So, you're relaxing on your couch; watching this Amazon Prime TV series you've heard so much about. It's been nice so far, but rather unexciting and you're shocked how clean this supposedly medieval village looks.
Then suddenly everything's cranked up to a high and there are monsters (exceedingly ugly ones) leaping out of every shadow. A tussle ensures and the idyllic village becomes filled with screams. You begin to think that maybe there's hope for this series after all.
The screen darkens and we are transported to Rand and his father who left the village earlier in the day to celebrate Bel Tine at home. Considering where the previous scene left off; you're certain of what's about to happen next and sure enough a Trolloc soon bursts into their home.
Rand and his father acquit themselves well but as normal people suddenly facing a gigantic beast with superhuman strength; they are eventually weakened and beaten down.
And then, it happens; a scene that you(with all your years of experience finely honed by sitting in front of a tv) know is extremely important. Rand's dad draws a blade … a blade with a "heron" mark.
The Heron mark
In the Wheel of Time universe. The heron mark is used to signify a blademaster; a blade master simply means an individual who is really, really good with a sword. In other words, Blademasters are acknowledged masters of sword-based combat. If Jaime Lannister existed in this universe, he would have one. If Jon snow did, he wouldn't (He was such a crappy swordsman).
So, since Tam had the sword; it either meant that he was formerly a blademaster or he inherited it from one. To gain the status of a blademaster, you either have to defeat one in combat or to be judged by five blademasters, via unanimous vote, to have demonstrated sufficient skill.
What does this mean for Rand?
As written above, the heron on the hilt signifies the holder of the weapon as a blademaster and hence potential opponents would be wary and make many measures to win. This is extremely bad for Rand as he has zero skills with a sword but his opponents will make less mistakes as they believe they are facing someone truly skilled; when in reality, before the Trolloc attack; he had never even held a sword.
So, he has two options to choose from. Either he:
- Gets rid of the weapon and uses a plain old sword.
- Learn how to use it … and fast.
Let's keep watching to see how it all turns out.
P.S Lan, as you might have already guessed; is a blademaster.
