Contents
Chapter 42
Overview
Rand declines Min’s request to avoid the farm and Travels to the burgeoning Black Tower, where he finds over a hundred trainees. He formalizes the organization, creating soldier, Dedicated, and Asha’man ranks, and pins Mazrim Taim as the second Asha’man.
Learning Reds hunt recruits and that eleven Aes Sedai sit in Caemlyn, Rand forbids Taim from channeling in the city or harming Aes Sedai, despite Taim’s offers. Rand battles a surge from Lews Therin but regains control.
Summary
Rand invites Min to visit the farm where men train to channel, but Min refuses, unsettled by the thought despite trusting Rand. She urges him to rest and kisses him before leaving. Rand gathers gifts for the trainees—silver sword pins for Dedicated and a red-and-gold Dragon pin for full Asha’man—and decides he must address the students before rumors about the Aes Sedai embassy grow wild.
Concerned that Alanna and Verin have joined the Salidar embassy, bringing the total near eleven, Rand Travels alone to the farm. He finds it transformed: rebuilt structures, families present, and over a hundred trainees in black coats practicing weaves or drilling with Henre Haslin and the one-handed Goshien, Saeric. When a sneering student, Torval, challenges Rand, Taim floors him with Air and orders discipline, revealing his hard regime and that some students have burned out or died.
Taim explains the trainees call the place the Black Tower, and Rand allows the name. Addressing the assembled men, Rand confirms that rebel Aes Sedai are in Caemlyn as emissaries and then establishes ranks: new arrivals as soldiers; intermediates as Dedicated with silver-sword pins; and the most advanced as Asha’man with a Dragon pin. He pins both badges on Taim, naming him the second Asha’man, but the crowd responds with uneasy silence.
In private, tension flares between Rand and Taim over methods and pride. Taim reports Red Ajah parties intercepting recruits and proposes discreetly eliminating Aes Sedai, including those in Caemlyn. Rand forbids any channeling in the city and any harm to Aes Sedai, threatening Taim if he disobeys, while acknowledging the danger of eleven sisters together.
Pressed by inner turmoil, Rand battles a fierce resurgence of Lews Therin’s voice urging murder but does not seize saidin. Taim, briefly concerned, urges him to hold to sanity. Rand recovers and insists he will make the Aes Sedai “dance to his flute,” reaffirming control over the Black Tower and his terms.
Who Appears
- Rand al'ThorVisits the Black Tower, creates ranks, pins Taim as Asha’man, forbids harming Aes Sedai or channeling in Caemlyn, battles Lews Therin.
- Mazrim TaimLeads the Black Tower; enforces harsh discipline; receives sword and Dragon pins; urges action against Aes Sedai; checks on Reds.
- Min FarshawRefuses to visit the farm, warns Rand to rest, and kisses him before leaving.
- Lews Therin TelamonVoice in Rand’s mind; urges killing Taim and Aes Sedai; surges, then subsides.
- TorvalInsolent trainee who challenges Rand; knocked unconscious by Taim’s blow of Air.
- KismanTrainee ordered by Taim to haul Torval away and wake him without Healing.
- RochaidTrainee assisting in removing the unconscious Torval per Taim’s orders.
- Henre HaslinFormer Master of the Sword of the Queen’s Guards; drills trainees with practice blades.
- SaericOne-handed Goshien veteran; runs trainees through harsh kicking and punching exercises.
- Sora GradyTrainee’s wife who serves wine; regards Rand with silent accusation.
- Jahar NarishmaYoung trainee with the spark; noted among diverse recruits at the Black Tower.
- Alanna MosvaniBonded to Rand; sensed in Caemlyn, adding to the Aes Sedai count.
- Verin MathwinLikely with Alanna in Caemlyn; contributes to the dangerous sister total.