linuxmafia.com 2013/2013.06.linuxmafia.com/linuxmafia.com/pub/jordan/Summaries/tgh.txt

Text File | 1997-09-13 | 63.7 KB | 1,161 lines

                           The Great Hunt -- Summary

The Wheel of Time Book #2 by Robert Jordan

   Summary by Craig Cassar: <[e-mail]>
   Edited by Karl-Johan NorΘn: <[e-mail]>


  Prologue -- In The Shadow

   The man called Bors is in a room in Shayol Ghul with a hundred other
   Darkfriends. They are all in black robes, although Bors, thinking
   himself more intelligent than the rest, points out to himself how many
   of the others reveal their true identities by little things they have
   left uncovered. For instance he notices the boots of an Andoran high
   officer of the Queen's guard, the tattoo on the hand of one the Sea
   Folk, the boots of a High Lord of Tear, a Tinker, a Shienaran and
   warriors and commoners from all over the world. To their disbelief,
   the Dark One appears in front of the group. He shows all of them
   images of Rand, Mat and Perrin and then gives them each private
   instructions. To Bors, he says, "Go back to Tarabon and continue your
   good works," and, "Have your followers watch for the boys. They are
   dangerous". As Bors prepares to leave the city, he unfolds his white
   cloak with a emblem on the breast. It is a blazing Sun with a red
   shepherd's crook behind it.

  Chapter 1 -- The Flame of Tar Valon

   Rand has put off leaving Fal Dara for a month now. He is practising
   his swordsmanship with Lan, when a peculiar wind forces him into the
   full of Lan's attack at his heart. Rand and Lan hear and see a large
   party of Aes Sedai approaching the city.

  Chapter 2 -- The Welcome

   The Aes Sedai party, including the Amyrlin Seat, enter the city. Rand
   finds that he has had all his old clothes replaced by many new fancy
   garments on Moiraine's order. Rand decides to finally leave the city
   on Lan's advice; Lan told him that since the Amyrlin Seat had come (a
   very unusual event), it would be best if he were a week gone from Fal
   Dara. To Rand's dismay, the stable boy (Tema) refuses to let Rand
   leave because apparently Agelmar has ordered that nobody be allowed to
   pass through the gates. Tema says to Rand that he must be happy since
   the Amyrlin Seat should be sending for him any minute now.

  Chapter 3 -- Friends and Enemies

   While trying to slip through any gate he can, Rand tries to sweet talk
   Ragan and Masema into letting him out. He is unsuccessful at all of
   the gates. Trying to find a place to hide, he comes across Mat, Perrin
   and Loial, playing dice with some workers in a store room. Rand gets
   mad at the other boys and tells them that he wants to leave by himself
   and is tired of them always getting in the way. While continuing his
   wandering, Rand runs into Egwene who takes him down to the dungeon in
   order to help him hide from the Aes Sedai. They visit Padan Fain who
   says to Rand, "The battle's never over. It's never over, al'Thor.
   Mordeth knows. It's never over. Never."

  Chapter 4 -- Summoned

   Moiraine is in her room when Anaiya and Liandrin come to summon her
   into the presence of the Amyrlin Seat. On the way, the three Aes Sedai
   discuss the three newly declared False Dragons in Saldaea, Murandy and
   Tear, the declaration of the Hunt for The Horn, the arrival of Elayne
   and Gawyn in Tar Valon (accompanied by Elaida), and the great
   potential for the One Power within each of Elayne and Egwene, but who
   are both overshadowed by Nynaeve. They also meet Lady Amalisa, the
   sister of Lord Agelmar.

   Moiraine enters the room of the Amyrlin Seat with only Leane, the
   keeper, present. After some discussion, Leane is ordered to leave and
   Moiraine and Siuan Sanche, two old friends, give each other a big hug.
   Siuan: "Moiraine, if anyone, even Leane, discovers what we plan, we
   will both be stilled. And I can't say they would be wrong to do it."

  Chapter 5 -- The Shadow in Shienar

   Moiraine and Siuan discuss such topics as the False Dragons, their
   twenty-year long search for the ta'veren they have finally found,
   whether or not Rand is really the Dragon Reborn and the Great Hunt for
   the Horn. Moiraine (to herself): "...my dearest friend, I cannot tell
   you everything, and I cannot risk letting you know I am holding
   anything back."

   Pedron Niall, Lord Captain Commander of the Children of the Light in
   Amador, orders Geofram Bornhald to lead two thousand of the Children
   to Tarabon to meet someone unknown to Geofram. They meet Einor Saren,
   an officer of the Questioners, a division of the Whitecloaks.

   Liandrin barges into Lady Amalisa's room accusing her brother of being
   a Darkfriend. Liandrin is trying to use Amalisa by influencing her
   with the One Power. She is looking for Rand, Mat and Perrin, and
   acknowledges the existence of the Black Ajah, (even within the walls
   of Fal Dara).

   Padan Fain gets a long awaited visitor in his cell. Their identity is
   a mystery to the reader, but they are presumably there to free him.

  Chapter 6 -- Dark Prophecy

   Rand has a dream where Trollocs are attacking his house; Mat has
   stabbed himself with his dagger, Perrin has clawed out his own eyes,
   and Padan Fain is there with the Dark One telling Rand that it is
   never over. He wakes up in Egwene and Nynaeve's room where he was left
   to hide from the Aes Sedai. Nynaeve is in the room with him. Believing
   Shai'tan to be dead, Rand carelessly names him and that is when the
   alarm bells start to ring. ('Name the Dark One and his evil comes down
   upon you...'). Rand panics as he is worried about Egwene; she went
   down to the dungeon to talk to Padan Fain again. Nynaeve tries to stop
   him from leaving the room, but he can't be stopped.

   While running down the halls of the women's apartments, he comes face
   to face with Siuan for a moment. Once outside he encounters Trollocs
   and a then a Fade that has just won a battle with seven Shienaran
   soldiers. Much to Rand's relief, Ingtar arrives to take on the
   fearless without an ounce of fear in his eyes. Rand continues on to
   the dungeon. The two guards have been beheaded and their blood has
   been used to write messages on the wall; "We will meet again on Toman
   Head. It is never over al'Thor."

   Liandrin and Moiraine arrive, separately, a few moments later. Rand
   has discovered Padan Fain's cell empty and Egwene and Mat unconscious
   on the floor, in front of it. Mat's dagger is gone. Ingtar arrives
   informing them all that the Horn of Valere has been stolen. He also
   tells Rand that Agelmar had not sent down an order earlier in the day
   to stop anyone from leaving the city. Rand suspects Moiraine. After
   leaving the dungeon, Rand runs into Lan who tells him he can leave at
   anytime.

  Chapter 7 -- Blood Calls Blood

   Moiraine, The Amyrlin, Leane and Verin work together to partially heal
   Mat from the damage of having his dagger stolen. They decide that Mat
   is going to have to go out hunting for the dagger himself since it
   will affect anyone who carried for it an extended period of time.
   Verin reads the "prophecy" that was written in blood on the wall of
   the dungeon. In it there are references to Lanfear (one of the
   Forsaken), the return of Artur Hawkwing's Armies, and a man (Rand) who
   can channel. Verin implicitly tells Moiraine and Siuan that she knows
   about their plans for Rand; she had suspicions twenty years ago when
   Moiraine and Siuan were still only Accepted.

   Perrin visits Mat in the infirmary and has a confrontation with Leane.
   She asks him how he came about getting yellow eyes. Perrin is still
   mad at Rand for when he said he didn't want anything to do with his
   old friends. Lan comes to tell Rand he has been summoned for an
   audience with the Amyrlin. Lan gives him a quick talk with many rules
   of etiquette to follow in the presence of the Amyrlin Seat. "There is
   one rule, above all others, for being a man. Whatever comes, face it
   on your feet."

  Chapter 8 -- The Dragon Reborn

   Rand is incredibly nervous as he walks into the presence of the
   Amyrlin for the first time. He is afraid that the three of them there
   (the Amyrlin, Moiraine and Verin) are going to gentle him. Moiraine
   tells the Amyrlin about Tam al'Thor's career as a soldier when he was
   younger and how he returned from the Aiel war with a wife from Caemlyn
   and a newborn child. Most of this story is news to Rand. Furthermore,
   he is told by The Amyrlin that he is The Dragon Reborn and how his
   destiny is to face The Dark One. Rand still believes that Ba'alzamon
   is dead. Rand is given the option to stay in Fal Dara or to leave with
   Ingtar's men to find the Horn. He decides to go with Ingtar.

   The three Aes Sedai are unsure of themselves and the prophecies that
   they have to see Rand fulfill.

   Nynaeve can sense a storm coming even though it is clear outside. It
   is something she has never felt before, like it should be too far off
   for her to feel it. While looking for Rand she finds Lan who gives her
   his signet ring with a golden crane flying above a lance and a crown.

   While preparing to leave, Rand goes over to the women's apartments to
   say goodbye to Egwene and, in the process, creates a disturbance among
   the women. They hug each other and she thinks she heard him say "I
   love you", to her. Rand turns and walks away quickly.

  Chapter 9 -- Leavetakings

   Both the parties to Tar Valon and to find The Horn are preparing to
   leave. Lan tells Rand about sheathing his sword. "There may come a
   time when you must achieve a goal at all costs. It may come in attack
   or defense. And the only way will be to allow the sword to be sheathed
   in your own body." An arrow grazes the Amyrlin. Both she and Rand
   believe it was meant for him. The Amyrlin sends a man off to scout in
   Maradon. It's reported to Ingtar that two guards, Chango and Nidao are
   not accounted for. This pins them for the Darkfriends responsible for
   the attack the previous night. Rand is introduced to Hurin, the
   sniffer. Ingtar has kept him a secret from the Aes Sedai in fear that
   they would not understand his talents. Hurin can smell violence. He
   will be the one directing Ingtar's men in the correct direction to
   find the Horn.

   Bayle Domon, captain of the Spray, is in Illian. Three times strangers
   have offered him large sums of money to deliver mysterious goods. He
   is on his way to meet some more people. Bayle identifies them as
   Cairhienan's. They are offering him 1000 gold marks to deliver a
   sealed scroll to Mayene, in Tear. He accepts and takes 200 marks up
   front. Upon returning to his ship and having his crew preparing to
   leave in the middle of the night, Bayle opens the document. It names
   him (the carrier) as a Darkfriend and is apparently signed by the King
   of Cairhien. Domon thinks he knows what it is they want from him: the
   cuendillar disk he keeps hidden in his cabin. He decides to head west,
   the opposite way of where they want him to go.

  Chapter 10 -- The Hunt Begins

   Ingtar's band of twenty lances sets out with Rand, Mat, Perrin and
   Loial. Ingtar sets an almost insane pace for the party. When they stop
   after the first day Ingtar makes comments on how Rand resembles an
   Aiel. "Till shade is gone, till water is gone, into the Shadow with
   teeth bared, screaming defiance with the last breath, to spit in
   Sightblinder's eye on the last day... that is how long the Aiel say
   they'll fight." The next morning they set out only to find that their
   prey is changing course - north. They come upon a deserted village on
   the River Erinin. While they are in the village Uno claims to see a
   woman in a window, but no one is found. Once across the river they
   find Changu and Nidao skinned alive. Ingtar gives order to bury them
   even though they are believed to be Darkfriends. "The Light shine on
   you and the Creator shelter you. The last embrace of the Mother
   welcome you home... They saved Lord Agelmar at Tarwin's Gap."

   Before sundown, they reach the village of Harad Dakar it too is
   abandoned. Rand enters a house and....Blink....he sees a family at
   dinner. There are the parents and six children. One of them screams
   and the front door opens....Rand sees this several times. Ingtar's men
   find a Fade nailed across a door. Even the best soldiers are affected
   by this as they quickly head out south - on the trail.

  Chapter 11 -- Glimmers of the Pattern

   Ingtar stops the party to make camp while it is still light out. He
   tells Rand that he has the responsibility of being second in command
   thus having to take charge if something happens to Ingtar. He also
   gives Rand a bundled package that Moiraine instructed him to pass on
   after they had crossed the Erinin. While Rand is opening it, away from
   camp, Mat and Perrin come to find him. It is at this point that Rand
   tells them that the Aes Sedai are trying to use him as a false Dragon,
   that Moiraine told him he is the Dragon Reborn and that he can
   channel. This helps Mat and Perrin understand Rand's actions in Fal
   Dara. Mat is now somewhat scared of him, whereas Perrin is not.

   Padan Fain has made camp with his Trollocs, his Darkfriends, and the
   villagers he has kidnapped. He reveals that it was him who crucified
   the Myrddraal. He also describes how he can sometimes feel Rand
   following him and how the stolen ruby hilted dagger makes him feel
   "whole". "Come to me, al'Thor. The dance is not even begun yet. We'll
   dance on Toman Head and I will be free of you. I'll see you dead at
   last."

  Chapter 12 -- Woven in the Pattern

   The story goes back to Fal Dara just after Ingtar's party has left.
   Agelmar is almost begging the Amyrlin to stay another day. The Aes
   Sedai leave shortly thereafter for Tar Valon. Moiraine has not spoken
   to Egwene or Nynaeve for quite a while. When they stop that night
   Verin goes to the Emond's Fielder's tent to give them lessons and
   tells them that a different Aes Sedai will do so each night of their
   journey. While trying to make a breeze, Nynaeve burns the pile of
   blankets beside her.

   When they arrive in the town of Moran, Egwene tells Anaiya about a
   dream she had of Rand and how she believes he is in danger. Anaiya
   says that Egwene might be a Dreamer, a rare gift in Aes Sedai since
   the Age of Legends. Moiraine, Verin and Liandrin have all left,
   separately, without telling anyone. The remaining Aes Sedai, along
   with Egwene and Nynaeve, board the River Queen.

  Chapter 13 -- From Stone to Stone

   Rand wakes up in a place similar to where he fell asleep, but only
   Loial and Hurin are with him; the rest of the party is gone. Loial
   says that the stone they slept beside was used by Aes Sedai in the Age
   of Legends to travel between alternate realities. Rand realizes it was
   him who sent them to this place. He willingly enters the void and
   touches the One Power for the first time while trying to use the stone
   to get them back to their world. The void shatters like glass when he
   does so. Hurin says he can still follow the trail. It is just dull,
   like the rest of the new world. Rand accepts that Hurin and Loial are
   depending him to get them back and promises them that he will.

  Chapter 14 -- Wolfbrother

   Ingtar, Perrin, Mat, and the lances wake to find the three missing.
   Agelmar is outraged that there is no trace of their departure. Perrin
   reaches out to the wolves in order to find out where they disappeared
   to. The wolves have named him Young Bull. The wolves eagerly take on
   the trail of the Trollocs. Perrin tells Agelmar about what he can do.
   Agelmar mentions a former Warder named Elyas Machera who had the
   talent also. They both agree to tell the others that Perrin is a
   sniffer and is going to continue following the trail.

   Verin comes up on the party from behind. She is going to travel with
   them. Perrin realizes that she is there to find Rand, not the Horn.
   "Wherever you've gotten to, Rand, stay there. It's safer than here."

  Chapter 15 -- Kinslayer

   Rand, Hurin and Loial are heading south on what they believe to be the
   trail of the Darkfriends they are after. Hurin says that the trail he
   is following is like he is remembering it, not really smelling it.
   Loial stops the others at a tree to which he sings. The tree is sung
   wood, wood that produces what the singer needs. When he is done the
   tree is as staff in Loial's hands. There is a small shoot where the
   tree once was.

   When they stop for the night, Rand sees Ba'alzamon on the edge of
   their camp, but he is not truly there. Ba'alzamon calls him by his
   'true' name, Lews Therin. He taunts Rand with the fact that he is the
   only one able to teach Rand how to use saidin. Rand refuses him once
   again and is left with the mark of a heron burned onto his palm.

  Chapter 16 -- In the Mirror of Darkness

   Rand manages to conceal the newly burned heron on his palm from Hurin
   and Loial. While riding that morning they come across a tall spire
   that looks like that of Artur Hawkwing, except that it was destroyed a
   thousand years ago. Once up close they realize that it is a statue of
   Ba'alzamon. It is this that leads Loial to conclude that they really
   are in a parallel universe -- one where the Shadow was victorious in
   the Trolloc Wars. Once on their way again, they hear a woman's cry,
   the first sign of another living being since the Stone. Rand kills the
   grolm that is attacking her. He let loose an arrow that flies true,
   into the creature' eye. The woman is the most beautiful Rand has ever
   seen, her name is Selene and she says she comes from Cairhien. They
   tell her of their quest and she seems quite vehement that Rand find
   the Horn and receive the glory he deserves. While back on the trail of
   the Darkfriends, a pack of grolm takes chase of the party.

  Chapter 17 -- Choices

   Rand kills five, but dozens more can be heard on their trail. Rand is
   left no option but to reluctantly head for the Stone on Kinslayer's
   Dagger to escape. Once at the Stone, Selene shows Rand what marking
   represents the Real World, and Rand uses the One Power to get them
   back. Selene tells them about how the Stone takes you to Mirrors of
   the Wheel -- what could have happened in the past, and what could
   still happen in future. Rand decides to make camp for a few days and
   wait for Ingtar and his lances to show up.

  Chapter 18 -- To the White Tower

   Egwene and Nynaeve are on the River Queen, just a few hours from Tar
   Valon. Egwene is still having dreams of the man in the mask with the
   fiery eyes and the sense that Rand is ever in increasing danger. The
   Amyrlin enters their small cabin order to give them their lesson for
   the day. There is a great amount of tension, brought on by
   stubbornness, between Nynaeve and the Amyrlin. The Amyrlin suspends
   Nynaeve in the air which gets her so mad that she is able to do the
   same to the Amyrlin.

   The ship arrives in Tar Valon. The two women find that they have been
   left behind at the docks as everyone has already entered the city.
   While walking around, they meet Sheriam, Mistress of Novices. Nynaeve
   tells her that she is not to become a Novice, and Sheriam tells them
   how hard their lives will be in the White Tower.

  Chapter 19 -- Beneath the Dagger

   Several days have past on the slope of Kinslayer's Dagger, Selene is
   continually urging Rand to seek out the Horn and to use it to obtain
   great amounts of glory. Rand says that he doesn't want glory each time
   she persists. Rand has made the decision to leave for Cairhien the
   next day if Ingtar hasn't arrived by then. Hurin spots a fire a couple
   of miles away that they conclude must be Fain and his Trollocs. Rand
   and Loial head out to scout and possibly bring back the Horn and the
   dagger. They find the entire camp asleep and manage to get both items
   out. Moments later, Fain awakens and alerts the Trollocs. Rand manages
   to slay the groups that find them (he resists very strong urges to
   destroy them all with the Power), and they escape back to their camp.
   Selene is very adamant about Rand using the Horn for glory but Rand
   ignores her advice. He puts the dagger in the chest with the Horn to
   shield them from its evil. He decides to head for Cairhien and wait
   for Ingtar there.

   Padan Fain: "I am a dog no longer. A dog no longer! You will pay for
   what you have done to me, al'Thor! The World will pay. The World will
   pay!"

  Chapter 20 -- Saidin

   Rand and group travel on through the night to Cairhien. Selene denies
   being Aes Sedai to Rand. The next day they approach a village. Just
   outside of the village, they come across a large excavation project.
   All that is above ground is a hand holding a sphere and a man's
   bearded face. Standing at the edge of the cliff overlooking the
   statue, Rand is overcome with Saidin and mentally chants the Aiel oath
   concerning the Dark One (...to spit in Sightblinder's eye on the last
   day). He is oblivious to the group and almost falls over the edge.
   They enter the village of Tremonsien. Selene very strongly urges Rand
   to take the Horn for himself, but he stays true to himself yet again.

  Chapter 21 -- The Nine Rings

   Rand's party enters the Nine Rings inn. The innkeeper, Mistress
   Madwin, immediately takes Rand as a Lord, Selene as his Lady and Loial
   and Hurin as retainers. Most of Rand's behaviour is very un-Lord like
   to all those watching. Rand plays the flute in the common room which
   elicits a visit from a man named Caldevwin, a Captain of the Cairhien
   Royal Guard. He asks if they would mind traveling the remainder to
   Cairhien with part of his guard. Rand accepts.

   Loial tells Rand all about Daes Dae'mar, the game of Houses and how
   Caldevwin probably suspects something of Rand. Rand wishes no part of
   these games. In the morning, Selene has gone but has left a note
   telling Rand to meet her in Cairhien. Hurin informs Rand that the inn
   was watched during the night which adds suspicion to Caldevwin's
   motives. The group of travelers and soldiers heads down the road to
   Cairhien.

  Chapter 22 -- Watchers

   Moiraine is frustrated with how little control she has over what is
   happening. She and Lan are staying with two old Aes Sedai, Adeleas and
   Vandene, in Tifan's Well, a small village in Arafel. She is
   researching a number of topics. Her and Lan have a long discussion
   about when they met, their goals, and how she thinks Lan's bond to her
   is weakening. She tells him about how he will be passed on to another
   Aes Sedai when she dies. Moiraine is a little of jealous of how
   Nynaeve has started to break down the walls that Lan has always had
   around himself. After a conversation with Vandene about the Horn,
   Tarman Gai'don, and the Dragon. Afterwards, Moiraine goes outside. She
   is almost kissed by a Draghkar that is there waiting for here. A
   Draghkar's kiss is fatal. Caught up in its trance, it takes Jaem and
   Lan to save her just in time. Moiraine credits her life to the
   Pattern. Lan had gone outside to practice with Jaem to let off steam
   from the argument they had had and it was that that allowed him to be
   there in order to save her life. The three Aes Sedai know that a
   creature of the Dark One couldn't have gotten that close without all
   of them knowing it was there unless it was warded by another Sister.
   This confirms the presence of the Black Ajah.

  Chapter 23 -- The Testing

   Nynaeve is tested to become one of the Accepted. She is in the testing
   room with the ter'angreal consisting of the three rings. Upon entering
   each ring she will face her greatest fears concerning her past, her
   present and her future. The other Aes Sedai make her strip naked and
   allow her to enter the first ring. She is told that she is allowed to
   leave at this point and try again later. On the third failure to
   proceed she will be asked to leave the tower. Nynaeve refuses to back
   down. She is told that the way back will only come once and to be
   steadfast.

   Inside the first ring Nynaeve confronts Aginor. She is in a maze and
   is unable escape him. She uses the One Power to delay him, but is
   unable to destroy him. When she gets the chance to finish him off she
   sees the way back and overcomes her urge to seek Revenge him. Once she
   is out she describes to Sheriam what happened. Sheriam is dumbfounded
   by the fact that Nynaeve, unlike any other Aes Sedai, was able to use
   the power inside the ter'angreal.

   Inside the second ring she finds herself back home in the Two Rivers,
   only nothing looks right. It seems that a woman named Malena is now
   Wisdom and has greatly influenced life in the town since then. Bran
   and Master Luhhan are dead. Nynaeve is about to confront Malena to
   defend Marin al'Vere and the rest of the town when the way back
   appears. Nynaeve manages to leave while hearing Marin screaming in her
   state if abandonment.

   The third ring, Nynaeve's future, is the toughest of all. She is
   married to Lan, the crowned King of Malkier and they have several
   children. It is paradise for her. She misses the gate because of her
   great longing to stay with Lan and her family. Only by filling herself
   with the Power is she able to reopen the gateway back into the real
   world.

   Once outside the ring, Nynaeve is cleansed and anointed as one of the
   Accepted.

  Chapter 24 -- New Friends and Old Enemies

   Egwene meets Elayne, also a novice, and Min who is there because of
   her ability to see visions concerning the people she looks at. They
   make friends very quickly. One of the things they discuss is the fact
   that there are only forty novices in the Tower and that only a few of
   them will be raised to Accepted. Min reveals a vision that Elayne is
   going to have to share her husband with two other women. Shortly
   thereafter, Gawyn and Galad approach. Galad charms Egwene of her feet
   -- not that it was really necessary since she is overcome by his
   looks. Egwene is surprised to find out that they all know of Rand and
   have previously met him.

   Elaida interrogates Min about Rand but she is (just barely) able to
   lie to her to protect him from whatever schemes she knows must be
   hidden within Elaida's mind.

  Chapter 25 -- Cairhien

   Rand, Loial, and Hurin enter the city of Cairhien. The Foregate is
   filled with people celebrating and parading around with puppets of
   such things as Trollocs and other beasts. They enter the city proper
   and get a room. The innkeeper briefly mistakes Rand for an Aiel. Upon
   returning to the common room with Hurin, the innkeeper gives Rand
   three invitations from (other) Lords. He throws them into the fire
   declaring, out loud, that he is not playing Daes Dae'mar. Rand wanders
   into a hall where a gleeman is performing. It is Thom Merrilin, much
   to Rand's surprise. They make plans to meet later, once Thom has
   finished performing.

  Chapter 26 -- Discord

   Rand goes back to the inn to tell Hurin and Loial that Thom Merrilin
   is alive. He tries to get Loial to come and meet him but the Ogier is
   very wary about going out because of the fact that another Ogier might
   see him and get him in trouble with his elders. Rand forces him to go.
   When they find Thom's room there is a young woman inside juggling. Her
   name is Dena. Rand tells Thom about all he has been through since Rand
   thought he was dead. From what Rand says, Thom believes that Rand is
   not the one that Moiraine was looking for (a man who could channel).
   Since Rand is so adamant about staying away from Aes Sedai, Thom
   decides to stay away as well and declines Rand's offer to travel with
   him again.

   During their conversation, Rand asks Thom if he knows of any books
   about the Karaethon Cycle. Thom quotes two passages he has read:

     Twice and twice shall he be marked,
     twice to live, and twice to die,
     Once the Heron to set his path
     and twice the heron, to name him true
     Once the Dragon, for remembrance lost,
     Twice the Dragon, for the price he must pay.

     Twice dawns the day when his blood is shed,
     Once for mourning, once for birth,
     Red on black, the Dragon's blood stains the
     rocks of Shayol Ghul,
     In the Pit of Doom shall his blood free men
     from the Shadow.

  Chapter 27 -- The Shadow in the Night

   While returning to their inn, Rand and Loial are attacked by Trollocs
   and Darkfriends. The Trollocs had posed as the large puppets that men
   were carrying around the city. Although Rand manages to slay the first
   Trolloc, they are eventually forced out of the city as their way to
   the inn and the Horn, is blocked by Trollocs and Darkfriends searching
   for them. Selene finds them and they head out to the Illuminator's
   building a mile out of town. They manage to find a way in and while
   hiding inside from the Illuminators, the Trollocs, too, find their way
   in. Rand allows them to escape by lighting a large batch of fireworks
   and firing them at the Trollocs, destroying them along with that part
   of the building. Selene stays behind against Rand's wishes.

   Upon returning to the inn, Rand receives a note from her that says:

   When I think I know what you are going to do, you do something else.
   You are a dangerous man. Perhaps it will not long before we are
   together again. Think of the Horn. Think of the glory, and think of
   me, for you are always mine.

  Chapter 28 -- A New Thread in the Pattern

   Perrin, Mat, Verin, and Ingtar and his men are traveling across
   Kinslayer's Dagger. Perrin tells Ingtar about Shadowkiller, the man
   the wolves have seen who is traveling with Fain and the Trollocs.

   An Aiel confronts the party. His name is Urien, and Mat remarks how
   much he looks like Rand. Urien says the Aiel have left the Three-Fold
   Land because He Who Comes with the Dawn is coming soon. They say they
   will know him by a sign. He scrawls it in the dirt. Mat, Perrin, and
   Verin are awestruck by this symbol-the ancient symbol of the Aes
   Sedai. Throughout the conversation Urien looks like he is ready to
   fight but Ingtar dissuades him. Once gone, Verin tells Ingtar to press
   on harder for they must hurry.

  Chapter 29 -- Seanchan

   Geofram Bornhald is in a small village with his Children in the wake
   of the destruction of the Seanchan. They also call themselves the
   Hailene, Those Who Come Before and, The Forerunners. They also speak
   of the Corenne, the Return. They are supposedly Artur Hawkwing's
   Armies returned from over the Aryth Ocean. Bornhald receives word from
   Jaichim Carridin of the Questioners to turn his men back as they are
   getting too close to Toman Head. Bornhald intends to ignore this
   command and head on to confront these Seanchan who he believes to be
   Darkfriends.

   Off of the coast of Toman Head, Domon and the crew of the Spray have
   an encounter with one of the hundreds of Seanchan ships that have
   crossed the Aryth Ocean. Their ship is boarded by a woman in armour
   who names herself Captain Egeanin, a woman with what Domon believes to
   be a Aes Sedai on a leash and two soldiers. The woman on the leash has
   the powers of an Aes Sedai and is called damane. Egeanin commands the
   Spray to Falme to swear their oaths of fealty to obey, to wait, and to
   serve. She makes references to how Domon and his land must pay for the
   sins of their ancestors.

   Once ashore in Falme, the Spray is searched and Domon is taken to see
   the Seanchan high lord along with something that Egeanin found in her
   search. Once in front of the high lord Turak, Egeanin gives the
   cuendillar disk to him as a gift. Turak comments how cuendillar is
   even more rare in these lands than back across the ocean. Egeanin
   leaves and Turak goes about questioning Domon . He offers him some of
   their drink, kaf, and Domon "begins to lie his way out of Falme".

  Chapter 30 -- Daes Dae'mar

   Hurin has become exceedingly formal in addressing 'Lord Rand'. The
   innkeeper, Master Cuale, brings Rand two more invitations from
   Cairhienin houses. They are from King Galldrian of House Riatin and
   Lord Barthanes of House Damodred. Rand wants to burn them like the
   rest, but since every house has now sent an invitation to him, Hurin
   adamantly councils him not to do so. He decides to show them off in
   the common room to make people talk and thus buying him more time
   until he has to answer them. Rand and Loial go out to the Foregate to
   inquire if Ingtar or Selene have entered the city. They have been
   doing this for the past several days. The man at the counter, the same
   man as every other day, has a very fake smile and treats the requests
   like he has never seen Rand before. He tells them that neither of them
   have entered the city. Rand catches a glimpse of Caldevwin in a room
   behind the desk, but the man denies him being there. Rand is very
   frustrated but manages to leave politely.

   While returning to the inn, Loial notices a fire ahead. As they get
   closer they realize that it is their inn, the Defender of the
   Dragonwall. They both rush in to save Hurin, the Horn and, the dagger.
   Loial leaves his books to burn in order to help Rand with Hurin. The
   Horn is gone. Rand goes back into his room for the banner that
   Moiraine said his life might depend on. He debates for a few moments
   in front of the dresser. "I could still let it burn." He decides to
   take it.

   Once outside, Rand searches for a Wisdom to tend to Hurin; he is
   injured badly. Wisdoms are called 'Readers' in Cairhien. At that point
   Mat comes up behind Rand. "You came too late."

  Chapter 31 -- On the Scent

   Rand tells the group (Verin, Mat, Perrin, Ingtar) about how he had the
   Horn but that it has just been stolen. Verin heals Hurin and they all
   go to The Great Tree inn to talk. Tiedra is the innkeeper. In a
   private dining room Rand tells the story about the Stones and Selene.
   All throughout the discussion, Perrin is thinking to himself. "Rand is
   the Shadowkiller...Shadowkiller. A Man who can channel. A man the
   wolves hold in awe....I know about you. It is only fair you know my
   secret, too." Hurin returns form his search of the city and says that
   he 'smells' the Darkfriends in Lord Barthanes's manor. They conclude
   that Barthanes is a Darkfriend. Rand reveals that he has an invitation
   from him. They briefly discuss the sa'angreal mentioned in the
   invitation and they begin to make plans to attend Barthanes' party.
   "Watching Verin's smile, small and mysterious, Perrin felt a chill. He
   did not think Rand knew know half of what he thought he did. Not
   half."

  Chapter 32 -- Dangerous Words

   Rand, Verin, Matt, Loial, Hurin and, Ingtar go to Barthanes' party.
   Hurin and Mat pose as servants so they can go about freely to try and
   locate the Horn and the dagger. Once inside, Loial says to Rand that
   he can feel a Waygate near. Lord Barthanes approaches Rand and starts
   conversation to try and figure out what Rand's motives are in the
   Great Game. He talks about Galldrian, the sa'angreal statues, Rand's
   heron mark blade, and his Aiel features. Shortly thereafter, Rand is
   cornered by three women. He sees Thom while being asked a million
   questions and makes an excuse to go talk to him in order to get away
   from them. Rand tells Thom how the Horn and dagger were stolen. Thom
   thinks that Rand wants his help again, but Rand fervently denies it.
   Hurin comes to tell Rand that his manservant, Mat, has fallen and hurt
   his leg. Before following Hurin, Thom says to Rand: "You play very
   well at being a lord, but remember this: Cairhien may play Daes
   Dae'mar, but it was the White Tower made the Great Game in the first
   place. Watch yourself boy."

  Chapter 33 -- A Message From the Dark

   Hurin tells Rand that Mat is all right, and that he just needed an
   excuse to get Rand away from the party. He has traced the scent of the
   Darkfriends to an enclosed area in the garden. Mat says that he cannot
   feel the dagger at all, but Rand replies that that doesn't mean it
   isn't there. Rand instructs Mat to go find Ingtar and Verin. He
   obliges while making several sarcastic remarks to Rand about 'his
   lordship'. Loial and Hurin follow Rand over the wall to the Waygate.
   Rand opens the gate but Machin Shin is there and it tries to get out
   at them. Rand uses the One Power to force it back in and Loial puts
   the Avendesora leaf back in it' place. Rand remarks to himself how the
   flow of the One Power was killing him, but how wonderful it felt in
   doing so. Once back over the wall, Rand thinks he hears someone else
   in the garden, but he never finds out if it was just his imagination
   or not.

   Just before leaving, Barthanes give Rand a message from Fain. He tells
   him to meet Fain on Toman Head. If he doesn't, Fain will hound his
   blood, his people and those he loves. Once back in the inn, Rand tells
   this to the others. He tells of the Waygate and Machin Shin and how he
   has to go to Toman Head. The others all decide to go with him,
   although Ingtar believes Barthanes tale for a lie. Since that Waygate
   in not an option through which to make their journey, Verin suggests
   the one at Stedding Tsofu. Rand vows to Verin in private that once
   they have found the Horn and Mat's dagger, he is through with Aes
   Sedai.

  Chapter 34 -- The Wheel Weaves

   Thom was kept back at Barthanes' all night while being questioned by
   nobles of his involvement with `the young Andoran Lord'. He walks into
   his room at The Bunch Of Grapes to find Dena dead; her throat has been
   cut. Two men jump up from hiding and attack him. He kills the first
   one and incapacitates the other and questions him. He claims to work
   for Barthanes and offers Thom great amounts of gold for information.
   Thom kills him. Zera comes in and identifies the first dead man a
   servant to Galldrian, not Barthanes. As Thom leaves the room, they can
   hear a riot starting outside. He wants revenge for Dena's death.

   Fain is in Falme. He is talking to the high lord, Turak. He claims to
   have a great gift for him. He tells of the Horn inside the chest and
   tempts him to use it. Fain also says that his family has had the Horn
   and has been faithful to Artur Hawkwing and his followers ever since
   they went across the Aryth Ocean. Turak tells Fain of his intentions
   to take the Horn back to the Empress. This excites Fain as it reveals
   a leader he did not know about that he can manipulate for his own
   desires. Fain makes several comments to himself about being patient
   like a worm in the root. Turak intends to keep Fain around until he
   returns to Seanchan in order for him to tell stories about his loyal
   family traditions. "I will see (Rand al'Thor) dead at last. The world
   will pay for what was done to me."

  Chapter 35 -- Stedding Tsofu

   A pretty Ogier girl named Erith greets Verin and the others once they
   reach Stedding Tsofu. (Rand feels the One Power cut off from him as he
   crosses into it.) Erith asks them to leave some of their armed men
   outside of the Stedding. Loial tells the boys about the Longing and
   how it came to be. He feels good to be back in a Stedding although he
   is very worried about some Ogier girl wanting to marry him. In town,
   they are amazed by the enormity of the Great Trees. Three Aiel women
   confront them, intent on violence. Verin stops things before they get
   too far out of hand with reference to `the pact' of peace in Stedding.
   Mat tells Rand of their encounter with the Aiel on Kinslayer's Dagger.
   Hurin comments an how 'clean' the air smells because there has been no
   violence. Loial is very worried the Elders are going to send him back
   home. They all make their way to go see the Elders.

  Chapter 36 -- Among the Elders

   As the group make their way through town to see the Elders, many of
   the Ogier women take notice of Loial which makes him very anxious.
   Once they arrive at the Elder's place, Loial decides to wait outside
   and read a book. Alar, one of the Elders, is wary about letting them
   use the Waygate, and sends for an Ogier named Trayal. He is the last
   of the Ogier to have been in the Ways. All that is left of him is his
   body. All of his soul and his mind has been stolen by Machin Shin.
   Rand, Mat, and Perrin succeed in convincing the Elders to let Loial
   continue to travel with them. Outside, Loial tells the boys that Erith
   gave him flowers and said she thought he was handsome. However, he
   hasn't changed his mind about going on with his ta'veren friends.

   Once they get to the Waygate they find the same situation that Rand,
   Loial, and Hurin found at Barthanes'; Machin Shin is waiting at the
   entrance. Rand thinks that it is following him. As an alternative,
   Hurin suggests using a Portal Stone, even if it isn't as fast as the
   Ways. Alar reveals that there is one not far from where they are
   standing.

  Chapter 37 -- What Might Be

   Ingtar seems reluctant to use the Stone. He says he wants to go back
   and make Barthanes talk. Verin: "More than once I have heard you say
   you would ride to Shayol Ghul if need be to recover the Horn. Do you
   hold back now, at this?" Ingtar: "I hold back at nothing....."

   Verin says to Rand that he has been transported by a Portal Stone more
   recently than she, but that she has never used one. Verin makes Rand
   chose a symbol on the Stone in hopes of getting them to Toman Head.
   Rand picks one and lets the One Power flow through him. Something goes
   wrong and Rand experiences many lives that might have been....He dies
   by a Trolloc sword on that Winternight long ago....He is married to
   Egwene and is going mad. She dies and shortly thereafter he is part of
   a group of men that head up to Taren Ferry to defend their land from
   invading Trollocs. He dies by a Trolloc sword....Egwene dies a week
   after their wedding. Rand takes to traveling around the world and ends
   up in the Queen's Guard. He eventually becomes a Captain and uses the
   One Power in battles. While fighting Artur Hawkwing's armies returned
   on at the Mountains of Mist, he retreats all the way back to Caemlyn
   and lets the Power run rampant destroying much of the land around him.
   He is burned to a crisp by a lighting bolt from behind him....He goes
   through hundreds of lives, all completely different. Each time he has
   the feeling that he was meant for something else and doesn't belong
   where he is. Each time he dies he hears a soft whisper in his ear; "I
   have won again, Lews Therin."

   They end up arriving on Toman Head, but it is autumn. They have taken
   more than four months to get there. Verin says they have taken too
   long and that they must head out west immediately. Before they leave,
   Verin heals (almost) everyone from the effects of the trip. Rand
   refuses, saying that he doesn't want the help of any Aes Sedai.

  Chapter 38 -- Practice

   It is a day off for the Novices in the White tower. Nynaeve and Min
   are in Egwene's room, where Egwene is practicing juggling balls of
   light. Min teases Egwene about how she likes to look at Galad, just
   like every other woman in the Tower. Min tells her that Galad is _so_
   good that he would hurt someone close to him if he thought it was for
   a greater good. Elayne comes in telling of a rumour that King
   Galldrian is dead. She also tells of Logain who she saw crying. Logain
   makes her think of Rand who she hasn't had dreams about since the
   River Queen.

   Egwene thinks about the hole between her and Elayne's room and how she
   has heard Elayne cry herself to sleep many a night because of their
   tough lives as Novices. Min says that she reads danger around each of
   the other women in the room. Liandrin comes in to talk to Nynaeve and
   Egwene. She tells them that Rand is in danger and that they must go to
   Toman Head to help him. They are to leave an hour before sunset. Min
   and Elayne come back as soon as Liandrin leaves. They were listening
   through the hole in the wall, They say that they are going too. Min
   sees that the danger surrounding her friends has become more certain.
   They begin preparing for their journey.

  Chapter 39 -- Flight From the White Tower

   While leaving the Tower, the four women have some close calls with
   being recognized but manage to make it out safely. Once they arrive at
   the Grove, just outside the city, Liandrin appears from behind some
   bushes. She is upset about the presence of Min and Elayne. Liandrin
   goes on to say that if they hadn't have come, they probably wouldn't
   have lived through the night. Liandrin opens the nearby Waygate much
   to the astonishment of the other women. She intends to reach Toman
   Head through the Ways. Liandrin has some sort of parchment to direct
   her at each of the Guidings. She won't let anyone else see it. At one
   point, Min admits that she could have gone her own way instead of into
   the Ways, but she is now as much of the Pattern as the other three.
   After two days of traveling, they arrive at the gate to Toman Head.

  Chapter 40 -- Damane

   Egwene is the first out of the Waygate. She notices a large group of
   men looking at her and her friends with an astonished look on their
   faces. With them are women with other women on leashes and two more
   women without anyone on their leashes. Liandrin knows the groups
   leader, Lady Suroth, who is in a palanquin with eight men holding her
   up. Egwene is confused as to how these people can help them help Rand.
   Several of the men make a grab for each of Min, Elayne, Egwene and
   Nynaeve. Egwene feels a collar close around her neck. She is told by
   the woman at the other end that she is now damane, who goes on to
   explain the concepts of a'dam and sul'dam. Egwene comes to realize
   that the tone in which the sul'dam, Renna, is talking to her is like
   how one would talk to a pet.

   Nynaeve and Elayne have escaped the men that tried to grab them so
   Suroth sends men and a damane out to find them. During the chase,
   lighting and exploding trees are visible to all of the people with
   Suroth. Liandrin and Suroth have some harsh words while waiting for
   the search party to return. They talk about serving their "master".
   Liandrin goes back through the Waygate. The search party comes back
   empty handed. In order to save Min's life from the soldier she
   stabbed, Egwene begs Suroth to let her friend live. Both Min and
   Egwene are subjected to intense pain from damane and sul'dam
   respectively as they head back to Falme. Renna admires the spirit that
   she sees in Egwene and thinks she will be one of the best damane ever.

   Nynaeve is hiding in the bushes in case she is still being hunted. She
   reflects on how angry she was and how she had killed a soldier with a
   lightning bolt and struck one of the women with another. The longer
   she goes without seeing any of her pursuers, the less angry she
   becomes and thus the less she can touch saidar. Elayne comes from out
   of the bushes. She tells Nynaeve how Min had cut the man who was
   holding her, allowing Elayne to escape. Elayne feels very cowardly
   about running and leaving Egwene and Min in the hands of those people.
   Nynaeve: "We will go to Falme. I hope Liandrin is there. I will make
   her curse the day her mother laid eyes on her father." They start
   their journey out west, to Falme, both on the back of Nynaeve's horse.

  Chapter 41 -- Disagreements

   It has been three days since Rand and the others traveled using the
   Stone. It is very cold and damp outside as they head west to Toman
   Head. They arrive at a village called Atuan's Mill. The Seanchan have
   already been there and have all but razed it. The group gathers inside
   an inn to discuss plans about what they should do. Ingtar has become
   very discouraged about finding Fain. He doesn't believe that they will
   ever find him where they are going. Verin and Rand are very adamant
   that they will indeed find Fain, the Horn, and the dagger on Toman
   Head. Rand also reveals to the group what Fain had said in his message
   from Barthanes; how he would hurt the Two Rivers and those Rand loved
   if Rand did not go to Toman Head. Perrin, Mat, and Loial all assure
   Rand that they will continue following Rand and Hurin to find Fain.
   Eventually Ingtar agrees too.

   Rand leaves the rest of the group to go up stairs to sleep. Ba'alzamon
   appears in his room holding the Dragon banner.He is once again
   pressuring Rand into conceding to the Shadow or to face eternity as a
   slave to the Dark One himself. In reaction to Rand drawing an
   incredible amount of saidin through himself, Ba'alzamon says "Fool!
   You will destroy yourself", revealing that maybe he needs Rand alive
   for whatever his plans are and that his claims to destroy Lews Therin
   once and for all are just intimidation. Just before exiting,
   Ba'alzamon reminds Rand that he alone can teach him how to control
   saidin.

  Chapter 42 -- Falme

   Nynaeve and Elayne have been in Falme for a few weeks. They have
   rented an attic from a fishermen to sleep in and have been avoiding
   the damane who would be able to identify them as able to channel.
   Presently, they are hiding in an alley from a sul'dam and damane
   passing by. Elayne reveals that she had just stolen a few apples from
   a store by channeling which gets Nynaeve very upset. At one point the
   two women had had to hide in their attic for three days after Nynaeve
   had channeled. The result was damane all over the city looking for the
   woman who had channeled. Nynaeve had been trying to figure out how to
   undo the damane collars so she could free Egwene. They have located
   the houses in which they think Egwene is kept, but they have not yet
   found her. Nynaeve continues on planning their rescue.

   Egwene is in her room in the damane houses. She is trying to figure
   out how to undo her collar by means of channeling. She is unsuccessful
   as it is very painful to do anything that is forbidden by the sul'dam.
   If she tries to do anything of that sort she is overcome with
   incredible amounts of pain. This includes taking her leash off of the
   hook on which it rests, trying to or even thinking about hurting her
   sul'dam, thinking about escaping, or channeling without her sul'dam
   present.

   Min arrives for her weekly visit. She is wearing a green Seanchan
   dress. Egwene tells her how she is to be taken across the ocean
   because of her rare ability to locate underground ore deposits. Min
   tells her that she has found a ship that will take them away from the
   Seanchan once Egwene has escaped. Egwene tells Min that she is unable
   to get the collar off and that she should escape by herself. She also
   tells about the Aes Sedai who have become damane and how one wants to
   kill herself but is unable to. This worries Min, but Egwene assures
   her that she is not going to kill herself. Renna comes in, detects
   that Egwene had been channeling and begins punishing her intensely.

  Chapter 43 -- A Plan

   Min forces herself to leave the damane's house with Egwene's screams
   slowly fading in the distance. Out on the streets, she sees Nynaeve
   and Elayne for the first time since they they had come out of the
   Waygate weeks ago. Min tells them about Egwene's situation and how she
   is supposed to be sent to Seanchan in a few days because of her
   exceptional abilities. Nynaeve is intent on getting her out of there.
   Min recounts her plans with a ship's captain to sail them away once
   Egwene is freed. Nynaeve wants to talk to this man and they head down
   towards the shore to find him.

   On the way down, the three of them kneel to a passing palanquin
   carrying some Seanchan royalty. They enter an inn called the Three
   Plum Blossoms. Waiting in the common room is Bayle Domon, captain of
   the Spray. He assures Nynaeve that he can get away from the Seanchan
   if he can manage to get away from the shore without having a damane
   destroying his ship. She also reveals to him that she and two of the
   others that will be traveling with him (Elayne and Egwene) are Aes
   Sedai. Domon gets very scared when Nynaeve shows him her ring for fear
   that someone else might see it. He agrees to give them passage. Domon
   tells the women about one Aes Sedai that he saw surrounded by six
   damane that did something horrible to her. The women recognize this as
   stilling.

   Nynaeve and the other two women leave the inn having made Domon
   promise to be prepared to set sail whenever they are ready. Nynaeve
   sags outside against the wall from the strain of appearing extremely
   confident in front of the Domon: "Light, but I was afraid he was going
   to say no."

  Chapter 44 -- Five Will Ride Forth

   Perrin and the others are preparing to leave the village they are in.
   The entire Village Council and their families were burned over eight
   months ago by the Seanchan. Someone is entering the city as they are
   leaving. It is Whitecloaks. Perrin is seen and recognised by Bornhald.
   As they are riding away, Perrin contacts the wolves and learns that
   they are not being followed.

   Geofram Bornhald gives very specific orders to Child Byar for when
   they confront the Seanchan. He tells him to retreat to the distance
   and to watch the battle so he can report back to Pedron Niall and then
   to his son Dain to tell him how he died. Bornhald doesn't think he
   will ever leave Almoth Plain.

   Rand is practising his forms while waiting for the scouting party to
   return. Ingtar watches him practice `Heron Wading In the Rushes'; "You
   shouldn't be bothering with that one. It leaves you completely open."

   Hurin, Perrin and Mat return to report having found Fain's trail
   heading to Falme. Ingtar decides to send in a small party. The other
   four to go are Rand, Mat, Perrin and, Hurin. While they are deciding,,
   Verin is drawing a wheel in the dirt with five spokes; she insists
   that only five people go. When they have decided Rand sees her wipe
   out part of the wheel with her foot. Only four spokes are left.

  Chapter 45 -- Blademaster

   It is Dawn in the city of Falme. Nynaeve, Elayne and, Min are prepared
   to execute their plan to free Egwene. They are spread out along the
   side of the street waiting for a sul'dam and damane to walk by. As
   soon as they are near, Nynaeve uses the power to open the leash and
   sets the girl free. The damane runs away but the three women take the
   sul'dam, Seta, to a back alley and organize their next move. Nynaeve
   is going to pose as the sul'dam and instead of having Elayne wear the
   collar around her neck, Nynaeve decides to use Seta. Putting the
   collar on the woman's neck is a horrendous experience for her. The
   collar is only supposed to work on women who can channel but Nynaeve
   can feel Seta on the other end of it. Seta is begging with Nynaeve not
   to make her wear it, but she promises to go along with what they tell
   her to do. They head off to the damane quarters intent on freeing
   Egwene.

   Domon and his crew are aboard the Spray waiting for Nynaeve and the
   others to arrive. He has made sure everything is ready to leave on a
   moments notice.

   The group of Five enter Falme and Hurin proceeds to lead them around
   searching for Fain's scent. As they are walking they see what Rand
   recognizes as a grolm. He doesn't believe they can be real. Shortly
   afterwards, Mat says he can feel the dagger inside the building that
   the grolm were guarding. Ingtar doesn't care about the dagger; he
   wants the Horn. Rand rationalizes that if they find the dagger they
   will find Fain and the Horn. Accepting reason, Ingtar leads them to an
   alley to get behind the house and then inside. He leaps over the wall
   first to take care of the guard there and the others follow shortly
   afterwards. They make their way up the stairs to a room that contains
   both the dagger and the Horn. While Mat and Ingtar claim what they
   have been searching for, Rand looks out the window, he sees Egwene
   across the street. Perrin and Mat tell him he must be imagining things
   but Rand believes he saw her with a chain around her neck and feels
   compelled to rescue her.

   At that moment, Turak and some of his men enter the room. One of them
   tries to take the Horn and Mat stabs him with his dagger. The man
   swells up into a black mass in the middle of the floor.

   Turak engages Rand as the Five fight to escape. Rand assumes the void
   and is fighting with all of his skill but is barely able to fend of
   the High Lord's attacks. With one move Rand manages to attack for the
   first time and slays Turak. It is the first man he has ever killed.The
   guards mutter an oath to Turak and then slay themselves. The servants
   remain in the bowing position that they maintained throughout the
   entire engagement. Rand and the others flee for the door as Mat spots
   officers entering the building. Rand swears to himself that he will
   free Egwene.

  Chapter 46 -- To Come Out of the Shadow

   The four women enter the building of the damane and head up to the
   fourth floor to Egwene's room. Egwene is overjoyed to see them. She is
   surprised to see Seta with the collar around her neck, but it proves a
   theory that she has. She tells the other women that the sul'dam can
   indeed channel just like the damane. The damane are the girls that
   have the ability born into them whereas the sul'dam are the ones who
   have the ability to learn. Renna, comes into the room and is shocked
   to see Egwene without her collar on. Before she can react, Egwene
   throws a jug at her, shattering it, and slaps the collar around
   Renna's neck. Renna lies on the ground as Egwene makes her feel the
   pain that she was made to feel. Nynaeve makes her stop and they leave
   the two sul'dam sobbing as they head out to the street towards the
   harbour.

   There are men approaching from all directions. Nynaeve says that they
   have nothing to do with them; they should be able to walk right past
   down to meet Domon. Egwene exclaims: "I will not go back (to the
   collar). I'll die first. Let me show them what they have taught me."
   The ground explodes beneath the soldiers. Fireballs and lightning
   begins to fall from the sky at the four women.

   Aboard the Spray, Bayle Domon witnesses the lightning flashing from a
   blue sky and has to stop his crew from setting sail claiming that he
   gave his word to wait for Nynaeve and the others.

   Outside the city, Geofram Bornhald sees the lightning flashes and
   gives the order to Child Byar to distance himself from the ranks to
   enable himself to report back to Pedron Niall and Dain Bornhald. He
   then orders his legion into the city.

   Rand is with Ingtar in an alleyway watching the lightning flash above
   their heads. He is still intent on finding Egwene. Ingtar begins with
   what seems like babbling, but it is his confession. "I never knew what
   he was going to do. A pale little man you didn't seem to really notice
   even when you were looking at him. Take him inside Fal Dara, I was
   told, inside the fortress. I didn't want to, but I had to do it. You
   understand? I had to. I never knew what he intended until he shot that
   arrow. I still don't know if it was meant for the Amyrlin, or for
   you."

   Hurin approaches near the end of the confession and Rand leaves with
   him. Ingtar stays behind to fight the Seanchan to allow Rand and the
   others to escape and to hopefully redeem himself for all he has done.
   "`The Light shine on you, Lord Ingtar of House Shinowa, and may you
   shelter in the palm of the Creator's hand.' He touched Ingtar's
   shoulder. `The last embrace of the mother welcome you home' Hurin
   gasped."

  Chapter 47 -- The Grave Is No Bar To My Call

   Rand is intent on returning to the city to find Egwene, but an army of
   Seanchan is approaching from one side and a legion of Whitecloaks from
   the other. Mat states that there is nothing in the prophecy of the
   Horn that says it can't be used before the Last Battle and proceeds to
   sound it.

   Geofram Bornhald hears the mournful sound of the Horn.Lightning
   flashes down from the sky hitting his men. He orders them to charge.
   As fog surrounds him and lightning continues to destroy the ground
   beneath his feet; his thoughts are of regret as Byar will not be able
   to tell Dain how his father died.

   Out of the fog in front of Rand rides Artur Hawkwing, Birgitte, and
   the rest of the Hundred Companions. They greet Rand as Lews Therin and
   ask him if he has the banner of the Dragon to lead them into battle.
   Perrin takes the banner and Mat plays the Horn as they charge. The fog
   becomes ever thicker around Rand until he can no longer see anyone
   else. He is flung from the back of Red, his horse, as Ba'alzamon
   appears in front of him. When he gets up the horse is gone. Rand can
   see Perrin and Mat, the Hundred Companions, the Seanchan, and the
   Whitecloaks fighting beneath him. Ba'alzamon once more lays claim to
   Rand's soul and Rand refuses to concede. The two of them engage in
   sword-fight. Rand realizes that when he advances in his battle, his
   companions down below advance and when he is forced back, so are they.

   Rand assumes the attack position of the Heron Wading in the Rushes
   with a ridiculous grin on his face. Ba'alzamon stabs him in the side
   with his staff, but Rand manages to stab him right through the heart.
   The world explodes in fire.

  Chapter 48 -- First Claiming

   Min is in the middle of Falme amidst the fire and destruction. All the
   Seanchan ships in the harbour, save one, are on fire. The Spray is
   gone. Min sees a figure, Birgitte, launch a silver arrow into the last
   ship setting it on fire, and then disappear. She finds Rand lying on
   the ground and carries him inside a building and into a bed. She is
   lying beside him, warming him, when Egwene walks in. Min is very
   attracted to him and says openly to Egwene that she wants him. Egwene
   says that both her and Elayne could feel him pulling them to him. When
   Egwene leaves to get Nynaeve, Lanfear appears to Min naming herself
   and claiming Rand (Lews Therin), as hers. She tells Min to look after
   him for her until she returns.

   Child Byar rides away from Falme having seen the entire Legion
   destroyed. He is heading back to Amadicia to report to Pedron Niall.

  Chapter 49 -- What Was Meant To Be

   Rand wakes up with Min beside him. She tells him that they freed
   Egwene. Nynaeve, Elayne, and Egwene have returned to the Tower, and
   Mat has gone to be healed from the dagger. Hurin and Verin have gone
   with them. Moiraine is still there although Rand wishes she wasn't. He
   is still very intent on finding Fain.

   Moiraine has two broken seals on the Dark One's prison and tells Rand
   that three of the seven are now broken. Furthermore, she tells him
   that his battle with Ba'alzamon took place in the sky for all to see.

   Perrin, Loial, Uno, and Masema are still there. Masema pledges his
   loyalty to Rand as the Dragon Reborn. Rand wants to be free of the
   title of the Dragon and his obligation to fight in Tarman Gai'don, but
   he remembers "Death is lighter than a feather, duty heavier than
   mountain". He makes his decision.

  Chapter 50 -- After

   Stories of what happened on Almoth Plain spread across the land. It is
   distorted as it travels, but all tell of the battle in the sky and the
   forces following the banner of the Dragon into battle against Artur
   Hawkwing's armies returned from across ocean.

   Craig Cassar