- For the list of unresolved plot threads, see What is yet to happen.
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In the Shadow
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| <<< What Might Be >>> |
| Setting: outside Stedding Tsofu, Toman Head |
Summary[]
- Point of view: Rand al'Thor
The Ogier Alar and Juin lead Rand and the rest of the group to a nearby Portal Stone so they can travel to Toman Head and retrieve the Horn of Valere and Ruby-hilted dagger from Padan Fain. Verin says goodbye to Alar and the Ogier depart.
Rand and Verin move close to the Stone to discuss while everyone else stays further back, out of earshot. Verin has some knowledge of the Stones. Rand mentions Selene and Verin assumes that she learned what she told Rand from the book Mirrors of the Wheel, of which there is no surviving copy known to the Aes Sedai. The symbols at the top end of the Stone are used to travel between worlds, while the symbols at the bottom are used to travel between locations. Verin claims she is not powerful enough to activate the Stones and she only knows the meaning of a few of the symbols. Verin points to the symbol for Toman Head as well as symbols for other worlds that she knows were involved in the study that led to making of the Ways. She tells Rand that he'll just have to arbitrarily pick one of these alternative worlds and quotes her father, saying that it's "time to roll the dice." She says that the Pattern needs Rand and hopefully that will be enough to keep him and everyone else alive. Rand chooses the world with the symbol of an arrow pointing left towards Toman Head, breaking free from a circle; Rand wants to break free from his apparent destiny.
Verin calls for the others to gather close to the Stone. She puts her hand on the Stone, pretending that she is starting to channel. Rand enters the Void and notes that it is much easier to do now. He channels using the symbols he has chosen. Instead of being directly transported to Toman Head, the travelers are shown the possible lives they may have lived had circumstances been different. Rand is subjected to many alternate lives where events and decisions had gone differently. As this happens, Verin realizes something that has gone wrong but cannot do anything to stop it.
- Rand is killed when Trollocs attack his home on Winternight.
- Rand marries Egwene and has children and stays in the Two Rivers while events unfold outside. Egwene becomes Wisdom and cares for his moods, which often caused lightning strikes and other storms outside. He is wasting away after Egwene's death until he goes off to fight Trollocs at the River Taren and is killed.
- Egwene dies of channeling sickness so Rand leaves with Tam's sword. Tam sends him off with a letter to join the army of Illian and hopes he will return with a wife, but Rand is robbed in Baerlon and can only make it to Caemlyn where he joins the Queens' Guards. He eventually falls defending Elayne from the Seanchan.
- Countless other lives flash before his eyes, including ones where he is a beggar, king, gleeman, and even an Aiel. Sometimes he declares himself the Dragon Reborn; sometimes he runs from the One Power. Sometimes he marries Egwene, sometimes Egwene is the Amyrlin Seat and gentles him. Sometimes he loves and marries Min or Elayne or a woman he does not recognize.
In each life, he feels that things are not right and something else was supposed to happen. Each one of them ends with his death and a voice inside his head saying, "I have won again, Lews Therin." Eventually he loses hold of saidin and it is over. The rest of the party seems stunned by what they have seen of their alternate lives. Verin has no answers for Rand on what actually happened except that they did arrive at Toman Head and it appears that four months have passed. They really didn't save time although this way Mat doesn't die on the way.
Ingtar mutters fervently that he walks in the Light. Mat apparently betrayed Rand in some of his futures and pleads with Rand that he would never really do that. Perrin seems resigned that his wolfbrother aspect is part of his life now. Verin makes rounds of the party Healing them in some way that helps them get over what they experienced, all except Rand who refuses help from an Aes Sedai. Rand hopes it is not too late and that Padan Fain is still waiting for him.
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