—Elayne Trakand on helping Rand with Channeling saidin'
- For other uses of the word "fire," see Fire.
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| Setting: Stone of Tear |
Summary[]
- Point of view: Egwene al'Vere
"I told you not to be a fool Rand al'Thor. You may have Tairens bowing to your boots, but I remember when Nynaeve switched your bottom for letting Mat talk you into stealing a jar of apple brandy."-Egwene
In the morning, Egwene and Elayne present themselves to the six Shae'en M'taal guarding Rand's rooms, claiming that they need to check on his wounds.[1] Elayne is dressed beautifully with sapphires borrowed from Aviendha as part of their plan for Rand. Gaul tells them to be careful as Rand has already taken his temper out on a group of High Lords, but lets them go in.
"We had just turned thirteen. She found us asleep behind your father's stable, and our heads hurt so much we didn't even feel her switch. Not like when you threw that bowl at her head. Remember? She'd dosed you with dogweed tea because you had been moping about for a week, and as soon as you tasted it, you hit her with her best bowl. When was that? Two years ago come this--" -Rand
They enter and Egwene notices little evidence of last night's attack[1] aside from the lack of mirrors and a few scorch marks on the wall. Books lay cluttered everywhere while Callandor sparkles atop a gaudy stand. Rand sits in a chair with a book in hand. He rises with a scowl upon their entry but changes his expression upon recognizing them. Egwene notices the hardness in his face, the change in his movements; a little like Lan and the Aiel. Suspicion at their appearance troubles the Dragon. He wonders why they are here, thinking that Moiraine means to use them to make him do what she wants.[2]
The two tell him that they are here to help him. Rand asks if the women can help keep the High Lords in line, or with nightmares, or with the Old Tongue. As Rand looks for a book, Egwene says she cannot help with that and shoots a look to Elayne to tell her to say the same. Egwene tells him that they are here to help him with the One Power, with channeling. Rand becomes suspicious again, knowing that a woman using saidar cannot teach a man how to wield saidin any more than a bird can teach a fish to fly. He asks them again if this is all part of some plot from Moiraine. He puts on a coat, ready to leave for another meeting with High Lords until Elayne speaks to him earnestly. Rand agrees to stay and try to learn with them.
Egwene embraces saidar and asks Rand if he sees or feels anything. She claims that she is now stronger than Moiraine.[3] She channels flows of Air and Water and Spirit, the powers for Healing, and touches Rand's old wound from Falme.[4] Her stomach churns as she feels as if all the darkness in the world had gathered at his side. When Elayne embraces the True Source, Rand shivers and rubs at goosebumps. They discover that Rand can tell when a woman embraces the Source by this. Egwene urges, with slight trepidation, Rand to embrace the male half of the Source, and is baffled that she cannot tell that he has done as asked. Rand pinches their bottoms for an answer and earns a bigger pinch in rebuke from Elayne.
After further prompting, Rand uses the Power again, lifting them off the ground and shielding them from saidar. Then he does many things at once, making the table legs dance, filling the hearth with fire, melting a sculpture into silver and gold threads. Rand gets angry at touching the taint on saidin and loses control; the tables burst into flames and the mattress explodes into a pile of feathers. Rand notices the damage and composes himself. The shield on the duo vanishes and Rand apologizes, claiming that it runs wild sometimes. Rand jokes that he has now destroyed two mattresses in two days which may anger the majhere. Egwene realizes that for all the accolades of her strength in the Power, she cannot compete with Rand, who easily had woven a dozen different weaves at the same time without tiring.
They sit down and discuss how Rand embraces saidin. The discussion teaches Egwene the similarities and differences between saidin and saidar. Egwene finally realizes that the two are too different for them to help Rand and lets it go. Rand dismisses them, claiming a meeting with the High Lords over taxes and noting that they have Darkfriends to question.[5]
Before leaving, Egwene admits that she cannot marry Rand. Rand claims that he understands, no woman would want to marry the Dragon Reborn. Egwene clarifies her statement, shouting that she does not love him romantically, only as a brother. Rand's face changes from hurt to relief, saying that he had changed as well. Yet Egwene believes that he is simply hiding the hurt as she leaves him ready for Elayne to pick up.
Characters[]
Referenced[]
Groups[]
Referenced[]
Places[]
Referenced[]
Items[]
Concepts[]
Culture[]
Books[]
- The Treasures of the Stone of Tear
- Travels in the Aiel Waste, with Various Observations on the Savage Inhabitants
- Dealings with the Territory of Mayene, 500 to 700 of the New Era
Quotes[]
—Gaul on Rand's mood
Notes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 The Shadow Rising, Chapter 3
- ↑ The Shadow Rising, Chapter 6
- ↑ Egwene's strength in saidar was greatly increased during her training as damane. (The Great Hunt, Chapter 42)
- ↑ The Great Hunt, Chapter 47
- ↑ The Shadow Rising, Chapter 5