2015 Re-Readalong: The Fires of Heaven

[Imzadi Hopewind]

Re: 2015 Re-Readalong: The Fires of Heaven Chapters 14-20

I wish I could see where they all are moving at a map

Edit: Since noone have posted after me, I'm just adding this here.

After Nynaeve's meeting with the Wise Ones, and then meeting Egwene in Tower, she feel the power change. Since Egwene is not picking up fight, but behaving and make Nynaeve tell her lie at the previous meeting. So we see the Egwene that's Mother we get to know later

 

[Maibella ni Rhoiden t'al'Varrak]

Re: 2015 Re-Readalong: The Fires of Heaven Chapters 14-20

Alteima/Morgase – nothing of too much importance here, Morgase is under Ravhin's compulsion but her subconscious is still fighting back against it, you know thinking about it, wouldn't it have been better if she ended up staying in Caemlyn? Rand comes and balefire's Ravhin into the dirt in the next book, it would have saved a good hunk of trouble for everyone if she were in the city for him to give the city back too instead of..the civil war that goes down, especially since Rand knows what Elyane is up to, if not where she currently is.

Even if Morgase had still been in Caemlyn and Rand eventually freed her from Rahvin's Compulsion, she would never have been able to unite Andor again. By the time Rand gets rid of Rahvin, Morgase had completely alienated just about everyone who would ever consider supporting her. No matter what the reason for it, and surely Compulsion under the hands of a Forsaken is a good reason, treating people like crap and embarrassing them and humiliating them will do damage to your reputation and your ability to lead.

Then Moraine shows how out of touch she is with the rest of the Aes Sedai, saying “The White Tower is busy uniting lands to his banner” when well basically the exact opposite is happening and the Tower isn't even really uniting itself behind his banner.

My reaction: :desk :desk :desk

 

[Ryu Shadowborn]

Re: 2015 Re-Readalong: The Fires of Heaven Chapters 14-20

Even if Morgase had still been in Caemlyn and Rand eventually freed her from Rahvin's Compulsion, she would never have been able to unite Andor again. By the time Rand gets rid of Rahvin, Morgase had completely alienated just about everyone who would ever consider supporting her. No matter what the reason for it, and surely Compulsion under the hands of a Forsaken is a good reason, treating people like crap and embarrassing them and humiliating them will do damage to your reputation and your ability to lead.

I disagree a bit, Morgase was acting demonstrably out of character and if Rand says "Morgase was under the thrall of a forsaken who was using ancient and forbidden weaves with the one power and forcing her to act as her puppet" it would cause some distrust but as someone who was quite loved by her subjects i think she could pull things back together easier than Rand did.

 

[Maibella ni Rhoiden t'al'Varrak]

Re: 2015 Re-Readalong: The Fires of Heaven Chapters 14-20

I disagree a bit, Morgase was acting demonstrably out of character and if Rand says "Morgase was under the thrall of a forsaken who was using ancient and forbidden weaves with the one power and forcing her to act as her puppet" it would cause some distrust but as someone who was quite loved by her subjects i think she could pull things back together easier than Rand did.

Does anyone else want to chime in on this one? I think it's a pretty fascinating discussion and I'd love to know what the rest of you think.

I agree that Morgase was loved, and that Rand had lots of difficulties in Andor. But Elayne was dealing with the repercussions of her mother's actions for quite a long time, even with the truth about Lord Gaebril being known. I don't think it would have been easier for Morgase.

 

[Aduiavas Ida]

Re: 2015 Re-Readalong: The Fires of Heaven Chapters 14-20

Yeah, I think the common people could have forgiven Morgase, but not the nobles she banished and spurned. We saw how hard it was for Elayne to remedy that, it would have taken more than an apology for Morgase to fix things. At least Elayne could use the argument that she was not her mother

 

[Rhed al'Tere]

Re: 2015 Re-Readalong: The Fires of Heaven Chapters 14-20

Even if Rand comes in and says, "Hey, it was Forsaken, forgive Morgase!" it's not going to help. First, it's not that easy to forgive and forget and trust again. Second, it would be a man handing Morgase the throne again, which was something Elayne fought hard against, the appearance that Rand was giving her the throne that was rightfully hers.

How long does it take Gareth Brynn to forgive Morgase? When does he find out that she was under the thrall of a Forsaken? He may have known it was out of character for her, but it doesn't hurt or humiliate any less. I would maybe compare it to mental illness. If someone is mentally ill, and lashes out and hurts and alienates friends even if they didn't realize what they were doing, and even if they didn't want or mean to, it still takes time for the friends to recover from that and to be able to trust the person again.

 

[Rhed al'Tere]

Re: 2015 Re-Readalong: The Fires of Heaven Chapters 14-20

Chapter 6

• How far does balefire go? Does it depend on the strength? -- Yes. Rand is able to lessen the strength he used on the second pack.
• Despite Mat's discomfort at being Rand's friend, Rand still ran across the city to save him.
• We finally learn what the foxhead medallion does (or we can suspect).
• I like the way Moiraine threatens Mat with Nynaeve.
• Moiraine is desperate for Rand to let her help him -- her last resort was asking him. WHY DIDN'T SHE START THERE.
• When do Tower initiates learn of balefire? If they're forbidden to use it, they have to learn about it sometimes. Did we decide that Moiraine learned it at the sisters' place in book 2?
• If balefire unravels everything, wouldn't TDO want people to use it?
• Angreal are items linked with the Power that help channelers channel more. Sa'angreal are more powerful versions of these. Ter'angreal are items that do a specific thing, and may or may not need the Power to work.
• Lanfear has to pin blame on Ilyena because she cannot accept aht there's something wrong with her that Lews Therin didn't like.

Chapter 7

• Egwene is so proprietary toward Rand. She should have access to his dreams and to him as a matter of course rather than being granted access and permission.
• Is Isendre being punished (by Lanfear?) in her dreams?

Chapter 8
Fezes are cool. Juilin says so.

Chapter 9

• Nynaeve is so sure she hasn't changed.
• Nynaeve doesn't want the Two Rivers kids safe from harm, necessarily -- she wants them safe from change.
• Nynaeve is dedicated to Healing; she's determined to Heal Thom's old injuries, and to Heal Rand's side.
• HOW DOES NO ONE SUSPECT THOM OF BEING MORE THAN AN ORDINARY GLEEMAN.
• Nynaeve has a fairly low opinion of Juilin.

Chapter 10

• "No more than they deserve" -- who does Macura think she's serving (the Tower, the Yellow Ajah, Black Ajah).
• Elayne trying to embrace saidar is reflected later when Morgase tries, trapped in the basement with Faile.
• Who is Macura working for? Graendal? That second bird flew west.
• Avi's bird probably flew east (rather than north or west). To whom?

Chapter 11

• Murandy/Lugard fashion: Men wear high crowned hats (I think bowler hats). Women wear dresses short enough to show their ankles, and colorful aprons (sometimes striped). Higher class women wear scarves on their heads.
• Suian has a plan for Logain -- probably to bring down the Red Ajah.
• It's sad that Suian takes cat calls as a compliment -- this city is so hostile toward women, I felt uncomfortable just reading about it.
• For all her foul mouth, Suian is pretty protected in the Tower.

Chapter 12

• I like that Jordan left the innuendo to the imagination.
• I thought Suian was being paranoid about the Whitecloaks, but apparently not.
• What advice did Bryne give Morgase for her to send him away? When did she fall in Rahvin's thrall? How long has he been influencing her? How close does he have to be to Compel?
• Bryen is already considering breaking from Andor -- Morgase's treatment of him only makes it easier to accept Egwene's offer.

Chapter 13

• A capon sounds sort of like an anteater, or maybe a capybara, or a tapir.
• How full of sh!t is Luca? Giant birds and snakes I can believe (because of ostriches and anacondas), but headless men?
• Funny that Nynaeve is hopeless with a needle -- how does she stitch people up?
• Nynaeve's dress should have buttons down the front, not the back, to be an actual servant's dress.

Chapter 14

• Gaidal has been spun out.
• Nynaeve puts herself in yellow in T'A'R.
• It's possible that Birgitte died IRL and was back in TAR in time to be spun out in her natural time frame, so Gaidal doesn't go through life alone.
• Why does Moghedian hate Birgitte?

 

[Rhed al'Tere]

Re: 2015 Re-Readalong: The Fires of Heaven Chapters 14-20

(is she actually allowed to do that with the Three Oaths? Or was it Egwene?)

If she sees it as punishing him rather than attacking him, then yes. Look how badly Katerine and the other Reds hurt Rand with the Power later.

-Egwene thinks that it's not right to spy on her friends' dreams ("not that it was spying, exactly, but still...", but doesn't seem to have any problem trying to see into Rand's dreams.

Yes!!

Siuan however makes a massive mistake by doing the most powerful oath she could, Truth be told I think she could have given less of an oath, and then tell Gareth Bryne who she really is. Gareth has a good reputation, and has always been a good guy and she knows it, and I doubt that Gareth would be too loyal to Eladia.

She could have told him before she gave any oath. It would have saved trouble, likely.

Min has a vision about Logain, he has an aura of greatness yet to come which foreshadows his taking over the Black Tower, all the way in book 14.

I don't remember him taking over the Tower (not saying it doesn't happen, just that I have a terrible memory :P ), but his greatness and glory comes when he saves the women and children. Stories become legend become myth and all that -- the stories of Logain saving those kids get passed down and down and down, and that's his glory and greatness, regardless of what else he does.

You know we learn later that the wolves show up at Shaol Ghul to fight the Darkhounds, how can that work? We see Darkhounds regenerate from slashes with a sword of fire, are the wolves just sacrificing themselves to hold off the hounds?

Huh. Dunno.

HOW exactly would Moraine and Rand end up sharing a bed? At what point would anyone think that is a remotely good idea?

I think Moiraine would be a terrible seductress, as she's Cairhienin and therefore very modest. But sex is powerful, and can make people do things they normally wouldn't, so in some alternate world, Moiraine thought it might help control Rand if she had sex with him.

The menfolk come to the rescue, Thom seems particularly angry and ready to shank someone and I love Julin here “get me a fig and a mouse” of course I don't entirely like the way he does it. I am not really a fan of torture, I perfer the Micheal Weston way of interrogation.

He doesn't actually torture anyone, though. He just asks for the items and then lets the idea of what he might do with them work at the women. I don't know if he's *ever* tortured anyone.

 

[Aduiavas Ida]

Re: 2015 Re-Readalong: The Fires of Heaven Chapters 14-20

Yes, Mother, Birgitte is reborn right after the Last Battle, so that she will only be a few years younger than Gaidal (who is not Olver ) However, having Gaidal reborn right before the Last Battle seems a waste to me, a good Hero missing out on the fighting :\

 

[Rhed al'Tere]

Re: 2015 Re-Readalong: The Fires of Heaven Chapters 14-20

I know. I bet Gaidal is pissed about it when he dies next and finds out he missed [this iteration of] the Last Battle.

 

[Kassina Tendar]

Re: 2015 Re-Readalong: The Fires of Heaven Chapters 14-20

Nynaeve puts herself in yellow in T'A'R.

Oh, I hadn't noticed that!

If she sees it as punishing him rather than attacking him, then yes. Look how badly Katerine and the other Reds hurt Rand with the Power later.

That's true. That bothered me as well. (well, bothered me besides the obvious reason) It seems a very fine line between keeping that Oath and being able to blatantly hurt someone with the Power.

She could have told him before she gave any oath. It would have saved trouble, likely.

Except Bryne was asking for an oath right then in front of everyone. She would've had to at least wait until they were alone with Bryne to tell him since she can't have word getting out about her presence there.

 

[Rhed al'Tere]

Re: 2015 Re-Readalong: The Fires of Heaven Chapters 14-20

Oh, I didn't think about that. It would have made a scene to admit to being the depose Amyrlin right there, I guess.

 

[Rhed al'Tere]

Re: 2015 Re-Readalong: The Fires of Heaven Chapters 21-29

I am behind yet again (shocking, I know). I'm still reading and keeping up with the conversation here; it's just been a rough few weeks for me personally, and I haven't had as much time for close reading as I'd like. And I'm on LOA till Thursday and please don't tell Lireina I'm here. :keeper :P

I'm still around! Still paying attention! Still reading as much as I can! <3

 

[Leonie al'Adarna]

Re: 2015 Re-Readalong: The Fires of Heaven Chapters 14-20

Chapter 10:
-The guy who owns the pigeons sends one off after Ronde Macura (after reading the imprint of what she wrote in her letters). Do we ever learn who he sends it to? (or who Ronde Macura sends her letters to for that matter)

Currently on Lord of Chaos re-read right now and still puzzling who the pigeons were for... Black Ajah?

 

[Ryu Shadowborn]

Re: 2015 Re-Readalong: The Fires of Heaven Chapters 21-29

Even if Rand comes in and says, "Hey, it was Forsaken, forgive Morgase!" it's not going to help. First, it's not that easy to forgive and forget and trust again. Second, it would be a man handing Morgase the throne again, which was something Elayne fought hard against, the appearance that Rand was giving her the throne that was rightfully hers.

See, I would argue it would not be Rand handing her the Throne, as he never made a claim to it. Rand was doing his Duty as the dragon reborn and stopping the forsaken and setting right what has gone wrong in the world due to the dark one's minions, which is in a way the point of his existence, as his Tav'eren warping is a direct counteraction to the dark one warping the pattern.

How far does balefire go? Does it depend on the strength? -- Yes. Rand is able to lessen the strength he used on the second pack.

I think it is controlled by the weaver, way later on Rand..puts a great deal of strength into a balefire weave and no discussion of "Holy crap there is a giant crater in the earth" afterwards.

HOW DOES NO ONE SUSPECT THOM OF BEING MORE THAN AN ORDINARY GLEEMAN.

Nyneave must not be trained in insight, and must have wisdom as a dump stat. :8)

Fezes are cool. Juilin says so.

Is THAT what he is wearing? I thought it was a dunce cap.

What advice did Bryne give Morgase for her to send him away? When did she fall in Rahvin's thrall? How long has he been influencing her? How close does he have to be to Compel?

Presumably when Morgase went to the tower to demand her kids back, Bryne went with..when they got back Rahvin instantly compelled her, and Byrne got tossed out for saying Rahvin is a slimy git.

I don't remember him taking over the Tower

After Taim is booted out of the black tower with the remanents of the Black Ajah..he sorta is just in charge, Rand never puts him in charge but everyone who is loyal to the light from the black tower listens to him, and Logain is the one who showed up to save Elyane's bacon at the gates of Chairhaihen.

TFH 15

Nynaeve - Nynaeve and Egwene go to the Tower to spy a bit, and Nynaeve finds she can't go into the Amyrlin's study directly, because it has been redecorated.

Egwene chastises the former wisdom, going so far as creating horrors to attack Nynaeve to prove to her how dangerous Tel'aran'rhiod is. Afterwards they discover that Siuan is no longer Amyrlin and that Elaida is now in the position and the tower is split.

This is such a well timed turn of events, isn't it the tower splitting just as Rand is proven to be The Dragon Reborn in reality? *cough* Totally not a plan by Ishamael to screw Lews Therin when he is spun into the pattern again is it.

Egwene – So, Egwene goes to Moraine with the information about the tower and discovers she is ease dropping on Rand, or at least Egwene thinks she is, I don't think she really is though? Wouldn't she know of Asmodean if she was?

Why wouldn't Moraine let him know that she approves of it in some sly way, she is certainly smart enough for it.

TFH: 16

Elyane and Nynaeve run into Galad, who is now one of the Children of the Light, which is a 100% sensible place for him to be and I am surprised he did not show up as a Whitecloak in like book 2, since there were Whitecloaks in Camelyn in book 1 and some followed the Royal Children to Tar Valon.

However I do think that Elyane is very much over-reacting here, I doubt that Galad would have truly turned them in, especially since the Accepted are quite set on leaving Amadicia anyways.

TFH: 17

So okay, Elyane has figured a way to weave air into platforms, which means she can probably makes walls of air, which if one piece has shown us anything invisible walls are actually incredibly powerful weapons when applied properly.

Also S'redit just gives me images of a giant monster made of Redit boards.

Which of course would be the ugliest monster ever..since Redit looks like a crappy Geocities website from the 90s.

TFH: 18

Liandrin gets what she deserves, one book removed from her turning Bors into a dog..Moghedien does the same to her.

TFH: 19

Bye Bye Morgase, this is the last smart thing you really do till, around book 11? 12? I forget when she runs into Galad.
Also Alviarin is apparently not up on Dark friend goings on, since she lets “The Renegade” free when in reality she should have balefired him in the face for the good of everyone.

Of course if Alviarin was interested in the good of everyone, she would balefire Fain, then stab herself with the dagger.

TFH: 20

Couladin is a jerk, and the Aiel for all that I love them, are just not that bright. The Fire of Heaven gets that across in a big way through a good bit of it, Yes the Tree Killers were twits and cut down the tree to make a chair out of it.

That doesn't mean that you don't need to be allied with them for the last battle.

TFH: 21

The Aiel set up camp, Asmodean and Rand talk a moment, with the Forsaken being offended that he has to carry the Banner, Of course there really is no one else to do it, Mat is a proven warrior, The Aiel are all fighters, Moraine and Lan are fighters and the Wise Ones are….the Wise Ones.

Asmodean is about the only person who is useless, Rand also threatens Asmodean to not betray him. You know it is interesting the voice of Lews Therin really only pops up after the Pillars, I wonder if that trip did not trigger something in Rand's spirtual memory, we don't after all still know what the heck the things are actually for.

Why didn't Aviendha just use flows of wind to lift the sword? I swear every magic user in the setting is bad at applied spellcasting, there are more uses for magic than flinging lightning and fire about people, of course the Blade is from Lamon, and..is gaudy as all heck really who needs gemstones in their sheath and a gold hilt with gems? How could that have been properly balanced.

So, Tam had a Heron Marked Blade and it is implied that he was the one who killed Lamon in a Duel which is what earned Tam the Heron Mark. Now presumably Tam would have gotten Lamon's Heron Marked sword..but he didn't so where did Tam just happen to come across a second Power-Forged weapon, with a Heron Mark, since they are supposedly quite rare.



TFH: 22

Mat – and Mat kills a Fade, I think this is his first Myddraal kill in the series, so now all the boys get to claim awesomeness properly now also Melindhra apparently likes it hot since she has quite a fire going in her and mat's tent.

Rand – We have the first set of Maidens and Rand not at all getting along, this is another one of those subplots that could just have been cut out, it goes absolutely nowhere, and the Maidens are 100% right here, they are the elite guard of He who comes with the dawn, do you know what that means? It means you don't get to run into combat at every single random opportunity.

Now Rand does things that deserve to get him smacked, but nobody really helps themselves in this situation really since when Rand does take them somewhere one of them Ignores his very clear and explicit instructions and a body guard who ignores your instructions without good cause can't be trusted to guard you.

TFH: 23

Rand is 100% in the right to deny the Aiel taking food, I understand the 1/5th as a concept and think it is quite reasonable, you win a fight you take part of what someone has and leave them enough to survive on.

However the people of Cairhien are already starving, and taking more of their food won't make them allies, and Rand is going to need as many allies as he can forge together.

TFH: 24

Not a lot here, Elayne really is my second favorite lady of the series, she stands her ground with the wise ones and is not a jerk about it, something everyone else in the series could probably learn from, sure she acts like a brat sometimes but she at least tries to be courteous which is more that can be said of certain people that are experienced enough to know better.

TFH: 25

Not much here either, Moghedien tries to trap Egwene but is not successful, you would think that the forsaken would just wait for Nyneave to show up and lobotomize her.

TFH: 26

Min's Party arrives in Salidar, and none of the Rebel Tower's Mini Council recognize Siuan and Leane, who are now younger looking. I wonder if the age length increase from use of the power is affected by stilling?

Anyways Min has a few viewings, including an incredibly odd one for Sheriam a bright halo is not what one would expect of a viewing for her.

TFH: 27

Siuan manipulates the Rebel Aes Sedai into going into full rebellion, even bringing up Logain being forced into a False Dragon by the Reds, and that they need to create their own hall and raise their own Amyrlin seat, and Siuan manages to be smart enough to figure out where Rand is.

Then Gareth shows up and manages to nearly get himself stabbicated by a bunch of Warders.

 

[Almira ni'Caldazare]

Re: 2015 Re-Readalong: The Fires of Heaven Chapters 21-29

Maibella and Aduiavas's responses both make it sound like Morgase leaving was either Ta'veren (even though none of the Two Rivers ta'veren were there) or a plan of the Pattern.
I agree that Elayne united the country and that the nobles would not have stood for Morgase but I think that the Wheel of Time relies on luck as much as planning and Ta'veren tugging to make what must be happen. Look at Rand, Mat and Perrin as example!

 

[Murun]

Re: 2015 Re-Readalong: The Fires of Heaven Chapters 30-37

Why wouldn't Moraine let him know that she approves of it in some sly way, she is certainly smart enough for it.

Valid point, might have had quite some advantages (gateways!), but the whole series thrives on no communication / miscommunication between characters on both sides. And from Moiraine's view it would have quite some disadvantages if he knew that she knew (and that she had found it out by eavesdropping).

Elyane and Nynaeve run into Galad, who is now one of the Children of the Light, which is a 100% sensible place for him to be and I am surprised he did not show up as a Whitecloak in like book 2, since there were Whitecloaks in Camelyn in book 1 and some followed the Royal Children to Tar Valon.

The first contact was in TSR, when Valda gave Galad the Whitcloaks' basic book. This may have been occasioned by worries about the unexplained absence of his sister.

Also Alviarin is apparently not up on Dark friend goings on, since she lets “The Renegade” free when in reality she should have balefired him in the face for the good of everyone.

Communication on the Dark Side isn't any better, rather worse. And duping Aliviarin isn't that much of a feat, given what Fain has done earlier. - One may rather ask why Slayer - with his special talent - didn't finish him off in TSR - jump in, cut throat, jump out. Well, Jordan had plans for Fain ...

Yes the Tree Killers were twits and cut down the tree to make a chair out of it.

Interesting conflict of social formations: For the Aiel, with their tribe / clan structure, every Cairhierin is a treekiller, shares the guilt of Laman's deed. But Cairhierin is a feudal society in transition to capitalism (after 16th / 17th century European models), and Laman was not an elected representative - no one except him and perhaps a few nobles was responsible.

That doesn't mean that you don't need to be allied with them for the last battle.

An alliance happens earlier, at Dumai's Wells - with a lot of tension even Perrin could hardly contain.

So, Tam had a Heron Marked Blade and it is implied that he was the one who killed Lamon in a Duel which is what earned Tam the Heron Mark. Now presumably Tam would have gotten Lamon's Heron Marked sword..but he didn't so where did Tam just happen to come across a second Power-Forged weapon, with a Heron Mark, since they are supposedly quite rare.

No. Tam won over (killed?) some blademaster (Wetlander, never named) and got the sword. Someone (Aiel, never named) killed Laman, and the sword was brought to the Threefold Land as proof of his death.

Rand is 100% in the right to deny the Aiel taking food, I understand the 1/5th as a concept and think it is quite reasonable, you win a fight you take part of what someone has and leave them enough to survive on.

He is basically reciting their own customs to them (it is explained somewhere earlier) - they are to treat the treekillers like Aiel treat each other.

I wonder if the age length increase from use of the power is affected by stilling?

I guess they would age normally from the younger starting point. Setalle Anan / Martine Janata could be an example: about 60 when she burned herself out, 20 years (and several pregnancies) later she looks like 50 and is going strong. - Btw, I cant remember the effect being described with Irgain, Sashalle and the other AS stilled at Dumai's Wells.

 

[Ryu Shadowborn]

Re: 2015 Re-Readalong: The Fires of Heaven Chapters 30-37

Slayer - with his special talent - didn't finish him off in TSR - jump in, cut throat, jump out. Well, Jordan had plans for Fain ...

He mentioned Fain being "harder to kill" than suspected, I think Fain might at TSR point be strong enough to affect the world of dreams.

No. Tam won over (killed?) some blademaster (Wetlander, never named) and got the sword. Someone (Aiel, never named) killed Laman, and the sword was brought to the Threefold Land as proof of his death

There are implications somewhere that Tam killed Laman some line along the way of "I just killed someone..who needed killed" that would be an odd thing to bring up at all if it was not Laman who "needed killed"

 

[Maibella ni Rhoiden t'al'Varrak]

Re: 2015 Re-Readalong: The Fires of Heaven Chapters 30-37

I don't think there was ever any indication that Tam killed Laman ... but maybe I overlooked something. Does anyone else recall anything on this topic?

 

[Rhed al'Tere]

Re: 2015 Re-Readalong: The Fires of Heaven Chapters 30-37

Chapter 15

• Here's where we first see the stole without the Blue stripe.
• Nynaeve has no idea that Elaida is the Amyrlin.
• Egwene is coming into her confidence and power.
• Egwene has learned the power of a calm presence and quiet voice.
• Egwene's dreams -- Rand sitting in the chair I presume to be connected to Andor and Elayne. The mad Tinker is Aram and Perrin. No idea what the part about Mat was. Thom and the blue stone is him saving Moiraine. The storm with identical lightnings, possibly Seanchan?
• "Suian could be dead, or even stilled." Egwene considers stilling a worse fate than death.
• Moiraine knows how she'll handle Lanfear, so she's not that worried about her.
• Moiraine spoke to Egwene as an equal. How much of Egwene's future does Moiraine know or suspect?

Chapter 16

• Strawberries are not found everywhere.
• Galad annoys me so hard.
• Pedron Niall wants to control the river -- near Salidar -- does he (or whoever is pulling his strings) know of Salidar? Someone on the dark side must.

Chapter 18

• Liandrin thinks Suian "a useless rag." I love how often people underestimate others.
• Amador fashion: Nobles don't wear black -- saved for merchants' livery.
• The Black Ajah has no firm proof that Nynaeve and Elayne were in Tanchico.
• Of course Liandrin can't understand why someone would masquerade as a servant.
• Again: little sister. From Moghedian to Liandrin this time. Does it have to do with the Power strength? Men and women can't tell how strong the other is, though, in the same way that men can check men and women, women. Is it literal age?
• Liandrin tried compulsion on Moghedian. Or her little Compulsion-like trick.