The portal stone works, and the group is met by Amys and three other Wise Ones, plus several other Aiel including one named Couladin who has a grudge against Rhuarc. They knew to meet them here due to a Dreaming power, which also could really cut down on suspense, so let’s see how that’s handled. And at long last, Rand acknowledges that he was born an Aiel. It was a long time coming, and this can’t really help but feel anticlimactic.
Mat is an idiot and demands to go with Rand to the city, and Rand pulls strings to force the Wise Ones to let him. And he’s right back to being The Scrappy. But we’re in Egwene’s POV, so for now we stay with the rest of the group for a Tearjerker as Aviendha is revealed as a channeler, meaning she’s now forced to throw away her weapons and go through their own version of the rings initiation.
One of the Wise Ones spills the beans that she also saw Moiraine going to the city, which gives us a look at how the Dreaming power is limited: if people know too much about the future, they’ll either become a clockwork orange or send destiny completely Off the Rails. There’s also more information about the Aiel, as we meet a pair of prisoners who are working off a year’s penance for being captured.
Not a lot actually happens here, but we do get plenty of new information to make up for it. Just like the Sea Folk, the Aiel are properly introduced as a culture unlike any other in this world, and despite the tease of our not yet getting to see Rand and Mat’s trip, everything between Egwene, Moiraine, and the Wise Ones is quite compelling on its own.
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