Leaning on the Knife

"Lean back on your knife and let your tongue go free."
   —Altaran saying

For other uses of the word "knife," see Knife.

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

<<<   Leaning on the Knife    >>>

Setting: Ebou Dar, Tarasin Palace

Summary

Point of view: Nynaeve al'Meara

Nynaeve, Elayne, Birgitte, and Aviendha are in their rooms in the Tarasin Palace. The other Aes Sedai in the Palace do not accept that Elayne and Nynaeve are Aes Sedai. Adeleas and Vandene are supposedly looking for runaways from the Tower. Elayne and Nynaeve doubt that; they think Adeleas and Vandene are going to try to find the ter'angreal that can fix the weather.

A servant arrives and invites the three Aes Sedai for an audience, but only Elayne and Nynaeve go since Aviendha is not an Aes Sedai. After some frank discussion, they win Tylin over and have a more intimate discussion rather than an audience with a queen. They tell Tylin everything about their search for the bowl and get her promise to help if she can. They are introduced to her sole surviving son, Beslan, to whom she hopes to pass on her throne. Elayne believes they can wrap up their mission in ten days and get back to Egwene.

Characters

• Nynaeve
• Elayne
• Aviendha
• Birgitte
• Jaichim Carridin
• Tylin
• Beslan

Referenced

• Lan
• Thom
• Juilin
• Vandene
• Adeleas
• Merilille
• Egwene
• Mat
• Elaida
• Teslyn
• Joline
• Artur Hawkwing
• Anarina Todande
• Pedron Niall
• Cavandra
• Vanin

Groups

• Whitecloaks

Places

• Tarasin Palace
• Ebou Dar

Referenced

• Salidar
• Tar Valon
• Tanchico
• Emond's Field
• Altara
• Andor
• Murandy
• Stone of Tear
• Illian
• Tel'aran'rhiod
• Rahad

Items

• Golden Crane signet ring
• Dream ter'angreal

Referenced

• Callandor

Culture

Sayings

Lean back on your knife and let your tongue go free. -Saying in Ebou Dar meaning "Be at ease and speak your mind as you wish." According to Elayne, the only way to insult somebody who says that to you is to lie.