Chapter 24 - New Friends and Old Enemies

Summary

Egwene al'Vere begins her life as a novice in the White Tower, where she is paired with Elayne for orientation. The two novices discover their shared ability to channel and quickly bond, meeting Min Farshaw, who reveals she was brought to the Tower to study her ability to see auras. The group encounters Logain, a gentled False Dragon, and is introduced to Galad and Gawyn Dragonmourne, Elayne's half-brother. Their gathering is interrupted by Elaida, an Aes Sedai of the Red Ajah, who sternly enforces novice protocol and scolds Elayne and Egwene for speaking to her before being spoken to, leaving them to hurry to their chores.

Characters

• Egwene — Egwene navigates her first day as a novice, sweeping and washing dishes under the direction of an Accepted named Pedra. She is paired with Elayne, discovers her ability to channel alongside Elayne, and forms a friendship with Min and Elayne. She is briefly charmed by Galad but attempts to steady herself before continuing with her duties.
• Elayne — A novice with reddish-gold hair, Elayne is assigned to guide Egwene. She discusses the rules of the Tower, her background as Daughter-Heir of Andor, and her ability to channel. She introduces Egwene to Min, Galad, and her brother Gawyn, and is later scolded by Elaida for speaking out of turn.
• Pedra — A short, wiry Accepted who directs Egwene to her room and assigns her chores in the scullery. She is brusque and expects Egwene to be punctual.
• Min — A girl with short dark hair dressed in breeches and a shirt, Min sits on a garden bridge. She was brought to the Tower to have her ability to see auras studied. She greets Egwene and Elayne, and Elayne explains that Rand came to her father's farm, while Min notes she was sent for by an Aes Sedai. Galad and Gawyn appear in the garden, with Galad greeting Egwene and Elayne, and Gawyn introducing himself.
• Logain (the False Dragon) — A tall, handsome man with long dark hair and sad eyes, Logain is stopped by an Accepted in the novice's garden after wandering into the restricted area. He is no longer dangerous due to being gentled, though he retains a bitter demeanor.
• Galad — A handsome young man with dark eyes and a cat-like grace, Galad is a Warder in training. He bows over Egwene's hand and asks to see her again, while Min notes that he always does what is right regardless of the cost. He is Elayne's half-brother.
• Gawyn — A grinning young man with reddish-gold hair, Gawyn is Elayne's half-brother. He teases his sister about Galad and discusses Rand al'Thor's ta'veren nature with Egwene before being interrupted by the arrival of Elaida.
• Elaida (the Aes Sedai, councilor) — An Aes Sedai of the Red Ajah with an ageless, hard face, Elaida confronts the novices and Min in the garden. She asserts her authority over the Tower, scolds Elayne for speaking to her, and interrogates Min about Moiraine, ordering the girls to run to their chores before the gong ends High.