Chapter 45 - What Follows in Shadow

Summary

The group travels through the decaying Ways, discovering that Trollocs have entered the labyrinth via Manetheren, evidenced by Trolloc runes and frozen corpses blocking a path. As they continue, they are pursued by Machin Shin, the Black Wind, a sentient entity of corruption that fills the air with screaming voices. Realizing the gate key is missing, Moiraine burns a path through the stone gates with her staff, allowing Lan and the others to escape into the real world just as the wind closes in. After the group escapes to the north, Moiraine explains the nature of the corruption and identifies the distant towers of Fal Dara, resolving to wall up the Waygate once they arrive.

Characters

• Rand — Rand rides Red through the dark, examining the broken bridge and the chasm below. He feels the oppressive atmosphere of the Ways and shares a moment of comfort with Egwene before they are pursued by Machin Shin. He forces his horse through the burning gate and feels the return of natural winter cold upon exiting.
• Mat — Mat looses an arrow into the dark and later scrubs his mouth in horror at the sight of the frozen Trollocs. He feels the approach of Machin Shin and expresses fear as they flee through the burning gate.
• Perrin — Perrin rides with the group as they are chased by the Black Wind, and helps secure the group's safety by staying close to the others.
• Egwene — Egwene clings to Rand's arm for several bridges and later shares a moment of fear with him as the wind approaches. She hears the screaming voices of Machin Shin and is terrified by the entity's whispers.
• Nynaeve — Nynaeve questions Moiraine about the safety of the Ways and the taint. She is shaken by the discovery of the Trolloc runes and the nature of Machin Shin, shivering at the entity's hunger for life.
• Moiraine (Aes Sedai) — Moiraine confirms that Trollocs have discovered the Ways and uses her staff to burn a path through the stone gate key, which is missing. She leads the escape, then watches the Waygate darken, explaining the nature of the corruption and the entity called Machin Shin.
• Lan — Lan rides ahead, approaching the Guiding where runes are discovered. He leaps his horse Mandarb through the gate first, saving the group by forcing open the stone wedges of the door with his shoulder.
• Loial (Ogier) — Loial reads the script on the Guiding and identifies the Trolloc runes. He panics at the approach of Machin Shin, crying out in despair, and guides the group to the correct bridge to escape the Black Wind.
• Red — Red is Rand's bay horse. He carries Rand through the dark of the Ways, stumbles briefly upon exiting the Waygate, and then trots calmly to join the others.
• Bela — Bela is Egwene's shaggy brown mare. She carries Egwene through the escape, clutches onto Rand as he rides nearby, and exits the Waygate to stand alongside Nynaeve's horse.
• Aldieb — Aldieb is Moiraine's white mare. She dances with fear as Moiraine exits the Waygate, her eyes rolling, and is led away by the Aes Sedai.
• Mandarb — Mandarb is Lan's stallion. He leaps toward the gate, catches the stone wedge with his shoulder to topple it, and carries Lan through the Waygate to the outside.