The Wheel of Time Companion

by Robert Jordan

  Women’s Room. A chamber found in the inns of Far Madding, reserved strictly for women.

  woolhead, wool-headed. Pejorative term used by or about Two Rivers folk, connoting one who stubbornly denies the obvious or the truth.

  World of Dreams. See Tel’aran’rhiod

  World’s End. The great cliffs running down the entire coast of Saldaea on the Aryth Ocean, north of Arad Doman and extending up into the Blight. This geographical feature prohibited seaports and allowed only a few of the tiniest, most isolated fishing villages.

  World Sea. One of the Seanchan names for the Aryth Ocean.

  Worms. Constructs created from the Age of Legends, when they were known as jumara. They were huge, vicious creatures created by Aginor. Living in the Blight and traveling in packs, they were powerful enough to kill Fades. To be killed, they needed to be cut into pieces. Under certain conditions, they transformed in some unspecified way.

  Wormpack. A group of Worms. They typically traveled the Blight looking for prey.

  wormwood. A plant. Its translation into the Old Tongue, Ordeith, was one of the aliases used by Padan Fain.

  worrynot root. A substance used to treat fever.

  Wreath of Megairil. Spoken of by Birgitte, referring to an earlier Age; it was an important prize given to the winner of a horse race.

  Wuan, Child. A soldier of the Children of the Light. Young, handsome, left-handed and yellow-haired, he served under Geofram Bornhald until he was passed to the Questioners’ command. He and Earwin and the Questioners attacked a village on Almoth Plain and hanged thirty people, some of them children.

  Wyndera Ovan. An Aes Sedai of the White Ajah and the loyalist contingent. She was part of the expedition to kidnap Rand. She escaped Dumai’s Wells with Covarla Baldene, and went to Dorlan.

  Wynn. A Murandian family. See Cyril, Jac and Susa Wynn

  Wynter, Teryl. See Teryl Wynter

  Y

  Yabeth, Lady. A Kandori woman who lost four of her five sons to the Blight. Her fifth, Tian, was at Heeth Tower when things went awry, and Keemlin Rai had Tian take his place as a messenger to the capital, hoping to keep Tian out of harm’s way.

  Yakobin the Undaunted. An ancient Arafellin king who held the Silverwall Keeps when Trollocs attacked.

  Yalu kazath d’Zamon patra Daeseia asa darshi. An Old Tongue phrase meaning “Say the name of Darkness and his eye is upon you.”

  Yamada, Efraim. See Efraim Yamada

  Yamwick. A Whitecloak soldier whom, along with Child Lathin, Perrin killed in the abandoned stedding where Hawkwing’s capital was planned to be. Perrin was tried for their murders in a court presided over by Morgase.

  Yandar, Stedding. A stedding located in the Mountains of Mist.

  Yang. A person who worked for the merchant Barriga. He was killed by Trollocs at Heeth Tower on the Blightborder.

  Yanet. A person whom Graendal murdered in the Age of Legends, which caused Lews Therin to hate Graendal even more.

  Yarin Maeldan. Bayle Domon’s first mate on the Spray. Brooding and stork-like, Yarin, not an Illianer, told Domon that Carn had been murdered while they were moored in Illian, Yarin’s own rooms at the Silver Dolphin had been broken into and men had tried to board the Spray. They sailed west, although Yarin didn’t think it was the best idea, and were captured by the Seanchan near Falme. While they were waiting for Nynaeve, Elayne, Min and Egwene before making an escape, Yarin worried that the Seanchan would show up instead of the women. Once the battle started, he tried to get Domon to leave without them.

  Yarman, Ned. See Ned Yarman

  Yasicca Cellaech. An ancient scholar and Aes Sedai of the Brown Ajah who held that “Incomplete knowledge is better than complete ignorance.”

  Yearly Brawl, The. An inn found in Ebou Dar; its innkeeper was Kathana. Mat visited the inn and learned that there were assassins after Tuon.

  Years of Silent Rage. A period in Artur Hawkwing’s life, also known as “The Black Years,” FY 961–965, in which his sorrow and his search for the murderers of his wife and daughters led to harsh and brutal treatment of resisting nations in the final years of the Consolidation.

  Yellow Ajah. The main thrust of the Yellow Ajah was the study of Healing, though what they knew, prior to the revelations of Nynaeve, was actually just a form of rough-and-ready battlefield first aid from the War of the Shadow. There were a number of ways to apply the weaves for different results, but in the main, they really were variations on one set of weaves. The First Weaver, the head of the Yellow Ajah, had, in many ways, powers as autocratic as those of the Green or Red. There were approximately 120 members just prior to the Last Battle.

  yellowbell. A plant bearing a yellow flower. At the Eye of the World, the Green Man picked many flowers, some of them yellowbells, and put them in Nynaeve’s and Egwene’s hair.

  yelloweye fever. A fever causing the whites of a person’s eyes to turn yellow and making it impossible for the sufferer to stand.

  yellowfly. A small dangerous insect found in the Aiel Waste that laid eggs in a person’s skin. If the eggs were not removed, an arm or a leg could be lost before they hatched or even death could occur.

  Yeteri. A novice in the White Tower. Small and yellow-haired, she was one of the stronger novices Egwene gathered when the Seanchan attacked the Tower. She was the first to pick up linking.

  Yoeli. A Saldaean officer in Maradon. Lean-faced and hook-nosed, he had bushy black eyebrows and a short beard. His sister was Sigril. Yoeli staged a revolt against the Darkfriend Lord Torkumen, whom Tenobia had left in charge of Maradon, killing some of his fellow soldiers who resisted what he was doing, and took command of the city. He considered himself a traitor, and wore the Traitor’s Banner, but he believed that it was wrong to let Ituralde and his men die outside the city at the hands of Trollocs, and opened Maradon’s gates to Ituralde. When the city wall was breached, Ituralde planned to retreat through gateways, but Yoeli persuaded him to stay. They worked together to kill as many Trollocs as possible. When Rand and Bashere arrived to defeat the enemy, they found a small band defending Yoeli’s body.

  Yokata, Kayen. See Kayen Yokata

  Yongen, Stedding. A stedding located in the Spine of the World.

  Yontiang, Stedding. A stedding located in Kinslayer’s Dagger.

  Young Bull. The wolves’ name for Perrin.

  Younglings. The first Younglings were young men studying under the Warders at the White Tower. They fought against their teachers who attempted to free Siuan Sanche after she was deposed from the Amyrlin Seat. Led by Gawyn Trakand, the Younglings remained loyal to the White Tower, and fought skirmishes against Whitecloaks under Eamon Valda. They accompanied Elaida’s embassy to the Dragon Reborn in Cairhien and saw action against the Aiel and Asha’man at Dumai’s Wells. On their return to Tar Valon they found themselves barred from the city.

  The Younglings wore green cloaks with Gawyn’s White Boar; those who had fought against their teachers in Tar Valon wore a small silver tower on their collars. They accepted recruits wherever they went, but they did not take veterans or older men. One requirement was that recruits had to be willing to put aside all loyalties except to the Younglings. Older members taught the new recruits Warder techniques since they gave over accepting instruction from Warders, and several refused offers of bonding from Aes Sedai. In many ways they hardly seemed attached to the Tower and Aes Sedai at all. This resulted in part from their suspicion that they were not meant to survive the expedition to Cairhien.

  Some remained more willing to trust Aes Sedai, but Gawyn finally left them and went over to the side of the rebel Aes Sedai. After the Tower was reunited, a number of the Younglings chose to join the Tower Guard; Gawyn spoke to Chubain on their behalf.

  Yseidre Tirado. One of the founders of Tear.

  Yuan. An Arafellin Aes Sedai of the Yellow Ajah, slim with gray eyes. She was part of testing Moiraine for the shawl, and though she said nothing, she clearly disapproved of Elaida trying to make Moiraine fail.


  Yukiri Haruna. An Aes Sedai of the Gray Ajah and the loyalist contingent, with a strength level of 14(2). Born to an innkeeper in 837 NE in the village of Gorien Springs, south of Arafel on the road from Shol Arbela to Tar Valon, she went to the White Tower in 852 NE. After spending eight years as a novice and seven years as Accepted, she was raised to the shawl in 867 NE. Five feet tall, slight and slender, with green eyes, Yukiri appeared willowy and graceful when standing still, but despite her age could still stride like a farmgirl. Though she had a very high potential, she had to struggle to learn nearly everything. None of it came easily to her, but she refused to give up. That was considered a hallmark of Yukiri: she never gave up. Very conscious of her dignity, although she had been known for being giggly as a novice, Yukiri appeared to be a queen in miniature, but spoke like a plain countrywoman; she claimed the contrast aided her in negotiation and mediation. She had a reputation as something of a rebel, someone who went against the system when she thought it necessary, and, at least in her younger days, when she thought she would like to. Yukiri was always the last Gray to join her sisters in consensus when she had wanted to go another way and the last to join the Hall’s in those circumstances. She had not had a Warder for a dozen years.

  She stood to depose Siuan in the truncated Hall gathered by Elaida. Yukiri was one of the Sitters to whom Elaida gave a penance—Labor, a matter of scrubbing floors. Yukiri was also one of the Sitters who, along with Saerin Asnobar, Talene Minly and Doesine Alwain, confronted Seaine and Pevara right after they interviewed Zerah, and thus became part of the group tracking down Black Ajah activities in the Tower.

  Yukiri pledged for Egwene as Amyrlin after the Seanchan attack. She was part of the battle in Tel’aran’rhiod against some of the Black Ajah at the White Tower until she and others were taken out of the dream on Amys’ orders. Yukiri developed weaves for using gateways in the sky to view various forces during the Last Battle, and was able to weave a cushion of Air that saved herself, Gareth Bryne, Siuan Sanche and others when the Sharans attacked and they had to jump through the elevated gateway.

  After the Last Battle, Yukiri was one of those pressuring Cadsuane to become Amyrlin.

  Yulan, Abaldar. See Abaldar Yulan

  Yurian Stonebow. A false Dragon who could channel circa 1300–1308 AB. He rose from the ashes of the Trolloc Wars. The dates are approximate not only as to which year, but as to duration; various sources gave his year of declaration as early as 1294 AB and as late as 1305 AB, his date of fall anywhere from 1301 to 1312 AB, and the duration of his ascendancy anywhere from six to twelve years. He supposedly declared himself at the summer solstice; his capture came years later on the very same day. He was between twenty-five and twenty-eight when captured and gentled; sources differed. He died less than a year later. Like Raolin Darksbane, he took the name “Stonebow” for himself, and like Raolin Darksbane, he was born in the city that later came to be called Far Madding. His presence, and the troops that flocked to him, added even more confusion to the Trolloc Wars. He was said to have died in battle against Trolloc forces led by Ba’alzamon himself.

  Yuril. Tuon’s sharp-nosed male secretary and her Hand, the commander of her Seekers. When Tuon held court at the Tarasin Palace after her mother died, he and Selucia stood behind Tuon in the session where Beslan swore fealty to her, Galgan said the Dragon Reborn had requested a meeting with her, and Yulan suggested they attack the White Tower.

  Yurith Azeri. A Saldaean who was a member of Elayne’s bodyguard. About 5'10" tall, and lean, with dark tilted eyes, a strong nose and curly black hair worn short, Yurith had not yet reached her middle years and had a cultured, courtly manner, but denied being nobly born. A cool, reserved woman who didn’t smile often, she was a former Hunter of the Horn, but she was vague about what she did before taking the Hunter’s oath. If talk came around to that subject, she smiled a rare smile and changed the subject or went silent. She was good enough with her sword that Birgitte made her an instructor, but she denied having been a merchants’ guard. Yurith was the one who saw Merilille leaving with a Sea Folk woman.

  Z

  Zaida din Parede Blackwing. A Sea Folk Wavemistress of Clan Catelar. She was about 5'2" to 5'3" tall, with a dark complexion, black eyes and tightly curled hair streaked with gray. Her face was long and narrow, her lips were full and her nose was wide. Five small fat golden rings decorated each of her ears, and a fine chain connected one to a similar ring in her nose. Zaida was pretty as a girl and aged very well, getting more beautiful with the years. She was not arrogant, but she did have an expectation that all around her would accept her right to command. Zaida had a prickly sense of honor, but maintained a sense of humor, though her jokes could be somewhat biting at times.

  As a clan Wavemistress, she had a fringed red parasol of two tiers. Her Swordmaster was Amel din Monaga Stone Anchor, her Windfinder Shielyn and her ship the raker Blue Gull.

  One of the First Twelve, the twelve senior-most Wavemistresses, she was in Caemlyn more than three months trying to meet with Rand before Elayne’s group returned from Ebou Dar. Rand tried fobbing her off on Davram Bashere, who he thought had enough titles to satisfy anybody. Zaida was startled, of course, by the arrival of so many Windfinders with Elayne, but she was excited by the bargain made with the Aes Sedai. She was upset that Rand avoided or ignored her; either was just as bad. Moreover, word brought by the Windfinders from Ebou Dar upset her terribly. She was not pleased that the Windfinders had agreed to accompany Elayne rather than returning to their ships, bargain or no bargain. When Zaida learned of the death of Nesta din Reas Two Moon, she told Elayne that she was leaving Ebou Dar and taking all the Windfinders; she also demanded that Aes Sedai go with her to teach, as per their earlier bargain. Since Elayne needed Windfinders for Caemlyn to stay supplied during the siege, she embarked on another bargain with Zaida: Elayne was allowed to keep nine Windfinders, but she had to cede a square mile of land on the River Erinin to the Atha’an Miere. Approving of her bargain with Elayne, the First Twelve named Zaida Mistress of the Ships. She called a meeting of the First Twelve to speak with Logain; he brought orders to ship food to Bandar Eban. During the meeting, Cemeille din Selaan Long Eyes arrived with news of the mass suicide of the Amayar; Zaida wanted to send ships to try to save any who might have lived, but Logain was firm that she must fulfill the requirements of her bargain with Rand.

  In the Last Battle, Zaida was with the Windfinders using the Bowl of the Winds at Shayol Ghul; she reported to Ituralde that they were fighting the Dark One, gust for gust.

  Zaired Elbar. A Seanchan soldier who was a Darkfriend and Suroth’s lackey. He was tall, with a hooked nose and a dark face. When Liandrin took Elayne, Nynaeve and Min to Suroth, Elbar seized Elayne and Min by the scruff of the neck. He used a horn no bigger than his fist that produced a hoarse, piercing cry. He wanted to kill Min for cutting him; only Egwene’s begging and promises to Suroth managed to stop him.

  He was in Amador with Suroth after the Fortress of the Light fell. While there, Elbar escorted Morgase to Suroth, but did not speak when Morgase tried to question him. He pushed Morgase to the floor in Suroth’s presence and then apologized, which Morgase thought was planned. Suroth sent him to find and kill Tuon; he and an army attacked the Band of the Red Hand and some Deathwatch Guards, thinking that Tuon was there. He was killed in the battle, and Musenge took his head back to Ebou Dar; because she knew that Elbar did what Suroth wanted and nothing else, Tuon made Suroth da’covale.

  Zakai. A Seanchan damane who lost control of her channeling during a battle in Altara against Rand’s forces, resulting in the death of Banner-General Chianmai and others on their side.

  Zanaire, Varilin. See Varilin Zanaire

  Zanica. An Aes Sedai of the Black Ajah and the loyalist contingent. She had a Warder. She was among the sisters who captured Leane at Southharbor, and her name was on Verin’s list of Black Ajah.

  Zang. A Youngling who decided that he’d rather join the Tower Guard than become
a Warder. Gawyn spoke to Chubain on his behalf.

  zara board. Zara was a violent game from the Age of Legends. Sammael had a zara board in his apartments in Illian, found in a stasis-box. The board projected a field of transparent boxes in the air, and used once-human playing pieces. It was a highly illegal game, enjoyed by followers of the Dark One.

  Zarbayan, Devore. A Saldaean Bannerwoman of Elayne’s Guardswomen in Caemlyn. She was slim and cool-eyed, her eyes dark and tilted.

  Zarbey, Seta. See Seta Zarbey

  Zarine Bashere. See Faile ni Bashere t’Aybara

  Zarya Alkaese. A Saldaean woman who as a novice ran away from the Tower and became one of the Kin, using the name Garenia Rosoinde. Her strength level was 13(1), enough for her to learn to Travel. Born in 908 NE, she went to the White Tower in 923 NE. After spending five years as a novice, Zarya ran away in 928 NE while Kirin Melway was the Amyrlin Seat. Standing 5'3½" tall, and slim-hipped, she had a strongly hooked nose, a wide mouth and a pale face. She always skirted the edge of discipline, and frequently stepped over; that was one reason she did not progress faster. When she ran away she was felt to be at least several years from being able to test for Accepted. Zarya continued skirting the edge of discipline while with the Kin. She was one of those who wanted the Kin to accept wilders; she sought out girls who could be taught and trained them, although even speaking of this was one of the most forbidden things. Adeleas finally recognized “Garenia” as Zarya Alkaese, who had run away just before she and Vandene retired to write their history of the world. Her exposure caused Kirstian to confess as well. Garenia and Zarya were put into white and back under novice rules as soon as possible, as was required by Tower law. Most, if not all, of the Kinswomen accepted this—at least, all of the Knitting Circle did; they were returning to the White Tower, after all, rules were rules, and she was in fact a runaway. Kirstian and Zarya worked out that Adeleas’ killer had to be one of the Aes Sedai, and were taken under Vandene’s wing to aid her and to take lessons from her.