Chapter 20 - The Golden Crane

Summary

Following a massive battle, Rand walks through the rain-soaked carnage of dead Trollocs and Myrddraal while Lews Therin's voice questions his sanity and trust in him. Inside a barn, Alivia clears flies from the bodies of fallen Saldaeans as Cadsuane tests her channeling and knowledge, prompting Min to defend Rand's decision to ally with her despite her own viewings. Loial arrives with Elder Haman after marrying Erith; though he must return to Stedding Shangtai, Haman volunteers to help Rand locate Waygates. Bashere returns with news that the Daughter of the Nine Moons will meet Rand in three days in northern Altara under heavy Seanchan and local political pressure. Meanwhile, Nynaeve convinces a duty-bound Lan to leave her and head to Shienar to fight at Tarwin's Gap, extracting an oath from him to allow others to join his cause before she secretly transports him to World's End via gateway. In Kayacun, Nynaeve approaches merchant Weilin Aldragoran wearing the ki'sain and displays Lan's hadori signet ring, asking if he will ride alone to the Last Battle. Moved by her words about Malkier's legacy, Aldragoran swears under the Light that Lan will not fight alone and rallies fellow Malkieri merchants to join him, declaring that the Golden Crane flies for Tarmon Gai'don.

Characters

• Rand / Rand al'Thor — Walks through the rain-soaked battlefield while Lews Therin questions his sanity, receives a warning letter from Verin, and demands Ogier assistance for locating Waygates.
• Lews Therin — Whispers in Rand's mind, questions his trustworthiness and sanity, and cackles at the prospect of finally dying at Tarmon Gai'don.
• Nandera — Leads the veiled Maidens protecting Rand, watches him closely for signs of recklessness, and prods spears into fallen Shadowspawn.
• Logain / Logain Ablar — Complains about the exhaustion of his bonded sisters and Asha'man, questions the lack of a follow-up attack, and channels saidin to copy Rand's Deathgate weave during the battle.
• Cadsuane / Cadsuane Melaidhran — Steps over corpses without complaint, tests Alivia's channeling and knowledge, reads Verin's letter, and warns Rand against showing too many teeth to his enemies.
• Min / Min Farshaw — Argues with Rand about trusting Alivia versus her own viewings, wraps her arm around him when Bashere mentions the meeting, and fiercely promises to ensure he answers Loial's questions.
• Alivia — Channels Air to clear flies from a barn of dead soldiers, impresses Cadsuane with composure and knowledge, and blushes at Rand's praise while learning more about the Power.
• Verin / Verin Mathwin — Sends a sealed letter warning Rand to heed Cadsuane but remain wary of other sisters, even those sworn to him, before departing with Tomas to serve elsewhere.
• Loial — Marries Erith under Light and Tree, promises to attend Tarmon Gai'don, but must leave for Stedding Shangtai while Elder Haman volunteers to help locate Waygates.
• Elder Haman — Performs Loial's wedding ceremony, argues with himself about leaving the stedding, and ultimately volunteers to help Rand find Waygates despite the Great Stump taboo.
• Erith — Marries Loial under Light and Tree, takes up a pruning knife to defend their quarters, and is referred to by Loial as his wife.
• Bashere / Marshal-General Bashere — Returns from Ebou Dar with a map detailing a three-day meeting with the Daughter of the Nine Moons in northern Altara, noting Suroth's precarious political position.
• Elza / Elza Penfell — Escorts Bashere to Rand, displays fanatical devotion and jealousy toward the other women present, and departs to help with cleanup.
• Nynaeve / Nynaeve al'Meara — Wakes with a headache that vanishes as her ring vibrates, convinces Lan to leave for Shienar, extracts an oath from him to allow others to join his cause, and secretly transports him to World's End.
• Lan / Lan Mandragoran — Stares at the battlefield, wrestles with duty versus love, agrees to ride to Shienar after Nynaeve's persuasion, swears an oath under the Light, and departs for Tarwin's Gap.
• Weilin / Weilin Aldragoran — Sells flawless gems in Kayacun, recognizes Lan's hadori signet ring, swears under the Light that Lan will not ride alone to the Last Battle, and rallies fellow Malkieri merchants to join him.
• Managan — Argues with a Tairen woman over garnets in Kayacun, then leaps up shouting that he will fly for Tarmon Gai'don alongside Aldragoran.
• Gorenellin — Bargains with Altaran merchants in Kayacun, then joins Aldragoran and Managan in swearing to ride to Tarwin's Gap.
• Pavil / Pavil Geraneos — Attempts to angrily bargain over gems before being restrained by his companion Damentanis.
• Jeorg / Jeorg Damentanis — Restrains Geraneos during negotiations, accepts Aldragoran's final price for flawless stones, and departs with his clerk and bodyguards.