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 18: As the Plow Breaks the Earth
NOTE: The following chapter summary comes from wot.fandom.com
Point of view: Rand al’Thor
Rand meets with Indirian, Mandelain, and Janwin. He wants to dispel rumors that the Aes Sedai in Cairhien control him. Instead the Aes Sedai serve him with Merana literally serving them tea. Earlier, the Wise Ones told the clan chiefs that the Aes Sedai sided with Rand. But, the clan chiefs are still wary and believe Aes Sedai would do anything to get what they want. The topic changes to handling the surviving Shaido that fled from Dumai’s Wells to Kinslayer’s Dagger. They agree that all Shaido should be killed or made Gai’shain within the next few months. Although it is against custom for Wise Ones to engage in fighting, their Wise Ones will deal with the traitorous Wise Ones of the Shaido. Mandelain asks if they’ll get to see the Three-fold Land again. Rand slowly replies, “I hope so,” but knows the Prophecy of Rhuidean says he’ll destroy the Aiel. The clan chiefs depart on good terms with Rand.
For a brief moment, Rand looks at the scattered maps on the floor. He feels overwhelmed by his many priorities from Tar Valon to Illian to Ghealdan, from Shaido to Asha’man to Forsaken, and with both Alanna and Lews Therin in his head.
Berelain storms in with Annoura to protest being sent back to Mayene. It was for her own safety due to a recent assassination attempt likely related to Colavaere sympathizers targeting her. Berelain says it was nothing, plus she is best suited to handle the Atha’an Miere who still await an audience with Rand and how crucial both sides are to each other. Rand wonders why she works so hard to keep the thankless position of interim leader of Cairhien, but realizes she must use every opportunity and connection to protect her small nation of Mayene. He clumsily guarantees something for Mayene. She clarifies that new allies gain his favor while her past service will be forgotten leaving Mayene at risk. Quietly, he asks if she’d still serve even if it meant leaving.
Cadsuane Melaidhrin enters abruptly. Annoura gasps thinking Cadsuane was dead. Merana screams she mustn’t harm Rand. Rand feels a woman channeling saidar. Tensions rise and both Asha’man and Maidens go to high alert. Cadsuane coolly reassures Annoura she’s very much alive, scolds Merana to calm herself, and ignores Rand’s questions while inspecting the Asha’man. Again, he asks her who she is and why she’s here. She continues ignoring him until finally acknowledging that Moiraine didn’t teach the Dragon Reborn better manners. Cadsuane compliments Berelain’s beauty and curtsies deeply, yet politely dismisses Berelain so she can talk to Rand. Surprisingly, Berelain reminds him about meeting Harine din Togara Two Winds of the Atha’an Miere and politely leaves.
Cadsuane insults Rand by criticizing the ornate decor, asking for tea, and calling him a “good boy.” Fuming, he asks why she’s here for the 3rd time. Cadsuane calmly explains she is a Green, but as the oldest living Aes Sedai she’s helped put away many male channelers, often in tears. Feeling threatened, Rand smashes the tea set into a wall mirror with the One Power. Calm as ever, she says she knows Rand’s future and present, and coolly asks whether he’s begun hearing voices. He demands an explanation, feeling Lews Therin listening inside. Apparently, some male channelers hear voices as they fall into madness. The two Asha’man guards, Dashiva and Narishma, react oddly. Rand begins doubting his sanity and Lews Therin’s existence. Finally, she says Rand is young and overwrought, so she’ll leave to catch up with Merana and Annoura while he calms down a bit. Rand screams for everyone to get out. Once the room is empty, he hurls the Dragon Scepter into a chair and begins questioning his sanity over and over.
The door opens quietly and Riallin brings in Head of the School Idrien Tarsin. She bursts into tears and falls into Rand’s chest. After she delivers her news, Rand wants to weep too.
REACTION:
The chapter starts with Rand assuring the Clan Chiefs that he isn’t an Aes Sedai puppet. I think he’s as successful as he can be here, but the testimony of the Wise Ones probably carried more weight.
One of the most consistent ironies of this series is how high the reputation of Aes Sedai are and how they almost never even come close to living up to that reputation… and yet Rand still has to deal with their reputation anyway. It’s extra unfortunate for him that maybe the most clever thing we’ve seen any Aes Sedai do so far was his very own kidnapping plot.
Berelain is upset about Rand sending her home. I think she’s almost certainly correct that out of sight, out of mind is a bad outcome for Mayene. Rand is also almost certainly right that she will be murdered if she stays in Cairhien. So… I bet they compromise by sending her somewhere with Perrin and Faile… because Jordan wants to torture his readers with this plot arc some more. It’s almost like punishment for giving us such a great Perrin/Faile story in Book 4. We need to balance it out now with this one. Maybe it’s just that Jordan doesn’t know what to do with Perrin.
Then Cadsuane arrives. She’s the oldest living Aes Sedai (so much so that everyone believes her dead) and she’s apparently one of the strongest. We’ll get a feel for what she’s up to, going forward, but my guess is that she’s Jordan’s solution to the problem he created of general Aes Sedai incompetency. Granted… this introduction does not feel terribly competent. Maybe it was in the sense that she didn’t get attacked despite her actions.
If we take seriously the idea that she’s the most expert person in the Aes Sedai world on dealing with men going through One Power madness… then hopefully she proves useful, at least. I have felt all along that Lews Therin is not a separate person.. but is Rand himself. So that’s madness. He’s manufacturing a voice in his own head and conversing with it. HOWEVER… the stuff Lews Therin says might also be from Rand’s past life. What happens if a reincarnated person goes insane? What is the insanity is related to shared memories with your past self? The piece Rand is missing is that he’s treating Lews Therin like he’s someone else rather than as himself. This is basically Mat’s situation except that the memories for Rand are weeping and crazy.
Everything is always about finding balance in this series. If we get a 3,00 year old Dark One created One Power madness… then the madness has to be part of the key to eventual victory against the Dark One. Rand having access to his own past knowledge would be balance against that contact making him mentally unstable. But Rand had just grown comfortable with the idea that the voice wasn’t madness and now she comes here and says it is. Obviously he didn’t handle that well. So we’ll see where that relationship goes. She feels like an older, crankier, and bossier Moiraine.
(Why can’t Rand have anyone in his life except Min who gives him support and affection?)
The chapter ends with the crying report of bad news… but it’s a cliffhanger so we don’t know what the report says yet. Can’t be good though if it makes Rand want to weep.
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