A Leader Reads

Join me as I focus a leadership lens on fantasy books and series. Current Series: The Wheel of Time, by Robert Jordan (and Brandon Sanderson)

The Dragon Reborn - Chapters 33 & 34 [#100Days, Day 99]

The Man In The Mirror    Perrin, Loial, Moiraine and Lan continue to follow Rand's trail.  Nearly every village they pass through has had some excitement out of the ordinary - massive fires, a village full of weddings, bags of gold being found, a new well, a completely dried well - until they come to Remen, where an Aielman is locked in a cage, with children throwing rocks at him.    What was he supposed to do?  I could have stopped those children throwing rocks.  I should have.  It was no use t...
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The Dragon Reborn - Chapters 31 & 32 [#100Days, Day 98]

Putting The 'I' Back In 'Team'    Fresh from a fall off a bridge with a now dead Gray Man, Mat stumbles into another inn.  This time, he runs across Thom Merrilin and invites Thom to join in his escape from Tar Valon.  Thom agrees and the two literally jump onto the first ship heading in the direction of Andor.  Scrabbling onboard Mat and Thom negotiate the price of passage; which due to the state of world affairs has increased dramatically.    "As you may have noticed, Captain, I am a gleeman."...
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The Dragon Reborn - Chapter 30 [#100Days, Day 97]

Leader Development: Mat Cauthon    Mat, letter in hand, leaves the Tower under pretenses of a night of gambling, with the end goal to leave Tar Valon entirely.  He fills his pockets and multiple purses with gold; his luck on an incredible winning streak.  Leaving his final inn for the evening, he's (poorly) pursued by footpads.    Hefting the quarterstaff, he briefly considered turning to confront them.  But it was dark, and the footing on the cobblestones uncertain, and he had no idea how many ...
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The Dragon Reborn - Chapter 29 [#100Days, Day 96]

Overconfident    Nynaeve, Elayne and Egwene, hard at work in the kitchens, are approached by the Amyrlin curious about an update on their progress.  Egwene and Elayne get carted off under some pretense the Amyrlin concocts to minimize eavesdroppers to get their mouths washed out with soap, leaving Nynaeve to give the update.  Else Grinwell, who pointed the three women onto the path of finding the belongings the Black Ajah left behind, is revealed to have been dismissed from the White Tower weeks...
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The Dragon Reborn - Chapter 28 [#100Days, Day 95]

A Smile And A Wink    Mat is approached by Egwene, Nynaeve and Elayne to carry a letter from Elayne to her mother, Queen Morgase.  In a sort of comical interlude, we see several attempts by the three women to bring Mat around to their way of thinking.    "You're up to something, Nyanaeve.  You are all smiling like cats staring at a finch caught in a thornbush, and I think I am the finch."Mat, The Dragon Reborn, p. 264    "I told you we should ask him straight out.  He's stubborn as a mule when h...
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The Dragon Reborn - Chapters 26 & 27 [#100Days, Day 94]

The Power Of Intent: The Amyrlin Seat    Egwene, Elayne and Nyaneve get a tip from another novice about the hiding place of all the belongings for Liandrin and the rest of her Black Ajah runaways.  Upon further inspection, the search reveals some clues about their intended destination.  Once again, the clues are scattered too precisely to be completely random; giving only the illusion of randomness Elayne discussed in the previous chapter.  Egwene uses her ter'angreal to enter the World of Dream...
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The Dragon Reborn - Chapter 25 [#100Days, Day 93]

None Of Us Is As Smart As All Of Us    Elayne, Egwene and Nynaeve are now fully engaged in their hunt for the Black Ajah.  Currently, their efforts are focused on a couple of documents given to them by Verin: a list of those who left with Liandrin and a list of what they stole.  Hardly a tremendous start, but better than nothing at all.    Nynaeve came to a halt staring down at Elayne.  "Put those away.  We have been over them twenty times, and there isn't a word that helps.  Verin gave us rubbi...
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The Dragon Reborn - Chapter 24 [#100Days, Day 92]

A Way Out    Switching back to Mat, we see him probing the White Tower guards in his attempt to leave Tar Valon.  True to her word, the Amyrlin did send Aes Sedai out to all the guards, drilling them in all the details of Mat's appearance so they can recognize him on sight.      He had simply meant to find out how well his description had been passed around.  If only the officers among the bridge guards had had it, he might have been able to slip by.  He had always been good at slipping into pla...
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The Dragon Reborn - Chapters 21, 22 & 23 [#100Days, Day 91]

When Things Fall Apart    Egwene completes the Accepted's Trials, facing her fears.  Verin Sedai gives Egwene a ter-angreal to assist her in her efforts of becoming a Dreamer.  It seems that the ter-angreal Dreaming ring caused some interference with the Accepted's Trials ter-angreal, nearly melting it into the floor with Egwene lost inside.  Alanna Sedai noticed the interference initially, and ignored it, allowing the Trials to continue; where the initial interference resonated to near-catastro...
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The Dragon Reborn - Chapter 20 [#100Days, Day 90]

Through The Fire And The Flames    The Amyrlin gave an exasperated sigh.  "You remind me of my uncle Huan.  NO one could ever pin him down.  He liked to gamble, too, and he'd much rather have fun than work.  He died pulling children out of a burning house.  He wouldn't stop going back as long as there was one left inside.  Are you like him, Mat?  Will you be there when the flames are high?The Amyrlin Seat, The Dragon Reborn, p. 183    I've always been a fan of this passage.  It's an apt descript...
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The Dragon Reborn - Chapters 18 & 19 [#100Days, Day 89]

Leader Development: Mat    The Amyrlin and several Aes Sedai link together and Heal Mat, breaking him from the link from the dagger of Shadar Logoth.  He awakes, still extremely weak, in visitor's chambers in the White Tower, holes in his memory filled with memories of other men in other times and places.  Along with a seeming fluidity of the Old Tongue.    You can turn the worst that comes to your advantage is you only think, his father always said, and certainly Abell Cauthon was the best hors...
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The Dragon Reborn - Chapter 17 [#100Days, Day 88]

Emotional Intelligence VII: When NOT To Go To War    As Elayne, Nynaeve and Egwene contemplate their task of hunting down the Black Ajah, Elaida Sedai, Queen Morgase's former advisor, interrupts them, eager for details on their exploits.      "The two of you," Elaida went on in a casual tone, "vanish, taking with you the Daughter-Heir of Andor - the girl who may become Queen of Andor one day, if I do not strip the hide off her hide and sell it to a glove maker - vanish without permission, withou...
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The Dragon Reborn - Chapters 15 & 16 [#100Days, Day 87]

Leader Development: Nynaeve    Following their dismissal from the Amyrlin's offices, Nynaeve and Egwene find themselves targets of a Gray Man.  Egwene barely misses a crossbow bolt to the head.  The two women give chase, and find the Gray Man dead with a knife in his chest.  The Mistress of Novices conveniently arrives shortly after to assist in cleaning up the dead Gray Man.      "Did you notice what Sheriam did not mention?"    "No. What?"    " She never wondered who stabbed him.  Now, come on...
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The Dragon Reborn - Chapter 14 [#100Days, Day 86]

A Bad Plan Well Executed...    Egwene, Nynaeve and Elayne are brought before the Amyrlin Seat and given severe punishments for running away.  The Amyrlin dismisses Elayne, holds Egwene and Nynaeve back and enlists them to find the Black Ajah traitors.      "You are the only two in the Tower I can be absolutely sure are not Black Ajah."  The Amyrlin's mouth still twisted around those words.  "Liandrin and her twelve went, but did all of them go?  Or did they leave some of their number behind, lik...
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The Dragon Reborn - Chapter 13 [#100Days, Day 85]

What Does 'Good' Look Like?     It was a stark, windowless room, like all those in the novices' quarters, small and square and painted white, with pegs on one wall for hanging her belongings, the bed built beside a second, and a tiny shelf on a third, where in other days she had kept a few books borrowed from the Tower library.  A washstand and a three-legged stool completed the furnishings.  The floorboards were almost white from scrubbing.  She had done that task, on hands and knees, every day...
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The Dragon Reborn - Chapter 12 [#100Days, Day 84]

Leader Assessment: Siuan Sanche and The Long View    This chapter gives the first real glimpse of how the Aes Sedai, particularly the Amyrlin Seat, earned the reputation of puppet-masters for the world.  Siuan Sanche, sits at the center of an intricate web of information, plots and misdirection.      Ten years with the stole, she thought.  Nearly twenty since I decided to sail these dangerous waters.  And if I slip now, I'll wish I were back hauling nets.Siuan Sanche, The Dragon Reborn, p. 116  ...
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The Dragon Reborn - Chapter 11 [#100Days, Day 83]

First Reports Are Always Wrong    Verin, Egwene, Elayne, Nynaeve, Hurin and a very sick Mat arrive in Tar Valon.  While not in complete chaos, the outlying villages are the sites of stand-offs between the Tar Valon guards and the Whitecloaks.  Inside the city proper, the daily hubbub is drowned out in some places by rumors and reports from other lands.    "Pardon, Aes Sedai, but you've obviously come from a distance.  Have you any news?  Fresh rumors come upriver with every trading vessel.  They...
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The Dragon Reborn - Chapter 10 [#100Days, Day 82]

Emotional Intelligence VI: Keep Calm And Aes Sedai    Shifting to Verin, Egwene, Nynaeve, Elayne, Mat, and Hurin, who are making their way to Tar Valon, they encounter a small group of Whitecloaks.  The Whitecloaks stop the small group; delaying them in their attempt to get Mat to Healing.     "The Children have authority where the Light is, witch, and where the Light is not, we bring it.  Answer my questions! Or must I take you to our camp and let the Questioners ask?"    Mat could not afford a...
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The Dragon Reborn - Chapter 9 [#100Days, Day 81]

Willing to Make Tough Choices    "If I can keep you whole, I will.  I promise you that, Perrin.  But I will not endanger the struggle against the Shadow.  You must know that too."    When he turned to look at her, she was regarding him unblinkingly.  And if your struggle means putting me in my grave tomorrow, will you do that, too?  He was icily sure that she would.    Moiraine and Perrin, The Dragon Reborn, p. 86    Part of Moraine's nature as a leader is a complete willingness to make the toug...
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The Dragon Reborn - Chapter 8 [#100Days, Day 80]

The Frog King        On the hunt for Rand, Perrin and the others rest in Jarra.  Perrin makes an important, likely life-changing discovery: he and Elyas are not the only two humans in the world who can talk to wolves.  Unfortunately, Simion's brother Noam seems to have been fully consumed by the wolf spirit; an outcome that Perrin's been unaware of as he comes to terms with his abilities.  Moreover, Perrin gets a sharp reminder of basic leadership:    [Simion] gave a start at Perrin's eyes, but ...
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The Dragon Reborn - Chapter 7 [#100Days, Day 79]

The Quiet, Forceful Presence    Leaving the wounded Shienarans behind and sending Min to Tar Valon, Moiraine, Lan, Perrin and Loial set off after Rand.  With Lan spending long days scouting ahead, Perrin and Loial get significant time alone with Moiraine.  Or, more appropriately, re-learning how forceful of a leader she can be, after a winter in the mountains spent arguing.    [Perrin] tried refusing, resisting, but it was hard to resist when [Moiraine] made a reasonable suggestion, and a small ...
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The Dragon Reborn - Chapter 6 [#100Days, Day 78]

Action Beats Inaction    Capitalizing on the aftermath of the attack, Rand sets off on his own.  His absence remains unnoticed until well into the morning.  It's an excellent example of how action can cause chaos.  Rand didn't do anything complex, he just left, with a note describing his vague goal; but it throws the rest of the band into utter disarray.  Moiraine's normal unflappable calm is punctured, her frustration visible as she tries to figure out Rand's next moves.  Perrin, normally quiet...
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The Dragon Reborn - Chapters 3, 4 & 5 [#100Days, Day 77]

Circles of Control, Influence, Concern and Everything Else    Min's Viewing of a Tuatha'an woman, Leya, indicates trouble ahead for Rand, Moiraine and the rest of the small band of Shienarans.  As usual, Min's visions are clear and the band fends off an attack from Trollocs and Myrddraal, suffering heavy casualties, including Leya.      "The Wheel weaves as the Wheel wills, Perrin.  I told you long ago that we were in a way.  We cannot stop just because some of us may die.  Any of us may die bef...
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The Dragon Reborn - Chapter 2 [#100Days, Day 76]

"To Be A Ringbearer, Frodo, Is To Be Alone"    An ongoing question for Perrin in this chapter deals with the nature of his friendship with Rand.  Rand is having great difficulty adjusting to the fact that he is the Dragon Reborn, and Perrin recognizes that they are changing and perhaps straining their friendship.    Rand and he had grown up together as friends.  Are we still friends? Can we be? Now?Perrin, The Dragon Reborn, p. 17    "I had better go talk to him," he said.  "After they argue, he...
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The Dragon Reborn - Chapter 1 [#100Days, Day 75]

Comfortable with Discomfort    [Perrin] sometimes wondered at the way [the Shienarans] deferred to him and followed his lead.  It was as if they thought he had some special right, some knowledge hidden from them.Perrin, The Dragon Reborn, p. 2    Perrin has always reluctantly taken the lead.  I think a large part of it, from his perspective, is that he knows he's just a blacksmith's apprentice far from home.  He's not a Lord, a general, or even a great soldier.  Reluctantly, he charged in the va...
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The Dragon Reborn - Prologue [#100Days, Day 74]

War of Words    Book three starts with Pedron Niall, the Lord Captain Commander of the Children of the Light, interviewing survivors of his men at Falme.  Child Byar, late of Geofram Bornhald's legion is the first; giving a direct, soldier's take on the situation.  Niall's conversation with Jaichim Carridin is more interesting.    ... Carridin smiled.  "I promise you, I will be successful before summer."    Niall nodded.  The man was confident, now.  Sure the dangerous questions would already ha...
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The Wheel Of Time - Interlude II [#100Days, Day 73]

    Two books complete.  I've always held the next in the series, The Dragon Reborn, as a favorite.  It has a good balance to it.  Part of it is the familiarity with the characters, and their abilities.  Through the first two, Rand and Perrin are pushing hard to get away from integral aspects of themselves.  At the end of The Great Hunt, both have begun the process of accepting who they are and what they can do; allowing a maturation that's needed.  They're still, essentially, teenagers; carryin...
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The Great Hunt - Chapters 48, 49 & 50 [#100Days, Day 72]

The Choice Between What Is Right And What Is Easy    Rand wakes after being severely wounded in his battle in the skies over Falme.  Moiraine, who disappeared earlier in the book, finally returns; much to Rand's frustration.  She offers the following choice to Rand:    "You must choose, Rand," Moiraine said.  "The world will be broken whether you break it or not.  Tarmon Gai'don will come, and that alone will tear the world apart.  Will you still try to hide from what you are, and leave the worl...
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The Great Hunt - Chapter 47 [#100Days, Day 71]

Character Development: Mat    Finally, after nearly 1100 pages of being a prankster who doesn't take anything seriously, we see a tremendous amount of development in Mat.  In the space of a sentence:    "Mat, Verin must take you and that dagger to Tar Valon, so you can finally be free of it.  You don't have any time to waste."    "Saving Egwene isn't wasting time!" But Mat's hand tightened on the dagger till it shook.Rand and Mat, The Great Hunt, p. 556    Mat's always seemed like the kind of gu...
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The Great Hunt - Chapter 46 [#100Days, Day 70]

The Hill To Die On    "I will not go back," Egwene said grimly.  "I'll die first.  Let me show them what they've taught me." ... "I will not go back to that collar," Egwene said fiercely.  "I won't!"Egwene, The Great Hunt, p. 549-550    "I did give my word," Domon said.  He wrenched the axe from Cole's hand and threw it clattering to the deck.  "I did give my word."Bayle Domon, The Great Hunt, p. 551    Bornhald put Byar out of his mind.  He had done what he could, there.  He raised his voice.  ...
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