Chapter 10 - The Stone Stands

Summary

Rand al'Thor bursts into the Stone of Tear's anteroom to find it besieged by Trollocs and a Myrddraal, whom he duels and kills after rallying the Tairen Defenders to his cause. He fights his way through the chaotic halls, witnessing Moiraine and Lan defending themselves below, before confronting Lanfear, who reveals her identity and taunts him about his potential to join the Shadow and the danger of Callandor falling to other Forsaken. Rand rushes to retrieve Callandor, channeling immense power through it to incinerate the remaining Shadowspawn, including creating a storm of lightning that wipes out the enemy forces. Overwhelmed by the taint and the death of a young girl he failed to save in time, Rand experiences a moment of despair before calming down enough to explain the Trolloc infiltration to a shocked Moiraine and a wary Lan. He acknowledges Moiraine's attempt to stop his channeling and clarifies that he believes Lanfear did not orchestrate the attack, resolving to reveal his plans to Moiraine the following day.

Characters

• Rand / Lord Dragon / Dragon — Rand enters the Stone's anteroom to find it swarming with Shadowspawn, rallying the Defenders with cries of "The Stone stands" before engaging a Myrddraal in single combat. After killing the Fade and clearing the hall, he hunts down remaining Trollocs until he confronts Lanfear, who warns him about Callandor. Rand retrieves the sword, channels destructive power to burn the enemy forces and creates a lightning storm, but fails to revive a dead child in time, leaving him shaken and exhausted before explaining the invasion to Moiraine and Lan.
• Lan (the Warder) — Lan fights alongside Moiraine against Trollocs in a chamber below, displaying his skill in battle. He later appears in the hallway, bloodied and tense, and is halted by Moiraine when he tries to approach Rand. He assists a weakened Rand by holding him up and watches him warily as Rand recovers.