Chapter 42 - Stronger than Blood
Summary
Gawyn Trakand sits exhausted in Egwene al'Vere's quarters, feeling the comfort of their newly formed bond while discussing Mesaana's capture and a failed assassination attempt. He promises to obey her completely if she allows him to protect her, suggests marriage immediately, and agrees to inform her family and Elayne first before examining dead bodies outside and taking three black vine-thorn ter'angreal rings from the assassins. Egwene reveals Mesaana was impersonating Danelle of the Brown Ajah before being found babbling and soiled, acknowledges that he saved her life, orders a bed for him as his permanent Warder station, and agrees to marry him after arranging proper notifications. Meanwhile, Lan Mandragoran rides toward the Silverwall Keeps disguised as a caravan leader, resolving not to lead gathered warriors into the Blight but to let them fight elsewhere. After being recognized by Kaisel Noramaga and learning Nynaeve arranged for allied princes to wait for him, he sighs, raises the Golden Crane, and permits all who wish to follow to join the Last Hunt.
Characters
- Gawyn / Gawyn Trakand — Sits exhausted in Egwene's quarters, feeling the comfort of their new bond. After discussing Mesaana's capture and a failed assassination attempt, he promises to obey her completely if she allows him to protect her. He suggests marriage immediately, agrees to inform her family and Elayne first, and examines dead bodies outside before taking three black vine-thorn ter'angreal rings from the assassins.
- Egwene / Egwene al'Vere — Enters his quarters calm externally but internally overwhelmed by the night's violence. She reveals Mesaana was impersonating Danelle of the Brown Ajah before being found babbling and soiled, acknowledges that he saved her life, orders a bed for him as his permanent Warder station, and agrees to marry him after arranging proper notifications.
- Silviana — Waits outside Egwene's quarters holding a glower for Gawyn before departing with the Amyrlin after receiving orders to prepare sleeping arrangements.
- Celark — Lies beneath a sheet outside Egwene's chambers as one of the dead Tower Guards, whose sacrifice Gawyn acknowledges and promises to report to his family.
- Mazone — Rests beside Celark under another sheet as a fallen guard, whom Gawyn honors for saving the Amyrlin's life.
- Lan / Lan Mandragoran / Al'Lan Mandragoran — Rides toward the Silverwall Keeps disguised as a caravan leader, resolving not to lead gathered warriors into the Blight but to let them fight elsewhere. After being recognized by Kaisel Noramaga and learning Nynaeve arranged for allied princes to wait for him, he sighs, raises the Golden Crane, and permits all who wish to follow to join the Last Hunt.
- Mandarb — Stands as Lan's mount, whose distinctive presence gives away his master's identity to Kaisel Noramaga from a fortress window.
- Kaisel / Kaisel Noramaga — Spots Lan from a window, approaches him on horseback, and declares that he and Prince Kendral will ride with him due to an oath stronger than blood that Lan's wife gave them.
- Nynaeve / Nynaeve al'Meara — Lan identifies her passion and kindness through their newly formed bond, realizing she has taken it. He also learns she previously instructed Kaisel to wait for him at the Silverwalls, successfully outmaneuvering his attempt to ride alone.
- Danelle — An Aes Sedai of the Brown Ajah who kept to herself and whose identity Mesaana impersonated before being discovered babbling like a child.
- Mesaana — Found babbling and having soiled herself after Egwene breaks her mind, she had been impersonating Danelle of the Brown Ajah within the Tower.
- Andere — Explains that his group waited at the Silverwalls rather than cutting through dangerous lands, and helps maintain the caravan disguise while riding with Lan.
- Kendral — Invites Kaisel to the Silverwalls and plans to ride alongside Lan despite his proper place being with his people.