The Great Hunt - Chapter 32 : Dangerous Words
Ch.32
Symbol : The symbol is Thom’s Harp. I'm thinking the harp is referencing to the instruments being played and the group thinking the Horn wouldn't be used in that manner.
Chapter title : The chapter title is Dangerous Words. This makes me think the group will have to think of what Rand should say to Barthanes so he doesn’t know what they’re actually up to and down play what is actually going to happen in the mansion.
Main Points of the Chapter (aka what I thought was important from the chapter)
Mentioned characters : Ashin, Andormen, Alaine Chuliandred, Belevaere Osiellin, Breane Taborwin
387-88 , the plan and roles : “His true purpose was to sniff out the Darkfriends and Trollocs if he could; the Horn of Valere should not be far from them. Mat, still grumbling about it, was pretending to be Rand’s serpent, since he could feel the dagger when it was close. If Hurin failed, perhaps he could find the Darkfriends. “When Rand had asked Verin why she was there, she had only smiled and said, “‘To keep the rest of you out of trouble”’ (388).
389, everyone looking at them and Barthanes showing up :
“They drew every eye. Verin wore her brown-fringed shawl, embroidered in grapevines; the announcement of an Aes Sedai sent a murmur through the lords and ladies, and made the juggler drop one of his hoops, though no one was watching him any longer. Loial received almost as many looks, even before Ashin spoke his name. Despite the silver embroidery on collar and sleeves, the otherwise unrelieved black of Rand’s coat made him seem almost stark beside the Cairheinin, and his and Ingtar’s swords drew many glances. None of the lords appeared to be armed. Rand heard the words “‘heron-mark blade”’ more than once. Some of the glances he was retrieving looked like frowns; he suspected they came from men he had insulted by burning their invitations”’ (389).
“A slim, handsome man approached. He had long, graying hair, and multihued stripes crossed the front of his deep gray coat from his neck almost to the hem just above his knees. He was extremely tall for a Cairheinin, no more than half a head shorter than Rand, and he had a way of standing that made him seem even taller, with his chin up so he seemed to be looking down at everyone else. His eyes were black pebbles. He looked warily at Verin, though”’ (389).
*“‘Grace honors me with your presence, Aes Sedai.”’ “Barthanes Damodred’s voice was deep and sure. His gaze swept across the others.” “‘I did not expect so distinguished a company. Lord Ingtar. Friend Ogier.”’ “His bow to each was little more than a nod of the head; Barthanes knew exactly how powerful he was.” “‘And you, my young Lord Rand. You excite much comment in the city, and in the Houses. Perhaps we will have a chance to talk this night.”’ (Done?)
390 : “‘Rand, there is a Waygate nearby. I can feel it.”’ “‘You mean this was an Ogier grove?”’ Rand said softly, and Loial nodded. “‘Stredding Tsofu had not been found again when it was planted, or the Ogier who helped build Al’cair’rahienallen would not have needed a grove to remind them them of the stedding. This was all forest when I came through Cairhein before, and belonged to the King.”’
391 : “There were many other rooms, all filled with lords, and ladies, all with entertainers : three different gleemen in their cloaks, more jugglers and tumblers, and musicians playing flutes, six kinds of horn, straight or curved or curled, and ten sizes of drum from tambour to kettle. He gave some of the horn players a second look, those with curled horns, but the instruments were all plain brass. They wouldn’t have the Horn of Valere out here, fool, he thought. Not unless Barthanes means to have dead heroes come as part of the entertainment” (391).
392-393 : “Rand realized he had just now learned enough of Daes Dae’mar to know he had no idea how it was played. Mat, Hurin, find something fast, so we can get out of here. These people are crazy” (392-93). (Done?)
*393, alaine description : “....but a woman stepped smoothly in front of him and put a hand on his chest, the lace falling back from a soft wrist. Her head did not quite come to his shoulder, but her tall array of curls easily reached as high as her eyes. The high neck of her gown put lace ruffles under her chin, and stripes covered the front of her dark blue dress below her breasts” (393). (Don’t?)
*393-94 , the two women seem to try and seduce Rand : “‘You have the subtlety of a tavern wench,”’ Alaine hissed at her, and immediately was smiling up at Rand.”’ “‘She has no polish. No man could like a woman with a manner so rough. Bring your flute to my manor, and we will talk. Perhaps you will teach me to play?”’ “‘What Alaine thinks of as a subtlety,”’ Belevaere said sweetly, “‘is but lack of courage. A man who wears a heron-mark sword must be brave. That truly is a heron-mark blade, is it not?”’ Rand tried backing away from them. “‘If you will just excuse me, I—“‘ They followed step for step until his hit the wall; the width of their skirts together made another wall in front of him.
He jumped as a third woman crowded in beside the other two, her skirts joining theirs to the wall on that side. She was older than they, but just as pretty, with an amused smile that did not lessen the sharpness of her eyes. She wore half again as many stripes as Alaine and Belevaere; they made tiny curtsies and glared at her sullenly.”’ “‘Are these two spiders trying to toil you in their webs?”’ The older woman laughed.”’ “‘Half the time they tangle themselves more firmly than anyone else. Come with me, my fine young Andoran, and I will tell you some of the troubles they would give you. For one thing, I have no husband to worry about. Husbands always make trouble.”’Over Alaine’s Head he could see Thom, straightening from a bow to no applause or notice whatsoever. With a grimace the gleeman snatched a goblet from the tray of a startled servant.”’ “‘I see someone I must speak to,”’ Rand told the woman, and squeezed out of the box they had put him in just as the last woman reached for his arm. All three stared after him as he hurried to the gleeman. Thom eyed him over the lip of the goblet, then took another long swallow”’ (393-94). (Done?)
395 : “‘A dangerous thing to say if it isn’t true, and more dangerous if it is. An accusation like that, against the most powerful man in the kingdom…. You say he has the Horn? I suppose you’re after my help again, now that you’re tangled with the White Tower once more.”’ “‘No.”’ “He has decided Thom has been right, even if the gleeman did not know why. He could not involve anyone else in his troubles.” “‘I just wanted to get away from those women”’ (395).
Thom understands the Game of Houses and understands what is going on and knows how to help Rand not get tied up in everything.
Afterthoughts
I’m starting to think Barthanes’ manor is full of people who are definitely not nice and don’t have any principles they follow. I’m very certain Alaine Chuliandred and Belevaere Osiellin are Darkfriends for acting super strangely towards Rand, because they see a young, good looking lord that they are trying to convince Rand to go to bed with them and do not care that they’re married already. It seems to be a really weird part of how they play the House of Games.
I’m thinking they need to get the Horn and dagger and get through that nearby Waygate and get the fuck out of Barthanes’ manor that is likely full of Darkfriends.
I think since Thom knows how the Game works that he might be more than just a Gleeman.
Point of View at the end of the chapter
This chapter is from Rand’s Point of view
At the end of the chapter eyes start following Rand and I believe Darkfriends are watching where Rand is going.
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