The Black Tower

For the headquarters of the Asha'man, see Black Tower. For other uses of the words "black" and "tower," see Black and Tower.

Book Index
0 I II III IV V VI VII VIII IX X XI XII XIII XIV
Chapters
The First Message 1 Lion on the Hill 2 A New Arrival 3 A Woman's Eyes 4 A Sense of Humor 5 A Different Dance 6 Threads Woven of Shadow 7 A Matter of Thought 8 The Storm Gathers 9 Plans 10 A Saying in the Borderlands 11 Lessons and Teachers 12 Questions and Answers 13 Under the Dust 14 Dreams and Nightmares 15 A Pile of Sand 16 Tellings of the Wheel 17 The Wheel of a Life 18 A Taste of Solitude 19 Matters of Toh 20 From the Stedding 21 To Shadar Logoth 22 Heading South 23 To Understand a Message 24 An Embassy 25 Like Lightning and Rain 26 Connecting Lines 27 Gifts 28 Letters 29 Fire and Spirit 30 To Heal Again 31 Red Wax 32 Summoned in Haste 33 Courage to Strengthen 34 Journey to Salidar 35 In the Hall of the Sitters 36 The Amyrlin Is Raised 37 When Battle Begins 38 A Sudden Chill 39 Possibilities 40 Unexpected Laughter 41 A Threat 42 The Black Tower 43 The Crown of Roses 44 The Color of Trust 45 A Bitter Thought 46 Beyond the Gate 47 The Wandering Woman 48 Leaning on the Knife 49 The Mirror of Mists 50 Thorns 51 The Taking 52 Weaves of the Power 53 The Feast of Lights 54 The Sending 55 Dumai's Wells The Answer

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Setting: Royal Palace of Andor in Caemlyn, Black Tower

Point of view: Rand al'Thor

Rand asks Min if she would like to visit the farm with him, but the thought frightens her and she declines. She needs to head back to the Aes Sedai from Salidar to let them know about Rand's rules. She gives him a brief kiss before leaving. Rand can sense that Alanna, the Aes Sedai who bonded him, appeared to be on edge the night before but now appears to be in good spirits; Rand suspects she is with the nine Salidar Aes Sedai. With Verin, that would bring the total to eleven. He goes to the farm without his Aiel guards.

The farm has changed a lot since his last visit. A new barn, more animals in pens, trees cleared, and some other buildings under construction. The men have started calling the farm the Black Tower as a balance to the Aes Sedai's White Tower. Rand has the students assembled. He announces that they will be training to become Asha'man, which means "Guardian" in the Old Tongue. Just as the White Tower has ranks before a woman can become a full Sister, the Black Tower will have ranks before a man can become a full Asha'man: Soldier and Dedicated. The rank of Dedicated will be indicated by a silver pin in the shape of a sword on one lapel; the rank of Asha'man will be indicated by a red and gold pin in the shape of a dragon on the other lapel. Rand awards both ranks to Taim and places the pins on Taim's lapels. Taim's face looks like stone and Rand wonders what is wrong with him. Rand notices that there is no reaction from the men to his proclamation and is confused. Rand confronts Taim about his reaction during the ceremony and Taim says he disagrees about what to do about the Aes Sedai in Caemlyn and there are rumors of Reds trying to intercept men coming to the farm. Rand has an argument with Lews Therin in his head. Taim can tell something is wrong and urges Rand to hang onto his sanity. Taim then says he can reduce the amount of Aes Sedai in Caemlyn, to make things safer for him and Rand threatens him that if he feels a man using the power in Caemlyn or an Aes Sedai dies mysteriously, he will make Taim pay for it.

Characters

• Rand
• Min
• Mazrim Taim
• Lews Therin in Rand's head
• Somara
• Enaila
• Henre Haslin
• Saeric
• Raefar Kisman
• Manel Rochaid
• Peral Torval
• Jahar Narishma
• Eben Hopwil
• Fedwin Morr
• Damer Flinn
• Sora Grady

Referenced

• Merana
• Davram Bashere
• Alanna
• Verin
• Sammael
• Asmodean
• Moiraine
• Jur Grady
• Elaida
• Demandred

Places

• Royal Palace of Andor
• Caemlyn
• Black Tower

Referenced

• Two Rivers
• Arafel
• Shienar
• Tarabon
• Saldaea
• Cairhien
• Illian