Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, Part 5, Part 6, Part 7, Part 8, Part 9, Part 10, Part 11, Part 12, Part 13.
Spoilers for those who are unfamiliar with the series. Note that this summary is designed to help people who have already read the books get back up to speed before the release of the final volume in January. First-timers are advised to read the books directly, as in some cases these summaries may spoil things that are not revealed in the books until much later.
Perrin Aybara makes a fateful decision over his destiny.Follow the break for the summary:
Crossroads of Twilight
InArad Doman Lord Rodel Ituralde, commander of the country’s armies, meets theleaders of the Dragonsworn rebels under an oath of truce. Ituralde has receivedorders to march against the Seanchan in Tarabon from King Alsalam, but aconventional assault would be suicide. He comes up with an alternate plan: aseries of guerrilla attacks designed to provoke the Seanchan into mounting aninvasion of Arad Doman, and into a trap. The Dragonsworn, impressed by theplan, agree to support it.
Innorth-eastern Amadicia the Children of the Light regroup after their disastrousdefeat at Jeramel. The Amadician army has been destroyed and King Ailron hasbeen slain. Thankfully, Lord Captain Commander Eamon Valda has saved over 9,000Whitecloak troops and gathered them together. High Inquisitor Rhadam Asunawa isall for abandoning Amadicia to its fate and riding east through Altara andMurandy in pursuit of the Aes Sedai witches they have heard about, fleeingnorth from Salidar. Valda thinks that plan is preposterous and has alreadyarranged an alternative, a meeting with factions which may aid them in battlingtheir foes. Asunawa agrees to go to this meeting with Valda and the Council ofthe Anointed.
Logaintakes his two captive Aes Sedai, Gabrelle and Toveine, with him on a ridethrough the forests near the Black Tower.Gabrelle ponders why Logain hasn’t made them swear an oath to do no harm to theBlack Tower,but it might have something to do with the rift between Logain and Taim. One ofTaim’s lackeys, Mishraile, arrives and informs Logain that he has permission togo on a recruiting expedition. Logain is satisfied, but Toveine realises thathe is up to something and tells Gabrelle that they must both accompany him nomatter the cost.
Inthe White Tower Yukiri, one of the Aes Sedai hunting the Black Ajah, is in afit over the growing chaos in the world: horrifying stories coming out ofSeanchan-occupied lands, mayhem in Arad Doman and Murandy, and rebel Aes Sedaiall over the Sun Palacein Cairhien and the Royal Palacein Caemlyn. Yukiri has been assigned to guard Meidani, one of the rebel AesSedai that was smuggled into the White Tower months ago. Both are keepingan eye on Atuan Larisett, an Aes Sedai they know for sure is Black Ajah. Theyalso know that Galina Casban and Temaile Kinderode are Black Ajah, but both areabsent from the Tower. Atuan is the hunters’ only link to tracking down moreBlack sisters. Yukiri suggests that Meidani try to re-start her friendship withElaida, whom she was friends with whilst they were novices. Meidani has alreadytried, but has been put off by Alviarin. Yukiri tells her that Alviarin leftthe White Toweryesterday for an unknown location and the way is open to Elaida now. Meidaniagrees to try again. Both are then approached by Seaine, the sister Elaidafirst put on the trail of the Black Ajah two months ago. Seaine and Yukiridiscuss a puzzling matter. The original reason that Yukiri, Saerin and Doesineapproached Seaine and Pevara was that they were confused why the heads of thesix Ajahs in the Tower were meeting one another in secret. However, furtherdiscussions have revealed that each of the five Ajahs who lost Sitters to therebels have elected a young Sitter years before she should have even beenconsidered for the post. A conspiracy between the Sitters and the Ajah headssounds ridiculous, but Seaine and her conspirators realise it may be connectedto their own quest and the division in the Tower. They must try to find outwhat’s going on before the rebel Aes Sedai arrive.
Afew days later, Gawyn Trakand and a detachment of the Younglings are returningto their base in Dorlan, a town not far from Tar Valon (from where they havebeen exiled by Elaida), when their scouts encounter over 25,000 men holding thebridge towns on this side of the Erinin. Reports indicate a similar number onthe far side. An army has materialised out of nowhere and laid siege to TarValon itself, an almost incomprehensible idea. As a result of the siege, Gawynand his troops and fourteen Aes Sedai - Katerine Alruddin and Tarna Feir mostnewly-arrived - among them, are unable to get any closer to the city. However,one Aes Sedai, Narenwin, has managed to slip out of Tar Valon with orders forGawyn from Elaida. Katerine and Tarna immediately depart to find the boatNarenwin sneaked out of the city in. They need to get into the city no matterthe cost. Gawyn is annoyed with Elaida having used the Younglings then thrownthem to one side, but agrees to hear out her requests.
Marshal-GeneralDavram Bashere and Bael, clan chief of the Goshien Aiel, observes the largenumber of troops gathering outside Caemlyn. 5,000 men in one camp, and sevensuch camps going up around the city at equal distances. The Andorans don’t paythe Saldaeans or the Aiel any attention, since they know that Elayne wouldn’tdare to use outlanders to resolve an Andoran situation. Bashere is stillconfused by the situation: two former claimants to the throne, Naean Arawn andElenia Sarand have apparently thrown their support behind Arymilla Marne, theleast capable of the rulers of the Great Houses of Andor (apart from the insaneNasin Caeren), challenging Elayne Trakand’s claim to the throne. Bashere is also slightly worried by the news that his own Queen Tenobia isless than 200 milesto the north of them. Although he could see no other way of proceeding, heknows his actions might be construed as treason. Returning to his camp, he ishorrified to see his wife, Deira, injured, but learns her wounds are notserious. Two men tried to plant a fake note in his tent, but Deira and her bodyguardchased them off. The note, written in Bashere’s own hand, commissions two men tocarry off certain ‘items’ from the camp.
InCairhien, reconstruction of the Sun Palacecontinues following the battle between Rand and the Asha’man. Dobraine Taborwinis following Rand’s orders by running the city and thecountry efficiently, feeding those made homeless by the civil war and theShaido War, and supporting Elayne Trakand’s claim for the Sun Throne. Samitsu,the senior-most of the Aes Sedai who follow Cadsuane, meets with Sashalle, aRed sister who has sworn loyalty to Rand, and learnsthat the senior members of House Riatin are urging the Lady Ailil to take theHigh Seat of the house, following Toram’s disappearance (word of his death inFar Madding has not yet reached Cairhien). Samitsu doesn’t want to upset thebalance of power in Cairhien, but Sashalle is sure that it is the right thingto do: Ailil has forsworn House Riatin’s claim to the Sun Throne and promisedto swear allegiance to Elayne Trakand. Before they can discuss the matterfurther, they learn that an Ogier has arrived in the palace with a humancompanion. Puzzled, they sweep down to the kitchens and confront the newarrivals, who pretend to be an Ogier mason up from Stedding Tsofu and his humantravelling companion. Samitsu points out that she knows that Randsent his Ogier friend Loial and an Asha’man, Karldin, from the city on anunknown errand. Loial is deflated that his attempt at misinformation failed andKarldin prepares to leave the city immediately, but suddenly word comes thatLord Dobraine has been murdered! The group immediately heads for his chambersand finds Dobraine on the edge of death. Samitsu, one of the most talentedHealers the Aes Sedai possess (bested only by Nynaeve), manages to save him. They discover a note, forged to look like Dobraine himself wroteit, ordering certain men to carry off ‘items’ from his chamber. Loial guesseswhat they were after, but refuses to divulge it to Samitsu and Sashalle. Justas they face off with Loial and Karldin, a messenger arrives, reporting thatAes Sedai sisters are approaching the Sun Palace...and Logain Ablar is withthem.
Mat and his party fleeing through the Altaran woodlands.Severaldays have passed since Mat Cauthon and his companions fled Ebou Dar with theDaughter of the Nine Moons, hidden in Valan Luca’s menagerie. However, rather than immediately flee, they haveremained in the vicinity of the city. Sure enough, Seanchan patrols havehurtled off in all directions, not bothering to look right under the citywalls. Mat is puzzled why a general alarm has not gone out, but Egeanin saysthat if the news that Tuon had been kidnapped got out, then half the Seanchannobility in the city would have to kill themselves or surrender to the Seekersfor the Truth (pretty much the same thing) in shame. Mat goes out to look atthe harbour again, still aghast at what happened on the night they passedthrough the city gates. The Sea Folk Windfinders they set free were discoveredby the Seanchan before they could give Mat his three hours, so unleashed hellimmediately. They launched an attack on the damanequarters, killing many of them, before sinking half the Seanchan fleet in theharbour and destroying their own rakers to deny their use to the Seanchan. Manyof the Sea Folk died and hundreds upon hundreds of ships were destroyed in thebattle that followed, but hundreds of the Sea Folk escaped out to sea and,presumably, safety in the east. Mat realises that the Seanchan don’t haveenough surviving ships to take them all home once they are defeated, butEgeanin points out that as far as the Seanchan are concerned, they are home.
Backat the menagerie, Valan Luca isenraged that they aren’t further away from the city. Mat agrees that they havelingered close to Ebou Dar long enough for any search effort to have passedthem, and they prepare to depart. Egeanin is annoyed about Mat taking charge ofthe situation and tries to challenge him, but Mat deflects her. He sees Tuon,who is enraged that Mat has spread tales of her being a dishonest servant toexplain why he has her under guard. Unexpectedly, she asks Mat if he remembersArtur Hawkwing’s face (which, thanks to the memories he gained in Rhuidean, hedoes). Mat says not. Thom Merrilin returns from the city with the news that nogeneral alert has gone out about Tuon’s disappearance. It seems that theSeanchan will leave their Seekers for the Truth to locate Tuon, a far fromappealing prospect. Thom’s next news is horrifying: Tylin Quintara, Queen ofAltara, is dead. Her decapitated body was found in the palace. The Seanchan areplanning to bury her and crown Beslan, her son, on the same day. Mat realisesthat the gholam killed her whilstlooking for her. This makes him feel guilty. Tuon is pleased that Mat felt somethingfor Tylin – his honesty does him credit – but doesn’t believe that Shadowspawnare real. One of the Aes Sedai in the camp, Joline, calls Mat away and tellshim that their planned route to Lugard is too dangerous, suggesting they makefor Illian instead. When he asks why, the Aes Sedai and the former sul’dam alike confirm that they can feelsomeone channeling saidar far, far tothe north, a torrent of the One Power like nothing ever seen before. Matsuddenly sees a swirling image in his head, of Randsitting with an unknown woman in a clearing, and realises that Randis behind what is going on. He tells them they make for Lugard as planned.
InEbou Dar Furyk Karede of the Deathwatch Guard is answering letters about thenature of the Asha’man, whom he has faced in battle, whilst Lord Yulan hasasked him to look at – as a thought experiment only – a way of attacking TarValon. A Seeker for the Truth named Mor informs Karede that a woman answeringTuon’s description has been linked to a Tar Valon agent named Merrilin andTylin’s ‘pet’ Cauthon, all of whom vanished along with Captain Egeanin on thesame night. Mor’s intelligence has them heading north. After thinking on thematter, Karede assembles a taskforce of some 100 Deathwatch Guard, including 20Ogier Gardeners, and sets out in pursuit.
Perrinand his comrades have been continuing their pursuit of Faile for twenty-twodays. They headed south for a while before turning east, crossing the RiverEldar into Altara near small hamlet named Brytan. By now they are only two daysbehind the Shaido. Some of Faile’s scouts report to Perrin that Masema has beensending riders back towards Amadicia for purposes unknown. Masema’s followershave also begun claiming that Masema died and was reborn as the Prophet of theLord Dragon and no longer permit the use of his former name. Perrin is angeredthat Masema’s followers are indulging in wholesale looting and executing thosewho refuse to swear loyalty to the Dragon Reborn, but he still needs Masema’stroops too much to punish them. Perrin also learns that two of the Aes Sedaiaccompanying him, Masuri and Annoura, have been visiting with Masema in secret.Balwer Sebban offers his advice on the reports, but there are too manyvariables. Perrin has him arrange to insert Faile’s loyal retainers amongst theAiel and use a high-ranking Tairen noblelady member of their number to try and talk toBerelain, to see if Annoura’s activities are at her behest.
Reachingthe outskirts of the camp Perrinsees pawprints burned into the ground: Darkhounds. Perrin sends Aramto alert the other soldiers and follows the prints. He is disquieted to seethat the Darkhounds circled the camp once before vanishing off into the night.Before he can follow them further, Berelain leads some their associates out tomeet him. Berelain slips him a note one of her thief-takers took from Masema’stent, revealing that Masema has been in contact with the High Lady Suroth ofthe Seanchan. Perrin tells Berelain her advisor has been meeting with Masema insecret, to Berelain’s disquiet. She promises to find out what’s going on.Meanwhile, Masuri is studying the Darkhound tracks. One of her specialities isin studying Shadowspawn. She reports that the Darkhound pack may have consistend of as many asfifty creatures and they didn’t find what they were looking for. They are more thanan hour gone. Masema arrives with some bodyguards and reports that his peoplehave found a nearby town called So Habor. They can stop there for resupply butPerrin wants to press on to find Faile. Elyas and an Aiel scout arrive with news:the Shaido have seized a fortified town in ridge country forty miles away to thenorth-east. There are at least 10,000 of them. Perrin is shocked: he only has2,000 troops under his direct command. Masema has around 10,000-12,000 but mostof them are looters, murderers and criminals of little military use.
Perrinhas one of the Asha’man open a gateway near to the Shaido camp and he leads ascouting party through to investigate. On the far side of a ridge they see alarge, fortified town swallowed in the midst of a vast mass of Shaido. Thechannellers in the party report that there are at least 400 Shaido Wise Ones inthe camp (all of the ones that survived Dumai’s Wells), much to Perrin’s surprise.Suddenly Perrin sees a flash of colour and has a vision of Rand and Nynanevesitting opposite one another. The channellers in the party can all sense aneruption of the Power like nothing they’ve felt before. Perrin tells them it isRand and to start coming up with plans to free Faile andthe others from the camp.
Inthe camp Faileis being questioned by a Wise One named Someryn. All of the Shaido Wise Oneshave been intercepting and questioning those gai’shain who have been serving Sevanna, questioning them on heractivities. Faile is responding as best she can when Someryn suddenly startsstaring off into the north-west. Every channelling Wise One Faile can see isdoing the same thing. Someryn absently dismisses her and Faile ponders what thechannellers have sensed. Faile heads for the nearby city – Malden– which the Shaido overwhelmed in a single night following a surprise nightattack. She finds Chiad nearby. Bain and Chiad helped two of the other womencaptured with Faile – Lacile and Arrela – to escape towards Perrin’s pursuers,but will not countenance fleeing themselves in violation of ji’e’toh. Faile moves on but is grabbedby a drunk Aiel warrior named Nadric, who carts her off. Another Aiel, Rolan,the one who grabbed her in the forest, intervenes and forces Nadric to leave.Escorting her back to the main camp, Rolan reveals that he finds Faileattractive, despite her having a husband. Faile starts thinking how she can use this to help her escape. Later, another ofSevanna’s servants, Aravine, finds Faile and reveals that Lacile and Arrelahave been recaptured and punished as runaways. Aravin knows who Faile really isand offers to keep that knowledge secret in return for Faile taking her withthem when they escape. Faile reluctantly agrees.
ReachingSevanna’s tent, Faile overhears Sevanna and Thevara arguing. Thevara thinksthey should keep heading east no matter what, whilst Sevanna wants them to stayfor another few weeks until the snow starts to melt. Sevanna has found a knifeFaile hid in her clothes and has her stripped naked and left bound in the snowas a punishment. Rolan stops by and leaves some burning logs to heat her up andFaile becomes convinced she can get Rolan to help her escape.
Twentymiles from the River Erinin, on the other side of a spur of the small rangeknown as the Chishen Mountainsalong Andor’s southern border, Elayne Trakand is visiting the manor house ofHouse Matherin. Elayne has spent the last several days Travelling around Andor,visiting the estates of minor houses sworn to Trakand, getting them to assembletheir bannermen and agree to support her in the struggle to come. A maid,Elsie, helps Elayne prepare for an audience but suddenly panics, saying she sawa ghost. Elayne dismisses her fears. House Matherin sends several green boys and‘veteran’ (aka retired) warriors to help her, but most of their strength isheading for Caemlyn on foot. Elayne and Aviendha Travel back to Caemlyn withtheir new recruits, but just as they open the gateway they sense a torrent of saidar in the distance. Elayne thinks ithas something to do with Rand but cannot be sure what.Aviendha convinces her not to intervene until they know what has happened.
Backin Caemlyn Elayne learns that Dyelin Taravin has not yet returned to the city.Dyelin, aided by Reanne Corly (who is making gateways for her), is sounding outsupport for Elayne among some of the other noble houses. There are 400 housesin Andor, but only 19 strong enough to have a deciding vote in the choosing ofa new queen. At the moment only two – Trakand and Taravin – have sworn forElayne. Six have sworn for Arymilla Marne. Houses Carand, Coelan and Rensharhave offered support for Dyelin, butnot for Elayne. Norwelyn, Pendar and Traemane have not yet declared at all.Elayne learns that eighty bannermen from House Norwelwyn breached the siege toreach Caemlyn and were rescued by Captain Doilan Mellar’s men. Angered, becauseLord Luan Norwelwyn has not yet declared for her and his men could beassassins, Elayne curtly dismisses Mellar from her presence. She offers comfortto the other Aes Sedai, Windfinders and Kin worried by the massive eruption ofthe Power from the west, pointing out that they cannot worry about it now.
Suppliesare continuing to pour into the city: gateways mean that Arymilla’s siege isnearly pointless in keeping troops and materials out. Rumour has come in with,but no news of Galad or Gawyn, to Elayne’s distress. There is talk that Tairennobles opposed to the Dragon Reborn are besieging the Stone of Tear, demandingthat High Lord Darlin help them boot out Rand’s forces,but so far the Stone is holding out. There are also reports of several AesSedai sisters newly arrived from the White Tower staying at an inn in the New City, suggesting that Elaida is supporting her claimfor the Lion Throne, even if Elayne’s support for the rebel Aes Sedai will haveto be punished one day.
TheAtha’an Miere Wavemistress who is staying at the palace, Zaida din Parede,reports the death of the Mistress of the Ships and that she has been summoned tomeet the other Wavemistresses for the election of a new leader. So thatElayne’s bargain with the Sea Folk is kept, she demands that Elayne send someof the Aes Sedai with them to continue teaching them about the Power. Elaynerefuses, pointing out that the bargain was with the Mistress of the Ships. Oncea new one is selected, the Aes Sedai will fulfil their part of the bargain. Oneof the Aes Sedai with them, Merilille, had already agreed to be a teacher soshe can go, but the remainder will stay with Elayne. Zaida then suggests a newbargain. In return for some of the Windfinders remaining with Elayne’s group(who need them to make gateways), Zaida wants a square mile on the River Erininin Andor ceded to the Sea Folk in perpetuity. Elayne nearly chokes on that butcounter-suggests all 21 of the Windfinders with Zaida remaining behind andanother 21 being sent when they leave, for as long as Aes Sedai teachWindfinders about channelling. Eventually they come to a compromise: ninehelping Elayne for as long as it takes her to gain her crown. Even so, Elaynerealises she has the better of the deal.
Dyelinreturns with the High Seats of Houses Mantear, Haevin, Gilyard and Northan.Lord Perival, Lady Catalyn, Lord Branet and Lord Conail, the respective High Seatsof those Houses, swear fealty to Trakand on the spot, much to Elayne’spleasure. Even better, they have brought more than 3,000 troops to help defendCaemlyn. Lady Catalyn Haevin has brought the largest contingent, 1,200 troops.All have sent to their pledged armsman and more troops should be on the road,though whether they can reach Caemlyn before the issue is decided is anothermatter entirely. After that meeting, Elayne learns that several more spies havebeen unmasked in the city. Attempts have begun to feed them false information.There are also reports that the Borderlander army in Braem Wood is moving, butslowly. It will be nearly a month before they get close to Caemlyn. Some of theundecided Houses who treated with Egwene on the Murandian border are alsoheading north, though whether to winter at their estates or to head for Caemlynis as yet unknown.
Elaynelearns from a Wise One who is helping her through her pregnancy that she isexpecting twins! That joyous news is cut short when the beacon of saidar blazing in the west suddenly cutsoff. Minutes later news arrives that Merilille and two Sea Folk apprenticeshave vanished and the Sea Folk are in an uproar about it. Elayne puts herfollowers to work trying to track them down.
Inthe besieging camp, Lady Elenia Sarand is trying to think of a way of escapingthe trap Arymilla has set for her, essentially blackmailing her and the otherhouses who have sworn to her with forged letters. Lady Naean Arawn offers tohelp Elenia in escaping, even promising to swear Arawn to Sarand’s banner inreturn and Elenia accepts.
Meanwhile,Daved Hanlon reports to Shiaine that Caemlyn will hold as long as the gatewayscontinue to bring in fresh food and supplies. Shiaine suggests that Hanlon tryto get closer to Elayne and promises to let him loot the city when it is taken.
AtTar Valon Egwene spies on the city with Gareth Bryne. They see riverboatsdocking at the harbours, bearing fresh troops for the Tower Guard. Bryne urgesEgwene to let him attack the city, since every day means his own troops’ moralegets less and the enemy’s rises. Egwene refuses to accept that. She wants toseal off the harbours and starve Elaida into submission, however long thattakes. Some of the sisters – mainly from the Grey Ajah – suggest openingnegotiations with Elaida. Egwene agrees, but the sole condition is that Elaidamust resign from the Amyrlin Seat. If she does that, Egwene will order herforces to surrender in order to reunite the White Tower peacefully. However, that seemsa most unlikely outcome. Some of Egwene’s advisors suggest that, if nothingelse, negotiations will show that somethingis happening. They’ve spent two weeks staring at the walls of Tar Valon anddoing nothing. It’s unlikely that Bryne will find the ships he needs toblockade the harbours any time soon (since all ships bound for the city nowmake their last anchorages a hundred miles or more up- or downriver and thenmake full speed for the city to avoid being seized), and morale will suffer ifthe waiting continues. Large amounts of the rebel army’s supplies have spoiled,with weevils multiplying and meat rotting even when placed within a saidar-wrought Keeping, another headachefor Egwene but, as yet at least, not a critical one. Another headache is keepingall the new novices (more than 900 of them, recruited on the road from Salidarto the Murandian border and then in the area surrounding Tar Valon) fed andclothed.
Backat the camp Egwenevisits a group of novices who are working on her latest discovery: how to make cuendillar. Egwene wants large numbersof cuendillar artifacts made so theycan be sold for vast profits, helping keep the rebel army supplied and itstroops paid. Some of the Aes Sedai are unhappy with this, seeing it asdemeaning, but accept the need as one borne of desperation. After Egwene,Leane, Kairen and Bodewhin Cauthon are the fastest and most effective atcreating cuendillar. Tiana, theMistress of Novices, complains to Egwene about Nicola Treehill, stating thatshe suspects Nicola has begun using her known ability to Foretell to her ownadvantage, faking predictions to enhance her own power. Nicola’s latest batchhas included visions of battles with the Seanchan and the Asha’man, an Amyrlinchained and a vision of Tarmon Gai’don. Most of the other novices no longerbelieve her, making it difficult to judge the value of her gift. She has alsobeen caught trying to eavesdrop on sisters and also trying to spy on theopening of a gateway to see how the weaves are made.
Backat her tent, Egwene talks to Siuan. One of her headaches comes on which Halimaoffers to treat, but Egwene packs her off. Siuan reports that during a sojournin Tel’aran’rhiod she found out thenames of new Sitters in the White Tower:five relatively young women, none in the Tower longer than seventy years. Thatmakes eleven Aes Sedai raised to the Hall years before their time between therebels and the Tower Aes Sedai. That makes it more than coincidence, but theycan’t all be Black Ajah (otherwise the White Tower would have fallen years ago).Yet a conspiracy of sorts seems underway. Reports from the Tower’seyes-and-ears comes in, along with Leane’s reports from her spies in Tar Valon.The Tower Guard has abandoned its traditional policing role to fortify the bridgetowers, harbours and some of the walls, allowing crime to rise for the firsttime in centuries within the city. The White Tower has been sealed since thesiege began and no sister has been seen outside the compound since then.Elsewhere, many people in lands occupied by the Seanchan seem to have acceptedtheir lordship, since they rule better than many and no worse than some. Thereare confused reports out of Arad Doman, reports of battles and of Lord RodelIturalde leading Arad Doman’s armies to war. There is word of the Borderlanderarmy in Braem Wood, with the Green Ajah concerned about the weakening of thedefences against the Blight. Luckily, the rumoured 50+ sisters with theBorderlanders seem to preventing the Green Ajah from sending their own delegatesto investigate, since the sisters with those rulers may be Elaida’s. Otherreports come from Illian and Tear. Lord Gregorin has gathered large armiesoutside the city of Illian, ready to repulse a possible Seanchan assault,whilst Sea Folk armadas have gathered in both Illian and Tear (along withreports of wilders among them). The Grey Ajah is considering openingnegotiations in Tear between the High Lord Darlin Sisnera and the besiegingarmies of rebel nobles. Reports from Cairhien and Tear are also hinting that Randal’Thor may have used Compulsion on Aes Sedai sisters – including Melana andthe legenday Cadsuane! – to do his bidding. Luckily, that idea hasn’t spread tothe rebel Hall of the Tower.
A meeting of theHall is convened. Several sisters sent to investigate the massive torrent ofthe Power which ended several days ago report that the ancient, ruined city of Shadar Logoth has been destroyed. Several sisters suggestthat if this weapon was to be deployed against them they would not be able tohandle it with their traditional thirteen-sister circles. They must countenancethe impossible: expanding the circles with men who can channel! Egwene issurprised by the boldness of this suggestion, beyond what she would dare tosuggest, and even more startled at how much support the idea garners, with evenarch-rivals Lelaine and Romanda agreeing to support the idea. A delegation tosend to the Black Toweris assembled.
Egwene goes tosleep and enters Tel’aran’rhiod. Shemeets Aviendha (using a ter’angrealto enter the World of Dreams) and they exchange news. Both are anxious for wordfrom Rand or Nynaeve, but have heard nothing. Afterwards Egwene experiencessome of her prophetic dreams. She sees Mat rolling bowling balls at pins andknocking them flying, but each pin represents thousands of men. An Illuminatoris involved, somehow. Egwene is climbing a cliff-face and almost falls to herdeath, but a Seanchan woman armed with a sword appears and saves her, offeringto help her reach the top. Again Egwene is climbing a cliif-face, but this isactually a path winding to the top of a spire. At the top of the spire is anoil candle burning a solid white light, the Flame of Tar Valon. Suddenly twonight-black ravens fly out of the clouds and knock the candle over, nearlytoppling it. Egwene realises that the Seanchan are planning to attack TarValon.
Awakeningin the night, Egwene hears Halima come into the tent to sleep, complaining ofhaving worked hard that night. The next morning Egwene is awoken by one of herloyal Aes Sedai, Nisao, who reports that Anaiya and her Warder have been founddead whilst out in the camp. No-one knows what they were doing. A resonancetesting revealed that both were killed with saidin,indicating that a man who can channel is in the camp. Egwene knows they mustalert the Hall, but orders Nisao to investigate the murder further.
Insidethe White Tower Alviarin emerges from a gateway, having Travelled from the SeaFolk island of Tremalking.She goes to see Elaida. Along the way she bumps into Talene and is surprised tosee Talene looking to Yukiri and Doesine for guidance when she is above them inthe Tower hierarchy (Talene is the Blach Ajah sister exposed by the huntersincluding Yukiri and Doesine). Pondering this, Alviarin arrives at theAmyrlin’s study and is astonished when Elaida orders her to be silent until shehas finished dealing with a delegation of Sitters. They want her to opennegotiations with the rebels. Elaida agrees, on the sole condition that therebels accept the disbanding of the Blue Ajah and that their punishment will bedecided by Elaida herself, not their Ajah. After the Sitters go Alviarin triesto take Elaida in hand, but Elaida storms over her. She has had Alviarinstripped off the rank of Keeper of the Chronicles after disappearing for nearlya month and now has scapegoats for the disasters of Dumai’s Wells and the Black Tower, respectively Coiren andToveine Gazal, making her immune to Alviarin’s blackmail. She tells Alviarinshe knows she has her own agenda and is actively investigating her. Panicking,Alviarin summons Mesaana to her rooms using a ter’angreal and tells her she is at risk. Mesaana is furious atbeing disturbed for such a little thing and prepares to punish her, but ShaidarHaran appears from the shadows. He marks Alviarin as his tool and unleasheshorrific punishments upon Mesaana for refusing to show up at the Battle ofShadar Logoth. Horrified, Alviarin realises that Shaidar Haran is somehowprojecting the Dark One’s will at great distance from Shayol Ghul. Haran ordersMesaana to locate and kill those Elaida has put on her trail.
Pevara,one of those very hunters, is talking to Tarna Feir, who has been raised Keeperof the Chronicles in Alviarin’s place. Tarna reports how she went to negotiatewith the rebel Aes Sedai. With the failure of that mission she headed straightback to Tar Valon. Along the way, at a village in Murandy, she happened to seean Asha’man recruiting party. That party consisted of six of them. Doing themaths, Tarna worked out that in order to spare six Asha’man on one recruitingparty, there would have to be at least a couple of hundred of them in total. Toomany to gentle before Tarmon Gai’don. Tarna suggests that the only way to keepthe Asha’man in hand is for the Red Ajah to bond them as Warders! They know howto handle men who can channel. Pevara is astonished but agrees there is somelogic to that thought. However, most Red sisters will not be so reasonable.Pevara shows Tarna a message that has come from Toveine Gazal via an agent inCairhien. Tarna merely thinks it confirms her idea, but Pevara thinks itchanges the world.
Ineastern Tear, less than a day from the Spine of the World and perhaps a week ortwo from Stedding Shangtai, Cadsuane has taken refuge with a Tairen Lord of theLand, Algarin, who owes her a favour. Rand, Nynaeve, Lan and everyone from theBattle of Shadar Logoth are there as well, recuperating from the battle. Verinmakes a report, that their Sea Folk allies led by Harine have been delivered toTear. The city is in an uproar. High Lord Astoril has joined his defensiveforces to Darlin, making the chances of the Stone falling to the besiegersalmost nil. The bored besiegers have taken to fighting one another on thestreets of the city or staggering around drunk. Some have taken to fighting SeaFolk, but given the colossal size of the Sea Folk armada in the harbour theyhave not been joined en masse forfears of sparking full-scale war in the city. Harine is convinced she will bethe next Mistress of the Ships, but Min bursts in at that report, angry thatthe Wavemistress misinterpreted her viewing again. Cadsuane is amused by Min’sinability to listen with care and clarity. After Min is sent off, Verin reportsthat only the High Lady Estanda is keen on keeping up the siege. Hearne andSimaan are keen to break it off, afraid of being trapped against the Stone whenthe other High Lords return from Illian with their retinues. Cadsuane dismissesthe situation and orders Verin not to intervene. Cadsuane goes to see Rand.Along the way she learns that the Asha’man are growing more skilled andpowerful in the Power, but in fits and starts, not the smooth curve that theAes Sedai enjoy. Arriving at Rand’s rooms, Cadsuane isdenied entry by Elza, one of the Tower Aes Sedai sworn to Rand,but Alivia, the former Seanchan damane,convinces her to let Cadsuane in.
Randhas been talking with Algarin and reveals that the Tairen lord wants to betested for the ability to channel: his brother Emarin could channel and hadbeen taken away by Cadsuane for gentling. That’s why Algarin is grateful toCadsuane, since Emarin survived for ten years afterwards before comittingsuicide, far longer than normal. Rand ponders this. Healso reveals that he has been talking to Alivia about the Seanchan. Their army,the Ever-Victorious Army, has never lost a war and only rarely have lostbattles. When they have suffered reverses, they have studied the exact reasons why and formulated a response, a doctrine dating right back to Artur Hawkwing's day. He worries that the Seanchan can only be stopped by spilling the bloodof the armies he has carefully built up over the last year: Tairen, Cairhienin,Aiel, Mayener and Illianer. To stop the Seanchan, he may have to destroy thearmies he has mustered to fight the Shadow, which is unacceptable.
Bashereand Logain arrive, accompanied by Loial, several Asha’man and eight Aes Sedai.Whilst they freshen up Rand tries to puzzle out whatthey want. He thinks of Mat and suddenly sees a brief flash of Mat riding on awagon, something that hasn’t happened before. Lews Therin sounds in Rand’shead, pointing out that Alivia will help them die before the end. Randseizes saidin and, although it is nowpure and clean of the Dark One’s taint, touching it still makes Randfeel nauseous. Loial arrives and reports on the success of his mission to warnthe Ogier to guard all the Waygates (ACrown of Swords). Most of the Ogier steddingagreed, but Shadoon and Mardoon on the Shadow Coast refused to believe Loial’stale. He didn’t visit Shangtai but sent messages there via other stedding. Loial tells Randthat the Aes Sedai that have come with them have been bonded to Asha’man. Randgoes through the roof and angrily confronts Logain, knowing that this willthrow huge numbers of problems in the way of his future dealings with the AesSedai. Logain replies that the order came from Taim. He also reports that Taimhas put the names of all of Rand’s loyal Asha’man on the deserters’ rolls andthat most of the Asha’man are now loyal to Taim, not al’Thor (most of they havenever even seen him). Rand is incredulous when herealises that Logain does not believe that Rand cleansedsaidin, who instead believes that theCreator has taken a direct hand in affairs. However, Rand (and Lews Therin)know that the Creator has created many worlds and that if one should wither onthe vine, it would not matter as long as most thrived. Bashere reports on theattacks on himself and on Dobraine. He thinks the attackers were looking forthe seals on the Dark One’s prison. Loial thinks if just one or two moreshattered, the Dark One could break free. Rand makes asudden pronouncement: he is sending Loial, Bashere and Logain to negotiate atruce with the Seanchan.
Inthe north of Altara Perrin is preparing to visit So Habor to arrange for fodderand food for his forces. Berelain is going with him, along with a modestbodyguard for both and Sebban Balwer, who has an ‘acquaintence’ (actually aspy) in the town. They Travel to the outskirts of the town and soon see aSeanchan raken fly past. If there areSeanchan nearby, that is another complication Perrin does not need. So Haborturns out to be a heavily defended town surrounded by thick walls, explainingwhy Masema did not attack it. After much debate, the guards agree to let thementer, but insist they prove they are not dead, which is a bit confusing. Thelocal lord is away, but the grain merchants are present and Perrin is directedto them. They do not bargain very hard. Suspicious, Perrin investigates thegrain warehouses and finds them infested with rats and weevils. The merchantsagree to winnow the sacks thoroughly. Suddenly one of the Ghealdanin troopssees someone walk through a solid wall. An Aes Sedai reports that many peoplein So Habor have seen the dead walking, that some have died from the touch of aghost and others have lashed out in fear at them, sometimes killing friends andfamily in the process. So Habor seems to be a town of the damned.
Leavinghis cart-drivers and the So Habor townsfolk winnowing the weevils out of thesupply bags, Perrin returns to the camp. He learns that five Shaido Stone Dogshave been taken prisoner. They resist all attempts at torture until Perrin cutsoff one’s hand. He tells the Shaido that he will remove all his limbs and leavehim a cripple begging on the streets of the nearest city unless he gives up theinformation they need. This scares the Shaido into complying. Perrin storms offinto the night and flings his axe into the night, disgusted with his ownbehaviour. Three days later the wagons return from So Habor and they prepare todepart. Balwer brings a man to see Perrin and Perrin recognises MartynTallanvor, who has been chasing the Shaido (who also have Morgase prisoner) onhis own. Tallanvor tells Perrin that there is a Seanchan army encamped nearby,consisting of more than 15,000 troops (mostly Taraboner) and more than a dozen damane. Tallanvor suggests an allianceto help free Faile and the others. To his own surprise, Perrin finds himselfconsidering the idea.
Insouthern Altara Valan Luca’s travelling show continues to creep northwardstowards Lugard in Murandy, but their rate of travel is minuscule. After a weekthey have only gone thirty miles from Ebou Dar. Passing Seanchan colonists andsoldiers report that the Seanchan are amassing in the east and that the HighLady Suroth is planning to present the city of Illianto the Empress before the end of spring at the latest. Mat is unimpressed withthat news, but on the other hand it hopefully means the northern roads will beclear into Murandy. However, as they head north rumours begin of hordes ofsavage Aiel ravaging the north near the Murandian border and many settlers havebeen diverted eastwards towards the Manetherendrelle. The word is that Surothhas concluded an alliance with someone powerful who will deliver many new landsto the Seanchan. One of Mat’s retinue, Noal, tells Olver about the land of Co’dansin, which lies beyond theAiel Waste (aka Shara). Mat dismisses it as a story. He also dismisses it whenNoal recites a passage from the Prophecies of the Dragon, that a fox shall makethe ravens fly and will pluck moons from the sky with lightning from his eyeand luck from his soul. Mat and Tuon continue their dance, with Mat trying totalk to her whilst Tuon ignores or insults him. To get Tuon more interested inhim, Mat plays stones with her, winning five out of eight games. She consentsto walks at night, but Mat gives away more than he learns. Tuon seems bemusedthat Mat’s father is a farmer whilst Mat is shocked that Tuon trains damane for fun. Later, Egeanin tells Matthat when he named Tuon his wife three times (Winter’s Heart) he was effectively proposing to her. If Tuon replieswithin a year and a day, the wedding ceremony will be completed. Mat laughs atthat.
Thefair reaches the ferry crossing over the Eldar upriver from Ebou Dar, with thetown of Alkindar on the west bank and Coramen on the east. The fair passesthrough, stopping to perform, and heads east to the town of Jurador.Tuon makes a request of Mat and he agrees: to buy her a new dress. On the roadMat nearly walks into a dense knot of people walking along, but Tuon and herhandmaid, Selucia, can’t see them. The people vanish like ghosts, leaving Matagape. Convinced it’s the stress, he takes them on into Jurador. After buyingthe silk they came for they return to a camp in uproar. One of the former sul’dam, Renna, has stabbed Egeanin andfled. One of the Aes Sedai, Teslyn, manages to save her with a Healing. Egeaninreveals that Renna knew that she knew her secret, the secret of all sul’dam, that they can channel the OnePower. Damane are those who have theinborn spark, sul’dam are those whocan learn. Everyone is shocked by that revelation and Mat remembers Tuonmentioning that she can train damane aswell, maybe a hint she can learn to channel as well. Mat orders his forces toabandon the show and flee east and northwards. Mat then sets off in pursuit ofRenna with two of his troops, Vanin and Harnan. They spot Renna as sheapproaches Coramen and shoot her dead, to Mat’s reluctance.
Returningto the travelling show, Mat is shocked to see his followers are still there.Tuon has offered her personal protection to the show and everyone in it...butspecifically not Mat! Mat is left laughing at the sheer bizarrity of the situation.
AtTar Valon the negotiations being undertaken at the bridge town of Dareinare coming to an end, neither side able to make the other budge an inch.Raiders have begun hitting Gareth Bryne’s forces on the east side of theErinin. More devastating news arrives. Kairen is dead, leaving just Egwene,Bodewhin and Leane who can create cuendillar.Someone has divined Egwene’s plan. Like Anaiya before her, Kairen was killedwith saidin. Theodrin sends Egwene anote, revealing that Romanda has sent two sisters to Travel to Cairhien andinvestigate some tale that has the Yellow Sitters astonished, something to dowith Nynaeve. Theodrin doesn’t know what exactly, but promises to try to findout. Word then arrives that Nicola Treehill has disappeared without a trace, toEgwene’s fury. Sheriam, in her role as Keeper of the Chronicles, reports thatthe Hall is unconcerned about Egwene’s warning that the Seanchan are planningto attack Tar Valon. The official view is that the Seanchan are a thousandmiles away, they don’t know how to Travel and the Hall will hear of it beforethey arrive.
Romanda,Myrelle, Maigan and other Aes Sedai arrive for a private meeting with Egwene.Egwene simply lays out the facts for them about the Kin: that there are morethan one thousand of them, that some are five or six hundred years old, theyare scattered across every country and they have evaded Tower scrutiny for morethan two thousand years. Egwene outlines her plan for the Kin to be a retiringsociety for the Aes Sedai but Romanda denounes it as foolhardy. She will dieAes Sedai. Some follow her lead, but others are more cautious. Egwene says itis for the Hall to decide: she will abide by their decision. Lelaine comes inafter Romanda departs and suggests that the Aes Sedai will have to take Asha’manas Warders to keep them in line. Lelaine also suggests modifying the Warderbond to control the male channellers. Horrified, Egwene tells her that is tosuggest Compulsion, which is anathema to Aes Sedai. Lelaine merely replies thatthe Aes Sedai have made mistakes in the past which need to be rectified. Sheleaves before Egwene can even bring up her idea about using the Kin as aretirement home.
Thatevening Egwene goes down to the riverbank and gets in a boat, ordering BodeCauthon to stay behind. The boat takes her out to the Erinin, where the greatchain seals off Tar Valon’s Northharbour. Egwene uses a weave of the power onthe chain to turn it into cuendillar,meaning that it can’t be lowered again. With Leane doing the same on the southside, both harbours are now sealed off. However, someone on the Northharbourwall embraces saidar and a club ofair knocks Egwene out. She wakes up on the harbour with an Aes Sedai pouringsomething down her throat. Egwene passes out, aware that she has been betrayed.
InTear Rand sees a storm passing out of the Spine of the World. Bashere arriveswith news from their negotiations with the Seanchan. The Seanchan want to meet Randface-to-face. Rand is to have a meeting with someonefrom the Seanchan Imperial Family, the Daughter of the Nine Moons (Tuon isstill with Mat in Altara). Rand agrees and thundersounds in the distance.
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