Welcome back to my re-read, recap, and reaction to Robert Jordan’s Wheel of Time series. This post will only have spoilers through the current chapter.
You can find my previous chapter recaps HERE.
Chapter 32: A Short Spear
NOTE: The following chapter summary comes from wot.fandom.com
Point of view: Rand al’Thor
Aviendha and Rand prepare to leave their snow hut to go back to the Gateway to their room in Eianrod. As Rand finishes making a door, he sees a large flying creature with two people on its back. He tells Aviendha they will have to sneak back to the Gateway. To the east Rand can see an ocean below the rising sun. They arrive near the Gateway and see over twenty people gathered around. Two of them are sul’dam connected to two damane. Rand realizes they must be in Seanchan, on the other side of the Aryth Ocean from his home lands.
Rand binds the group with Air while Aviendha shields the women. They make their way to the Gateway, but rather than showing the room in Eianrod, it is a gray blank. Rand can tell that saidin was used to obscure the Gateway and believes Asmodean may be setting a trap for him. Rand has Aviendha try to remove the collars from the damane but she can not figure out how they work. As they jump through the gateway Rand releases the weaves on the Seanchan. As Rand cuts the weave holding the Gateway open, a spear comes through, but part of its length is cut off by the closing Gateway.
Rand immediately confronts Asmodean, but Asmodean explains that he merely hid the Gateway so no one would ask any questions. When a gai’shain arrived with food for Rand, Asmodean suggested that he and Aviendha were busy. The Maidens construe that to mean they are in bed together and perform a ritual outside the window. Rand decides the spear will make a good scepter and a reminder that the Seanchan are still a threat.
REACTION:
One of the most effective writing moments from this chapter was Rand and Avi’s realization that they can see an ocean… to the east. On the whole that’s a small detail of description, but for these characters that’s mind-blowing. It’s like looking up in the sky and seeing a second moon. That sense of wonder came through in the story. Great job, Mr. Jordan.
We confirm that Avi travelled to Seanchan. On the return journey to the gateway, they just so happen to meet a Seeker (a Seanchan royal spy), a Seanchan noble, and two sul’dam and two leashed damane. 1) Rand lets the group know that he is the guy they saw fighting Ba’alzamon in the sky in the Westlands, 2) he lets them know he is the eone responsible for their defeat in Falme, 3) he lets the Seeker know that events from Falme were hushed up, 4) he might have let a Seeker know that sul’dam can channel, and 5) he lets the Seanchan Empire know that he can reach them even on their own shores.
Thinking abouto the fact that the Seanchan dress like insects… he stirred up a hornet’s nest. On the insect armor thing, if you can remember Rand’s trip through the Way Back ter’angreal in Rhuidean, that style of dress is a remnant of the Age of Legends. The people on the other side of the world must have continued wearing that type of armor until Hawkwing’s army arrived and then Hawkwing’s army adopted it. (It would be really cool to get some stories set in Seanchan concerning the conquest by Hawkwing’s army, or even from before that time.)
It’s pretty funny that Rand and Aviendha sleeping together did not remain a secret.. even though the actual story was a secret. I look forward to the reactions from the rest of the camp. I’ve mentioned my belief that Lanfear will be, uh, angry, but I think Moiraine, Egwene, Mat, and the Wise Ones will have entertaining reactions, too. What are the odds that Lan drops one of these on him?
Zero. The odds are zero.
From Lanfear’s perspective, she was going to be told this was happening by Kadere, whether it actually did or not, because Kadere thinks it is happening already based on their sleeping arrangements. Now Kadere’s story will be confirmed by the entire Aiel camp – so even if he hadn’t told her, she was going to find out. And lastly, it actually happened, and Rand won’t be able to hide it from her if she asks. The Wheel Weaves as the Wheel Wills. The Wheel apparently wills an “incandescent with rage” Lanfear.
The chapter ends with Rand asking Asmodean to teach him how to fight off channeling from women. I wonder if he knows subconsciously what is coming. Or maybe the Wheel is getting him ready in his ignorance?
The chapter title is “A Short Spear” and that’s the Seanchan spear that Rand is now using as a scepter. Egwene will recognize it for what it is, and she’ll tell the others. How long will it take everyone to begin working it out? Will they think Rand has been hiding that spear in his belongings, from Falme, until now?
Anyway. Lots of intrigue. The end of the book is starting to come into view!
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