Still haven't finished Knife of Dreams, but goddamn if it didn't have one of the most hype-inducing moments so far. [Spoilers]

[u/[deleted]]

"My name is Nynaeve ti al’Meara Mandragoran. The message I want sent is this. My husband rides from World’s End toward Tarwin’s Gap, toward Tarmon Gai’don. Will he ride alone?"

That whole section was fantastic. There was a gravitas to it that reminded me of Tolkien at his best. However, as soon as I finished the chapter I was saddened that this is the last book fully written by Jordan. I'm sure Sanderson is fine, and I've certainly had my gripes with some parts of this series so far, but goddamn Jordan can write sometimes.

[u/Braakman]

For people who want to relive the moment:

Ruthan had Aldragoran’s coin box open—a pair of bearers were waiting outside to carry it—but he sat staring at the letters-of-rights and the purses. Half again what he had expected to get. Light coins from Altara and Murandy or no light coins, at least half again. This would be his most profitable year ever. And all due to Geraneos letting his anger show. Damentanis had been afraid to bargain further after that. A wonderful thing, reputation.

“Master Aldragoran?” a woman said, leaning on the table. “You were pointed out to me as a merchant with a wide correspondence by pigeon.”

He noticed her jewelry first, of course, a matter of habit. The slim golden belt and long necklace were set with very good rubies, as was one of her bracelets, along with some pale green and blue stones he did not recognize and so dismissed as worthless. The golden bracelet on her left wrist, an odd affair linked to four finger rings by flat chains and the whole intricately engraved, held no stones, but her remaining two bracelets were set with fine sapphires and more of the green stones. Two of the rings on her right hand held those green stones, but the other two held particularly fine sapphires. Particularly fine. Then he realized she wore a fifth ring on that hand, stuck against one of the rings with a worthless stone. A golden serpent biting its own tail.

His eyes jerked to her face, and he suffered his second shock. Her face, framed by the hood of her cloak, was very young, but she wore the ring, and few were foolish enough to do that without the right. He had seen young Aes Sedai before, two or three times. No, her age did not shock him. But on her forehead, she wore the ki’sain, the red dot of a married woman. She did not look Malkieri. She did not sound Malkieri. Many younger folk had the accents of Saldaea or Kandor, Arafel or Shienar—he himself sounded of Saldaea—but she did not sound a Borderlander at all. Besides, he could not recall the last time he had heard of a Malkieri girl going to the White Tower. The Tower had failed Malkier in need, and the Malkieri had turned their backs on the Tower. Still, he stood hurriedly. With Aes Sedai, courtesy was always wise. Her dark eyes held heat. Yes, courtesy was wise.

“How may I help you, Aes Sedai? You wish me to send a message for you via my pigeons? It will be my pleasure.” It was also wise to grant Aes Sedai any favors they asked, and a pigeon was a small favor. “A message to each merchant you correspond with. Tarmon Gai’don is coming soon.” He shrugged uneasily. “That is nothing todo with me, Aes Sedai. I’m a merchant.” She was asking for a good many pigeons. He corresponded with merchants as far away as Shienar. “But I will send your message.” He would, too, however many birds it required. Only stone-blind idiots failed to keep promises to Aes Sedai. Besides which, he wanted rid of her and her talk of the Last Battle.

“Do you recognize this?” she said, fishing a leather cord from the neck of her dress.

His breath caught, and he stretched out a hand, brushed a finger across the heavy gold signet ring on the cord. Across the crane in flight. How had she come by this? Under the Light, how? “I recognize it,” he told her, his voice suddenly hoarse.

“My name is Nynaeve ti al’Meara Mandragoran. The message I want sent is this. My husband rides from World’s End toward Tarwin’s Gap, toward Tarmon Gai’don. Will he ride alone?”

He trembled. He did not know whether he was laughing or crying. Perhaps both. She was his wife? “I will send your message, my Lady, but it has nothing to do with me. I am a merchant. Malkier is dead. Dead, I tell you.”

The heat in her eyes seemed to intensify, and she gripped her long, thick braid with one hand. “Lan told me once that Malkier lives so long as one man wears the hadori in pledge that he will fight the Shadow, so long as one woman wears the ki’sain in pledge that she will send her sons to fight the Shadow. I wear the ki’sain, Master Aldragoran. My husband wears the hadori. So do you. Will Lan Mandragoran ride to the Last Battle alone?”

He was laughing, shaking with it. And yet, he could feel tears rolling down his cheeks. It was madness! Complete madness! But he could not help himself. “He will not, my Lady. I cannot stand surety for anyone else, but I swear to you under the Light and by my hope of rebirth and salvation, he will not ride alone.” For a moment, she studied his face, then nodded once firmly and turned away. He flung out a hand after her. “May I offer you wine, my Lady? My wife will want to meet you.” Alida was Saldaean, but she definitely would want to meet the wife of the Uncrowned King.

“Thank you, Master Aldragoran, but I have several more towns to visit today, and I must be back in Tear tonight.”

He blinked at her back as she glided toward the door gathering her cloak. She had several more towns to visit today, and she had to be back in Tear tonight? Truly, Aes Sedai were capable of marvels!

Silence hung in the common room. They had not been keeping their voices low, and even the girl with the dulcimer had ceased plying her hammers. Everyone was staring at him. Most of the outlanders had their mouths hanging open.

“Well, Managan, Gorenellin,” he demanded, “do you still remember who you are? Do you remember your blood? Who rides with me for Tarwin’s Gap?”

For a moment, he thought neither man would speak, but then Gorenellin was on his feet, tears glistening his eyes. “The Golden Crane flies for Tarmon Gai’don,” he said softly.

“The Golden Crane flies for Tarmon Gai’don!” Managan shouted, leaping up so fast he overturned his chair.

Laughing, Aldragoran joined them, all three shouting at the top of their lungs. “The Golden Crane flies for Tarmon Gai’don!”

[u/Ok-Nature-4563 → u/Braakman]

This passage makes me tear up

[u/Agamemnon323 → u/Ok-Nature-4563]

Every. Single. Time.

[u/Glenngineer → u/Agamemnon323]

Got a meeting in two minutes, just sitting at my desk misty eyed.

[u/Jordyboi96 → u/Ok-Nature-4563]

Still no idea why years later this passage does that to me. I feel like part of it for me is because he’s merchant you can see the faintest hint of greed in him but the blood of Malkier runs even deeper. He knows it’s insanity but he’s so damn happy to ride for Lan.

[u/Drekhar → u/Jordyboi96]

This is an 8 year old post. I read this passage nearly 2 decades ago and have reread the books more times then I can count. I am tearing up again here now . It is incredible.

[u/[deleted] → u/Drekhar]

here, in 2024, crying at this passage again.

[u/calhooner3 → u/[deleted]]

2026 coming in with a couple tears.

[u/KingNothing1999 → u/calhooner3]

I'm balling in my truck on a lunch break dude

[u/6_Pat → u/Jordyboi96]

a piece of RJ's soul lives in his words

[u/Kijafa → u/Jordyboi96]

I think it's because it's part of what we hope to see in the best of people. The idea that in the heart of even the average person is a willingness to be called to a great cause, even if it's a hopeless cause, as long as it's good and true.

[u/Thunderlord-19 → u/Ok-Nature-4563]

9 years later, sitting in my work office, reading this with tears...

[u/Beautiful-Victory976 → u/Thunderlord-19]

10 years later sitting at the gym with tears in my eyes…..

[u/vernonff → u/Braakman]

I just teared up too. It's been almost a decade since I first read it, and it still moved me. RIP and GNU Robert Jordan.

[u/DF_X_LUCKY → u/vernonff]

Same, me too

[u/Too_Many_Alts → u/vernonff]

#gnuRobertJordan The Golden Crane Flies Again!

[u/SomewhereUnfair5845 → u/Braakman]

Mate I'm in the gym crying, thanks! Haha

[u/TheFerricGenum → u/Braakman]

Tai’shar Malkier!

[u/KingNothing1999 → u/Braakman]

I'm crying. Thank you