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Chapter 17 - Secrets

Summary

Delana departs Egwene’s group after successfully planting seeds of doubt regarding negotiations with Elaida, carefully avoiding blame while aiming to fracture unity among the Ajah heads and Sitters. The Hall debates the strategic value of parley, with Nisao arguing that prolonged inaction will breed despair and cause sisters to slip back to the Tower, prompting Egwene to permit Beonin to open talks while keeping secrets like Traveling and the ten sisters already inside Tar Valon. Returning to the siege camp, Egwene observes supply shortages and novices learning cuendillar production under Tiana and Sharina’s supervision. Inside a tent, she watches Kairen and Ashmanaille work on the weave while Janya and Salita debate its commercial ethics and novice discipline. Realizing Kairen needs more time to master the craft for the coming battle, Egwene reflects on her growing ruthlessness but accepts that the negotiated talks will buy the crucial time needed to secure Tar Valon.

Characters

  • Egwene al'Vere (Amyrlin, Mother, the Amyrlin Seat) — Questions the Hall about Delana's plot and allows Beonin to negotiate with Elaida while keeping secrets like Traveling. Observes camp life, supply issues, and novices learning cuendillar production, reflecting on her growing ruthlessness but focusing on Kairen's progress as negotiations buy crucial time for the upcoming battle.
  • Delana (Gray Sitter) — Leaves Egwene's group after successfully planting seeds of doubt about negotiating with Elaida, carefully avoiding blame while aiming to create strife among the Ajah heads and Sitters.
  • Sheriam (Keeper, Mistress of Novices) — Denies knowledge of Delana's plan, then departs for her writing table, muttering internally about preferring her old role over endless paperwork.
  • Beonin — Receives permission to open negotiations with Elaida on strict conditions, looking eager but sickly with the weight of the task and the secret of the ten sisters already in Tar Valon.
  • Morvrin — Suggests talks could buy time for Gareth to block harbors, blending common sense with logic while remaining skeptical of Delana's motives.
  • Carlinya — Analyzes Delana's likely aim as strife between Ajah heads, noting the logical necessity of discord unless the Hall acts carefully.
  • Anaiya — Dismisses Carlinya's sulkiness and vows to squash any hopes Delana has for discord, showing her fierce commitment to pulling Elaida down.
  • Myrelle — Agrees with Anaiya but is surprised when Nisao questions whether they can afford to stop negotiations, highlighting the strategic dilemma.
  • Nisao — Questions if they dare stop talks, arguing that prolonged inaction will breed despair and cause sisters to slip back to Elaida, forcing the Hall to consider parley as a tactical necessity.
  • Janya Frende / Janya (Sitter, Brown) — Eagerly discusses cuendillar production, worrying about market limits with Sea Folk and nobles while defending novices' right to learn complex weaves under supervision.
  • Salita Toranes / Salita (Sitter, Yellow) — Objects to making cuendillar for sale and complains that Yellows are forced into trinket work, advocating for sending away the troublesome novice Nicola.
  • Kairen — Works on turning iron to cuendillar, showing improved skill but still needing more time; her cool demeanor masks resentment over a failed mission and her recent association with Lelaine.
  • Ashmanaille — Channels alongside Kairen, impatiently watching the white creeps up her cup, bored by the slow process despite her Gray Ajah pragmatism.
  • Leane Dare / Leane (Green, Keeper) — Helps Egwene discreetly by ordering novice Letice to hold Daishar, maintaining her cover while secretly managing eyes-and-ears inside Tar Valon.
  • Letice Murow — A novice from Murandy who respectfully holds the Amyrlin's horse after Leane directs her, unaware of Egwene's true identity until the stole is revealed.
  • Tiana (Mistress of Novices) — Defends novices' right to learn complex weaves and refuses Salita's demand to send Nicola away, asserting her authority while managing Sharina's presence.
  • Sharina Melloy / Sharina — A novice who organizes families on her own, calmly oversees novices channeling cuendillar, and departs for meal duty after a penetrating glance at Egwene.
  • Bodewhin / Bode — A plump-cheeked novice who efficiently releases her weave to leave for class, still unaware of why she cannot casually visit the Amyrlin Seat.
  • Nicola — Argues to stay longer to finish a bowl, then flees after Sharina signals her; noted for eavesdropping and relying on Areina to interpret her visions.
  • Areina — Nicola's friend who accompanies her out of the tent, both displaying disgruntled discontent as they leave the cuendillar production area.
  • Althyn Conly — A novice mentioned by Tiana who previously tried making two items at once with Bodewhin, causing them to fuse into a useless lump.
  • Gareth Bryne / Gareth (Lord Gareth) — Departs east toward the cavalry without speaking further to Egwene, believing Beonin and others are merely Ajah watchdogs rather than negotiators.
  • Daishar — Egwene's mount, held by Letice Murow while Egwene observes the cuendillar production inside the tent.
  • Phaedrine (Brown) — Emerges from behind a Traveling ground flap with Shemari, deeply conversing and pinning on cloaks, raising Egwene's suspicions about her whereabouts.
  • Shemari (Brown) — A vigorous Brown Sitter known for overly deep curtsies that carry mockery, accompanying Phaedrine near the Traveling ground.