← Previous Chapter Next Chapter → This chapter summary is hidden to protect from spoilers. In Jarid Sarand's camp, all metal objects have become too soft, and all the food is rotten. Sarand blames Elayne and the Aes Sedai, not believing that the coming of the Last Battle is causing the problems. After Sarand attacks one of the men, they tie him up and go north to the Last Battle. *** Talmanes rushes back to Caemlyn, which Trollocs have invaded. *** In a town near the base of Shayol Ghul, a woman orders Isam to kill Rand. Two Samma N'Sei join him for the mission. *** Talmanes's men have secured the city gates. More Trollocs appear. Talmanes has been wounded with a Thakan'dar blade and will die without powerful Healing. Talmanes convinces a band of sell-swords to help the fight. *** Leilwin and Bayle Domon reach the Field of Merrilor, having paid a bribe at a gateway in Tar Valon. They are brought to Nynaeve, who demands to know how the male a'dam ended up in Semirhage's hands. Leilwin gives herself to the Tower as da'covale to the Amyrlin in hopes of ending the Seanchan injustice of leashed channelers. *** In Caemlyn, Sandip is in charge of the mercenaries at the gate. Talmanes and the Band are fighting their way to the palace to find out if it is defended. Talmanes knows that they must retrieve the dragons before the Shadow does. *** Aviendha tells the other Wise Ones of the future she saw in the glass columns. They decide that the next woman to go to Rhuidean must go through the columns multiple times to confirm what Aviendha saw. Sorilea says that they must treat what Aviendha saw as a future that can be changed. They discuss what Rand might be planning, and Aviendha says that he spoke of a price. Aviendha saw in the columns that Rand would leave the Aiel out of his demands, and they realize that Rand thinks that he would be doing them honor by doing so. Aviendha will go to him now to discover his plans. On the way, she encounters Bair, who has decided to go through the columns herself. Aviendha will make a gateway for her. Bair says that Nakomi is an ancient name and she has not known anyone by that name. Aviendha expresses her concern about what she saw in the columns, and Bair says to never tell anyone the names of her children, whom she saw in the columns, and change one of those names. *** Just when Talmanes and his men seem to be facing defeat, Guybon intervenes, leading a group of soldiers. The surviving Kinswomen are unable to create gateways. The palace is defended but is full of refugees. Talmanes convinces Guybon to send the refugees along with half of his soldiers to defend the gate. Guybon will come with Talmanes to find the dragons. *** Pevara, Androl and the others consider using the coming rainstorm to slip through the defenses and escape the Black Tower, but Androl refuses to leave the others behind. Later, Emarin pledges his loyalty to Androl, who asks for an hour to come up with a plan. *** Talmanes's condition is rapidly worsening, and the one surviving Kinswoman is unable to help. Talmanes and the Band find that the warehouse with the dragons has burned down. They hear an explosion in the distance. Talmanes manages to kill another Fade, rescuing Aludra and her people, who are nearby with the dragons. Trollocs form up, and Talmanes and the others prepare to hurry to the gate with the dragons. *** Moridin leads a meeting within one of his dreamshards. Moghedien now holds her own mindtrap. Demandred arrives, then Hessalam, who is Graendal in a new, ugly body. Moridin introduces Mazrim Taim, who is now to be known only as M'Hael. He has been raised to Forsaken. Moghedien is ordered to watch over an army for Demandred. *** Talmanes and the others are surrounded, backed up against the wall, with the Trollocs beginning to approach. Talmanes realizes that they can break a hole in the wall with the dragons. They begin to shoot the wall, and Talmanes loses consciousness. ← Previous Chapter Next Chapter →