Contents
Chapter 23
Overview
Egwene emerges from a dangerously malfunctioning ter'angreal and is raised to Accepted, sealed with the Great Serpent ring. The Amyrlin demands answers, Elaida condemns Egwene as a wilder, and Alanna apologizes for the near-fatal event. Shaken, Egwene questions whom to trust and breaks down with Nynaeve and Elayne, sharing the ordeal’s emotional cost.
Summary
Egwene stumbles from the silver arches seared by memories of abandoning Rand, only to find the Aes Sedai strained and the ter'angreal unstable. The Amyrlin completes the ceremony, washes Egwene clean, and seals her as Accepted with the Great Serpent ring, then orders Sheriam to ensure Egwene’s wellbeing and to discover what went wrong.
Elaida coldly returns Egwene’s belongings and denounces her as a wilder who will never truly belong to the Tower. Sheriam reminds Egwene that as Accepted she must protect herself. Alanna arrives, admits the testing ter'angreal reacted with a powerful reverberation, and offers to atone by sharing Egwene’s punishments. Egwene, clutching the twisted stone ring in her pouch, realizes her own ter'angreal may have triggered the mishap but remains silent.
Prompted, Alanna explains the Green Ajah’s purpose: to stand ready for battle and Tarmon Gai’don. The Amyrlin, worried and angry, forbids Alanna’s public penance but allows a private visit to Sheriam, and commands a full inquiry into the failure. Egwene, doubting whom she can trust, withholds confession about the dream ring.
Dismissed to rest, Egwene witnesses Sheriam scold Alanna and then threaten Egwene to keep silent. Reeling from mistrust and the terror of being forcibly Turned, Egwene seeks Nynaeve and Elayne. Finding Elayne weeping from her own test, Egwene finally breaks down, confessing she could not help Rand. Nynaeve gathers them both, promising the pain will ease and vowing they will one day make their enemies pay.
Who Appears
- Egwene al'VereSurvives a malfunctioning test, is raised to Accepted, hides her dream ter'angreal, and breaks down from trauma with friends.
- Siuan Sanche (Amyrlin Seat)Conducts the raising, demands answers about the failure, allows Alanna’s private penance, and orders Egwene to rest and work.
- Sheriam BayanarDelves Egwene, manages the ceremony, insists Egwene protect herself as Accepted, and harshly enforces secrecy and discipline.
- Elaida do Avriny a'RoihanReturns Egwene’s things and condemns her as a wilder who won’t belong in the Tower.
- Alanna MosvaniAdmits the ter'angreal’s reverberation, apologizes, offers to share punishments, and explains the Green Ajah’s purpose.
- Nynaeve al'MearaComforts Egwene and Elayne after their trials, vowing retribution for their suffering.
- Elayne TrakandShattered by her own Accepted test, she weeps and shares the emotional toll with Egwene.
- Alviarin FreidhenWhite Ajah sister present during the ceremony; observes and moves on without comment.