In The Woman of Tanchico in Tar Valon, Thom tells the story of "Mara and the Three Foolish Kings." Mara steals the crowns of Kings Madel, Orander and Kadar and leaves them floundering in the mud by a river. When the people of Heape hear how foolish the kings are they will have no king at all.
Min's mother named her after Elmindreda, a woman of story who spent most of her time sighing at men, when she was not inspiring them to compose songs about her eyes, or her smile.
When Egwene and Elayne tell Mat about the twisted red doorway, Mat scoffs thinking of the story where Bili spends the night for a purse always full of gold then finds that ten years have passed.
To justify staying in the White Tower, Min makes up two suitors, Darvan and Goemal, who both supposedly want her hand. She is staying in the White Tower until she can make up her mind between them.
Thom questions the truth behind stories from past ages. "Did Mosk and Merk really fight with spears of fire, and were they even giants? Was Elsbet really queen of the whole world, and was Anla really her sister? Was Anla truly the Wise Counselor, or was it someone else?"
The Band of the Red Hand sings:
"We'll drink the wine till the cup is dry,
and kiss the girls so they'll not cry,
and toss the dice until we fly
to dance with Jak o' the Shadows.
We'll dance all night while the moon runs free,
and dandle the lasses upon our knee,
and then you'll ride along with me,
to dance with Jak o' the Shadows."
The Band of the Red Hand sings:
"We'll sing all night, and drink all day,
and on the girls we'll spend our pay,
and when it's gone, then we'll away,
to dance with Jak o' the Shadows.
There're some delight in ale and wine,
and some in girls with ankles fine,
but my delight, yes, always mine,
is to dance with Jak o' the Shadows.
We'll toss the dice however they fall,
and snuggle the girls be they short or tall,
then follow young Mat whenever he calls,
to dance with Jak o' the Shadows."
Rand does not understand Aiel humor, so he tells a joke of his own about Hu and Wil, two irascible old farmers who do not get along. The Maidens do not get it.
The Band of the Red Hand sings:
"We drink all night and dance all day,
and on the girls we spend our pay,
and when we're done, then we'll away,
to dance with Jak o' the Shadows."
Nynaeve wishes she could forget her worries and sleep for a year until Lan wakens her with a kiss like the Sun King with Talia. It is a very improper story.
With the tension in the White Tower, Yukiri worries that the rebels will dance in and empty the house while the rest of them squabbled over who got Great-Aunt Sumi's pewter.
In The White Ring in Maderin a tavern maid sings, "Now Jac gets an hour when the sky is clear, and Willi gets an hour when my father's not near. It's the hayloft with Moril, for he shows no fear, and Keilin comes at midday; he's oh so bold! Lord Brelan gets an evening when the night is cold. Master Andril gets a morning, but he's very old. Oh, what, oh, what is a poor girl to do? My loves are so many and the hours so few."
The Band of the Red Hand sings:
"There're some delight in ale and wine,
and some in girls with ankles fine,
but my delight, yes, always mine,
is to dance with Jak o' the Shadows.
We'll toss the dice however they fall,
and snuggle the girls be they short or tall,
then follow Lord Mat whenever he calls,
to dance with Jak o' the Shadows."
Opining on boots, Mat speculates what poor Mop might say if asked which pair of boots he will wear, or which pair would be good enough for visiting old lady Hembrew.
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