—Siuan Sanche to the crowd waiting to give their information for the bounty
—Merean Redhill to Moiraine Damodred
- For other uses of the word "heart," see Heart.
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| <<< The Human Heart >>> |
| Setting: the White Tower |
Summary[]
- Point of view: Moiraine Damodred
Due to the cold, Moiraine quickly changes her mind that their task will be pleasant. There is a crowd of one hundred women and a number of the people seem to be yelling. Most of the camp seems to be made up of Murandians. Moiraine starts to worry that there may be a riot.
"I'm not accustomed to keeping track of every brat born in the camp."
Siuan gets on her chair, embraces saidar, and uses the One Power to amplify her voice to a booming "Be quiet!" The response is immediate with everyone becoming silent. Even Steler looks at Siuan with a look of approval. Siuan tells the crowd that they must remain orderly and get in two lines or no one will get any money. The crowd quickly gets in two lines.
Moiraine starts recording the information about the babies. The first in line is Lady Meri do Ahlan a'Conlin, a rather plump and obstinate noble woman. Meri's maid tells Moiraine of another woman, Careme Mowly, who refuses to get the bounty for her daughter, Ellya. Moiraine overhears Siuan getting snippy with a woman in her line.
Moiraine's agitation increases as the day continues. The cold and the banging of the anvils is putting her in an unpleasant mood that she tries not to take out on the people in her line. However, a number of the women make it hard. Moiraine frets that she will never be the one to find the child that will become Dragon Reborn.
"The Light bless you, Aes Sedai."
Around noon, Moiraine speaks to a woman in line named Susa Wynn. Her child Cyril is at least six or seven months old, which is way too old to claim the bounty. Before Moiraine has a chance to reject her, Siuan touches Moiraine on the arm which gives Moiraine pause. Moiraine sees that the woman is starving and learns that her husband is dead. Moiraine decides to award her the bounty and gives Susa a silver penny to take her son to the camp Wisdom to treat his cough. It spreads through camp quickly what Moiraine has done. Women who have children who walk are now getting in line. The next woman in line tries to con Moiraine that she needs money for the Wisdom for her infant Danil. Moiraine gets angry and tells her that she could try to heal him, but that might kill him. The woman quickly retracts needing Moiraine's help, which causes the women with older children to leave the line.
Moiraine and Siuan are just finishing up their midday meal when they see Meilyn Arganya and Elaida a'Roihan ride into the camp. Siuan rushes to explain to Meilyn that they are out of the city on order of the Amyrlin, but the two Aes Sedai already know about it. The Aes Sedai are visiting each camp to make sure that the Accepted are recording the newborns dutifully, and leave quickly when they see that Moiraine and Siuan are performing well. The visit from the Aes Sedai causes the camp to doubt that they are Aes Sedai and lose their previous diffidence, so it becomes more difficult to deal with them.
Steler tries to usher the pair back to the Tower as dusk approaches, but there are still many women waiting in line. The remaining mothers demand to be recorded for the bounty and Moiraine and Siuan rush to write down the final names as other women surround the Tower guards to stop them from leaving. They are able to record every baby and rush back to the Tower, riding at a brisk pace which gives Siuan great difficulty. Upon arriving at the Tower, Katerine Alruddin tells Moiraine that she is summoned to the Mistress of Novices, Merean Sedai.
Moiraine is informed by Merean that her uncle Laman Damodred, king of Cairhien, was killed yesterday along with two of his brothers. Moiraine does not have much of a reaction to the news. Merean assumes that Moiraine is in shock and offers to have her stay in the Tower tomorrow instead of continuing the task of recording information on newborns, but she declines. Moiraine returns to her quarters and goes to sleep, but quickly has nightmares about the Dragon Reborn. She wakes and decides to go to Siuan's room for company. They briefly discuss what the Tower can do for the Dragon Reborn even if he is found, but come to no conclusion and both lie awake for the rest of the night.
Characters[]
- Moiraine Damodred
- Siuan Sanche
- Steler
- Lady Meri do Ahlan a'Conlin
- Careme Mowly
- Susa Wynn
- Meilyn Arganya
- Elaida a'Roihan
- Katerine Alruddin
- Merean Redhill
Referenced[]
- Sedrin a'Conlin
- Ellya Mowly
- Dragon Reborn
- Cyril Wynn
- Danil
- Laman Damodred
- Moressin Damodred
- Aldecain Damodred
Groups[]
Referenced[]