The Shadow Rising

The series expands in a dramatic way as Rand, Mat, and Egwene travel to the Aiel Waste, while Perrin returns to the Two Rivers.

Summary of The Shadow Rising

Novel written by

Robert Jordan

Book summary by Joan Albright. Edited by Angela Carter.

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The Shadow Rising: Summary

(Saven 12 - Amadaine 23, N.E. 999)

Rands settles in as the new ruler of Tear and begins studying the Prophecies of the Dragon. A bubble of evil strikes, causing inanimate objects—Rand’s mirrors, Mat’s playing cards, Perrin’s axe—to turn against their owners. Mat determines to leave Tear, but finds Rand’s ta’veren pull too strong.

Egwene, Elayne, and Nynaeve interrogate their Black Ajah prisoners and determine that Liandrin and the others have gone to Tanchico. Egwene and Elayne sort out their feelings for Rand; Egwene hands him off to Elayne with her blessing. Moiraine expresses frustration that Rand will not share his plans with her.

After a nighttime visit from the Forsaken Lanfear, Rand finds the Stone under attack from Trollocs. Lanfear claims she isn’t responsible. Rand uses Callandor to kill every Trolloc and Myrddraal in Tear, and frightens Moiraine by trying to bring a child back to life.

While exploring Tanchico in Tel’aran’rhiod, Egwene meets the Aiel Wise One Amys, who tells her to come to the Waste for training. Mat enters a doorframe ter’angreal to find answers, and is told he must got to Rhuidean. Rand finally reveals his plan to go to Rhuidean by Portal Stone, leaving Callandor behind.

Perrin, after hearing that the Whitecloaks are scouring the Two Rivers for him, determines to return there via the Ways—with Loial’s help—and turn himself in. Faile tricks Loial into taking her with them; they are also accompanied by three Aiel—Gaul, Bain, and Chiad. Nynaeve and Elayne set sail for Tanchico aboard a Sea Folk ship, with Juilin and Thom as protectors.

Rand, Mat, Egwene, Moiraine, and Lan arrive at Rhuidean, along with Egwene’s friend Aviendha. All but Egwene and Lan head down to the city, where Mat finds another doorframe ter’angreal, and Rand enters a series of glass columns. Rand learns the history of the Aiel; that they were once servants to the Aes Sedai, sworn to peace in battle. Mat attempts to ask more questions inside the ter’angreal, but accidentally makes a bargain instead. Egwene begins her training as a dreamwalker.

Perrin arrives in the Two Rivers to find the al’Thor farm burned to the ground, Mat’s sisters and the blacksmith held by Whitecloaks, and his own family murdered. The wolves in the area are being hunted inside Tel’aran’rhiod by a man called Slayer who resembles Lan. Padan Fain is with the Whitecloaks, but has secretly led bands of Trollocs there as well. Faile convinces Perrin not to turn himself in, and helps free his captive countrymen. Perrin gains an entourage of young men from the villages, inspired by stories of his adventures. He takes them to hunt Trollocs.

Rand returns from Rhuidean at dawn, fulfilling prophecy. He and the Tardaad Aiel (led by Rhuarc) head to Alcair Dal to present him to the clan chiefs, followed by the Shaido Aiel (led by Couladin). They encounter a group of suspicious peddlers along the way.

Elayne and Nynaeve arrive in Tanchico. They reunite with trader-turned-smuggler Bayle Domon, who sets them up with an inn and an information network. In Tel’aran’rhiod, Nynaeve encounters the dead hero Birgitte, and nearly runs afoul of both Slayer and the Forsaken Asmodean.

After an encounter with a shady Hunter for the Horn named Luc, Perrin’s hunting party is decimated by a Trolloc ambush. They seek refuge among the wagons of the Tuatha’an, then return to a now-fortified Emond’s Field, where Perrin is Healed by Alanna Sedai. Perrin learns that the Waygate—locked by Loial to keep Trollocs out of the Two Rivers—has been opened again. Loial and Gaul leave to close it. Trollocs attack Emond’s Field and are repulsed; the Tuatha’an and then the Whitecloaks are invited inside the pickets for their protection. The Tinker Aram takes up the sword.

Egeanin, charged with hunting runaway sul’dam, encounters Elayne and Nynaeve and takes advantage of the chance to learn about them. The Forsaken Moghedien interrogates Elayne and Nynaeve, but leaves them unscathed.

In Tar Valon, Siuan Sanche is deposed and stilled by Elaida Sedai, then tortured for information. With some incidental help from Gawyn, Min frees Siuan and her former Keeper Leane; they team up with the Gentled Logain and head south.

Rand’s party stops at Cold Rocks Hold for the night. A recalcitrant Aviendha has been assigned to teach Rand about Aiel customs; Rand makes some amusing blunders while trying to make peace with her. They are attacked by Trollocs in the night, after which Rand acquires a bodyguard comprised of Far Dareis Mai.

Egeanin visits Elayne and Nynaeve again, but is revealed to be Seanchan upon a visit by Bayle Domon. They spend an uneasy night with Egeanin as prisoner, but the revelation that the Panarch Amathera is being held prisoner in her own palace by the Black Ajah prompts Egeanin to offer her assistance.

Seven days after the Trollocs first attacked Emond’s Field, they are still coming. Loial and Gaul’s reconnaissance, along with Perrin’s own scouting in the wolf dream, leads him to believe the village will be overrun soon. Perrin persuades Faile to leave the Two Rivers under pretext of sending a message to Queen Morgase; she agrees to leave only if Perrin will marry her. They are wed.

Nynaeve, Elayne and Egeanin sneak into the Panarch’s palace with Domon’s help. Elayne and Egeanin rescue Amathera. Nynaeve recovers what she believes to be a male a’dam from the Panarch’s museum, fights a duel with Moghedien and wins, and briefly encounters the Black Ajah. Egeanin and Domon agree to drop the male a’dam into the sea.

Trollocs attack Emond’s Field by the thousands. Verin and Alanna fight back with the One Power, but the Whitecloaks refuse to join the fight. Faile returns with reinforcements from Watch Hill; Deven Ride has also sent men to their aid. The Trollocs are routed and the Whitecloaks evicted from the Two Rivers.

Rand’s party arrives at Alcair Dal, but Couladin gets there first. He proclaims himself He Who Comes With the Dawn, showing the same dragon tattoos that Rand acquired in Rhuidean. Rand counters, showing his own dragons and revealing the secret of Rhuidean. The Aiel, divided by this devastating proclamation, begin to fight each other; Rand makes it rain to stop them.

Lanfear reappears, informing Rand that she and Asmodean were travelling with the peddlers, but that Asmodean has run off to Rhuidean. Rand uses a new weave called Skimming to reach the city quickly. He and Asmodean fight over the access ter’angreal for the Choedan Kal—the most powerful sa’angreal ever created. Rand wins, and Lanfear shields Asmodean in such a way that he can channel only enough to be Rand’s teacher. They return to Alcair Dal.