A Crown of Swords: Chapter 41

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Wheel and Serpent Chapter Icon.png


A Crown of Swords


Chapter Icon: Wheel and Serpent

Point of View: Rand

Setting: Cairhien, Illian and Shadar Logoth

Characters: Bashere, Dashiva, Gregorin, Min, Moridin, Rand, Sammael

Outline

Rand takes Illian and fights Sammael in Shadar Logoth, leaving him to be killed by Mashadar.

Summary

Rand wakes, seeing Amys, Bera and Kiruna seemingly opposed to Cadsuane and two other Aes Sedai. He is surprised to be alive and tells them that the dagger Fain used came from Shadar Logoth. Cadsuane tells him that he has been ill for two days and must rest. Dashiva offers to clear the women from the room, preparing the weaves to do so. Rand tells him not to do so, gets dressed, and tells them that he needs to speak to the Asha'man alone. Min tells him of a viewing wherein Cadsuane has something she needs to teach all the Asha'man and that they will not like learning it. Rand learns that Weiramon has pushed ahead on his own and realizes that he must enact his plans. He tells them that they are to help him kill Sammael. Min agrees to distract the Maidens and Wise Ones so he can get away.

They Travel to the Saldaean camp where Bashere has been training the men who could not channel, calling them the Legion of the Dragon. Rand tells them it is time and that he wants no women. Bashere agrees, which angers Deira. Rand weaves a gateway between two posts to the Square of Tammaz in Illian and the horsemen flood through. Once inside Illian, he Travels the short distance to one of the towers in the palace and directs flows of Power in all directions to trigger any wards or traps Sammael had set. He leaves the tower as it explodes, sustaining an injury in the process, then follows the source of that weave. Sammael taunts him, asking if he has the courage to follow him. Not wanting to kill any innocents, Rand opens a gateway close to one that Sammael used, to Shadar Logoth. At first, he suspects Sammael of having lured him there and left; but he sees Trollocs and realizes that he must still be present. Suddenly, they are attacked by Liah, who seems ready to attack him until she recognizes him and flees. After killing more Trollocs with a Power-wrought sword, lightning comes, almost striking him and knocking him to the ground. A man appears, helping him stand and not identifying himself. Rand tries to balefire Mashadar, but the man does the same. The bars cross, shattering the Void and causing him to lose saidin; he sees double. The man seems to know how Sammael thinks and makes Rand realize that he is likely to be at the Waygate around which Rand had set wards. The man leaves, saying many plans will have to be relaid if Rand dies. After he leaves, Rand realizes that he never felt saidin in him.

At the Waygate, he sees Sammael. Before he can strike, he also sees Liah touched by Mashadar and he balefires her to save her from that death. He sweeps the bar past where Sammael was. Afterwards, Rand assumes Sammael must be dead as he didn't feel him escape and was weak enough to be killed if Sammael had survived. He Skims back to Illian, mourning Liah and unable to cry. Lord Gregorin, speaking on behalf of the Council of Nine, offers him the crown. He says that Brend had most likely killed Mattin. Rand asks why and is told it is partly because of the grain Rand sent from Tear that kept the commoners fed. He places the Laurel Crown on Rand's head, proclaiming him, as Rand feels swords on the crown prick him.

Notes

This section contains Notes on this Chapter which may contain spoilers. Please expand to view.

Visions and Prophecies

  • (About Cadsuane, to Rand) "It's Cadsuane. She is going to teach you something, you and the Asha'man. All the Asha'man, I mean. It's something you have to learn, but I don't know what it is, except that none of you will like learning it from her. You aren't going to like it at all."


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