Knife of Dreams/Chapter 26

"There's some delight in ale and wine,
and some in girls with ankles fine,
but my delight, yes, always mine,
is to dance with Jak o’ the Shadows.

We'll toss the dice however they fall,
and snuggle the girls be they short or tall,
then follow Lord Mat whenever he calls,
to dance with Jak o’ the Shadows."
   —Band of the Red Hand

For other uses of the word "world," see World.

Book Index
0 I II III IV V VI VII VIII IX X XI XII XIII XIV
Chapters
Embers Falling on Dry Grass 1 When Last Sounds 2 The Dark One's Touch 3 At the Gardens 4 A Deal 5 Something... Strange 6 A Stave and a Razor 7 A Cold Medallion 8 Dragons' Eggs 9 A Short Path 10 A Village in Shiota 11 A Hell in Maderin 12 A Manufactory 13 Siege 14 Wet Things 15 A Different Skill 16 The New Follower 17 A Bronze Bear 18 News for the Dragon 19 Vows 20 The Golden Crane 21 Within the Stone 22 To Make an Anchor Weep 23 Call to a Sitting 24 Honey in the Tea 25 Attending Elaida 26 As If the World Were Fog 27 A Plain Wooden Box 28 In Malden 29 The Last Knot 30 Outside the Gates 31 The House on Full Moon Street 32 To Keep the Bargain 33 Nine Out of Ten 34 A Cup of Kaf 35 The Importance of Dyelin 36 Under an Oak 37 Prince of the Ravens Remember the Old Saying

<<<   As If the World Were Fog    >>>

Setting: Altara

Summary

"A battle won't get you out of Altara."
"In that case, he's planning us a war."

   —Tuon and Talmanes on Mat

Point of view: Tuon Athaem Kore Paendrag Setting: Eastern Altara

"A buffon? No. A lion stuffed into a horse stall might look like a peculiar joke, but a lion on the high plains was something very different."

Tuon follows Mat during his rendezvous with the Band and Talmanes, and they find that the pass out of Altara is blocked. She is shocked to learn of her failure at discovering his relationship with the Dragon Reborn. She also learns of the new crank the crossbowmen with Talmanes have and is determined to get one to copy.

She converses with Thom Merrilin about the odd coincidence of meeting Mat's army in the middle of the woods. Merrilin explains the theory of ta'veren, which Tuon dismisses as local myth as a passing finch gives her an omen to stick close to Toy.

Selucia points out the group's entry into the Band's camp. Tuon is surprised by the eager expressions on the faces of the troops as Mat enters. She expected any army of Toy's to be a ragtag affair, but is shocked to find disciplined troops instead. Tuon is learning all she can since she is still responsible for conquering all of these lands. She also expects to deal with Leilwin as a traitor and Juilin as a thief for taking Thera from Ebou Dar.

Mat confers with the Band's new mapmaker and surveys maps of Seanchan encampments, mentally preparing for battles against the Seanchan, much to Tuon's annoyance. She converses with Mat's officers in order to learn more about him, and is disconcerted to learn that they knows little. Tuon finally realizes she doesn't know Mat at all.

Point of view: Perrin Aybara Setting: Malden, Altara

"Should have trimmed my beard short like yours to keep it out of that. Still, a cold bath helps a man keep his mind off his troubles." - Elyas

Perrin sits astride Stepper as he supervises a coalition of Seanchan soldiers and his own followers during a chilly night. It has been fifty-four days since Faile was taken. The coalition built between the Seanchan, Two Rivers men, men from Mayene and men from Ghealdan pours forkroot into the aqueduct leading into Malden with hopes that it will neutralize the Shaido Wise Ones before the attempt to rescue Faile. He coordinates with Snowy Dawn to make sure the wolves will be ready for the attack in two days.

Perrin bids farewell to the advance team that will infiltrate Malden via the aqueduct. He fights to curb his eagerness to join the advance team and reach Faile, but knowing that Bertain Gallenne or Gerard Arganda would never be able to stick to the plan for the attack. He returns to the Gateway and Jur Grady, who is very tired from all the Gateways he has had to make to get everything in position.

The Advance Team

• Seonid Traighan and her Warders Furen Alharra and Teryl Wynter with Masuri's Warder Rovair Kirklin
• Elyas Machera
• Tallanvor
• Twenty members of Cha Faile led by Selande Darengil
• Fifty Two Rivers men led by Ban al'Seen
• Gaul who is anxious to find Chiad before any other Aiel can do so

Point of view: Perrin Aybara Setting: Brytan, Altara

Perrin ignores his weariness as he spies a raken landing with a messenger. He meets Berelain in his tent, entertaining Banner-General Tylee Khirgan. The Seanchan reports that seven thousand Whitecloaks deserted and are moving north. She also reports that two large groups of Aiel are heading toward Malden and will arrive in three days. Suddenly a ripple in the pattern threatens to destroy all of creation. Perrin refocuses the frightened people attending the meeting, squashing their fear with his resolve.

Point of view: Faile Bashere Setting: Malden, Altara

Faile flirts with Rolan in the noonday sun as several Shaido stagger drunkenly around them. Galina Casban approaches her and Rolan departs, but not before tracing a finger along her cheek. Galina demands the Oath Rod that she knows Faile somehow stole from Therava. Faile demands that the Aes Sedai promise to help her and her friends escape. She secures the promise, but not before they slap each other. Galina promises to help them escape tomorrow, the day of Perrin’s attack.

Characters

• Tuon
• Mat
• Selucia
• Talmanes Delovinde
• Gorderan
• Thom Merrilin
• Aludra
• Roidelle
• Lopin
• Nerim
• Leilwin Shipless
• Bayle Domon
• Noal Charin
• Olver
• Juilin Sandar
• Thera
• Setalle Anan
• Edorion Selorna
• Reimon
• Carlomin
• Bethamin
• Seta
• Joline Maza
• Chel Vanin
• Perrin
• Faile
• Bakayar Mishima
• Gaul
• Sulin
• Arrata
• Seonid Traighan
• Furen Alharra
• Teryl Wynter
• Rovair Kirklin
• Elyas Machera
• Tallanvor
• Selande Darengil
• Ban al'Seen
• Tod al'Caar
• Leof Torfinn
• Kenly Maerin
• Bili Adarra
• Had al'Lora
• Jur Grady
• Alliandre
• Athan Chandin
• Berelain
• Breane Taborwin
• Sebban Balwer
• Lini Eltring
• Aram
• Rolan
• Galina Casban

Referenced

• Estean Andiama
• Daerid Ondin
• Tylin Quintara Mitsobar
• Roedran Almaric do Arreloa a'Naloy
• Madoc Comadrin
• Artur Hawkwing
• Rand
• Masuri Sokawa
• Alyse
• Maighdin
• Masema
• Chiad
• Bain
• Gallenne
• Arganda
• Tylee Khirgan
• Annoura
• Fager Neald
• Pedron Niall
• Eamon Valda
• Galad Damodred
• Sevanna
• Therava

Places

• Brytan, Altara
• Malden, Altara

Referenced

• Seandar
• Murandy
• Caemlyn
• Ebou Dar
• Malvide Narrows
• Aryth Ocean
• Spine of the World
• Two Rivers
• Deven Ride
• Watch Hill
• Emond's Field
• Almizar

Groups

• Band of the Red Hand
• Aes Sedai
• Redarms
• Seanchan
• Shaido
• Wise Ones
• Far Dareis Mai
• Aiel
• Warders
• Cha Faile
• Asha'man
• Children of the Light

Animals

• Pips
• Akein
• Rosebud
• Stepper
• Snowy Dawn

Items

• Ashandarei
• Foxhead Medallion
• Forkroot
• Oath Rod

Concepts

One Power

• Traveling

Culture

• Ta'veren
• The Pattern
• Jak o’ the Shadows
• Marath'damane
• Da'covale
• Wolfbrother

Events

• Shaido War

Quotes

"Eventually, the traitors would be punished, and the thief, the property restored to its rightful owners, and the marath'damane leashed, but those things had to wait on what was more important."
   —Tuon

"He dislikes nobles for the most part. I count it an honor to be among the few he doesn’t dislike."
   —Carlomin on Mat

Theory

Strings of the Shadow

• Graendal calls the ripples in the pattern that Perrin experiences a balescream. Her recollections about these groans in the pattern occur after the destruction of Natrin's Barrow. The destruction of Natrin's Barrow happens after Perrin rescues his wife. The timeline hints at two different events, that someone else is using balefire to destroy the Pattern. That "someone else" could be Demandred. The Dark One asks him if he would use balefire and become Nae'blis.