Chapter 17 - Choices

Summary

Rand al’Thor, Selene, Loial, and Hurin are pursued by a pack of grolm through the desolate stone world. Rand leads them to a barren hill where he kills five grolm using his bow while entering a deep void, leaving himself craving the touch of saidin. Realizing more grolm are arriving, Rand follows Selene to a Portal Stone hidden in a hollow, where he channels the One Power to transport the group and their horses back to the true world in Kinslayer’s Dagger. Upon arriving, Selene confirms their return and suggests they wait near the Stone to intercept Padan Fain, who may also be trying to use it, while Rand attempts to suppress his lingering addiction to the Power.

Characters

• Rand / Rand al'Thor (Lord Rand, my Lord) — Rand leads his companions to a hill to defend against grolm, killing five with his bow while submerged in the void, where he feels a terrifying craving for saidin. He then channels through a Portal Stone with Selene's guidance, bringing everyone back to the real world, though Loial believes they have arrived in Kinslayer's Dagger, and he struggles to shake the addiction to the Power.
• Selene (my Lady) — Selene rides with the group, claiming knowledge of the Portal Stone but lacking the ability to use it herself. She guides Rand to the Stone, watches him channel the group home, and expresses confidence in his destiny. After Rand decides to camp away from the Stone to avoid its influence, Selene suggests they wait near the trailhead to see if the Darkfriends arrive.
• Loial (Ogier) — Loial rides with the group, climbs the steep terrain on foot when his horse struggles, and helps carry his quarterstaff before the group escapes via the Portal Stone. He confirms the location is likely Kinslayer’s Dagger and listens to Selene's theory about the Mirror Worlds.
• Hurin (sniffer, my Lord) — Hurin rides out of the stone world. He offers to scout the area around the Portal Stone the next day to find where he lost the trail of the Darkfriends, noting that the vilest evil and violence still cling to him and the others.
• Red — Red carries Rand during the flight from the grolm, stumbling on the rocky slopes, and is transported along with the group to the real world through the Portal Stone.