— Dermid Ajala praising Perrin's blacksmith skills.
- For other uses of the word "hammer," see Hammer.
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| <<< The Hammer >>> |
| Setting: Tear |
Summary[]
- Point of view: Perrin Aybara
Perrin, Loial, Moiraine, Lan and Zarine finally arrive in Tear after chasing after Rand for weeks. Perrin and Zarine still bicker and Perrin will not call her Faile. Loial notes that the people around them in the streets look defeated. They arrive at the inn Lan chose, The Star, where Jurah Haret shows them to their rooms. Haret looks weary and defeated too. Perrin asks Moiraine how they will find Rand but Moiraine says only that they are to stay near the inn and goes outside with Lan. Zarine seems to finally fit the pieces together. They are looking for Rand, the Dragon Reborn, in Tear, where the Stone of Tear holds Callandor. She is starting to have second thoughts about her involvement.
Perrin goes to the smithy next door, and helps out Dermid Ajala, who is short-handed at the moment. Dermid asks Perrin to work a piece of metal. When that turns out successfully he asks for more items that need to be made. At the end of the day Dermid tells Perrin that he is a master blacksmith. Zarine has been watching Perrin work for a while. Dermid says Perrin can come back anytime and work since his apprentices have all run away complaining about nightmares. Zarine asks whether Perrin came all this way just to be a blacksmith again. Perrin says no although perhaps he will be a blacksmith again one day. As Perrin puts the blacksmith's hammer back on the wall, Dermid tells him to take it. Perhaps Perrin will be able to use it again when he is able to be a blacksmith again. Perrin puts it in his room, next to this axe, to remind him of home.
Moiraine returns and gathers everyone in the private dining room. Moiraine announces that Be'lal, one of the Forsaken, is High Lord Samon. Be'lal's plan is to allow Rand in to the Heart of the Stone since only the Dragon Reborn can take Callandor from the traps protecting it. Then Rand will be captured or killed and Be'lal will have Callandor, one of the most powerful sa'angreal ever made. Zarine asks whether they will run again as they ran from Sammael, but Moiraine says they cannot run this time. They must stay and fight to help Rand. Loial tells what he has learned of Be'lal, which isn't a lot except he is called the Netweaver and that he was envious of Lews Therin Telamon and Ishamael. This information reaffirms Moiraine's belief that Be'lal plots to gain Callandor to increase his power.
Moiraine and Lan plan to attempt to enter the Stone and foil the plan while the rest of the party remains behind. Lan will have to find a way in and it will be much harder for a larger party. Moiraine reveals that in the year since she took the three boys from the Two Rivers, she has learned how to weave balefire. Lan notes that he has seen Aiel on the rooftops. Perrin tells her that Gaul mentioned that when the Stone of Tear falls, the Aiel will leave the Three-fold Land.[1] Moiraine worries about what their part is since they are not mentioned in the Prophecies of the Dragon.
Unanswered Questions[]
- Where and how did Moiraine learn the weave for balefire?
Characters[]
- Perrin Aybara
- Moiraine Damodred
- Lan Mandragoran
- Loial
- Zarine Bashere
- Jurah Haret
- Dermid Ajala
- Stepper (horse)
Referenced[]
Groups[]
Referenced[]
Places[]
Referenced[]
- World Sea
- Roundhill
- Hall of Servants
- Stone of Tear
- Stedding Shangtai
- Illian
- Two Rivers
- Emond's Field
- Remen
- Aiel Waste