Contents
Chapter 21
Overview
Rand Travels with Haman, Covril, and Erith to Shadar Logoth to locate and secure its Waygate. With Aiel escorts, he sets a deadly ward for Shadowspawn, but Maiden Liah goes missing during the search. Facing nightfall and Mashadar, Rand orders a retreat, carries the Ogier near the Two Rivers to find Loial, then returns to Caemlyn.
Summary
Rand convinces Haman, Covril, and Erith to accept Traveling to Shadar Logoth so he can both speed their journey toward the Two Rivers and find the city’s Waygate. Sulin arrives with Aiel reinforcements after raising an alarm; Rand reluctantly allows a small escort with strict orders to touch nothing and stay in sight.
They enter the dead city, its malignant silence pressing on all. Guided by Haman, they locate the Waygate within an old square. Despite Ogier worries, Rand refuses to seal it permanently; instead, he weaves and inverts a vicious ward that will let humans pass but doom any Shadowspawn that tries to use it. The act sickens him as the taint on saidin resonates with Shadar Logoth’s evil.
When Rand prepares to leave, they discover Maiden Liah missing. He orders paired search teams and joins the search with Jalani and the Ogier. They comb streets and call for Liah without entering buildings. As shadows lengthen, Sulin judges that if Liah still lived she would have been found; unseen watchers gather, and Mashadar’s rise at sunset looms.
Accepting the risk to all, Rand ends the search. He opens a gateway and first moves everyone out, then Travels the Ogier near the Two Rivers so they can reach Emond’s Field and Loial discreetly. Haman warns Rand to survive the dark road ahead. Rand, pained by Liah’s loss and the Maidens’ promised deaths for him, returns alone to Caemlyn.
Who Appears
- Rand al'ThorLeads Ogier to Shadar Logoth, wards the Waygate against Shadowspawn, manages Aiel escort, aborts Liah search before night, delivers Ogier near Emond’s Field, returns to Caemlyn.
- SulinMaiden leader; rallies Aiel to guard Rand, enforces paired search for Liah, pragmatically urges withdrawal as night nears.
- HamanOgier Elder; guides to the Waygate, warns of Shadar Logoth’s dangers, urges survival, travels toward Emond’s Field.
- CovrilOgier Speaker; presses to accept Rand’s plan and journey, accompanies search, departs toward Emond’s Field.
- ErithYoung Ogier seeking Loial; insists on going, helps search, relieved to head toward Emond’s Field.
- JalaniYoung Maiden guarding Rand; aids the search and cautions about Liah’s likely range.
- UrienAiel warrior; organizes men to accompany Maidens, presses for faster solo search, later urges ending the search.
- NanderaSenior Maiden; notes Sulin spoke to gai’shain as Far Dareis Mai, defers judgment until Rand is safe.
- LiahMaiden who disappears during the Waygate mission in Shadar Logoth; presumed dead or trapped as night approaches.
- Lews Therin Telamon (voice)Echo in Rand’s mind; reacts to Shadar Logoth’s evil, recalls killing Ishamael, intensifies Rand’s inner turmoil.