Heading West

"So, come down in the world, have we, my Lady Morelin? Or maybe we were never up at all. Stole a coach and some clothes, did you? Well, I would hate to see such a pretty forehead branded. That is what they do here, in case you don't know, if they do not do worse."
   — Valan Luca to Elayne and Nynaeve when they arrive at his menagerie without their fancy coach and dresses.

Book Index
0 I II III IV V VI VII VIII IX X XI XII XIII XIV
Chapters
The First Sparks Fall 1 Fanning the Sparks 2 Rhuidean 3 Pale Shadows 4 Twilight 5 Among the Wise Ones 6 Gateways 7 A Departure 8 Over the Border 9 A Signal 10 Figs and Mice 11 The Nine Horse Hitch 12 An Old Pipe 13 A Small Room in Sienda 14 Meetings 15 What Can Be Learned in Dreams 16 An Unexpected Offer 17 Heading West 18 A Hound of Darkness 19 Memories 20 Jangai Pass 21 The Gift of a Blade 22 Birdcalls by Night 23 "The Fifth, I Give You" 24 A Message Sent 25 Dreams of Galad 26 Sallie Daera 27 The Practice of Diffidence 28 Trapped 29 Memories of Saldaea 30 A Wager 31 The Far Snows 32 A Short Spear 33 A Question of Crimson 34 A Silver Arrow 35 Ripped Away 36 A New Name 37 Performances in Samara 38 An Old Acquaintance 39 Encounters in Samara 40 The Wheel Weaves 41 The Craft of Kin Tovere 42 Before the Arrow 43 This Place, This Day 44 The Lesser Sadness 45 After the Storm 46 Other Battle, Other Weapons 47 The Price of a Ship 48 Leavetakings 49 To Boannda 50 To Teach, and Learn 51 News Comes to Cairhien 52 Choices 53 Fading Words 54 To Caemlyn 55 The Threads Burn 56 Glowing Embers

<<<   Heading West    >>>

Setting: Sienda, Amadicia

Point of view: Nynaeve al'Meara

Elayne pretends to be worn out from the heat when a maid brings Nynaeve a couple of bonnets. As soon as the maid leaves they dress in less fancy clothes, don the bonnets and gather up their belongings. They leave by the back stairs and the back gate and walk several miles before Thom and Juilin catch up with a wagon. They successfully avoid Galad and reach the menagerie around noon, where Valan Luca confronts them. He is still mad at Nynaeve for calling him a beggar and believes them to be thieves rather than a lady and her maid.

Elayne tells Luca that she is avoiding an arranged marriage and that her brother is looking for her. He insists though that they become performers, to blend in, to make it more difficult for someone to find them. Thom demonstrates his juggling and mentions other skills he can use to perform. Elayne notices a high rope, belonging to Sedrin (who died from a fall mere hours ago), and decides to become a high walker, along with Juilin. She demonstrates, but uses channeling to make her performance safe. Nynaeve doesn't get a role to play right away. The performers gather around and begin getting ready to depart, now that they will have funds.

Nynaeve takes an interest in Cerandin, the boar-horse trainer. She recognizes the animals from Falme, as something that the Seanchan use and Cerandin is clearly Seanchan. Elayne joins her and they probe to find out what her history is and make sure she is not a sul'dam. Cerandin decides that Elayne really is a high lady and prostrates herself as she would to one of the Seanchan Blood. Elayne tells her she does not need to act that way and they agree to exchange information on each other's lands.

Characters

• Nynaeve
• Elayne
• Thom
• Juilin
• Valan Luca
• Mistress Jharen innkeeper
• Skulker
• Petra
• Clarine
• Latelle not Latelle Luca at this point in story
• Aludra
• Taeric Chavana
• Barit Chavana
• Bari (entertainer)
• Kin (entertainer)
• Cerandin

Referenced

• Galad
• Pedron Niall
• Rand
• Ailron
• Morgase
• Sedrin

Places

• Sienda
• Amadicia

Referenced

• Tear
• Caemlyn
• Ghealdan
• Cairhien
• Tanchico
• Shara
• Toman Head
• Falme

Items

Referenced

• Callandor