Chapter 51: Against the Shadow

Rand flees from Aginor across a hilltop near the Eye of the World until he reaches a sheer cliff. Aginor reveals he could deliver Rand to Shayol Ghul but prefers to keep the power for himself. Rand perceives a glowing cord of light connecting Aginor to a distant source of power, and instinctively reaches for it himself. They struggle for control of the power until Aginor is consumed by flames.

Rand is transported to Tarwin's Gap, where Shienar's army faces a vast Trolloc horde. Using the power that fills him, he calls lightning to destroy Draghkar and unleashes fire and earthquake to devastate the Trolloc host.

A voice leads him up impossible steps through darkness to Ba'alzamon's chamber. Ba'alzamon taunts him, revealing he orchestrated events from the beginning—the Aiel, Jain Farstrider, the Black Ajah. When Rand refuses to kneel, Ba'alzamon summons images of Rand's mother Kari al'Thor being tormented by Fades.

Rand creates a blade of pure light, destroys the Fades, and hears his mother whisper thanks before fading. He severs Ba'alzamon's black cord and strikes him with the light, and Ba'alzamon burns as the chamber collapses around them.