Elaida barges in with questions about why the women went to Toman Head, but Sheriam rescues them when she comes to get them for Mat’s Healing.
Fifteen and one-half tugs and counting.
The interloper is Elaida, whom the text describes as “a handsome woman rather than beautiful.” Oh, I see — maybe she got exposed to a little bit too much testosterone in the womb, eh? She didn’t pick the Red Ajah so much as the Red Ajah picked her. No wonder she’s such a bitch.
The Red sister sits down and makes herself comfortable, foiling Nynaeve’s amateur Healing stunt and bringing the braid-tug count to twelve. Elaida knows Liandrin was Black Ajah. She doesn’t want to see Elayne’s reputation destroyed by association, so she demands to know why they left the Tower and what they did. Egwene tells her they needed to bring Mat back to Tar Valon to be Healed, conveniently forgetting to mention Rand. But Elaida hasn’t forgotten him, and she wants to know everything about him. Cue braid-grip, followed by a tug.
I want you to know that I’m being methodical and objective about this braid-tugging count. Here are the rules:
- Each mention of a tug, jerk, pull, yank, or twist counts as one tug.
- Even if the text suggests that “many little tugs” occurred, or that the jerk was particularly sharp or spasmodic, this only counts as one tug. Let it not be said I’m artificial inflating the numbers.
- If the braid is merely held, squeezed, or gripped, this counts as one-half of a tug.
Translate this into shots, and you’ve got yourself a drinking game. So far, we’re at fifteen and one-half tugs. Go ahead, count them. I’ll wait right here.
Sheriam interrupts and puts an end to the interrogation, but Elaida leaves with the promise that the conversation is to be continued. Sheriam carries an order from the Amyrlin Seat that they are to speak of the Gray Man to no one. She has also come to bring them to Mat, since Healing is always done in the presence of those who brought the sick to the Tower. Finally! It has been two full books since Mat acquired the dagger. Welcome to life lived at the Robert Jordan pace.