Reflection

"Not one of the Forsaken. I think not. This was too simple. And too complex. As the Seals holding the Dark One's prison weaken, it may be inevitable that a...miasma...will escape even while he is still held. Like bubbles rising from the things rotting on the bottom of a pond. But the bubbles will drift through the Pattern until they attach to a thread and burst."

   — Moiraine on bubbles of evil

Book Index
0 I II III IV V VI VII VIII IX X XI XII XIII XIV
Chapters
1 Seeds of Shadow 2 Whirlpools in the Pattern 3 Reflection 4 Strings 5 Questioners 6 Doorways 7 Playing With Fire 8 Hard Heads 9 Decisions 10 The Stone Stands 11 What Lies Hidden 12 Tanchico or the Tower 13 Rumors 14 Customs of Mayene 15 Into the Doorway 16 Leavetakings 17 Deceptions 18 Into the Ways 19 The Wavedancer 20 Winds Rising 21 Into the Heart 22 Out of the Stone 23 Beyond the Stone 24 Rhuidean 25 The Road to the Spear 26 The Dedicated 27 Within the Ways 28 To the Tower of Ghenjei 29 Homecoming 30 Beyond the Oak 31 Assurances 32 Questions to Be Asked 33 A New Weave in the Pattern 34 He Who Comes With the Dawn 35 Sharp Lessons 36 Misdirections 37 Imre Stand 38 Hidden Faces 39 A Cup of Wine 40 Hunter of Trollocs 41 Among the Tuatha'an 42 A Missing Leaf 43 Care for the Living 44 The Breaking Storm 45 The Tinker's Sword 46 Veils 47 The Truth of a Viewing 48 An Offer Refused 49 Cold Rocks Hold 50 Traps 51 Revelations in Tanchico 52 Need 53 The Price of a Departure 54 Into the Palace 55 Into the Deep 56 Goldeneyes 57 A Breaking in the Three-fold Land 58 The Traps of Rhuidean

<<<   Reflection    >>>

Setting: Stone of Tear

Summary

Point of view: Perrin Aybara

And Rand was sitting at the foot of the bed, slumped against one of the bedposts with eyes closed and hands limp atop Callandor, which lay across his knees. He looked as if he had taken a bath in blood.

Perrin and Faile make their way through the Stone of Tear to confront Rand about a bizarre event during which they were assaulted by Perrin's axe. On their way they meet High Lord Torean Andiama, who angers Perrin with his tone and the way he looks at Faile. Perrin and Faile proceed to bicker over his reaction to Torean's conversation with them. They see Berelain bolting down the hall where Torean grabs her and they have a speedy conversation. Faile mistakes why Perrin stares at Berelain but what he noticed was her scent of fear and panic. Faile decides to return to bed and let Perrin go meet the Dragon on his own, but not before being amused by his misunderstanding of the situation.

Perrin makes his way to Rand's room, passing the Defenders of the Stone and then Rand's real guards, the Maidens of the Spear. Bain and Chiad give Perrin trouble as he tries to enter Rand's room, threatening him with their spears. Perrin gently but firmly picks up Bain and moves her out of his way, which earns the respect of the two Aiel. They suggest that he play Maidens' Kiss, but Perrin declines and they let him enter.

Perrin is greatly alarmed by Rand's appearance and shouts for one of the Maidens to get Moiraine. Rand tells Perrin to shut the door. Perrin tears a strip from a linen sheet and uses it to apply pressure to the wound on Rand's side, the one from Falme. Perrin asks Rand what he tried to do and Rand responds that it must have been an attack from one of the Forsaken. They both worry over Mat and guess at his whereabouts.

Rhuarc enters telling Rand that rumors of what happened are starting to surface. Following on Rhuarc's heels is Moiraine, who demands to hear what has happened; her Warder Lan Mandragoran enters behind her. Silent sparks erupt between the two warriors but Lan cracks a joke about Rand making a mess while shaving which amuses Rhuarc and eases the tension.

As Moiraine prepares to Heal Rand, she asks him to hold saidin so that it can be used to aid in the Healing, but he is unable to grasp the Void. The Aes Sedai Heals him anyway but expresses concern that the wound at his side still refuses to respond. Rand believes that it will be the wound that kills him.

That is the one that will kill me, isn't it? His blood on the rocks of Shayol Ghul, washing away the Shadow, sacrifice for men's salvation. -Rand

You read to much, and understand too little. -Moiraine

He is only trying to find his way. No man likes to run forward blindly when he knows there is a cliff somewhere ahead. -Lan

Moiraine tries to send Rand to another bedchamber to rest, but Rand refuses to leave. He is tired of being chased around by his enemies. Rand explains uneasily what happened to him, and hypothesizes that one of the Forsaken attempted to murder him, possibly Sammael. Moiraine says it is the Dark One reaching out, creating bubbles of evil.

Moiraine then tries to talk Rand into making a decision, saying that the Tairen's fear of him will only last so long before they try plotting against him. Rand says for her not to rush him, before dismissing the group and telling Perrin that they will speak tomorrow.

Perrin and Rhuarc discuss the similarities between the Dragon Reborn and He Who Comes With Dawn, and the two related prophecies. Rhuarc mentions that the Aiel prophecy is different and that Rand still has to prove himself, and Rand and Rand alone will know what to do. Should Rand fail to meet the Aiel prophecy, they would leave to continue their search. Rhuarc bids Perrin a good night. After Rhuarc leaves Perrin studies the Tairen officer's face and feels that it won't be safe in the Stone of Tear should the Aiel leave. So he heads to his room to convince Faile to get away from this dangerous and volatile situation.

Characters

• Perrin Aybara
• Faile Bashere
• Rand al'Thor
• High Lord Torean Andiama
• Berelain sur Paendrag Paeron
• Bain
• Chiad
• Rhuarc
• Moiraine Damodred
• Lan Mandragoran

Referenced

• Artur Hawkwing
• Thomdril Merrilin
• Dark One
• Matrim Cauthon
• Loial
• Sammael

Groups

• Defenders of the Stone
• High Lords of Tear
• Aes Sedai
• Aiel
• Taardad
• Maidens of the Spear

Referenced

• Forsaken

Places

• Tear
• Stone of Tear

Referenced

• Mayene
• Spine of the World
• Aryth Ocean
• Shayol Ghul
• Illian

Items

• Callandor

Concepts

• Bubble of evil
• Saidin
• Saidar
• Healing
• Ta'veren

Culture

• Shoufa

Quotes

"I do not care if she smelled of the Essence of Dawn. That one is not interested in hunting a bear, however fine his hide would look stretched on a wall. She hunts the sun."
   —Faile on Berelain

"I thought you were old enough to shave without someone to guide your hand."
   —Lan on seeing Rand with cuts everywhere

"I will sleep here, Moiraine. I won't be chased any more. Not even out of bed."
   —Rand

Notes

• At least one edition has the wheel icon for this chapter.