No, I caught it, but also recall all the other occasions where Egwene recognized a character flaw, realized she must remedy it, then essentially decided that realization WAS the remedy. Kind of like people who realize they are awful SOBs, answer an altar call that declares them "born again," and think that gives them a blank check to resume being awful SOBs. To continue the analogy, it is "go, and sin no more," not "go, and sin no less." Given how many times Egwene has missed THAT lesson, I do not expect her latest epiphany to change her any more than the many previous ones. The only surprise so far is that she does not count switching places with Bode at the last minute a success, on the grounds it put her in the Tar Valon dungeon from which she saved the Tower and assumed the stole.

Seanchan assassins nearly killing her in her bed because she was not as knowledgable as she thought, being spared only by Gawyns repeated disobedience of her express orders and the fact it nearly killed HIM, too, ought to be enough to teach Egwene the importance of cooperating with rather than merely manipulating others. She certainly talks like it afterward, but I have often seen her pay lip service to valuable lessons then immediately resume ignoring them.

The Aiel taught her the value of humility and Siuan the Law of Unintended Consequences, both of which she immediately acknowledged as greatly expanding her wisdom and never again observed, despite citing them often. As much as she patted herself on the back for her stoically humble submission to Elaida abuse, it was more the pride of a martyr complex (which is what so provoked both Elaida and Silviana.) There was very little "humility" in continually declaring herself Amyrlin each time someone said otherwise (let alone telling Mesaana, essentially, "you are merely a Forsaken; I am the Amyrlin!") Likewise, the Law of Unintended Consequences was on full display when three Seanchan assassins tried to murder her in her bed while she was busy hunting Mesaana, a possibility she not only did not, but COULD not, consider, because she had already decided her would-be assassins were in Mesaanas employ. That really should not have made any difference (why fight a mortal duel with someone in Tel'aran'rhiod when you need only keep them busy there while a lackey smothers their sleeping body with a pillow,) but Egwene had decided what reality was and so never imagined it could be otherwise. I do not expect her to be any wiser after that incident than before it, only to correctly recognize what she did wrong then incorrectly continue doing it, just as she always does.


Do we know anything at all about Latra post-Sealing? Everything I have read about her is PRE-Sealing, continuing to rely exclusively on the Choedan Kal and insisting all other female channelers do the same. As bad as the Breaking was, had she convinced LTT and the men of that it would have been worse, since all the places with access keys had already fallen to the Shadow; even a desperate destructive hope is better than none. My impression (FWIW) is that Latras role was no more or less than withholding the women from the Hundred Companions so that saidar would not be tainted along with saidin; in light of her political role at the time, the smart money is on her being killed in a showdown with a mad male channeler shortly after the Bore was resealed.

As for Egwene as heir to Latras role, she has already rather glaringly committed herself both to dismissing Rands plan out of hand as well as doing nothing and hoping the dilemma of resealing the Bore resolves itself. She is not assembling the world leaders to hear Rand out and decide whether to accept his plan, but to present a show of force to coerce him into renouncing it (hence she wants every man who can hold a spear at her back.) Lews Therins plan was certainly not risk free, but NO plan was risk free when the Shadow was at the brink of total victory, so LTT made a desperate high stakes gamble from necessity (which is often the hallmark of true leadership.) From the position the Light held at the time, a very costly stalemate (as LTT achieved) was an outstanding success, and would be again. It was far better than hiding under the bed trying to think up a risk free solution that did not exist, until the Shadow resolved the matter permanently and unpleasantly (the best to be said about that choice is that the delay would have been brief.) In that respect, Egwenes approach is not even as good as Latras, because Latra at least HAD an alternate solution (though not one with any chance of success, but she made not have known all the Choedan Kal access keys had been lost.) Egwenes "solution" is no more than waiting until the Dark One destroys the last of the Seals himself and moots all her objections to Rands plan.


Bryne will stay beside the woman who holds his Bond and, even if she decides Egwene no longer needs or can benefit from her experienced advice, Siuan is unlikely to leave the Tower on the eave of war with the Shadow. If she does, it will almost certainly be as part of a Tar Valon assault force, not to return a general Elayne does not need. She has the two most experienced generals in Randland (Birgitte and Mat) at her right hand, so Bryne would be superfluous even if interested (which he very much is not.) Most likely, Elayne will be the political and Mat the martial leaders of a Westlands coalition centered around Andor (which now includes Ghaeldan and Cairhien, with strong ties to the Saldean throne and thus all the Borderlands through Faile,) particularly since Mat is also the means of bringing the Seanchans soldiers and channelers to the fight (depending on how Rands appointment with the Crystal Throne goes.)


Again, I expect the political role to largely be Elaynes; except for Murandy, Tear and Illian, she rules or is tied to the rulers of every nation west of the Mountains of Mist, and has far more training for it than any other major character save Tuon (who will be responsible for the Seanchan expedition and conquests.) In the long run, post-TG, the political leadership should look much the same, with the addition of whoever is Amyrlin. To the extent it matters, I still expect that to be Logain rather than Egwene, who, as minor noble in Ghaeldan, actually DID gain political experience. As previously noted, the best example of a charater at lofty political heights without the necessary experience is probably daughter of a backwoods village mayor.


I get the dynamics, and they are significant; it may fall to Elayne and Perrin to make Egwene see who is being mule-headed at Merrilor. Politically, however, her reasoning and demeanor far better suit her to an auxillary role whose chief value lies in lending Tar Valons aura of legitimacy (and diplomatic corps) to the coalition-building efforts of a far more experienced politician like Elayne. With the Tower socially and literally in pieces (and another much larger Seanchan assault on it imminent) Egwenes hands are quite full with preserving it. In dealing with Rand, less is more where Egwene is concerned, as Merrilor will probably demonstrate in her discovery the unified front she seeks AGAINST the Dragon Reborn is far less unified than she hopes and believes. Most likely, her role will be assembling the Westland rulers and armies only to see someone else take charge of them, by their own request.

That is even if I assume she is not turned and/or killed due to her own arrogance and independence first.