The Bargain

"You, I need, Min. Not for your viewings. I just need you."
— Rand to Min in the Sun Palace

For other uses of the word "bargain," see Bargain.

Book Index

0 I II III IV V VI VII
VIII IX X XI XII XIII XIV

Chapters

1	To Keep the Bargain
2	Unweaving
3	A Pleasant Ride
4	A Quiet Place
5	The Breaking Storm
6	Threads
7	A Goatpen
8	A Simple Country Woman
9	Tangles
10	Changes
11	Questions and an Oath
12	New Alliances
13	Floating Like Snow
14	Message from the M'Hael
15	Stronger than Written Law
16	Unexpected Absences
17	Out on the Ice
18	A Peculiar Calling
19	The Law
20	Into Andor
21	Answering the Summons
22	Gathering Clouds
23	Fog of War, Storm of Battle
24	A Time for Iron
25	An Unwelcome Return
26	The Extra Bit
27	The Bargain
28	Crimsonthorn
29	A Cup of Sleep
30	Beginnings
31	After

<<< The Bargain >>>

Setting: Sun Palace

Summary[]

Point of view: Min Farshaw

Min reads Herid Fel's books in Rand's room in the Sun Palace, trying to figure out why he was killed. Rand finally enters after being absent for 6 days and wearing the Crown of Swords. She begins to dress him down but he lifts her with saidin and brings her over for a kiss. Dobraine enters and updates Rand. Toram Riatin and Padan Fain have disappeared. Caraline Damodred and Darlin Sisnera are "guests" of Cadsuane, but are not allowed to leave or receive visitors. Min shares her viewing that Caraline and Darlin will marry and he will be a king somewhere, eventually dying in bed.

Merana and Rafela enter to give the finalized terms of The Bargain.

Rand gets access to the Sea Folk ships whenever, wherever, and for whatever purpose he needs.
The Sea Folk get
1. To keep their own laws. Rand cannot change any of their laws as he did to Tear and Cairhien.
2. A square mile of land at every city on navigable water Rand controls now or in the future. Sea Folk law will supercede local laws within that square mile.
3. A Sea Folk ambassador stays with Rand at all times. For the time being, it would be Harine din Togara Two Winds, her Windfinder, her Swordmaster, and her retinue.
4. Rand must promptly answer a summons by the Mistress of Ships a maximum of 2 times in 3 consecutive years.

Rand fumes at the last 2 terms, which personally put him under the Sea Folk's influence. Merana fires back that his ta'veren effect could have finalized The Bargain as he wished, but he left during negotiations. Annoyed at the manipulation, the Sea Folk shielded Merana and Rafela to avoid One Power influence and threatened to hang them by their toes. So, they finalized the terms as best they could. Merana adds that Harine formally acknowledged Rand as the Coramoor. Rand is furious, but calmly admits he left the negotiations in a mess and surprisingly compliments their work.

With great difficulty, Merana and Rafela kept the details from Cadsuane. Rand decides he must deal with Cadsuane. He firmly asks Min to have the Maidens send a message to Cadsuane to "attend the Dragon Reborn in all haste." Many Maidens line the hallways outside and watch intently or play knife, paper, stone. Two Maidens trot away to deliver Rand's message, but the others strangely ignore Min. Back in his bedroom, Min watches Rand undress. Rand asks again if he truly needs Cadsuane's teaching. Min says her viewing shows Rand and the Asha'man both need her teaching. Rand bristles because revealing needs often lets others manipulate you, especially Aes Sedai. He clarifies, "You, I need, Min. [...] Not for your viewings. I just need you."

Three Maidens march in without shoufa or weapons, but suddenly beat Rand. Somara tangles him in his shirt and kicks him in the groin. Nesair punches him in the right side. When Min tries to intervene, Nandera disarms her and kicks her to the floor. All 3 beat him severely, but carefully avoid the wounds in his left side. Once Rand is beaten to the floor, they growl that they earned this right from among all the Maidens, explaining the many knife, paper, stone games in the hallway earlier. Rand had disrespected the honor of Far Dareis Mai yet again by leaving them out of the Illian and Seanchan campaigns. So, they punished him like a first-brother and warn him not to do it again, although there are hints of tenderness and sympathy. As Rand and Min recover on the bed, Daigian Moseneillin arrives to tell Rand that Cadsuane is too busy with her needlepoint and might come another day if she has time. As Daigian glides out, Rand shouts back that Cadsuane can rot!

Point of view: Rand al'Thor

Rand gingerly dresses for his visit to Cadsuane, seizing saidin in the bedroom where Min won't see him stagger. He leaves Min behind but has an escort of Maidens and Asha'man. Rand and the Asha'man use the power to try to intimidate Cadsuane, but it has no apparent effect. Rand finally asks her to be his advisor, but she declines not wanting to take orders. Rand sweetens the offer by not requiring swearing of oaths and she reconsiders, but she has some promises from her and rules for him.

He must listen to her, but she won't force him to do what she wants.
He must not lie, but she doesn't need everything revealed.
She will do what is best for him, not for her good or the White Tower's good.
He must be civil to her, her friends, and her guests. That includes not channeling at them.
He must control his temper.

Cadsuane tells Rand that Callandor is flawed because it doesn't have the safety buffer sa'angreal usually have. Also, it magnifies the madness from the taint. So, to use it safely he must be linked to two women with one of them guiding the flows. Rand hoped he would be strong enough to use Callandor, but is left with only one terrifying choice. He recalls Lanfear's temptation that he could challenge the Creator.

The Bargain

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