Egwene uses the Dream ter’angreal and visits the Heart of the Stone of Tear in Tel’aran’rhiod. Afterward, they make plans to leave Tar Valon without permission and hunt the Black Ajah in Tear.
I can’t fault you if you’re groaning. This chapter isn’t particularly short, and if it’s going to be all about the World of Dreams, you’d be right to steel yourself for large quantities of fluffy bullshit wrapped in the guise of symbolism.
Twenty flipping, flapping, paddle-whacking braid-tugs! This woman needs to be institutionalized.
We begin with Nynaeve bringing the braid-tug violations to a solid twenty. Yes, twenty! We’re not even halfway through the fucking book, and I already want to hold this bitch down and chop off her hair. This is not an auspicious beginning.
Egwene falls asleep wearing the Dream ter’angreal. First she visits Perrin, who appears to be sedated and chained in the common room of an inn. Hopper is there with him, and Egwene narrowly escapes the wolf’s attack. Then she is out in the wilderness, approaching Rand’s campfire. Rand has endured so many dream attacks from Ba’alzamon that he assumes Egwene is yet another phantasm, so he chases her away.
Then Egwene is in the Heart of the Stone of Tear where Callandor floats. She meets an ugly old woman who calls herself Silvie. They talk a bit about the sword, and the role it will play in the Dragon Reborn’s rise to power. Silvie seems to know an awful lot, and there’s no good reason for her to be in that place talking about the Dragon, so my money is on her being yet another one of Lanfear’s disguises. Before Egwene can probe further, footsteps approach and Egwene wakes up.
Quick, Nynaeve, get your bag out.
NYNAEVE: Let’s review what we’ve learned. First, there was basically a big neon sign in the basement of the library pointing toward Tear.
EGWENE: Yup.
NYNAEVE: Second, Egwene went to the Heart of the Stone of Tear in her dream.
ELAYNE: Yup.
NYNAEVE: Third, there’s a picture of Rand in the Heart of the Stone of Tear reaching for Callandor on the cover of this book.
EGWENE & ELAYNE: …uh?
NYNAEVE: It’s road trip time, ladies. We’re going to Tear!
EGWENE: Didn’t the Amyrlin want us to hunt the Black Ajah inside the White Tower? And didn’t we get in a ton of trouble for leaving without permission before?
NYNAEVE: Who cares? We’re ta’veren, we’ll wing it!