The Seanchan symbol of justice was a slant-edged headsman’s axe, the haft of which was bound with intricate knots in a white silk rope. The axe itself was a method of execution for various high crimes, at least for commoners; for nobles guilty of certain crimes, the cord was used to strangle them. It was usually covered or carried in a black velvet bag; when the cord was exposed, justice was being dealt, or might be dealt. The bag itself was also a weighty symbol of justice within the Imperial family, within which justice for all others was contained. The method of execution for a member of the Imperial family was to be sealed within the bag and left to die.
No one was allowed to go armed into the presence of a member of the Imperial family, or a High Lord or Lady, excepting only the Deathwatch Guard. By Seanchan law, no one’s hand might slay or shed the blood of one in whose veins flowed the blood of Artur Hawkwing. This did not refer to the Blood in general; only to those who were descended from Hawkwing.
Neither a damane nor a da’covale (other than a so’jhin) could give evidence, by law. As a practical matter, no charge or accusation made by a da’covale (other than a so’jhin) or a damane would be believed. So’jhin could give evidence and bring charges, as was necessary, since most of the bureaucracy of Seanchan was composed of so’jhin belonging to the Imperial Throne. The nobles of Seanchan, known as the Blood, were originally limited to those who were descendants of Luthair himself or members of his armies; over time it became possible for a commoner to be raised to the Blood. There were High Blood and low Blood; the top rank were the High Lords and High Ladies, who lacquered the first two fingernails of each hand. The next lower rank were simply called Lords or Ladies, though they were of the High Blood, and they lacquered just the nail of the forefinger on each hand. The third and fourth levels were also called Lords or Ladies, but the third level lacquered the last two fingernails of each hand, while the fourth and lowest lacquered only the nails of the little fingers. They were of the low Blood. The term “lesser Blood” was also used, and could be used by those who were High Lords or Ladies referring even to the second rank. Patience was a necessity for the Blood. Those who lacked it were likely to end in the Tower of Ravens. Like the children of the monarch, members of the Blood contested for honor, renown and riches.
When Luthair arrived in Seanchan, he found a culture that bought and sold people as property. If he or his descendants ever tried to wipe out the practice, they did not succeed. The slaves were known as da’covale, Old Tongue for “those who are property,” or covale, “property.” A particular class of da’covale, so’jhin, were hereditary upper servants of the Blood. So’jhin had considerable status and in some positions could give orders to and have authority over free people.
The Seanchan were very superstitious, by and large, believing in lucky amulets and that wearing certain stones and such things could give benefits. They believed in omens, that seeing certain things or certain things happening indicated good or bad luck coming, or perhaps a death or some other event. They also believed that damane could tell fortunes, which they called telling a fortune, or reading, or foretelling. This was a hold-over of the knowledge about Foretelling, which in fact did crop up in damane sometimes.
When Luthair arrived in Seanchan, he found the natives using strange beasts that he and his forces believed at first to be Shadowspawn, but the animals had originally been brought to Seanchan from parallel worlds via Portal Stones. Corlm, grolm, lopar, raken, to’raken and torm were used by the armies that Luthair faced; as he conquered, he began using them as well. The animals each had handlers, called morat; a senior morat could become der’morat.
See also a’dam, Corenne, corlm, da’covale, damane, Deathwatch Guards, grolm, Hailene, lopar, raken, so’jhin, to’raken and torm
Seandar. The capital city of Seanchan. It was the largest city in the Empire.
Sebban Balwer. An Amadician who was once publicly secretary to Pedron Niall and truly the spymaster of the Children of the Light. He was a dry little stick of a man, only about 5'6" tall, even without stooping; it seemed impossible that he could move without making dry, rustling noises, but in fact he moved very quietly in bird-like hopping motions. He was purse-mouthed. His face was narrow and pinched, and he had knobby shoulders and spindly legs that looked as if they might have snapped under his desiccated weight. He had bony fingers and narrow eyes; he tapped his lips in thought. Balwer had punctilious manners and mannerisms, folding his hands fussily, and dry-washing them when he thought he’d been insulted or underrated. Everything with him was dry and precise, even his smile. Niall thought that he believed in nothing—except possibly looking over other men’s shoulders—not even in the Dark One, and he certainly did not really believe that Aes Sedai were Darkfriend witches—but on the other hand, his information was never stained by what he knew had to be true and certainly not by what he wanted to be true. Balwer did not at all mind that Omerna was publicly believed to be the spymaster—he believed that a spymaster who was known was useless—but he disliked Niall getting communications from agents that did not go through him, and he disliked not knowing what was in them. Niall was quite right in believing that Balwer would serve anyone at all, but Balwer had an instinct for loyalty to his employer. He was suspicious of Niall’s death, and he aided the escape of Morgase and her companions mainly to deprive Valda of them, though he did think he might find some other way of using them to strike back at Valda and Asunawa.
He became secretary (and de facto head of intelligence) to Faile and Perrin after meeting up with them, and was very helpful to Perrin, who knew that Balwer learned surprising things on his solitary forays. Balwer latched on to Faile and Perrin for very real reasons. Perrin was plainly a personal representative of the Dragon Reborn, and that connection was one worth cultivating. To Balwer, this was a new position where he could use his skills, though he revealed them cautiously. He was quite capable of offering as faithful a service to Perrin and Faile as he did to Niall.
Perrin lent Balwer’s services to Rand, gathering intelligence on different groups, particularly Elayne’s people, prior to the meeting at the Field of Merrilor.
Second. An hour denomination in the Tower, an hour or so after noonday.
Second Covenant. See Compact of the Ten Nations