Contents
52 There Is Neither Beginning Nor End
Overview
Rand rips the Eye’s power from Aginor, who perishes, then is hurled to Tarwin’s Gap where he devastates the Shadowspawn host with fire, lightning, wind, and earth. Climbing through a void, Rand confronts Ba’alzamon, rejects his manipulations, forges a sword of Light, severs Ba’alzamon’s black cord, and blasts him as the world shatters.
These events reveal Rand’s vast channeling potential and mark a decisive, world-shaping stand against the Shadow.
Summary
Rand flees up a steep hill from Aginor, whose strength grows as he draws on a glowing cord from the Eye. Rand senses and instinctively draws the same power; Aginor’s greed backfires and he burns as Rand wrenches the Light to himself and cries to escape.
Carried by the power, Rand appears at a mountain pass where Shienaran forces face a vast Trolloc army. Overwhelmed by heat and Light, he calls lightning to slay Draghkar, then unleashes wind, fire, and upheaving earth that ravage the Shadowspawn, reducing their overwhelming numbers and throwing them into confusion.
A disembodied voice declares “Not here,” and steps rise into darkness. Fearing the oncoming human charge, Rand ascends the steps through nothingness, following the thinning bright cord that feeds him strength, until he enters a familiar chamber before a heatless, screaming-fire hearth where Ba’alzamon awaits.
Ba’alzamon boasts he has manipulated Rand’s path for years—Aiel rumors, Jain Farstrider, the Black Ajah, even the Amyrlin—and demands Rand’s submission. He conjures Egwene, Nynaeve, and Kari al’Thor to break him. Rand denies the illusions; when Fades torment Kari, he forms a sword of Light that annihilates them, and a whisper of thanks fades.
Seeing Ba’alzamon’s massive black cord, Rand declares it ended and strikes. The Light-sword severs the cord; Ba’alzamon screams as the chamber cracks and ignites. Rand drives a lance of Light into Ba’alzamon amid collapsing, burning stone until Rand’s own bright thread gutters out and he falls into darkness, wracked by inner fire and cold.
Who Appears
- Rand al'ThorFlees Aginor, seizes the Eye’s power, devastates Trollocs at Tarwin’s Gap, confronts Ba’alzamon, and severs his black cord with a sword of Light.
- Ba’alzamonClaims long manipulation of Rand’s path; tries to force submission; his black cord is severed and he is blasted by Rand’s Light.
- AginorCompetes with Rand for the Eye’s power; overreaches and burns as Rand draws the Light away.
- Kari al’ThorAppears as an illusion used to break Rand; freed when Rand’s Light destroys her tormentors.
- Egwene al’VereBriefly shown as an illusion by Ba’alzamon to manipulate Rand; dismissed by Rand’s denial.
- Nynaeve al’MearaAlso appears as an illusion; part of Ba’alzamon’s attempt to coerce Rand.