A poor bargain?

[chongjasmine]

Just read the part where nynaeve and elayne agree to let 20 sisters teach the sea folks whatever they want in exchange for their help in using the bowl of the wind. I thought that was an example of poor bargaining.

Giving the bowl of the wind to the sea folks after they use the bowl of the wind should be enough, in my opinion.

 

[Tecdavid]

True, but I think that was the point. The Sea Folk drive a very hard bargain; that's one of their defining traits. When making a deal of any sort with people outside their own, they will attempt to get all they can from it, and be very sly and prudent when offering much in return. Nynaeve and Elayne aren't very accustomed to bargaining with them, and are rather caught on the spot by their manner, hence the unfortunate outcome.

 

[DWPetts]

It is a bad bargain. It wreaks havok later on, and becomes a constant reminder to Elayne and Nynaeve that though they were raised to full sisters, the're experience is vastly less than those of the other sisters.