I am not reading this story, in the truest sense of the word. AoD has let me borrow his audio files of the books so that I can listen to the story. So my spellings of words and names are often times going to be phonetic rather than accurate. It's also late so I may have missed some important bits. Despite annoyances I may mention in this post, I am enjoying the story. Summary and thoughts below the fold.
Ch 19: Shadow's Waiting
So the adventure picks up as our team of one-day heroes enter Shadar Logath. This is an ancient city that even the dreaded Trollocks fear to enter. They think they are safe because of this. But frankly worse dangers are found within the city walls. Not long after the Ice-adye (Morane) takes a nap the boys (matt, Rand, and Perrin) decide to go exploring. Along the way they meet another adventurer who gets them to come down and help him loot some treasure. This man ends up being Mordeth. While little is revealed about who he actually is, it is quite clear he does not have the boys best interest at heart. He tries to trap them but they manage to get out just in time. This will have a deep impact later. Despite their fear of the city, Trolicks have entered the city, and their numbers have swelled to over a hundred.
Ch 20: Dust on the Wind
They begin to make their escape but are eventually separated by a creature worse than Trollics or Mordeth: Mashadar. It is an evil that cares not where its next meal comes. It lashes out indiscriminantly to find it next meal. While I would classify it as evil it does not appear to be alligned with Baalzuman. It exists only in this city and the scenes of it devouring the faeds and trolics are enough to make me take notice. Though separated, all of the team are able to escape though the troupe is no longer together. The new groups are: Lan, Morain, and Nineave (on horse); Perrin and Eggwayne (on foot and horse); Tom, Matt, and Rand (boat).
Ch 21: Listen to the Wind
Nine-eve is able to hook back up with Lan and Moraine. Her hatred of the dreaded eye-sa-dye is clear, but about to be turned on its ear. Maoraine is able to accurately describe when Nineeve first began channeling the one power. This is a huge blow to her INCREDIBLY OVERINFLATED EGO. They decide to track down what we come to find out is the Tom/Matt/Rand group instead of Perrin.
Ch 22: A Path Chosen
Perrin and Igwaine decide to just walk to Caimlyn on their own.
Ch 23: Wolfbother
This gets interesting as Perrin and Igwayne travel in the direction their think is Kaymlen. They have this pointed out to them by a yellow-eyed wolf-whisperer named Elias. He offers them food and they accept. Things get strange when wolves enter the camp and just hang out. They try to tell their "story" but the wolves say, through Elias, that it is a bunch of crap. That's right he can talk to wolves! They finally tell the entire truth and it satisfies the wolves, who as it turns out hate Trollics and Fades. Things take a final odd turn when Elias says that Perrin is just like him. Elias agrees to escourt them to Caimlen. Who could ask for a better guide and protector?
Ch 24: Flight Down the Arinelle
We pick up with the boat group. Their cover story is that Matt and Rand are Tom's apprentices. He begins to train them in tumbling and music. Rand has a scary dream where the dark one chases after him. And just like before this is more than a normal dream because the pricked finger carries out of the dream as Rand wakes to find it bleeding. Rand notices a dagger in Matt's possesion that he seems to treat like the "precious". That dagger was taken from Mordeth's lair. This can't be good for Matt. Also their is an odd scene where Rand does some crazy gynastics high in the ships rigging. Not sure what that is supposed to be about.
Thoughts from the reading:
Why wouldn't they properly warn the boys not to wander around.
Why Trolucks have entered the city is a mystery but it must mean that these people are incredibly important if the evil creatures are pressed in to entering such a haunted, horrid, and hated place. But Mashadar is the best evil thing mentioned in this book so far.
Nineve's hatred of the dreaded eye-sa-dye is clear, though I don't get why. Yes they are manipulative but clearly they are trying to help. They can't be all that bad. I cannot stand Nineve's ego. I just want to punch her in the face so bad. I also don't get why, as the village Wisdom, she is so drawn to wanting to protect the people in her care. But Jordan does not do a good enough job at explaining why she should feel this way. He just says it, and so we are supposed to believe it. He needed to spend more time on her and flesh her out in order for me to buy in to this. It's frankly just annoying to listen to her pine about protecting her people.
Aside from Lan and Tom, Elias is the coolest character so far in the story. Who wouldn't want to talk to wolves? Though one is left to wonder what price you would probably end up paying in order to have this power. It seems like nothing comes free in this world. Also, I wanted to punch Eggwayne in the face for trying to bully Perrin in to making a decision for him.
I would be scared witless if my nightmares followed me in to the real world. Why isn't Rand freaked out more than he is? He needs to be told what this all means, but I get the feeling that even if he had told Moraine that there is no guarantee she should tell him what he needs to know.
