Lord of Chaos: Chapter 6
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Author: Atarah al'Norahn
Chapter Icon: A serpent twisted through a square
Points of View: Sammael, Graendal, Semirhage
Summary
Sammael's Point of View:
Setting: Arad Doman
Characters: Sammael, Graendal, Ramsid, Chiape, Shaofan
The chapter opens with Sammael entering Graendal's residence in Arad Doman. He finds himself standing on a deep dais covered in gilded tables and chairs. Below, there are three wading pools, around which many beautiful people are performing.
Graendal appears and they begin to talk; she comments on her pets, and Sammael thinks to himself how Graendal always wastes time on useless things. His mind wanders, and he remembers how it was Graendal that took him to make his pledges to the Dark One. Graendal continues to speak of her pets, mentioning that Ramsid is the Domani King's brother; Ramsid's wife is also there, along with the King's youngest sister and eldest daughter. She moves on to Chiape and Shaofan, the rulers of Shara. As Graendal begins to speak of Shara, Sammael wonders if she is trying to make him think that she is interested in Shara, in an attempt to divert his attentions.
After a bit of small talk and much thinking on Sammael's part, he approaches the subject of what Graendal wanted to talk to him about. They speak shortly of Rand, and also of the whereabouts of Asmodean, Lanfear and Moghedien. Graendal mentions that "Lews Therin seems to be removing us from the game one by one." She also tells Sammael that she is certain that Rand will be going after him next. They speak of Rand's power, Sammael insisting that he is ignorant and hanging by a thread, Graendal insisting that he is getting stronger and stronger. "How many of us will die before it is done? We must stand together as we never have before."
Finally, Graendal tells Sammael what she had meant to tell him. She says that Semirhage missed their last gathering, and that neither she, Demandred or Mesaana know why. Mesaana thinks that Rand will soon be in their hands, and Demandred warns him to be careful. Sammael becomes angry thinking about Demandred, and Graendal tells him to relax and listen to the music that Chiape and Shaofan are making, before starting to talk about Shara again. Sammael is now almost certain that Graendal wants to make him think that she has an interest in Shara. He prepares to leave, with a bit more talk about Rand. He opens a gateway back to Illian, slicing a serving man in two as he does so, and leaves.
Graendal's Point of View:
Setting: Arad Doman
The point of view switches to Graendal. She thinks of how she had gone to so much trouble to procure Chiape and Shaofan, just for the few minutes that she spent talking with Sammael. She thinks to herself that Sammael is a transparent fool, and that he most likely thought that she had been trying to mask what she and the others were up to. Her intent had actually been to aim him at Rand. Her thoughts turn to Demandred, Mesaana and Semirhage. She is told that Rodel Ituralde is there to meet her and changes her look to that of a frail old woman.
Semirhage's Point of View:
Setting: Unknown
Characters: Semirhage, Cabriana Mecandes, Cabriana's Warder, Shaidar Haran
The point of view switches to Semirhage, who is in an unknown location. She has with her an Aes Sedai, whom she is trying to extract information from. She begins to torture the Aes Sedai, and eventually learns that her name is Cabriana Mecandes. When Cabriana will not answer any more questions, Semirhage sets a web of pain over Cabriana's mind and leaves the room, where she is confronted by Shaidar Haran, who asks what she has learned. Semirhage says that she has only learned her name, but that she has not had enough time yet.
She makes her way into another room, where Cabriana's Warder is. Instead of using pain on him, she stimulates his mind with pleasure. Her thoughts wander to Shaidar Haran, Rand, Graendal, Sammael, Demandred, Mesaana, Lanfear, Moghedien and Asmodean. When she finally comes back to the present, she realizes that the stimulation had grown too fast, and that Cabriana's Warder is dead.
Alarmed that his death might have some unknown affect on the Aes Sedai, whom she still needs to question, she hurries back to Cabriana, who is now screaming from the pain. "Pleeeeaaaase! Oh, Light, PLEEEEAAAASE!" Semirhage smiles.
