Hahaha, I forgot Mat’s mom thinks Tar Valon is next to Shaol Gul in the badness scale. Poor woman! Mat runs off and marries a woman who could learn to channel, her daughters go to the White Tower, and her husband fights in the Last Battle. I almost feel sorry for her!
I find it interesting that when they compare weapons in the stables before leaving (sword, bow, axe) Perrin is actually proud of being the only one who knows how to use a “real” weapon. When does this change?
Can we stop for a second and appreciate Egwene for a second? No one else noticed or put the pieces together that the boys were leaving with Moiraine and Lan. Then, she has some guts walking in and demanding a Sister and a Warder take her with them! Damn, girl! She was always going to be Amyrlin!
HAHAHAHAHA!! The fourth time through this book, it’s still funny to read Lan as Egwene and then Thom pop out of nowhere and demand to join! He’s so not excited about babysitting all these idiots the whole way to Tar Valon!
Lan asks Moiraine if Thom coming is part of the pattern. “Everything is part of the pattern, my old friend. We cannot pick and choose. But we shall see.” OH YES WE WILL!!! WE WILL SEE YOU MARRY THAT GLEEMAN!!
As an equestrian, I find it telling that Bela has zero reaction to having a saddle and rider for the first time. Bareback or no, horses don’t take to saddle like that. I’m telling you, her quiet immortality is tied to the many people with the ability to channel around her, especially Rand.
“Bela may not be as fast as the others, but she’s strong. I ride her sometimes. She can keep up” UNDERSTATEMENT!!! TEAM BELA!!
Noted for future reference: what does an owl hooting before a journey mean, in Omen Talk?
Perrin is the first person to react to Lan’s comments about wolves.
Rand taking in the sight of the village for the last time and already feeling homesick is the saddest thing ever. Also, he never does come home again, does he? Perrin does, but not Rand.
Chapter 11 The Road to Tarren Ferry
GO BELA GO!! Rand is surprised she can keep up. Experienced WoT fans are not
It bothers me that they don’t properly cool down the horses after riding hard to Watch Hill, Healing or not. The equestrian in me will never die.
Bela is the least tired of them all. Because RAND and EGWENE, the motherfucking AMYRLIN SEAT and the mother fucking DRAGON REBORN.
Do they ever discuss his connection to horses? I can’t remember. He calms Cloud, a headstrong horse, in the face of the Draghkar, despite the chaos of the riding party. Only achieved by Lan and Moiraine. Not even Mat!
He instinctively draws his sword to fight the Draghkar instead of fleeing. Duuuuuuuuude
Was this one journey, this one trip of fleeing Emond’s Field, this one night of Rand pushing Bela on, giving her strength, determination, speed, enough to change her permanently? Was this the cause of her luck and longevity?
ch11 notes, “An expose on Bela” lol
Chapter 12 Across the Tarren
While everyone, including Thom, was complaining, Egwene “marched along without a word, her back straight, and her head high.” She was always going to survive the Wise Ones and Salidar alike
As important as it was for the party to look armed and capable to the men of Taren Ferry, I’m with Moiraine and Egwene. That shit was hilarious! Oh boys…
Is Moiraine actually boasting about her ability? Comparing her trick with the fog following the river to her other sister’s abilities, to non sisters, outside the tower?
Thom’s reactions to discussing the source and men who can channel breaks my heart.
Moraine to Egwene, after she first lights up the stone, “Most who come to Tar Valon must study for many months before they can do what you just did. You may go far. Perhaps even the Amyrlin Seat, one day, if you study hard and work hard.” Moiraine knows. Even if she doesn’t, she does.
