Previously - Seaine was asked to search out "treason within the Tower", so went looking for Black Ajah. She got Pevara to help.
They discovered the "ferrets" from Salidar instead.
Then they themselves were found out by Saerin, Yukiri, Doesine and Talene. Talene refused to re-swear the oaths.
Elaida is obvi not a Blackie. They know all her decisions, even before she announces them, because Alviarin is boss-blackie and she is basically making all Elaida's decisions for her.
I don't get how they can't just do what Egwene ends up doing later on. Now that they have a bunch of people from all different Ajahs (and plenty of Sitters) they should just make up a way to go through every Sedai in the Tower as quickly as possible and test them all. Or something. They could totally make it work.
Here is a new updated giant list of all the people with Elayne. Now that she is in Caemlyn, there are a whole heap more - such as Wise Ones who were staying in the City and palace employees.
Adeleas and blackie prisoner Ispan were murdered. By someone they know!! (insert ominous music). Yes, it is someone on the Elayne list-of-peeps!
The girls don't know what happened to Mat, Thom, Olver, etc, after the Seanchan came to Ebou Dar. The girls just ran off lol
Several houses that Elayne hopes will support her have their main peeps hanging out down on the Murrandy border, where Egwene met them.
Elayne and Avi found a few angreal among the stuff in the storeroom with the Bowl.
Elayne took down Rand's Dragon Banners when she arrived. Rand thinks its because she hates him. Sookie.
Elayne decides she has to hire mercenaries to be the local soliders. Of course this will cause problems when an actual battle comes along and the other side is able to bribe them.
Elayne talks about how Arymilla (the silly goose) actually has a supporter or two. But one of them is a crazy old man. Doesn't matter, he claim is starting to grow.
Elayne thinks about Gawyn - he hasn't been seen since just after the Battle of the Chest. He has by now led his Younglings back to Tar Valon (but they will not be able to get into the city because the Rebel Sedai army is there before they are.
Taim says Rand sent Elayne a "gift" - this is all the sul'dam and damane he captured during his battle against the Seanchan.
It is mentioned in this chapter that Egwene has been teaching the Wise Ones various channelling stuff. Previously we heard people being surprised at them knowing how to Link, and Sorilea knew how to make a gateway. This is where it explains how they knew that.
Toveine was the leader of the Sedai that Elaida sent to the Black Tower. They assumed there were only a handful of channelling men there - until they were all captured. And bonded. With a bond that forces them to obey their bonder.
Toveine was caught and bonded by Logain himself.
They are all instructed not the channel without permission, and not to escape.
Prior to this mission, Toveine had been in "exile" (punishment) on a farm run by Mistress Doweel. The punishment was for her involvement in illegal gentling. Elaida brought her back for this mission.
In the previous part of this prologue, Elayne said she will making regular inspections of the Black Tower, as it is in her nation.
Androl. First mention in this part, one of the guys hanging out outside Logain's house. He only becomes cool when Brandon gets hold of him lol
Logain talks about how he was healed by Nynaeve, and has others trying to work out how she did it, based on what he heard her talking about. Eventually, some of them do work it out - they Heal the Sedai that were stilled by Rand during his escape from the box.
Mishraile is having private lessons from Taim. And Logain is the only fully raised asha'man that doesn't live in Taim's palace. Taim is only raising those who follow him (i.e. darkies).
They wonder why Taim put some of his own men on the deserters list:
Gedwyn and Rochaid (and Dashiva) were the ones who attacked Rand in the palace at the end of the previous book. They are listed as deserters either because: (a) they failed their mission to kill Rand (b) they weren't supposed to try killing Rand at all, and Taim is not happy (c) Taim needs to make it look like he supports Rand by putting his attackers on the deserters list.
Torval and Kisman - were also part of this plot, although they haven't been seen to do anything yet. They will be hunting down Rand in this book. So see the same reasons as above.
Flinn, Hopwil, and Narishma: they are not followers of Taim at all. They're on the list because they pretty much dedicated followers of Rand now.
Previously - After the attack on the palace in Cairhien, Rand took Min and said he would be gone for a while
During the attack, Rand tied up Lady Ailil and a Windfinder who spotted him sneaking around.
Kin Tovere - made the looking glass that Rand used while fighting the Shaido in Cairhien.
Dobraine - in charge of Cairhien for Rand.
Rand has set up a "school" in Cairhien (where Herid Fel worked), in the palace that used to belong to darkfriend Lord Barthanes.
"Before I go, I need to give you—". At some point, Rand gives Dobraine one of the Seals to look after. This may be where he does it, it is maybe in the package he gives him, along with instructions to keep it safe, secret and hidden of course. He gives (or already has given) another one to Bashere.
Lews talks about "you, and I, and the other one" - the other one is probably Moridin who Lews might be able to feel somewhat as well with Rand's link
The other letter he gives Dobraine is for High Lord Darlin - the rebel noble leader from Tear. Rand wants him to be boos of Tear, to end the rebellion.
Rand gets diziness without saidin. Still something to do with Moridin and his link, I assume. Maybe he gets it when Moridin seizes the power.
"The lake" at Rhuidean that Min mentions was formed when Rand fought Asmodean there, struggling over the super-angreal access key. They split the land and released an underground reserve of water to the surface.
Rand has two ter'angreal behind his saddle. The access keys.
Previously - Perrin went to visit the Prophet and tell him Rand wants to see him. The Prophet refused to be Travelled there. Aram seemed enthralled by the Prophet when they met.
The Wise Ones and Aes Sedai believe Masema is bad news and he should be killed. This opinion comes from the Wise Ones who dreamed it was the right thing to do.
Here is the latest updated version of "Perrin's Peeps". With Queen Alliandre included, and the people who were captured marked.
Rand fought the Seanchan with his Asha'man (and nobles he wanted dead lol) in the mountains between Illian and Ebou Dar
At the very beginning, when the wind is blowing, there is a huge fleet of Seanchan ships in Tanchico. This is the start of "The Return" - all the normal people coming over to start settling on this side of the ocean in the lands held by the initial invading fleet.
They should totally just kidnap Masema with the One Power and travel his straight to Rand. Should have just done it from the room they were meeting in lol
Previously - Faile and some others were taken by the Shaido. Oh dear. Here we go lol
At the end, Perrin sits and waits with Tallanvor. He will sit and wait until he almost freezes to death.
Previously - Faile and some others were taken by the Shaido. I think I'm going to write that for a lot of chapters LOL
Before they were taken, Faile's people found out that Masema had been meeting with the Seanchan.
Mera'din - a new society of Aiel that is made up of those who abandoned their original clan and society (because they didn't believe the revelation about their past) and came to the Shaido.
Bain and Chiad "taught Faile a little" handtalk. More than a little given how much she understands of some pretty complex sounding conversation between the Shaido maidens.
Previously - Faile and some others were taken by the Shaido.
Rolan - the Aiel who carried Faile to their camp. And smacked her bum.
Therava - mean Shaido Wise One who is a bit of a rival for Sevanna.
Therava previously made Sevanna agree that since she is essentially a Clan Chief, she needs Wise Ones to advise her.
Galina - Black Ajah who was captured and made to swear on an Oath Rod to obey Sevanna and the other Wise Ones.
Faile knows what Healing is like from seeing it done to Perrin before. This is when they were fighting trollocs in Two Rivers and he got an arrow in his leg and almost died.
Galina would know of Perrin both as a Blackie (she might have been at the meeting that Bors was at, where Ishy told them all to kill the boys). She would also know of him as Sedai who would hear news of the world.
Faile's mistake: assuming that Sedai cannot lie, but Galina is a Blackie.
Previously - Faile and some others were taken by the Shaido.
Perrin is most upset, and went and sat in the snow with Tallanvor to wait for the scouts to come back with news.
Faile's people found out that the Prophet had been meeting with the Seanchan before she was caught.
At the start, Perrin says that "once before he had found the Falcon here [in telrod]" - this was at the end of book 3, Faile got stuck in a ter'angreal trap that was set by the Black Ajah to capture Moiraine. Perrin went into telrod and hunted the Falcon, and found and saved her.
"No one hopes Faile is alive more than I" says Berelain - yeah, because chasing some dude without a wife is boooring.
The Prophet's men already causing problems. Berelain says her people (who were looking for the Shaido) were not killed by Aiel.
And so Berelain saving Perrin from freezing and taking him to her tent is the beginning of the rumours that cause Perrin so much anguish for so sookie long.
Previously - Faile and some others were taken by the Shaido.
Perrin has more problems, as Masema is arriving with way more men than first arranged. Some of them killed a party of men Berelain sent to help search for the Shaido.
Some of the people among Perrin's mob think that the Aiel with Perrin had something to do with taking Faile and co.
There are spears of all different clans among the Aiel stuff because of all the Aiel that left their clans to go follow Couladin, not believing Rand was the true Car'a'carn
They find signs of the Seanchan heading south as well - they are after the Shaido to (a) get rid of them and (b) capture all the marath'damane that are with them!
The thing with 6 toes is a Torm.
Masema is totally just looking for ways to avoid having to go see Rand.
Previously - Elayne is in Caemlyn, and started her work to secure the throne.
Elayne and Avi went through the first-sisters ceremony.
There are Aes Sedai coming and going from an inn called the Silver Swan. These are just Sedai who are sitting aside from the Tower split. It is possible Cadsuane has something to do with them, but I don't think it's ever really confirmed.
Naean and Elenia - two Ladies who tried to claim the Lion Throne after Rand left. Dyelin had them arrested.
Ronde Macura - the woman who discovered forkroot, and tried to capture the girls a few books ago.
Due to shortage of local soldiers, Elayne is probably going to have to hire mercenaries to work for her defending the city.
Elayne quickly mentions frequenct arsons at the very start. These are relevant in some way, but I forget how.
Elayne wonders why Elaida is so keen to get her - it's because of her foretelling from many years ago that the "Royal line of Andor would be the key to winning the Last Battle"
I assume the location of Naean and Elenia was a secret, and that's how they know there is a spy.
Elayne rambles about the situation with Elenia and Naean being rescued - she basically is just working out who would be supporting who, depending on who had arranged their rescue.
But she is wrong on both possibilities, because they were rescued by a third-party (Arymilla) who is going to make her own claim for the Throne, and will end up being Elayne's main rival.
Previously - they have worked out there are spies in the palace, working for some of Elayne's rivals for the throne.
Two of those rivals (Elenia and Naean) were improsoned by Dyelin, but now are free, and they do not yet know for sure who freed them.
Rand sent the sul'dam and damane he captured while fighting the Seanchan to Caemlyn.
Kirstian and Zarya (Garenia) were discovered as being runaways from the Tower, and have been made novices. Kirstian ran away 300 years ago, but admitted to it in case she was caught out. It was super-unlikely since no Sedai live that long to remember.
Adeleas and blackie prisoner Ispan were murdered. By someone among Elayne's group.
The Sea Folk are starting to make the Aes Sedai teach them more channelling knowledge, as part of the Bargain of the Bowl.
In this chapter is the first mention of food spoiling unexpectedly. This happens more often, and more severely over time, as Darky tries to corrupt the world more.
First mention of Alivia in this chapter. The super-strong damane who wants to be free, and will eventually be a good ally of the good guys.
Previously - Elayne is to meet with various people. Exciting.
Alviarin made Elaida proclaim that Rand is the Dragon, and that the White Tower will be looking after him, and all approaches to him should be done via the Tower.
Daved Hanlon arrived in Caemlyn, witnessed Bors being killed, and now works for "Lady Shiane" who promised he could get his hands on a Queen.
Some asha'man attacked Rand in the Sun Palace in Cairhien.
All the borderland rulers are on their way south to find Rand.
In Murandy, King Roedran is going to use the Band of the Red Hand as a fake "enemy" to unite him nation behind him.
It's so convenient that the alum was discovered just when Elayne needed lots more money. Sounds like a very ta'veren thing to happen. I always wonder if something Rand did caused it to be discovered randomly at just the right time.
Yes, you should be suspicious of the man who saved Elayne at the end.
Previously - Elayne was fed forkroot, and some assassins came in to kill her. Dyelin and a guardsman saved her.
Elenia and Naean - Elayne's rivals who were imprisoned, then freed by someone.
Zarya and Kirstian - Kin revealed as runaways, now back as novices
They also worked out that one of the Aes Sedai in the palace is a Blackie and killed Adeleas and Ispan.
Egwene declared "war" on Elaida, so she could use the law to control decisions in the rebel tower.
Siuan convinced Egwene that the Three Oaths were essential to Aes Sedai, even though it shortens their lives.
The Borderlanders that are coming to look for Rand are approaching Andor
Doilan Mellar = Daved Hanlon the darkfriend.
"We will keep the poison to ourselves, just in case someone makes a slip of the tongue" - they won't tell anyone about that, so that if anyone else mentions poison/forkroot, they will know that person must have been involved.
Elayne has a "carefully folded handkerchief full of feathers she considers her greatest treasure". This comes from Book 4, when she was in the Stone of Tear. She and Egwene went to see Rand, and basically told him he was to be with Elayne not Egwene lol. Here is the bit with the feathers:
"Would you like a flower?" he asked suddenly, and she blinked in confusion.
"A flower?"
"Yes." Striding to the bed, he scooped up a double handful of feathers from the tattered mattress and held them out to her. "I made one for the majhere last night. You’d have thought I had given her the Stone. But yours will be much prettier," he added hastily. "Much prettier. I promise."
"Rand, I—"
"I will be careful. It takes only a trickle of the Power. Just a thread, and I will be very careful."
Trust. She had to trust him. It was a small surprise to realize that she did. "I would like that, Rand."
For long moments he stared at the fluffy mound in his hands, a slow frown on his face. Abruptly he let the feathers fall, dusting his hands. "Flowers," he said. "That’s no fit gift for you." Her heart went out to him; clearly he had tried to embrace saidin and failed.
Sharina Melloy was in Nynaeve's test for accepted. She was in a "future" scenario - married to Lan, living in Malkie, and Sharina was their Aes Sedai advisor.
The "Rand-uncle" looking guy is Slayer, obvi. There are two others spying on them - one is a Blackie that you see in the next bit. The third is unknown.
At the very end - Elayne is going to use the same plan as Egwene (and King Roedran) did with the Band of the Red Hand. She is going to make the Borderlanders look like a threatening enemy to gather people and soldiers behind her.
Asne, Chesmal, Eldrith and Temaile are 4 of the Black Ajah that were originally with Liandrin (went to Tear and Tanchico), and were then taken over by Moghedien.
Samara - the place where the girls were performing in the circus and where Galad and Uno both fought to get them a boat to Salidar.
Lady Shiane - darkfriend that was working for Bors, but ended up being killing him for his failures, and is now in Caemlyn, with Daved Hanlon working for her.
Falion and Marillin - two more of Moggy's Blackies, who are now working for Shiane in Caemlyn.
Falion was working with Ispan and fought the girls over the Bowl in the storeroom. Ispan was captured, Falion got away.
The "fluted rod" Asne mentions is a balefire ter'angreal. She used it in Tanchico against Nynaeve. It seems Moggy took it off her, but Asne still knows where it is. She will use it again later.
Marillin says there is a "woman in the palace" she can make contact with. We know one of the Sedai there is a Blackie (killer of Adeleas and Ispan) - we assume she is talking about the same person.
They need "Aes Sedai, not just Darkfriends to do what Shiane needed" - they plan on kidnapping Elayne.
Yup, Daved Hanlon saved Elayne from assassins in a total set-up, and now he leads her bodyguards (under the name Doilan Mellar)
Previously - Rand (and Min) are running around trying to stay hidden and confuse anyone who is trying to track him down.
He is trying to keep hidden from the asha'man who tried to kill him in the palace, mainly. He plans to find them himself and kill them.
He still thinks Mat came to Caemlyn with the girls.
He announced to Min that he planned to cleanse saidin.
The Sea Folk windfinders have started making the Aes Sedai with Elayne teach them.
The Kin have discussed Alivia, and how she might be ready to be un-leashed.
"When the Mistress of Ships of a Wavemistress dies, her Windfinder had to begin again at the lowest level" - this happens to Renaile, who is currently the leader of the Sea Folk with Elayne (because she is Windfinder to the Mistress of Ships)
Talaan, the sea folk apprentice, secretly wants to go to the White Tower. And Merilille is the Sedai that gets stuck doing most of the Sea Folk teaching. Later on, they both run away together to go to the White Tower lol
"I see you didn't take your own advice" Rand says to Lan. After Moiraine "died", Lan said this to Rand: "There is a darkness in us. Darkness, pain, death. They radiate from us. If ever you love a woman, Rand, leave her and let her find another. It will be the best gift you can give her."
Nynaeve feels a ward of saidin around Rand's wounds. That was put there by Damer Flinn the asha'man who helped heal Rand after Fain's dagger attack. He wrapped up the two wounds with some sort of shield so they could not affect the rest of Rand's body.
Why weren't the Aes Sedai in the Age of Legends able to remove the taint? Firstly, because the Age of Legends finished when the taint started (the taint caused the madness that caused the Breaking of the World). Secondly, they would have only had mad men to help them try it. Thirdly, they didn't have an important ingredient that Rand has - Shadar Logoth, a second type of evil to fight against and cancel the taint.
Rand was just going to leave the super-angreal with Nynaeve then come back and get her. But instead, she and Lan are going to go with him. They will also help him track down the asha'man he is after.
Previously - Rand is in Caemlyn, disguised as a bum lol
Min ran off to find Elayne, even though Rand wants to avoid seeing her.
When Elayne arrived in Caemlyn, she sent the Aiel and Saldaeans away. They had been Rand's military in the city while he was boss, but now Elayne will get her own, rather than relying on foreigners. Politics.
Min and Aviendha have never met each other.
Nynaeve convinced Rand that she would come with him when he left, and help him in other tasks (i.e. finding renegade asha'man) before cleansing saidin.
Elayne and Aviendha became first-sisters in a ceremony that involved some different kind of one-power-bonding.
Rand doesn't have everything right when he rattles off all the things going on in the world. He thinks the Band of the Red Hand is Egwene's army. He thinks Mat is with them. And that he has "friends" in the Tower - this is still from a letter Alviarin sent to him in book 5.
Aviendha puts on an ivory bracelet with a satisfied smile. This is a gift Rand gave to her aaages ago. I guess she now feels ok to wear it since everything is as it should be between her, Rand and Elayne: she is first-sisters with Elayne, and Elayne and Rand have got it on lol
Aviendha is going to have "four babies at once" but "something was odd about that". There are a couple of possibilities for what could be "odd" about them.
First - they might be her babies from after Rand body-swaps, which would mean the babies might not look like Rand's children, since they would be from Moridin's body.
Second - Avi later sees a possible future, including her own children. They have a weird thing where they are always holding the Power - they don't have to 'embrace' and 'seize' the power, they are just always linked to it, just the way they are. This may be what Min feels is strange about the children.
The trick of hiding the feelings of Rand/Elayne does not work for Min or Birgitte, but does work for Avi and Elayne. Maybe it only works for those who can channel.
"I intend to get drunk enough to… well… to take off my clothes and dance on the table" - And Aviendha thinks it is a great joke. This might be a reference to the time Elayne got knocked out by a ter'angreal she was studying and no one would tell her what happened - but they all thought it was hilarious. Perhaps she took off her clothes and danced on the tables.
Rand has taken Nynaeve and Lan, as promised. Alivia has also gone with them. Not sure why - I assume it is something to do with how powerful she is, and Nynaeve thinking she could be useful.
There is lots of blue here. Cadsuane spends time dealing with, or thinking about, many different issues that are going on at the moment, so here's a recap of those many things. (Some of these things we don't actually know from the story yet, I'm just telling it here)
Lady Caraline and High Lord Darlin - two of the rebel nobles that Rand was visiting when Fain attacked. Cadsuane now has them as "guests" with her. In the prologue, Rand gave Dobraine letters indicating who should rule in each nation on his behalf - the one for Tear was Darlin.
While running around the Sun Palace after the asha'man attacked him, Rand was seen by Lady Ailil and Shalon (a windfinder) and he tied them up under a bed. Cadsuane now has them, trying to find out what they were doing together.
Aili is also the sister of Lord Toram Riatin - the other rebel noble who was hanging out with Fain. They are also related to the King that Thom killed way back in book 2.
Rafela and Merana - Sedai who made a Sea Folk bargain for Rand. It involved giving the Sea Folk land in each nation he controlled, Rand having a Sea Folk ambassador with him, and Rand coming to see the Mistress of Ships a couple of times per year.
Some of the Tower Sedai who kidnapped Rand (and were then made prisoners with the Wise Ones) have decided to swear to Rand, each with their own reasons for doing so. They were actually secretly compelled to do so by Verin
Sorilea and Cadsuane have agreed to work together to "teach Rand laughter and tears"
Cadsuane was in New Spring - she saw Moiraine during her travels to the Borderlands, seeking the baby Dragon. But Moiraine never told Cads what she was up to.
This noted intentionally left blank
Sorilea gives Verin something to help her sleep, but warns her it can be used as poison. Verin will later consider using this one someone she is not sure she can trust or not. RAFO.
Cadsuane says she has been gathering sisters to follow her "since the day she heard of strange events in Shienar" - I'm not sure what events, but this is referring to many years ago.
Alanna is unconscious because three other people just bonded Rand at once. Verin and Cadsuane are afraid that something bad has happened to Rand.
No previously.
It is difficult for Semirhage to attend these meetings. You will find out why when you see where she is.
Osan'gar and Demandred were responsible for watching Rand. Osan'gar is Dashiva, and Demandred is in charge of Taim.
Moridin has a rat on his shoulder. Because he likes killing rats, I guess lol. He killed rats (as Ba'alzamon) in the boys dreams in book 1.
Isam (Slayer) is off trying to find and kill Fain. I don't think he's trying very hard - the next time we see him, I'm sure he's trying to kill Rand.
Cyndane is "weaker that Lanfear". Apparently this is because she made a request to the foxy people to be "stronger than any living Aes Sedai" - so they made her weaker until she was just a bit stronger than Nynaeve lol
So the main point of this part is that the Forsaken know Rand is going to try to cleanse saidin. And that he has the super-angreal (which now have a name - the "Choedan Kal"). Channelling that much power will be felt everywhere, so they are to go and attack him
Previously - the Seanchan invaders (the Forerunners) have done their job. The next step is the "Return" (the Corenne), where many many regular people will come over and settle in the conquered lands.
Ronde Macura - the woman who discovered forkroot. She lived in lands that are now conquered by the Seanchan.
Tuon wears a veil to "hide" her true rank, as the Daughter of the Empress. While she wears it, she is just "High Lady Tuon". She will not claim her full rank until an appropriate time. Everyone knows who she really is, but, I dunno, some weird Seanchan practice I guess.
Lidya, the damane, read Tuon's future, and Tuon was not happy with what she heard. I assume what she heard was the premonitions about her marrying Mat.
Mylen the damane is shorter than Tuon. I think she is the shortest adult character in all Wheel books. She was an Aes Sedai captured in Falme. She was mentioned in book 2 while the girls were there (real name Sheraine, Blue Ajah).
Ronde Macura is now with Tuon. Yes, the Seanchan know about forkroot - that will help their cause or capturing channellers.
Oops, Tuon's old Truthspeaker died by falling down the stairs lol. What an unfortunate accident. Oh well, lucky Anath was around to take up the position.
Previously - A building fell on Mat in Ebou Dar. We haven't seen him for more than a whole book.
Aludra - Illuminator. He story so far:
She was head of the Illuminators in Cairhien during book 2 when everyone was chasing Fain with the Horn and dagger.
Rand, Loial and Hurin snuck into their compound and accidentally set off lots of fireworks and basically blew it up.
Later, Mat and Thom encountered her being attacked by fellow illuminators who thought she was selling their secrets (but maybe he was just trying to get revenge, since this was also the guy Aludra blamed for the mishap in Cairhien)
As reward for rescuing her, she gave Mat a bunch of fireworks, which he used to help himself break into the Stone of Tear at the end of book 3.
She was next seen in Valan Luca's circus when the girls were there.
In other news - when the girls left Luca's show, he asked Nynaeve to marry him.
da'covale - Seanchan name for "people who are owned". Sometimes poorly-treated slaves, sometimes acting as regular servants, depending on who owns them and the position they are given.
Beslan - son of queen Tylin
Aludra and Mat have both had the idea of using fireworks as weapons. Mat wants to fling them with catapults, but Aludra has a better idea, based on the way fireworks are launched.
A bellfounder can create a solid metal tube, so they can use a bigger explosion to propel the weapons waaaaay further than from a wooden tube.
Luca had been given special treatment because he "had given shelter to some Seanchan animal trainer" - this was Carendin, the Elephant trainer. She was in the show when the girls were there. She gave Elayne an a'dam (which she learned to copy, to make the cordless one Moggy was wearing). She was also one of several people that Nynaeve managed to get into fights with
Mat mentions that Luca is married. He moved on quick after Nynaeve left. He married Latelle, the bear trainer.
Previously - Mat was hanging with Aludra, now is returning to the city.
More previously - Mat fought the gholam in the house with the Bowl, and discovered the only thing that could hurt it was his medallion.
The gholam was sent by Sammael to help Bors deal with the Aes Sedai in the city (the girls) who were also looking for the collection of angreal that Sammy wanted. Once Sammy found out Mat was there, he also directed it to find Mat.
The Mistress of Ships has been beheaded and put on a stake outside the city. By the way Sea Folk work, this means her Windfinder will now drop down be regular pleb windfinder, and have to start again to work her way up. Her windfinder is Renaile - who leads the Windfinders with Elayne in Caemlyn. Once news of her boss' death reaches them, she will no longer be in charge there.
Beslan and Thom are plotting secretly together. They are planning sneaky sabotages and such to try to bring down (or at least cause trouble for) the Seanchan. I guess because Beslan doesn't like his family being over-taken by the Seanchan leaders.
Mat wonders if "The Return" had come only Ebou Dar, or if there were just as many other Seanchan people coming to other places. Yes, they are also in other places.
Gholam are made to follow orders of their master until complete. It will hunt Mat and the girls (as directed by Sammael) until it succeeds in killing them, because Sammy is no longer around to change its orders. I assume Sammy made Mat a priority in his orders, and that's why it chases Mat all the time.
It is also orderd to "avoid notice", as it says to Mat.
Mat says he saw something similar in Shadar Logoth. When the boys were visited by Mordeth and taken to his room full of gold, Mordeth fled in a similar way to the gholam - stretching and squeezing through a small hole. Mordeth and gholam are nothing to do with each other, they just have this similar ability.
Mat and Noal introduce themselves to each other, but actually they've already met. They talked to each other outside Bors' place in Ebou Dar. Noal was watching the house, and Mat followed Lady Shiane there from the race-track. I guess they just didn't recognise each other.
The dice are still tumbling - "something worse than the gholam" must be coming, Mat thinks. Well, not worse, just something more significant to his life.
Previously - Mat fought the gholam, and Noal helped save him.
Seekers - kind of like the secret police/detectives of the Seanchan.
Listeners - people secretly employed by the Seekers to gather information for them. Anyone could be a Listener, if needed by the Seekers.
Teslyn and Joline - the two Aes Sedai from Elaida that were in the Ebou Dar along with Elayne and friends. They did not believe there was danger in the city when the girls tried to warn them. Then the girls went off to use the Bowl.
Nerim and Lopin - Mat's two serving men. He took on Lopin as a second man after his previous master (Nalesean) was killed by the gholam.
Thom and Beslan are plotting things to disrupt the Seanchan.
Anath - Tuon's "truthspeaker" who's job is to offer advice, but is allowed to say whatever she wants to her without punishment.
Mat thinks Juilin is sneaking around seeing a woman. It is true. One of Suroth's da'covale.
"The dice stopped, landing with a thunder that made his skull ring… he stood there waiting for one of the Forsaken to leap out of the fireplace" - well, nah, the Forsaken isn't hiding in the fireplace lol
But really, the dice would be for him meeting Tuon.
Tuon examines the ring Mat has - the one he accidentally bought a couple of books ago. It has a fox chasing two ravens on it. Tuon has had a foretelling (or something similar) from one of her damane:
"Beware the fox that makes the ravens fly, for he will marry you and carry you away. Beware the man who remembers Hawkwing's face, for he will marry you and set you free. Beware the man of the red hand, for him you will marry and none other."
She is already suspicious of Mat maybe being "the fox that makes the ravens fly" from his ring. She will later ask him about Hawkwing, and will obviously discover he leads the "band of the red hand"
Previously - Mat was attacked by gholam. Mat met Noal. Mat met Tuon.
Thom and Beslan are plotting together. Juilin is sneaking around the palace to visit some woman.
"The Return" has begun - thousands of Seanchan people arriving.
The Seanchan hold Tarabon, Amadicia and Altara, so they have soldiers from those countries also working for them.
Mat is planning to leave Ebou Dar. His main plan is to go with Luca's show. But first he needs to find a way to smuggle his belongings out of the palace.
Here is a map of armies of the world, because Mat rattles off a whole heaps of news about where armies are at the moment. Some of his info is out-of-date though.
The Seanchan Ogier have "long-handled axes". Loial sometimes uses the phrase "put a long handle on your axe" to mean being hasty or getting angry. Sounds like it comes from the weapons ogier used to use in battle (and still do in Seanchan)
Tuon is being intrigued by Mat as she is suspicious he may be the man she is fated to marry, from a foretelling by Lidya the damane.
Previously - Mat has started getting his belongings stashed at Satelle Anan's inn, The Wandering Woman. In preparation for him sneaking away from Tylin and leaving Ebou Dar.
Teslyn and Joline - the two Sedai from Elaida that were in Ebou Dar with the girls. We saw Teslyn was captured and collared earlier. We don't know what happened to Joline yet.
When Mat and the girls were in Ebou Dar, one of these two slipped a note to Mat warning the girls that Elaida was after them, so they should be careful.
Neither of them really like Elaida, even though they supported her to start. Elaida decided she didn't like these two, so sent them off to be ambassadors in Ebou Dar to get them out of her hair.
Air Captain Yulan is one of the guest in the inn, mentioned by the serving woman. He was involved in the Seanchan battle against Rand last book, and in the future he will be the leader of the raid on the White Tower.
Furyk!! is also there.
Egeanin is "Captain of the Green" - that is quite a high ranking. One step above captain of a regular ship, as she was before. She could be captain of a "Greatship", or lead a small squadron of ships.
Captain of the Gold is the next level above that.
"I can't save them all" Mat thinks. Yeah, well, he's still going to try in the end lol
The two that came into the kitchen that Mat had to "hide" Joline from were Egeanin (Shipless) and Domon. We last saw them taking the black a'dam from the girls and taking it to drop in the ocean somewhere.
Now they re-appear, Egeanin with a promotion and Domon her property.
The next 2 chapters makes reference to A LOT of stuff that has happened previously among Seanchan characters. It's much more enjoyable if you can remember people and events they are talking about. So here we go, a Seanchan re-cap!
Previously…
Part 1 - Everyone comes to Falme.
The Seanchan came to Falme, led by High Lord Turak.
Domon came to Falme, and his ship was boarded by Egeanin. She found Domon's collection of valuable cuendillar objects (including a Seal), and took him to Turak and gifted Domon's items to Turak.
Liandrin brought the girls to Falme, and handed them over to Suroth. Egwene was collared.
Fain came to Falme, looking for their leader to "advise" and corrupt. He offered Turak the Horn and dagger - and of course he just accepted them and kept them.
The boys came to Falme with Ingtar and the Shienaran soldiers, chasing Fain. They broke into Turak's house, retrieved the Horn and dagger, and Rand killed Turak (a blademaster) in a swordfight.
With Turak dead, Suroth is now the leader of the Seanchan invaders.
Part 2 - The Seanchan leave Falme
The girls freed Egwene. They had figured out that sul'dam are women who can learn to channel, so they left two of them - Renna and Seta - collared in Egwene's cell.
Renna and Seta were discovered collared by two people:
Bethamin found them first, but was horrified, and fled without anyone knowing she had seen them.
Alwhin found them next, and reported to Suroth.
In order to keep the secret, Suroth promoted Alwhin to be her Voice.
They also freed Renna and Seta to carry on as sul'dam, but Suroth keeps an eye on them.
Part 3 - Seanchan scouts
After being driven out by the Heroes of the Horn, the Seanchan set up camp on on island off the mainland.
Suroth sent some people back to search for sul'dam that had been left behind when the Seanchan fled. Egeanin was one of these scouts.
Egeanin finds Bethamin, and dicovers that an a'dam will hold her. She keeps Bethamin captive in her cellar for a while.
She is visited by a Seeker who is checking up on her progress, and also tells her that any sul'dam she finds should disappear, rather than being sent back to Seanchan, because they are "deserters" and returning them would be an embarrassment to Suroth and the invading force.
Egeanin then works with Nynaeve and Elayne, and realises channellers are not all that bad.
After the black a'dam is retrieved from the Black Ajah, Egeanin and Domon sail off to drop it in the ocean.
Part 4 - Seanchan come back
Egeanin and Domon are intercepted by the returning Seanchan, and forced to hand over the black a'dam.
Egeanin is promoted for giving it to Suroth, and Domon is sent to be "sold" - so Egeanin buys him. (This part of the story we haven't actually heard yet)
Elsewhere, Liandrin's group of Black Ajah was taken over by Moghedien. Liandrin tried to overpower Moggy, and was punished.
Liandrin was left with a permanent shield on her, and working as a servant.
Suroth found Liandrin when the Seanchan came took over Amadicia. Suroth recognised her from Falme and now keeps Liandrin as a servant.
And now...
Pretty much everyone mentioned in the above tales are now in Ebou Dar:
Renna, Seta, Bethamin, Alwhin, Suroth, Liandrin, Egeanin, Domon
In other news:
Tessi is Teslyn's damane name. Mat has promised to free her when he leaves.
Tuli was Egwene's damane name in Falme.
"What if they suddenly begin channelling?" Bethamin wonders about Renna and Seta - well, yes, they will do that later when they're travelling with Mat lol
Baethamin has no idea that the knives women wear are marriage knives and the stones represent her children. No wonder the innkeeper in offended when she suggests a different knife - it's like telling her to have different children.
This Seeker is the same one that visited Egeanin in Tanchico and told her to make sul'dam "disappear". Now he is suspicious of that order, thinking Suroth gave it to cover up people who might know about their involvement with Aes Sedai.
In summary, the Seeker's conspiracy theory is: Suroth is secretly working with Aes Sedai, and Egeanin is helping her cover it up.
Previously - Egeanin and Domon are in Ebou Dar.
In this chapter we (inderectly) hear the story of what happened when they went to drop the black a'dam in the ocean (see the "previously" from last chapter).
In the previous chapter - Bethamin (the sul'dam that Egeanin had in her basement for a while) was visited by a Seeker, who asked her to spy on Egeanin for him.
Egeanin and Domon are staying at the Wandering Woman and they walked in on Mat and Joline, so they hid by kissing.
Domon knows Mat from book 1, when Mat Rand and Thom got on his boat after escaping Shadar Logoth.
Egeanin and Domon both know Thom and Juilin from Tanchico (book 4).
Egeanin had "considered the possibility of a new name" - oh, yes, you will get one lol
So, from this chapter, the full story of Domon and Egeanin taking the black a'dam: They were intercepted by a Seanchan ship with a damane on board, so they could not run. They told a tale that they were on their way back to Cantorin (City in Seanchan) with a "gift for the Empress". They were then escorted (or taken) to Suroth and back to Seanchan (in some order). They were made to give the a'dam to Suroth (there was a Seeker involved somehow as well, who must have made them reveal what the "gift" was. Because Domon was not very co-operative during the whole affair, he was sent to be "sold" once they got to Seanchan - so Egeanin bought him.
Now they are going to try to escape Ebou Dar on a boat - and Domon will gather some people to be his crew - starting wtih Mat, Thom and Juilin, all of whom he is familiar with.
Previously - Rand has been hopping around trying to confuse anyone who is following him. Now he has stopped somewhere, and hopes to be found. Specifically, he hopes to the found by the asha'man who attacked him at the end of book 8.
He went to Caemlyn before this and got Nynaeve (for his cleansing plan later), and she made Lan and Alivia come along as well.
Dashiva, Torval, Kisman, Rochaid and Gedwyn are the asha'man.
Raolin Darksband and Yurian Stonebow - famous false dragons from the past.
Rand and co are in the city of Far Madding. The city contains a ter'angreal that prevents anyone from channelling within the city. But this is not explained until a later chapter. Everything makes so much more sense if you know now though.
Nynaeve has several power-related objects with her - an angreal for more power, a collection of small ter'angreal jewelery that do different things, and a belt that you will find out about later.
Moridin previously stated that Slayer was on a mission to kill Fain.
Rand sees a face in his head and gets dizzy, and he is not even channelling. This may be an effect of Moridin channelling at this moment.
"How many will we three kill before the end?" Lews asks. I assume he means Lews, Rand and Moridin.
In this chapter we hear that Taim had indeed ordered the asha'man to kill Rand. They did not just go off and do it on their own.
Demandred also gave the order (he is ordering Taim at the moment, I believe, so yes, he would give the same order)
Moridin wants things that are in Rand's posession. Specifically, he wants the super-angreal, so that Rand cannot use them. The Forsaken know that Rand plans to clease saidin.
"Dashiva had simply vanished". He is not a fighting-type forsaken. He would prefer to run off and apply his other skills without putting himself in danger.
Kisman was killed by Fain, who is also in Far Madding, still trying to find and kill Rand.
Slayer (Isam) is supposed to be hunting Fain, but here we see him trying to kill a man and a woman ("his nephew and the wench" - Rand and Min, I assume) under orders from an unknown male. It is not Moridin (he doesn't want Rand dead), it is not Demo (he is obsessed with killing Rand himself lol). It is probably Dashiva (Osan'gar/Aginor) who had "vanished" and is trying to kill Rand while not putting himself in danger.
In this chapter we also hear for the first time who killed the Black Ajah prisoners that Moiraine and the girls were questioning in the Stone of Tear (book 4) and the Grey Man that attacked the girls in the White Tower (book 3). Slayer admits to both.
Previously - Rand and friends are in Far Madding, the city where you cannot channel.
This chapter is about Cadsuane and a group of people following her. Here is a daiagram/list.
Cadsuane learned to travel from Sorilea, who learned from Egwene.
Last time we had a Cadsuane chapter, we saw some of the Aes Sedai with her and some of Rand's asha'man hanging out together. It has gone further than that now.
Shalon and Lady Ailil - the two lovers that Rand tied up during the asha'man attack. Cadsuane found them, interrogated them, and Verin discovered their secret romance.
Min had previously told Harine that she would be Mistress of Ships one day. Now that we know the current one is on a spike outside Ebou Dar, her time will be coming soon.
I'm a bit lost about the bit where Harine and Sarene were talkng about orders and following orders. Shalon doesn't know what they're talking about, and neither do I.
And then they talk about philosophy and "theory of instructions". I think that's all irrelevant to anything as well.
"Her warders were like trained guard dogs the Amayar used" - the Amayar are the people who live on the Sea Folk islands. They only ever stay on the islands and follow a lifestyle of peace ("The Water Way"), just like the Tinkers ("Way of the Leaf"). Apparently they also both use guard dogs. Except maybe the Amayar dogs are actually used to attack, unlike the Tinkers' dogs who are just there to look mean.
Previously - Cadsuane and followers are now in Far Madding, looking for Rand.
Cadsuane is actually from Far Madding originally, she was born here.
The ter'angreal that stops people channelling also detects any channelling near the city (but always outside the city, obviously), and can point out the location of it.
Shalon is still worried that people will find out about her and Ailil (only Verin and Cadsuane know I think), as it would ruin her marriage and possibly lower her standing in Sea Folk society.
No more noted here lol
The council people use the same outrageous title to address Harine as she gave at the gate when entering the city. They must have sent messengers to the council to say some important-sounding people were around.
Early in the chapter we hear that asha'man Jahar Narishma had gone from the group. He was sent off to go just out of the city and do some channelling, just so the counsel would think that maybe Rand or asha'man were nearby, scoping out the city, or something. All part of Cadsuane's plan to keep the councillors off guard, in case she needs leverage with them while she is here.
Then Verin follows it up by pointing out how dangerous it would be for them to anger the Dragon Reborn in any way.
The nature of Cadsuane's history with Aleis (the First Counsel) is never explained properly, but clearly there's been things in the past to make Aleis not like Cads much. Or at least to be afraid of her.
Verin also apparently has some kind of history with the city, which is also never explained properly
Previously - Rand and friends are in Far Madding, Rand is looking for renegade asha'man and has done drawings of them (because Lews knows how to draw well) to help find them.
He has already killed one of them () and Fain killed another (Kisman), but Rand doesn't know about Kisman being dead.
Cadsuane and friends are also in Far Madding. Scaring the council lol
One of the things the snakey people told Rand in the red doorway was "To live you must die"
Cadsuane learned travelling from Sorilea the Wise One.
Before coming here, there was a scare among Cadsuane's followers when Alanna suddenly fell unconscious (when the other 3 girls bonded him)
Rand made rebel High Lord Darlin the leader of Tear.
Eadwina - the fake name Verin gave to the councillors, in case they recognised her
In a previous chapter, a Wise One gave Verin some herbs to help sleep, but warned her to be careful, because it had no taste, and too much was poisonous.
Alanna refuses to release Rand's bond - which is a thing the bonder can do. In the end, she is forced to release him - RAFO.
"We can't break an oath, it isn't possible" - except for Black Ajah, and except for the 3 Sedai who were stilled by Rand during his escape. They would be able to lie just like Siuan and Leanne can, even though they have now been healed.
Rand sends Alanna away to deal with the nobles in Tear for him. We don't see her again until Rand goes to visit Tear to see how they are doing, and that's not until after he becomes Buddha-Rand.
So apparently Verin has always been suspicious of Cadsuane and was thinking about poisoning her at the end. But Cadsuane just happened to start revealing to Verin that she really wants to help Rand. Just in time. Or maybe she is too sneaky and knew what Verin was up to.
And so Verin puts on her fake "muddled" voice and personality that she is so good at
Previously - There was a scene where we saw Egwene and the rebel sedai army Travel to Tar Valon. But this chapter must take place just before that happens. Some of the timelines of different characters get a bit of a sync for the rest of the books, until the Last Battle when everyone is back together.
The Borderland rulers and army are moving south and are now in Braem Wood, near Andor.
Captain Mellar - real name Daved Hanlon. Darkfriend who was made leader of Elayne's bodyguards.
There was alum deposits found on some of Elayne's estates, which she will use to get money for her campaign to become Queen.
Elenia and Naean - two Ladies who were imprisoned for trying to claim the throne in the absence of Rand and Elayne. Now freed.
Because no one was supposed to know where they were being held, Elayne knows there are spies in the palace, and they are being searched for.
"There are at least 10 sisters with them" - there are 13 actually.
"Somehow they know of your presence in Falme when certain events took place" - the Borderland rulers would have heard about all those events first-hand from Hurin, the 'sniffer' who was with the boys chasing Fain. After Falme, he travelled to Tar Valon with Verin, the girls and a very sick Mat, then headed off home to report.
Elayne is off to visit the Borderland rulers who are camped out near Andor.
The "amber brooch in the shape of a turtle" in this chapter is one of the angreal that Elayne found among the stuff they collected from the room with the Bowl.
There are "at least 10" Aes Sedai with the borderlanders. They are trying to keep their presence secret, I think mainly to avoid scaring Rand off, seeing as how that's who they are off to see.
Davram Bashere and his men, and the Aiel, who were acting as Rand's soldiers in Caemlyn were moved out by Elayne when she returned.
There is more mention of fires in Caemlyn this chapter. I think it's just opponents of Elayne trying to cause trouble for her.
Elayne will use the Borderland army the exact same way as the King of Murandy is using the Band of the Red Hand. Make out that they are an enemy (or potential enemy) to unite people behind her to take on a common enemy.
The armies that are approaching are the ones that will combine and lay seige to Caemlyn. They are the supporters of Aemlyn ("the silly goose", as Elayne called her earlier) for the throne.
It was Aemlyn who arranged the release of Naean and Elenia, in return for them supporting her as Queen. Before that, Aemlyn had no realistic chance of becoming queen, but she now has gathered some powerful supporters, and is making her move.
Previously - Mat wants to leave Ebou Dar, and has promised to help 3 Sedai.
Teslyn, who is collared.
Joline, who is hiding in Setalle Anan's basement.
Edesina, who he has never met, but Teslyn said he should save her as well.
Beslan and Thom are plotting secretly some rebellion against the Seanchan.
Julian keeps sneaking into the Seanchan servant area to see some woman.
The damane called Pura, who used to be Sedai, was captured in Falme, and talked to Egwene when they were both collared. After the Seanchan fled Falme, and were hiding out off-shore, Suroth questioned Pura about Rand and the White Tower.
Noal talks about a place called Shibouya, this is Shara - there are just different names for it depending on who is telling the story.
He says women who can channel there tattoo their faces. TRUE. All channellers are tattooed and they live in villages separate from the general population.
He says "over 300 crimes carry the death penalty". UNKNOWN if this is true of not.
He says there are giants that live under mountains. UNKNOWN.
He says there are men taller than Ogier with faces on their bellies. UNLIKELY. It's probably an exaggeration of something real. Maybe there were Green Men there in living memory and it's about them. Who knows.
The Seanchan are starting to call Mat "Tylin's Toy" - this is where Tuon gets his nickname from.
Mat is trying to find a way to rescue 3 Aes Sedai and sneak them out of Ebou Dar.
Juilin got him an a'dam and some sul'dam dresses. Thom is going to try to forge seals and orders to walk out of the city with damane.
People are dying around the city with their throats ripped out. Mat knows it is gholam, but the general population have only just started to link the murders. The Seanchan patrols and Seekers are on the job to find the killer.
I don't think any of Mat's crew know that sul'dam are women who can learn to channel.
Domon and Egeanin are also looking to get out of Ebou Dar, to get away from a Seeker who has concocted a conspiracy theory about Suroth working with Aes Sedai and Egeanin helping her cover it up.
Domon recognised Mat before and wants to recruit him and his men to crew a ship to get away.
Joline thinks Setalle Anan is familiar. She only left the White Tower 27 years ago. Joline has been at the Tower for 87 years, so definitely would know her from Sedai days.
The collar fits nicely no matter who it is put on. It just resizes to fit the neck.
Setalle cannot be a sul'dam because she is burned out and can no longer channel.
Egeanin knows 3 sul'dam who will keep their mouths shut. Bethamin, who she had collared in a basement in Tanchico for a while. And Renna and Seta, who Bethamin saw collared after Egwene escaped (see my Seanchan story from chapter 20 noteds). They will keep quiet because they do not it known that sul'dam can channel.
Thom is rightly suspicious of how Egeanin was raised to the blood. It wasn't that long since he last saw her, and I his time with her she's basically been doing non-Seanchan things lol. Like working with girls who can channel.
Previously - Mat, with the help of Egeanin and Domon, has a plan to get out of Ebou Dar with 3 Aes Sedai
Egeanin will provide 3 sul'dam (Renna, Seta and Bethamin) to walk out with Aes Sedai on leashes. As a member of The Blood, she ranks high enough to take damane out.
Mat has noticed the servants in the palace placing bets with each other on whether he will leave, and what he will do when Tylin comes back.
Juilin's woman is "Thera". This is Amathera, who was Panarch of Tarabon when the girls were there. They helped her escape from the control of the Black Ajah. When the Seanchan conquered Tanchico, she refused to swear their oaths, and so was made Suroth's servant.
This chapter is called "What the Aelfinn Said". The Aelfinn are the snakey people.
Mat and friends are ready to get out of Ebou Dar.
Mat plans to free the Windfinders from the damane rooms as well as the Aes Sedai.
Selucia - Tuon's servant (and secretly also her bodyguard)
Suroth and Tylin came back because of news that "an army had vanished in Murandy". That was Egwene and friends travelling to Tar Valon.
“She is my wife,” he said softly. Somebody made a choking sound; he thought it was Domon.
“What?” Egeanin squeaked, her head whipping toward him so fast that her tail of hair swung around to slap her face. He would not have thought she could squeak. “You cannot say that! You must not say that!”
“Why not?” he demanded. The Aelfinn always gave true answers. Always. “She is my wife. Your bloody Daughter of the Nine Moons is my wife!”
Mat says she is his wife 3 times. A Seanchan marriage is official if the 2 people state 3 times that the other person is their husband/wife. So Tuon only has to say that Mat is her husband (in front of witnesses) 3 times and they will be married.
Previously - Rand and friends, and Cadsuane and friends, are in Far Madding. The city where you cannot channel.
Rand drew pictures of the asha'man he is seeking.
He already killed Rochaid, and Kisman was killed by Fain (but Rand doesn't know this)
Torval, Gedwyn and Dashiva are the other 3 he seeks. But the others mentioned to us that Dashiva had run off. So he's not there.
Rand sent Alanna to get Merana and Rafela and go to deal with any troublesome nobles in Tear.
Rand hears that the Stone of Tear is under seige. High Lord Darlin went there, after hearing that Rand wanted him in charge there. Darlin was leader of the rebels from Tear. The others who were rebelling with him have now beseiged him in the stone, because they don't like him being a representative of Rand.
Rand already sent Alanna and some other Sedai to Tear to deal with them (but didn't know about this latest trouble when he did it)
Nynaeve and Cadsuane both have "wells" - ter'angreal they can use to store Power in. It will allow them to channel even in Far Madding (at least until they use up the power store in it, which isn't very much)
The note Rand gets at the end is a trap! Obvi.
Previously - Rand got a note telling him where Torval and Gedwyn were staying. Above a bootmaker's shop on Blue Carp street. Here is a map of the bootmaker's street, where Rand will go in this chapter.
Nynaeve has a "well" ter'angreal that she can store Power in and use it, even in Far Madding.
Toram Riatin - rebel noble that was hanging out with Fain when Rand visited them (and the fog came and Fain attacked Rand).
As well as having a ter'angreal to stop people channelling in the city, Far Madding also has one that detects channelling nearby. Usually this will only detect people just outside the city (obvi, because no one can channel in the city itself)
The bit with Fain and asha'man is confusing and dumb. The two asha'man were already dead, but Rand saw a short vision of them alive. Because apparently this is a power that Fain has. He never uses it again. It's totally irrelevant to anything. And dumb.
The street guards all come running to the house where Rand and Lan are because the city's ter'angreal detected Nynaeve's channelling inside the city and was able to tell exactly where it happened. They would have been dispatched to investigate.
This chapter is "The Hummingbird's Secret" - the hummingbird is one of the ornaments that Cadsuane wears in her hair.
Previously - Rand and Lan fell off the roof.
There are guards all around the area, being alerted by the fact that someone channelled at this location. That was Nynaeve using her "well" ter'angreal.
Min and Alivia went to Cadsuane instead of staying in the room when Rand and Lan left.
All the renegade asha'man are dead, mostly killed by Fain. Excecpt Dashiva, who didn't come to Far Madding.
When they arrived in Far Madding and met with the Council, Verin and Cadsuane set up the Council to be afraid of the Dragon Reborn sending his armies against them if they upset him.
So Nynaeve and Cadsuane used their "well" ter'angreal to channel inside the city in front of the council, but made it look like the asha'man did it, so they would think it was possible Rand could also do it. Which would be bad for them.
"With The Choedan Kal" - that is the name of the super-angreals. We heard the Forsaken mention this name during a meeting they had earlier in this book.
Rand has decided he needs to be even harder, after his experience being imprisoned in Far Madding.
Alivia will "help Rand die" according to a Min-vision.
Some of Rand's Sedai made a deal with the Sea Folk for him. One thing was that he would have a Sea Folk ambassador with him.
Rand specifically fetched Nynaeve from Caemlyn earlier to help him cleanse the taint.
The man's face Rand keeps seeing is Moridin.
Rand describes saidin and saidar as being "alike and unalike, attracting and repelling" - the same as the taint compared to the Shadar Logoth evil.
One of the questions he asked to the snakey people was "How can I cleanse saidin?" to which they cryptically replied "What is unlike, attracts. What is like, cancels. Let the one absorb the other."
He will cleanse by using saidar to separate the taint from flows of saidin, and then make the taint-only part flow into Shadar Logoth where it will be absorbed by the evil of the city.
Previously - Moridin knows that Rand will try to cleanse the taint, and will use the Choedan Kal to do it. He ordered the Forsaken to go after him when he did it. They will be able to tell because pretty much every channeller in the world will be able to feel that much power being used.
The giant statues are buried near Cairhien (male) and on one of the Sea Folk islands (female).
Elza is a Black Ajah. When Verin compelled her to swear to Rand, the reason she came up to convince herself it was what she should do was that "he must live until the Last Battle so the Great Lord could defeat him there"
Here is the slideshow! Save it to your computer, open it, and run the slideshow. Then every time you reach the end of one 'part' of this chapter, click to the next slide.
There's sometimes multiple bits of animation. So wait until you know there is no more to see, then click on, and keep reading.
The Amayar - the people on the Sea Folk island - have a prophecy that when the giant sphere glows it marks "the end of the Time of Illusion". You will hear the consequences of this prophecy in a later book.
Cyndane's weaves unravel when she attacks Alivia. One of the ter'angreal in Nynaeve's collection (that Alivia was using) does this, similar to Mat's foxhead.
Osan'gar said that "no one else among the Chosen possessed so much as an angreal" - this is not true. Graendal has an angreal in the form of a ring that she wears on her little finger. She found it among Sammael's things when he died and she went though his stuff, because they were working together. She has not told anyone of it.
Damer expected the wounds in Rand's side to be different. I wouldn't expect them to be - just because you kill a snake doesn't mean the poison they just bit you with will leave your body. Good analogy lol