** Saldaean light cavalry **

"... the finest light cavalry in the known world ... The Saldaeans' ferocity in battle is at least the equal of that of any other Border nation, and their equestrian skills are far superior." <RJWoT: 28, The Borderlands, 253-4>

Saldaeans carry their swords, "... those almost straight, slightly serpentine blades ..." on the hip <LoC: 2, A New Arrival, 76; 16, Tellings of the Wheel, 279>, suggesting a one-handed sword, or at the most, a one-and-a-half-hand sword. Blades are almost certainly of the wavy, flambard (often erroneously called flamberge) variety. While a slight, single-curve sword is still possible, as are Tam's, Lan's, and Laman's swords, it is telling that these are never described as serpentine.

Lord Davram Bashere's blade is referred to as "... the curved sword at his hip ...", quite possibly more strongly curved than that of regular Saldaean cavalry, and possibly featuring a single curve in the style of a cavalry saber. It is also described as "ring-quilloned" <TFoH: 56, Glowing Embers, 957>, which may or may not be typical for the swords of the rank and file. In apparent contrast with his soldiers, Bashere also wears a helmet with face-bars in battle against the Seanchan. <TPoD: 24, 478, A Time for Iron>

Bashere, Marshal-General of Saldaea, is also more than once depicted "... in a short gray coat embroidered with silver on cuffs and lapels, and baggy trousers tucked into boots turned down at the knee." <LoC: 1, Lion on the Hill, 68; 56, Glowing Embers, 957> At least on one occasion, though, the coat is of gold-worked gray; his boots are "waxed till they shone." <KoD: 20, 424-425, The Golden Crane>

Bashere also carries "the ivory baton of the Marshal-General of Saldaea, tipped with a golden wolf's head, tucked behind his belt opposite his sword." <KoD: 20, 424, The Golden Crane; TPoD: 21, 419, Answering the Summons> The wolf-head is undoubtedly a nod to Perrin, the future Wolf King, who with Faile is now heir to the Broken Crown.