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 43: The Crown of Roses
NOTE: The following chapter summary comes from wot.fandom.com
Point of view: Merana Ambrey
Merana, Seonid, Masuri, and Min are riding back to their inn after the first meeting between Rand and the Salidar embassy. Merana is reflecting on the meeting, which did not go well from her perspective. Verin and Alanna are also at the inn and Merana meets with them right after she arrives. Merana is displeased that Alanna bonded Rand but is still trying to find a way to use that to her advantage. Since they are not able to advise Rand directly, they are working behind his back by talking to some of the nobles that are in Caemlyn.
Point of view: Dyelin Taravin
Kairen Stang meets with Lady Dyelin and talk about Elayne becoming available to take the throne.
Point of view: Luan Norwelyn
Rafela Cindal meets with Lord Luan. She suggests that Andor will be better off if it is still united when Rand leaves.
Point of view: Ellorien Traemane
Demira Eriff meets with Lady Ellorien. Ellorien wants to know who will sit in the Lion Throne when Rand leaves, but Demira simply says that, “The Wheel weaves as the Wheel wills.”
REACTION:
This chapter is useful inasmuch as it subtly lets us know that the Salidar Aes Sedai aren’t villains out to get Rand, while simultaneously letting us know how they are likely to mess up their relationship with him in a significant way.
Merana figured out immediately that Min is in love with Rand, and this causes her to think Min might be lying to them re: Rand already knowing they’re in Salidar. This is understandable, but it’s also a problem. They’re underestimating Rand because Min now provides them with a plausible reason for doing so. She’s also frightened of Rand – also understandable – but a problem.
So the Salidar Aes Sedai meet with Verin and Alanna and learn that Alanna bonded Rand. This should have elicited outrage. And it might have also been smart to let Rand know that releasing him from this bond is an option. But they’re too afraid and simultaneously self-confident to try doing something that might earn their side some trust. They don’t even discuss this as an option.
The Verin vs. Merana struggle for precedence is interesting. In a sense, it seems they are going to determine which of the two of them are in charge in the same way that the Aiel do – by pitting one will against the other. I don’t really know what I think about “strength in the power” vs. “time in school” as a metric for determining precedence, though. Maybe that’s useful most of the time inasmuch as it helps to alleviate the time it might otherwise take for “dominant will power” to reveal itself. The problem though is that it assumes that the more dominantly willed woman would not be reasonable and would just run roughshod over a decision made by the Amyrlin and just impose her own will on an embassy or situation. The Aiel do not assume this about themselves.
It’s also clear that Verin will win that battle of wills.
One of the things that make Aes Sedai so unlikeable, just generally, is their sense of authority, even when that isn’t warranted. We get that here. Merana mentions that she “considered taking Moiraine’s place with him” as though she could decide that unilaterally. That’s… well… obnoxious. The assumption is obnoxious but so is the delusion. She knows how strong Rand is. Why would she even think she could? Of course she says that she rejected the thought after considering it but still.
They don’t believe that Rand can sense channeling. That’s… not good. He will have to demonstrate for them and I’m guessing that will go badly. Do Verin and Alanna know he’s not lying? I think they do. They don’t correct the Salidar Embassy on this point, which is interesting.
Merana has met Rand and still thinks they can put him on a leash. This is wildly irrational.
This chapter ends with the same sort of vague threat, regarding the future of Andor, that we read in Cairhien when the Aes Sedai there started plotting the post-Rand era. I think the Salidar Aes Sedai are aiming at the same goal as Rand, but they are making the same mistake of unilateral manipulation that the White Tower Aes Sedai made all the same.
The more you read the series, the more you understand why men join the Whitecloaks.
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