. I wouldn't have laughed either. Aiel humour is better.
The nobles that have rebelled, and gathered in Haddon Mirk will not have much effect on anything. Except that Rand visits them one day in, like, Book 7. He eventually brings them back to his side by offering High Lord Darlin (who kind of leads these rebels) to be the King of Tear.
Previously - the people who followed Mat in the fighting against the Shaido are now all under his command, and have grown to be a good sized army.
Mat is to lead this "Band of the Red Hand" down to Tear to join the giant army there.
He is currently in a town on the river-border between Andor and Cairhien.
The White Lions - army sent by Rahvin to Cairhien to try to gain some command there, so he could make a move to get Morgase the throne there.
The Sea Folk are in strange places, obvi they are looking for Rand. Everything is about Rand lol.
No previously here.
Graendal has taken much of the family of the King of Arad Doman. But not the King himself. She claims he wasn't good enough for her. But I thik she just didn't find him. In a few books time, we hear that he is missing, and are supposed to assume that Grenny has him.
But in fact, the White Tower have taken him to (a) keep him safe from the strife in his country, and (b) try to get his allegience. He is on his way to the White Tower with some Sedai, and they will get stuck part way there when winter suddenly hits (after the girls use the Bowl of the Winds).
While he is missing, Granny will send messages to your mate Itsy, giving military orders designed to cause chaos. In one of the last books, Rand will work out where the King is, and go fetch him, making Isty very happy!
Granny taking the leaders of Shara also helps with chaos in that land. And also helps Demandred's cause - he is over there, beginning an uprising of slaves that will end with him being in command of many Sharan armies and channellers for the Last Battle.
Sammy notes that Graendal's "tricks" (compulsion) will not work on a man who is holding saidin. This is also relevant later for a part with Alanna bonding Rand. I will noted that when it comes up.
Sammael says it was him that sent trollocs to the Stone of Tear in book 4. This was when they saw trollocs and myrddraal fighitng each other. The others were sent by Semirhage (why - don't know - order from Darky).
"Bajad drovja!" means "son of a bitch" LOL. Literally it means "spawn of a beldam" (apparently a beldam is 'a malicious or loathsome old woman'. I had to look that up)
Sammy thinks that "events to the south have Demandred's mark all over them". I've no idea what he's referring to, but he's wrong. Demo is not doing anything "to the south".
I was totally confused by Sammy's comment about "binding like criminals" and why Graendal was put off by it. It is something to do with the Oath Rod. In the age of legends, the oath rod was used to force criminals not to be bad any more. So he is making some comment about how these days the Aes Sedai oaths are "binding themselves like criminals". I'm not sure why it is shocking to Graendal that he knows this.
And at the very end… ITSY came to visit her lol
No previously here
Semi is torturing Cabriana, wanting to know all about herself, so that Aran'gar (Shim) can pretend to be her former secretary and infiltrate Salidar.
Semi uses Age of Legends terms for things a few times. A "knotted buffer" for example, is a "tied off shield".
A "net" is a "weaving" of the one power.
She mentions criminals being bound again, referring to herself: "offered her a choice: to be bound never to know her pleasures again, and with that binding be able to see the end of life approach". This is the first time it is hinted that taking oaths on the oath rod shortens your life. Perhaps this was a thing built into the oath rod when it was made as part of the punishment for criminals.
There is also a first hint of where Semi is hiding: "to be called away from her charge; the girl was willful and obdurate, the circumstances difficult". She is advisor to Tuon at the moment - even though we've never met Tuon.
Previously - Egwene and Avi were both inured by Lanfear before she was crash-trackled. She was jealous of Aviendha for sharing Rand's room/bed but didn't know who Avi was, so just went for whatever girls were there.
Pedron sent Jaichim Carridin (BORS!) to stir up trouble in Altara, in the form of Dragonsworn bandits and such
Elayne and Nynaeve are teaching the Salidar leaders along with Siuan and Leanne about how to use telrod.
Elaida sent a group of Sedai (and Gawyn and his Younglings) to Cairhien to see Rand.
The rebel Sedai also sent a group to him, including Min.
Shemerin - one of Elaida's helpers, but she is a sookie-la-la and Elaida thinks very little of her. Rumor says she has been demoted to Accepted.
Elaida has been slowly firing her group of initial conspirators. She wants all power for herself.
The nation of Tarabon is in chaos. Everyone assumes it is just Dragonsworn and civil war - but actually the Seanchan are back.
Ronde Macura - the woman who tried to drug Nynaeve and Elayne with forkroot and send them back to the Tower. When her failure was reported to Elaida, she had Ms Macura punished.
When they first get to telrod, some of the Sedai are talking about some decision they've made, and about how no-one should scoff at the choices made by Sedai. It sounds like they're talking about making a decision on who to raise as their own Amyrlin, or perhaps just a decision that they are going to raise someone. But I didn't think they'd decided that yet. I'll have to RAFO lol.
At one point, Myrelle has her outfit change to include three small daggers on a necklace. It briefly changes to four daggers. This is a little hint about her warders. She has 3 warders, and Lan is on his way to her (the 4th).
The idea of daggers around her neck sound like "marriage knives" which women in Altara/Ebou Dar wear.
"The One Power had been wasted to make [the plants] grow" - hmm, not sure how you "waste" the One Power. I don't think it ever runs out lol
"Alviarin sometimes seemed to know more than the woman she supposedly served". Yup, that's probably right. Any info she gets from her Blackie network she would keep secret. And would keep other stuff to herself as well to give her advantage over Elaida later when she wants to blackmail her or use her for her own Blackie means.
"The ruling house of Andor is the key" - Elaida still on about her foretelling she had many years ago, that the Andor royal family is the key to winning the Last Battle.
I have no idea what Demo is up to at the end.
Previously - in telrod, the Sedai sent Nynaeve out to go with Leanne, so she missed all the NIGHTMARE excitement lol
Elayne thinks Rand put the Lion Throne on a pedastal as a sort-of trophy. But actually he just set it aside waiting for the rightful queen to take it.
Siuan and Leanne continue to pretend to hate each other in public, to cover their secret schemes together.
Nicola and Ariena - two women who came to Salidar with Nyn and Elayne on the boat. Nicola is now a novice.
The person who looked like Rand in telrod might have actually been Rand, or could have been Slayer (in the form of Luc, Rand's uncle)
The Sedai that Logain names in his made-up story (Javindhra and Barasine) are real Red Ajah. High ranking ones, too - I guess to help bring the whole Ajah into disrepute, as is Siuan's plan.
The Sedai with Logain say that his story "was confirmed to me by one who cannot lie" - they still don't know that Siuan and Leanne have been freed of the oaths because of their stilling.
Moghedien is teaching them to detect men's channelling. Apparently it gives a grinding headache if you keep trying it for long, and it is something they cannot test if it even works lol - sounds like she's just giving them headaches for fun to me. Also would explain why she seems satisfied by it lul.
Previously - Morgase and friends are with the Whitecloaks and the King of Amadicia.
Tarabon is in chaos - due to the return of the Seanchan, but no one really know that yet.
Rand is gathering a giant army in Tear, supposedly to attack Illian.
Bors is stirring up Dragonsworn in Altara. He also previously suggested the Whitecloaks just attack the Sedai in Salidar.
High Lord Darlin has started a rebel group of nobles who are protesting Rand's rule. They are all hiding out in a forest near Tear.
The Whitecloak Wars (or as the Children of the Light themselves call it "The Troubles") were about 40 years ago when Pedron tried to have the Children invade and take control of part of Altara. Armies of Illian, Altara and Murandy opposed him, and defeated him.
Also previously - a young Andoran man named Pairt Conel (who is also a useless darkfriend from book 1) came to offer secret assistance to Morgase to get her and her followers out of Whitecloak hands.
I got nothing.
Previously - Verin and Alanna were in Two Rivers helping with fighting the trollocs with Perrin. One of Alanna's warders was killed there.
Dyelin - Andoran noble. Next in line for the throne after Elayne. She is Morgase's cousin (but I don't know enough of the family tree to include her on it)
There are rumours of an Aes Sedai in Caemlyn who heals cats and dogs. This may be Marilin, one of the blackies the Moggy to command of. She likes cats, and the next time we see her (in some later books) she is indeed in Caemlyn.
The other Aes Sedai coming and going in the city are just some of those trying to stay out of the Tower split troubles. Trying to stay neutral until its all over.
Previously - Rand found Alanna and Verin. And got himself bonded.
Verin worked out that Rand was Dragon, and that Siuan and Moiraine were plotting something with him. This was way back in book 2, before anyone knew what was going on. So they had to let Verin in on it as well.
Faile threatened to kill Alanna if she bonded Perrin, but "had she known more of the bond between Aes Sedai and Gaidin, that threat would not have worked". That is… if Perrin was bonded to her, and Faile killed her, Perrin would have lost his shit and gone all rage.
The original Asha'man: Damer Flinn - old guy who gets really good at healing and works out how to heal stilling. He heals some of the Sedai who are stilled in the battle at the end of this book. Eben Hopwil - goes mad in book 8 and has to be put down. Fedwin Morr - becomes one of Mazrim's cronies.
More possible evidence of Taim-Demo:
Taim was very quick with everything Rand showed him. Because he already know it all?
He calls the Aiel "so-called Aiel". This is what a forsaken might say, as the Aiel are SO different from what they were back in their day.
This Aiel comment was one thing I noticed when I first read it, and thought "A-HA! Evidence". But it can also be explained like this: Taim is talking about Rand gathering and army for himself rather that relying on others to follow and provide their armies to him (e.g. Bashere). He skeptically says "so-called Aiel" because "Aiel" in the old tongue means "dedicated" - so he is just being skeptical of whether they are really dedicated to Rand or not.
Previously - Tarna, a messenger from Elaida, came to Salidar. The girls are trying to find out what the leader Sedai are talking to her about.
Seve and Jaril - Moghedien's fake kids.
The Salidar Sedai have chosen their own "Hall of the Tower". But Sheriam, Myrelle, and the other original leaders still have a lot of influcence over them.
They are worried the kids might reveal that "Marigan" is not their real mother. I'd say Moggy compulsioned them not to ever tell.
I'm sure the "biddable child" they were talking about is Egwene, who they are waiting to be able to summon to be Amyrlin. But… I'm sure there's a scene where they have the discussion and decide to make her Amyrlin (which hasn't happened yet). Or maybe I'm getting mixed up with the scene in book 12 where the Tower Sedai decide to accept Egwene after Elaida is gone.
The woman watching from the second-story window is… who knows?!? And who cares. It's never relevant. It could be Tarna, it could be Shim who would have just about arrived in Salidar, it could be all sorts of people. Whatever.
Previously - Elayne and Nynaeve tried to use the power to eavesdrop on Tarna and the Salidar Sedai.
Nynaeve did some spying just by walking up to the window and listening. Lol. Old school style.
In previous books, some of the girls have used "Need" to find things in telrod. Where you can make telrod take you to things you desperately need.
Nynaeve tells Tarna exactly the wrong info about Rand. Just a few chapters ago, we heard her talking to some Salidar Sedai saying Rand was stubborn if he was pushed, but he would do the right thing if he saw it was right. In this chapter she tells Tarna he needs to be shoved around and doesn't listen to reason.
The Bowl! It wil lbe difficult to find because all the buildings and streets and canals look the same in that poor part of Ebou Dar.
Previously - Egwene and Nynaeve found the Bowl of the Winds in telrod.
They thought they saw Egwene in telrod in the Tower also.
Theodrin is trying to undo Nynaeve's inability to channel unless angry.
The copper-skinned woman Egwene has been seeing in telrod is Leane (obvi?). She doesn't recognise her as she is stilled.
The "determined woman" is Siuan.
Nicola's words are a foretelling:
"The lion sword, the dedicated spear, she who sees beyond. Three on the boat, and he who is dead yet lives. The great battle done, but the world not done with battle. The land divided by the return, and the guardians balance the servants. The future teeters on the edge of a blade"
Elayne, Aviendha and Min. Those three around Rand funeral bier, but Rand is not really dead. The Last Battle is over, but the world goes on as normal, there will still be battle among men - mainly because the world is split in two by the Seanchan's "Return". The guardians (asha'man) and servants (Aes Sedai) are "balanced" - maybe in numbers, or maybe in their status in the world after the Last Battle.
I'm not sure why Anaiya "seemed disappointed" to learn the attack was not a forsaken. She is not a blackie or anything.
Previously - Egwene got sucked into Gawyn's dream.
Some Aiel gai'shain are refusing to stop after their year and a day. They believe that back in the day, when the Aiel abandoned the Way of the Leaf, they incurred so much toh that all Aiel should be permanent gai'shain.
The story of the very old Wise One is another indication of how the Oath Rod shortens people's lives. This Wise One was 300 (and a very strong channeler) and didn't look very old at all. The stronger channeler you are, the longer you will naturally live.
"Even Aes Sedai don't live that long" Egwene thinks - true - the Oath Rod shortens your life, so only the oldest of Sedai will live that long. Cadsuane is about 300, and she is very powerful.
Egwene says she doesn't know where Gawyn is - he's on his way to Cairhien with the Sedai from the tower. Coming towards where Egwene is!
Gawyn kneeling while she cupped his head in her hands - she bonds him.
She takes him by the shoulders and tries to turn him away against his will. In one version he brushes her hands away roughly, in the other she was stronger than him. - This is about what happens in book 13 when there are assassins in the White Tower, and Gawyn is trying to protect her. She keeps telling him to leave her alone, as she has her own plans. They constantly struggle and argue about the right thing to do.
Gawyn begins swinging a door closed on her, and she knew if that narrowing gap of light vanished, she was dead. - This might be about him saving her from assassins in book 13 in the White Tower, after she told him to leave her alone as she had her own plans. He ran off to leave her alone, but actually ended up coming back to save her. This might also be about him dying while bonded to her - the closing door is him injured and dying, and he dies, she will lose it as well.
Perrin with a wolf. Also a falcon and a hawk on his shoulders garing at each other - Faile and Berelain.
Perrin trying to throw away his axe, but it chases him - Perrin wants to stop being involved in killing (the axe), and to live a simple life (the hammer).
Perrin running away from a Tinker - Aram turning against him.
Mat with ravens on his shoulders, claws digging into them. He seems unaware of them, but he seems defiant to start with, then grimly accepting - Ravens are the symbol of the Seanchan. So this would be Tuon and the Seanchan getting their claws into him lol. He keep ranting about never getting married, but then accepts it in the end.
A woman with face shrouded in shadow beckons him toward monstrous danger - Unsure about this. It could be Moiraine's letter beckoning him to rescue her (which is dangerous). It could be Verin telling him about the trollocs invasion of Caemlyn in book 13/14. Or something to do with Tuon. Maybe.
Elayne forcing Rand to his knees with one hand - Not sure.
Elayne, Min and Aviendha sitting in a circle around Rand, each taking turns to lay hands on him - Elayne bonds all three of them to Rand.
Rand walking towards a burning mountain, the seals crunching under his boots as he goes - Probably just his plans to break the seals during the battle at Shayol Ghul.
The rest of her dreams seem to be just regular dreams, no prophecies in them.
Previously - Tarna, a messenger from Elaida, came to Salidar. The girls tryed to find out what the leader Sedai and the Hall are talking to her about. Nynaeve did some eavesdropping and heard that they are asking for "more time".
A bubble of evil popped in Salidar causing inanimate objects to attack people.
When the girls were almost kidnapped by forkroot lady, Ronde Macura, there was also a legit message from the Tower - "come back, all is forgiven. The tower must be whole". Probably not a message that Elaida would still agree with.
The girls have previously thought about running back to Caemlyn to help Rand. But have also found the bowl in Ebou Dar. But they also want to stay to make sure the Salidar Sedai support Rand.
Merana - leader of the delegation of Sedai from Salidar that were sent to Rand in Caemlyn. Min is with that group.
The Sedai mention some Sedai that they've sent off to other places: Edesina, Afara and Guisin were sent to Tarabon. They all end up captured by the Seanchan who are now there. Edesina ends up coming to Ebou Dar as a sul'dam, and Mat rescues her when he runs away with Tuon and everyone.
Also Bera and Kiruna. They were sent to see Rand when he was in the Waste. They are on their way there, but eventually hear Rand is no longer in the waste. They end up in Caemlyn with the other Rebel Sedai that went there with Min.
The nobles in this chapter are all the Andoran ones who were (originally) supporters of Morgase. Maybe not so much any more, after her weird behaviour under Rahvin's influence.
Gitara Moroso - old Sedai who had many foretellings. She died in New Spring with her foretelling of the Dragon's birth. Before that she was advisor to the Andor royal family. She told Rand's mum she had to run off to the Waste. She told Luc he had to go to the Blight, where he was captured and became part of Slayer.
"Where are all the dead? Why will they not be silent?" Lews Therin says. I always feel like this has some kind of meaning, but I don't know what he's actually talking about.
Dyelin is indeed a cousin of Morgase, as Rand thinks. But we don't know anything else about her family, so can't say for sure what her exact relation is.
Interesting that "the Last Battle depended on" Luc going to the Blight. This implies that Slayer's existence is necessary. Probably to force Perrin to learn telrod, which is an important battleground during the last battle (even without Slayer, some others try to use telrod to get to Rand - and he also puts the Dreamspike in place to stop people travelling straight into the Shayol Ghul to attack Rand).
Rand still wonders where Avi got her necklace from. Totes jealous. But Egwene gave it to her lol.
Previously - Rand wants to get away from Caemlyn, to be away from Alanna.
Rand left Berelain in charge of Cairhien. Probably so he didn't have to choose a Cairhienin (who would have their own plans to take the throne) or a Tairen (who think they've conquered Cairhien, and leaving one in charge would upset all the Cairhienin lol).
Caraline Damodred and Toram Riatin - they lead a little rebellious group of Cairhien nobles who want Rand out. There is also a group of Tairen ones led by Darlin. Eventually, they will get together to make a bigger group.
Rand wants to keep peace between Aiel and Cairhienin by making a law that any murder will be punished with compusory hanging.
This is where we first see the Carihienin young nobles who want to be like Aiel. I always remember them (a bunch of them follow Faile in the later books), but I never remember this scene where we first find out about them.
"House Raitain and house Damodred - the last two to hold the Sun Throne". Moiraine's uncle, who lost the crown after cutting down the tree, and Riatin because Thom killed him lol.
Rand thinks how "Niall's hand might be there as well" - I have no idea why Rand thinks the Children of the Light are involved with helping the rebel nobles… but he's right. Pedron briefly mentioned it in a previous scene in this book.
The fighting in Shara is because of two things (a) Graendal stole their leaders, so they are having some kind of civil war. And (b) Demo inciting an uprising of slaves to start his journey to leading many parts of the nation in the Last Battle.
The Sharan's are asking "When the Dragon Reborn will break the world". Part of the reason Demo is able to get Sharan's to follow him even though his a bad guy, is because the Sharan's all believe that the Dragon is "bad" as he is prophecised to "break the world".
Previously - Mangin admitted to murdering a man in Cairhien, so Rand had to sentence him to hanging.
Lord Barthanes - a darkfriend whose party Rand and others went to in book 2 while they were chasing Fain to get the horn and dagger back. Barthanes was helping Fain, and Fain went through the waygate which was on Barthanes property.
Kin Tovere - lens-maker who made the looking glass (telescope) Rand used in the battle vs the Shaido. But the tower it was mounted on collapsed after an attack by a male forsaken during the fighting.
Also during that fighting, someone in Cairhien built a mad crossbow to launch big spears at the Shaido. Rand and co didn't know who it was, they just saw Shaido being randomly shot by giant spears from afar.
Mervin's invention is to be a steam engine - by the end of the books there will a few steam wagon running around carrying supplies and cargo for people.
First appearance of Herid Fel.
He doesn’t think the warder bond can be broken. It can be released by the Sedai - but no one other than Sedai know that.
He doesn't think the Dragon can remake the Dark One's prison as well as it was originally done. This is not true. In the Last Battle, Rand's experience outside of time and space teach him to weave the pattern itself, which helps him remake a perfect prison "wall"
Rand asks if there is any reason to break the seals. Fel later gives Rand a note containing an answer to this question - or at least implying that he should break them.
Sorilea - hard-ass Wise One that will become Cadsuane's mate later.
Egwene thinks there is a "mysterious rules governing Wise Ones" and "thought it might be pure strength of will" that determines who leads them. Yup, that's pretty much it.
Previously - Rand has seen the Age of Legends once, in the visions of the past in Rhuidean.
Gueyam - is among the Tear nobles that were originally sent to Cairhien. He is still there. He is mentioned in this chapter! Wooot!
Colavaere - Cairhien lady who tried sending young pretty ladies to seduce Rand, until he implied he was interested in her lol.
The Wise Ones in Cairhien and Berelain are getting along well. Not really sure why the Aiel have more respect for her than most other wetlanders.
lol Rand thinks Alanne is crying over him. Nah, she's still getting over her lost Warder in the Two Rivers troubles.
Avi's toh discussion is comfusing lol. She has toh to both Rand (for saving her life from Lanfear) and Elayne (for sleeping with Rand).
The Wise Ones' dreams:
Three women whose faces they could not see, and a scale tilting first one way then the other - Probably Rand's three ladies, and probably just Rand leading the light v shadow struggle which is always tipping one way then the other.
Cutting the wetlands in two with a sword - Rand unites half the lands, while the others are held still by the Seanchan.
A man with a dagger to Rand's throat - Maybe Fain, who is currently on his way to Rand having left Two Rivers, and already been to get his dagger back from the White Tower. He will re-appear this book I think.
Rain coming from the bowl. Danger surrounding the bowl, but the bowl being extremely valuable - Bowl of the Winds, obvi, which is also being sought by a bunch of baddies.
The key to finding the Bowl is to find to one who is no longer - I think this refers to Satelle Anan, innkeeper in Ebou Dar who is a former Sedai who burned herself out. When the girls find her, she takes them to the Kin who own the stash of angreal.
Avi's toh discussion is comfusing lol. She has toh to both Rand (for saving her life from Lanfear) and Elayne (for sleeping with Rand).
No pre-noteds here.
"Rand had visited Ogier stedding twice" - once was when they were chasing Fain in book 2, and wanted to find a Waygate to use.The other was not shown in the books, but he implies during this chapter that he recently went to talk to some ogier about guarding the other waygates.
Haman implies that Ogier used to be not-so-safe, according to old records. Seanchan Ogier are fighters, and that's probably a carry-over from Ogier fighters back in the very old days which Haman is referring to. Probably this was during the big war at the end of Age of Legends.
Yes, Rand told the Elders that he would take care of Loial, to allow him to come with them chasing Fain in book 2.
Here is Rand thinking about something you asked about not long ago - Forsaken using gateways to bring armies of trollocs to attack wherever they want. Shadowspawn cannot go through gateways, they just die lol
Rand knew of a Stedding that Perrin told him about. This was where he, Egwene and Elyas sheltered in Book 1, but were attacked by Whitecloaks. And where Hopper was killed, and Perrin/Egwene were taken prisoner by daddy Bornhald and Jaret Byar.
They sheltered near a mostly-buried statue of Hawkwing - Haman mentions that there was to be a city there built by Hawkwing. The statue would have been a remnant of that.
Previously - Loial's mum and future wife came with Elder Haman to see Rand, looking for Loial.
Rand made them show him where all the waygates were, so he could try to block or guard them all.
He wants to go now and block the one in Shadar Logoth.
Rand and friends have only been to Shadar Logoth once - in book 1. As they all ran away from the trollocs that had come into the city, they were separated. Rand/Mat/Thom went their own way to Caemlyn, Perrin and Egwene met Elyas, Nynaeve went with Moiraine and Lan.
When Rand gives Sulin a very short time to gather Aiel to guard him, she uses Maiden Handtalk to a gai'shain (who must have been Maidens or they wouldn't have understood). There was much shame in doing this, but she felt she had to so there would be a decent guard of Aiel in time to go with Rand.
She will meet her toh for doing this in the rest of this book (lol)
"I must kill Demandred" Lews mutters. Why is Demo specifically mentioned so often by Lews in this book. Because Demo was supposed to be Mazrim? Or maybe just because Taim looks like Demo, and Lews is a bit mad, so is getting them confused.
Rand feels a "resonance of evil to evil" - the taint and the evil of Shadar Logoth. His first idea about how to cleanse the taint.
I have no idea why Rand thinks going inside buildings is bad. They camped inside an building with Moiraine and Lan when they were here the first time.
He also keeps saying "shadows are not safe" here. Again, no idea why. It's just the fog that is dangerous. And Mordeth, but he's in Fain these days.
Rand makes a gateway from inside Shadar Logoth to go to Two Rivers. He shouldn't be able to make a gateway from somewhere unless he knows the place he is very well. Unless they were back where he made the gateway to come into Shadar Logoth - you can also make a gateway from somewhere you have made a gateway to before. Confusing, sure.
They probably were back where they started anyway, because they would have had to all meet back there after searching.
Previously - Mat and the Band are heading south to join Rand's massive army preparing to attack Illian. But it's not the real plan - Rand will be attacking Sammy unexpectedly before Mat gets there and before the giant army is ready to go.
Mat met Olver. He was sitting on some guy's horse, and Mat saved him from the angry owner. He sent Olver to the inn he was staying at to get the innkeeper to look after him.
I'm not sure who the Aes Sedai are on the other side of the river, unless it is the rebel Sedai delegation on their way to Caemlyn. That's the only group that could be anywhere near here.
Vanin - he's cool. BFM. Helps save the Horn of Valere in book 14.
"TELL THE DRAGON REBORN" - no idea what the message is supposed to mean.
"It would not be the first time tinkers had come onto important information" Mat thinks. In book 1, the Tinkers tell Perrin and Egwene a story about how they heard the Eye of the World was under threat. This sent our heroes there to save the day.
Previously - Graendal and Sammy are plotting together.
Sammael sent a messenger to Rand to ask for a truce. Rand definitely did not agree.
Current commands from Dark One to the Forsaken is to "let the Lord of Chaos rule", and not to kill Rand.
Sammy found a stasis box, which preserves anything put in it forever. So he has a bunch of random stuff from Age of Legends. A painting, an "exchanger" (air conditioner lol), "glowbulbs" (lightbulbs)…
A game that was illegal to own because its playing pieces were "once-human" lol - sounds even better than cool figurines.
Graendal thinks that Sammael "had found something more that playthings and pretties". In the very next paragraph she thinks about how she once had an unpleasant run-in with a gholam. The main theory is that Sammy actually found a gholam in his stasis box, because the first time we really see the creature it seems to be working for Sammy.
They also talk about a collection of angreal and ter'angreal that they are looking for. This is the collection in Ebou Dar where the Bowl is. When the girls look for it (and find it) there are many others also working for various forsaken also on the hunt for it.
They talk about "Jumara loose in the Blight, that will never transform now" and how they are called "Worms" now. Jumara are the baby phase of a super-horrible creature made by Aginor just to see how horrible a thing he could make. Worms are cosidered one of the worst things in the Blight by people these days.
The only time we ever see an adult one of these things is in the Demo short story. One of the adult versions of them guards the sa'angreal Demo goes to get in the a cave.
Sammy doesn't think Rand would care that he killed a few Maidens of the Spear. LOL. Wrong!
Sammy acts as if Darky promised he could be nae'blis. Probably true - he probably promised it to a bunch of the Forsaken. He sure did to Demo in the prologue.
Previously - Egwene was injured in Lanfear's attack. The Wise Ones have not been teaching her telrod until she fully recovers. But she has been sneaking telrod herself anyway. Of course.
Mangin, one of Rand's Aiel buddies, admited to murdering someone, and was sentenced to hang.
Elaida sent Rand a letter to say some Sedai would come to escort him to Tar Valon. Those Sedai are on their way to Cairhien. Gawyn and the Younglings are with them.
One of the rumours Egwene heard was that the Tower split because one faction was the Black Ajah. This was one of the rumours spread by Pedron's secretary/spymaster Sebban Balwer. Part of Pedron's plans for dealing with the Sedai in Salidar.
"The Tower had been behind all false dragons" - a rumour that comes from Logain's stories he is telling about the Reds setting him up.
Previously - the delegation of Sedai from the Tower has arrived in Cairhien.
Egwene wonders about the seals. She doesn't know Rand has 3 - the one Mazrim gave him is unknown to her.
Just like Rand doesn't know of the one Nynaeve found in Tanchico. No one knows about all 7 of them, I don't think.
Funny that Aes Sedai ward their dreams even though none of them really know about telrod. In the earlier books, it was explained that they do it because channellers can sometimes project their dreams to others, so they share those dreams. And they don't want other people knowing what they dream about lol.
They mention and Aes Sedai that was advisor to the King, who now has disappeared. She will re-appear and join Cadsuane's group of followers later on.
"We must make sure there are only six" - good idea - there are indeed others, but they are going to sneaky sneaky arrive over the coming days and weeks, until there are too many of them for Rand to overcome alone. We hear at the very end that several have arrived.
The Sedai are channelling inside the building they are staying at. This is to make it seem like there is always someone channelling in there, so that if they have to forcibly kidnap Rand, it won't seem strange to have chanelling going on there. This is what they are talking about at the end "being prepared".
Gawyn says that he heard Egwene was in Illian. He helped Min escape with Siuan and Leane from Tar Valon, after Min rescued the other 2 from the prison cells. At that time, Siuan (who could lie) told Gawyn that Elayne and Egwene were in Illian doing some study.
At the end, the Sedai are talking to the powerful nobles in Cairhien, telling them that someone will have to take over command of Cairhien once Rand leaves. I'm not sure what their exact plan is, or who they want to take control there, but there's some kind of Sedai plot going on.
In the end, Colavaere is the one who claims the throne in Rand's absence - she poisons Meilan, who is the Tairen guy the Sedai are talking to. But then of course Rand comes back and boots her out, stripping her of all nobility. Guess she dies.
Previously - Fain is still looking for Rand and with his mad desire to kill him. He still has his group of dirty, corrupted Whitecloak followers who he gathered in Two Rivers.
Rand has made a rule that he must only have 2 Aiel bodyguards while he is in any of his palaces.
Ishara - first Queen of Andor. The nation of Andor started after Artur Hawkwing died and his giant empire broke up. There was a province within his empire called Andor, from which the nation arose.
The above note is all you really need to know from the confusing story that you will hear in this chapter. Lul.
Rand has worked out that Tigraine is his mother. He is concerned he is related to Elayne lol.
Rand briefly mentions two white stones that Bashere placed near where the horsemen are training. They mark the width of a gateway. In a future scene, the horsemen are seen practising a manaever where they all gallop in formation between those two stones, training to pour through a gateway that wide as quickly and efficiently as they can. RAFO.
The Whitecloak assassins were sent by Fain. Not Pedron.
Rand says he will see the Seafolk in the afternoon - and then at the end of the chapter he leaves lol. They will be most upset that he stood them up.
Previously - Egwene and Gawyn have found each other again, and hanging out in Cairhien.
Gawyn is with the Aes Sedai from the Tower. They have heard rumours of "a green sister" with Rand. Some think it may actually be Moiraine. Actually it's Egwene.
Egwene tried to use the power to listen to the Aes Sedai in the place they are staying - the home of Lady Arilyn.
Coiren - leader of the Sedai delegation.
Galina - member of the delegation who is also a Blackie.
Rand is jumping around between Caemlyn and Cairhien.
Last book, Rand got letters from both Elaida and Alviarin. Elaida said he would be escorted to the White Tower. Alviarin claimed she was totally on Rand's side, and asked him not to tell anyone.
Egwene dreamed of her Elayne and Nynaeve doing something together, but every time one of them spoke, they tripped or dropped something or otherwise shattered something. This might be a reference to them making bad deals with the Sea Folk and the Kin in upcoming books. But actually, I don't really know.
Egwene "feels a flash of contempt" for the palace servant as he leaves. Probably because she's hanging out with the Aiel too much - Aiel don't think much of people who are servants.
There are now Sea Folk in both Cairhien and Caemlyn hoping to speak to Rand.
Apparently Moiraine once used the invisibility trick to hide some of them. I cannot remember when this was.
Rand goes around and checks that the serving women with the Sedai are not also disguised Sedai. Good idea, because the Sedai use this trick later - but the disguised Sedai are all very young who don't yet look ageless, so they get away with it.
They also bring giant chests of gold. To make it seem that bringing giant chests is a normal thing when they come back to kidnap him.
Galina answers Rand's question about Alviarin. Both blackies.
Egwene and Rand discuss how to travel. Rand says he rips a hole through the pattern, while Egwene thinks she should make her place exactly the same as where she is going. They are both right - this is the difference between how men and women do travelling.
At the very end, the Sedai is thinking how Jesse Bilal made her go. Jesse is the head of the Brown Ajah in the tower.
Previously - Sulin spoke to gai'shain using Maiden handtalk and incurred much toh.
Several Whitecloaks tried to kill Rand.
Eyebrows. As sexy as calves, apparently. Lol.
"The last thing I want is to see you dead" Mazrim says. Probably truth. Darky's current orders are to keep Rand alive.
He also says that he "would give a great deal to be sure" which Forsaken sent the grey man. Again, Rand is supposed to be kept alive, so he want to know which one is disobeying. Which would be even more relevant if he was actually Demo.
Mazrim glances at the letter from Queen Alliandre after he picks it up from the floor. I wonder if he saw anything in it that other darkies will use in the future.
Fain could feel when Alanna bonded Rand. He will notice is even more when the 3 girls all do it later.
Fain's mysterious powers are related to Mashadar - the Shadar Logoth fog. He is starting to be able to use its power. Later he will be able to actually produce the fog himself.
Fain also says he can tell Darkfriends on sight .This doesn't really come into the story at all.
Previously - Nynaeve and Elayne discussed leaving Salidar. Either to go to Caemlyn, or to Ebou Dar. They were going to get Uno to help them.
The girls got in trouble for speaking (very) disrespectfully to Sedai - getting cranky at them for sitting in Salidar doing nothing. Now they are scrubbing lots of pots.
Theodrin is trying to undo Nynaeve's inability to channel unless angry.
Thom and Juilin were sent to scout into Amadicia to see if the Whitecloaks and King were up to anything the Salidar people should be worried about.
Many books ago - Elayne got drunk one night when a serving boy kept topping up her wine glass.
The two elderly, newly-arrived Sedai are Adeleas and Vandene. We saw them in book 2 - Moiraine went to visit them to research the Dragon, the Horn, and other things. They were attacked by a draghkar while she was there.
Previously - Nynaeve healed Logain
In book 1, Rand saw Logain being paraded through Caemlyn after his capture. He saw Logain laughing, not acting like a prisoner at all.
Cabriana - the Sedai that was tortured by Semi.
Logain is able to see ta'veren. They "glow" to his eyes. He tells Nynaeve in this chapter how he saw Rand in Caemlyn in book 1, and saw the irony of it.
Siuan and Nicola also have this ability.
Siuan mentions that her current plan was a "stop gap" and could be changed now that she is healed. Her plan was to get someone chosen as Amyrlin that she could manipulate to do what she wanted. Now she wonders if she should be Amyrlin herself again.
But the other Sedai don't agree that she should be.
Previously - Eamon Valda has never been seen in the books, but he has been mentioned a few times. He has been leading a troop of Whitecloaks. They started near Caemlyn, then followed Elayne and brothers when they went to Tar Valon.
His troops have been hanging around Tar Valon ever since. Until Pedron called all Whitecloaks back to HQ in Amador.
He's a bit hard-ass. Just killing whoever gets in his way because he can't tell who is Dragonsworn or Prophets men or just refugees. Lol.
And thinks about how he would force Morgase to cooperate, not just hang around like Pedron is doing.
Well, he will later be BOSS of Whitecloaks, and will be as hardcore as he said here.
Omerna - Pedron's fake spymaster.
Varadin - Pedron's agent in Tanchico. Pedron previously got a message from him that sounded like it was from a madman, speaking of strange creatures and chained Aes Sedai.
The Seanchan in Tanchico are trying to keep their presence secret. Pedron is now suspicious and will send someone in to see what extra info he can find.
Paitr - young man (and darkfriend) who is going to help Morgase escape from the Whitecloaks, with the help of his uncle.
I don't know whether he is planning this as some darky-plot or not.
Asunawa - head of the Questioners.
Paitr apparently "expected some reward from his uncle" for helping. "Something about making up for a failure back home". This might be a reference to Paitr doing a pathetic job when he encountered Rand and Mat in book 1, and was basically just a sookie la la.
Paitr and friends being hung, and Morgase seeing it, WAS actually just a massive coincidence. None of the Whitecloaks had any idea about her escape plan.
Saren - Questioner that escorted Morgase to Niall in the previous part.
Previously - Egwene was with Rand when the Tower Sedai visited.
Arilyn - noble the Tower Sedai are staying with.
Egwene has regularly seen two women she doesn't recognise in telrod - Siuan and Leane.
Rand still doesn't know where the rebel Sedai are hanging out. He wants to know so he can get Elayne back to Caemlyn.
Carlinya had cut her hair short because it got burned off when the Sedai all got caught in a trolloc-related-nightmare in a previous trip to telrod.
Going into telrod in the flesh "was used for evil, it is evel, and whoever does it loses part of themselves". Many believe this, but it's not actually true. But I guess if they all think that, then no one will do it and discover that it's fine.
Perrin says it best in book 14 when he says something like "it's not evil, it's just really dangerous and stupid"
Rand says he came to telrod and changed the weaves around Callandor. But that wouldn't change anything in the real world. Hmm, he still doesn't seem sure what telrod is or how to use it.
Previously - Egwene has been summoned to Salidar, and suggested travelling through telrod in person to get there quickly.
Rand found out where the rebel Sedai are.
Avi still knows she betrayed Elayne by sleeping with Rand when she promised her to look after him.
Moiraine wrote a letter to Thom before the crash tackle. Rand still has it.
Amys previously swore she would stop teaching Egwene telrod if she ever went there without permission.
Snakes and foxes stuff:
The symbol to start the game of Snakes and Foxes is a triangle with a wavy line through it. The same symbol you draw to get in (and out) of the Tower of Ghenji.
"Courage to strengthen, fire to blind, music to dazzle, iron to bind" - the things the snakes and foxes have weaknesses to: music, fire and iron.
Previously - Egwene is to go to Salidar, via telrod.
She has just been beaten by many Wise Ones for her toh of lying (about visiting telrod unaccompanied, and of being only an Accepted). Her bum is still sore.
Elayne and Nynaeve are still scrubbing pots as punishment for going off at the Sedai's lack of action.
No noteds here
Egwene has arrived in Saliar, and been told she will be Amyrlin
Her bum is still sore from her toh beatings.
Lelaine and Romanda both thought they should be chosen Amyrlin. They will cause problems for Egwene.
Coiren - leader of the Tower Sedai delegation to Rand (in Cairhien)
Merana - leader of the Salidar Sedai delegation to Rand (going to Caemlyn)
During Egwene's accpted test, one of the scenarios was her as Amyrlin, but she knew she had never held the Oath Rod, and she had a keeper who looked like Sheriam.
No noteds here
Egwene is Amyrlin, and is talking to Nynaeve and Elayne about their "discoveries"
Egwene has seen Elayne with Birgitte in telrod, but Elayne is sworn to secrecy and hasn't told exactly what was going on with them.
Egwene worked out how to get into telrod in person, by using the power to make two places exactly the same. Rand says he travels by making a hole through the pattern.
Egwene notes that the a'dam on Moghedien "looked nothing like the a'dam she knew" - which explains why no one had yet recognised it. I always wondered this, and thought maybe it was just lucky that no one in Salidar had seen one before. I don't think it's ever mentioned that the one Elayne made looks different - only that it was different by not having a cord between bracelet and necklace.
Siuan and Egwene are planning how to deal with the Hall and the other leaders in Salidar to get them to do what they want.
Romanda and Lelaine both wanted to be Amyrlin.
Shim (Halima/Aran'gar) arrived and will be posing as Delana's secretary. Delana doesn't know she can channel saidin.
Romanda and Lelaine have started gathering their own little groups of followers. They will be annoying for Egwene, always disagreeing with her, and with each other.
Egwene's plan is to make each of the three factions in Salidar (Lelaine, Romanda, Sheriam and friends) think that the others want to stay doing nothing in Salidar. She hopes they will all then decide to do the opposite, just because they want to disagree with the others.
Delana is supposed to go along with all factions - I guess to find out what all of them are up to.
Previously - Rand sent Mat with the Band to Salidar to bring Elayne back to Caemlyn.
Mat has seen Birgitte before, when he blew the Horn in book 2.
In book 3, Mat rescued the girls from a cell in the Stone of Tear where the Black Ajah had imprisoned them. They were not grateful.
When the Sedai first see Avi, they immeditely refer to her as "child" - I guess that's just a habit of calling a young non-Sedai channeler.
Mat arrived in Salidar, and didn't believe Egwene was the Amyrlin.
Rand found out about Salidar, and Egwene working out how to Travel, by coincidentally seeing the meeting in telrod where Egwene was summoned.
Mat is also carrying Thom's letter from Moiraine.
Egwene has seen Elayne with Birgitte in telrod, but Elayne is sworn to secrecy and hasn't told exactly what was going on with them.
Egwene scared Moggy into being more helpful with teaching them new channelling things.
Egwene and Siuan have convinced all the different groups in Salidar that they should start moving. They did it by making everyong think the other groups wanted to stay put.
I don't get why Elayne thinks Ebou Dar is more important than going and claiming the throne in Caemlyn. The others can go find the bowl, surely Andor is her duty, and it will just get harder for her in Andor the longer she leaves it.
"If those in the Tower learned to Travel, too much advantage would be lost". In the past, they have discussed how Elaida must have planted people in Salidar. So I would have been very careful with who learned Travelling, but nah, they just tell everyone.
Mat is in Salidar. He delivered Thom's letter.
There are 3 groups of Sedai in Salidar trying to be "in charge" - Romanda and her followers, Lelaine and her followers, and the group of Sedai who started in charge in Salidar (led by Sheriam)
Mat has some vague memories that he can't quite remember. One is about Basel Gill telling them Thom's history when they stayed at his inn in Book 1. The other was "a woman with a knife stuck between her breasts" - hmm not sure what this is.
The Sedai wonder how Mat was allowed to leave the Tower when he was there before. Lol, the girls let him out because Elayne wanted a letter delivered to Morgase.
Previously - the Salidar Sedai sent a delegation to Rand in Caemlyn. It is led by Merana. Min is also with them.
The last time Rand saw Min was in Falme in book 2. Moiraine then sent her back to Tar Valon to report to Siuan on events in Falme. Cloud fight.
Elayne wrote 2 letters to Rand before she left in book 4. One she declared her love for him, but then wrote another one after seeing how Nynaeve dealt with Lan getting all sookie about her leaving.
Sulin is meeting toh by being a servant in the palace.
Very few people know about Min's ability. Even the Sedai she is travelling with don't.
Min sees a "wreath of some sort" related to Enaila. An Aiel marriage wreath. Enaila gives up the spear to be make a wreath for some random Aiel guy - but she dies in the Last Battle before they get married.
Min's viewing of the darkness swallowing lights is a common thing she sees around several people - mostly the three ta'veren. It is just an indication of the battle against the Shadow, and how they are the ones who gather all the people to fight against it.
Elayne's second letter to Rand didn't actually say she "never wanted to see him again" - it was more like "I'm off to do what I need to do, and I can look after myself, and I am my own woman, and I won't spend all my time mooning over you, deal with it" lol
Min sees that Aes Sedai are going to hurt Rand, maybe more that once. One is his kidnapping. I don't think it happens again, he gets too hardcore after that.
Rand says that Aiel never knock, just check out the room and come it. "He had never puzzled out what would make an Aiel decide not to come in". I reckon they're probably not checking to see if it's ok to come in, just checking if it's safe to come in (i.e. no one lying waiting in ambush lol)
Previously - Min is now with Rand in Caemlyn.
The Salidar delegation is 9 Aes Sedai.
Verin and Alanna are also in Caemlyn (with the Two Rivers' girls)
Henre Haslin - former Queen's Guard who is now teaching the sword to Rand's male-channellers he is gathering.
Any men who come to test for channelling but are found not to be able to, they are sent to Caemlyn to help Rand start his own army.
A grey man attack Rand earlier, and Taim appeared at the same time and helped kill it.
The three ashies we see at the start - Kisman, Rochaid and Torval - they will all become Taim's goons later.
Rand wonders if the White Tower "had begun as humbly" as the Black Tower will. It just started when lots of Aes Sedai ended up gathering together for safety on the Tar Valon island. It was only about 100 years after the Breaking of the World, so I guess they were hanging out there away from the mad male sedai.
Rand notices Taim is very unhappy looking when Rand points out that "I was the first asha'man, and Mazrim was the second" - lol, Demo would be unhappy if he was AGAIN just below Rand/Lews.
There are groups of Red Ajah around trying to intercept men coming to the Black Tower. These aren't really relevant to the story and nothing comes of them.
"Where was his flute?" - good question. I think the last time we saw it was in Book 3 - Rand was sitting by himself at his campfire playing it, on his way to Tear. He probably left it in the Stone somewhere.
Merana - leader of the Salidar Sedai delegation in Caemlyn.
They have had their first meeting with Rand off-screen between the last chapter and this one.
Alanna and Verin are also in Caemlyn.
Sedai have dumb ways of working out who is in charge. Merana should just be in charge because she was made in charge of this group. Just because Verin is equally as strong but older and whatever, she shouldn't have authority to just butt in.
At the end, I'm not sure exactly what the Sedai are planning - maybe just to show the nobles that the Sedai are there, and that they will help look after Andor, and make sure all is well if/when Rand leaves. Just so they have influence there.
They seem to just be telling each noble what they want - they tell Dyelin that they can help get Elayne the throne. They tell Luan they want to see Andor remain united. They imply to Ellorien that they might help her get the throne.
Previously - Mat arrived in Salidar. He sent left Talmanes in charge of the Band.
Mat sent Vanin back to the Band to tell Talmanes not to get into any trouble with Bryne's army, and not to come trying to "rescue" Mat.
Halima - Shim. In salidar as well these days.
Myrelle - Sedai with many warders, and always looking for more. Lan's new Sedai, even though he hasn't arrived yet.
Halima is "like a child with a new toy; teasing just to see if she can" - lol, yep, she's used to being a man.
Mat instructs the Band to follow the Sedai if they start marching from Salidar. This is exactly what Egwene hopes Mat will do - she will use their presence to recruit more men to her own army as they travel. This is what she is thinking about at the very end.
Nalesean will be Mat's 2nd-in-command with him going to Ebou Dar. But Talmanes wants to send his serving man with Mat, for his own honour, or whatever lol
Thom and Juilin talk about how they met Aludra again. This was in the circus.
Previously - in the prologue, Perrin felt that Rand needed him, and set off.
In book 1, Perrin, Egwene and Elyas stopped off in an abandoned Stedding on the way to Caemlyn.
Everyone first met Min also in book 1, in a Baerlon, a town just north of the Two Rivers.
Deira - Faile's mother. Bashere's wife.
Culain's Hound - the inn in Caemlyn where Verin, Alanna and the Two Rivers girls are staying
Crown of Roses - the inn in Caemlyn where the Salidar Aes Sedai are staying.
Rand says there is a "third side [in the White Tower], ready to kneel to me". I assume he means Alviarin and her followers, as she sent him a letter just before Moiraine's tackle, saying she would support and follow him. Obvi it's a lie.
"You'll only be the fourth man to know the real plan". Mat and Bashere came up with the real plan. Rand obvi knows it. Perrin would be number 4.
Perrin and co arrived in Caemlyn. Faile's parents (Bashere and Mrs. Bashere) are there.
Rand asked Perrin to take command of the giant army he is gathering to "attack Sammael".
Min has had visions of a hawk and falcon attached to Perrin somehow (Faile and Berelain)
The Aes Sedai in Camelyn are meeting with nobles. For whatever purpose. The Sedai would ultimately want Elayne to be Queen of Andor, so whatever they are talking about, that would be their ultimate goal.
Min's vision that Perrin has to be there twice to save Rand - once is rescuing him from the Aes Sedai when he gets kidnapped. The other, I assume, is during the Last Battle (Perrin saves him from someone who is literally just about to kill Rand - RAFO)
Her vision of the darkness and fireflies also shows the lights not getting sucked into the darkness as much when Rand and Perrin are together. Indicating that the three ta'veren are needed to fully defeat the shadow.
Bashere mentions the "Broken Crown" - this is the symbol of the monarch of Saldaea. Bashere is one of the first few in line for that crown. But Faile has never mentioned that to Perrin.
Demira is one of the Salidar Sedai in Caemlyn.
Rand set rules on when and how many Sedai can come near the Palace.
The Aiel that attacked her are not really Aiel... (RAFO later this chapter)
I promise I will not spy on Rand - Faile says. No, but she will spy on anyone else, as required, and as she sees fit lol
Demira - the Aes Sedai who was attacked by "Aiel".
Stevan - her warder.
The message from her attackers was "Tell the other witches to stay away from al'Thor" - Aiel do not call Aes Sedai "witches" and they wouldn't call Rand "al'Thor"
Apparently it also desribed them as having 'dark eyes', which Aiel do not have either.
Her attackers were actually Padan Fain's corrupsted Whitecloaks, disguised as Aiel.
Bloody Aes Sedai and their rules for who is in charge.
Previously - Matt and the girls are off to Ebou Dar
Nalesean is Mat's second in command. Lopin is his serving man.
Mat left Talmanes behind in charge of the Band, so Talmanes sent his serving man (Nerim) to be with Mat.
Nerim and Lopin are always, like, competing with each other or something, to be the best servants lol
Vanin - Mat's fat-man scout.
Merilille - Aes Sedai from Salidar that is already in Ebou Dar. They are to meet her when they get there.
The dice are rolling in his head, since a lot will happen to Mat in Ebou Dar - including meeting Tuon later.
Then they stop when he meets Mistress Anan. She will be well involved with his adventures, and will be a part of the reason he ends up getting involved with rescuing Aes Sedai. She is a former Sedai herself who burned herself out while studying ter'angreal.
Previously - Mat and the girls are in Ebou Dar. Mat staying at Setalle Anan's inn (the Wandering Woman) and the girls in the palace.
Merilille - the Salidar Aes Sedai who was already in Ebou Dar, as an emisarry to the Queen.
Nynaeve is avoiding Mat. I think this is just because she's embarassed about kicking him in the bum when he first came to Salidar - a very un-Sedai thing to do lol
Jaichim Carridin - BORS! Last we heard, Pedron sent him to Altara and Murandy to stir up trouble that the Whitecloaks could later come in and save the day. He was also in Tanchico in book 4 when the girls were there. He was working with the King and Panarch, to gain favour for the Whitecloaks in that country.
Teslyn and Joline - Aes Sedai from the Tower who are there to help give the Tower influence with the Queen. Also beause Elaida doesn't like either of them, and wanted them out of her hair.
Joline is the one that Mat gives blue-tongue muffins (or whatever they were) to in book 13.
Vandene and Adeleas - the old Sedai that Moiraine visited in book 2 - have come with the girls to "look for runaways". The Kin are in Ebou Dar - they are mostly people who were put out of the Tower, but a few are runaways. The White Tower has always known about the Kin (but never revealed that), so the Sedai are probably looking for a few runaways among the Kin.
"We won't have the Black Ajah to worry about" they say at the end. WRONG! There will be many groups who have (somehow) heard of the collection of ter'angreal in Ebou Dar.
Previously - Rand wants Perrin to go "command" the giant army in Tear.
Min saw that Perrin would have to be with Rand twice to stop terrible things happening.
Loial was travelling with Perrin from Two Rivers, but took a detour to go to an abandoned Stedding.
Some Ogier, including Erith and Loial's mother, came to Rand. He Travelled them to Two Rivers. But Loial would have already been gone.
Demira - the Aes Sedai who was attacked by fake Aiel. The Sedai think that it was organised by Rand as a warning to them. They have not revealed to people other than Sedai what happened.
Bera and Kiruna - Two Sedai that were sent from Salidar to Rand. They were sent waaay back when Salidar first started, and they were heading to the Aiel Waste, because that's where Rand was at the time.
"He had seen Moiraine do something like this before" - this was in book 1. Moiraine scared some Whitecloaks (including Dain Bornhald) as they were leaving the town of Baerlon in the middle of the night.
In case you lost count - the 13 Aes Sedai in Caemlyn are: 9 in the original delegation from Salidar to Caemlyn. Verin and Alanna who were taking the Two Rivers girls to the Tower. Bera and Kiruna, who were originally to go to Rand, and have finally found him.
The delegation from the White Tower (in Cairhien) is only 6 Sedai (well, only 6 that Rand knows of). Hence why he said they could send 6 Salidar-ies to Cairhien also.
But of course, they are sending 9 lul. Even though they will help rescue Rand later, he will still be most displeased by their disobedience. (The other 4 will take the Two Rivers girls to Salidar)
The Sedai talk about using the Bond to make warders do what they want. This is something they can do, but I don't think anyone knows about it, even Warders. This power does not work on men who can channel (or maybe doesn't work while they are holding the power)
Previously - there were 13 Sedai in Caemlyn, so Rand and co ran off to Cairhien. Rand was exhausted, and collapsed when they got there.
People are moving into position. It is time for… A MAP!
Rand previously wondered where his (formerly Thom's) flute was. I guessed that he left it in Tear somewhere.
Coiren - leader of the Tower delegation in Cairhien.
The Tower Sedai originally offered Rand gold and jewels and stuff. He pretended to be excited by them.
Gawyn is in Cairhien also, with the Tower Sedai. He heard a rumour that Rand killed Morgase, so hates him. But he promised Egwene he would not harm Rand until she had a chance to prove that Rand didn't do it.
Dobraine - an important noble in Cairhien. He is on Rand's side, rather than being obsessed with gaining power for himself. Rand will put him in charge of Cairhien after Berelain and Rhuarc move on.
Some of the young Cairhienin nobles have started their own society trying to be like Aiel. The actual Aiel hate it and find it mocking and disrespectful.
Min's viewings:
Something about Sorilea and Colinda which she is surprised by. It might be that "they are going to teach Rand something" - a viewing she mentions later. But her surprise seems to be because they are old. Maybe just that they are going to be involved in battle in the future, which would seem strange for such old ladies. But don't really know the answer for sure.
Min also has viewings about Maringil and Mielan dying. They will be killed by Colavaere, as they are her main rivals for the throne.
Colavaere herself will hang. Hang herself. In shame. After Rand boots her off the throne later and strips her of all titles.
The High Lords of Tear (including Gueyam!!) will die bloody deaths in battle. This either happens in book 7 (fighting the Seanchan) or in the Last Battle. Different sources say different things about when they die. They aren't important enough to have their death explicitly mentioned in the story.
Berelain will fall head over heels for a man in White. Galad.
Herid Fel:
Rand asked Herid Fel about the Seals and the Last Battle. His note, in reply, says:
"Belief and order give strength. Have to clear before you can build."
The first sentence is about how Darky gains power. Chaos, destruction, loss of hope. Rand should try to keep everyone united, focussed, and directed at the Last Battle together.
The second sentence is about how the Seals need to be broken so the bore can be properly re-sealed. Don't just re-patch it, rip away the existing patch and remake the pattern over the hole.
This is where Rand gets the idea that he needs to break the Seals, which causes so much argument in the last couple of books.
Min pretends to read books, but then gets actually interested in one of them. "Essays on Reason". This is the start of her obsession with reading philosophy books that help her come up with theories to help Rand. Including what he should do with the seals, and how he should use Callandor in the Last Battle.
"I always keep my promises" Berelain says. I'm pretty sure this is a follow on from a conversation they had in the Stone of Tear, when Berelain was first after Perrin. But I can't remember exactly what it was.
The strange emotion-smell Perrin gets from the nobles is probably supposed to be something like "ambition", "selfishness" or "lust for power". All those nobles are just doing whatever they can to gain more power and influence for themselves.
Previously - the Aes Sedai from the Tower noted that there were "others following behind". And that those "others" had started arriving in the days after the main group did.
When they first go to Cairhien, they heard rumours of a "green sister" working with Rand. They thought it might be Moiraine. It would actually have been Egwene.
Egwene was present, but hidden, at Rand's first meeting with them.
The Sedai have also been meaninglessly, and continuously, channelling within the house they are staying at. Just so that it will seem that channelling sensed from outside is totally normal.
Bain, Chiad and Gaul were with Perrin in Two Rivers. They would have had to catch up with all the events with Rand in the Waste, and the battle against the Shaido.
"Six soft points" in the shield holding Rand. They become hard knots if the Sedai tie them off rather than holding them. Which makes them vulnerable to breaking.
Min has also been taken. Sorilea noted her disappearance, and is the first to be very suspicious about Rand's vanishing.
Mat is staying at the Wandering Woman inn in Ebou Dar.
The girls are in the Palace.
Mat wants to send his men with them when they go out to the dodgy part of the city to search for the Bowl.
Tylin - Queen of Ebou Dar.
Elayne thought that is would take no more than 10 days to find the Bowl.
The guy Mat is gambling with is obvi a Seanchan. He chokes on his punch when he hears Mat mention Daughter of the Nine Moons. lul.
Logain is healed. Some Sedai think he should be re-gentled.
The Salidar peeps have started to march
Mat left orders with Talmanes to have the Band follow if Egwene's mob moved.
"Custom said a shield on a man must be maintained, not tied" - probably a custom that started with people who knew that a tied off shield was vulnerable.
The knives that Elayne and Nynaeve have appear as part of their outfit in telrod are marriage knives, as are worn by women in Ebou Dar. They both have lots of beads/gems on the hilt, which indicates that they have lots of children. Elayne's has a "large mass of red and white glass beads" while Nynaeve's has "only" nine or ten. LOL - they're so randy.
"I've not said a cross word to [Mat] since we arrived" - yeah, you haven't spoken to him at all lol
Myrelle is the Sedai (in Salidar) that Lan is now bonded to.
She uses the trick of making her warder obey (as Alanna spoke of earlier) to make Lan come to her.
Myrelle and Nisao are the only ones who know of Lan. They will try to keep it secret as long as they can, as passing the bond is considered bad - the same as bonding without permission, really.
Previously - Rand and Min have been taken by the Tower Sedai. No one knows yet, they think he's just left.
Sorilea was the first to be suspicious.
Dobraine - an important noble in Cairhien. He is on Rand's side, rather than being obsessed with gaining power for himself. Rand will later put him in charge of Cairhien after Berelain and Rhuarc move on.
Min had a viewing that several nobles would die - Maringil poisoned, and Meilan by the knife.
And Lady Colavaere by hanging.
Sulin, who was essentially leader of Rand's maidens before, is still being a servant. Lol.
Bloody Faile. Getting jealous because Perrin doesn't yell at her.
"I will give what I head Rhuarc gave you in the Stone of Tear." - every now and then, there's mention of Rhuarc punishing Berelain previously. It must have been something embarassing. I always imagine he spanked her lol
Nadera says that Sulin has been a servant for "four and a half weeks - an entire month and a half". A week in Rand-world is 10 days. So four-and-a-half weeks is 45 days = a month and a half. Maths.
Perrin (and everyone else) still thinks there's only 6 Aes Sedai holding Rand.
Sorilea is a very very weak chanellers. But many other Wise Ones are stronger than her.
Galina is a blackie. She knows Alviarin, the keeper back in the Tower, is as well.
The kidnap Sedai met with Sevanna and the Shaido on their way to Cairhien. They made a deal with Sevanna that she could have access to Rand if she offered the Shaido help them.
The Sedai also plan to have Gawyn's younglings fight off the Shaido to get rid of them (because Elaida wants the Younglings out of the way)
Sevanna wants to marry Rand so she is essentially the leader of all Aiel.
Sevanna has also mentioned having been given a strange stone cube by a strange man she met (Sammael!)
Desaine - one of the Wise Ones with Sevanna, but who is not really on board with Sevanna's plans.
Thirty-three Aes Sedai. Lul. They really went all out with sneaking extras along with them.
Sevanna's motion that looked like cutting Rand's head off, was actually thinking of putting a collar on him to do as she says.
The Wise One's kill Desaine and make it obvious she was killed with the One Power. This will be to make it look like Aes Sedai killed her, and convince the Shaido to fight the Aes Sedai. All so Sevanna can take Rand off them.
Previously - Berelain previously said to Perrin that he is "one of the few man who can make me obey" lol
Previously - Perrin has gathered many peeps and will lead the rescue of Rand. With him will be:
Aiel fighters led by Rhuarc
Maidens led by Sulin/Nandera
Wise One channelers led by Sorilea
Berelain's soldiers (Winged Guards) led by Havien Nurelle
Soldiers of Dobraine's house Taborwin - led by Dobraine (obvi)
and there will be more…
…more for Perrin's rescue force:
Wolves!
Two Rivers men
The 9 Sedai that were coming to Cairhien from Caemlyn (Salidar-ies + Alanna and Verin).
Calves, eyebrows, and ears. Wheel is so sexy.
We first heard the wolves call Rand "Shadowkiller" in book 2. When he snuck into Fain's camp and took the Horn and Dagger back, Perrin was pretending to be a "sniffer" to follow the Darkfriends, and the wolves reported Rand's activities to him.
The siswai'aman and Maidens are jealous of each other because they both think it is their number-one task to protect Rand.
I'm not sure exactly what the deal was with Sulin and Nandera fighting. It is obviously about who should lead the Maidens, as it used to be Sulin, but Nandera took over while she was a servant.
The theory I read was that Nandera won the most honour during the fight because Sulin is known as a better fighter, but Nandera never submitted to her and forced Sulin to defeat her. Or something. I dunno. Bloody Aiel.
Previously - The Aes Sedai (33 of them!) have Rand.
Sevanna wants Rand, and had Desaine (a Wise One) killed as if a Sedai did it, to convince the Shaido to attack Sedai.
Gawyn and the Younglings are with the Tower Sedai. Galina intends to have the Younglings fight the Shaido to get rid of him and them.
Perrin is coming with a mad rescue party to get Rand.
Rand told the Salidar that 6 of them could come to him in Cairhien - but 9 have come.
Erian - the Sedai who's warders Rand killed, and who gets to beat him the most often.
Gawyn - promised Egwene he would not harm Rand, even though he's sure Rand killed Morgase.
Rhuarc was worried about taking too many Aiel with Perrin, as some of the Shaido were moving back towards Cairhien, and needed to have the city defended.
Lews has told Rand that when a One Power shield is tied off, it is vulnerable and can be broken.
The Sedai with Perrin went into the thick of battle because the Oaths prevent them from using the Power as a weapon unless they are in immediate danger themselves.
When Rand "crushed the three soft points" of the shield (the three Sedai who were still holding the shield, not tied it off) - that caused those 3 to be stilled.
Rand does not make a gateway here because you need to know the place you are travelling from for it to work. But he could have done skimming (gateway to dark place, and float on a random platform to somewhere else). But he obvi didn't think of that.
So there are two groups of Sedai - the Tower ones were against Rand, so they are prisoners. Rand knows the Salidar ones are somewhat on his side, but he's sick of their shit, so he made them swear to him.
Galina is no there. She got away in the battle sometime.
"The unstained tower, broken, bends knee to the forgotten sign" is one of the prophecies. That would be what happened here. The White Tower is broken, and some Sedai have sworn to Rand (the forgotten sign is the old Sedai banner than Rand uses).
Falion is one of the Blackies that Moghedien took command of a while ago. They were all sent off to do different things, most of which we don't know.
The Bowl of the Winds is part of big collection of angreal/ter'angreal in a storeroom in Ebou Dar. The collection has been gathered over the years by the Kin. Several people are aware of of this collection (even though we only know about Elayne/Nynaeve so far).
Herid Fel - Rand's random philospher buddy who was researching Seals, Dark One, Last Battle, etc for Rand at his school.
Previously - Mat was gambling with some people at the inn and he mentioned "Daughter of the Nine Moons". One of the men choked on his punch. Obviously a Seanchan scouting out things in Ebou Dar.
At the end, he rides west. The Seanchan are currently in Tanchico, but are keeping their presence a secret (as much as they can) to places outside of that. Most people just know that the nation of Tarabon is "in chaos".
He will be going to report that Ebou Dar will be easy to take over, as he notes to himself in this part.
Previously - Shim arrived in Salidar, posing as Halima, Delana's secretary.
Egwene secretly let Logain go free, trusting that he would join Rand's side.
The very start of this book was Demandred going to talk to Darky, and getting his intructions.
Moghedien thinks that the ball of light "must be saidin". She was right, but if she'd thought about it more, it could also have been True Power.
The fact that she was hurt by touching the a'dam was proper confirmation that "she" was a man who could channel saidin.
"Summoned to Shayol Ghul could mean eternity in the Pit of Doom, or immortality ruling the world, or anything in between" - or being put in a vial. Lol.
Demandred has obviously been up to much during this book. If he was Taim in disguise, he could of course be said to have done much. But I guess he's just been over in Shara doing his stuff.
