Saidin

Rand POV#

Rand, Loial, Hurin and Selene ride through the night and cross the northern border of Cairhien. Selene keeps badgering him about the Horn, but he refuses to let the case be opened until they can give the ruby dagger to Mat. Rand worries that what little he knows of the Karaethon Cycle does not mention the Horn of Valere. He asks again if she is Aes Sedai and she angrily denies it. They continue south for two days coming out of the mountains and approaching a Cairhienin village, Tremonsien. They cover the chest with a blanket to disguise it. Rand notes a glint in the distance.

They ride east a ways and find a huge excavation partially uncovering a giant statue with a work force and numerous guards around it. Rand remembers Bayle Domon's tale of a similar statue on Tremalking. Rand is mesmerized by saidin and nearly rides Red off a cliff. Selene is clearly afraid.[1] Rand finally breaks the hold saying, "Till shade is gone, till water is gone, into the Shadow with teeth bared screaming defiance with the last breath to spit in Sightblinder's eye on the last day!"[2] They ride on to Tremonsien and arrive at The Nine Rings inn. The Nine Rings was Rand's favorite adventure story when he was a boy.[3]

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Notes (Possible Spoilers)#

[#1] Selene recognizes the giant statue for what it is and its danger to Rand. The Choedan Kal were constructed during the Shadow War so she would have known of their potential.
[#2] What is the power of this Aiel phrase? Rand heard this phrase from Loial. (TEotW,Ch36, TGH,Ch10)
[#3] Another homage to Tolkien.


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