Contents
Chapter 3
Overview
Rand brings Mazrim Taim through a gateway to a secret farm, ordering him to test and train gathered men to channel as weapons. Taim’s flame test confirms Damer Flinn can learn, while others waver or fail.
Rand presses for speed, vows to cleanse saidin, measures Taim’s formidable strength, and warns of Forsaken infiltration before Traveling on to Weiramon, avoiding Aviendha.
Summary
Rand opens a gateway outside Caemlyn and leads Mazrim Taim and a ring of Maidens to a secluded farm where men and their families wait. As they travel, Rand briefs Taim on Shadow threats, forbids teaching balefire, and explains “bubbles of evil” and the Ways. He closes the first gateway at Aviendha’s call, then continues to the farm to begin testing.
At the farm, Rand introduces Taim to the gathered recruits and families, insisting that any man who can learn must be kept. Jur Grady wavers about returning to his croft, while his wife Sora watches Rand anxiously. Rand permits departures before training begins but subtly urges testing first, acknowledging to himself the manipulation.
Taim demonstrates his test with a tiny suspended flame, listening for a resonance. After a tense wait, Damer Flinn is confirmed able to learn, unsettling the onlookers; others line up reluctantly. Rand notes he sensed the resonance before Taim, then orders Taim to continue, pressing for speed and breadth of instruction, especially weapons-use of the Power, and to find more men.
Discussing numbers and the Aes Sedai, Rand declares his intent to build, defeat the Shadow, and cleanse saidin. Taim hints at sa’angreal; Rand rebuffs him, then measures Taim’s strength by having him draw deeply on saidin. Startled to find himself unconsciously drawing even more through his angreal, Rand suppresses Lews Therin’s killing urge and recovers, ordering Taim to watch for anyone who learns too fast in case a Forsaken tries to infiltrate.
The Maidens fuss over Rand’s fatigue and the sun; he deflects them and decides to avoid Aviendha by postponing a visit to Bashere, instead opening a gateway to Weiramon’s empty tent. As he departs, he sees Kely Huldin fail the test to his wife’s relief, Jur being tested, and Sora Grady’s searching gaze fixed on him. Rand moves on, determined but burdened by time and consequence.
Who Appears
- Rand al'ThorOpens gateways, installs Taim to test/train men, forbids balefire, vows to cleanse saidin, gauges Taim’s strength, suppresses Lews Therin, avoids Aviendha, Travels to Weiramon.
- Mazrim TaimAccepts role teaching men; uses flame resonance test; confirms Damer Flinn; reveals strong channeling; debates speed, weapons, sa’angreal; warned to watch for infiltrators.
- Damer FlinnElderly ex-Guardsman; first to pass Taim’s test and can learn to channel, though exhausted by the effort.
- Jur GradyFarmer torn between returning home and testing; urged by Rand to at least learn if he can channel.
- Sora GradyJur’s wife; anxiously watches Rand while holding their child; emblem of family stakes.
- Kely HuldinWeaver chosen for testing; ultimately fails, to his wife’s visible relief.
- SulinMaiden leader; coordinates security, worries over Rand’s exhaustion, follows him through gateways.
- EnailaMaiden; scouts gateways, offers Rand a shoufa against the sun, shares humor with the spearmaidens.
- SomaraMaiden; voices concern that Rand not tire himself, showing protective familiarity.
- JalaniYoung Maiden; teases Rand about sweating, highlighting the Maidens’ informal closeness.
- Eben HopwilYoung recruit; anxious and inexperienced among the men awaiting testing.
- Fedwin MorrYoung recruit; eager, pushes forward to be tested under Taim.
- MairaMaiden; joins in laughter, accompanies Rand as guard.
- DesoraMaiden; reserved mirth, part of Rand’s protective ring.
- LiahScarred Maiden; energetic presence among Rand’s guards.
- AviendhaCalls out as Rand opens a gateway; Rand later avoids her to prevent danger to her.