Steler

Author: Atarah al'Norahn

General

Steler is a bannerman who works in Tar Valon. He is chosen as the leader of Moiraine and Siuan's escort when they go to collect names for the Amyrlin's bounty during the Aiel War (NS, Ch. 4).

Moiraine thinks that Steler is not pretty. He is tall and grizzled and has a gravelly voice (NS, Ch. 4).

Timeline

• Steler is chosen to accompany Moiraine and Siuan when they go out to collect names for the bounty (NS, Ch. 4).
• Moiraine and Siuan attempt to convince Steler to take them to the camps near Dragonmount, but he refuses (NS, Ch. 4).
• Steler chooses a camp and announces to the people there that Moiraine and Siuan will be collecting names for the bounty (NS, Ch. 4).
• Steler tries to organize the people in the camp so that Moiraine and Siuan can take their names down, but nobody pays any attention to him (NS, Ch. 5).
• Steler and his soldiers keep watch to make sure that no outbreaks occur (NS, Ch. 5).
• When it begins to grow dark, Steler tries to make Moiraine and Siuan leave, even though there are still more than a dozen women whose names have not yet been taken. He is supposed to have them back at the Tower by sunset. Several of the women in the camp buy Moiraine and Siuan time by swarming around Steler and his soldiers (NS, Ch. 5).
• Just as Moiraine and Siuan finish taking names, Steler manages to get through the women and they all set off back for the Tower. They get back with little time to spare. When asked by an under-lieutenant if Moiraine and Siuan caused any problems for him, Steler replies, "no more than lambs" (NS, Ch. 5).

Miscellaneous

• He rides a rangy roan gelding (NS, Ch. 4).
• Moiraine thinks to herself that Steler will not be turned from the instructions he was given; when she sees Siuan eying him like a puzzle, she hopes that Siuan will be able to turn him (NS, Ch. 4).
• Steler seems to approve when, around noon, Moiraine and Siuan go to get their lunches; perhaps this is because they do not expect the soldiers to serve them (NS, Ch. 5).

Quotes

"The leader of the escort was not pretty. A tall, grizzled bannerman with a permanent scowl who curtly introduced himself in a deep, gravelly voice as Steler formed his soldiers in a loose ring around the pair of them and turned his rangy roan gelding toward the Sunset Gate without another word." (Moiraine; New Spring, Chapter 4).

"I was told to take you to the west bank..." He paused as if thinking what title to use in addressing her. Guardsmen seldom had reason to speak to Accepted. Nothing occurred to him, apparently, because when he went on, it was without honorifics and in a firmer tone. "Now, if one of you gets herself bruised, I'm going to hear about it, and I don't want to hear about it, so you stay inside the ring, hear? Well, go on, now. Or we'll stop right here until you do." (Steler to Moiraine and Siuan; New Spring, Chapter 4).

"There's not an Aiel this side of the Erinin, so I hear," Steler replied in an agreeable voice. The next moment, he dashed her hopes. "But I was told the camps closest the river, so that's what it'll be. And I was told if anybody made a fuss, I was to take her right back to the Tower. You're not making a fuss, are you? I thought not." (Steler to Moiraine and Siuan; New Spring, Chapter 4).