On the Almoth Plain, Captain Geofram Bornhald decides to turn his legion against the Seanchan. Meanwhile, Captain Bayle Domon’s ship is captured by the invaders, and he is taken to Falme where a Seanchan High Lord takes possession of the cuendillar disc.
Aw yeah, it’s the Seanchan. They’re finally here.
During my first Wheel of Time read-through, I hated Seanchan chapters. Each one was a long slog through wet snow. In retrospect, of course I hated the Seanchan. You’re supposed to hate them. The thing is, a young, idealistic, fifteen-year-old idiot could not hope to appreciate a good bit of truly heartless villainy. I refuse to let that color my experience this time around. I’m looking forward to the dastardly deeds, the acts of cruelty, the violations of human rights, and the abject displays of being complete and utter assholes. This is an art I had no way to appreciate thirty years ago, but now that I’ve seen enough of the world? Bring it on.
My theory is that the Seanchan owe their existence to Sean Connery. It sounds outlandish, but let’s examine the facts. First of all, let’s dispense with all notions that pronouncing “sea” with a shaw sound came from anywhere except the name Sean. This is is an Irish spelling of the name Jean which was imported to the Emerald Isle when the Normans invaded. So Jordan definitely based the name of an entire people on one weird Gaelic name. Now, how did that name become popular enough that it was even rattling around inside Jordan’s brain? The same way most people in the twentieth century came to know the name Sean — he watched a James Bond film. Still not convinced? The Seanchan are said to speak “with a soft slurring.” Now, a lot of people listen to Sean Connery and think that he simply affected a Scottish brogue, but the distinctive way Connery slurred his “s” sounds was peculiar to him alone. Let’s put all of that together:
- Invaders from overseas
- Seanchan derived from Sean
- The name “Sean” didn’t become popular until Sean Connery became famous
- Idiosyncrasies of Sean Connery’s speech patterns
You’re welcome for clearing all that up. Just don’t blame me if all you can hear is Sean Connery the next time you read some Seanchan dialogue. All I did was connect the dots.
Geofram Bornhald still has his legion scattered throughout to Almoth Plain. His orders were to root out Darkfriends, but he’s pretty sure the real goal is to ignite a war between Tarabon and Arad Domon. Bornhald is tired of it. The only Darkfriends he sees are these invaders coming from overseas and demanding allegiance, so he decides it’s time for his legion to pay them a visit.
Captain Bayle Domon is in a bit of a bind. After deciding to sail for the coast to avoid Darkfriends, he runs right into the Seanchan. This guy can’t catch a break!
Pursued by a Seanchan ship, Domon makes a squirrelly attempt to escape into shallow waters, but a few mystical warning shots dispel his fantasies of escape. Soon the Spray is boarded and we meet Captain Egeanin, a woman who makes Elaida’s company feel like a warm blanket. Egeanin tells Domon that if he truly is but an honest trader, he’ll be allowed his freedom. Right. This is like telling Han Solo he won’t get in trouble, as long as he hasn’t been helping any Rebels.
A seal on the Dark One’s prison, or a tasty treat? You’d better be sure before you bite into this.
They dock at Falme, the Seanchan search the ship, and wouldn’t you know it — that darn disc that got him into so much trouble in Illian turns out to be precisely what Egeanin was hoping to find. Domon still doesn’t know what it is, but even he must have an inkling at this point that it’s not a black-and-white cookie. The Seanchan Captain marches Domon to a manor house in Falme where High Lord Turak is staying. After copious bowing and scraping, Egeanin presents the disc to Turak, then leaves. Turak adds the disc to a large collection of artifacts, explaining to Captain Domon that he collects cuendillar. It makes sense, right? When you’re the High Lord of a conquering empire, stamps aren’t going to impress anybody.
All things considered, Domon actually seems relieved to finally be rid of the disc. He is eager to return to his ship, but Turak refuses to let him leave. Why? Because he’s bored and wants someone interesting to talk to. And Turak is very interested in knowing how Domon came to possess the disc.