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"There's worse to come, you mark my words."
   —Cenn Buie

Cenn Buie is a thatcher in Emond's Field who is a member of their Village Council.[1][2]

Appearance and Personality[]

He is as gnarled and dark as an old root. He has a scratchy voice, beady eyes and thinning hair. He sometimes uses a gnarled walking staff as tall as himself.[1][2]

He is known for griping about everything, and sometimes neglects his duties in order to complain.[verify] He can be unpleasant, but is seldomly openly rude.[3]

History[]

Cenn was born in the summer of 962 NE.[1] This makes him almost 66 at the start of the series. He is old enough to be Nynaeve's grandfather.[4]

He is a thatcher by trade and an elected member of Emond's Field's Village Council. He can be slow to agree with the other members of the council and it is said that only Haral Luhhan is able to make him see reason. Regardless, the villagers trust his opinion.[5]

He does not like Aes Sedai and dislikes even the mention of them or the One Power.[6] He is also distrustful of Tinkers, spreading rumors that they kidnap children.[7]

When Rand was ten, Cenn caught him and Mat Cauthon up his apple trees.[6]

Activities[]

Tam and Rand meet him when they enter Emond's Field and he tells them that no storks nesting on the rooftops by Bel Tine is a bad omen with worse to come. He thinks paying for a gleeman and sending for fireworks are a waste of money. He also questions whether winter will ever end, as Nynaeve refuses to speak to anyone about it. Tam calls him foolish.[2]

He and the rest of the Village Council are in session when Padan Fain arrives. When Fain brings word of war and a False Dragon, he is the only one who questions whether it really is a False Dragon and suggests that Tarmon Gai'don may be coming. He is quickly shouted down.[6]

After the Trollocs first attack Emond's Field, he is part of a crowd that confronts Moiraine Damodred, demanding she leave at once. Bran says he is shocked to see him there, especially as Moiraine Healed his burned and bruised arm after the attack. Cenn finds her arrival and the Trolloc attack too much of a coincidence to be unrelated.[8]

He, along with several otherss, volunteered to be the one to leave Emond's Field with the rest of the party so as to not leave them alone with Moiraine.[9]

Cenn appears in Nynaeve's Accepted test where she returns to Emond's Field. He spits at her feet and tells her she should leave again. HE is now the Mayor of the village.[3]

When Perrin return to confront the Whitecloaks he notices Perrin in the stable yard. Marin convinces him to keep quiet about Perrin, but tells Perrin his is almost as bad as a Coplin or Congar for fawning after the Whitecloaks.[10]

When Perrin returns to Emond's Field, Cenn is holding a small boy on his shoulders and talking excitedly about "Perrin Goldeneyes".[11]

During the period of attacks on Emond's Field, he complains so often that Perrin wishes anyone but him would be the village council representative at meetings. The villagers use Cenn's bugle as an early warning of an attack.[12]

He helps defend Emond's Field against the invading Trollocs.

Notes on Cenn's Age[]

The Companion lists his birth year as 932 NE, but this only makes him 66 at the start of the series. When Loial tells Rand he is ninety years old, Rand says "I live as long as old Cenn Buie, that'll be long enough for anybody." He is also usually referred to as "old Cenn Buie". This may imply to readers that he is considerably older. This might not be a discrepnancy, however, as his birth date does not directly contradict any known facts about him and the younger Emond's Fielders may just assume he is older because of his cantankerous nature. 66 is still old enough to be Nynaeve's grandfather (she is 24 at this time) and he is still working as a thatcher when Perrin is Lord of the Two Rivers.[13]

Trivia[]

Notes

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