Welcome back to my re-read, recap, and reaction to Robert Jordan’s Wheel of Time series. This post will only have spoilers through the current chapter.
You can find my previous chapter recaps HERE.
Chapter 21: To Shadar Logoth
NOTE: The following chapter summary comes from wot.fandom.com
Point of view: Rand al’Thor
Initially the Ogier, Elder Haman, Covril, and Erith are hesitant to go to Shadar Logoth to find the Waygate there for Rand. Elder Haman doesn’t want to go because it is a dangerous place. Covril and Erith are opposed because it would be a detour on the way to the Two Rivers but when Rand offers to Travel by Gateway, the women favor the idea even though Haman is still opposed. Rand is about to go through when Sulin comes up, believing the Aiel should be going with him. Rand relents and gives her to the count of fifty to gather a guard. She says something to the gai’shain that startles them but they immediately run to gather a guard. When they are assembled, Rand warns them to follow his directions―they must stay close, not enter any buildings, nor take anything not even a drink.
Rand lets Haman lead once they are in the city. When they find the Waygate, Rand uses all five powers to weave deadly traps around the Waygate, focusing particularly on Shadowspawn. Rand is about to make a Gateway to the Two Rivers when he discovers that Liah is missing. A long and fruitless search in pairs begins. Rand repeatedly refuses requests to search by ones or to enter the buildings. Finally night comes close and they have to leave. Rand does not want to leave a Maiden behind, but finally has no choice. They will all die if they stay past dusk. Rand makes a Gateway to an empty field near Emond’s Field, only it is no longer empty. Sheep and a farmhouse along with a boy shepherd are there to notice his arrival. Elder Haman begs Rand not to get himself killed before the Last Battle. Rand asks the Ogier to not reveal how they came there. Then he opens a Gateway to Caemlyn.
REACTION:
One of the things that seems to have gone through Jordan’s mind when writing this book is to slow down the sense that Rand is winning. We’ve even had characters say stuff along the lines of “we are winning” in the text. I mean, Rand and his friends have killed about half the Forsaken and he’s either conquered, or has support from, a big swath of the continent.
So how is the book dealing with that? Well, dead enemies are being brought back. Jordan added a super Myrddraal. Other continents are being promised as future adversaries. The Black Ajah seems larger now than before. And more than anything else, Rand is increasingly isolated, hurting, and insane. He desperately needs someone solely invested in supporting him, instead of needing something from him, or wanting to push him in a direction not of his choosing. The only person he has ever had like that was Moiraine, and he only got that from her at the very end, and as a last resort on her part. She’s gone now, too.
We barely know Liah but losing her feels like a big blow. Then Rand’s brief visit to Emond’s Field immediately after that feels somehow worse. The one thing he’d probably most love would be to go home, see Tam, and here he can see home but without visiting. That’s like seeing a chocolate cake while you’re giving up sweets for Lent, except, you know, like times a million. Rand is profoundly alone except for a crazy man’s voice inside his head. He cuts himself at the end of this chapter too, on his hand. It’s not clear if it was a conscious or subconscious action. But it’s a bad sign that he’s engaging in self harm like this.
In the last chapter I was trying to figure out why Rand was prioritizing using the Ogier to find the Shadar Logoth Waygate, and I think the reason on some reflection is that he didn’t know when he’d have an Ogier at hand again. This is the Waygate wherein he’d most need one to close it (he can’t afford to be slow in finding it at SL.)
Rand and Sulin bantering continues to be awesome. I loved the debate about how long he had to slow count in order for her to round up Maidens to travel with him. Jordan’s description of them jumping through windows to get there was visually fun, too.
I love the idea of Shadar Logoth, and the role that I think it plays in the story’s wider metaphysics. My only issue is that it feels as though we were introduced to this place too early in the story. Maybe that’s an unfair criticism. My inner “how the story should be told” sense wants in hindsight for their to have been more of a buildup to this place. All of that said… I am fascinated by the what/how of Mordred poisoning the city.
This chapter is the first time that Lews Therin talks directly and sanely to Rand.
“This place frightens me. Does it not frighten you?”
It’s interesting for that reason alone. He even seems to be telling Rand that he remembers killing Ishamael and watching Lanfear die (memories from inside Rand’s head, obviously.) But then Lews Therin changes direction and tells Rand that he must kill Demandred. Did he actually change topics or is Demandred linked to this place somehow? Jordan has never teased any links that I’ve seen.
The last really great thing about this chapter are Elder Haman’s final words to Rand. He sees the loneliness, isolation, burden, pain, etc., on Rand’s shoulders.
“You must not kill yourself.”
It’s such a true thing to tell him that he’s shocked to hear it. I guess that’s as close to encouragement as Rand is going to get from anyone. Then he leaves and thinks the pain of leaving is like tearing his own arm off. So… things are not going well for Mr. Rand al’Thor.
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