Is the e-book edition of AMoL still on the 8 April release date? Or has it (hopefully) been moved up to sometime in March?

Thanks for the reply, Sid.

Regarding "The Last that could be Done" in TGS:

Rand raised a hand and, filled with the power he did not understand, wove a single weave. A bar of pure white light, a cleansing fire, burst from his hand and struck Semirhage in the chest. She flashed and vanished, leaving a faint afterimage to Rand's vision. Her bracelet dropped to the floor.

 

Elza ran toward the door. She vanished before another bar of light, her entire figure becoming light for a moment. Her bracelet dropped to the floor, as well, the women who had held them burned completely from the Pattern.

Semirhage forces Rand to strangle Min. Rand balefires Semirhage and Elza. How strong was Rand's BF? Wasn't it strong enough to erase 10 seconds or 20 seconds of the pattern thread? Shouldn't Rand have gone back to pre-strangulation of Min? Or go back before this moment "Something snapped inside of him. He grew cold; then that coldness vanished, and he could feel nothing. No emotion. No anger."?

I think I have a crush on Semirhage, yeah don't ask...

 

Close to being sig worthy right there...

She is the most effective Foresaken for the first 10.5 books. And she shatters Rand's psyche with her torture. He was begging her! A very scary woman!

Regarding Mat, he will probably never learn to channel. His dreams after his agreement with Aludra saw him using Dragons/Cannons in 100 battle fields. With Mat's TG battles and reunification of Seanchan, that's probably 50 years worth of battles. He'll live a long and happy life; but not centuries.

I don't like Setalle. The way she treated Nynaeve and Elayne was very annoying. And she sided with Tuon all the time when they travelled together.

 

Rand is the best written character in the series, but he's a jerk often and his type of sexism really grates.

 

I love Setalle for siding with Mat. She likes him and wants to "protect him" from their foolishness. One of my favorite WoT lines: "I doubt I’ve ever seen so much foolishness poured into just two dresses."

She certainly wasn't siding with Mat when she was travelling with him and Tuon was there. You'd think she would hate someone who leashes channellers and forced her into exile, but no.

 

Besides, the scene where she meets Elayne and Nynaeve really annoys me because it's so contrived. Setalle is 100% convinced they can't really be Aes Sedai, to the extend that she gives away the Kin's secret, just because Elayne looks 18. Since before her and Egwene have been cases of 22-23 years being made Aes Sedai, this is really silly. Who can differentiate between those ages with such precision and take such a big risk aaonly because of this? And she really didn't have to be so dismissive and mean towards Elayne and Nynaeve.

Setalle's siding with Tuon wasn't politically-motivated. Mat had his reputation; and she saw it first hand during the time he spent at her inn. It was simply a women's thing:

KoD:

 

“Tuon? You think I can’t be trusted with Tuon?”

 

Mistress Anan laughed at him. a fine rich laugh. “You are a rogue. my Lord. Now. some rogues make fine husbands, once they’ve been tamed a little around the edges-my Jasfer was a rogue when I met him-but you still think you can nibble a pastry here, nibble a pastry there, then dance off to the next.”

 

“There’s no dancing away from this one.” Mat said frowning up at the wagon door. The dice clicked away in his head. “Not for me.” He was not sure he really wanted to dance away anymore, but want and wish as he might, he was well and truly caught.

 

“Like that, is it?” she murmured. “Oh. You’ve chosen a fine one to break your heart.”

And Setalle's relationship with Tuon has other facets than the above. She already started changing Tuon's perception of Randland and broadened her view of the world. That is clear in the way Tuon handled Beslan. She isn't reformed; but Setalle started a process.

KoD:

 

“I’ve told you often enough it’s a different world than you’re used to.” Mistress Anan murmured, “but you still don’t quite believe it, do you?”

 

“Just because a thing is a certain way.” Tuon replied, “doesn’t mean it should be that way, even if it has been for a long time.”

 

“Some might say the same of your people, my Lady.”

As to her irrational handling of Nynaeve and Elayne, it was what TNine said.

I assumed that was just Mat being Ta'veren. They started working with Mat, so they started getting what they needed.

In any case, Setalle isn't perfect. She has her flaws. But what she did and what she represents; and how she carries herself; are all admirable traits.

I don't like Setalle. The way she treated Nynaeve and Elayne was very annoying. And she sided with Tuon all the time when they travelled together.

 

Rand is the best written character in the series, but he's a jerk often and his type of sexism really grates.

I love Setalle for siding with Mat. She likes him and wants to "protect him" from their foolishness. One of my favorite WoT lines: "I doubt I’ve ever seen so much foolishness poured into just two dresses."

Thom Merrilin! You just gotta love the guy for his adaptability, skills, dedication, and honest humanity. He's human with weaknesses and strengths; and he's rock steady. Rhuarc is the Aiel Thom; and he is rock solid and sincere, a true Aiel.

Of WoT women, Setalle Anan has the most appeal. She is just awesome in how she managed to overcome seemingly insurmountable odds and lead a successful life. The Kin are also very well received, in general, as opposed to AS.

Those are the ones I think are "universal." My personal favorites are Mat and Aviendha.

In Winter's Heart, Cyndane kills an "important" Darkfriend before answering Moridin's summons to go to the cleansing site. Has the identity of this DF been established? Or is this simply a minor detail in the story?

finished book 5.

 

Did the attempted team up between Rahvin, Graendal, Lanfear and Sammael serve any real purpose in the end?

 

It served Lanfear's purpose. She manipulated the other three to help her snare LTT and push him towards her. But that plot fell apart in the battle of the docks in Cairhien. And Cyndane is paying the price for that piece of ambition.

 

More importantly, the plot restrained the two male Foresaken posing the greatest danger to Rand: Rahvin and Sammael. If both, with Graendal, moved against Rand in force, he would have been in real danger. The plot gave Rand enough time to secure Cairhien and then move against Rahvin (in rage and for vengeance) and Sammael (in a well-organized plan).

 

Actually, the main part of the plan was to serve someone up for Rand to focus on so he wasn't focusing on them. That person was of course Sammael, who they didn't need to push very hard, despite his objections at being the bait. He was to be at the forefront but Sammy was also not keen on having to trust them or that he even needed them to defeat Rand..

The plan was for Sammy to be the bait while Lanfear, Graendal and Rahvin waited linked to ambush Rand when he went after Sammy.

 

This was all revealed in Nynaeve's PoV in tFoH-34 when Brigitte takes her to spy on Moghedien, who in turn, is spying on Lanfear, Rahvin, Graendal and Sammael.

That's the first layer of Lanfear's plot. But her real aim was to rule the world with LTT, which Moiraine's Rhuidean visions showed. Lanfear had her eyes and hopes on the Choedan Kal; and she knew Rand had them. So, the road to power lay with Rand, not the other Foresaken, who had to be removed or manipulated to achieve the main goal.

finished book 5.

 

Did the attempted team up between Rahvin, Graendal, Lanfear and Sammael serve any real purpose in the end?

It served Lanfear's purpose. She manipulated the other three to help her snare LTT and push him towards her. But that plot fell apart in the battle of the docks in Cairhien. And Cyndane is paying the price for that piece of ambition.

More importantly, the plot restrained the two male Foresaken posing the greatest danger to Rand: Rahvin and Sammael. If both, with Graendal, moved against Rand in force, he would have been in real danger. The plot gave Rand enough time to secure Cairhien and then move against Rahvin (in rage and for vengeance) and Sammael (in a well-organized plan).

The person Slayer meets in Winter's Heart; I would doubt Taim.

-The person would likely have been a Forsaken; Taim I take is not any of them.

-The person likely knows Illusion; the books do not tell whether or not Taim knew/knows it.

-The person found out where Rand went; the Kisman's POV does not tell whether or not Taim knew beforehand. Only that Taim gave them 1 last chance.

 

Moridin seems to be the most likely candidate.

those reasons and several more::

-the person was likely male

-the person gave order to kill Rand (and also Min)

-the person was hesitant about Slayer trying again

The "Patron" exits from the meeting through a hole that opened into "a snowy forest glade." Moridin is most likely anchored in the Blight in his black palace. Taim's Black Tower has snow at the moment. And if Demandred has a location in Seanchan, Andor, Cairhien, Murandy, and northward, then that applies. There is a small chance that Moridin is going to a place with snow; but my hunch is that the "snowy forest glade" is meant to be a clue as to the identity of the patron.

@Theodril That's a very plausible theory (I believe it is correct myself) but we don't know for certain. It might be revealed in AMOL - we'll see.

Thanks, Herid. I didn't mean to compose the question with the implication that it is a theory. But Taim's name came to mind after I read the scene. Are there other theories on who that patron might be?

Is Luc's patron in WH Taim?

I do not think Taim teaching the weave to Ashaman is innocent. Taim was part of the Shadow's effort to destroy the WT and cause an irreconcilable split between the WT and Rand.

 

The bond weave? That wasn't Taim. Some Ashaman started experimenting with bonding on their wives and somehow tweaked it to discover the compulsion aspect. Per RJ they know more than AS(who never experimented) on the topic...

Interview: Jan 28th, 2003

COT Signing Report - Lady Voldemort (Paraphrased)

Lady Voldemort

 

Is it possible for an Aes Sedai to bond someone Asha'man style?

Robert Jordan

 

Yes, if they learned the weaves. The Asha'man know a lot more about bonding than the Aes Sedai. Some guy figured out how to bond their wives, and then they started concentrating on other things they could do with the bond. The Aes Sedai never experimented, just passed on what they knew.

Thanks for the clarification, Suttree

Suttree, I was only providing a quote for Xo Meltdown oX. Not arguing the issue or giving an opinion one way or another on the complexity of the issue. It was a mess, and I guess part of the chaos the DO wanted in the world. And it was part of Elaida's Fain-induced narcissism.

Regardless of the specific order, Toveine's expedition was to put an end to the BT. That is bigger that the "how." Destroying the place with B-52's or Cruise Missiles makes no difference really ... The end result is the same from the Ashaman perspective.

Your disagreement isn't with me (well, not just), it's with Logain, Toveine and Gabrelle:

“He burned it, Toveine. After reading the contents. He seemed to think he had done us a favor.”

The hand eased, and Toveine could breathe again. “Elaida’s order was among my papers.” She cleared her throat to rid herself of hoarseness. Elaida’s order to gentle every man found her and then hang them on the spot, without the trial in Tar Valon required by Tower law. “She imposed harsh conditions, and these men would have reacted harshly, if they knew.” In spite of the heat from the stove, she shivered. That single paper could have gotten them all stilled and hanged. “Why would he do us favors?”

“I don’t know why, Toveine. He isn’t a villain, no more than most men. It could be as simple as that.” Gabrelle set a plate of crusted rolls and another with white cheese on the table. “Or it could be that this bond is like the Warder bond in more ways than we know. Maybe he just did not want to experience the two of us executed.” Toveine’s stomach rumbled, but she picked up a roll as if she did not care for more than a nibble.

I don't disagree, yoniy0! It is just that when the order to "resolve" the BT issue is issued, the details (to me) seem to be of secondary importance. Logain burned the letter to keep Taim from doing anything drastic to Toveine and other bonded AS. And it was also to protect Logain's faction; since Taim banned his faction from bonding any AS.

Regardless of the specific order, Toveine's expedition was to put an end to the BT. That is bigger that the "how." Destroying the place with B-52's or Cruise Missiles makes no difference really ... The end result is the same from the Ashaman perspective.

 

It is more like the difference between someone having orders to raid your camp and kill everyone there and someone having orders to raid you camp do the most terrible and painful and feared thing imaginable to everyone and then killing them, both options might invoke some anger but I have a feeling that the second option might just get tempers boiling just a little bit more.

 

Now as for why Aes Sedai find being bonded against their will an atrocity, well look at it, first off all it is slavery, it is in fact more than slavery it is a form of mind rape, also you have the danger that is already mentioned that most Asha'man do not have the best life expectancy and that means anyone bonded to them do not have the best life expectancy either. Also remember that from most of the bonded Aes Sedai's perspective they have done nothing to deserve being bonded against their will, they think of themselves as heroes protecting the world against dangerous male channelers. Sure I when I read the books think ooh yes what a deserved fate, but the characters in the book they think of themselves as victims and nothing else.

The AS were bonded against their will. And in the abstract that is an atrocity. But it was better than killing them. Granted that Taim could have captured them "Dumai Wells style" and delivered them to the WO's; but that would have given Rand another problem to deal with.

I do not think Taim teaching the weave to Ashaman is innocent. Taim was part of the Shadow's effort to destroy the WT and cause an irreconcilable split between the WT and Rand. Enslaving 51 AS would have achieved that objective; but Elaida putting her power seat ahead of the WT blunted the WT reaction to that incident.

Winter's Heart: Snow (prologue)

Elaida’s order to gentle every man found here and then hang them on the spot, without the trial in Tar Valon required by Tower law.

There are two different orders you're referring to. The first, which is general knowledge by now, is the order to send 50 sisters to raid the BT. The second, secret, one is to Gentle every male channeler on site without a trial or being brought back to the Tower. I don't think many know about that order, although Tsutama might well know.

Regardless of the specific order, Toveine's expedition was to put an end to the BT. That is bigger that the "how." Destroying the place with B-52's or Cruise Missiles makes no difference really ... The end result is the same from the Ashaman perspective.

What's so appalling about the Asha'man bonding the Aes Sedai? Is it mainly because it was men bonding women or is there something else I'm not getting?

 

Every time we come across Aes Sedai who are aware of what happened at the Black Tower, they all say it's an atrocity. The thing is, those Aes Sedai were their to kill the Asha'man. And at least those Aes Sedai are still alive. I can't imagine them thinking the Aes Sedai being dead preferable to them being bonded by men.

Not many people are aware of Elaida's orders regarding the AM.

 

Not many people were aware right after the incident; but almost all Aes Sedai knew the truth later on. My understanding is that many of those who called it an atrocity knew the facts by the time they made that characterization.

 

The irony with Toveine's expedition is that Alviarin made sure that it was 100% clean of the BA. Just a nice example of Siuan's Law of Unintended Consequences!

Logain burned Elaida's orders. I guess all the AS on the doomed expedition knew of the order, as well as Alviarin, but I am not aware of any other AS.

I think I remember that Toveine sent a report from Cairhien to the Red Ajah explaining their predicament (from which I guess that all Ajah heads received reports from their respective bonded). I am under the impression that Nynaeve may have informed Egwene of the situation. And of course, we have the Yellow spies in Cairhien informing Romanda of the sworn Aes Sedai and the bonded ones as well (if I recall correctly). If not the Yellow spies, then surely any spy in the BT or Illian or wherever the bonded AS moved with their bond-holders.

What's so appalling about the Asha'man bonding the Aes Sedai? Is it mainly because it was men bonding women or is there something else I'm not getting?

 

Every time we come across Aes Sedai who are aware of what happened at the Black Tower, they all say it's an atrocity. The thing is, those Aes Sedai were their to kill the Asha'man. And at least those Aes Sedai are still alive. I can't imagine them thinking the Aes Sedai being dead preferable to them being bonded by men.

Not many people are aware of Elaida's orders regarding the AM.

Not many people were aware right after the incident; but almost all Aes Sedai knew the truth later on. My understanding is that many of those who called it an atrocity knew the facts by the time they made that characterization.

The irony with Toveine's expedition is that Alviarin made sure that it was 100% clean of the BA. Just a nice example of Siuan's Law of Unintended Consequences!

So it seems that Ryma still remembers her identity. She isn't totally transformed like Shianne "Meylin." Is that correct?

 

Edesina and Teslyn both agreed the other captured sisters including Ryma were broken, and would ruin any rescue attempt.

True, thanks for reminding me of that. But the underlined quote above had me thinking that Ryma isn't acting as badly as Meylin; and there might still be some hope for her.

Who are the two Aes Sedai that Miraj saw with Suroth in TPoD?

 

The da’covale with the writing desk in her arms caught his eye. Scowls flashed across her pretty doll’s face, never pushed down for more than moments. Property showing anger? And there was something else. His gaze flickered to the damane, who stood with her head down but still looked around with curiosity. Brown-eyed da’covale and pale-eyed damane looked about as different as two women could, yet there was something about them. Something in their faces. Strange. He could not have said how old either was.

The da'covale is Liandrin (perma-shielded by Moghedien), and the damane is Pura, formerly known as Ryma Galfrey, a Yellow captured in Falme. Ryma made brief appearances in New Spring.

So it seems that Ryma still remembers her identity. She isn't totally transformed like Shianne "Meylin." Is that correct?

Who are the two Aes Sedai that Miraj saw with Suroth in TPoD?

The da’covale with the writing desk in her arms caught his eye. Scowls flashed across her pretty doll’s face, never pushed down for more than moments. Property showing anger? And there was something else. His gaze flickered to the damane, who stood with her head down but still looked around with curiosity. Brown-eyed da’covale and pale-eyed damane looked about as different as two women could, yet there was something about them. Something in their faces. Strange. He could not have said how old either was.

When Verin works her form of "convincing" on prisoner AS, she says that the recipient might die with an year or 10 years of the weave. Does that mean those 23 will not live beyond a decade?

In Demandred's first PoV, he reaches Shayol Ghul wearing a fur-lined cloak at a time when all of Randland is suffering from an extended summer. Demandred has mastered the trick of ignoring the effect of the heat and cold. He isn't affected by the cold outside the Pit of Doom or the heat inside. So, the cloak seems to be part of his disguise. The question is: Where has this been discussed earlier? Thanks!