View source for The Shadow Rising: Chapter 17

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''Author: Estyrien al'Halien''
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{{title|Deceptions}}
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'''Points of View: [[Thom]], [[Min]], [[Sahra]]'''
===Outline===
Moiraine persuades Thom to go with Elayne and Nynaeve instead of Rand. Siuan learns that Mazrim Taim has escaped and that Rand has taken Callandor
==Summary==
{{pov2|Thom}}
'''Setting: The [[Stone of Tear]]'''

'''Characters: [[Thom]], [[the Majhere]], [[Moiraine]] Sedai'''

Thom walks through the corridors of the Stone, his body aching with fatigue. He stops to talk to a group of servants in the pretence of "trying to raise spirits"; in fact, he is using his skill at ''[[Daes Dae'mar]]'' to try to help [[Rand]]. He talks to the servants about how the boats of [[Trollocs]] went unnoticed, "it is a shame that no one asked why those barges were at the docks". He mentions that the High Lords should have asked about it and sews doubt into the minds of the servants. If they can't trust the High Lords, they will turn to "the man they knew the nobles hated... Rand al'Thor". It appears that Thom has been using ''Daes Dae'mar'' a lot to help Rand gain support in [[Tear (Nation)|Tear]], "he had scattered other seeds that night". He leaves the servants when [[the Majhere]] shows up and threatens to make Thom start cleaning, "idle hands are idle hands".

When he gets back to his room, he finds Moiraine there, looking "as if she had a perfect right to be going through the papers" in his bedroom. He thinks that she is a beautiful woman but berates himself for thinking that way about an [[Aes Sedai]]. He hopes that she hasn't looked in the chest underneath the desk and that he hasn't left anything incriminating in the room. Moiraine [[Heal]]s the stiffness in Thom's leg, wishing that an Aes Sedai had been near when it happened so that Thom could have been Healed. Moiraine talks about the events yesterday where the High Lord [[Carleon]] died in a hunting accident, killed by his friend [[Tedosian]]. "Tedosian fell ill not an hour after returning to the Stone" and his wife vows to nurse him all the time until he is better, for which Tedosian is not happy about it. Both High Lords "led the faction that wants to kill Rand". The implication is that Thom has used ''Daes Dae'mar'' to kill the two men, although one has survived, and that Moiraine knows what he has done.

Moiraine goes on to talk about the time Thom spent at the [[Andor]]an Royal Court. She implies that Thom might have had something to do with the death of [[Taringail]], "fortunate for [[Morgase]], Taringail's death"; Thom's reaction suggests that the implication might be true. Thom talks about Moiraine to cover his surprise. Moiraine is of the [[Cairhienin]] House [[Damodred/Trakand Family Tree|Damodred]] and was closely related to royalty. She was Taringail's half-sister and "King [[Laman]]'s niece". He points out that aiding Rand means that she has high connections in the Tower, "someone in the [[Hall]] of the White Tower"; it is Siuan Sanche who gives Moiraine the protection she needs to stay close to Rand. Moiraine replies that not using her House in her title is by choice because "House Damodred had a deservedly unpleasant reputation" and still does.

Moiraine wants him to go with Elayne and Nynaeve to [[Tanchico]] to protect them, "your knowledge and skills might keep them alive". Thom thinks that she wants him out of the way as it will "leave the boy naked to her manipulations". Moiraine insists that going to Tanchico will not kill him "and by the First Oath, you know it for true". Thom is not convinced and so Moiraine uses Elayne and his nephew [[Owyn Merrilin|Owyn]] as levers to get what she wants. In return for Thom going to Tanchico, she will give him the names of the [[Red]] sisters who gentled Owyn after Tanchico. Mentioning Owyn strikes a nerve with Thom and after Moiraine leaves, Thom decides to go to Tanchico.

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{{pov2|Min}}
'''Setting: The [[White Tower]]'''

'''Characters: [[Min]], [[Laras]], [[Galad]], [[Gawyn]], [[Logain]], the [[Siuan|Amyrlin Seat]], [[Leane]] Sedai'''

Min is staying in the White Tower as Elmindreda. Laras, the Mistress of the Kitchens, has "a place in her heart for pretty, flirtatious girls" and so has taken 'Elmindreda' under her wing. Laras keeps a watchful eye on Min and has started to teach her "every trick of 'lively' women". Min sits on a bench and starts to unpick her sewing, "a woman could sit for hours with an embroidery hoop, watching everyone and everything". Min watches the people in the White Tower for useful [[Min's Viewings|auras]] to report to the Amyrlin Seat. Her sewing is interrupted by Gawyn and Galad; Gawyn knows who she is, though Galad doesn't, and "he did take any opportunity to tease".

A slight slip causes Galad to ask "Can it be we have met before" but some quick words and the entire image of Elmindreda diffuses these thoughts. Min has dressed differently to her old tom-boyish clothes and uses makeup to complete the image. Gawyn asks her to read part of a book, '[[The Way of the Light]]', and to tell Galad that it is nonsense. Min pretends not to understand what is written, "I fear I know little of books", but Gawyn tells her that it was written by the founder of the [[Whitecloaks]], [[Lothair Mantelar]]. Galad insists that "He was a great man", though the Whitecloaks "have sometimes been... excessive". Gawyn then asks her if the Amyrlin Seat has told her anything about Elayne or Egwene and Min has to talk quickly to distract attention away from herself, "I suppose she hopes I'll make a decision soon", and uses her excuse for being in the Tower.

As she looks around, Min sees Logain, a man who was gentled after claiming to be the [[Dragon Reborn]]. She sees an aura around him, "a flaring halo...radiant in gold and blue"; it is a promise of glory to come. Min decides to go to tell the Amyrlin Seat, using fear of Logain as an excuse, "he's made me feel faint", but Gawyn follows her. Min scolds him for bringing up the subject of Elayne and Egwene, "Elmindreda never met them", but Gawyn is still worried, especially since he thinks that's there is a [[false Dragon]] in Tear. He goes on to tell her that not knowing about the three [[Accepted]] has made Galad associate with Whitecloaks and Gawyn is worried about him too. She leaves Gawyn and proceeds to go to the Amyrlin's Study.

Not seeing Leane in the antechamber, Min walks into the study, only to be confronted by an angry Siuan Sanche and Leane. She tells them of Logain's aura and Siuan goes on to tell her of other bad news; "starvation in Cairhien", an Aes Sedai missing in Tanchico, no doubt due to the Black Ajah, the [[Prophet]] causing trouble and war in Arad Doman. There is one piece of good news, "[[the Blight]] has retreated for some reason". Min tells the Amyrlin that she wants to go to Tear to be with Rand but Siuan wants her to stay because her aura readings are useful. Min has caught a groom stealing and pointed out a novice who was having an affair with a guard, "[[Sheriam]] cut that short". Min argues with Siuan about Gawyn's concern for Elayne and Egwene and then why they haven't heard word from Tear.

The argument stops when a novice arrives to give two letters. One says that "[[Mazrim Taim]] has escaped" and a sister is dead because of it. The Amyrlin orders a dozen Aes Sedai and a thousand guards to be sent after him, "I'll not risk another [[Guaire Amalasan]]". Taim is to be gentled as soon as he is found, despite the [[Tower Law]]. The other is from Moiraine, "The sling has been used. The shepherd holds the sword", telling them that Rand has ''[[Callandor]]''. It is interesting to note that they have only read one of the several letters Moiraine wrote, so others must have been discovered, though by whom we do not know. Siuan orders that the Hall of the Tower meet as soon as possible so that she can tell them that the Dragon Reborn holds Tear. Siuan can now act openly in guiding Rand.

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{{pov2|Sahra Covenry}}
'''Setting: a farm'''

'''Characters: [[Sahra]] and an unknown channeler.'''

Sahra has been sent to work on a farm by Siuan so that she can't tell what she saw when she escorted Min to Siuan on her arrival; only this plan backfires. Sahra is joined by an unknown channeler, who she assumes to be an Aes Sedai, though she does not know the identity of the woman. She is questioned by the channeler about Min's arrival and is tortured and forced to tell all, though it isn't much, "she spoke to Lord Gawyn". Sahra is questioned and tortured for a long time before the Aes Sedai leaves, after killing her.

==Notes==
{{Development}}
{{ThomDev}}
*He sees Moiraine and thinks "Now there was a beautiful woman, with every grace a man could want, including laughing at his quips"
{{prophecy}}
{{Viewings}}
*'''(About [[Logain]])''' "But she had never before seen a flaring halo around his head, radiant in gold and blue. It was only there for a moment, but that was enough." .

*'''(Siuan speaking about some people at the Tower)''' "Your viewings have been very useful. It's important to know about Logain. You found the groom who was stealing before suspicion could land on someone else. And that fire-haired novice who was going to get herself with child?!" And later: "Min sighed, and not only because the Amyrlin meant to hold on to her. The last time she had seen that redheaded novice, the girl had been sneaking off to a wooded part of the grounds with a muscular guard. They would be married, maybe before the end of summer; Min had known that as soon as she saw them together, though the Tower never let a novice leave until the Tower was ready, even one who could not go any further in her training. There was a farm in that pair's future, and a swarm of children, but it was pointless to tell the Amyrlin that."
{{Mysteries}}
*Has Moiraine always known who Thom really is, or did she just learn it?
*Does she actually suspect Thom of being responsible for Taringail's death? Is she unique in this, or did others also suspect
*How does she know Tanchico won't kill Thom?
Did she use one of her Aelfinn questions, or was it something Min had told her?
*How did the war in Arad Doman start?
Is this also related to Rand and Dragonsworn, or something else?
*Who murders Sahra, and why?
{{Themes}}
{{knowledgetheme}}
*Siuan thinks she can get Gawyn and Galad to stop worrying about their sister simply by having Coulin work them harder - really, just believing it because she wants it to be true
===Characters===
;First Mention
[[Lothair Mantelar]], [[Moria Elward]]
 
===Places===
;First Mention
[[Denhuir]], [[River Antaeo]]
{{Spoilernotes}} 
{{Annotated|
{{prophecy}}
{{Viewings}}
*'''(About [[Logain]])''' "But she had never before seen a flaring halo around his head, radiant in gold and blue. It was only there for a moment, but that was enough." .
It is not certain this is ever fully resolved, but it may be in relation to his leadership of the Asha'man and actions in the Last Battle, including breaking of the Seals

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