Chapter 48 - The Blight

Summary

Led by Moiraine and Lan across the borderpost, the group enters the Blight, where they immediately encounter oppressive heat, dampness, and diseased flora. They descend into the corruption, enduring its foul odor and strange dangers, until they find a hilltop overlooking lakes where a massive aquatic creature surfaces. Moiraine conjures an illusion to hide their camp, and after a brief, hopeful conversation about their future at Tar Valon, the group settles in. During the night, Nynaeve shares a poignant moment with Lan regarding his status and her potential future as an Aes Sedai, before the group attempts to rest under the sweltering Blight night.

Characters

• Ingtar — Ingtar leads the escort of Shienaran lances to the borderpost, where he halts and formally bids farewell to Moiraine and Lan before riding north to join the defense at Tarwin's Gap, lamenting that he is commanded not to ride one step beyond the borderpost.
• Moiraine (Aes Sedai) — Moiraine leads the group past the borderpost into the Blight. Upon reaching the camping hill, she dismounts and weaves an illusion barrier to hide the camp from the Dark One's eyes. She speaks with Egwene about her training and offers to find work for the group in Tar Valon.
• Lan (Warder, Dai Shan) — Lan rides Mandarb at the head of the group, setting a hard pace and warning them of the Blight's dangers. He helps saddle the horses at the camp and later stands guard through the night, sharing a quiet, personal exchange with Nynaeve about his kingship and her future.
• Rand — Rand rides with the group, observing the transition from Shienar to the Blight and the growing corruption of the land. He helps set up the camp, marvels at Moiraine's illusion, and listens to Egwene's dreams of the future with mixed feelings before failing to sleep due to the heat.
• Mat (Matrim Cauthon) — Mat travels with the group, removing his coat due to the heat and displaying the Shadar Logoth dagger. He complains about the conditions, vomits from the stench of the Blight, and makes a fearful comment upon seeing the lake monster before Moiraine's illusion hides their camp.
• Perrin — Perrin rides with the group, remaining comfortable in his coat while others struggle with the oppressive heat and dampness, and showing signs of a new, fierce demeanor with glowing yellow eyes. He helps set up the camp and stands with Rand and Mat, shocked by the sight of the creature in the lake.
• Egwene — Egwene travels with the group, fanning herself in the heat. She expresses interest in learning illusion magic from Moiraine and enthusiastically tells the group they will all go to Tar Valon together, specifically asking Rand to be her Warder.
• Nynaeve (Wisdom) — Nynaeve rides with the group, enduring the Blight's heat and smell. She establishes the camp's lighting and later shares a cup of tea with Lan, confessing her realization of his kingship and expressing her desire to go to Tar Valon to become an Aes Sedai.
• Loial (Builder) — Loial travels with the group, sweating and muttering about the heat and the foul smell of the Blight. He helps set up the Warder's stove and, upon seeing the corruption, expresses his disgust and sorrow at the Dark One's destruction of nature.
• Aldieb — Aldieb is Moiraine's white mare, ridden into the Blight and later dismounted as Moiraine prepares to weave the illusion.
• Mandarb — Mandarb is Lan's black stallion, ridden by Lan at the head of the group and later dismounted as Lan disembarked.
• Bela — Bela is Egwene's shaggy brown mare, ridden by Egwene.
• Cloud (Red) — Cloud, now called Red, is Rand's bay horse, ridden by Rand through the Blight and later unsaddled by the group to hobble the horses.
• Pack horse — The pack horse, laden with wicker panniers and supplies, is ridden into the Blight and later contributes its panniers to the camp, which vanish into the illusion.