Chapter 43: Decisions and Apparitions

Loial explains the Ways. The male Aes Sedai created them as a parting gift to the Ogier for sheltering them in the stedding during the Breaking, allowing travel of vast distances in a single day. About a thousand years ago the Ways began to darken, and travelers started vanishing or returning mad, raving of Machin Shin, the Black Wind. The Ogier Elders forbade their use.

Moiraine insists they have no choice. Whitecloaks watch the inn and Trollocs press toward Caemlyn, and the Ways are the only road to the Eye of the World. Rand, Mat, and Perrin agree to go. Egwene and Nynaeve refuse to be sent away. Loial reluctantly agrees to guide them. They plan late into the night with Lan and Master Gill.

That night Ba'alzamon comes for Rand and Mat in a shared dream. Three crude clay figures stand on a table, marked with a wolf, a dagger, and a heron-mark sword. Ba'alzamon claims the struggle between them has played out across countless lifetimes, that the Black Ajah serves him, and demands Rand kneel. Rand smashes the figures and wakes on the floor with a real splinter driven into his palm. Moiraine heals the wound and orders them to leave before dawn.