The Wheel of Time Companion

by Robert Jordan

  As head of her Ajah, Serancha picked Andaya Forae as a Sitter for the Gray after the White Tower split. She taught Egwene lessons after Egwene was captured by the White Tower, and met with other Ajah heads and agreed to raise Egwene Amyrlin after the Seanchan attack.

  Seranda Palace. The home of the ruler of Amadicia in Amador.

  Serden. The son of Kolom son of Radlin, an Ogier author from about 400 NE who developed a theory about the Ways.

  Sereille Bagand. An Aes Sedai of the White Ajah with a strength level of 21(9). Born in Far Madding in 586 NE, she went to the White Tower in 601 NE. After spending thirteen years as a novice and eleven years as Accepted, she was raised to the shawl in 625 NE. The long periods Sereille spent as novice and Accepted had more to do with her being a discipline problem than with any difficulties in learning; she was remembered vividly by Reanne Corly of the Kin, who was a novice with her, as breaking more rules and playing more pranks than any three other novices.

  It was considered an attribute of women from Far Madding that they were strong-willed, and it was not considered all that unusual for one to do even dangerous things on a dare, at least while young, but Sereille once left the Tower grounds without permission, visited the guards at each bridge, in her novice white, told them her name, then returned to the Tower, managing to sneak in despite the fact that the first report of a runaway had already come in. She did it on a dare, despite knowing the punishment; in fact, it is recorded that when she was found, it was in the Mistress of Novices’ study, waiting to begin that punishment.

  In 738 NE Sereille was chosen for the Hall of the Tower as a Sitter for the White, serving under the ineffectual Feragaine and then Myriam Copan, who was also a weak Amyrlin, if not a puppet, in her early years. Sereille had shown no indications that she was extraordinary until she entered the Hall; as a Sitter, she blossomed, some might say virulently. She became more and more forceful, openly asserting her strong-willed personality. She could use logic like a knife in argument, gutting her opponents and filleting them or cutting them into paper-thin slices as she chose. With weak Amyrlins and all real power residing in the Hall—a situation that historically led to vicious infighting and a hothouse atmosphere in the Hall, indeed in the entire Tower—she had plenty of opportunity. She was particularly strong in opposing, successfully, measures that would have increased the power of the individual Ajahs at the expense of the Tower’s control over them, as well as any attempts at self-aggrandizement by Sitters.

  In 759 NE, she was named Mistress of Novices under Myriam Copan. Some said she was appointed Mistress to get her out of the Hall. This occurred just after “Beauty” Copan went on her retreat that changed her priorities and turned her into a strong Amyrlin. It was not then known (although a few suspected) that Cadsuane was involved in this retreat in any way. Cadsuane, then age fifty-eight, and twenty-eight years an Aes Sedai—very junior in everything except her strength, which put her at the very top of the social hierarchy—did not get on with Sereille, and the dislike was returned. Reportedly, Cadsuane was the only sister who Sereille could never make jump through hoops.

  Sereille served as Mistress of Novices for an unprecedented 107 years under Myriam, Zeranda Tyrim and Parenia Demalle. Traditionally, of course, a new Amyrlin might ask the Mistress of Novices to step down so as to put her own woman in the post, but some say that Sereille remained so long in the position because the Hall thought to keep her out of their hair, at least in the beginning. Later it was said that no one had the nerve to ask her to step down.

  During her tenure, she was in many ways a tyrant, and most novices and Accepted squeaked when she looked at them; if she looked twice, their teeth often chattered. Her punishments were not arbitrary—she did not play favorites or single out girls she did not like—but her standards were high, and her punishments for falling short were fierce, to say the least. In truth, given that the Mistress of Novices often played such a large part in penances served by sisters, she also quite literally put her mark on a large number of women who already were Aes Sedai during this period.

  In 866 NE, she was raised Amyrlin; some reports suggest that by this time, the Hall of the Tower was afraid not to stand for her. What can be certain, though, is that once her name was suggested, all others were withdrawn. She achieved the greater consensus on the very first call, which was all but unprecedented.

  As Amyrlin, she ran the Tower in many ways as if she still were the Mistress of Novices, and every sister were a novice, or at best Accepted. She expected obedience and no arguments, and she got obedience and no arguments; those who argued soon came to regret it, with the possible exception of Cadsuane Melaidhrin. Claims that even Sitters flinched when she looked at them and broke into tears when she frowned cannot be confirmed, but the fact remains that during her reign, the Hall of the Tower was firmly in her grasp.

  When the Hall first tried balking her, she unchaired the entire Hall. The Ajahs then returned the same Sitters, only to have her unchair them immediately. This continued for nearly half a year before the Ajahs realized that for all that time Sereille had been ruling solely by decree and would continue to do so. A full year passed before Sereille allowed a Hall to sit, and by that time the Ajahs had, in desperation, begun choosing women they believed Sereille would accept. By the time she allowed a Hall to sit, every single Sitter was a woman Sereille would accept; in effect, she had chosen her own Hall, and she never had trouble with them again. After Sereille’s death, the Hall passed a law saying that if the entire Hall was unchaired, the new Hall had to sit for ten days before it could be unchaired again.

  A plotted rebellion against her was uncovered by Cadsuane and crushed by her single-handedly.

  Sereille’s reign coincided with another expansion of Aes Sedai influence, an increase in the power of the White Tower. She did not try for the return to any former days of glory, but for that period, she came very close to achieving it, by diplomacy, by manipulation and plots, and by the force of her will. When Sereille died in 890 NE, the Hall began to reassert itself within the Tower; whether or not this was the reason, the Tower’s power and influence in the world promptly began another slow decline.

  Sereine dar Shamelle Motara. The author of Commentaries on the Karaethon Cycle. She was Counsel-Sister to Comaelle, High Queen of Jaramide, circa 325 AB, the Third Age.

  Serendahar. The site of a battle between Sammael and Lews Therin Telamon during the Age of Legends, where Sammael tried to bait Lews Therin into attacking him. Rand related the story to Asmodean.

  Serengada Dai. A region of Seanchan that Sarek, one of the Blood with high ambitions, had designs on, as learned by Rand and Aviendha when they Traveled to Seanchan.

  Serenia Latar. An Aes Sedai of the Gray Ajah who served as Amyrlin from 276 to 306 NE. Serenia was a strong Amyrlin, a skillful negotiator who greatly increased the Tower’s influence and prestige, ending many wars and effecting many treaties. In 306 NE, Serenia died in Altara after negotiating an end to a civil war. Her corpse was seized by the Whitecloaks; they hanged it despite the fact that she was already dead. She was the only Amyrlin ever hanged by the Children of the Light.

  Serenla. The name used by Min after escaping the Tower with Siuan and Leane; it was Old Tongue for “stubborn daughter.”

  Sergase Gilbearn. An Andoran noblewoman of a minor House. Small and slim with dark hair touched with white, she had opposed Gaebril and was loyal to Elayne; Sergase brought all twenty of her armsmen to support her.

  Seri. A Seanchan damane who belonged to Lady Morsa. Rand and Aviendha encountered her when they Traveled to Seanchan. She was pale-faced and appeared to be a teenager. She was taken into custody by the Seeker, along with everyone else in the party. When Aviendha tried to remove her collar, Seri screamed to her mistress to save her.

  Serile. A Sea Folk Windfinder to Turane; the Seanchan ship that they had captured was the meeting place for the First Twelve of the Atha’an Miere in Illian.

  Serinia. An Aes Sedai assisting in crea
ting gateways for refugees from Caemlyn at the beginning of the Last Battle.

  Seroku, Alin. See Alin Seroku

  Serpent, Great. See Great Serpent

  Serrisa. A well-trained, responsive damane that Egeanin had owned and left behind in Cantorin. She would gorge herself on honeyed nuts, if allowed, but she never got seasick or the sulks, the way some did.

  Servants, Hall of the. See Hall of the Servants

  Servants of the Light. A term which originated during the Age of Legends to mean Aes Sedai. After the Breaking, it was a formal name still used by the Ogier for Aes Sedai east of the Aryth Ocean. The term was used when Loial introduced himself to Moiraine. Distinct from this usage, however, Red Ajah associated the term with male channelers.

  Seta Zarbey. A Seanchan sul’dam. About 5'6" tall, with shoulder-length yellow hair, blue eyes and a fair complexion, she was one of the two sul’dam that Nynaeve and the others captured and left leashed on a’dam when they escaped at Falme. Her damane punched out Seta and ran away despite attempts to calm her, the implication being that Seta was not so pleasant. She and Renna were found by Alwhin and released. Because she was found being held by an a’dam, Seta was never again allowed to be complete, though the facts were covered up and she remained in Suroth’s employ. Egeanin learned of this from Bethamin and used it to blackmail Renna, Seta and Bethamin into helping rescue Teslyn, Joline and Edesina. The three sul’dam fled with Mat and Valan Luca’s show; Seta fled because she knew she could not return safely. After Bethamin began channeling, Seta refused to even look while Bethamin was taking lessons, but after a time she asked to be included. The Aes Sedai refused because she had not begun channeling yet and was too old for the novice book, whereupon she did channel, forcing their hands. She continued with Mat and the Band of the Red Hand until she went to the White Tower with the group that included Teslyn, Joline and Edesina.

  Setagana. Anaiya’s Warder. He was tall, lean and beautiful. He and Anaiya were murdered with the use of saidin.

  Setalle Anan. The innkeeper of The Wandering Woman in Ebou Dar. She was once the Aes Sedai Martine Janata, but was burned out while working with ter’angreal. Her description of the pain of being burned out was that if she gathered the birth pangs she suffered with all of her children together into one moment, that would be the tenth of what she felt. Three days passed before she could stop weeping long enough to go away, but once she did, she fled as if pursued. She felt she was pursued, in a way, by the horror, pity and queasiness she saw in the eyes of her sisters, as well as by her own horror at what had happened to her. She ran as if trying to outrun saidar, as if she felt in her bones that if she ran far enough, fast enough, she could find somewhere she would no longer be able to sense what she could no longer touch.

  She arrived in Ebou Dar about half a year after being burned out. She thought that perhaps it was knowledge of the Kin that drew her to Ebou Dar, unconsciously. In her flight she had run out of money, lost her horse and lost everything. When Jasfer Anan found her standing in the rain and brought her home to his mother to take care of, she hadn’t eaten in days; she did not know how many, only that she often fainted and could no longer think straight. Jasfer’s mother was used to her son bringing home strays, though usually dogs or cats; this woman was not about to put up with any nonsense, like letting Setalle starve herself to death. She force-fed her and smacked her bottom until she began eating on her own.

  Roughly a half year after meeting Jasfer, Setalle married him. Jasfer and she had eight children, altogether—five daughters and three sons. Marrying and having children were a major part of reviving her interest in life, giving her the realization that she had in effect been given a second chance.

  She was about 5'5" tall, and stately, with hazel eyes and dark hair touched with a little gray; she appeared to be in her mid-forties, a slight residual effect of having been able to channel; she would always be taken for younger than her true age. She did not look as she did when she was really in her forties; no one would recognize her if they saw her. The onset of apparent relative youthfulness was not an overnight thing, as with Leane and Siuan. Not until after she was taken in by her Jasfer’s mother did she realize that she looked somewhere in her early twenties. Wondering about that was the first thing to pull her out of despair, listlessness and thoughts of suicide.

  Setalle was caught up in Mat’s escape from Ebou Dar, and, after selling her inn, went with him while her family escaped on her husband’s fishing boats, sailing for Illian. She claimed to be happy in her life, happy with her husband and children and business, but the possibility of being able to channel again was a shock to her, a temptation that made her almost hate Nynaeve for offering it. Surprisingly, she claimed to be happy when Healing did not work; if it had, she would have to give up the life she had made for herself.

  Setalle was with Faile’s group that went to fetch the Horn of Valere from the White Tower in the Last Battle. A gateway that was supposed to return them to the Field of Merrilor opened just as a bubble of evil struck; the group rushed through the gateway and found themselves in the Blight.

  Setares, Tolmeran. See Tolmeran Setares

  Setsuko. An Arafellin novice who was in the Tower at the time of the Aiel War. She was too weak to test for Accepted. She was pale-eyed, timid, stocky and shorter than Moiraine. She talked of running away, but a visit to Merean’s study convinced her at least to keep quiet about her intentions if it didn’t convince her to stay until the Aes Sedai decided it was safe for her to go.

  Sevanna. A woman of the Jumai sept of the Shaido Aiel. In her late twenties to early thirties, she was about 5'8" tall, with green eyes, golden hair and a greedy mouth. She dressed immodestly and extravagantly for an Aiel. Sevanna was not a coward, nor was she stupid; she was simply very, very ambitious and very, very greedy. From a young age she wanted power, and was sure she had taken the right route to it. She enjoyed the excitement of the battle at Dumai’s Wells, and almost regretted not having chosen the spear, but she had decided early on that the weapons she had been born with were the proper ones for her climb. She pursued her first husband, the Shaido clan chief, and made him think he had chased and won her, and when he died, she did the same to Muradin, who was chosen to go to Rhuidean to replace her dead Suladric. When Muradin failed to return, she transferred her sights to Couladin and took him as easily.

  After Couladin’s death, she took over as acting chief of the Shaido; she also began acting as a Wise One, and was accepted as one. She had real power at an age when Wise One’s apprentices were still running to fetch water and Maidens were still jumping when any of a dozen older Maidens murmured jump.

  Sevanna was obsessed with possessing Rand. She intended, among other things, to found a dynasty, perhaps matriarchal, insofar as succession of the rulers was possible, to rule the Shaido and much more, using him. This desire for him was both practical—the dynasty and the power achieved simply by having him in her grasp—and personal—he had great power, and she lusted to own and control it. That was an added reason for her to want Faile serving her, once she learned Faile was married to a friend of Rand. Sevanna wanted to know everything about him.

  Sevanna led the Shaido to break many customs; instead of taking the fifth, they looted to bare ground, excusing it because the victims were wetlanders. They forced wetlanders to become gai’shain—in effect slaves—though wetlanders did not follow ji’e’toh and this was considered insulting to the Aiel who were gai’shain. Sevanna, using the Wise Ones, decreed that wetlander gai’shain, because they did not follow ji’e’toh, were not to be released in a year and a day but held until they demonstrated that they had come to follow ji’e’toh, the object being to never release them. She also took Wise Ones into battle, although non-Shaido Aiel did so as well. She began decorating her gai’shain with jewelry, increased the jewelry she herself wore, and started wearing finger rings.

  Sevanna hated being less than anyone else and not having the power or abilities that others did. That was he
r main impetus in wanting to break Galina. In the beginning she thought that simply breaking the Aes Sedai to a point where she would promise to do as Sevanna told her would be sufficient. She knew that Aes Sedai supposedly could not lie, but also that they were said to twist words fiercely. She was not certain about the efficacy of the binder rod given her by Caddar/Sammael, but she was willing to use it. Once Galina had been broken far enough to swear on the rod—and Sevanna believed it must take more to break an Aes Sedai than to break other people—then if the rod worked as claimed, she would have the complete and utter obedience of a woman who could channel, and if it did not work, she would still have the complete and utter obedience of a woman who could channel, because Galina would have been broken, and Aes Sedai could not lie.

  Therava became Sevanna’s advisor, ostensibly because Sevanna spoke as the clan chief, and she needed a Wise One to advise her as a clan chief would. Sevanna was not best pleased by this. In the eyes of Therava and the other Wise Ones, Sevanna erred seriously in letting the Shaido be scattered at Sammael’s connivance. That was the real reason Therava was appointed to her post. At Malden, Sevanna was taken captive by the Seanchan.

  Seve. A seven-year-old boy taken to Salidar as a child of Marigan (Moghedien in disguise); Jaril was his brother. At first, they clung to each other and seemed frightened of everything and everyone and would not speak a word. Later, they laughed and shouted as loud as the other children.