Before the Arrow

"Not like I was abandoning him. If he can't bloody take care of himself by now, he'll never be able to. I'm not his bloody nursemaid."
   — Mat to himself justifying leaving Rand before the battle with the Shaido

For other uses of the word "arrow," see Arrow.

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

<<<   Before the Arrow    >>>

Setting: Cairhien

Point of view: Matrim Cauthon

Mat won't view himself as a hero or a soldier despite the many memories of battles he now has. Mat has decided to leave Rand and his war with the Shaido and find someplace more peaceful where he is less likely to get stuck by a spear or arrow. Mat makes his way to Rand's tent to bid farewell, but Rand is out and about right then. He exchanges some comments with Natael, then turns his attention to the two maps set up for the coming battle. Couladin has around one hundred and sixty thousand spears with him. There are also four clans that haven't aligned with Rand coming from behind that have near the same number. Rand and his seven clans have as many as both groups together, enough to successfully fight either group, but not enough to fight both groups at the same time.

Lan enters and prods Mat about his thoughts on the troop dispositions. As Mat gives a synopsis of the strategy he thinks should be used, he recalls similar battles he fought as other men, some back to the time of the Trolloc Wars. After he finishes, he realizes he should have kept his mouth shut and decides to leave, but Rand is standing behind him. Mat tells Rand he is leaving and Rand just says he is sorry to see him go. After Mat leaves he feels much better and he can almost hear the dice spinning in his head.

Point of view: Rand al'Thor

Rand and Lan discuss Mat's battle strategy and find it is nearly the same as the plans made with the clan chiefs. Rand has his own memories, from Lews Therin, but they aren't as helpful at understanding war when he has no prior experience himself. The clan chiefs arrive along with Weiramon representing the Tairen and Cairhienin forces. They make final changes to the plan of battle based on their observations from the tower.

Characters

• Mat
• Melindhra
• Jasin Natael
• Lan
• Rand
• Lews Therin in Rand's head
• Dhearic
• Erim
• Weiramon
• Jheran
• Bael
• Han

Referenced

• Moiraine
• Pips
• Perrin
• Hadnan Kadere
• Egwene
• Couladin
• Artur Hawkwing
• Rhuarc
• Indirian
• Faile
• Sammael

Places

• Cairhien

Referenced

• Aiel Waste
• Caemlyn
• Lugard
• Rhuidean
• Westwood
• Spine of the World
• Jangai Pass
• Jenje historical battle location from Mat's memories
• Cuaindaigh Fords historical battle location from Mat's memories
• Tora Shan historical battle location from Mat's memories
• Sulmein Gap historical battle location from Mat's memories
• Emond's Field
• Two Rivers

Items

Referenced

• Horn of Valere
• Twisted redstone doorframe