In this section, multiple plots are laid out clearly, and
reader’s expectations are set.
Perhaps recognizing the previous book’s weak ending, the
author immediately sets up several storylines with expectations to be met before
the book ends.
In the White Tower, the Black Ajah Hunters get Talene to re-swear
the Three Oaths. Talene is a tool that can be used now, but the Hunters decide
to proceed with caution, bringing in the ten rebel ferrets to swear obedience
first. That will bring their number to sixteen. Seaine also has her first
doubts about what task Elaida actually assigned her. We expect this quest to
net a second Black sister soon.
Elayne’s section reveals a little about Egwene, which is all
we’ll see of the Amyrlin in this book. A simple primer about Elayne’s major competitors
for the throne means we should see some of them interfering before the book is
over. A number of reasonable contrivances explain why Elayne won’t be receiving
any outside help. No allies are available, and in any case would
unintentionally cost Elayne the throne because they are foreigners. The Sea
Folk remain stuck in Caemlyn by their own mistrust that Elayne will break the Bargain.
This character-driven obstacle is more powerful than a physical one could be. Renaile
will not leave until she gets what was agreed to, which will keep her at Elayne’s
side for a long time.
The confrontation between Taim and Elayne ends with him
acquiescing to her requests to visit the Black Tower under supervision. When
she later carries out her first visit and Toveine sees her, we then expect some
interaction between the two.
After Taim, a Wise One enters, the third uninvited interruption
in the last twenty minutes. Dyelin provides a comment which is likely echoing
the reader’s thoughts, and is therefore meant to restore the plausibility of the
scene: “Blood and ashes!” Dyelin
muttered. “ Is the whole world just
going to walk in here?” She uses exaggeration to make the current situation
seem normal in comparison. Humour is another tactic which causes the reader to
overlook the obvious by pointing out the abnormal situation. A reader who knows
that the author has recognized their complaint will be satisfied and move on
with the story feeling the problem has been resolved.
The first-sister ceremony provides a glimpse of a healthy relationship
by Aiel standards. It amounts to knowledge, faith, and forgiveness of the
first-sister. Elayne has already shown this behaviour is the basis for her
romance with Rand, so now this example will allow Aviendha to learn how to love
him as well, and maybe they will teach and remind Rand how to behave.
Toveine is crafty, and seems to have a secret plan to pull
down Elaida, even as she agrees to publicly give leadership of the Black Tower
prisoners to another sister. Readers expect this plan to bear some fruit by the
end of the book. Logain’s unwanted presence at the Black Tower and the faction
he is heading create interest in seeing matters advance or get resolved. The
Asha’man voice concerns that Rand doesn’t care about them, that Taim is giving
preferred treatment to certain Asha’man, and that Taim’s cronies have turned
bad. The implication is that Taim is creating a private army and Logain will be
the main obstacle he has to overcome.
Rand has decided he can’t wait to move forward with his plan
to make his Asha’man into reliable tools again. As soon as he can lure his
would-be assassins to him and dispatch them, he plans to cleanse saidin. This sets the reader’s
expectations. There had better be an attempt to cleanse saidin before the book
is done! He even describes how it will go down: everyone within a thousand
miles will feel him channeling, and come to put an end to it, so he needs to
whittle down the number of detractors he will face before he starts cleansing.
That and get over the sickness that has begun to affect him whenever he
channels.
Each of these points of view has created expectations that
readers will want resolved.
Writing Lessons:
Set expectations purposefully, or your readers will set them
for you.
Use humour and exaggeration and acknowledgement to have
readers overlook the contrived scenarios you devise.
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