Chapter 19 - Shadow’s Waiting

Summary

The group enters the ruined city of Shadar Logoth to rest, where Rand, Mat, and Perrin are lured by a man named Mordeth into discovering a vast treasure hidden in the city's depths. After finding the treasure, the three boys realize Mordeth has no shadow and transforms into a monstrous shape before fleeing into a crack in the wall, warning that they are all dead. The remaining group members return to the safehouse, where Moiraine explains that Mordeth is an ancient entity snared by Mashadar, a shadow that feeds on evil and can allow its influence to rule over consumed individuals, while Lan reports that Trollocs and Myrddraal are driving a massive horde into the city, forcing the party to plan a flight across the Arinelle River at night to escape the impending slaughter.

Characters

• Rand — Rand follows Mat and Perrin into the ruins of Shadar Logoth and is led by Mordeth to a room filled with treasure, where he realizes the man has no shadow and witnesses his transformation before fleeing back to the safehouse.
• Mat — Mat excitedly leads the exploration of Shadar Logoth, eagerly accepts Mordeth's offer of treasure, and attempts to take the gold before being pulled away by Rand and Perrin as the city's dangers manifest.
• Perrin — Perrin accompanies the boys into the city, retrieves an axe from the treasure pile, helps restrain Mat from taking the gold, and confirms the group's flight as Mordeth vanishes and the shadowy watchers close in.
• Moiraine (the Aes Sedai) — Moiraine rests in the safehouse, heals her fatigue with Nynaeve's help, and explains to the group the true nature of Mordeth and Mashadar after the boys return, then directs the evacuation of the city as a horde of Trollocs is driven inside.
• Nynaeve (Wisdom) — Nynaeve tends to Moiraine's fatigue, scolds the boys for their reckless wandering, and listens to their account of Mordeth while expressing concern for Lan's prolonged absence.
• Egwene — Egwene waits in the safehouse, warms herself by the fire, and listens to the group's terrifying story about Mordeth and the shadow of Shadar Logoth with visible fear.
• Thom (the gleeman) — Thom watches over the group, mocks the boys for their foolishness, listens to their tale of Mordeth with frowning concern, and prepares for the imminent flight as Lan reports the approaching Trolloc horde.
• Lan (Warder, Lord of the Seven Towers) — Lan carries Moiraine into the safehouse, scouts outside, and returns to reveal that Trollocs and Myrddraal are driving a massive horde into Shadar Logoth, forcing the party to abandon their ward and cross the river immediately.
• Mordeth — Mordeth appears in Shadar Logoth as a treasure hunter, leads the boys to a room of gold, reveals he has no shadow, transforms into a monstrous shape, and vanishes into a wall crack after warning that they are dead.
• Aldieb — Aldieb is brought into the safehouse by Thom and left standing as the group moves into the room, serving as Moiraine's mount.
• Bela — Bela is brought into the safehouse and left standing as the group gathers, serving as Egwene's mount.
• Cloud — Cloud is brought into the safehouse and left standing as the group gathers, serving as Rand's mount.
• Mandarb — Mandarb is brought into the safehouse and left standing as the group gathers, serving as Lan's mount.