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The Wheel of Time Companion

Page 9

by Robert Jordan


  The last four Queens of Andor before Elayne barely held on to the west of Andor. Since the mines in the Mountains of Mist were the most valuable western properties, the crown maintained as much authority as possible there, keeping some authority in Baerlon and the surrounding area—as a waypoint on the route out for ores and metals—and otherwise let the western lands pretty much go except on the map. This is why the Two Rivers folk had no real memory—in most cases, no memory at all—that they were part of Andor.

  Andor, Royal Palace of. See Royal Palace of Andor

  Andra. A name sometimes used by Lan while on the road.

  Andric. The King of Tarabon at the time of the Seanchan invasion. He and Amathera were lovers. He wore a lion mask for anonymity when meeting with Jaichim Carridin to ask for the Whitecloaks to take over the Panarch’s Palace, so he could install Amathera as Panarch. He was killed defending Tarabon from the Seanchan.

  Andril, Master. A man featured in a slightly bawdy song sung at The White Ring in Maderin.

  Andris. Sammael’s emissary to Rand who offered a truce and then died, sweating blood.

  Andro. Meilyn Arganya’s Warder. Lean and no taller than Meilyn, he appeared youthful and had an unblinking gaze.

  Androl Genhald. A Taraboner Asha’man. Approximately thirty years old when he went to the Black Tower, he was clean-shaven and square with heavy eyebrows that drew down when he was thinking. He habitually clasped his hands behind his back and wore a signet ring on his left hand, like a nobleman. He had traveled widely in his life, visiting many remote places. He was part of Logain’s faction and had a Talent for making gateways, although he was not very strong in the One Power. Logain had him and others encourage the men to try new ways of Healing. He reached the rank of Dedicated, but was demoted back to soldier by Taim. When it became impossible to make gateways at the Black Tower, Androl worked with Pevara to try to find a way out. They bonded each other, and were thereafter able to sense each other’s thoughts as well as emotions. Taim planned to kill Androl and Turn Pevara, but Perrin removed Slayer’s dreamspike just in time, enabling Androl to make a gateway and defeat Taim, his cronies and Myrddraal. Androl went on to fight in the Last Battle, steal the remaining seals on the Dark One’s prison from Taim, and capture a number of Darkfriend channelers.

  Andscale, Mistress. A banker in Caemlyn who made a loan to Elayne upon the discovery of first-quality alum on her estates in Danabar; she also lent money to Arymilla against her holdings.

  Anemara. A plump Accepted of the loyalist contingent. She told Elaida of a woman seeking an audience; that woman was Beonin.

  Anford, Mistress. One of Halwin Norry’s most trusted clerks, a graying woman who worked for Birgitte in Caemlyn.

  Anghar. A Seanchan soldier sent by Karede to Ebou Dar to report the Ever Victorious Army’s retreat after battling Rand. He was a steady-eyed young man with a fast horse.

  Anghara. An Amyrlin from the past. Isebele of Dal Calain had enough power to force Anghara to come to her.

  Angharad Juerissen. An Aes Sedai of the Gray Ajah who was Sierin Vayu’s Keeper of the Chronicles.

  Angla. A novice with the Salidar Aes Sedai. Born in 973 NE, she went to the White Tower at the age of seventeen. She was part of the circle under Anaiya that formed to fight the bubble of evil in Salidar.

  angreal. A very rare object which allowed anyone capable of channeling the One Power to handle a greater amount of the Power than would be safely possible unaided. They were remnants of the Age of Legends, and the means of their making was lost. Shortly before the Last Battle, Rand found a Seed, an item needed to create angreal, and gave it to Elayne.

  Anhara, Ryn. A member of the Academy of Cairhien who trapped lightning in jars.

  Anhill. See Clarine and Petra Anhill

  Anjen. Leane’s Warder, whom she bonded in 977 NE. He died in 984 NE.

  Ankaer. A powerful Domani nobleman whom Ituralde courted to help with his plans against the Seanchan. After Lidrin was killed, Ankaer took over his command. He died in the fighting in Maradon.

  Ankerin, House. An Andoran noble House; its High Seat was Lady Carlys.

  Ankor Dail. A fortress in the Eastern Marches of Shienar, near the Spine of the World, which it guarded. Masema served three years there fighting Aiel. Ankor Dail was one of the armies that was going to join Agelmar at the battle at Tarwin’s Gap while Rand went to see the Green Man. Ankor Dail was burned during the Last Battle to hinder the progress of the Trolloc armies.

  Anla, the Wise Counselor. Someone of whom thousands of tales were told. Thom thought that she lived in an Age before the Age of Legends; it was thought by some that she was perhaps the sister of Elsbet, the Queen of All.

  Anlee. An Aes Sedai of the Blue Ajah and a Sitter for the Blue at the time of the Aiel War. She was grave-faced and wore many rings and necklaces.

  Annah. A messenger for Bryne in the Last Battle. She died when a raken was shot down and landed on her.

  Annallin. A Cairhienin noble House. See Daricain and Dalthanes Annallin

  Annariz, Fionnda. See Fionnda Annariz

  Annharid Matoun. A Saldaean Aes Sedai of the Yellow Ajah and the rebel contingent, with a strength level of 17(5). Born in 894 NE, she went to the White Tower in 909 NE. After eight years as a novice and six years as Accepted, she was raised to the shawl in 923 NE. About 5'5" tall, with coppery skin, dark brown eyes that were not particularly large and black hair, she was just a tad on the stocky side—what might be called sturdy, though not heavy. A forceful woman, not particularly arrogant for a Yellow, but strong-willed and determined, she did not suffer fools gladly. She was one of the ferrets sent to the White Tower to try to undermine Elaida. Like all of the sisters chosen for the fifth column, Annharid was out of the White Tower when Siuan was deposed and the Tower broke, so there was no flight to arouse any suspicions toward her. Apparently, she simply returned in answer to Elaida’s summons.

  Annoura Larisen. A Taraboner Aes Sedai of the Gray Ajah, uncommitted to any faction. Her strength level was 33(21). Born in 838 NE, she went to the White Tower in 854 NE. After twelve years as a novice and ten years as Accepted, she was raised to the shawl in 876 NE. She served as advisor to Berelain, of whom she was quite fond, though this was kept secret because of Tear’s attitude toward women who could channel.

  Annoura was about 5'4" tall and stocky, with a beak of a nose and a wide mouth that could make a pleasant smile. Her hair was done in dozens of long, thin braids. When she was nervous, she rubbed her thumbs with her forefingers. She could be very self-effacing and could manage to fade into the background, staying so still that one forgot she was there. She could appear distracted by things that didn’t seem important, but she never was, really. When Annoura Healed Perrin, she was afraid he would die even after she Healed him, which maybe reflected on her sense of her abilities. She was a good negotiator, but not considered one of the best.

  She spent some time after the Aiel War as part of the Gray effort to keep the Grand Coalition going; after that she became Berelain’s advisor. She stayed in Mayene when Berelain rode north to Cairhien because they were unsure of the reception that Rand would give an Aes Sedai he did not know. Berelain acted against her advice in going; she counseled caution. She was neutral regarding events in the Tower (i.e., she supported neither side; but that didn’t mean she was neutral on the subject of rebellion per se), though not at all pleased that so many seemed to know about the divisions. Aes Sedai–like, she could be angry or upset with people just for knowing, but she also thought that both Elaida and the other side had mishandled it all badly—it should all have been kept secret, at whatever cost, for the good of the Tower. In Cairhien, she and Merana were taken off by Cadsuane for a consultation and questioning after Cadsuane first met and confronted Rand. She was unsettled by Cadsuane, though outwardly less so than Merana. She heard rumors that Moiraine had been killed. She didn’t know of Rand’s kidnapping until she arrived in Cairhien.

  Basically, the Wise Ones looked on Ann
oura no differently than they had begun looking on all of the sisters, despite her connection to Berelain, whom some of them at least regarded with a degree of affection. At best, there was a sort of toleration of Annoura for Berelain’s sake. Annoura did not like or understand the Wise Ones’ view of Aes Sedai. She traveled with Berelain and Perrin to Ghealdan; she met secretly with Masema, which angered Berelain. In the Last Battle, she channeled too much getting Galad to safety and burned herself out.

  Anointed of the Light. The title for a Lord Captain of the Children, a member of the Council of the Anointed, which commanded the Whitecloaks.

  Anolle’sanna. An Ogier-built city in Aramaelle, one of the Ten Nations after the Breaking.

  Ansaline Gardens. A superior establishment in the Age of Legends, where only the finest wines and dishes were served. There was also gambling at the chinje wheels, and there were immense sculptures by Cormalinde Masoon. The Gardens were in ruins by the third year of the War of Power.

  Anselan. A Warder and hero during the Trolloc Wars; his Aes Sedai was Barashelle. Their story passed down through the ages as a romance, and Egwene read the story in The Flame, The Blade and the Heart. But Birgitte revealed the true story: Barashelle bonded a Warder while she was still Accepted; when she was found out, she was forced to pass the bond to another and remain Accepted three extra years, and then ordered to bond Anselan, a stubborn older man with a leathery face chosen for Barashelle by the Amyrlin.

  Anshar. A major noble House of Andor. Its High Seat was Karind Anshar; its sign a red fox.

  Antaeo, River. A river with headwaters in the Black Hills flowing southeast to join the River Erinin north of Tar Valon.

  Antail. An Asha’man who was quiet and thin-haired, and skilled in Healing. He was with Ituralde in Maradon, and with Lan at the Last Battle. He toasted Deepe, a fellow Asha’man, who died in the battle at Maradon.

  Anthelle Sharplyn. A stout Andoran noblewoman and High Seat of her minor House. She was loyal to Elayne.

  Antol. The eldest son of Queen Ethenielle and Prince Brys and thus the heir to the throne of Kandor. Tall and born in 964 NE, Antol married a Kandori noblewoman. He was with the Borderlanders in the Last Battle, and advised that forces should concentrate on the Andoran battlefront, as Kandor had already fallen.

  Anvaere Damodred. Moiraine’s older sister, who cared for nothing but hawking and horses and had a terrible temper.

  Anya. A serving woman in Aesdaishar Palace who served Lan when he visited. She had a square face and gray hair. Edeyn coopted her loyalties.

  Aptarigine Cycle. A famous cycle of stories, which numbered in the hundreds, following the intrigues, loves and romances, both happy and doomed, that joined and divided two dozen noble families over fifty generations. The stories of the Aptarigine Cycle were usually told by bards, and few gleemen knew more than a handful of the stories.

  Ara. A serving man at The Stag and Lion in Baerlon. He was a slight, dark-haired fellow who led Thom, Rand, Mat and Perrin to the bath chamber. He said that Rand had a funny accent, and asked if there was trouble downcountry. Mat started telling him about Trollocs before Thom, Rand and Perrin shut him up.

  Arabah, Gueye. A young Seanchan officer under Tylee who told Perrin of additional Shaido approaching Malden.

  Aracome. A High Lord of Tear who was slender and graying, with a long-smoldering temper and suspicious nature, and one of the most active plotters against Rand in the Stone. He disliked Aes Sedai and would have tried to screw up any Aes Sedai plan on general principles, though he wouldn’t have thought of it as helping Rand. He was sent to Cairhien under Meilan; he, Torean and Meilan were at that time the three foremost High Lords there. He was worried about his previous association with Hearne and Simaan, who both went into open rebellion in the region of Haddon Mirk. He was in Illian with Rand during that campaign. Min saw him in a vision as dying violently in battle. Indeed, his death fighting the Seanchan was particularly bloody, causing Anaiyella to vomit violently. Flinn tried to Heal him, but in Bashere’s opinion, he didn’t want to live because the damage to his body was so great.

  Arad. A person of significance from the days of Manetheren. After the battle with Trollocs which ended with Moiraine making a wall of fire, Egwene asked what Mat had been shouting, revealed to be Old Tongue. After translating, Moiraine said that the blood of Arad’s line was still strong in the Two Rivers, and the old blood still sang.

  Arad Doman. A nation in the west of the mainland. Its capital was Bandar Eban. Its sigil was a silver hand grasping a silver sword by the blade, point down: the Sword and Hand. Its banner was the Sword and Hand on a field of four green and three blue horizontal stripes. Its king, Alsalam, vanished mysteriously, and the country descended into chaos.

  The nation was founded in approximately FY 1096 by forces led by Lord Jalaam Lazari, Lord Ahran Nawaz and Lady Bastine Almadar. Immediately after they took the city of Bandar Eban, which was already one of the major trading ports of the known world, they proclaimed the existence of a nation, taking the name of the province in Hawkwing’s empire. The power and importance of merchants in the former nations of Abayan and Darmovan, and in Hawkwing’s province of Arad Doman, led to Lazari, Nawaz and Almadar allying themselves to an informal council of the leading merchants, which in turn led, by the end of the War of the Hundred Years, to a very formal Council of Merchants. Shelaan Lazari, the second-eldest son of Jalaam, was the first to bear the title of King of Arad Doman, granted to him approximately FY 1116. Domani claimed descent from those who made the Tree of Life in the Age of Legends, but they did not claim to have ever possessed a sapling of the tree.

  The King was elected for life by the Council of Merchants, composed of the heads of merchant guilds, who were mainly women. He legally had absolute authority, with the exception that he could be deposed by seventy-five percent vote of the Council. The King had to come from one of the noble Houses, called the Bloodborn, not from a merchant House. While the monarchy often passed down in one family, nothing required that; only the vote of the Council of Merchants carried weight.

  Domani women were taught practically from the cradle the arts of flirtation, seduction and the snaring and befuddling of a man’s senses and mind. Their reputation as femmes fatale was equaled only by that of Sea Folk women. They often promised far more than they delivered, however; at least, the outland men targeted by them frequently felt so.

  Nevertheless, Domani men were hardly helpless in the face of their women, for they were taught the male versions of the same arts. Domani believed that women were better merchants and traders than men; it was for this reason that most Domani merchant houses were headed by women, and most Domani merchants were women. The men were more likely to handle accounts while the women did the actual trade and negotiation. Female Domani merchants were not above using the fabled Domani seductive wiles to aide their negotiations, at least on male merchants. Male Domani merchants also used seduction with female merchants from other countries, but they were not considered so dangerous as negotiators as Domani women.

  Wearing an earring given by a member of the opposite sex was considered a sign or acknowledgment of being lovers.

  Domani of a certain class, men and women, would receive their retainers in the baths. These servants, however, would be of the same gender. Receiving in the bath was considered a suitable time for handing out orders, while the master or mistress was relaxed.

  The army of Arad Doman historically consisted of the personal levies of nobles and also levies raised by the guilds. There was never a permanent formation such as the Queen’s Guards in Andor or the Defenders of the Stone in Tear, for the Council of Merchants did not want the King to be able to call on more than his own House could raise in case they decided to depose him. The guilds themselves did keep some troops permanently, in the guise of guards; these often numbered as many for a given guild as any House could call on, or even more. Arad Doman was unusual in that it had a standing navy, of sorts. Called the coast guards, it was maintain
ed and controlled by the Council of Merchants, not by the King. It was a small force with only enough ships to ensure that shipping around the coast of Arad Doman was untroubled by pirates. It fell into disarray with the troubles in Arad Doman.

  Arad Doman was renowned for its glasswork, especially fine bowls, and its carpetweaving. There was some manufacture of mirrors and looking glasses. Mutton, leather, iron, and iron and steel products were also produced. Most of the trade from Saldaea passed through the port of Bandar Eban.

  Arafel. One of the Borderland nations, north of Tar Valon. Its capital was Shol Arbela. Its sigil was a red rose and a white rose: the Roses. Its banner bore three white roses on a field of red quartered with three red roses on a field of white; red is on the side away from the staff at the top, against the staff at the bottom. Paitar Nachiman was its king.

  Saldaea, Kandor, Arafel, Shienar and Malkier all were provinces of Hawkwing’s empire, with the borders between them very much as they were at the time of the Last Battle, though not stretching so far south in most cases. With the Blight to contend with, the governors of those provinces—Lord Rylen t’Boriden Rashad for Saldaea, Lord Jarel Soukovni for Kandor, Lady Mahira Svetanya for Arafel, Lady Merean Tihomar for Shienar and Lord Shevar Jamelle for Malkier—met soon after Hawkwing’s death in FY 994 to reaffirm measures for cooperation against the Blight and to make agreements for mutual defense against attack from the south. Before the end of FY 995, when it became clear that the rest of the empire was splintering, each of the governors took the title of King or Queen of his or her former province, now a nation. None of these nations would take part in any of the wider fighting of the War of the Hundred Years, except for defending themselves against attacks and punishing same, though individuals and groups did sometimes become involved, for political reasons or family connections or friendships.

 

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