— Sheriam Bayanar
- For other chapters with "price" in the title, see Price.
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| <<< The Price of the Ring >>> |
| Setting: Tar Valon |
Summary[]
- Point of view: Egwene al'Vere
Sheriam meets Egwene as she is returning from Verin's quarters. She is to be tested for Accepted. Elayne has already finished her test. Egwene protests that it is late and she is tired, but Sheriam says that it has been ordered by the Amyrlin and cannot be changed. The test is performed by the novice going through each of three arches in the silver arches ter'angreal. The novice is presented with fears from her past, present and future which she needs to overcome in order to prove her dedication to becoming Aes Sedai. Sheriam says that novices have three chances to take the test and tells Egwene that she could take her first refusal, but the Amyrlin would not be pleased. Elaida does not think Egwene should be tested but Sheriam points out that Elaida did not feel the same reluctance when it was Elayne to be tested.
Sheriam warns Egwene of the dangers of the test and tells her to be steadfast. Women have entered the arches without coming out. Egwene worries about leaving the papers she received from Verin and the twisted stone ring where one of the Aes Sedai might find them. But she has already agreed to take the test and it is too late. Alanna expresses concern that there is resonance coming from the ter'angreal, but they decide to proceed with the testing. The Aes Sedai say the ceremonial words and Sheriam warns her that the way back will come but once; she must be steadfast.
In the first ring, Egwene sees her husband Rand and her daughter, Joiya. Egwene is still training as an apprentice Wisdom under Nynaeve. Rand says there is war with people called Shawkin or something like that. The Two Rivers doesn't get much news. Rand begins to get a headache which Egwene has noticed usually means something strange will happen in the area like sudden storms. Just as she is getting ready to try to heal Rand's headache, the silver arch appears and she goes through reluctantly even as Rand calls out for her.
Just like all the other novices who took the test, Egwene asks Sheriam whether it was real but nobody knows. The women who did not come out of the arch may have believed it real and remained.
The second time, she sees the ruins of the Royal Palace of Andor. A Myrddraal walks down the street toward her and gives orders to Trollocs and Darkfriends. They are searching for someone. Egwene goes into the palace, walking through the rubble. She finds Rand in the rubble, pinned under a column. She does not have the skill to shift all of the rubble safely. Rand says that he could shift it but he would no longer be able to hold his madness at bay. He asks her to save him by killing him with a dagger[1] but she cannot. He is worried that the Myrddraal will find him and turn him to the Shadow. The silver arch appears again and Egwene goes through it even as Rand yells for her to help him.
Egwene asks Sheriam if someone can be turned to the Shadow by force. Sheriam says it is customary not to speak of what happens in the arches. Egwene persists and is eventually told that channelers can be turned to the Shadow using thirteen Dreadlords and thirteen Myrddraal. Egwene remembers that exactly thirteen Aes Sedai are in Liandrin's group of Black Ajah.
After going through the last arch Egwene finds herself the Amyrlin. Her Keeper is Beldeine from the Green Ajah, which means Egwene was Green before being raised. Egwene's thoughts are in turmoil from things she remembers, from things she doesn't remember and from things that she remembers that seem to be wrong. The words from Sheriam, that the way back will come but once and that she must be steadfast, cannot be fully remembered. Rand is brought to her in chains and she is told by Elaida, her main rival, to sentence him to be gentled. When she refuses she is knocked unconscious by Beldeine.
She awakens to find herself surrounded by thirteen Myrddraal and thirteen of the Black Ajah. She channels her way free and runs through the Tower back to her study. She finds Beldeine there who apologizes for her betrayal and explains that the Black Ajah took her during the night and stilled her. They promised to make her whole again with the power of the Dark One if she cooperated. Beldeine tells her that Rand is being held at the Traitors' Court and Egwene rushes to help him. Beldeine questions what she can do but Egwene says that she has never held the Oath Rod. She finds Rand surrounded by Aes Sedai led by Elaida wearing the seven-striped stole. She is about to start an attack to free him when the silver arch appears.
Suddenly she remembers the words from Sheriam again. She hears voices from outside the ter'angreal, from the real Aes Sedai outside in the testing chamber. The Aes Sedai are in a furor and say they cannot hold the ter'angreal much longer, but Siuan yells at them to hold on or she will have their hides. Egwene jumps through the arch.
Unanswered Questions[]
- Why didn't Sheriam warn Egwene not to channel while inside the ter'angreal?
Characters[]
- Egwene
- Sheriam Bayanar
- Elaida
- Alanna
- Siuan Sanche - as Mother
Referenced[]
Referenced in testing ter'angreal[]
- Jaim Dawtry
- Joiya al'Thor
- Beldeine Nyram
- Gyldan
- Perrin
- Guaire Amalasan
- Artur Hawkwing
- Raolin Darksbane
Places[]
Referenced in testing ter'angreal[]
Notes
- ↑ This is similar to one of the alternative lives Rand experienced when he traveled by Portal Stone to Toman Head. (The Great Hunt, Chapter 37)