The Shadow Rising: Chapter 9
Decisions
Author: Manora al'Sara
Characters: Mat, Perrin, Egwene, Elayne, Rand, Meilan, Sunamon, Selene/Lanfear
Setting: The Stone of Tear - the weather is even hotter and the inhabitants of the Stone are suffering in the heat.
Points of view: Mat, Perrin, Egwene, Elayne, Rand
Mat's point of view
Mat finds that no on will play cards with him since the bubble of evil and that the women aren't interested in him any more. He feels that Perrin and Thom are also noticeably absent and the only person he keeps seeing is Moiraine who he is trying to avoid. He visits the Great Holding but leaves without going near the doorway still maintaining that he'd be a fool to try it. He goes into the city to avoid Moiraine and to find someone to play at dice and cards with. He visits the taverns on the dockside in the Maule and the inns of the Chalm. Where he finds the stakes of the games too small but, despite wanting to stay away, he keeps finding himself back in the Stone. He tries not to think about why he is drawn back there.
Perrin's point of view
Perrin is also out and about in the city and sees Mat in the taverns, drinking and gambling too much. He thinks Mat is behaving a little out of character but never stops to talk with him to find out why because he is looking for something to draw Faile away. He is listening to all the news and rumors in the hope of finding something that she will find more interesting than staying with him. All he hears is news of wars and he's not willing to send her off to that. He keeps having to lie to her about where and how he is spending his time but he keeps hoping that he will find her a lead that will entice her away.
Egwene's point of view
Egwene and Nynaeve are still questioning Joiya and Amico to no avail. Egwene has even tried telling them what the other had said, despite Nynaeve's protests. Amico is eager to please but Joiya is unflustered. They received no word from Tar Valon following the messages Moiraine sent. Egwene is fretting over whether Tanchico is a false trail or a real one and finds herself being snappish with everyone. She is pleased that Mat is still in the Stone and also sympathetic with his desire to know as she also longs for the Tower so that she can learn things. Aviendha begins to visit Egwene, seemingly of her own choice. She was wary at first but Egwene is enjoying her company and has found that they share a likeness in sense of humour. Aviendha does not understand why Egwene and Elayne have not done something drastic about Berelain.
Elayne's point of view
Elayne is spending every possible moment with Rand, turning up wherever he has a spare minute and sneaking off to be alone, with help from some of the Maidens of the Spear. Nynaeve is spending all her free time with Lan. Rand questions Elayne about governing nations and seems to be taking her advice and Berelain has not left her chambers, which Elayne is happy about.
Rand's point of view
Rand is working on the Tairen lords, keeping them on their toes by turning up at their secret gatherings that Thom had discovered, and getting them to implement new measures. He is still determined not to start a war. He finds Elayne's advice useful when dealing with the High Lords and he has been planning his next move and how to make the Forsaken react to him. He has considered asking Elayne to stay but decides against it as he is still not sure how he feels about her and doesn't want to give her false hope.
Rand meets with Meilan and Sunamon again about the treaties for distributing grain. He tells them to go to Berelain and offer her an appropriate treaty or he will have them both hung. The quiet tone he uses with them has an effect on them and they seem to take him seriously and leave bowing and scraping on their way out. He is disgusted with himself for threatening them that way. He reflects on the fact that Elayne will be leaving the next day and on the Prophecies of the Dragon that names him from the herons branded onto his hands.
Selene appears in Rand's room and he is surprised to see her, thinking that she is back in Cairhien. She observes that he is stronger and harder now than the last time she saw him. He is aware that she doesn't have the same effect on him as she used to. She tells him she is Lanfear and at first he doesn't believe her. She shields him and reveals her true image to him and tells him about being held in the Dark One's prison. She says that he has learned much unaided, more than she would have expected he could. She suggests that one of the Forsaken should teach him. He refuses. She tells him that some of the Forsaken are afraid of him because the Great Lord would wish to place him above them if he joined them. She also tells him about the two great sa'angreal statues and that he could use one and they could rise to greatness together and even take on the Creator. While they are talking he sees a man slipping into the room with a knife, he instinctively pushes Lanfear out of the way and reaches for the True Source and attacks and kills him - it is a Gray Man. He thinks Lanfear sent him but she tells him that it was not her. Suddenly he wonders of how she and the Gray Man got into his rooms when they are guarded by Aiel. He goes to the door and opens it onto a scene of madness.
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