A Short Spear

"They are your enemies, Rand al'Thor. Even the ones you called damane are faithful dogs who would have killed you rather than be free. You must be hard with your enemies, not soft."
   — Aviendha to Rand after their escape.

For other uses of the word "spear," see Spear.

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

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Setting: Seanchan (continent), Eianrod, Cairhien

Point of view: Rand al'Thor

Aviendha and Rand prepare to leave their snow hut to go back to the Gateway to their room in Eianrod. As Rand finishes making a door, he sees a large flying creature with two people on its back. He tells Aviendha they will have to sneak back to the Gateway. To the east Rand can see an ocean below the rising sun. They arrive near the Gateway and see over twenty people gathered around. Two of them are sul'dam connected to two damane. Rand realizes they must be in Seanchan, on the other side of the Aryth Ocean from his home lands.

Rand binds the group with Air while Aviendha shields the women. They make their way to the Gateway, but rather than showing the room in Eianrod, it is a gray blank. Rand can tell that saidin was used to obscure the Gateway and believes Asmodean may be setting a trap for him. Rand has Aviendha try to remove the collars from the damane but she can not figure out how they work. As they jump through the gateway Rand releases the weaves on the Seanchan. As Rand cuts the weave holding the Gateway open, a spear comes through, but part of its length is cut off by the closing Gateway.

Rand immediately confronts Asmodean, but Asmodean explains that he merely hid the Gateway so no one would ask any questions. When a gai'shain arrived with food for Rand, Asmodean suggested that he and Aviendha were busy. The Maidens construe that to mean they are in bed together and perform a ritual outside the window. Rand decides the spear will make a good scepter and a reminder that the Seanchan are still a threat.

Characters

• Rand
• Aviendha
• Seri
• Asmodean
• Jini
• Lady Morsa
• Jalindin

Referenced

• Egwene
• Thom
• Artur Hawkwing
• Sarek Seanchan traitor
• Sulin
• Niella
• Demandred
• Lews Therin
• Semirhage
• Lanfear

Places

• Seanchan (continent)
• Eianrod
• Cairhien

Referenced

• Emond's Field
• Falme
• Aryth Ocean
• Serengada Dai Seanchan city
• Tuel Seanchan city
• Merinloe Seanchan city

Items

• Dragon Scepter

Notes

• At least one edition has the a'dam icon for this chapter.