Chapter 53: The Wheel Turns

At dawn the Green Man's garden lies dying. Before the party leaves, Loial sings a Tree Song over the oak above his grave, holding that small space green and shielded from the Blight. The ride south is unopposed, and as they go the land erupts into spring that winter had held back for months.

Fal Dara is ringing with bells. Soldiers say the earth itself swallowed the Trolloc host at Tarwin's Gap, and Agelmar admits he saw a man do it. Moiraine tells him the Green Man is dead and the Eye of the World is gone, then reveals the Horn of Valere. It must be carried to Illian, not used now—the last battle is still to come.

Seven days later Rand drills with the heron-mark blade and tells Egwene he is leaving. Not home. Somewhere alone, where he cannot hurt anyone if he fails to keep away from saidin. Egwene and Nynaeve will go to Tar Valon for training; Mat still needs Healing of the dagger.

In the garden below, Moiraine uses an old trick with a small stone to listen in on Rand and Egwene above. She smiles, and whispers that the Dragon is Reborn.