Taija’s best bet would have been to claim to be a newly raised Brown and Red was the worst option, not that she would know this. The Browns would be the least likely take offense to her falsely claiming their Ajah, I think, not to mention her ”Warder” (who might actually become her Warder once she learns the weave). Rand would also be initially quite suspicious of a ”Red” in particular. She doesn’t seem to believe the story about male channelers going insane.
I think she could actually do a half-decent job of teaching Rand to channel. I believe cross-gender teaching is possible to a degree, Third Age Aes Sedai just don’t know how. Cases in point: Semirhage knowing a saidin torture weave and Lanfear instructing Rand to use the Oneness. She couldn’t show any weaves directly but she could verbally explain what elements you use for which weaves, link with him and explain the general principle of particular weaves (e.g. ”you bore a hole in the Pattern to make a Gateway”). Channeling instruction must have been gendered in the Age of Legends too but being hundreds of years old with plenty of linking experience, she surely has some knowledge of male weaves.
As you say, Taija really has no idea what she's doing. Basically trying to do the right thing while work out what on earth is going on. Her choice of Red is indeed deeply unhelpful both for Rand and not seeming suspicious. I don't think any Ajah would tolerate someone falsely claiming them, but as you say the Brown would at least be distracted by squeeing over her knowledge.
The male channelers going insane would sound like a completely crazy story to someone dumped into the Third Age from the high-tech, gender-equal world of the Age of Legends. Especially when she's already seeing how relatively backwards people are in this time, it seems much more likely to be superstition or prejudice than that one of the fundamental pillars of the world has changed so drastically.
For how much she can teach Rand, read and find out, although I don't think his mindset in the first couple of books was particularly receptive to learning how to channel. Anyway, it's something I've put thought into.
Comment on A New Player in the Game
Sinilumi on Chapter 8 Tue 16 Jan 2024 09:32AM UTC
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Teebs on Chapter 8 Tue 16 Jan 2024 09:56AM UTC
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