Re-Reading "The Eye of the World": "Chapter 35: Caemlyn" and "Chapter 36: Web of the Pattern"
After finally reaching the city of Caemlyn, Rand and Mat meet some new friends and allies, though darkness is still never far away.
Hello, dear reader! Do you like what you read here at Omnivorous? Do you like reading fun but insightful takes on all things pop culture? Do you like supporting indie writers? If so, then please consider becoming a subscriber and get the newsletter delivered straight to your inbox. There are a number of paid options, but you can also sign up for free! Every little bit helps. Thanks for reading and now, on with the show!
Well, at last Rand and Mat have reached Caemlyn, after enduring a great deal of emotional and physical trials. Though they manage to find shelter in an inn called The Queen’s Blessing, all is not well in the capital of Andor, and it’s clear that Morgase doesn’t have as tight a hold on the throne as she might think. While Mat stews and falls further into dagger-induced despondency, Rand manages to make the acquaintance of an Ogier named Loial, who proves to be an unexpected bit of stability and friendliness in the bustling metropolis.
I found these two chapters, “Camelyn” and “Web of the Pattern” to be a much-needed bit of respite. After all, we’ve seen these two young men pursued by sinister Darkfriends and Fades, so it’s nice to see them attain at least a tiny little isle of calm, though it’s far from clear just how long it will last. At the very least, though, they know they have a stalwart in the innkeeper Basel Gill, a character who will go on to have a rather sizable influence on the unfolding of events in Andor.
There’s something immediately endearing about Basel Gill. To begin with, there’s the fact that he’s a fat innkeeper which, as Rand has learned from firsthand experience, is always a good sign. However, it’s more than that. Unlike so many of the other people that Rand and Mat have encountered during their flight after Shadar Logoth, he doesn’t immediately view them with suspicion or antipathy. Indeed, rather than taking Rand’s possession of Thom’s flute as a sign that he might have done away with the gleeman, he takes the time to actually get to the bottom of the issue and, just as importantly, he actually believes Rand. In the distrustful and perilous age in which the story takes place–made manifest in the dead grass and lifeless trees of the city–this is a rather extraordinary leap of faith on his part, and a testament to his fundamentally good character.
The real highlight of their first encounter with Master Gill, however, is the revelations about the (supposedly departed) Thom. It turns out that there was much more to him than met the eye, since he had an affair with none other than Queen Morgase herself. As Rand reflects, though, there was always something about Thom that suggested he was far more than just a simple gleeman. Moreover, it’s really quite touching to learn that Thom was willing to put his own career at court at risk, even though it turned out to be too late. This adds a further layer of emotional resonance to his sacrifice, which of course is the only thing that allowed Rand and Mat to escape near-certain capture at the hands of the Fade. And, as Master Gill also points out, there’s reason to think that our dear gleeman might have survived.
And, of course, there’s Loial.
Now, to begin with, it has to be said that Loial, and the Ogier generally, are a very clear analogue to Tolkien’s Ents. For one thing, both Ents and Ogier are bound to their particular homes, the Ents in Fangorn and the Ogier in their stedding. Likewise, both groups are deliberate in their dealings and in their mannerisms, which is why they view humans with both bemusement and more than a little humor. They both even refer to humans as being “hasty.” Most notably, they are both devoted to the lives and well-beings of trees, and Jordan aptly captures Loial’s sadness at the fact that most of the great cities of humankind have forgotten not just about the groves that once graced them but even their own history. The Wheel of Time turns, and it often grinds the beautiful and the ugly alike beneath its tread.
Yet, as so often with Jordan, the differences between his creations and those of Tolkien are as important as the similarities. Loial, unlike, say, Treebeard, is much more mobile and willing to venture into the outside world than any of the Ents are (except, of course, for when they lead the assault against Isengard). In fact, Loial himself is more than a little hasty, since he seems to have left the stedding without the appropriate permission. This proves to be quite timely for Rand who, after an initial moment of terror–like many others, he mistook Loial for a Trolloc–soon strikes up a friendship with the strange being he has just encountered. It’s really quite touching to see him pour out the entirety of his story to this complete stranger, and that he does so is a testament to Loial’s innate trustworthiness.
I’m not sure why, but there’s something about Loial’s friendly and affable demeanor that reminds me of a late friend of mine, someone who was as much of a fan of the Wheel of Time as I am. Reading this chapter reminded me of how much I miss my friend, and how encountering Loial in The Eye of the World allows me, in a very strange way, to reconnect to him. Even though he’s gone, I still feel that a bit of him lives on in this extraordinary fantasy world.
All of this isn’t to say that there isn’t still a great deal of darkness in these chapters and, as has been the case for quite some time now, much of this centers on Mat. The dagger from Shadar Logoth continues to tighten its hold on him, poisoning his mind and making him suspicious of everything and even a bit despairing. It’s quite wrenching to watch Rand have to contend with all of the pressures of their journey and not even have a reliable companion. Moreover, this is also the point when we first learn that Rand is ta'veren, one of those around whom the Wheel weaves the destinies of others. The poor kid has no idea what Loial is talking about, of course, but it’s a concept that will have tremendous consequences for all three of the boys from Emond’s Field as the series goes on.
Destiny has much in store for them, and their true journey is just beginning.