4. Rand: As he did in Path of Daggers, he could have easily seized the source in private in order to hide his weakness. He does have some legitimate concerns about Lews Therin taking control, which is why Rand clocks in at #4
He wasn't afraid of the voice in his head taking charge, he was afraid of Lews Therin Kinslayer taking control, a man infamous for killing his wife, who is constantly reminding Rand that he killed his wife. Rand is probably more afraid of LTT killing Min than anything else. If Min had not come, I would be he'd have seized the Source ahead of time.
3. Cadsuane: She has a ter'angreal that blocks flows just like Mat's medallion. She wants Rand to be alive for the last battle. Despite these two facts, she does not lend the ter'angreal to Rand as the group walks into a situation everyone believes may be a trap. This has bugged me since it was revealed that she had this ter'angreal (she knows that Rand will fight the forsaken), but I digress. If the meeting is an ambush, there are pretty much two options: the Seanchan want to capture Rand or the Seanchan want to kill Rand. Either way, Rand is the obvious target*.
2. Nynaeve: She's on this list for the same reason as Cadsuane. The main reason Nynaeve annoys me more is that she would want Rand to live even if he was not the dragon reborn. Also, as a minor point, Nynaeve has shown herself willing to lend out her weave-breaker ter'angreal to Alivia - Nynaeve's PoVs show that she isn't exactly buddy-buddy with Alivia.
Sidious addressed these two issues. Think of it this way - which can Rand spare most: Cadsuane, Nynaeve or his left hand?
1. Min: Almost everyone is annoyed with Min for demanding to be present during this event, but I'll elaborate anyway. In Min's defense, her ability to view the Seanchan would be useful. On the other hand, if the meeting is a trap she would be a liability. I'd be more sympathetic towards Min if everyone but Admiral Akbar wasn't claiming that the meeting was a trap.
And even if there was no danger, he had good reasons to bring someone important (that sort of thing impresses the Seanchan) someone with knowledge or skills he could use in his negotiations or someone who possessed actual fighting skills. Where would Rand find a woman who can fight without the One Power? And if he COULD find a woman like that, she would, of course, need to be someone he could convince to accompany him into danger... Who could he bring?
* Earlier in the series, Mat actually does this. As soon as he finds out about Moghedien, he goes to Eylane, who by the way isn't exactly #1 on his friends list, and offers her or Nynaeve the medallion.
Yes, and that would have worked out so well if he gone through with it! He AND Elayne would have both been dead. Elayne would not have tried to fight the gholam hand to hand, and there would have been less chance of the medallion hitting it (especially without Mat's luck in play) and exposing its sole weakness, as it punched her or twisted her head off. And Mat would have been dead without it. Better to leave such things in the hands of their owners and worry about it later.
Cannoli
“Tolerance is the virtue of the man without convictions.” GK Chesteron
Inde muagdhe Aes Sedai misain ye!
Deus Vult!
*MySmiley*
“Tolerance is the virtue of the man without convictions.” GK Chesteron
Inde muagdhe Aes Sedai misain ye!
Deus Vult!
*MySmiley*
The 4 people who annoyed me the most in the Semirhage incident
- 07/10/2009 12:38:01 AM
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1. Maybe the ter'angreal only work for women. 2. Mat is a better person than any of them *NM*
- 07/10/2009 02:14:30 AM
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I always assumed that the ter'angreal only worked with women, as well.
- 07/10/2009 04:15:02 PM
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As far as Rand goes, I blame Min.
- 07/10/2009 06:54:27 PM
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