Chapter 20

As Rand prepares to smoke, a servant, Bari, rushes in to announce the arrival of three Ogier. Rand goes to meet Haman, Covril, and Erith in a palace courtyard crowded with Aiel. He sends Sulin and the others away to speak privately, mindful of Ogier dignity.

Covril immediately demands to know what Rand has done with her son, Loial. Rand recalls Loial’s fears of his mother and an arranged marriage. The Ogier explain Loial has been Outside more than five years and risks death from the Longing. Rand, deciding a friend’s safety outweighs secrecy, says Loial went to the Two Rivers and was well months ago. Erith, Loial’s intended, insists on finding him quickly.

Rand asks Elder Haman’s help to locate all Waygates, explaining Shadowspawn are using the Ways and he must guard every gate. Despite Ogier reluctance and protocol about the Stump and Councils of Elders, Haman agrees that haste is required.

Rand has Sulin bring every map in the Palace. While Rand sorts maps by age and borders, Haman annotates them, listing stedding across the Borderlands, Dragonwall, Mountains of Mist, and elsewhere, plus abandoned stedding lost to time and the Blight. He also marks cities—living and long dead—where Ogier groves once held Waygates, quietly weeping for lost places and memories.

They note the Caemlyn Waygate’s basement location, recall Cairhien’s grove, and identify many vanished cities. Rand adds an unreclaimed stedding near where Hawkwing’s city was to stand. Concluding, Rand asks Haman to guide him to the Waygate at Shadar Logoth’s Aridhol, setting his next step in sealing off the Shadow’s roads.