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 35: In the Hall of the Sitters
NOTE: The following chapter summary comes from wot.fandom.com
Point of view: Egwene al’Vere
Egwene has just found out the Salidar Aes Sedai have decided to make her the Amyrlin Seat. Egwene notes that she isn’t Aes Sedai, but the sisters say it isn’t technically a requirement, that she will be Aes Sedai by becoming the Amyrlin Seat, but she doesn’t have to be Aes Sedai to become the Amyrlin Seat. She can’t understand why they would choose someone so inexperienced and untrained, regardless of her superior strength in the power.[1]
The Sisters begin reviewing the ceremony, having her go over everything again and again even though she only needs to go over it once. They then move to the Hall of the Tower, where the eighteen Sitters, three from each of the six Ajahs in Salidar, will decide whether to accept Egwene as Amyrlin. The Sitters vote by standing in favor of Egwene or else staying seated. In the first vote only nine sisters stand, but all eighteen must stand in favor for Egwene to become Amyrlin. Egwene then performs a service for all the Sitters by washing their feet. On the next vote all of the Sitters stand, but Lelaine and Romanda stand last and apparently reluctantly. Egwene is formally made the Amyrlin Seat and the Sisters all approach her in her chair and kiss her ring, promising to serve.
REACTION:
It’s interesting here that Jordan indirectly opines on the subject of the literal meaning of a law verses original intention of the law. If you know the original intent behind the way something is worded, but the wording is not spelled out so clearly as to close all possible loopholes… does a loophole exist or does it not? This is a debate ready-made for a law school’s Constitutional Law class. The Salidar Aes Sedai side with technical language over original intent I suppose the original intention argument isn’t exactly clear, given that they don’t have anything to cite to that effect.
So Egwene is Aes Sedai BECAUSE she is Amyrlin. She did not have to be Aes Sedai to become Amyrlin. She’s a world leader due to a technicality.
Egwene perceives a slight smile on Siuan’s face, more than once, and as a result we should assume that this outcome is largely her doing. She and Leane have been manipulating the Salidar Aes Sedai since their arrival. Maybe Egwene is the oar she’s planning to use to row the Rebel boat.
One other thing that jumped out at me, during the ceremony, was that Egwene was pledged for initially / primarily by Sheriam. Let’s take a trip back in time to The Dragon Reborn. It’s easy to forget, but Sheriam was *very* suspicious in that book. Lest we forget, she showed up at the spot in the Novice’s Quarters where a Gray Man almost assassinated Egwene and Nynaeve (he fired an arrow that nicked Egwene’s ear because she abruptly changed her movement.) Sheriam was there almost immediately after it happened – almost as if she knew to be looking for something. She disposed of the Gray Man body and kept it a secret, too.
We should probably then consider that Egwene’s ascension might be a Black Ajah plot, too, in addition to a Siuan plot.
There are a few interesting facets from the ceremony. All of the women present have to bare themselves to the waist, to declare themselves a woman. Given that we learn through Egwene’s POV that the ceremony dates back to the Breaking, then it implies that at some point during the Breaking, there was a reasonable concern that men – dressed as women – would try to infiltrate the White Tower. Maybe it even happened. I’m not sure how anyone would get past the lack of ability to channel saidar (women who can channel can sense each other.) Who can say what type of ter’angreal existed in the Age of Legends, though.
Egwene’s “toh” injuries were on full display during the ceremony. She thinks about those on her bottom, because she feels those when she sits. But we were told that she was strapped across her back and shoulders, too. Those would have been visible as soon as she got undressed. I wonder if the Aes Sedai just wrote that oddity off to her being among the Aiel? It’s never mentioned either way. They definitely saw the injuries.
Egwene is now the “leader” of the Rebel Aes Sedai, and almost is definitely intended to be a puppet. She’s probably also an enticement to Rand, to ally himself with them. The Aes Sedai did not vet her personality particularly well. It’s reasonable to assume now that the next few chapters/books will be about Egwene gaining power in truth, as well as in title.
It’s a funny twist now that she will have authority over Nynaeve, too. That won’t sit well with the Wisdom. Maybe this change will give her a growth arc, too.
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