The Wheel of Time Companion

by Robert Jordan

  Siuan was novice and Accepted with Moiraine. The pair were very close friends. The two most common pairings of extremely close friends among novices and Accepted were between women who were from very much the same sort of background, and between women who were from what seemed opposite backgrounds. She and Moiraine began as friends who cried on each other’s shoulder about the hardships of being a novice or after a switching from the Mistress of Novices, and they eventually became pillow friends. This relationship continued after they became Accepted, and even for a time after they were raised Aes Sedai, though never again with the same intensity as when they were younger. As novice and Accepted both, it was Siuan who always took the lead between her and Moiraine. That startled Moiraine at first, until she decided that Siuan had been born to lead.

  Siuan and Moiraine played a good many pranks, always together. They were caught for a number of these and punished together, so much so that it was said that if one was spotted waiting to go into the Mistress of Novices’ study, the other was already inside.

  A great effort was made to clean up Siuan’s language when she was a novice, and it was apparently successful, but as soon as she gained the shawl, she reverted. In the same way, she apparently forgot many if not all of her deportment lessons.

  As Accepted, Siuan and Moiraine were attending the Amyrlin, Tamra Ospenya, and the Keeper, Gitara Moroso, in the final hours of the Battle of the Shining Walls. Gitara had a Foretelling that the Dragon had been reborn, and fell over dead. Although Tamra did not encourage it, Siuan and Moiraine began the hunt for the Dragon Reborn as soon as they could. They were raised to the shawl soon thereafter, and Cetalia Delarme, the head of the Blue eyes-and-ears, chose Siuan to be her assistant, leaving Moiraine to begin the search outside the Tower on her own.

  In her job, Siuan learned that all of the women Tamra had set on the task were being killed; she made haste to meet Moiraine in Kandor. After Moiraine defeated Merean of the Black Ajah, Siuan puzzled out that men who might be able to channel were being killed.

  Siuan made her way back to the Tower and resumed working for Cetalia. It was a job that brought her information from every quarter of the world, not only hints as to the presence of the Dragon Reborn but also as to the presence of the Black Ajah. She was not pleased to go back; since she had run off without telling Cetalia and had left a large stack of reports behind, she was sure that Cetalia would hang her out in the sun to dry, and she was not far wrong. That was the beginning of her being pulled deeper and deeper into the politics of the Tower, with the eventual result of her being chosen Amyrlin only nine years later.

  As Amyrlin, Siuan went to Fal Dara in 998 NE to see Moiraine and Rand, whom Moiraine had identified as the Dragon Reborn. Siuan kept the knowledge a secret from the rest of the Aes Sedai. That choice led to her deposition when Elaida became suspicious and led a coup. Siuan and her Keeper, Leane Sharif, were stilled and imprisoned. Min freed them, and with Logain, started out to find the rebel Aes Sedai. On the way, Siuan and Min, Leane and Logain took shelter in a barn in Kore Springs; when they were discovered, Logain hit the farmer, causing him to drop his lantern and set the barn alight. The barn and milkcows were lost; Logain escaped, but the women were taken for trial. Gareth Bryne presided, and they swore service to him long enough to repay the cost of the barn and cows. Siuan, saying that she intended to fulfill her oath, and the rest then fled when Logain gave them the opportunity. They learned that the rebels were in Salidar, and made their way there, with Bryne in pursuit.

  When she joined the Salidar rebels, Siuan was welcomed warmly by many, for herself and for representing hope against what every Aes Sedai feared beyond death; just as many or more offered toleration or condescension or both, blaming her for their situation. She was no longer bound by the Three Oaths, though few knew this; she used her freedom to convince the Aes Sedai that Logain had been set up as a false Dragon by the Reds. She also convinced them that they needed a young, malleable woman for the new Amyrlin, one they could manipulate and guide. Nynaeve Healed Siuan, but her strength level was dramatically lower than before. In general it was believed—and rightly—that Siuan adapted to her new circumstances much less well than Leane. Siuan could accept that she was no longer Amyrlin and would not be, though barely. What she found almost impossible to adjust to was her greatly reduced status in the hierarchy; not only that she was so much lower, but that she reacted automatically to it sometimes, that she had to defer to sisters who before her stilling, even had she not been Amyrlin, would have listened attentively and accepted her suggestions as the next thing to orders. She did not like the lesser status, and she did not like the fact that she was beginning to accept it without thought.

  When Egwene was raised to the Amyrlin Seat, Siuan was told to teach Egwene the protocols of her position, and became seen as somewhat attached to Egwene, but sullenly and grudgingly. In fact, she came to be a great help to Egwene. She kept the Amyrlin’s eyes-and-ears, showing the reports to Egwene, but Aeldene Stonebridge snatched the Blue eyes-and-ears away from her. Siuan’s attitude was improved by her relationship with Gareth Bryne—the two were in love with each other long before they admitted it. Because he loved her, Bryne insisted she work off the debt to him so he could keep her near him, agreed to lead the army for the rebels and offered that army to Egwene, whose one real supporter and friend was, it appeared, Siuan. Min had also had a viewing concerning Siuan and Bryne: that Siuan had to stay close to Gareth Bryne or she would die.

  After Egwene was taken by Elaida’s Aes Sedai, she talked to Siuan in Tel’aran’rhiod and forbade a rescue attempt. When the Seanchan began their attack, however, Siuan and Gawyn decided to take matters into their own hands; Bryne agreed to help if Siuan bonded him as her Warder. They went into the Tower through a watergate. Bryne saved Siuan’s life, and she his; Siuan was convinced that Min’s viewing had been fulfilled. They succeeded in rescuing Egwene, although she was not pleased.

  Siuan proved very useful in the Last Battle; she survived the Sharan attack on the command tent because of a weave Yukiri came up with to cushion their large drop from an elevated gateway. Because she believed Min’s viewing had been fulfilled, Siuan did not stay near Bryne; she went to see Tuon in Mat’s command tent while Bryne went to look for Gawyn. Siuan saved Min there from an attack by Sharans, but when the Gray Men appeared, she went inside the tent and was killed by an explosion of fire. Bryne did not long survive her.

  Sivi. The name given to Adelorna Bastine by the sul’dam who leashed her for a very short time when the Seanchan attacked the White Tower; Egwene saved her.

  Six-Story Slaughter, the. The Band of the Red Hand’s name for the fight against the gholam in Ebou Dar.

  Skane, Mili. See Mili Skane

  Skellit, Jon. See Jon Skellit

  skimmer. The second-largest class of Sea Folk ships. Skimmers were three-masted and 150 to 250 feet in length, although generally no more than 200 feet. Broader in the beam and of greater displacement than rakers, they were usually much faster than any mainland ship of similar displacement. They could cover 250 to 300 miles in a twenty-four-hour period if the winds were good and the hull did not have too much growth of barnacles and other marine organisms.

  Skimming. A method a channeler could use to journey quickly between two locations. Skimming required the weaving of a gateway, creation of a platform upon which to Skim and a knowledge of the destination. Skimming was slower than Traveling. The ability to Skim was not considered a Talent.

  Skulker. Juilin’s lanky brown gelding.

  Sky Lights. Fireworks-like displays used in Seanchan celebrations; they were created by damane.

  Slayer. Hopper’s name for Isam/Luc; he was also called Wolf Killer. Slayer was a hybrid human created by the Dark One, a combination of Isam Mandragoran and Luc Mantear. Dark prophecy written in Fal Dara said: “Luc came to the Mountains of Dhoom. Isam waited in the high passes. The hunt is now begun. The Shadow’s hounds now course, and kill. One did live, and one did die, but b
oth are.”

  Slayer could go in and out of Tel’aran’rhiod at will; it had nothing to do with channeling, of course, as he could not channel. He could also switch from Luc to Isam at will. In many ways he was a perfect assassin; those who wanted Slayer’s services begged for them, except for the Great Lord or the Chosen. He received orders from the Dark One himself in the Pit of Doom; the Dark One commanded Padan Fain’s death, and Slayer was charged with that.

  Appearing as Luc, he killed Janduin, Rand’s natural father. In the White Tower, he killed a Gray Man who had failed to kill Egwene. In the Stone of Tear, he killed Joiya and Amico, Black Ajah members who had been captured, after nailing their tongues to the doors of their cells. Slayer went to the Two Rivers; while there, Perrin saw the Isam persona in the wolf dream, killing wolves; when chased, he seemed to vanish into the Tower of Ghenjei. In the Luc persona, Slayer tried to stir things up in the Two Rivers. Eventually, Perrin wounded the Isam persona in the wolf dream, and the Luc persona rode out of Emond’s Field clutching his chest. Slayer also tried to kill Nynaeve in Tel’aran’rhiod and spied on her, Elayne and Egwene there. Slayer was used in an attempt on Rand’s life in Far Madding at the behest of someone he believed was one of the Chosen; in fact, it was Taim. He stepped out of Tel’aran’rhiod and stabbed two people sleeping, but Rand and Min had moved on and so escaped harm.

  Slayer had no love for Rand, and did not mind being ordered to kill him, but he had an especial hatred for Perrin because of events in the Two Rivers and did everything he could to end the young man’s life. The animosity only grew after Moridin sent Slayer to Graendal to help in her plan to take Perrin; Slayer put a dreamspike in place to keep Perrin’s people from Traveling. Perrin managed to remove the dreamspike and fought Slayer in the wolf dream. Slayer killed Hopper and injured Perrin, but Perrin was able to destroy the dreamspike.

  A woman visited Slayer in the Town near Shayol Ghul, and ordered him to kill Rand; Slayer made the effort, but Perrin fought him and killed him, moving between the wolf dream in the flesh and the waking world.

  Sleeping Bay. A body of water in Takisrom, Seanchan.

  sleepweavers. Mesaana’s name for the ter’angreal allowing users to enter Tel’aran’rhiod.

  sleepwell. A root used medicinally for relieving headaches and assisting with sleep.

  Sleete. Hattori’s Warder. Limber and long-armed, he had rough-hewn features, long black hair and a cleft in his chin. His nose was crooked; it had been broken and not Healed. Sleete was with Hattori at Dumai’s Wells, but they became separated. Although seriously wounded, he managed to drag himself onto his horse and reach a nearby village; some there wanted to sell him to bandits, but the mayor’s daughter persuaded the villagers to hide him and tended to his wounds. When he was well enough to travel, he killed the bandits that were troubling the town and made his way to Dorlan.

  Though Sleete was a blademaster, Gawyn was able to best him at swordplay. Sleete approached Gawyn about Gawyn possibly becoming Hattori’s Warder; Gawyn declined. When Gawyn decided to leave the Younglings, Sleete knew what he was doing but did not give him away. After the Tower was reunited, Sleete helped Gawyn try to find out who was killing Aes Sedai. When Egeanin and Domon sneaked through a gateway to Merrilor, Sleete realized that they were up to something and took them to Nynaeve. During the Last Battle, Sleete fought alongside Gawyn and Egwene in Kandor.

  Slone Maddow. A wide-eared Redarm with the Band of the Red Hand. After the gholam attacked Mat’s tent and killed Lopin, Maddow told Mat that he thought Olver was with Noal.

  Small Thorny Back. The wolves’ name for a porcupine.

  Smoke. A wolf that Perrin spoke with when he and Ingtar were searching for Fain and the Horn of Valere.

  Smoke Springs Hold. A hold in the Three-fold Land; Dorindha, the wife of Bael, was its roofmistress.

  Smoke Water. A sept of the Miagoma Aiel.

  Snake, the. A constellation. The Aiel called it “the Dragon.”

  Snakes and Foxes. A game much loved by children until they matured enough to realize that it could never be won without breaking the rules. It was played with a board that had a web of lines with arrows indicating direction. Ten discs were inked with triangles to represent the foxes, and ten discs were inked with wavy lines to represent the snakes. The game was begun by saying “Courage to strengthen, fire to blind, music to dazzle, iron to bind,” while using one’s hand to describe a triangle with a wavy line through it. Dice were rolled to determine moves for the players and the snakes and foxes. If a snake or fox landed on a player’s piece, he was out of the game, and as long as the rules were followed, this always happened unless affected by a once-in-an-Age ta’veren effect.

  Snelle. A dirty man at the Dusty Wheel in Caemlyn who attempted to cheat Mat at the dice game Koronko’s Spit.

  Snert. The innkeeper of The Grand Hike in Caemlyn. He was missing several teeth, one eye and most of his hair, but Birgitte said he had nice chest hair.

  Snow Goose. The two-masted riverboat owned by Jaim Adarra. Sweeps (oars) were used at the dock. Moiraine, Lan, Perrin, Loial and Faile traveled aboard it from Remen to Illian.

  snowberry. A tree that grew on riverbanks and produced tiny white blossoms in the spring. Egwene saw some while sailing on the River Erinin.

  snowcap. Cadsuane used an image of this flower on a piece of embroidery.

  snowdrops. Flowers embroidered on a dress worn by Nynaeve in Fal Dara.

  snowflowers. Plants having tiny white flowers; they were embroidered on the lapels of one of Min’s jackets.

  snowghosts. A term used by Birgitte; she said her few women friends had had tempers like snowghosts.

  Snowy Dawn. A wolf with whom Perrin communicated outside of Malden. He was an irascible old male who once killed a leopard by himself. Snowy Dawn’s pack gave the signal that was supposed to let Faile know that Perrin was coming; since Galina had not passed that information to Faile, it didn’t work as it was supposed to.

  So Eban. A town in Altara on the Amadician border. While Nynaeve, Elayne, Thom and Juilin were pondering how to escape from Sienda without Galad stopping them (Galad wanted to take them back to Caemlyn), Thom mentioned that King Ailron had laid claim to a strip of border villages in Altara including So Eban; this was so that Pedron Niall, who controlled Ailron, could choke river traffic to Ebou Dar and thereby take over Altara.

  So Habor. A town in Altara that had lost its ability to function normally after the appearance of dead people in their midst; the townspeople behaved abnormally, and their grain stores were infested with pests. Perrin and his party Traveled to So Habor to buy grain for the troops while trying to save Faile. Masema told Perrin that So Habor’s grain storehouses were full, and that it would be a good place to buy provisions. Balwer said that he knew a cutler in the town, and he took some of Faile’s followers with him. Perrin’s group obtained grain from the town, but it had to be sifted for pests. The ghosts in the town intrigued some in Perrin’s party. When Balwer returned from So Habor, he brought Tallanvor with him.

  So Tehar. A village in Altara a day from Ebou Dar, visited by Mat, Nynaeve, Elayne and others in their party on the way to Ebou Dar. In Mat’s opinion, it was a scruffy village of white-plastered bricks and flies. So Tehar was where the women who could channel discovered they could still put Mat in his place, despite the foxhead medallion, by using saidar to pelt him with horse manure.

  so’jhin. A particular class of da’covale, so’jhin were hereditary upper servants of the Blood. So’jhin had considerable status and could in some circumstances give orders to and have authority over free people. The Seanchan Imperial bureaucracy was almost entirely so’jhin. Many free people would not object to becoming so’jhin, regarding it as a step up. Voices of the Blood were so’jhin, and theirs was a coveted position. They could own property, unlike ordinary da’covale, and they were never sold except perhaps as punishment for a crime. With permission of their owners, they could arrange their own marriages; permission was rarely
withheld. A family line of so’jhin would always belong to the same family of the Blood. Ordinary folk did not own so’jhin.

  Soalen, Reed. A Two Rivers man with Perrin. Reed guarded Perrin after Aram’s death. When Rand visited Perrin at the Field of Merrilor, Reed was acting as a sentry.

  soarer. The second-smallest class of Sea Folk ship. Soarers were two-masted and usually 100 feet long, but could be as long as 150 feet, with the beam being in similar proportion to a raker. Although smaller than rakers or skimmers, they were often quite fast and agile in handling—faster and more agile than ships of similar size built by other peoples. Their masts were sometimes raked. A soarer could cover up to 350 miles in a twenty-four-hour period, although 300 miles was more typical.

  Soaring Gull, Uren din Jubai. A Sea Folk scholar who developed the Farede Calendar.

  Soe’feia. Old tongue for “Truthspeaker,” it referred to a person attached to members of the Seanchan royal family. Soe’feia were required to speak the truth to their royal charges, and make sure they were heard, without danger of punishment; they also levied penance when requested. A Soe’feia was neither so’jhin nor da’covale; he or she was always a free person, allowed to come and go as he or she pleased. A Soe’feia was not required to accept any orders from the one served, or to accept any checks on behavior. He or she not only could say anything at all to the one they served without fear of reprisal; he or she was expected and required to. An appointment was for life, among the Imperial family. Needless to say, great care was taken in choosing a Soe’feia. The Speaker told the one served the truth no matter what, including when what the one served did or planned to do was wrong. The Imperial family member wasn’t compelled in any way to follow what the Speaker said, but the Speaker’s purpose was to make the served one think, to help decide how to restore balance, which was a very important element in Seanchan life. When the one served was a child, the Speaker acted as a sort of supplementary nanny, and like a nanny was expected to discipline the charge. When the child reached age sixteen, the Speaker no longer directed, but was expected to do whatever was necessary to make sure the new adult actually heard what was said. A famous (among the Blood, infamous) Speaker of Truth to the last Emperor slapped the Emperor while he sat on the Crystal Throne. Since a Soe’feia was appointed while one was a child, at least in the Imperial family, one would almost certainly outlive him or her. He or she was expected to begin helping find a replacement, whom the Soe’feia would train, beginning as the Soe’feia’s Left Hand. This replacement would be someone approximately one’s own age, and would act as a sort of personal assistant to the Soe’feia, without any of the rights and responsibilities, until the Soe’feia’s death.