The Eye of the World: Chapter 2
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Author: Dinn da Noor
Chapter Icon: Two Ravens
Point of View: Rand
Location: Emond's Field
Characters: Rand, Mat, Mistress al'Vere, Bran, Tam, the Village Council, Ewin Finngar, Moiraine, Lan
Contents
Outline
Mat and Rand meet Moiraine and Lan.
Summary
When Rand and Mat enter the common room, Bran, Tam and four other members of the Village Council sit in front of the fire, smoking pipes and drinking ale. Mistress al'Vere meets them as she comes out of the kitchen and offers them honeycakes when they're done. Mat tells Rand about a prank he pulled on Adan al'Caar which didn't work out as it should and that he's now worried about Master Luhhan. When they're done with the unloading, Ewin Finngar meets them and tells them that there are strangers in the village: one man who looks like a soldier and a woman who's like a high-born lady. Their names are Moiraine and Lan. Mat, Rand and Ewin go outside to see if they can find them.
Moiraine comes to them while they're tossing stones at a raven, and says that it's a "vile bird to be mistrusted in the best of times". She's like no one Rand has ever seen before, with her hair unbraided and wearing strange clothes. They introduce themselves, and she gives them a coin each. She implies that she has come to the Two Rivers to collect old stories. When they ask what kind of stories that can be interesting in the Two Rivers, she just says that the Two Rivers contains a more than thousand-year-old history.
When she leaves, they notice a tall man in a color-shifting cloak, moving like a wolf, Lan. They discuss whether they should spend the silver penny she gave them, but decide not to. When Ewin again asks if there really is a gleeman in the village, Rand tells him just to wait and see. A moment later, they hear shouting across the Wagon Bridge, the peddler has come at last.
Notes
Common Themes
- Isolation of the Two Rivers
- Taren Ferry folk are really different, who knows what they might think
- No one apart from peddlers and merchants go to the Two Rivers
- Despite being isolated, Rand recognises the great serpent as a symbol of eternity. He doesn't connect it with Aes Sedai though. They also fail to recognise the Warder cloak.
Character Development
- Rand
- Rand is the one to ask Moiraine why she came
- Mat
Mat is quick to dismiss stories others tell
Mysteries
- What does Moiraine mean that the coin creates a bond between them?
- Why don't Rand and Mat want to spend their coin
Ewin doesn't seem to feel the same. Did Moiraine use one of the special weaves to make them less likely to give it up, or is it just a matter of personalities?
Characters
- First Appearance
Marin al'Vere, Ewin Finngar, Rowan Hurn, Samel Crawe, Moiraine, Jon Thane, Lan, Scratch
- First Mention
Adan al'Caar, Dag Coplin, Haral Luhhan, Alsbet Luhhan
Miscellaneous
- There is a cultural belief in ghosts, or at least ghost dogs
- Many stories apparently say the Aes Sedai are Darkfriends
Others say differently and there is disagreement over which can be believed
- Rand thinks the serpent is an even older symbol for eternity than the Wheel of Time
It's a little odd he feels able to judge which of these ancient symbols is the most ancient
Nature
- Animals
Cats, Cutworms, Dogs
Spoilers
This section contains Notes on this Chapter which may contain spoilers. Please expand to view.
Plotlines
- The Weather
- Cenn explicitly links the continuing winter to the Dark One
Mysteries
- What does Moiraine mean that the coin creates a bond between them?
This is unclear. It could be a finder, though later descriptions of how she might be able to find the boys even after they lose the token if they are close enough do not seem consistent with this.
- Why don't Rand and Mat want to spend their coin
Ewin doesn't seem to feel the same. Is the coin Mat and Rand got different to make them less likely to give it up, or is it just a matter of personalities?
Misconceptions
- Mat thinks Warders spend all their time in the Blight. He also rules out the possibility of Lan being one because he doesn't have gold or jewels.
- One of the villagers confuses the Dragon and the Dark One
- Perrin thinks the idea of the Dragon being reborn to save the world is foolish
