The First Sparks Fall

With his coming are the dread fires born again. The hills burn, and the land turns sere. The tides of men run out, and the hours dwindle. The wall is pierced, and the veil of parting raised. Storms rumble beyond the horizon, and the fires of heaven purge the earth. There is no salvation without destruction, no hope this side of death.

fragment from The Prophecies of the Dragon believed translated by N'Delia Basolaine First Maid and Swordfast to Raidhen of Hoi Cuchone (circa 400 AB)

With his coming are the dread fires born again. The hills burn, and the land turns sere. The tides of men run out, and the hours dwindle. The wall is pierced, and the veil of parting raised. Storms rumble beyond the horizon, and the fires of heaven purge the earth. There is no salvation without destruction, no hope this side of death.
— fragment from The Prophecies of the Dragon believed translated by N'Delia Basolaine First Maid and Swordfast to Raidhen of Hoi Cuchone (circa 400 AB)

Book Index
0 I II III IV V VI VII VIII IX X XI XII XIII XIV
Chapters
The First Sparks Fall 1 Fanning the Sparks 2 Rhuidean 3 Pale Shadows 4 Twilight 5 Among the Wise Ones 6 Gateways 7 A Departure 8 Over the Border 9 A Signal 10 Figs and Mice 11 The Nine Horse Hitch 12 An Old Pipe 13 A Small Room in Sienda 14 Meetings 15 What Can Be Learned in Dreams 16 An Unexpected Offer 17 Heading West 18 A Hound of Darkness 19 Memories 20 Jangai Pass 21 The Gift of a Blade 22 Birdcalls by Night 23 "The Fifth, I Give You" 24 A Message Sent 25 Dreams of Galad 26 Sallie Daera 27 The Practice of Diffidence 28 Trapped 29 Memories of Saldaea 30 A Wager 31 The Far Snows 32 A Short Spear 33 A Question of Crimson 34 A Silver Arrow 35 Ripped Away 36 A New Name 37 Performances in Samara 38 An Old Acquaintance 39 Encounters in Samara 40 The Wheel Weaves 41 The Craft of Kin Tovere 42 Before the Arrow 43 This Place, This Day 44 The Lesser Sadness 45 After the Storm 46 Other Battle, Other Weapons 47 The Price of a Ship 48 Leavetakings 49 To Boannda 50 To Teach, and Learn 51 News Comes to Cairhien 52 Choices 53 Fading Words 54 To Caemlyn 55 The Threads Burn 56 Glowing Embers

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Setting: White Tower, Royal Palace of Andor

Point of view: Elaida do Avriny a'Roihan Setting: Office of the Amyrlin Seat

Elaida do Avriny a'Roihan has a meeting with Alviarin, Danelle, Teslyn, Joline, Shemerin, Javindhra, Andaya, Evanellein, and some other sisters in the offices of the Amyrlin Seat. They discuss the current world affairs, but without actually asking Elaida for advice or letting her make any decisions.

• Davram Bashere is moving an army away from the Blight;
• War and civil war in Tarabon and Arad Doman has escalated, Amathera (the Panarch of Tarabon) has disappeared, and an Aes Sedai may have been involved;
• Elayne, the Daughter-heir of Andor, is still missing, as well as her half-brother, Galad;
• Morgase, the Queen of Andor, may make a claim to the throne of Cairhien;
• Gawyn and his Younglings are clashing with Whitecloaks and not under close White Tower control;
• Pedron Niall is trying to broker a deal with Illian, Murandy, and Altara to prevent a war between them;

Elaida becomes angered that the sisters do not acknowledge her as their leader and lashes out at them towards the end of the meeting. This frightens them all. Alviarin is unimpressed but doesn't say anything. The nonverbal communication between her and Elaida is interrupted by an unnamed Accepted informing Elaida that Padan Fain has arrived and has asked to meet her.

Point of view: Padan Fain

Briefly considering tormenting the 'toothsome, fluttery' Accepted, Fain walks into Elaida's study as she sends away Alviarin. He looks around her office and is apprehensive about her picture of Rand al'Thor. He also thinks about how he can feel the ruby-hilted dagger pulling at him and that the Horn of Valere is being kept in the Tower. He begins to talk to Elaida about Rand and how he is extremely uncontrollable…

Point of view: Rahvin Setting: Royal Palace of Andor

Rahvin is sitting in his chambers surrounded by an unnamed Aes Sedai of the Red Ajah and Elegar. He uses the Compulsion on her so she doesn't report Rahvin. He contemplates what he will do with Morgase when he no longer needs her to rule as the Queen of Andor. When they both leave, Rahvin is visited by Lanfear. She informs him that she has scheduled a meeting with Sammael and Graendal at his palace. They arrive shortly after. The four of them discuss the situations of the rest of the Forsaken and Rand and what they are going to do. Rahvin thinks about how the situation can benefit him and him only.

Characters

• Elaida do Avriny a'Roihan
• Danelle
• Alviarin Freidhen
• Teslyn Baradon
• Joline Maza
• Shemerin
• Javindhra Doraille
• Evanellein
• Andaya Forae
• Padan Fain
• Rahvin
• Elegar
• Lanfear
• Sammael
• Graendal
• Unnamed Aes Sedai in Caemlyn and Tarabon

Referenced

• Davram Bashere
• Mazrim Taim
• Tenobia
• Memara
• Pedron Niall
• Amathera
• Elayne
• Galad
• Morgase
• Gaebril
• Gawyn
• Bonwhin Meraighdin
• Artur Hawkwing
• Rand al'Thor
• Siuan Sanche as that woman
• Masema Dagar as mad Shienaran
• Alliandre Maritha Kigarin
• Moiraine Damodred
• Silviana Brehon
• Moghedien
• Ishamael
• Demandred
• Asmodean
• Lews Therin

Groups

• Whitecloaks

Places

• White Tower
• Royal Palace of Andor

Referenced

• Tar Valon
• Shienar
• Borderlands
• Niamh Passes
• Saldaea
• Blight
• Arad Doman
• Tarabon
• Bandar Eban
• Shadow Coast
• Aryth Ocean
• Spine of the World
• Mountains of Mist
• Kandor
• Sea of Storms
• Altara
• Andor
• Amadicia
• Cairhien
• Murandy
• Illian
• Tear
• Ghealdan
• Lugard
• Aridhol

Items

• Ruby-hilted dagger

Referenced

• Horn of Valere