Chapter 17 - Choices

Summary

Rand al'Thor, Selene, Loial, and Hurin are pursued by a growing pack of grolm through a pale, distorted world. Rand kills five of the beasts using his bow while entering the void, but realizes he cannot defeat the entire swarm. Selene leads them to a Portal Stone, where Rand channels the One Power to transport the group back to their true world in Kinslayer’s Dagger. Upon arrival, Selene reveals that the worlds act as mirrors, suggesting they may have overtaken the Darkfriends who were pursuing them. Rand resolves to wait until morning to track the faint scent trail with Hurin before transporting Selene to her home in Cairhien.

Characters

• Rand / Rand al'Thor (Lord Rand, my Lord) — Rand leads his party to a defensive position and kills five grolm with his bow while entering the void. He then channels the One Power through a Portal Stone, suffering intense pain and addiction to the saidin light, to transport the group back to their true world.
• Selene — Selene guides Rand's party to a Portal Stone hidden in the hills. She instructs Rand on how to activate the Stone and expresses confidence in his ability to save them, later explaining the nature of the mirror worlds and the potential location of the Horn of Valere.
• Loial (Ogier) — Loial assists Rand in the defense against the grolm and climbs steep terrain to reach the Portal Stone. After the journey to the true world, he observes the landscape and offers his limited knowledge regarding the nature of the mirror worlds.
• Hurin (sniffer, my Lord) — Hurin confirms that the Darkfriends are likely still in the other world and agrees to track their faint scent trail in the morning.
• Red — Red is Rand's bay stallion, ridden through the distorted landscape and the ascent to the Portal Stone, and transported to the true world alongside the riders.