Courage to Strengthen

"Until you can, remember this. We are always more afraid than we wish to be, but we can always be braver than we expect. Hold on to your heart, and the Aes Sedai cannot harm what is really you, your heart. They are not nearly so far above us as we believed. May you always find water and shade, Egwene. And always remember your heart."
—Sorilea's parting advice to Egwene

Book Index

0 I II III IV V VI VII
VIII IX X XI XII XIII XIV

Chapters

The First Message

1	Lion on the Hill
2	A New Arrival
3	A Woman's Eyes
4	A Sense of Humor
5	A Different Dance
6	Threads Woven of Shadow
7	A Matter of Thought
8	The Storm Gathers
9	Plans
10	A Saying in the Borderlands
11	Lessons and Teachers
12	Questions and Answers
13	Under the Dust
14	Dreams and Nightmares
15	A Pile of Sand
16	Tellings of the Wheel
17	The Wheel of a Life
18	A Taste of Solitude
19	Matters of Toh
20	From the Stedding
21	To Shadar Logoth
22	Heading South
23	To Understand a Message
24	An Embassy
25	Like Lightning and Rain
26	Connecting Lines
27	Gifts
28	Letters
29	Fire and Spirit
30	To Heal Again
31	Red Wax
32	Summoned in Haste
33	Courage to Strengthen
34	Journey to Salidar
35	In the Hall of the Sitters
36	The Amyrlin Is Raised
37	When Battle Begins
38	A Sudden Chill
39	Possibilities
40	Unexpected Laughter
41	A Threat
42	The Black Tower
43	The Crown of Roses
44	The Color of Trust
45	A Bitter Thought
46	Beyond the Gate
47	The Wandering Woman
48	Leaning on the Knife
49	The Mirror of Mists
50	Thorns
51	The Taking
52	Weaves of the Power
53	The Feast of Lights
54	The Sending
55	Dumai's Wells

The Answer

<<< Courage to Strengthen >>>

Setting: Cairhien; the Plains of Maredo

Point of view: Egwene al'Vere

Egwene continues her preparations to leave for Salidar, including getting a note sent to Gawyn at the inn where they usually meet. Amys, Bair, and Sorilea enter with disapproving looks for her because of the method she plans to use to Travel. She begins to feel guilty about her lies and admits to going into Tel'aran'rhiod alone when she was not supposed to. Finally she decides to admit that she is really not an Aes Sedai, but only an Accepted, like an Wise One apprentice. She asks the Wise Ones to help her meet her toh.

Point of view: Matrim Cauthon

Mat is playing Snakes and Foxes with Olver. They are close to winning, but not close enough. They both lose on the next toss of the dice. The game appears to be impossible to win without cheating. Olver starts a new game with the traditional phrase, "Courage to strengthen, fire to blind, music to dazzle, iron to bind." Daerid enters the tent and announces the arrival of the Dragon Reborn. Aviendha is with him and won't leave Rand even when he wants to meet alone with Mat.

Rand instructs Mat that he is being sent to Elayne in Salidar and he is to stay with her until she is on the Lion Throne in Caemlyn. Mat promises to not let Elayne out of his sight until he plunks her down in the Royal Palace. Rand also asks him to help get Egwene out of whatever trouble she is in, which Mat also promises to do. He gives Mat Moiraine's letter to Thom.

Point of view: Egwene al'Vere

Egwene is in a tent with the Wise Ones she lied to. They take turns using a belt to help her meet her toh. Egwene could say it is done anytime, but instead she continues to ask each woman to help her meet her toh. Finally all of the women say that Egwene has met her toh and it is over. Amys and Bair will continue to meet her in Tel'aran'rhiod periodically to let her know how things are going with Rand. Amys reminds Egwene that she still has toh to Rhuarc, but he was away from Cairhien that evening. She is concerned that the Aes Sedai have called her to Salidar because she has been calling herself Aes Sedai and wish to punish her for that offense. Nevertheless, she continues her preparations for the journey.

Courage to Strengthen

Contents

Characters[]

Referenced[]

Places[]

Referenced[]

See also[]