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 34: Ta’veren
NOTE: The following chapter summary comes from wot.fandom.com
Point of view: Rand al’Thor
Summary
Rand has a group gathered to visit the Sea Folk ship in the harbor. The Asha’man Dashiva, Flinn, and Narishma along with Min, Dobraine, and some armsmen. Alanna, Bera, Rafela, Faeldrin Harella, and Merana are Aes Sedai that are going with him. Min has a viewing of all five in Rand’s hand, which means that they will keep their word to Rand. Later, blushes as she talks with Alanna, learning about the bond Alanna has with Rand and what that allows her to sense. Min briefs him on the Sea Folk and their prophecy, information she received from Berelain.
When Rand nears the ship he makes a ramp of air and walks up the slope to the deck of the Sea Folk ship. He is greeted by Harine din Togara Two Winds, identifies himself as the Coramoor, and asks permission to board. Harine grants him permission and recognizes him as the Coramoor. She then seems dismayed to have done so. Min, Dashiva, Merana, and Rafela join Rand in the cabin for the conference with the Sea Folk. Rand begins to bully Harine into agreeing that the Sea Folk must serve him. To show that he is not under the control of the Aes Sedai, he commands Merana and Rafela to come kneel on the floor next to him. Not only do they come kneel next to him, but they also kiss his hands. His ta’veren effect is in full force and Harine says things she clearly did not plan on saying. Harine eventually agrees that the Sea Folk will serve the Coramoor. Min tells her that she will be punished for this (though less harshly than she thinks) and that eventually she will become Mistress of the Ships.
Harine then admits that Sea Folk ships that venture too far to the West never return; Rand suspects the Seanchan. Because of how Rand was treated by the White Tower Aes Sedai he starts to feel claustrophobic in the small cabin and he suddenly needs to leave. He assigns Merana to conclude the negotiations. He decides that with his ta’veren effect working so well he should also try to settle the problem of the Cairhienin and Tairen rebels that are camped outside the city.
REACTION:
The funniest thing in this chapter was very subtle. Alanna tells Min that she, uh, *felt* what she did with Rand through the Warder bond. Rand doesn’t know about that, though, so he only notices that Min’s cheeks turn red.
Did Min know before that she had bonded Rand? I don’t remember that coming up. Rand has mostly been very secretive about that. (If he weren’t, he’d find out that it was possible to make Alanna release him from that bond.)
Jordan drops a great line though, just after this happens:
One thing he was sure of about women was that every last one had secret places in her heart, sometimes shared with another woman, but never with a man.
We rarely see Rand living his life while in a good mood. We do in this chapter though – well, for most of it at least – and things go well. He smiles and laughs on his way to the meeting. It simultaneously feels as though Jordan is making this good fortune / good mood link obvious, while it also simultaneously feels ominous, as though things are about to go very south. But maybe that’s just because we’re near the end of the book.
Rand ties the Sea Folk to him and we find out why they are a part of the story to some extent. They’re going to be a combination of Navy and his personal merchant ships. I guess he’ll need that in light of the Seanchan who have returned to the story.
We are reminded in this chapter that Rand is suffering from the severe trauma of being kept in a box for a couple of weeks. He’s extremely claustrophobic now and almost has a mental break down in the small Sea Folk cabin for the negotiation.
Random thought: What do we imagine the golden boxes, hanging from chains connected to Sea Folk noses look like? This is the best image I could find online:
In any case… this meeting was a long time coming and given the build up it felt a little bit like a letdown. On the other hand, it feels as though Rand is probably about to do something very foolish with the Rebels he mentions to Min as this chapter ended.
We are near the end of the book so I expect excitement to be coming our way soon.