Chapter 5 - Something. . . Strange
Summary
Faile serves Sevanna in her tent, enduring the tense political dispute between the Wise Ones over relocating the Shaido clan from Maiden. Sevanna insists on marrying Rand al'Thor to unite the clans, while Therava mocks her ambitions and maintains brutal discipline over a beaten Galina. A strange ripple temporarily disrupts the camp's solidity before Faile returns to her quarters, where she receives a mysterious white rod from Alvon and his son Theril. Rolan appears outside her tent, warns her about her escape plans, reveals that some Mera'din may depart for the Three-fold Land, and offers to help her flee or take her with them. The chapter concludes with all gai'shain being stripped and thoroughly searched by the Shaido for the missing rod.
Characters
- Faile / Faile Bashere — Serves Sevanna in her tent, endures the political tension between the Wise Ones, receives a mysterious white rod from Alvon and Theril, and learns that Rolan may help her escape or depart for the Three-fold Land before being stripped and searched by the Shaido.
- Sevanna — Lounges in her tent while arguing with Therava about relocating the clan, insists she will marry Rand al'Thor to unite the clans, and dismisses concerns about Couladin's legacy as irrelevant to her ambitions.
- Therava (Wise One) — Confronts Sevanna over staying at Maiden, advocates moving north to defensible valleys, mocks Sevanna's ambitions regarding Rand al'Thor, and maintains brutal discipline over Galina while dismissing the Wise Ones' collective authority.
- Galina / Galina Sedai (Aes Sedai, Sister) — Kneels between the Wise Ones with singed hair and heavy welts, panting in fear as Therava explains her ongoing punishment while Sevanna questions her usefulness and notes that her ring fails to make her appear like an Aes Sedai.
- Lusara (Domani gai'shain) — Serves water to Therava and wine to Sevanna, exchanges a conspiratorial smile with Faile, and swears fealty to the prisoner despite treating escape plans lightly like past merchanting ventures.
- Maighdin — Arrives as a new gai'shain with a grim expression since Therava discovered her in the Wise One's tent, stands beside Lusara during the gathering, and occasionally whimpers in her sleep while harboring intense hatred for Therava.
- Meira (Wise One) — Walks with Faile through the rain, questions her delay, and experiences the same strange ripple that temporarily makes everything feel insubstantial before dismissing it and ordering Faile to resume her duties.
- Alliandre — Lies face down on blankets in Faile's tent with a bruised bottom and a damp cloth, weeps about their hopeless situation, but regains composure upon hearing news of the rod and vows to keep her nerve.
- Doirmanes (Cairhienin nobleman) — Stands beside Faile among the new gai'shain, bites his lip nervously, and would likely betray her escape plans to Sevanna in a heartbeat if he learned of them.
- Aravine — Enters the tent to announce that Alvon and Theril have arrived, beams with news about the rod, and later warns Faile of Rolan's presence before departing with worried glances.
- Alvon (woodcutter, gai'shain) — Presents a smooth white rod to Faile through his son Theril, claims it was found by chance while walking by, and assures her that Galina will not help them escape due to Therava's control.
- Theril — Delivers the mysterious rod to Faile, expresses a desire for freedom but prioritizes defeating the Shaido by freeing others, and scurries away after his father's warning.
- Rolan (Mera'din, protector) — Appears outside Faile's tent with wildflowers, warns her that some Mera'din may leave for the Three-fold Land, offers to help her escape or take her with them, and playfully beats at her before catching her fist.
- Dairaine — Shares Faile's tent as a former Cairhienin noblewoman who curries favor with Sevanna by spreading gossip among the gai'shain, complicating escape plans without posing an immediate threat.