The Wheel of Time, #5
The Fires of Heaven
by Robert Jordan
Contents
34 A Silver Arrow
Overview
Nynaeve enters Tel’aran’rhiod, where Birgitte leads her to spy on a secret council of Forsaken—Rahvin, Sammael, Lanfear, and Graendal—plotting to bait Rand. Moghedien ambushes, subdues, and tortures Nynaeve until Birgitte wounds Moghedien, who retaliates by ripping Birgitte away. Wounded, Moghedien is Healed in Amador, then brutally subjugates Liandrin and orders her agents to find the women’s menagerie near Ghealdan.
Summary
At Luca’s menagerie, Elayne cooks while Valan Luca pointedly woos Nynaeve, drawing Elayne’s warning that Nynaeve’s restraint only encourages him. Nynaeve insists on using the dreamring that night, determined to question Birgitte in Tel’aran’rhiod despite Wise One disapproval.
In the World of Dreams, Birgitte leads Nynaeve to a void where Moghedien secretly listens to a conclave of Forsaken: Rahvin, Sammael, Lanfear, and Graendal. They discuss luring Rand to Rahvin while three of them link to strike. Sammael balks at trust but is overruled.
Withdrawing, Nynaeve and Birgitte are ambushed by Moghedien. Moghedien shields Nynaeve from the Source, binds and humiliates her, and begins torture, threatening a lasting transformation and Compulsion to deliver Elayne. As Moghedien moves to break her, Birgitte rallies and shoots Moghedien with a silver arrow.
Moghedien, blazing with saidar, overwhelms Birgitte and tears her from Tel’aran’rhiod, leaving only Birgitte’s bow and arrows. Moghedien vanishes, gravely wounded, and Nynaeve is left weeping over Birgitte’s loss.
In Amador, a bleeding Moghedien staggers in to Liandrin, Chesmal, and Temaile. Chesmal Heals her. Liandrin attempts to strike with newly learned Compulsion, but Moghedien instantly shields and punishes her, tying an intricate, likely unbreakable shield and layering a lifetime command to live. Moghedien consigns Liandrin to degradation under Evon and the Arene woman, orders Temaile to prepare her, and instructs Chesmal to search for the menagerie, likely bound for Ghealdan.
Who Appears
- Nynaeve al'MearaProbes Tel’aran’rhiod, spies a Forsaken council, is ambushed and tortured by Moghedien, and witnesses Birgitte’s tearing away.
- MoghedienAmbushes Nynaeve, tortures her, is wounded by Birgitte, then Healed in Amador; subjugates Liandrin and orders a hunt.
- BirgitteGuides Nynaeve to the Forsaken meeting, shoots Moghedien, and is forcibly ripped from Tel’aran’rhiod, leaving her bow behind.
- Elayne TrakandAdvises Nynaeve about Luca and the Wise Ones; yields the dreamring, worried about Egwene and Tower talk.
- Valan LucaRingmaster persistently flirts with Nynaeve during supper, oblivious to her rebuffs.
- Chesmal EmryBlack Ajah Healer; Heals Moghedien and is tasked to seek the menagerie heading toward Ghealdan.
- Temaile KinderodeBlack Ajah torturer; aids Moghedien, then prepares to brutalize Liandrin on Moghedien’s orders.
- LiandrinAttempts to Compel Moghedien; is shielded, condemned to servitude and suffering, and left powerless.
- RahvinAt the Forsaken council; intended bait for Rand while others plan to link and strike.
- SammaelAt the council; distrustful and demands inclusion in any linking, but is overruled.
- LanfearUnseen behind an ornate chair; part of the plan to take Rand when he goes for Rahvin.
- GraendalAt the council; decadent and devious, referenced by Moghedien for cruel ‘edifying’ ideas.
- Thom MerrilinTravels with the menagerie; keeps his head down during Luca’s advances on Nynaeve.
- Juilin SandarWith the menagerie; pointedly avoids involvement during Luca’s flirtations.