The Bite of the Thorns

"Trust is as slippery as a basket of eels, sometimes. The point is, you two are what I have to work with, thin reeds though you may be."
   — Siuan Sanche to Egwene and Nynaeve

Book Index
0 I II III IV V VI VII VIII IX X XI XII XIII XIV
Chapters
Fortress of the Light 1 Waiting 2 Saidin 3 News from the Plain 4 Shadows Sleeping 5 Nightmares Walking 6 The Hunt Begins 7 The Way Out of the Mountains 8 Jarra 9 Wolf Dreams 10 Secrets 11 Tar Valon 12 The Amyrlin Seat 13 Punishments 14 The Bite of the Thorns 15 The Gray Man 16 Hunters Three 17 The Red Sister 18 Healing 19 Awakening 20 Visitations 21 A World of Dreams 22 The Price of the Ring 23 Sealed 24 Scouting and Discoveries 25 Questions 26 Behind a Lock 27 Tel'aran'rhiod 28 A Way Out 29 A Trap to Spring 30 The First Toss 31 The Woman of Tanchico 32 The First Ship 33 Within the Weave 34 A Different Dance 35 The Falcon 36 Daughter of the Night 37 Fires in Cairhien 38 Maidens of the Spear 39 Threads in the Pattern 40 A Hero in the Night 41 A Hunter's Oath 42 Easing the Badger 43 Shadowbrothers 44 Hunted 45 Caemlyn 46 A Message Out of the Shadow 47 To Race the Shadow 48 Following the Craft 49 A Storm in Tear 50 The Hammer 51 Bait for the Net 52 In Search of a Remedy 53 A Flow of the Spirit 54 Into the Stone 55 What Is Written in Prophecy 56 People of the Dragon

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Setting: White Tower

Summary

Point of view: Egwene al'Vere

Siuan ponders on who she can trust. Nynaeve says she doesn't think they can trust Moiraine. Siuan questions whether Nynaeve has enough experience in the world to really know who to trust. She does believe they can trust Moiraine, and thinks they know more than they think they do. Siuan says she wishes she could raise Nynaeve to the shawl. After beating around the bush, Siuan says they are all she has to work with. They are the only ones she can be absolutely sure are not Black Ajah since Liandrin had tried to harm them. Since no one will believe the Amyrlin is collaborating with those she humiliated publicly with these punishments, (and she can trust them) they are to be her hounds. Egwene and Nynaeve are to hunt the Black Ajah for the Amyrlin. Siuan does not assign the task to Elayne even though she trusts her also, since Siuan must be able to tell Morgase that she did not bring any more danger to her.

Egwene is astounded and says they would surely be over matched; she also has too many tasks already between her punishments, studies and talking to Anaiya about her dreams. But Siuan insists and tells them that they will have to do their investigating between their other duties, and within their limited power as Accepted. Nynaeve points out that since any of the sisters teaching them could be a Darkfriend, it would be safer to try to find them now than wait for their plots to unfold. As a concession, the Amyrlin gives them papers that have written on them: "what the bearer does is done by my authority. Obey, and keep silent, at my command. Signed, the Amyrlin Seat." They can use them in situations of utmost need, but they will have to be careful they are not trying to use those orders with Darkfriends. Nynaeve is amused at the idea of ordering Lan with the orders.

Siuan says Verin will give them all the information they need on Liandrin and the other Black Ajah sisters. Egwene and Nynaeve are dismissed with reminders that they have to visit Sheriam and work in the kitchen.

Characters

• Siuan Sanche
• Egwene
• Nynaeve

Referenced

• Liandrin
• Verin
• Leane
• Sheriam
• Moiraine
• Anaiya
• Elayne
• Mat

Groups

Referenced

• Black Ajah

Places

• White Tower

Referenced

• Andor