Prologue: In the Shadow

Summary

In a cold, windowless chamber disguised as a palace, the man who calls himself Bors attends a secret council of Dark Friends gathered in the shadow of Shayol Ghul. They are summoned by Ba'alzamon, who appears floating and masked in red, accompanied by a Myrddraal and two Trollocs. Ba'alzamon reveals that the Dragon Reborn has appeared and identifies three specific young men—observed as a muscular youth with a battle axe, a farmer with a sword, and a lad with a hint of mischief—as threads in his pattern, though he speaks to each attendee in private visions. He assigns Bors specific tasks regarding his work in Tarabon and the surveillance of the three youths, while withholding the full scope of his plans from the council before dismissing them with the aid of unseen servants.

Characters

• Ba'alzamon (Great Lord of the Dark, Heart of the Dark) — The entity Ba'alzamon appears floating above the gathered council in the shadow of Shayol Ghul, wearing a blood-red robe and mask with burned hands. He commands the Dark Friends to grovel, reveals the return of the Dragon, and projects images of three young men before privately instructing each attendee on their role in the Dark One's plans.
• Bors (the man who called himself Bors) — A Dark Friend disguised with a black mask and stooped posture, Bors observes his companions and the terrifying presence of Ba'alzamon. He receives a private vision of apocalyptic images and specific orders to continue his work in Tarabon while watching for three dangerous farmboys, then departs with the help of a white-clad servant.