Dew Drop Inn - Wheel of Time Accommodation

By Linda

A compendium of the Wheel of Time Inns, their symbolism and parallels


Inns are a stock location in ‘medieval’ fantasy where "quests begin, companions are gathered, arduous journeys can be broken and entertaining brawls occur" (John Clute and John Grant, The Encyclopaedia of Fantasy).

The Wheel of Time world is no exception. In the first chapter of the series the Winespring Inn was the place where the companions gathered and set out on what became a quest to defeat the Shadow.

In the real world, inns performed an important social function in medieval to early modern times. They acted as community gathering places and provided food, drink, stabling and, unlike pubs, taverns and alehouses, accommodation for travellers. Many customers were illiterate, which is why inns had pictorial signs illustrating their memorable names. While some inns were mundanely named after the local town or a notable local landmark, other names often referred to alcohol, local occupations, an historic event or legend, royalty (and thus apparent loyalty to authority), or transport and travel. Some names were a play on words or a joke. Since inns serve as plot devices in The Wheel of Times, it is not surprising that the symbolism of their names can be quite apt for what occurs there, as we shall see. The inn names work on two levels: the reaction of the characters to the inn name and image the innkeeper is trying to project; and the aptness of the name and its symbolism for the reader with regard to the events that happen at the inn.

Inns are listed in order of the first “visit” chronologically.

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Written by Linda, June 2007

NEW SPRING

The Blue Cat, Tar Valon, is a very large inn designed and built by the Ogier and actually resembles a curled up blue cat (New Spring, Leaving the Tower). Moiraine and Siuan pass it by as they go to collect names in the camps.

In symbolism, cats are considered comfort-loving, mysterious, watchful and feminine. So are Aes Sedai. Cats are even attracted to Aes Sedai. Blue represents infinity, eternity, truth, faith, purity, and spiritual and intellectual life (Jack Tressider, Symbols and their Meanings). It is the most detached and least material colour. Aes Sedai are long-lived individually and as an organisation and they wear the Great Serpent ring, symbol of eternity. Their task has been to preserve knowledge and stability and keep watch against the Shadow. They are detached from the mundane world. The Blue Cat inn thus appears to be a metaphor for Aes Sedai that the Ogier made in stone early in the Third Age (before the Aes Sedai lost their way). And of course, Moiraine and Siuan were soon to be raised Aes Sedai and to choose the Blue Ajah.

The Blue Rose,Canluum, is where Bukama met an old flame and Lan was nearly killed by Darkfriends (New Spring, The Deeps). In our world, natural blue roses are an impossibility and thus blue roses traditionally symbolise mystery or attaining the impossible. They are believed to be able to grant the owner wishes. For instance, in Slavic mythology a person could have their wishes granted by bringing a blue rose to the witch Baba Yaga. Certainly, Lan was lucky to escape the Darkfriend attack. The mystery of the Black Ajah plots deepened at this inn.

The rose represents love: Bukama’s old love, and the devotion between Lan and Bukama. Roses also are emblems of the sun and dawn, more so since the rose is blue. Both men had dedicated themselves to the Light; Lan even becoming the Warder of an Aes Sedai of the Blue Ajah later in this book and aiding the search for the Lord of the Morning.

The Gates of Heaven is Canluum’s best inn where Moiraine met Merean, Larelle and Cadsuane (New Spring, An Arrival). Kandor is a mountainous country and Canluum is set on high hills. Moreover, Queen Ethenielle holds the Throne of Clouds. The name announces support for the monarch (as many inn names do) and proclaims the “exclusive atmosphere” that the innkeeper is trying to project. Inns sometimes have jokey names like this.

There are other inns in the books with heaven in the title: The Golden Crown of Heaven, a poor inn in the Rahad, and The Golden Swans of Heaven, a tiny inn between a stable and a shop, both in Ebou Dar. Mat and Bethamin were each surprised that the inns were nothing much considering their grandiose names, so names containing the word heaven are normally considered upmarket.

On another level, the name may allude to the Gates of Hevan that Sammael betrayed to the Shadow in the Age of Legends (The Shadow Rising, The Lesser Sadness), or to heaven itself in a religious sense.

The Plowman’s Blade in Manala has two storeys and a red roof (New Spring, Breakfast in Manala). Lan, Bukama, Ryne and Moiraine stopped there for breakfast. The arrow slits instead of windows on the ground floor show that Borderlander inns are often important defence points during Shadowspawn attacks. The name refers to a local occupation, although the blade also emphasises that everyone is prepared to fight.

The White Tower in Ravinda, Kandor (New Spring, Some Tricks of the Power). The innkeeper decided to use the White Tower bounty to build an inn called The White Tower. Moiraine thought that the first Aes Sedai to pass by would force the innkeeper to change the name, but Moiraine herself (in disguise) was the first Aes Sedai to hear of it and she did nothing.

The Ruffled Goose is a disreputable inn in Chachin (New Spring, The Evening Star). A woman tried to steal Moiraine’s horse while she stopped there looking for Siuan. The ruffled goose would represent customers like Moiraine who are about to get plucked by locals. Geese symbolise vigilance and that certainly was important at this inn.

The Blind Pig is another dirty, disreputable inn in Chachin (New Spring, The Evening Star). When Moiraine looked for Siuan there the innkeeper laughed at her. The inn has a downmarket name. Pigs can symbolise gluttony, selfishness, lust, obstinacy and ignorance. This pig is blind, so more so.

The Silver Penny, Chachin (New Spring, The Evening Star). Moiraine stopped at The Silver Penny looking for Siuan. The inn and innkeeper were well kept despite the rough clientele. The innkeeper made money out of drugging and robbing unwary and prosperous-looking clients. Just in time, Moiraine realised her drink was drugged and used a Blue Ajah panic weave to force the innkeeper to drink it instead. The name may symbolise the innkeeper’s criminal scam—a traitorous piece of silver—and her mercenary nature. It also probably caters to a clientele of gamblers it wants to attract with this reference to gain.

The Evening Star in Chachin is a three storey, medium standard inn favoured by merchants (New Spring, The Evening Star). Moiraine and Siuan planned there. The star symbolizes guidance, guardianship, honour, achievement and hope (Jack Tressider, Symbols and their Meanings) and the symbolism is consistent with what Moiraine and Siuan were doing and later aimed to do for the Dragon Reborn. It is a fitting location to end this novel, the beginning of a long and dark quest for the 'rising sun' that is the Dragon Reborn. In the real world, the planet Venus is referred to as the evening star and in the sky is never seen far from the sun.



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Written by Linda, June, 2007/ illustrations by Dominic, March–April 2009

THE EYE OF THE WORLD

By Linda

Winespring Inn in Emond’s Field is owned by the al’Vere family. It is the first inn we encounter in the series and follows fantasy conventions: the companions gathered there and the quest did begin from there.

The first floor of the inn was river rock, though the foundation was of older stone some said came from the mountains. The white-washed second storey, where Brandelwyn al'Vere, the innkeeper and Mayor of Emond's Field for the past twenty years, lived in the back with his wife and daughters, jutted out over the lower floor all the way around. Red roof tile, the only such roof in the village, glittered in the weak sunlight, and smoke drifted from three of the inn's dozen tall chimneys. At the south end of the inn, away from the stream, stretched the remains of a much larger stone foundation, once part of the inn-or so it was said.

- The Eye of the World, An Empty Road

The old foundation near the inn is believed to be two thousand years old (The Fires of Heaven, Dreams of Galad). The name refers to the natural spring nearby—the Winespring Water—and is a location name. In our world, springs have often been regarded as sacred or the dwelling places of supernatural beings, and were focal points of legends. Winespring could also be one of the many nods to Tolkien in The Eye of the World, referring to the Brandywine River in the Shire especially since the innkeeper is called Brandelwyn (also an appropriate name for an innkeeper).

The White Boar is the only building in Watch Hill with a tiled roof (The Shadow Rising, Assurances). The Emond’s Fielders wanted to stop there for a break, but were rudely awakened to the danger they were in (The Eye of the World, The Road to Taren Ferry). Later, Dain Bornhald liked to drink at this inn and watch the locals relax (The Shadow Rising, Assurances).

White represents purity, truth, innocence and initiation and the boar represents strength, aggression, courage, lust, tyranny and endeavours to end tyranny (Jack Tressider, Symbols and their Meanings). The White Boar is the sigil of Gawyn and of the Younglings. Thus it is an apt name for an inn that attracts naive youngsters on a quest to defeat the Shadow and save the world (and come of age) and the captain of a tyrannising religio-military organisation like the Whitecloaks.

The Stag and Lion in Baerlon, where Min worked, covered more than twice the area of the Winespring Inn and was four storeys tall (The Eye of the World, Choices). It had a bathroom—probably most unusual in medieval to early modern times (see Private Lives essay). A Fade confronted Rand at the inn, which was burned down. The innkeeper was compensated by the Blue Ajah and is rebuilding it bigger than before. This is another important inn where more companions were added to the quest: Nynaeve, and later Min.

The stag represents fertility, the wildness of nature and sovereignty. Stags were seen as harbingers of death and rebirth. In the Mabinogion, hunting or chasing a white stag is a prelude to contact with the Otherworld, while in Arthurian myth the white stag or hart often appears in the forests around King Arthur's court to send the knights off on adventure against gods and fairies. The lion represents royalty, the sun and victory over death. It was considered both a destroyer and a saviour, capable of representing evil and its destruction (Jack Tressider, Symbols and their Meanings). The symbolism of the inn’s name refers to Rand and his companions and the quest to restore health to the Land by defeating the Shadow. Rand is Lews Therin’s soul reborn and is fated to die in order to live. Mat, too, died and lived again. Circumstances and the Shadow are forcing the main characters, especially Rand, to commit dark acts in their efforts to counter the Shadow, to damage or destroy what they are trying to save. Like Arthurian knights, the main characters are on a quest against gods (the Dark One and the god-like Forsaken) and fairies (the Forsaken and Black Ajah, and perhaps Aes Sedai, Aelfinn and Eelfinn).

Contact with the Otherworld occurred: the boys had their first contact with Ishamael in their dreams at the Stag and Lion. Min's otherworldly ability to see pieces of the Pattern around people was first displayed there, and one of those viewings was of Rand's death. In this sense, Min would be the stag and Rand the protective and destructive lion (after all, his grandmother was Queen of Andor, nation of the White Lion). Another interpretation would be Rand as the hunted stag (in the Zoroastrian tradition the stag was created to kill serpents) and the lion the Andoran monarchy. The inn and its name is a hugely important and complex symbol.

The Wayfarer’s Rest in Whitebridge was the inn where Rand, Mat and Thom heard news.

The sign over the door, swinging in the wind, had a striding man with a bundle on his back on one side and the same man with his head on a pillow on the other, and proclaimed The Wayfarers' Rest...A shoulder-high wall split the room in two from front to back, with tables and a blazing fireplace on each side.

- The Eye of the World, Whitebridge

The wall is to separate crews from different boats to prevent fights. The name refers to travel and offers respite from it. This was a luxury our Wayfarers had little of at the inn.

The Dancing Cartman in Four Kings was dirty and had gaudy, peeling paint. Rand and Mat were nearly robbed and caught by a Darkfriend there and only escaped due to Rand’s channelling (The Eye of the World, Four Kings in Shadow). The name refers to a local occupation and indicates that the inn was for humble clientele.

Royal Inn, Four Kings, while also garishly painted, was a better class inn than the Dancing Cartman, but Gode passed it by to go to the inn where Rand and Mat were (The Eye of the World, Four Kings in Shadow). The inn’s name refers to royalty, as do the names of many inns in Andor. There was a nameless inn in Market Sheran where Mat and Rand stayed and were accosted by the Darkfriend Paitr Conel in the morning (The Eye of the World, The Dark Waits).

The Queen’s Man on the road to Caemlyn was where Rand was attacked by Shiaine in the inn’s stable while weak with channelling sickness (The Eye of the World, The Dark Waits). The inn’s name announces support for the Andoran monarch.


The Goose and Crown on the road to Caemlyn was where Rand and Mat saw the innkeeper talking to a Myrddraal and stayed out of sight. Almen Bunt gave them a lift to Caemlyn and on the way informed them about the Andoran monarchy (The Eye of the World, The Last Village). Geese represent vigilance, which both Bunt and the boys exercised, by not approaching until the Myrddraal had gone. The innkeeper also told Bunt to look out for Rand and Mat whom he slandered as thieves. Crowns represent glory, royalty, fidelity and regeneration (Jack Tressider, Symbols and their Meanings). The inn’s name is a reference to the monarchy, common among Andoran inns. Mat and Rand were lucky to find a fervent supporter of the queen at this inn, and one, moreover, who exercised his own judgement. On another level, the two boys were destined for royal titles despite their village origins, if they weren’t killed by lack of vigilance.

The Queen’s Blessing in Caemlyn was Basel Gill’s inn. It is a broad stone building with a library and a large common room panelled with dark wood. The inn’s sign has a man kneeling before a woman with red-gold hair and a crown with one of her hands resting on his bowed head (The Eye of the World, Caemlyn). The inn’s name announces support for the Andoran monarchy. Morgase treated Rand justly as he knelt before her, when her advisors urged otherwise, which was a blessing to him. Later, the inn supplied aid to the Queen herself—a blessing for her.

The Crown and Lion, Caemlyn was named by Rand as a false address because it is nowhere near the Queen’s Blessing (The Eye of the World, The Web Tightens). Crowns symbolise glory, royalty, fidelity and regeneration and lions represent royalty, the sun, victory over death and being both destroyer and saviour. The name refers to the Andoran monarch—the Rose Crown and the Andoran White Lion.

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Written by Linda, June 2007

Contributor: Dominic

THE GREAT HUNT

Easing the Badger is two storeys high and sited in a rough quarter of Illian. It is built of rough, green veined stone with a pale green tile roof. The floors of the public rooms are covered with sawdust. Domon received a dodgy letter there to lure him into a trap (The Great Hunt, Leavetakings), and later Moiraine’s group was attacked by Grey Men (The Dragon Reborn, Easing the Badger). The inn’s name may refer to badger digging; the exposure and ejection of a badger out of its sett (burrow system). Badger hunting dog breeds are used to locate and constrain the badger in its burrow, after which the hunters attempt to dig down to the badger. Bearing this process in mind, the name probably has a sexual connotation, especially considering that American badgers have a gland on their abdomen that emits a musky odour when the animal is excited. The badger is a symbol of bravery, perseverance, tenacity and protectiveness, qualities each person in Moiraine’s group displayed. Domon’s enemies were trying to corner him with their letter, and likewise the Shadow tried to corner Moiraine’s group with Grey Men and then Darkhounds.

The Silver Dolphin, Illian, was where Domon’s mate stayed (The Great Hunt, Leavetakings). This is a suitably seafaring name for a sailors’ inn. Silver dolphin chest pins are worn by enlisted men of the United States Navy who are fully qualified submariners. (Robert Jordan was a nuclear engineer in the US Navy.) Dolphins symbolise salvation and love, and silver, purity, hope and wisdom (Jack Tressider, Symbols and their Meanings). Domon’s crew on the whole were loyal and reliable (except Gelb, who was gone by this time).

The Nine Rings, Cairhien, was where Rand, Loial, Hurin and Selene stayed. The name is a reference to The Lord of the Rings: nine rings ‘for mortal men doomed to die’. These men were the Nazghûl, who were lured to follow Sauron by a promise of longevity and magical power, just as the Forsaken were lured to the Dark One. One of the Forsaken, Selene (Lanfear), was actually with Rand at this inn and was trying to tempt Rand to join up. Rand is a mortal man doomed to die to save the world and had just shown the dangers of magical power, having been lured by the male Choedan Kal into holding as much saidin as he could. Rings symbolise completion, strength, protection, continuity, authority and magical force. The number nine is the most yang number and represents truth, order within order, male courage and endurance (Jack Tressider, Symbols and their Meanings). After Rand forced himself to disengage from the sa’angreal he had no more channelling sickness.

The Defender of the Dragonwall, Cairhien, was where Rand, Loial and Hurin stayed (The Great Hunt, Cairhien). The Horn of Valere was stolen by Fain’s Darkfriends and the inn burned down. The inn’s sign depicts a crowned man with his foot on the chest of a red-haired man and his sword at the man's throat. The name appears to be a piece of propaganda, or revisionist history, showing the Cairhien King victorious in keeping the Aiel out of Cairhien. Red-headed Rand, of course, returned to Cairhien with huge Aiel forces, which saved the city from the Shaido Aiel.

The Bunch of Grapes is a decrepit wooden three-storey inn in the Cairhien Foregate (The Great Hunt, Cairhien). Thom stayed there and Rand and Loial visited him. Dena was killed by Cairhienin agents, probably those of King Galldrian (The Great Hunt, The Wheel Weaves). The inn may have been later destroyed when the Foregate was burned. Grapes represent wine and abundance. However, the grapes may also be those of wrath:

And the angel thrust in his sickle into the earth, and gathered the vine of the earth, and cast it into the great winepress of the wrath of God. And the winepress was trodden without the city, and blood came out of the winepress, even unto the horse bridles, by the space of a thousand and six hundred furlongs.

- Revelation 14:19-20

God will bring justice and deliver the oppressed at the Last Judgement. It was Thom’s action in taking the law into his own hands and killing Galldrian in retribution for Dena’s death that unleashed civil war in Cairhien and severely weakened the country.


The Great Tree, Cairhien, was where Verin led the group after the Defender of the Dragonwall was burned down (The Great Hunt, On the Scent). It is a tall stone cube with a common room panelled in dark wood and decorated with silver. The inn’s name refers to Avendoraldera, the sapling of Avendesora, the Tree of Life or World Tree that is a metaphor for creation. (The Damodred sigil also refers to Avendoraldera).

The Three Plum Blossoms, Falme, is where Domon met with Min, Elayne and Nynaeve (The Great Hunt, A Plan). The inn’s original name contained the word ‘Watcher.’ The Falmen were the Watchers Over the Waves and the Seanchan considered that they were watching for the wrong thing and had the inn renamed. The number three represents harmony and completeness and is a very positive number (Jack Tressider, Symbols and their Meanings). In China the plum tree flowers in winter, and thus plum blossoms symbolise resilience and perseverance in the face of adversity, and even revolutionary struggle. Nynaeve, Elayne and Min all experienced adversity in Falme and met with Domon at this inn to plan Egwene’s rescue and their escape. They succeeded in their mission. From the point of view of the Seanchan, they were revolutionaries. They also revealed the revolutionary information that sul’dam could learn to channel.

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Written by Linda, June 2007

THE DRAGON REBORN

By Linda

Harilin’s Leapin Jarra is made of stone and has a sign showing a man standing on one foot with his arms in the air (The Dragon Reborn, Jarra). Perrin encountered the wolf-man Noam there. The inn name may be a reference to a Wheel of Time local legend.

The Tremalking Splice in Tar Valon was where Mat feared his luck might come from evil (The Dragon Reborn, The First Toss). Tar Valon inns often have cosmopolitan names. The name refers to the Sea Folk—the isle of Tremalking and the joining of ropes with a splice (which is much stronger than a knot, retaining up to 95% of the strength of the line). The rope is a symbol of protection, strength, control and restraint. Mat’s luck went wild that night, completely out of control, allowing him to build up reserves of cash that he would need later, and protecting him from Darkfriends.

The Woman of Tanchico in Tar Valon was where Mat met Thom and roused him from his self-pity (The Dragon Reborn, The Woman of Tanchico). It is another inn with a cosmopolitan name.

Wayland’s Forge in Remen is a three-storey building with a purple roof, large windows, and scroll-carved doors.

The inn’s sign has a man in a leather apron holding a hammer, which Perrin thought a good omen. Perrin met Faile here, rescued Gaul and killed Whitecloaks (The Dragon Reborn, Within the Weave). The inn’s name refers to Wayland, a smith of outstanding skill in Scandinavian, German and Anglo-Saxon legend who was captured by the Swedish king Nídud, lamed, and forced to work in his smithy. He was a lord of the elves according to some legends. In revenge, he killed Nídud's two young sons and also raped their sister, then he escaped by magical flight through the air. In early editions of The Dragon Reborn, the inn was called Wayman’s Forge. There are legends in England, Germany, Denmark, and Belgium that an invisible smith lives near certain sites and will shoe a horse for a traveller, provided that a coin is left on a stone and that the traveller leaves the area while the work is being done. If he tries to watch or even just look toward the smithy, the charm will fail. This legend is probably what Wayman’s Forge referred to; a smith for a wayman or traveller. Perrin began to be forged as leader against Shadow in this chapter and later realised he had to choose between the hammer and the axe. He has parallels with many mythic and legendary smiths.

The Riverman in Aringill has a sign with a barefoot shirtless man dancing (The Dragon Reborn, A Hero in the Night). The name refers to a local occupation.

The Good Queen in Aringill was where Mat diced for a bed in the stable and rescued Aludra (The Dragon Reborn, A Hero in the Night). The name is a typical Andoran one referring to the monarch. Ironically, by this time Morgase was under Rahvin’s influence and was not being a good queen.

The White Crescent, Tear. Mat and Thom stayed at this inn (The Dragon Reborn, A Storm in Tear). The inn’s name refers to the national symbol of Tear: the white crescent. White represents purity, truth, innocence and initiation and crescents, divine authority, increase and resurrection. Tear housed the Sword in the Stone and thus was instrumental in Rand’s confirmation as the Dragon Reborn (initiation and resurrection).

The Golden Cup in Tear was where Mat confronted Comar and accidentally killed him (The Dragon Reborn, A Storm in Tear). Certainly, Comar’s dice cup (or more specifically, his loaded dice in the cup) made him plenty of gold. Cups symbolise fertility, plenty and faith, and gold, perfection, purity, refinement, truth and harmony. This inn was the opposite: its clientele was poor and was being ripped off by a Darkfriend noble that they did not dare impede.

The Star in Tear is a four-storey wooden structure with windows in the roof sited between a smithy and a weaver’s shop (The Dragon Reborn, The Hammer). Moiraine’s group stayed there and the Black Ajah set a trap for Moiraine with a hedgehog ter’angreal (The Dragon Reborn, A Flow of the Spirit). The star symbolizes guidance, guardianship, honour, achievement and hope (Jack Tressider, Symbols and their Meanings). Moiraine asked Loial for information about Be’lal to guide her plan of attack and advised Perrin about the ter’angreal. Against all hope, Perrin managed to free Faile from the trap—a great achievement.

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Written by Linda, June 2007

THE SHADOW RISING

By Linda

The Garden of Silver Breezes, Tanchico, where Carridin agreed to aid King Andric and Egeanin met Gelb, is actually an upmarket wineshop, not an inn. Its name is deliberately inviting. On another level, gardens represent safety and paradise, silver represents purity, hope and wisdom, and wind represents spirit, soul, the breath of life and the supporter of creation. Andric, Egeanin and Carridin were conscious of being in danger and called for their meetings at this safe house. Andric and Egeanin hoped for support; Carridin was offering support but needed it himself. As can be gathered from the name’s symbolism, much was at stake in Tanchico and this wineshop offered respite and a solution.

The Three Plum Court in Tanchico is a white-plastered square building three storeys tall with a high-walled courtyard. There are no windows on the ground floor and the higher windows are covered with ornate iron grills. It has a private dining room called the Chamber of Falling Blossoms. Nynaeve and Elayne stayed there.

The number three is a very positive number and represents harmony and completeness. Plum blossoms represent triumph over adversity due to persistence, or even revolutionary activities, (see The Three Plum Blossoms inn at Falme, where Nynaeve and Elayne planned how to free Egwene and escape the Seanchan) but here the flowers of revolution have borne fruit. Their mission in Tanchico was very successful.

The Goose and Pipe, Deven’s Ride, is larger than the Winespring Inn and has a thatched roof. Perrin sees it in the wolf dream (The Shadow Rising, The Price of a Departure). The inn’s name advertises a good meal (goose) and a place to relax (pipe).

Geese represent vigilance and love. Vigilant, caring Perrin saw this inn while on reconnaissance in Tel’aran’rhiod. There is also the joke that a goose-necked pipe (whether used for smoking or in industry) is one with a large curved neck as Jordan would know, since he collected tobacco pipes.

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Written by Linda, June 2007

THE FIRES OF HEAVEN

By Linda

The Good Queen’s Justice in Kore Springs, is a two storey, thatch-roofed structure of red brick where Min, Siuan and Leane were tried and sentenced by Gareth Bryne (The Fires of Heaven, Fanning the Sparks). The inn’s name refers to royalty, as is common for Andoran inns. Bryne himself was given scant justice by good Queen Morgase, thanks to Rahvin, but he did dispense justice according to Andoran law to the three women.

The Upriver Run, Tar Valon, is where the Yellow Ajah agents send their reports (The Fires of Heaven, Figs and Mice). The name refers to travelling and the local industry of river trade (and information).

The Nine Horse Hitch, in Lugard is a green-roofed inn whose sign has no picture, only the name (The Fires of Heaven, The Nine Horse Hitch). Min, Siuan, Leane and Logain paused there briefly while Siuan contacted a Blue Ajah agent. From Siuan’s reaction to the name, it certainly has a sexual meaning, and one too graphic to depict, although Jordan was coy about what this is, as this interview shows:

Moderator: What exactly IS a Nine-Horse Hitch? C'mon, tell us ;) We can handle it… we're all big boys and girls.
Robert Jordan: If you don't know already REALLY you aren't old enough.

- SCIFI.COM Chat Transcript: Robert Jordan, November 14, 2000

Having said that, there really is a nine horse hitch…3 rows of 3 horses hitched together to pull a plough, or a hitch of one lead horse and 4 rows of 2 horses to pull a wagon. Such a large number of horses would only be used for heavy loads or when much strength is needed. It is to be noted that Min, who worked with horses, had never seen a nine horse hitch before.

Some readers have suggested the inn is a brothel, and that the name is a pun on ‘nine whores’ itch’: nine whores itching to get to work (and hopefully not itching with anything else, although we haven’t see any hints of STDs), but Jordan has said there is no prostitution in the Wheel of Time world:

The question of Hake's inn in The Eye of the World is answered: it is not a whorehouse, at least not more than any other inn. Due to the increase in women's power, the very concept of prostitution is unknown; but women have much greater freedom in choosing their partners, both casual and permanent.

- Plots, Characters and Wheel of Time article

However, we also see Lugarder women:

without aprons, hair hanging loose about their shoulders and skirts sometimes ending a foot or more clear of the ground, often shouted back even ruder replies

- The Fires of Heaven, The Nine Horse Hitch

to the laughing invitations of the roughly dressed wagondrivers.

If there is no prostitution, the inn is not a brothel, but it might be a place for a casual encounter.

Other readers have suggested the name is phallic, referring to a very long pole to hitch nine horses to (nine horse hitching rail) or that it does not refer to anything specifically, but it implies that both bondage (hitch) and multiple partners (nine) are involved. Multiple participates—an orgy, if you like—are more likely what the name refers to. It could represent eight people with one astride one of the others or a large daisy chain. Judging by other Lugarder inn names and signs (eg The Good Night’s Ride and The Wagon Seat, see below), horses symbolise men and wagons women, therefore the Nine Horse Hitch probably represents nine men (horses) and one woman (wagon).

The number nine is the most yang (‘masculine’) number and represents truth, order within order, male courage and endurance. The horse represents vitality, speed and conquest. (This also expands on the sexual connotation.)

The Farrier’s Hammer, Lugard (The Fires of Heaven, The Nine Horse Hitch). A farrier takes care of horses’ feet and is part smith, making and fitting horseshoes, and part vet, trimming hooves and treating foot diseases. A farrier’s hammer is used to nail horseshoes to the horse’s hoof. The name refers to a local occupation. Siuan considered that it did not have a sexual connotation (but she could be wrong).

The hammer is a symbol of male strength and creativity. In Freemasonry it is the attribute of the Lodge Master.

The Dancing Bear, Lugard (The Fires of Heaven, The Nine Horse Hitch). The inn’s name refers to a bear on a rope that has been trained to move about on its hind legs while music plays, giving the impression of dancing. Its purpose is to entertain, and the possibility that the bear might break free and attack was part of the entertainment. Bears symbolise strength, masculine courage, gluttony and lust. Again, this could have a sexual connotation.

The Silver Pig, Lugard (The Fires of Heaven, The Nine Horse Hitch). The inn name is a reference to mining and the trade and transport of smelted metals. A silver pig is an ingot of silver, which would be transported in this bulk form from mines to smithies and foundries by wagons such as we see in Lugard. The term pig for an ingot was more usually applied to lead (and later, iron). The innkeeper is aiming for business from the merchant class.

The Domani Wench’s Kiss, Lugard. The inn’s sign has a painting of a Domani woman, bare to the waist, with her lips puckered (The Fires of Heaven, The Nine Horse Hitch). Leane became much more Domani during their sojourn in Lugard.

The Good Night’s Ride, Lugard, is the inn run by Duranda Tharne, an agent for the Blue Ajah. Many downmarket inns in Lugard have sexual references to show the roughness of the place, and this one is no exception. Siuan thought the inn name vile. The inn’s sign has:

an improbably voluptuous woman, wearing only her hair arranged to hide as little as possible, astride a bare-backed horse

-The Fires of Heaven, The Nine Horse Hitch

The Wagon Seat, Lugard, is where Bryne’s men stayed. The name refers to travel, and the main industry of transport and is also a sexual innuendo, since the inn’s sign has an explicit picture (The Fires of Heaven, The Nine Horse Hitch). Women tend to be represented as wagons in Lugarder inn names.

The Bellon Ford Inn, Bellon, in Amadicia was where Nynaeve played maid (The Fires of Heaven, A Small Room in Sienda). The inn is named after its location.

The King’s Lancer in Sienda was damaged by a Seanchan elephant (The Fires of Heaven, A Small Room in Sienda), just as Seanchan forces damaged the Amadician troops soon after. The lance is a symbol of earthly power and masculinity and the fact that the inn was damaged symbolised the lack of real power Ailron had in Amadicia and his eventual utter defeat by the Seanchan.

The Light of Truth in Sienda was where Elayne and Nynaeve met Galad, who is strongly linked with Light and Truth (The Fires of Heaven, A Small Room in Sienda). The inn advertises for custom among the Children of the Light just as the King’s Lancer aims to attract the King’s soldiers. This reduces fights among the two groups, fights being bad for business.

The Little Tower in Salidar, the meeting hall for the rebel Aes Sedai, was actually an abandoned inn (The Fires of Heaven, Sallie Daera).

The Blue Bull, Samara, was seen by Nynaeve and co as they battled their way through the riots (caused by Whitecloaks and Dragonsworn fighting over the boat Riverserpent) to the docks (The Fires of Heaven, Leavetakings).

Blue is considered a very idealistic colour, symbolising eternity, truth, faith, purity, and the spiritual life. Bulls represent virility and danger, and are a death and resurrection symbol. Hence two crusading forces sworn to the Light are fighting each other.

The Dancing Goose, Samara, was another inn seen while Nynaeve, Elayne and co were battling their way to the docks (The Fires of Heaven, Leavetakings). Geese represent vigilance and love. The Aiel refer to battle as the dance. Nynaeve thought that Galad’s sword-fighting was like dancing. He seized the boat because he cared for the two women and wanted to look after them.


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Written by Linda, June, 2007

LORD OF CHAOS

By Linda

The Golden Stag is where Mat stayed in Maerone (Lord of Chaos, A Different Dance). The stag is the sigil of Galldrian Riatin (recently deceased) so the inn name may refer to the Cairhien monarchy.

Gold is a symbol of perfection, purity, power, glory and wealth. The stag represents sovereignty, virility and the wild (John and Caitlin Matthews, Element Encyclopaedia of Magical Creatures ). Perhaps the inn’s name refers to Mat’s destiny.

The River Gate was the best inn in Maerone, but Mat closed it because the innkeeper let his soldiers get drunk (Lord of Chaos, A Different Dance). The inn’s name refers to travel.

The Fox and Goose, Maerone, had a gleeman juggling flaming batons when Mat visited (Lord of Chaos, A Different Dance). Fox and Geese is a real-world board game similar to the game of Foxes and Snakes (see Foxes and Snakes article), which is associated with Mat the Fox. Interestingly, the gleeman juggling fire represents three of the four elements needed to win against the Eelfinn and Aelfinn: fire, music and courage.

The goose symbolises vigilance and love, and the fox, wildness and cunning.

The Three Towers, Maerone (Lord of Chaos, A Different Dance). Three is a very positive number and represents harmony and completeness. Cairhien is noted for its tall towers. Three castles were the arms of the masons' guild in London so the inn name could also be a Masonic reference.

The Erinin Inn, Maerone (Lord of Chaos, A Different Dance). The name describes the inn’s location on the River Erinin.

The Silver Horn, Maerone (Lord of Chaos, A Different Dance). Silver represents purity, hope and wisdom, and the horn is a symbol of strength, power and fertility. The name reminded Mat of the Horn of Valere.

The Wagoner’s Whip, Maerone (Lord of Chaos, A Different Dance). The inn’s name refers to a local occupation.

Culain’s Hound in Caemlyn is a stone building three storeys high with a red tile roof. Alanna bonded Rand there (Lord of Chaos, A Saying in the Borderlands). Culain was a general that Artur Hawkwing defeated to take Aldeshar (formerly Andor).

The inn’s name refers to Cuchulainn, the Hound of Culann, a hero in Irish mythology who was almost unbeatable in battle due to his blood-thirsty spear and his battle frenzy.

The Long Man in Cairhien was Egwene’s and Gawyn’s trysting place (Lord of Chaos, Like Lightning and Rain). The name refers to the Long Man of Wilmington, a 226 foot high figure of a man holding two rods cut into the steep side of Windover Hill in East Sussex, England.

The Ball and Hoop in Caemlyn was where Zaida din Parede Blackwing and her retinue took rooms in Lord of Chaos, Connecting Lines. The ball and hoop were popular medieval toys. On another level, the ball (sphere) is a power emblem of rulers, and the hoop (circle) represents wholeness, and harmony with one's self and the wider community or nation (Jack Tressider, Symbols and their Meanings) and it is thus appropriate that the Sea Folk ambassador stayed at this inn.

The Oak and Thorn, Amador (Lord of Chaos, Red Wax). The oak symbolises nobility, endurance, male fertility and wisdom, and the thorn pain, strong defences or an obstacle.

The Golden Head, Amador (Lord of Chaos, Red Wax). Gold represents perfection, purity, truth, power, glory and wealth, and the head represents power.

The Marella Inn in Altara is named after its location (Lord of Chaos, Journey to Salidar).

The Ionin Spring Inn in Altara is also named after its location (Lord of Chaos, Journey to Salidar).

The Miner’s Rest in Baerlon was a rough place where Min worked as a waitress (Lord of Chaos, A Threat). The innkeeper aims to attract business from the miners.

The Crown of Roses is the finest inn in the New City in Caemlyn and has three storeys of white stone and a common room panelled with dark wood (Lord of Chaos, A Threat). The name refers to the Andoran monarchy and the Rose Crown.

The crown is a symbol of glory, royalty, fidelity and regeneration and the rose is a symbol of love and the sun and dawn. Min abandoned the rebel embassy out of love for Rand, the Lord of the Morning. More than half of the Salidar embassy ended up swearing fealty to Rand.

The Marriage Knife, Altara, was where Elayne’s and Nynaeve’s group stayed on their way to Ebou Dar (Lord of Chaos, The Wandering Woman). Birgitte was revealed to the group to be Elaynes’ Warder and Vandene and Adeleas were unimpressed. The inn’s name refers to the Altaran capital, since the marriage dagger is only worn in Ebou Dar.

The Southern Hoop, is a humble inn of white-plastered bricks two storeys high in So Tehar where Elayne’s and Nynaeve’s group stayed on their way to Ebou Dar (Lord of Chaos, The Wandering Woman). The hoop or circle represents wholeness, and harmony with one's self and the community. Harmony and standing within the group were an issue. At this inn Vandene and Adeleas experimented on Mat and determined that his ter’angreal did not protect him from being affected by indirect weaves of the Power. Elayne and Nynaeve tried to assume the command to which they were entitled under Aes Sedai rules, but had little success.

The Wandering Woman in Ebou Dar was Setalle Anan’s inn and was probably named by her, since after she lost her ability to channel, she was a friendless wanderer until her future husband found her (Knife of Dreams, A Short Path). The inn’s sign is of a woman with a walking staff peering hopefully into the distance (Lord of Chaos, The Wandering Woman).


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Written by Linda, June 2007

A CROWN OF SWORDS

By Linda


The Silver Swan, Caemlyn (A Crown of Swords, Pitfalls and Tripwires). For some months there were always 8 to 10 Aes Sedai staying at this inn. The Aes Sedai vary, but they are never Red Ajah (Winter’s Heart, The Streets of Caemlyn). One of the Aes Sedai there was overheard mentioning Cadsuane (Crossroads of Twilight, A Bargain). Most likely they are Cadsuane’s faction.

Silver symbolises purity, hope and wisdom. The swan is associated with the sun and the light and symbolises transformation, love, loss of love, and death. The swan was believed to sing only when it was about to die, and its passionate and tragic swan song was of unearthly beauty (Jack Tressider, Symbols and Their Meanings). In a way, the inn’s name refers to Cadsuane, since she thought that advising and aiding Rand, preventing him from being transformed into a Shadar Logoth type ruler, and seeing him to the Last Battle might well be her swan song.

The Stranded Goose is a large, three storey inn in Ebou Dar (A Crown of Swords, Next Door to a Weaver) with a fairly prosperous innkeeper. Elayne and Nynaeve were herded like the geese they were by Setalle Anan past this inn, where Setalle derided the two women to the innkeeper so that they were forced to stay with her and go to the Kin. Nynaeve remarked that it was a prosperous inn despite its humble name. In Ebou Dar it seems that inn names are reverse advertising, since the next three inns have very grandiose names, yet are very poor, dirty establishments.

The goose represents vigilance and love and a stranded goose perhaps misplaced vigilance. Setalle thought she was being careful not to reveal the Kin’s secrets and yet to take Nynaeve and Elayne somewhere they would be looked after and kept in line. She was completely mistaken and brought Nynaeve and Elayne to exactly who (and what) they were looking for, thus exposing the Kin and being the catalyst for Elayne and Nynaeve taking charge of the older Aes Sedai. As a former Aes Sedai unable to channel, and now cut off from her family and a livelihood, Setalle is stranded. Elayne’s and Nynaeve’s quest for the Bowl of Winds was also stranded without Mat.

The Golden Crown of Heaven is a dirty dump in the Rahad with a blue door (A Crown of Swords, Six Storeys). Gold symbolises perfection, purity, refinement, truth, power, glory, and wealth, and crowns, glory, royalty, fidelity and regeneration. As was discussed above in The Gates of Heaven, heaven in this case probably refers to the sky. The inn’s name is very upmarket for such downmarket premises, but Altarans seem to like this type of irony.

The Queen's Glory in Radiance is a very grimy tavern in Ebou Dar (A Crown of Swords, White Plumes), and is another ironically named inn. A comment, perhaps, on how much power Tylin held in Altara.

The Rose of the Elbar in Ebou Dar is a poor quality inn near the Kin’s house with terrible food and worse drink (A Crown of Swords, Bread and Cheese). The Elbar is a river flowing through Altara and presumably the inn is near its estuary. The inn’s name is ironic—it is probably not the pick of the inns along the Elbar, unless you are looking for the worst.

The Oarsman’s Pride, Ebou Dar. Moghedien balefired Nynaeve’s boat from there, killing her oarsmen and bodyguards (A Crown of Swords, The First Cup). The inn’s name refers to a main local occupation. It also symbolises Moghedien’s situation: she is working in a boat that is steered by Moridin as he reminded her by stroking her mindtrap while she was in this inn. Her pride is wounded by wearing his livery.

The Old Sheep, Ebou Dar. A serving girl at this inn told Mat about rumours of a battle near Ebou Dar (A Crown of Swords, Promises to Keep). Sheep represent meekness, helplessness and need for leadership. The name is a reflection on the poor state of Altaran leadership, which the Seanchan agents had noted, and the likely success of the Seanchan invasion.

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Written by Linda, June 2007 and updated December 2013

THE PATH OF DAGGERS

By Linda

The Golden Sheaves, Demalien, Andor. Elayne and co stayed there (The Path of Daggers, Into Andor) and Elayne heard that people believe the Dragon Reborn killed her and her mother.

Gold symbolises perfection, power, glory and wealth, and sheaves of grain symbolise plenty and prosperity. Andor is a rich country.

The Wild Boar in Andor was where Elayne channelled into the red rod ter’angreal and doesn’t recall what happened next (The Path of Daggers, Into Andor). The wild boar is a dangerous animal, and boars symbolise strength, aggression, courage and spiritual authority. The charging boar is the sigil of Elayne’s brother Gawyn. Elayne’s channelling into an unknown ter’angreal was dangerous. She was as reckless as her brother, although for a worthwhile cause.

The White Swan, Florel Market, Andor. The weather finally returned to normal while Elayne, Nynaeve and co stayed at this inn. It began to snow and they exchanged Aviendha’s gems for warm clothes (The Path of Daggers, Into Andor).

White represents purity, truth, innocence, and, in this case, probably snow. The swan is associated with the sun and the light and symbolises transformation, love, loss of love, and death. The transformation of the weather and the restoration of the seasons was a victory for the Light. Elayne and Nynaeve are both fond of the doomed Rand.

The New Plough, Andor. Elayne and co stayed there. The name refers to a local occupation.

The Red Bull in Caemlyn was where Hanlon was ordered to stable his horse when he went to report to Shiaine (The Path of Daggers, Crimsonthorn). Red symbolises fire, war, energy, aggression, danger, political revolution, vitality, health, and blood and the bull, virility, danger and death and resurrection. The inn’s name refers to the thriving state of the Shadow at this time and its success in bringing war, social destruction and death to the Land.

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Written by Linda, June 2007

WINTER'S HEART

By Linda

The Golden Swans of Heaven was a tiny inn in Ebou Dar between a stable and a shop where Bethamin lodged (Winter’s Heart, Questions of Treason). A Seeker visited her there and commanded her to be a Listener. The inn’s name is grandiose considering its tiny size, as Bethamin noted.

Gold symbolises perfection, refinement, truth, power and glory, and the swan, transformation, love, loss of love, and death. Both symbols are associated with the sun and the light. Heaven probably refers to the sky (see The Gates of Heaven above). Bethamin was transformed by knowledge that she could channel and later became an Aes Sedai pupil.

The Crown of Maredo, Far Madding, is a modest inn with a dozen rooms on the two storeys above the ground floor public rooms. Rand’s party stayed there (Winter’s Heart, Out of Thin Air). All inns in Far Madding have a common room, and a Women’s Room. Men are limited to the common room, while women also frequent the Women’s Room. Crowns symbolise glory, royalty, fidelity, and regeneration. Maredo was the former realm where Far Madding is now situated.

The Counsel’s Head, Far Madding. Rand and co moved there after Rand was attacked by Kisman and Rochaid. It has better rooms than the Crown of Maredo and overlooks the Nethvin Market (Winter’s Heart, Bonds). Mistress Keene ensures there is a strap in every room of the inn so wives can keep their husbands in line (Winter’s Heart, Blue Carp Street). The inn’s sign is painted with the stern visage of a woman wearing the jewelled coronet of a First Counsel (Winter’s Heart, A Portion of Wisdom). The name is an upmarket one and refers to the rulership of Far Madding.

The head represents power and wisdom. A lot of counsel was given at this inn: Rand received counsel from Cadsuane and Alanna, Cadsuane taught Nynaeve and Alivia, and Min thought Rand and Nynaeve too reckless to think carefully and enlisted Cadsuane’s support.

The Golden Wheel is a large inn near the Avharin market in Far Madding where Rand asked if Taim’s henchmen had been seen and listened to rumours (Winter’s Heart, A Portion of Wisdom).

Gold symbolises perfection, truth, power, glory and wealth, and the wheel, the cycle of time. The inn’s name refers to the Wheel itself, and to Rand’s place at the heart of the Pattern. Rand feels the pressure of events and realises he can’t afford to wait around trying to kill the Black Asha’man:

"I can wait one more day, hoping to find them tomorrow, for weeks. Months. Only, the world won't wait for me. I thought I'd be done with them by now, but events are already marching ahead of what I expected. Just the events I know about. Light, what's happening that I don't know about because I haven't heard some merchant nattering about it over his wine?"
"You can never know everything," Lan said quietly, "and part of what you know is always wrong. Perhaps even the most important part. A portion of wisdom lies in knowing that. A portion of courage lies in going on anyway."

- Winter’s Heart, A Portion of Wisdom

After being softened up by Verin with more rumours, Rand asked for Cadsuane to be his advisor.

The Heart of the Plain was an inn Rand passed by in Far Madding (Winter’s Heart, A Portion of Wisdom). The inn’s name refers to the Plain of Maredo, the site of the former nation of Maredo of which Far Madding used to be the capital.

The Three Ladies of Maredo was another inn Rand passed by in Far Madding (Winter’s Heart, A Portion of Wisdom). Three is a very positive number representing harmony and completeness. The ladies of Maredo are from the former realm of the Far Madding area, where women have been the rulers for centuries.

The Archers at Emond’s Field is under construction (Winter’s Heart, Expectation). It will be considerably larger than the Winespring Inn and also have a tiled roof. The arrow represents penetration by light, death, love or perception. The inn’s name refers to the influx of people and ideas from outside awakening the region, and the Two Rivers longbowmen finally marching to war after centuries of non-participation. It may be a sign of nationalism rising in the Two Rivers.

The Golden Ducks, Ebou Dar. Noal Charin stayed in the inn’s attic until the Seanchan immigrants arrived and he was kicked out (Winter’s Heart, An Unexpected Encounter). Gold symbolises perfection, truth, power, and glory which he attained, and ducks represent a resourceful person, which Noal certainly is.


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Written by Linda, June 2007

CROSSROADS OF TWILIGHT

By Linda

The Hoop and Arrow, Caemlyn. Three Brown Ajah sisters staying at The Silver Swan visited the Hoop and Arrow, the same inn that the Brown agent Milam Harnder frequented (Crossroads of Twilight, What Wise Ones Know). Someone at the inn apparently sends reports to, and instructions from, the Tower to Brown sisters and agents.

The arrow represents penetration by light, death, love, or perception and the hoop is a symbol of wholeness and harmony with oneself and the community. In this case it refers to the usefulness of the information.

The Golden Barge in So Habor is a prosperous inn of three storeys of neatly dressed gray stone under a slate roof (Crossroads of Twilight, In So Habor). Perrin and co met the grain merchants there and Perrin realised the grain was likely to be bad. There is a river at So Habor and the inn’s name refers to the mode of transport of trade goods.

While gold represents perfection, purity, truth, power, glory, and wealth, and therefore the likely high standard of accommodation the inn offers, the barge symbolises the death ship and journey to the underworld and hence that the Dark One’s creepy warping of the Pattern had penetrated there.

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Written by Linda, June 2007

KNIFE OF DREAMS

By Linda

The Twelve Salt Wells in Jurador is next door to the stables where Mat bought a horse (Knife of Dreams, A Stave and a Razor).

The number twelve represents cosmic organisation and the cycle of time. The salt wells are the likely method for mining the salt which is a major product of Jurador. The area has layers of rock salt in the surrounding strata and salt is being leached from these into shallow aquifers (water-bearing beds of rock). The water in the aquifers then becomes very salty. Deep wells are dug (or even drilled) down to these salt-water aquifers and the brine which collects into the bottom of the wells is brought to the surface. The water is evaporated to leave the salt. Twelve salt wells would bring a lot of income to the town. There may literally be twelve wells at Jurador, or the inn’s name may refer to the ‘proper order of things’ at Jurador. And considerable wealth.

The White Ring in Maderin was a brick building three storeys tall with a red door (Knife of Dreams, A Hell in Maderin). The inn’s sign has a painting of a woman's white lace garter, and indicates that it is a bawdy place, even if it isn’t a hell like Tuon wanted. Jordan has said there is no prostitution in the Wheel of Time world (see the Nine Horse Hitch entry above) so it probably isn’t a true brothel. The group was attacked by Darkfriends outside the inn.

White represents purity, truth, innocence and initiation and the ring, completion, strength, protection, authority and magical force. The inn’s name appears to refer to Tuon: she is both royal and able to learn to channel, and, although skilled in court intrigue, innocent of the common world. Thom, Seleucia and Mat all protected her, even though Mat was the real target of the Darkfriend attack.

The Queen's Lance in Saldaea was an upmarket inn where Nynaeve obtained a Malkieri merchant’s word that Lan would not ride to Tarwin’s Gap alone. The inn’s name refers to Queen Tenobia. Since Nynaeve, wife and therefore Queen in exile of Malkier, visited this inn to gain forces to ride with Lan to Tarwin’s Gap, these men represent her lance.

The Dragon in Tear is an upmarket inn with three storeys of dark gray stone and a tile roof. Rand Travelled to the Stone from there. The inn’s sign is newly painted with creatures that are a cross between those on Rand’s forearms and the winged and toothed raken (which had not yet been seen in Tear) (Knife of Dreams, Within the Stone). They are thus similar to the dragons of European, and especially Arthurian, myth. (Arthur Pendragon drew the sword from the stone, just like Rand.) The inn is probably newly renamed and is a link to Rand in his role as ruler of Tear.


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Written by Linda, June 2007

THE GATHERING STORM

By Linda

Beslan held meetings in the basement of The Three Stars to plan rebellion against the Seanchan (The Gathering Storm, Gambits). The star symbolizes guidance, guardianship, honour, achievement and hope (Jack Tressider, Symbols and their Meanings) and the number three represents harmony and completeness and is a very positive number (Jack Tressider, Symbols and their Meanings).

Beslan aimed to gain freedom for his people, which Tuon realised and thought he was misguided due to ignorance. She said that she was not content to stare at the stars while her empire collapses around her. By swearing fealty to Tuon Beslan would gain stability for his people (and guardianship from Tuon). Tuon’s alternative offer was an honourable death.

Joline, Teslyn and Edesina stayed at an unnamed two storey inn in Hinderstap owned by Master Tobrad. It had whitewashed walls and clean glass windows and was the best in the village. In contrast, The Tipsy Gelding was:

in the back west corner of the village. No sign hung out front; just a wooden board carved with what looked like a drunken horse that sat inside one of the windows. None of those windows had glass.

- The Gathering Storm, The Tipsy Gelding

Mat diced at this inn and lost gold steadily until the last throw. He used the villagers’ greed to obtain food and drink for the Band after they refused to sell him any. Talmanes rightly thought there was something wrong with the residents:

"While you've been playing, I've been talking to them. They don't care about the world. The Dragon Reborn, the Seanchan, nothing. Not a care."
"So?" Mat said. "They're simple folk."
"Simple folk should worry even more," Talmanes said. "They're trapped here between gathering armies. But these just shrug when I talk, then drink some more. It's as if they're…. they're too focused on their revelry. As if it's all that matters to them."

- The Gathering Storm, The Tipsy Gelding

The Tipsy Gelding seems a comic-sounding name, just as this episode is played for laughs on the surface. However, the horse symbolises the life force, speed and endurance and here it has been castrated. The villagers are trapped in a horrible flaw of the Pattern and powerless—impotent—to do anything about it. All they can do is endure nightly violence and death. Many do indeed try to drown their fears and memories in drinking. They have little energy by day due to their violent exertions at night.

The Shaken Fist, where Verin stayed while she sent out drawings of Mat and Perrin to lure them to her, was the nicest inn in Trustair (The Gathering Storm, Legends). Hands represent power, action, strength and protection; in this case making a threatening or angry gesture. Verin said she was thoroughly exasperated at having to wait so long for Mat, and also warned him that he was in great danger from Darkfriends and should disguise himself. She then took action and transported them to Caemlyn by Travelling.

The Wind's Favor was owned by Quillin Tasil, one of Cadsuane’s informants. She finds his information extremely reliable and timely. The inn name refers to successful sea trade, that being how Quillin’s wife made a great deal of money and Quillin was able to satisfy his dream and purchase this inn in his retirement. The inn is tastefully decorated and stocked, and immaculate, intimidatingly so. Wind represents spirit, soul, the breath of life and the supporter of creation. Cadsuane ‘tested the wind’ at this inn, wanting news of the last sightings of the King and the Merchant Council, and of twistings of the Pattern. She was disturbed to find that only disastrous events are occurring in Bandar Eban, and that the Pattern is now unbalanced:

Al’Thor was ta’veren but the Pattern was a thing of balance. For every accidental death cause by Rand’s presence in a city, there was always a miraculous survival. What did it mean if that was breaking down?

- The Gathering Storm, A Promise to Lews Therin

Rand’s spirit had become corrupted by using the True Power and balefire and he was not supporting creation in a positive way. Indeed, he soon seriously contemplated destroying it. The wind is not in the Light’s favour at all at this time.

This inn is a reference to the website Encyclopedia WOT, and Quillin Tasil an acknowledgement of the efforts of beta reader Bob Q Kluttz in providing timely information for many readers. He has done us all a great favour.

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Written by Linda, January 2010 and updated December 2013

TOWERS OF MIDNIGHT

By Linda

The Seven-Striped Lass is one of the best inns in western Caemlyn, being noisily popular, but kept clean by innkeeper Melli Craeb. Mat deliberated whether to open Verin’s letter while in this inn (Towers of Midnight, The Seven-Striped Lass). The inn’s name refers to an Accepted and reflects the innkeeper’s enthusiasm for Aes Sedai without being so impudent as to name it directly after the White Tower or Aes Sedai, as an overly bold Kandori innkeeper did in New Spring.

The inn is also a nod to Tarvalon.net and webmaster/Amyrlin and beta reader Melissa Craib.

The Dead Man’s Breath in Caemlyn is a rougher inn than the Seven-Striped Lass and its clientele gambles for silver and gold rather than coppers. Mat heard about the gholam’s presence in Caemlyn here, the evidence being the dead man drained of blood (Towers of Midnight, The Seven-Striped Lass). He also saw someone showing a drawing of his face to the innkeeper that the Shadow has been spreading, confirmation of Verin's warning that he is a marked man. Two warnings of his possible death at The Dead Man's Breath. High stakes indeed.

The Two Apples is a steep-roofed, brick-fronted building and is one of the nicer inns in Caemlyn (Towers of Midnight, The Seven-Striped Lass). Thom performed here to a packed house. It has a sign showing two apples, one bright red, the other eaten down to the core with only white flesh showing: the colors of the Andoran flag.

The inn combines patriotism with the symbolism of apples as fertility, love, marriage, longevity or immortality. On one level it refers to Elayne, pregnant Queen with a long life expectancy if she can curtail her recklessness. On another level, it represents Thom’s love for Moiraine, who will live far longer than Thom if only she can be rescued from the *elfin folk... The apple was also associated with the fruit of the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil and Moiraine has knowledge and understanding of the prophecies she needs to impart that is crucial for Rand to succeed. However, there are two apples: one perfect, the other consumed. Moiraine’s channelling ability was largely consumed by the *elfinns.

The Greeting Hall is where the Black sister Duhara Basaheen stayed in Caemlyn and from where she contacted Elayne’s enemies with the aim of intimidating Elayne and destabilising her rule after Elayne's greeeting of Duhara was so lacking (Towers of Midnight, An Unexpected Letter).

The Grand Hike is an inn near the Caemlyn palace well-known to Birgitte. She and Mat went there to talk about the Tower of Ghenjei and how to get the better of the *elfinns (Towers of Midnight, The End of a Legend). The innkeeper Old Snert is remarkably ugly, a major attraction in Birgitte's eyes. Mat was discussing plans with Birgitte for his grand hike to the world of the *elfinns, but first he and Birgitte hike rapidly back to the palace when Elayne’s attempt to interrogate the Black Ajah prisoners goes wrong.

The Dusty Wheel inn has walls and windows dark with pipe smoke and dirt (Towers of Midnight, Into the Void). They are never cleaned. The inn’s sign is weathered and depicts a wagon wheel. The inn has a mixed clientele—from high to low—and is popularly known as The Rumor Wheel. It is the best place in Caemlyn to hear rumours, although little regard is given for their veracity. Hatch is the innkeeper. Mat stayed at the inn a short while before going to battle the gholam and was assumed to be a newbie by a few denizens who tried to get the better of him in a dice game.

The inn’s name The Dusty Wheel implies that the inn aims its trade at wagoners and long-distance travellers, perfect for gathering the news from the whole continent. The inn is a nod to Theoryland.com and webmaster and beta reader Matt Hatch and its name refers to the banner at the top of the Theoryland homepage: “Pardon our dusty re-design experiment”. The tradition of never cleaning the windows reflects the comfortable old format of the site’s pages beyond the home page.

The Happy Throng in Caemlyn has a carved wooden sign depicting faces wearing strange hats and exaggerated smiles. It has a private dining chamber which Mat hired to meet Perrin. Denezel, the innkeeper, commissioned and hung a portrait of Rand in the common room (Towers of Midnight, A Teaching Chamber). He is a nod to webmaster and beta reader Jason Denzel, and The Happy Throng to Dragonmount.com, the most populous and active (manic?) Wheel of Time fansite.


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Written by Linda, January 2011 and updated December 2013

A MEMORY OF LIGHT

By Linda

The Town in the Blight’s no-name inn is where Isam met Cyndane to receive orders to kill Rand (A Memory of Light, Prologue). It is very basic and dirty with worn-out and damaged fittings and furniture. There are a few drab rooms for let, and the food is bland and tasteless. The serving women are dull eyed.

The Great Gathering at the Black Tower in Andor is a fairly new tavern converted from a warehouse which Androl and his friends visited to check out Welyn (A Memory of Light, A Dangerous Place). The common room can seat dozens, even though the furniture doesn’t yet match, and there is a well-stocked library. Future plans are for private dining chambers and sleeping rooms for visitors to the Black Tower on the second floor. The innkeeper, Lind Taglien, exercises strict discipline to prevent the male channellers from damaging it or each other in fights and her husband Frask teaches swordsmanship with Henre Haslin. She is a nod to myself, Linda Taglieri, who was a beta reader and runs the Thirteenth Depository.

The Winter Blossom in Ebou Dar was the first inn Mat visited when he arrived in A Memory of Light, Just Another Sell-Sword. He left immediately because its clientele was Deathwatch Guards in uniform.

The Yearly Brawl in Ebou Dar is where Mat was told of assassins trying to kill Fortuona and that he was a wanted man (A Memory of Light, Just Another Sell-Sword). The inn’s sign depicts clapping people. The innkeeper is Kathana, screen name of Jennifer Liang, beta reader, second in charge at Dragonmount.com and director of JordanCon, the yearly gathering of Wheel of Time fans to which the inn’s title refers. Hence the clapping people on the inn’s sign. Her husband, blademaster Jame who despatched one of the would-be assassins, represents James Liang, who is a Texan of Asian descent, just as Seanchan have a strong Asian influence and a “Texan” accent. Incidentally Jennifer Liang is an enthusiastic good cook, hence the inn’s comparatively tasty food.


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Written by Linda, December 2013