The wind is a framing device used in the novels of the Wheel of Time. Each book's first chapter starts with a similarly structured paragraph:
"The Wheel of Time turns, and Ages come and pass, leaving memories that become legend. Legend fades to myth, and even myth is long forgotten when the Age that gave it birth comes again. In one Age, called the Third Age by some, an Age yet to come, an Age long past, a wind rose..."
—Robert Jordan
—Robert Jordan
Only New Spring omits this framing device, being a prequel outside the main sequence.
Locations[]
Where the wind originates usually changes from book to book, reflecting the next focus of the story:
- The Eye of the World: born in the Mountains of Mist, blows into the Westwood.
- The Great Hunt: born in the Mountains of Dhoom, blows south across the Great Blight to the towers of Fal Dara.
- The Dragon Reborn: blows within the Mountains of Mist.
- The Shadow Rising: born in the Caralain Grass, blows north and east into Tar Valon.
- The Fires of Heaven: born in Braem Wood, blows into Kore Springs.
- Lord of Chaos: born in the hills of Cairhien, blows west into the Royal Palace of Andor.
- A Crown of Swords: born in Braem Wood, blows all the way to Dumai's Wells.
- The Path of Daggers: born on Tremalking, blows east across the Sea of Storms to Ebou Dar.
- Winter's Heart: born above the Aryth Ocean, blows east across Tarabon and Amadicia to Abila.
- Crossroads of Twilight: born in the Rhannon Hills, blows west and north to the hills outside Ebou Dar.
- Knife of Dreams: born above Dragonmount, blows east into the siege camp around Tar Valon.
- The Gathering Storm: born near the damaged White Tower, blows out of Tar Valon all the way to a manor house in Arad Doman.
- Towers of Midnight: born above Imfaral, blows across Seanchan and the entire Aryth Ocean to Alysa Bunt's orchard near Dragonmount.
- A Memory of Light: born in the Mountains of Mist, blows out of the Two Rivers, past Caemlyn, into the encampment at the Field of Merrilor.