Wheel of Time 3 : The Dragon Reborn (part 1)

This is NOT a review of the Wheel of Time books. I suppose you can call it a reaction blog... For it is a collection of my live reactions and thoughts to reading the Wheel of Times series for the first time.

The thoughts were originally shared on Twitter and have now been collected here for everyone's convenience. These are my full reactions from the second Wheel of Time book, with some post-read writerly thoughts at the very end.

To gain better understanding of what this is all about, please refer to this blog.

This time, I divided my readings up into days. For reference, I tend to read 2-3 chapters a day. Let's get on with it.

The Dragon Reborn

Day 1 : the day it all began again

Oh no, Perrin.

The last book may have been called the Great Hunt but it sounds like another Hunt is about to begin.

A Whitecloak Hunt for you, Perrin.

Stay safe Perrin, even Trollocs and Fades might be safer to meet along your way. You’ve really angered these guys.

Both of these are lovely (accurate) descriptions of Whitecloaks.

From that description this Carridin figure sounds like he will make an untimely entrance later in the book or maybe even later in the series.

Since he can outwait a stone, I'm inclined to go with: later in the series.

Run Perrin. Run!

Uhm, beg to differ.

The Dark One, Ba’alzamon himself, has said that he can control Rand if he dies.

The Dark One wants him dead, so yes, a corpse can most certainly be dangerous to not just anyone but EVERYONE!

Please don’t kill Rand. It’s not his fault.

Oh wow! That was easy! So all I have to do to get my way is just ask nicely and use the magic word? Understood.

In that case, I’ll be really bold here:

Please do not pursue Perrin again! And please only apprehend ACTUAL darkfriends.

Fain? It has got to be the Peddler.

Wormwood is a strange name to choose but it’s gotta be. Oh and he knows the names of all three of our lads! It’s definitely Fain!

RAND! RAND!! I found your nemesis!!

Oh no. Fain finally convinced someone to target Two Rivers as he warned Rand he would do.

Let them all be safe, especially Tam!

RAAAAND! You need to go home now and save your father! Right now!

(And NO, I will not hear it, he is still your father. He raised you!)

Of course he is a Darkfriend too!! Fain and now this Stone-like Whitecloak!

The Whitecloaks seem to be heavily infested with Darkfriends hiding in the light.

Also: this fade’s confession.... They move in the shadows and the night. Does this mean that fades are vampires?

Oh good question, Darkfriend! Yes, didn’t he want Rand alive? Well he did say he could still use Rand even if he was dead, being alive was only a preference, not requirement.

Does this mean that even Ba’alzamon knows it’s too late to turn Rand to the dark side?

We start with a Perrin chapter?!?

Most surprising, but I’m not complaining, I love Perrin!

(I say like anyone was in doubt)

Where the last book pulled us west to Toman’s Head this one seems to pull us to Tarabon.

The man who calls himself Bors in the prologue of the Great Hunt also mentioned Tarabon, and then we never got to go. So I reckon it's time.

I still want to go to Illian and... Tremalking... and... other places!

Oh phew! Very good to know! I was wondering about this too. I suppose they would have no chance if it didn’t need to report.

Did Elyas tell us this in book 1? I don't recall, but when I saw that raven in this chapter, I wondered the same as Perrin and I'm glad to get an answer.

Very intriguing. So Moiraine reaches out to women to report to her. How? Are these women who can mildly channel?

Otherwise they wouldn’t hear the call, would they?

What could they possibly report?

Oh no. It is as I feared.

This is going to be a dark and bleak winter. A scary winter.

Oh Loial! Still as wonderful as always, I see. Still as loyal!

(I suspect that’s where your name comes from, my loyal Ogier)

May your journey with your three ta’veren friends continue to be a good fortune!

And may you live long enough to write about it too!

First sighting of Rand.

Is this why we’re only seeing Perrin for now? Because Rand is distancing himself even from us?

In the first two books we were always with Rand unless we absolutely couldn’t be. The first time we transitioned out of his POV, it was when the party got split up and we got a Perrin section and then a Wisdom section. It was Rand's journey, then. So we stayed with him. It could even be argued that we did not see the final epic battle in the last book because we are following Rand and seeing his journey.

Now it feels more like Perrin’s journey.

It's good that I love Perrin! I likely won't have complaints over this.

Okay. So in this book he needs to be marked twice by the Dragon to truly become the Dragon Reborn..?

By the Dragon... so, by Kinslayer??

Uhhh that smells like some epic scenes.

Real dragons are super cool too though. Can we get one of each, please?

Oh no Perrin. You better not be starting this in Rand’s stead. You were the cool one who accepted your fate even if you wouldn’t have chosen it and still aren’t proud of it. Please don’t give me this stuff.

I’ve had enough of all of the denying from Rand. Please don’t join in.

Perceptive Perrin truly is a good friend!

Also Rand is going mad just sitting around doing nothing. That has never been fit for his character. It’s a wonder he held onto being a shepherd for so long.

Time to move on now, before the Dragon inadvertently hurts someone!

Wisely said, Min! And Perrin’s response is priceless!

He truly has no clue about women. He needs advice, but Perrin, it won’t be from Rand that you get it.

Not only is Rand too busy being a moody chosen one, he is as clueless as you, Perrin.

Hence why he earned the name Lord al’Woolhead.

Soulless.... that sounds like someone even the Wisdom can't negotiate with. That does not sound good.

I wish you had asked Perrin, because I’m worried to find out exactly what it is. Sounds scary!

So... the Dark One’s hierarchy:

Trolloc < Fade < Soulless < Forsaken

Oh no... we’re about to see Trollocs, aren’t we?

There’s a fight coming. The Dark One is moving his pawns across the field. Both those hidden in shadows and those cloaked in white.

Please don’t get captured when Whitecloaks show up this time Perrin!

Oh no....! I know that voice and description.

Hello, Selene. Bye now. Please go.

No no no!! Even Perrin isn’t safe from Selene! Even in dreams she appears!!

Is there no escape from this terribly dangerous Forsaken?

Hold up! What was that? Perrin’s lover and DESTROYER?? It better not be Lanfear.

Who was up ahead? Egwene was. Min. Elayne. The Wisdom. The only one Perrin knew about though was Egwene. So, is that the answer?

....I don’t want Perrin to be destroyed....

Brother! He is a real wolf brother!

It’s so nice to them to warn him that danger is headed his way!

(I bet it’s creeping Trollocs, btw)

And did we just have an 8 page long dream? It used to only be Rand who had those long dreams. I was okay with that arrangement.

Day 2 : the day we saw a lost wolfbrother

Now this is very good to know.

So we need all three of our ta’veren friends in order to succeed.

The tripod analogy is dear to me as it reminds me of Kaesomun of Goguryeo who used the analogy to refer to Buddhism, Confucianism and Taoism (commonly known as the three teachings). At the time Taoism wasn't widespread in Goguryeo, so under Kaesomun's advisement, the king sent for Taoist monks to come into the kingdom and teach. At the time Buddhism was setting a strong foothold in the country and this was an effective way to ensure that no one religion gained too much power. Very long tangent there, sorry, back to the scheduled broadcast.

Oh yes!

I adore it when Perrin acknowledges his wolf-ish urges and doesn’t resist what he is.

I know it scares him, but I enjoy it when he lets go of the fear and just becomes a raging Young Bull of a Wolf.

Wow Perrin is really going at it with the wolf fight! Hunting like a wolf, killing like a wolf.

He is one of the pack.

In this book the wolves don’t seem to question him as a two-legged one anymore. They just seem to be there for him. I like that.

Perrin.... now you’re starting to sound like Rand with Saidin.

First the blacksmith vs. Shepherd

Now the wolf vs. Saidin

Perrin... it seems that you’re not actually turning into a wolf, but turning into Rand!

Wow Rand has really become bitter in this book. Maybe that’s why we don’t see it from his perspective because with the monologues he goes on here... it would be insufferable to hear his inner monologue too. His spoken monologue is enough self-pity for me.

Oh Rand has left? That’s actually a good idea Rand. You aren’t made to stand still and let others make decisions for you.

If it’ll give you the peace of mind to accomplish what you need to as the Dragon Reborn, then go for it!

Wait... Do you mean to tell me that Min hasn’t told anyone that Lanfear is free?!!

Selene came to see an unconscious Rand for no reason other than to tell a stranger (Min) that she is Lanfear and Min keeps that information to herself??

Uhh yes this sounds promising because currently Rand has no sword and honestly that’s a bit of a problem.

The lad needs a sword and after carrying a heron sword, any old weapon just isn’t going to do the trick.

We need a weaponised Dragon Reborn again.

About the breaking of the world... We figured out a way that can happen in the last book (the two statues).

As to the leaf and peace I have a theory. We met those tinkers in book 1 who followed the Way of the Leaf.

That has got to be it.

Nine moons..? I don’t know about that one.

Alternate realities, maybe?

Oh yes! This reminds me!

I wish we had seen everyone's flicker flicker flicker storylines. I really want to know exactly what they experienced.

Were you a wolf either in all of them, Perrin?

Did you become a real wolf in some?

Remain a blacksmith in others?

That's what I'm imagining.

I agree with Perrin here. I like to know what to expect, or get some hints. Preferably I like discovering things instead of being told though.

So maybe I don’t agree with him after all. Don’t tell us. Give us hints so we can guess. That’s more satisfying.

An Aielman. So not Rand or she would have said Rand. And a cage...?

Oh no. Is Perrin going to be locked up by Whitecloaks?

Are falcon and hawk wolf names or is Perrin going to befriend more than wolves?

Can’t you just tell him everything, Min?

So... she really didn’t tell them about Selene/Lanfear??? That seem really irresponsible!

Our poor lads are going into the world about to be tricked by a forsaken (again) and with no warning!

Uff! That seems harsh Moiraine! But Lan, seriously, you might want to take her up on that offer sometime soon. The Wisdom’s in training, remember?

If she doesn’t chose the Green and picks a Warder before you get there... then you’ll have blown your chance at blissful love.

Uh! A ta’veren passed through here!

But wow that’s an extreme reaction. Is Rand getting a stronger hold on the pattern? And why weddings? Was he in a lovesick mood or something? Brooding over Selene because a certain someone didn’t tell him her real name?

It feels so strange to have shifted POVs this much.

We have seen Rand do this enough times for it to not be that exciting of a sight, so I’m fine with not seeing it. It’s just strange to only hear about it when we’re so used to follow Rand’s entire journey.

Ogier smalltalk is the best in the world.

I feel like I would have a really nice and fun chat with this Ogier. We would first talk about trees and I'd learn lots about them and I'd connect it to history and mythology relating to trees and we would have a smash of a conversation. It would be great.

Oh no... well I suppose this works instead of knowing what you saw in the flicker flicker flicker realities. Oh Perrin. We will figure this out together. I promise you. I will not have you go mad.

Run, Perrin, run! (I’m going to be saying that a lot this book, aren’t I?)

Oh I worry so much about the day the Whitecloaks catch up to him again.

It’s a storyline that definitely needs to be resolved, and I doubt that an escape will be as easy as the first time.

Ohh sweet Perrin. We will figure something out for you. You keep seeing the best in other people. Actually, no.

You keep seeing the truth in others, and framing it in a good light.

We WILL do everything we can for you. Maybe you’re different because you're ta’veren too..?

Uh our first Rand POV at page 128! And the strangest thing: it’s short just like Perrin’s POV chapters began in the first time Rand focused books.

This is definitely a wolfbrother book. The title is a little misleading, but I’m super ready for some wolfbrother action!

Day 3 : the day our girls became top secret investigators!

Oh no! We have Whitecloaks! And it’s not a Perrin chapter, but Egwene!

(Those two keep getting paired off)

Will the Whitecloaks recognise her...?

I hope not. I think not.

They were more focused on Perrin back then.

“The waiting!” As Perrin called it.

It seems that bad things are bound to happen near ta’veren. Lying there all pacified by a dagger it’s easy to forget but Mat too is a ta’veren.

Maybe Wisdom. Or maybe it is as the Aes Sedai say and you have just been incredibly lucky not to do serious harm by mistake.

Imagine if something went wrong. To think she would risk it on Mat’s life when there is another to heal him.

The arrogance is strong in this one.

Yes I often wonder about that too, Egwene. The Wisdom seems like she wants to be strong but doesn’t want to listen to any advice. And certainly won’t trust anyone.

How did she ever become a Wisdom? Someone must have had to teach her then? Yet, I can’t imagine her as a student.

A storm, but I don’t think this is quite it.

A storm would be worse than this, I would think.

I doubt these Whitecloaks are going to be very successful in their quest so close to the White Tower and face to face with a cool and collected Aes Sedai like Verin.

Oh it’s that dude. My sympathies about your dad, mate, but I don’t really care about you and you certainly won’t be burning any of my girls.

I suppose we will have to run into you in the future again though. *sigh*

We have a map!! That looks like an eye! This is pretty cool. Well pretty and cool, actually.

I like the round shape of the harbours too. That’s cool.

[No matter what anyone says, that is an eye. I shall insist until the end of days]

Oh my goodness.

These girls are just as woolheaded as the boys.

How do they have so little trust and patience? How do any Aes Sedai take them seriously when they act like this? Well, I suppose that most don’t take them seriously. Not yet.

Uh and this is our first chapter from the POV of the Amyrlin seat. I don’t know that I necessarily needed a chapter form her POV. I think I would have preferred Verin. But either way I’m happy to have a closer look at what they’re plotting for our ta’veren and those entangled with them.

It’s interesting that the girls are stilled but the men gentled. I wonder when and why that distinction came about, as I’m assuming it’s a similar if not the same process.

Stilled sounds like a punishment and gentled like a service.

It really reflects the Aes Sedai view well.

Ohh that was a complication I did not think about at the end of the last book.

Now, Verin Sedai, Mother, let me tell you about the tripod.

You see.... we need all three ta’veren or this isn’t going to go down well for any of us.

Now this is Verin as we were first introduced to her!

I don’t understand why she acted like Moiraine when she was with the group through half of the last book. This is the Verin I like. Thank you for bringing her back.

And the Seanchan... yes I expected as much. *shudders*

Did you? I don’t feel like that is confirmed. She could just have allied with the Seanchan. It doesn’t necessarily make her a Black Ajah and servant to the Dark Lord.

Heroes you were never going to be, Egwene. You let yourself be fooled, you woolheaded girls.

I doubt Elayne would be ready for it, but I do like that she thinks of it. She is willing to take chances. So while she still has lots to learn I like that about her.

On that note, Elayne is another character who seems very now different from how she was when we first met her in book one.

Oh okay, so it was official. Or as close as we can get.

Oh. I would much have preferred if she hadn’t fled so I could see the panic wash over the BOOK BURNER (yes we’re never going to forget that) when the girls returned and she was forced away.

So Egwene has been affected by this Seanchan business. She seemed relatively untouched by it but it presents itself sometimes.

I had expected it to leave a deeper scar on her, but apparently not.

It could certainly be worse. Egwene would know.

Finally! I thought that would be happening soon. Especially with everything Egwene has learned by being chained.

I’m excited to see what their three fears are.

For Egwene being collared again ought to be one.

Rand the second.

Let me think about the third one. Being Stilled, maybe?

Finally someone said it. She is so angry with Galad all the time, but we don’t know why she hates him so much. Why...?

Overall the girls really have no respect for authority though. I get it with Elayne. She’s a princess. What excuse do the other two have...?

We have a new header image!

I suspect it’s going to be a Aes Sedai header.

It also looks a little like a crest.

Look at the Wisdom’s nerve. How dare SHE speak like that to the Amyrlin Seat?

On another note: girls you’re being woolheads again. She is telling you that you CAN’T be Black Ajah. It’s a good thing.

Yes!!! This will be great. Dangerous but also really cool.

I like secrecy like this and trying to figure out who is good and who is evil (other than Selene, grr).

This sounds like it’ll be a fun adventure.

Well done Egwene for standing up to the Wisdom.

I don’t like how she talks for you and down to you either. I don’t think she intends to do it like that, but that is how it comes across when she’s being overprotective.

It’ll be difficult for the Wisdom when you’re both accepted.

Day 4 : the day Mat my lad was healed!

Finally we get to hear what the Soulless are and frankly they looked a little scarier in my imagination. But the sneaky factor is still scary.

Grey men. Or women. I bet there’s a grey woman in the White Tower. A Black Aes Sedai who has gone the whole way? Assassin with saidin?

Oh boy. This is not a secret investigation if this is how you’re going to go about it. This seems counter productive. Tipping her off instead of actually getting intel.

If you want to find the truth, you’re going to have to use Aes Sedai techniques, Wisdom.

OR! A Grey Woman....! I think it’s a woman. And that’s a bit scary.

I wonder how they’ll deal with this and where he or she will strike again. I’d think Egwene and the Wisdom were easy to kill if you really wanted to.

Except of course that the pattern has been spun in their favour.

Yea.... but there are much more effective ways to ask questions and actually get answers. You asked directly and didn’t get an answer and somehow that satisfies you..?

All you’ve done is tip her off and with nothing to show for it.

Secrecy is key, Girls.

Yes! Remember who you are and what has happened, Egwene!

The pattern will protect you, I think, but still, be cautious.

The pattern might not protect you entirely but the wheel clearly isn’t done with you.

Oh no. So before the end of the book, Galad will either:

1. Follow orders and rat the girls out, exposing their plan and putting them in danger

2. Choose to break a rule for the first time in his life.

Let’s be honest. One of these is more likely than the other.

Oh yes I like this match. I’d like to see more of Gawyn.

With two princes mooning over you, Egwene, you're living the childhood dream, eh?

I feel like I know very little about Gawyn. Can we please see more of him?

And that’s exactly why the Amyrlin Seat didn’t include the princess, because she wasn’t chosen by the book burner, but volunteered to come.

But I agree. I don’t think the princess is a Darkfriend. And the we all know you’d tell her and yes you do need to tell SOMEONE. ...Gawyn?

Haha! The princess and her crazy lion analogy.

It suits her. Of course she is thinking of lions since a lion is the royal crest. But honestly, right now I’m just picturing a lion disguised as a bush, and it’s a mighty inner image.

YES!! So dangerous but yes!!

And Egwene gets that they can only do this if they work together! As I’ve been insisting all along. Why does the Wisdom not want to work together?

It seems to be because she thinks she can do it on her own rather than because she wants to protect the girls.

I do NOT trust Elaida. I don’t like to think that all Red Ajah are Darkfriends but I really don’t like this woman.

She hasn’t been pleasant even once in the last three books. Not that we’ve seen a lot of her, but still.

Well okay, at least she isn’t as bad as the book burner.

I certainly had, if I had ever been told it. But I mean that works. So they will heal Mat and if they don’t our three girls can go in as backup.

Only if they ABSOLUTELY have to though. Otherwise they might accidentally injure him...or worse.

Oh. This is not going to be easy for our girls.

They have zero discipline or respect. And never listen to advice. Good on you for telling them before going inside though, because yes, it’s clear that you can’t assume that they know what would proper and what would not.

Wooow going with the old speech thing again!

It never occurred to me before that he could have been saying all of that stuff before because of the dagger...

Has the dagger connected him to some far away past..?

Uhhh exactly! So... is he possessed or something...? Or...?

What was that. Past. Has he lived in the past?

Are we talking about reincarnation here?

Or something passed down in a bloodline? Or both?

Uh new header image! Nice looking dice positioned like... a flower. I wonder what they indicate.

MAT??? It’s a Mat my lad chapter??? At last! Finally!

(What’s with the dice though?)

Oh that explains it. Wow he is lost in the past. So is this a vision? A memory?

Are we dealing with some assassins creed sort of system or real direct reincarnation?

Why is he remembering this stuff? And how is this happening?

This is really wholesome. Since Mat doesn’t really remember the past many months he is still mostly thinking of home.

It sweet how Mat thinks of his father although we have never seen ANY indication that he has ever listened to that advice, not even BEFORE the dagger.

Uhm, Mat my lad? If I may...? This seems like a gross exaggeration, and you better take those words back some day.

That’s no way to talk about your friend Rand who has gone through so much for you.

Ha! Talking about exaggerations!

If Mat my lad is sane then I really think we have to look at the definition again.

Even a moment of lucidity like this ought to tell you that you’re anything but sane, Mat my lad. We’ll figure it out anyways, though.

Mat my lad. Have you learned nothing?... I wanted to say, but then he came out with this honest confession.

You might only remember a portion of it, you’ve been out in the world and you’ll never be that same lad again.

Especially not now that you live half-way in the past.

Now you remember? Yes, Mat you did.

And it is only now that I remember what Min said about Mat in book 1. It was something about a horn. Well yes.

So what will happen to you now, Mat? When will you blow the horn again? How will you get it back?

Oh you are very wrong Mat. You see, since you blew the horn once, only you can blow it again. But... only until you die.

They’re all going to be out to kill you. Everyone in this world who knows about you and the horn.

Run, Mat my lad. And don’t look back.

Day 5 : the day Lanfear visited Mat

Yet another new chapter header.

This one makes me really nervous since Moiraine called Lanfear something like daughter of the night...

Please let me be wrong.

I don’t want to be right about this, but I am! We know that description.

Only one person is THAT beautiful. Lanfear is back.

Oh are we going to start that trend with you too Mat my lad? All three of you lads seem the think the others are good with girls.

Well actually.... I’m not sure Perrin and Rand thought of you Mat, just each other. Sorry, mate.

I knew it... at least now I know that each time I see that pretty moon and stars header I should be anxious because Lanfear is about to make an appearance again.

She makes me SO uncomfortable.

Hmm. There is some wisdom to her.

She is mad, of course, absolutely mad with the idea of glory and power, but she is not dumb.

And she does seem to mostly be telling the truth, but what exactly is it that she wants? Rand’s heart? Why? Does she need to eat it to become human?

Ohh! What good fathers. I had forgotten that Tam knew where they were originally headed. What a good man.

What about Perrin’s father?

Wait... is Perrin an orphan? I don’t recall ever hearing him mention his family, even in thought. Only the blacksmith.

And the other choice would be to be your puppet, Lanfear? Is that what you’re proposing...?

As much as I want to continue to hate her, she is not exactly in Mat’s way. She has helped Rand more than once too.

She will help them as long as it’s in her interest.

But who knows what she actually wants?

Ohhh that’s what the dice from Mat's header image means?

Gotcha! In his old-timey memories too he gambled with dice. So, is it really reincarnation?

There certainly is some connection to past and present.

As the saying goes: all of this has happened before, and all of this will happen again.

(bonus points if you know that reference)

Oh really? If Mat is so good why didn’t he use them when he was with Rand in book 1? I feel like he didn't, or did I just forget..? Now I'm doubting myself.

As a young lad from Two Rivers who doesn’t remember ever being in a large city, how is Mat my lad so confident in his gambling skills?

There seems to be more to this than what meets the eye.

Haha Mat’s observations are really good. It’s strange that he should be SO different on the inside than the out, but I knew there was a reason I kept hoping to get a Mat chapter during these past two books.

Mat my lad is alright. At least for now. Without the dagger.

I second Mat my lad here: that sounds like an awful long time! They can’t possibly expect him to sit still for that long?

Is this going to end in some big manhunt for Mat...?

Is he clever enough to stage an escape? I’m not actually sure.

GIRLS! Get over here, and look at this.

Now it’s not perfect but this is a much better way to get intel and interrogate someone.

With his shenanigans as a kid I imagine Mat often had to use these techniques to find out if he was in trouble or not.

Mat is a natural at this.

Definitely not perfect, but he did get her alone and that’s an achievement.

And now he knows how much caution he will need to arm himself with if he is to survive his time in the White Tower.

Dangerous times.

Yep. Blood and ashes, Mat. Blood and ashes.

By blowing that horn you’ve resigned yourself to be a target and, at best, a puppet.

If you’re really good, maybe you’ll get to choose your puppet master.

She does make a fair point, Mat my lad. It could be much worse.

I know you hate Aes Sedai but I reckon at least part of that hatred was fuelled by the dagger. It could be so much worse.

Uhh Mat my lad is good at this. Girls, are you watching?

This is how you should conduct an inconspicuous interrogation.

I still don’t buy that Mat has ever been thoughtful (although he might have wanted to be he hasn’t acted it) but he certainly does have wits and smarts.

So many new header images.

I can’t begin to guess what this one is supposed to mean but it looks a little hypnotic.

Ohh yes. That’s where I’d choose to have my quarters too.

I also wonder: do all Aes Sedai have quarters in the White Tower even those who are rarely there and live elsewhere? Or do only some of the sisters have permanent quarters there?

Uh very exciting!! So the Dark One could be released in another world without anyone knowing?

Does it work the same with the Forsaken?

And the Creator is different from the Dragon? So, will they have to search for the Creator to lock the Dark One up again?

The world of dreams. I do like this whole idea of parallel worlds.

Maybe now I won’t dislike the looong dream sequences so much. Knowing that it’s a different world and what happens there might affect our own world might make it more engaging.

I feel like our three lads should know this too.

Uhh scary that even healing doesn’t work properly.

I wonder what Verin got up to in order to get injured like that.

Oh this is going to be super exciting! Egwene is so going to conquer those dreams. Although maybe not right away.

Uh our first Verin POV section!

I did request it and it doesn’t disappoint.

It’s short though. Too short

More? Please?

Ha! Exactly! Verin Sedai can be trusted and here is the definitive proof:

VERIN IS NOT A BOOK BURNER!

She is a book protector.

Hence a good guy. Like Loial.

The rule is:

Book protectors = good

Book burners = evil

Day 6 : the day Egwene became an Accepted

Oh wow so soon?

I’m really excited to see what sort of fears Egwene has hidden away.

My guesses remain roughly the same. Not being able to marry Rand, being stilled and not succeeding.

I really don’t like Elaida. We haven’t had a single Red Ajah that I’ve liked.

Are there no nice Red Ajah? Are they all Black sisters or something?

I’d like to meet a good Red Ajah.

Ohh goodness, I had forgotten too, well about the papers. Oh no, this feels dangerous.

Now I gotta worry about how she is going to get those back, and the ring too!

Oh no, oh no.

Oh no, and now something else is wrong too! Did a black Ajah mess with the..."thing I can’t spell"?

Elayne is through of course so it’s just Egwene in danger.

And there goes Elaida being a mean Red Ajah again! Perhaps you should take this seriously, Elaida!

1/3 correct guesses for me.

Rand had to be one of them, having to leave that happy plan of marrying him and having kids and living a normal life.

You’re beyond that now, Egwene. It’ll be okay. You’ll find a different way.

I’m starting to these trials are like the dream world Verin spoke about and the parallel worlds.

It’s real, in some way. Maybe what happens there can affect the other worlds too. In which case some disaster will certainly happen sooner or later.

Oh this is about Rand too.

Oh! Is she going to have to give him up to the Dark One? That could be dangerous?

Or worse: is she going to have to still him? Or kill him??

No, no, I knew it.

Oh poor Egwene, you’re going to have to kill him to get to the gate, aren’t you?

That one will stay with you, Rand dying at your hand.

Oh no? No killing. Okay. It was the not killing that would be the worst for her? Oh okay.

I for sure thought she would have to kill him to get to the gate.

We have one left and I have no idea what it’s going to be.

Oh this does not bode well for the future. Aes Sedai can be turned to the bad cause, and as Egwene is certainly thinking: Rand too.

Well now you have a new mission Egwene, you have to tell Rand about this danger, somehow.

Hmm Visit him in dreams? Can you do that?

*GASP!* I actually gasped out loud at this.

Of course. Why didn’t I see that one coming?

Oh my gosh... no.... oh no...

They’re already on Rand’s trail to turn him to the Dark One!!

This is super scary!!!

Oh snap! She remembers! Like the Wisdom did too! Egwene is super powerful!!

And the Amyrlin Seat, yes of course, Egwene would suit that position well, I think. I had mostly thought of the Wisdom because she can’t stand authority, but Egwene would be good in that position I think.

Uhh the Green Ajah?

So... two Warders, eh? Let me guess: Gawyn and Galad?

GG, Egwene.

Because I doubt Perrin or Rand would go through Warder training.

Ohh Rand is in all of them!

Oh Egwene... no matter what, harming Rand or not being with him or not doing right by him is always your worst fear.

I was wrong. You didn’t have 3 fears, you have one. I think you’ll always fear that same thing.

Ohh no!! Enough to turn her to the Dark One, and and and saidar!

She’s not supposed to use it in there! Isn’t that dangerous? That’s what they told the Wisdom.

Egwene please don’t. Please be safe.

I wonder if this Gyldan Sedai person is going to be a black Ajah in the real world too or not.

Egwene is certainly going to investigate her now. That’ll be very interesting to see.

Ohh!! I did not see that one coming! How terribly cruel!

I keep getting shock after shock in this chapter.

(...is it dangerous to gasp too many times in a row..? should I be worried about my health here?)

Ohh so it would seem that every Red Sister we meet is doomed to be a Black Ajah.

After the book burner this one is hardly a surprise, but I wonder if it’ll be the same in the real world. It would be cool if it wasn’t. Even though I really don’t like Elaida.

Egwene is really suspecting everyone now.

I have kind of grown fond of Alanna. I don’t want her to be a black Ajah. Please just not her! I’ll gladly sacrifice Elaida if we can spare Alanna. Alanna seems so sincere.

*Gasp* But of course!

I thought about the ring when she went in and I thought about the dream worlds but why didn’t I see this? Yes of course.

Wow it sounds like Egwene was super lucky. And that also confirms that what happened is like in the dream world. Scary!

See? I like Alanna. And she’s teaching me about the Different Ajah now. Albeit by gossiping about who likes men more... but still, learning.

See, for example I knew nothing about the White before. Now I know they’re boring. And that and Ajah is CHOSEN. Important stuff.

Oh that is awesome! I got goosebumps from that.

Yes, Egwene you are SO a Green sister and not just to joke about having two Warders

That is awesome. I knew something drew me to the Green Ajah. Mystery solved.

The Green sisters aren’t just the fun ones. They’re the cool ones.

Oh good that Elayne succeeded. Not that there was much doubt or that I worried, but still. I wonder what she experienced in there.

Whatever it was, I don’t think it would have made me gasp as much as Egwene numerous revelations.

Oh yes, that is the way of painful memories. They’re only terrible until something else equally bad comes along and steals our focus away. And Egwene has had a while slew of bad news and experiences today.

But when you‘re reminded of them, they’re just as bad as they first were. Oh sweet girls.

The adventure continues in Part 2 here

Experience the collection of my live tweets about the Wheel of Time series here:

1. The Eye of the World Part 1 and Part 2

2. The Great Hunt Part 1 and Part 2 and Part 3