Lan's sword

[Caelan Arendor]

Lan's sword is supposed to be "power wrought". This means, that its metallurgical structure was enhanced with the One Power before the breaking of the world.

Its the sword of the Malkieri Kings, a power-wrought blade that is equal of any heron-marked sword, though it does not have the heron etched on it.

This enhancement means it never needs sharpening.

I have a little problem here: Why is Lan often be seen sharpening his sword, though it is supposed not to need any sharpening at all?

 

Does anybody have an answer to this, or did I miss something?

 

[Elgee]

I believe somewhere RJ mentions in the Books that men with power wrought weapons often go through the motions of sharpening, even though they don't need it. This could be out of sheer habit, or disbelief.

[Tenobia si bashere kazadi]

Could he have spare swords for going through places where his usual sword could bring too much attention so hes sharpening the spare? Maybe

[bringbackthomsmoustache]

On 11/24/2025 at 1:29 PM, Caelan Arendor said:

before the breaking of the world

That part could be unreliable narrator - Aes Sedai were not bound to the three oaths until the war of the hundred years, and it stretches credulity to think that no Aes Sedai made power wrought weapons for use during the Trolloc wars given how close things came to a total victory for the shadow. 

 

On the point of Lan "sharpening"  the sword he was a master at levels of intimidation, sharpening it is a useful way of calling attention to the weapon without anything which could be considered an open threat.  He liked to talk quietly but carry a big stick.

[Caelan Arendor]

1 hour ago, bringbackthomsmoustache said:

That part could be unreliable narrator - Aes Sedai were not bound to the three oaths until the war of the hundred years, and it stretches credulity to think that no Aes Sedai made power wrought weapons for use during the Trolloc wars given how close things came to a total victory for the shadow. 

 

On the point of Lan "sharpening"  the sword he was a master at levels of intimidation, sharpening it is a useful way of calling attention to the weapon without anything which could be considered an open threat.  He liked to talk quietly but carry a big stick.

 

1 hour ago, bringbackthomsmoustache said:

That part could be unreliable narrator - Aes Sedai were not bound to the three oaths until the war of the hundred years, and it stretches credulity to think that no Aes Sedai made power wrought weapons for use during the Trolloc wars given how close things came to a total victory for the shadow. 

 

On the point of Lan "sharpening"  the sword he was a master at levels of intimidation, sharpening it is a useful way of calling attention to the weapon without anything which could be considered an open threat.  He liked to talk quietly but carry a big stick.

 

1 hour ago, bringbackthomsmoustache said:

That part could be unreliable narrator - Aes Sedai were not bound to the three oaths until the war of the hundred years, and it stretches credulity to think that no Aes Sedai made power wrought weapons for use during the Trolloc wars given how close things came to a total victory for the shadow. 

 

On the point of Lan "sharpening"  the sword he was a master at levels of intimidation, sharpening it is a useful way of calling attention to the weapon without anything which could be considered an open threat.  He liked to talk quietly but carry a big stick.

 

On 11/25/2025 at 9:40 AM, Elgee said:

I believe somewhere RJ mentions in the Books that men with power wrought weapons often go through the motions of sharpening, even though they don't need it. This could be out of sheer habit, or disbelief.

At no point in the narrative is it mentioned that Ian carries more than one sword. As for the idea that his enchanted blade might attract too much attention, I cannot think of any particular feature that would make the sword especially conspicuous. What I like most is Elgee’s remark that the sharpening of the blade serves as a kind of soothing ritual—much like the hundred strokes of a comb drawn through a woman’s lovely hair, which can exert an almost hypnotically calming effect.

 

 

 

[Starla Yilmaz]

I think it is simpler than all of that. A man not sharpening his sword would garner unnatural and unwanted attention. By sharpening his sword, he blends in AND builds camaraderie with others who are doing the same thing. It is kind of like the smoker's circle, how socializing and sharing in the act of smoking builds a bond that nonsmokers can't really understand. By 'sharpening' his power-wrought sword, Lan presents himself as a 'regular' guy you can trust.