The task Cadsuane could not perform?

Ibon Caseï

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In A Crown of Swords, at the very end of the chapter nameed Diamonds and Stars, Cadsuane is thinking to herself. She thinks that it's over 270 years since she last "encountered a task she could not perform".

Considering that Cadsuane has been involved in practically EVERYTHING important for the last few hundred years... We should be able to reason out what this task was.

So... Any ideas?
 

Aduiavas Ida

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Does she say that it was so long ago? :look: I assumed it was the events in New Spring, where she could not figure out what Moiraine was doing :look:
 

Ibon Caseï

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Does she say that it was so long ago? :look: I assumed it was the events in New Spring, where she could not figure out what Moiraine was doing :look:
Yes, she specifically says over 270 years. So what was going on in Randland around 270+ years before the series?
 

Ibon Caseï

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A Crown of Swords takes place in year 1000. Cadsuane is born in 705

"705 NE: Cadsuane Melaidhrin is born in Far Madding. Marasale Jureen is raised to the Amyrlin Seat from the Yellow Ajah."
Source: http://wot.wikia.com/wiki/Timeline

Whatever she's referring to has to have happened before she was 25 years old, seeing as it's" over 270 years ago". She went to the Tower at 15, and gained the Shawl at 21.

"Years ago, fairly soon after she had just attained the shawl she suffered a humiliating lesson from a toothless wilder named Norla, who lived in the Black Hills. Norla's tutelage helped shape Cadsuane's composure and skills beyond Tower training, and from her Cadsuane received the precious and powerful hair ornament set of ter'angreal and angreal."
Thanks! I had to look it up. Looks like it might fit.
 

Leo Kian

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She gained the shawl at age 26. Became a Novice at 15, six years as a Novice and five as Accepted. So if we say she is 295 and her last mistake was 270 years ago she would have been 25/26. I am pretty sure it was Norla.
 

Aduiavas Ida

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Huh, I have missed that. I love how we still learn more about this series and this world :pleased-1:
 

Ibon Caseï

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She gained the shawl at age 26. Became a Novice at 15, six years as a Novice and five as Accepted. So if we say she is 295 and her last mistake was 270 years ago she would have been 25/26. I am pretty sure it was Norla.
Thank you. Apparently I can't do simple sums anymore... :look: (I blame the baby, my brain is foggy.)

I wonder what really happened between her and that Wilder though. We know so little.. Would be fun to read a short story or something about that.
 

Leo Kian

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Don't worry I have trouble enough without a baby!

I'd love to read some short stories concerning Cadsuane. I think it had something to do with Cadsuane thinking she was high and mighty simply because she was Aes Sedai...my guess is Norla was stronger/more skilled and taught her her place.
 

Ilissa al'Nari

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I am guessing it's sort of like what happens between Mat and Elayne's brothers, only with the Tower. Maybe Norla had some kind of Talent for whatever it was she was doing, so that she was able to beat Cadsuane even if Cadsuane was both stronger in the Power and Aes Sedai.
 

Ibon Caseï

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On the same note: Verin

In The Path of Daggers, in the prologue, Verin thinks to herself that it was 71 years since she'd last made a serious mistake.

Any ideas what that mistake might have been? (Could it be related to the secret she tells Egwene in her Tower rooms over a cup of tea in book 12? I can't remember the timelines..)
 

Aduiavas Ida

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Spoiler for Gathering Storm:
Yes, I think that is certainly the fact that
Verin is Black Ajah. She says to Egwene that she faced the choice between dying or joining.
 

Aduiavas Ida

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I suspect it is the mistake she did when the black discovered her. She did say she was given a choice of join or die...
 

Leo Kian

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Yeah I think the mistake was either going a step too far in her nosiness or choosing to join over death.

I think Verin is so cool. Not just for what she did but for finding/bonding Tomas who was also a DF looking for a way out.
 
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