Chapter 8: Shreds of Serenity
Summary: Moiraine and Siuan continue their clerical duties, attracting the ire of Aes Sedai who now have to teach novice classes. They continue private lessons from those Aes Sedai who don't refuse to give them. Moiraine takes lessons from Kerene, Meilyn and Aisha on history, philosophy and law, respectively. The two Accepted wonder why none of the searchers have left the Tower yet. Rumor has it that Gitara has had other Foretellings, specifically that "Tarmon Gai'don will come during the lifetimes of sisters now breathing." Moiraine and Siuan continue to practice for the test and Elaida barges into one of their practice sessions and takes over. Elaida uses lights and sounds to confuse Moiraine in addition to blows. Moiraine is unable to get very far in the 100 weaves required to pass the test. On the fifth attempt, Moiraine falls to her knees weeping. Elaida says the pain will teach her a lesson, she must be able to weave faster. Next she tries Siuan, who does much better than Moiraine, before Elaida calls quits for the night. She comments that Siuan would fail because "there isn't a shred of serenity in you." Siuan holds back her tears until Elaida leaves.
Elaida comes in the morning to use healing on them. That night she gives them more lessons and on the next night as well. Merean wakes them on the morning after the third night and offers them healing, informing them that they need not worry about Elaida anymore. She informs them that Elaida nearly earned a penance for helping them cheat on the test for the shawl. They run into Elaida a few days later, she says nothing but is clearly angry. A week after Gitara's Foretelling, the weather clears and the snows on the lower slopes of Dragonmount melt, giving them a ten day window for the birth of the Dragon Reborn. Soon after, the number of names added to their books each day reaches zero. At dawn, nine days after the thaw, Moiraine is summoned for her testing.
I think the most interesting part of this chapter is Elaida and her actions. I don't think we ever really learn why she wanted to "help" these girls pass the test. It may have had something to do with the fact that their potential in the Power would reach her own. It may also have something to do with them matching her in terms of time spent as novices and likely their time as Accepted being even shorter than hers. Which I believe is about the case, when they pass on the day that begins at the close of this chapter. In terms of hierarchy then, Siuan and Moiraine will surpass Elaida one day. Still not sure on her motivations though. Another possibility could be that she had had a Foretelling or two regarding this pair. We'll probably never know. Her anger at the humiliation she suffers when her "aid" has been discovered does bring in a new dimension to her role in the fall of Siuan as Amyrlin. The other big thing, thrown in at the end, is that we now have a window for the birth of the Dragon Reborn.
Chapter 9: It Begins
Summary: Merean leads Moiraine down through the tower, taking her below the storerooms in the upper levels of the Tower basements and down to corridors rarely used by anyone except for testing. Moiraine worries about what will happen if she fails, but decides that since she still has the names, she will continue the search regardless. Her anxiety diminishes somewhat at the that thought. They enter a large domed chamber and Moiraine sees the great oval ring ter'angreal which will be used for the test. An Aes Sedai from each Ajah is in attendance to help administer the test, Elaida is one of them. Merean begins the ceremony, which includes Moiraine disrobing as she must perform the test "clad in the Light." She remembers the little book in her belt pouch and nearly panics, but tries to remain calm and puts her clothes on top of the pouch. She is told to follow a six-pointed star, which will guide her through the test. The Aes Sedai administering the test knell around the ter'angreal and begin to weave. The colors shifting over the surface of the oval move faster until the air in the middle of the ring turns white. Then the ring starts to revolve around its base, making no noise as it does so. Moiraine enters the ring calmly.
She can't remember where she is or how she got there. Also, she wonders why she isn't wearing any clothes. A table and dress seem to appear suddenly in the hallway in which she finds herself. She finds a full set of garments on the table and puts them on. She finds it easier to maintain serenity with a dress on and remembers she is the Lady Moiraine Damodred and that few can order her around inside Cairhien. She exits the hallway and finds a courtyard, pausing to find a brass six-pointed star inlaid in the center of the courtyard, before walking towards it. As she walks, her clothing suddenly disappears, one piece at a time. Three unshaven men stroll into the courtyard and begin ogling her. She tries to maintain her calm while walking toward the star. Once there, she used the required weave to make a wall of air around the men, who have been following her. She finds and passes through an archway with the same star symbol at the top.
She is suddenly naked in a doorless corridor. She finds rough woolen clothing to put on before walking to a doorway at the far end of the hall. Through the doorway she finds an abandoned village, apparently due to drought. The heat starts her sweating before she has gone very far. She finds a chipped painting of a star on a tile next to the well and steps onto it to begin her weave. As she begins, she is suddenly ensnared in blackclaw bushes. The thorns bite into her skin as she tries to get out, calmly. She continues to weave, but finds death's-head spiders from the Aiel Waste infesting the branches holding her. She divides her flows and begins killing spiders, weaving faster until the weave she must finish completes and the branches disappear. She resists the urge to look for spiders that may have gotten on her and instead finds the archway to walk through.
She is in some sort of room, with no idea why she is dressed like a farmer or why she appears to have been rolling around in thorn bushes. She finds a light patch in the darkness and walks for a while before discovering that the light is a doorway. She walks through and discovers a square surrounded by a high stone wall. As she walks to the star set in the center of the square, Trollocs begin to climb over the wall. She starts weaving once she reaches the star, as more and more Trollocs pour into the square and start rushing towards her. The required weave is first, but once she has started it, she begins throwing fireballs at the Trollocs, using both hands. The required weave nearly collapses as she is distracted with defending herself. There were too many Trollocs to turn her back on them. She realizes she can use a court dance to quickly move about the rim of the star while keeping the required weave in sight. She dances, killing Trollocs as she weaves faster than she ever has. The required weave finishes, but there are still Trollocs in the square, so she continues her dance as she uses lightning and fire to kill. She sees an archway leading out to where the Trollocs had come from, out into the Blight. She steps through.
That was hard to summarize. You'll want to read the chapter for yourself, since I skipped some things. I did keep the incidents during the test more or less intact. The last weave with the Trollocs is interesting because that will come up later in the book. This is her first encounter with Trollocs and she does rather well. These tests actually seem to push Moiraine past what she thought she could do to get to what she actually can do. Combining the court dance with the fireball throwing was rather interesting, although one might wonder why she didn't put a dome of air around her or something similar. Probably so we could have this amazing fireball and lightning show. Plus she can't really remember much from the first two situations in the test. More on the test when it concludes.
Chapter 10: It Finishes
Summary: Moiraine is on her last weave. She has faced so many challenges in her test and is bone tired. She hobbles to a star next to a fountain in a garden. She maintains a smooth face despite the pain, but knows she is at the limits of her ability. She starts the last weave carefully. Her father shows up and informs her that her mother is dying. If Moiraine hurries, she will be able to see here before she goes. She finishes the weave and sees a star behind him. She walks past her father, telling him that she loves him and her mother. He tries to get her attention but she stumbles onward and finds herself back in the testing chamber. Suddenly her memories of the test come flooding back and she halts. Merean says the test is done and that Moiraine must spend the night in prayer and contemplation, as is the custom. She will don the shawl tomorrow. Merean goes to leave and Elaida joins her; the rest of the Aes Sedai come to Moiraine. Anaiya offers healing, which Moiraine accepts. Verin is present, as is Yuan, a Yellow. Moiraine deduces that the test situations are produced partly by the testing Aes Sedai and furthermore that Elaida tried to make her fail harder than the rest.
Moiraine is escorted back up to the Tower proper and heads back to the room where she and Siuan worked. She finds two clerks working and rushes back to the Accepted's quarters, learning that Siuan was taken for the test. She tells Sheriam and Myrelle that she has passed and they are suddenly distant. Their friendship cannot be renewed until they are Aes Sedai. She goes back to her room and examines the little book. It doesn't show signs of having been read by somebody carelessly, but that doesn't mean it hasn't been read. She finds food in her room, which she devours. While she waits for Siuan, she tries to read Hearts of Flame, but can't concentrate. Siuan walks in hours later to tell Moiraine that she has passed and that the two of them will be raised together. Siuan mentions she has six mice from one of the grooms and proposes that they use them in a prank. Moiraine protests that they are nearly sisters now, but Siuan convinces her that Elaida is due a good prank. Moiraine agrees, but only after Siuan eats will they attempt to place the mice.
The chapter icon is six mice, by the way. I'm not really sure who administered Siuan's test, but her words at the end of this chapter, which I didn't summarize, may indicate that Elaida wasn't part of the seven. Nothing is conclusive really. Moiraine is sure that Elaida has tried to sabotage her testing. The logical conclusion is that she is angry about near-penance and trying to take it out on Moiraine. (Or she could be continuing her whole pushing these girls to the limit thing, but I think the revenge option works better.) It does make one wonder why they let Elaida be part of the testing after she tried to help them "cheat." Perhaps they needed somebody strong in the Power and most of the other sisters, as was mentioned, were out of the tower. The prank, by the way, doesn't go so well.
Chapter 11: Just Before Dawn
Summary: Moiraine gets dressed, stifling a yawn. She spent the night in contemplation, other than the prank she and Siuan tried to pull. She places her small book into her belt pouch and was placing her jewelry box on her bed when somebody knocked on the door. She opens it to find seven Aes Sedai waiting for her. She follows them calmly to Siuan's room, where they collect Siuan and head down to the room where they were tested. Tamra is in the doorway and asks "Who comes here?" Both Moiraine and Siuan answer at the same time. They continue with the customary questions and answers. The two enter hand in hand. Tamra stands next to the oval and Aeldra holds a cushion with the Oath Rod on it. Moiraine and Siuan pass through the oval one by one, with Siuan going first. Moiraine takes the Three Oaths first.
Tamra waits until Siuan has taken the Three Oaths before finishing the ceremony. Next they choose their Ajahs, to finish the ceremony. The both pick the Blue Ajah. Leane lays a blue-fringed shawl around Moiraine's shoulders and Rafela does the same for Siuan. Each of the Blues present kisses the new sisters, as the sixth, Aeldra gets a pie from each of them, as is custom. Rafela suggests they have the two walk to the Blue Ajah quarters "clad in the Light" and their shawls, as is custom. They decide not to follow this old custom. The only part of that custom still followed is that the corridors are emptied until they reach the Blue Ajah quarters. As they walk to the Ajah's quarters, they learn more about customs they won't be following. They also learn that the First Selector is the title for the head of their Ajah. They must learn many of the old customs, as some are enforced as strictly as Tower law. When the reach the Ajah's quarters, ever Blue in the Tower is there to greet them.
"Under the Light and by my hope of salvation and rebirth, I vow that I will speak no word that is not true."
"Under the Light and by my hope of salvation and rebirth, I vow that I will make no weapon for one man to kill another."
"Under the Light and by my hope of salvation and rebirth, I vow that I will never use the One Power as a weapon except against Shadowspawn, or in the last extreme of defending my life or that of my Warder or another sister."
In this chapter we get to see the ceremony for raising a sister, which you can read in full if you'd like. I did pull out the Three Oaths, since those are always a favorite to discuss. I don't have too much to say about them right now save that the first one only applies to spoken word, so writing a lie should be possible. Also, the whole if they believe something is true they can say it thing. Possibly how Messana would avoid revealing who she is in The Gathering Storm. That is a whole other problem to discuss later. Not a whole lot else when on in this chapter besides some interesting custom stuff and also introductions to some Aes Sedai who haven't been named yet.
Chapter 12: Entering Home
Summary: They are greeted by several Blues, including Anaiya and Kairen who comment about how Aeldra stole their pies. The quarters are fairly plain, not as elaborate as some of the other Ajahs'. The floor tiles are in every shade of blue. Siuan and Moiraine get kissed thirty-nine more times each before reaching the three Sitters. Cabriana, shows them to their rooms, after Eadyth informs them she has much to tell them, so they should eat quickly. They learn that Eadyth is the First Selector, in addition to a Sitter and are told by their escort that their talents will be discovered and put to good use. Moiraine and Siuan have rooms right next to each other and their belongings have been moved into them. Moiraine thinks that it is odd that Cabriana is so deferential to them and Anaiya and Kairen, who have joined her in escorting them. They change out of their Accepted dresses and into blue ones provided by the Ajah. They decide to skip breakfast and see the First Selector first. Moiraine puts on her kesiera for the first time in six years.
They get directions to Eadyth's room from Natasia, the first Aes Sedai they found. Once in her room, they sit, waiting for her to speak. Siuan is impatient and fidgets while Moiraine tries to remain calm and wait patiently. Eadyth eventually starts speaking, revealing that the hierarchy among Aes Sedai, unless appointed by your Ajah or the Tower, is based upon strength in the One Power and time spent as novice and Accepted. Those with greater power should be show deference in degree to their power above yours. Failure to do so is a common cause for punishment for newly raised sisters. Eadyth is visibly disturbed about speaking on such a taboo topic. As they head back to their rooms, they are intercepted by an Aes Sedai they haven't seen before, a Blue named Cetalia Delarme, who has nearly as much strength in the Power as they will one day.
Cetalia tests Siuan with some papers which lay out a game of cards. Siuan has only read about it, but thinks it is the game Arrays, and that this is a winning game. Cetalia is somewhat impressed and orders Siuan to follow her for more tests of her puzzle solving skills. Moiraine goes back to her room and starts to eat her breakfast. Anaiya enters and offers her healing, saying that it can help with the tightness of the Oaths, which it does. Anaiya's main purpose was to tell her that Tamra wanted to see her. Moiraine goes off to see the Amyrlin.
Siuan is in Cetalia's rooms, which are full of books and papers. Cetalia is offering her a job, which Siuan does not want. Cetalia is in charge of the Blue's network of eyes-and-ears. She overrides Siuan's protests and tells her to go get some food. Siuan stalks away from her rooms and goes to fine Moiraine, who she thinks is as tough or tougher than herself and never gives up. She is surprised to find Moiraine slumped in a chair and learns that her friend has been tasked with distributing the bounty. Moiraine deduces that Cetalia is in charge of the eyes-and-ears and Siuan tells her not to tell anyone else. Moiraine also reveals that the Tower wants to put her on the Sun Throne and explains to Siuan why they isn't something she wants. Moiraine offers Siuan healing to deal with the tightness.
Lan is near Kinslayer's Dagger, tracking the Aiel. It looks like Pedron Niall, the Lord Captain Commander of the Children of the Light, the commander for today, will not pursue the Aiel. Lan discusses leaving with Bukama, who convinces him to tour around the southern lands for a few month before heading back to the borderlands and the Blight.
Lots of viewpoint shifting in this chapter. We learn about the hierarchy of the Aes Sedai, which has been puzzling Moiraine and Siuan for a while. At least those two are starting near the top, as they comment in this chapter. We also have the prelude to Siuan's intelligence networks, which presumably aid Moiraine in her searching and help give her a purpose in Salidar, not to mention help her find Salidar. We learn more about why Moiraine doesn't want to be Queen, which I skipped in the summary. Also, apparently Elaida caught them trying to sneak the mice into her room and dealt with them, which adds to their issues with the tightness of the Oaths. That gets hinted at in a few places in the text. I think this is the first Siuan viewpoint we get and might be the last in this book. Lan also gets a viewpoint at the end, where we learn the war is officially over and that he is going on a bit of a vacation for a bit.
Chapter 13: Business in the City
Summary: Moiraine and Siuan go down to the sisters' main dining hall for their first meal as Aes Sedai and attract some amused smiles as they are the only ones there wearing their shawls. Siuan enjoys the meal even if she complains the fish is too heavily seasoned, but Moiraine is distracted by thoughts of escape. When they return to the Blue quarters, Eadyth summons them and gives them letters-of-rights for one thousand crowns gold. They will get as much each year, and can ask for more, but the Hall may question them if they do. Siuan deposits hers with the Tower, but Moiraine has her own banker.
Moiraine hires a sedan chair to take her to her bank branch in Tar Valon. Ilain Dormaile is the banker, sister to the banker who handled her accounts in Cairhien. Mistress Dormaile congratulates her and assumes she has come to deposit her stipend. She also mentions an incident she described in a letter, which Moiraine never received. Moiraine pretends she wishes to hear the information a second time. Her banker reveals that nine days ago a Cairhienin dressed as a Tower Guard, claiming to be Ries Gorthanes, tried to get information on Moiraine's accounts. The banker realized that his orders from the Amyrlin were fake and had him detained. He bribed his way to freedom and was gone before the Guards could arrive. Moiraine thinks that one reason she banks with this banker is that she has discretion. Moiraine leaves the bank and once back at the Tower, asks after a seamstress.
Tamore Alkohima came highly recommended, so the next afternoon Moiraine and Siuan go to her shop in sedan chairs. She greets them personally when she sees their shawls. Moiraine orders twenty dresses, half with divided skirts for riding. Siuan can only be persuaded to order six. Moiraine orders so many in order to make the Tower think she means to stay in the city. They negotiate over the materials and the cut of the dresses. Moiraine is dismayed when Siuan asks for cheaper fabrics. Moiraine explains to her how she should act with the seamstress and mentions that the best hairdressers and perfumers are tyrants, to which Siuan laughs. The woolen dresses were each one gold crown and the silk ones ten each. Moiraine also orders five more riding dresses in the Cairhienin style, with fewer stripes than her rank entitled her to. These last she would have somebody pick up and were to be made last.
I must say Moiraine's thoughts on bankers are pretty interesting, especially in light of recent events. We also have Moiraine implementing part of her plan. She now has to deal with escaping the Tower so she doesn't get made a Queen as well as Cairhienin opposition to her as they struggle for the throne. Those riding dresses are a part of the plan of course. Not sure who the mysterious Carhienin fellow is, I forget if we meet him outside of New Spring. The chapter had some funny Siuan moments where she breaks convention, but you can't exactly expect her to know what the conventions are, Moiraine, when she is a fisherman's daughter. I do wonder what happened to Siuan's money in the Tower after she was overthrown. I imagine she had most of her stipends saved up over the years since she doesn't seem to enjoy spending coin. (Since she never had much as a child.)
Chapter 14: Changes
Summary: Siuan and Moiraine have much to learn of the Blue Ajah customs. Siuan seems to remember most of those Rafela mentioned, but Moiraine has to work to catch up. They learn that wearing red on clothing is forbidden in the Tower due to long standing animosity between the Blue and Red. There are also a number of complex alliances between the Ajahs. They also learn the Warder bond and some weaves not trusted to Accepted, including some weaves known only to the Blue. Moiraine also mentions her secret weave in passing and wonders if Siuan has any. They also learn the trick for ignoring the heat and cold, although Moiraine is having difficulty mastering it. The Feast of Lights comes to celebrate the new year. Moiraine gets many invitations to balls but burns them all.
Some of Moiraine's dresses came, and as she feared they were very pale blue. Siuan's came as well and emphasized her hips and bosom strongly. Moiraine notes that Siuan "cared very little about clothing." Siuan is getting frustrated with having to jump through hoops for Cetalia. Moiraine's duty requires her to sit in a room a few hours every morning signing off on work clerks did with regards to the bounty; she had hoped she would be able to visit the camps. Ellid is summoned for testing, but disappeared in the ter'angreal. Elaida has left the Tower for Andor again, which relieves both Siuan and Moiraine. They renewed their friendship with Leane and gained the friendship of Adine Canford, but some of their other friendships from novice and Accepted days had chilled.
The searchers leave the Tower. Siuan starts to enjoy her work with Cetalia. Moiraine continues to have nightmares about the babe in the snow, but she manages to banish all the lace from her rooms except for the lace on her bed. Sheriam passed the test and joined the Blue, while Siuan managed to get the sixth kiss. She is said to bake excellent pies. Siuan wanted to let Sheriam in on their search, but Moiraine convinces her that it would be a bad idea. Several days later, Ryma Galfrey announced that Tamra had died in her sleep. For the funeral, Moiraine wears her palest dress, which emphasizes her bosom, as a penance. She says a few words at the funeral before Tamra's body is burned in flows of fire and her ashes spread over the Tower grounds by the Ajah she was raised from, according to her wishes. That night, Moiraine burns the dress she wore.
The Hall chooses Sierin Vayu, a Gray, as the next Amyrlin. The new Amyrlin soon dismisses all the male clerks from the Tower. She also exiled three sisters from the city for a year and had public birchings for two more. The new Amyrlin chose Amira, a red, as the new Mistress of Novices and her new Keeper was also a red, Duhara. Moiraine asks to be relieved of her duty with the bounty and Sierin grants her request, but orders her to stay in the city. Moiraine returns to a waiting Siuan to report, and decides to put her plan into action. She changes into a riding dress and packs a few things before heading to the stables. Eadyth talks with her and Moiraine says she won't be crossing any of the bridges, making it seem as if she will stay in the city as the Amyrlin commanded. She has Arrow saddled in the West Stable and heads for her bank in the city.
At the bank she collects several letters-of-rights and two hundred gold crowns. She borrows four of Mistress Dormaile's footmen and goes to Tamore's shop. There she has two of them purchase a travel chest and hire porters to carry it. She also changes into one of her Cairhienin dresses and removes her ring. She moves north through the city, purchasing needed supplies as she goes. Once she reaches Northharbor, she finds Bluewing, a ship leaving within the hour. While the ship is leaving the harbor, she notices a man matching Mistress Dormaile's description asking about her ship. The Bluewing seems to be a fast ship, as the captain promised. When she leaves the harbor, Moiraine feels a surge of freedom, even though she will have an angry Amyrlin and an assassin chasing her.
Lots and lots of little things happen in this chapter, which made it a pain to summarize. The part about the animosities between the Ajahs might be of some interest for those trying to sort out the tangled web of politics within the Tower. Although as Moiraine remarks, those alliances can shift over night. That was a close call with Sheriam, as they almost let somebody in on their plan who either was or soon will be Black. Sierin is a fun Amyrlin! She doesn't last too long, but she is a mean one. Amira, her Mistress of Novices, dies at Dumai's Wells and before that ended up as a Sitter for the Red before giving up her spot to Elaida. Duhara seems to be another Red chummy with Elaida; she remained loyal during the split and was sent to Caemlyn as advisor to Elayne. She may also be listed in Verin's book. I think this is the last time we see the mysterious assassin in New Spring, and I'm not sure we ever see him again.
Chapter 15: Into Canluum
Summary: Lan and Bukama are in Kandor, heading towards Canluum. People are staring at them since they wear the hadori, but Lan ignores it and looks towards the Blight to the north. He notes that as they are entering town, some are asked to remove their hoods, as it is law in the Borderlands, to prevent the Eyeless from infiltrating towns. Lan is greeted by a young guard, who thought he was dead. Bukama angrily insults the man, as he has sworn to a Kandori lord yet says he will ride with Lan. They nearly get into a fight with the guards over Bukama's insult, and Bukama must pledge to keep the peace and not draw his sword within Canluum in order to be allowed into the city. Lan is amazed that Bukama would pledge so. They make their way into the city and Bukama is strangely silent about things that should normally have gotten some reaction out of him, such as Nazar Kurenin, one who no longer wore the hadori. Lan decides to avoid the palace as it will inconvenience themselves and the Lord Marcasiev. Lan is worried about Bukama's present mood as they search for a place to stay.
Mostly just a short chapter reintroducing the Lan story arc. We get more info about Lan's past and the traditions of Malkier, but not much. We also learn that something odd is going on, as evidenced by the young guard's reaction, but we don't learn what it is in this chapter. Lan does mention there are many Aes Sedai about in the Borderlands, possibly due to rumors of men who can channel. We also have a small appearance by Nazar Kurenin, who gets discussed a bit but doesn't appear to be in any other books. Perhaps we'll see him in one of the last two, or he could just be a throwaway. We'll see the effect of Bukama's oath in the next chapter.
Chapter 16: The Deeps
Summary: Lan and Bukama go to the Deeps, a poorer part of the city, but no less crowded. The first three inns they try are full. They enter the Blue Rose, the fourth inn, and the Kandori innkeeper gave Bukama a kiss. She then complains that it has been six years after punching him in the jaw. Then she kisses him again. Ryne Venamar joins Lan and comments that the innkeeper can probably Bukama a place to sleep, and Lan as well. Lan figures Ryne probably won't be a great surprise for Bukama in his present mood. They sit to drink and Lan is rather forcibly invited to share the night with Lira, their serving maid. According to Malkieri ways, women chose when to enter bed and when to leave it. Ryne doesn't seem to understand it, holding to Arafellin ways.
Ryne tells him that Edeyn Arrel has raised the Golden Crane in Lan's name and is in Chachin, the capital of Kandor. Lan is surprised to hear this news. He leaves Ryne to check on his horse, thinking about this news. After the groom leaves the stable hurriedly, Lan realizes he has been walking in a stance called Leopard in High Grass and gripping his sword tightly. Lan sits cross-legged and assumes the ko'di to use the emotionless void it provided. He thinks about the four gifts he was given in his cradle: the ring of Malkieri kings, the locket around his neck with his parents' portraits painted inside, the sword at his side and an oath sworn in his name.
He muses on the death of Malkier and why Edeyn would want to try bringing it back. She has power over him, as his carneira, his first lover. His musings are interrupted when Bukama enters the stables, having learned about the Golden Crane. Bukama wonders what Lan will do and they discuss the situation. Lan suggests they go to the common room and twits Bukama about the price of their rooms. Bukama responds by making a comment about Lira and they walk out of the stables to find six men coming towards them. Lan orders Bukama into the stable, as he has no sword. Bukama bars the door as ordered and Lan faces the men, taking several injuries, but manages to kill all six of them. Patrons of the inn come out to find the bodies and wonder at his ability to survive the attack. Ryne mentions that these men may have been sent by Edeyn, but Lan sees no reason to connect her name to it and decides he will head to Chachin. Ryne decides to come with Lan and Bukama to the capitol, while Lan thinks facing the Blight would be easier than facing Edeyn.
Lan is pretty awesome in this little fight here, so I'd suggest you read it for yourself. We get a lot more of the Malkieri traditions here too, some of which are a bit strange. I suppose we can contrast this raising of the Golden Crane with the one later on. Nyneave gets it started there, while here we have Edeyn starting it, apparently after Lan is thought to be dead. We don't have a reaction yet from Lan with regards to Nyneave's work to get him an army, so it will be interesting to see that in the next book, or the last. Lan and Bukama also now have a traveling companion in Ryne; we'll learn more about him later. He makes much of the fact that Lan took on six men, yet Lan later says he is the better swordsman. Probably getting a bit ahead there, but this looks like a good place to stop for now.
Hopefully the last chapters of New Spring will be up later this week. For now, Stay Awesome!
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