ChapterTrack

Chapter 40 - Damane

Summary

Liandrin meets High Lady Suroth al'Thor of Seanchan to deliver captured women as damane; Egwene al'Vere is collared and taken by the sul'dam Renna after Min Farshaw is nearly executed for attacking a soldier. Egwene is forced to obey Renna's harsh conditioning while riding with the Seanchan column, whereas Nynaeve al'Maera and Elayne Trakand escape the initial capture by hiding in the woods. Upon reuniting, the two women decide to pursue the Seanchan to Falme to rescue their friends, planning to acquire local clothing to avoid detection.

Characters

  • Egwene (damane, Leashed One) — Egwene is collared by Renna and forced to join the Seanchan column, enduring painful unseen blows for resisting orders and failing to channel a tree. She pleads for Min Farshaw's life, accepting her status as a damane to save her friend, and rides west with the Seanchan, resolving to find a way to escape.
  • Nynaeve — Nynaeve escapes the Seanchan ambush by using lightning and fire to create a diversion and hiding in the brush. After reuniting with Elayne, she resolves to pursue the Seanchan to Falme to rescue Egwene and Min, advising Elayne to change their clothes to blend in with the local population.
  • Elayne (Daughter-Heir) — Elayne escapes the Seanchan soldiers by hiding behind a tree until Nynaeve finds her. She expresses guilt over her cowardice but agrees to Nynaeve's plan to ride to Falme, mounting behind Nynaeve on a mare to pursue the Seanchan column.
  • Min (girl, peasant) — Min is grabbed by a Seanchan soldier and forced to the ground, leaving her gasping in the dirt. She is spared execution only after Egwene begs High Lady Suroth for her life, and she is tied to her horse to ride with the Seanchan column.
  • Liandrin (Aes Sedai, Liandrin Sedai) — Liandrin meets High Lady Suroth, warning the High Lady of her own capacity for destruction before riding away through the Waygate, having commanded the group to take Egwene and find Nynaeve to be taken to Falme.
  • Suroth (High Lady, High Lady Suroth) — Suroth arrives in a palanquin to inspect the captured women, demanding two damane for her ships to Falme. She nearly allows a soldier to execute Min but spares her at Egwene's plea, then rides west to find Nynaeve, confident that the escapees will be collared.
  • Renna (sul'dam, Holder of the Leash) — Renna collars Egwene and imposes her authority, explaining the bond between sul'dam and damane. She punishes Egwene with unseen pain for resisting and forcing her to channel, treating the girl with a patronizing kindness akin to training a dog.
  • Alwhin (sul'dam) — Alwhin stands with an empty leash, expressing impatience with Renna's leniency toward Egwene. She makes vicious comments about the Empress using damane to torture lords and threatens that a damane could be killed if she displease.
  • Elbar (soldier, hook-nosed man) — Elbar, a tall, hook-nosed soldier, grabs Min, his hand dripping with blood. He attempts to execute Min with his curved blade at Suroth's command, only to freeze when the High Lady spares the girl, later tying Min to her horse.