A Crown of Swords: Chapter 41
A Crown of Swords
Author: Toral Delvar
Characters: Bashere, Dashiva, Gregorin, Min, Moridin, Rand, Sammael
Setting: Cairhien, Illian and Shadar Logoth
Point of view: Rand
Rand wakes, seeing Amys, Bera and Kiruna seemingly opposed to Cadsuane and two other Aes Sedai. He is surprised to be alive and tells them that the dagger Fain used came from Shadar Logoth. Cadsuane tells him he has been ill for two days and must rest more. Dashiva offers to clear out the women, preparing the weaves to do so, but Rand tells him not to and gets up to get dressed, telling them he needs to speak to the Asha'man alone. Min tells him of a viewing she had, that Cadsuane has something she needs to teach all the Asha'man and that they will not like learning it. Rand learns Weiramon has pushed ahead on his own and realises he must go ahead with his plans. He tells them they are to help him kill Sammael, Min agreeing to put off the Maidens and Wise Ones so he can get away.
They Travel to the Saldaean camp, where Bashere has been training the men who could not channel, calling them the Legion of the Dragon. Rand tells them it is time and that he wants no women, which Bashere agrees to, to Deira's anger. Rand weaves a gateway between two posts to the Square of Tammuz in Illian and the horsemen flood through. Once inside Illian, he Travels the short distance to one of the towers in the palace and directs flows of power in all directions to trigger any wards or traps Sammael had set. He leaves the tower just as it explodes, sustaining an injury in the process, then follows the source of that weave. Sammael taunts him, asking if he has the courage to follow him. Not wanting to kill any innocents, Rand does so and opens a gateway close to one that Sammael used, to Shadar Logoth. At first, he suspects Sammael of having lured him there and left, but sees Trollocs and realises he must still be present. Suddenly, they are attacked, by Liah, who seems ready to attack him until see recognizes him and flees. After killing more Trollocs with a Power-wrought sword, lightening comes, almost striking him and knocking him to the ground. A man appears, helping him stand and not identifying himself. Rand tries to balefire Mashadar, but the man does the same and the bars cross, shattering the Void and causing him to lose saidin and see double. The man seems to know how Sammael thinks and makes Rand realise he is likely to be at the Waygate that Rand had set wards around. The man leaves, saying many plans will have to be relaid if Rand dies. After he leaves, Rand realises he never felt saidin in him.
At the Waygate, he sees Sammael, though before he can strike, he also sees Liah, touched by Mashadar and balefires her to save her that death. He sweeps the bar past where Sammael was. After, Rand assumes Sammael must be dead as he didn't feel him escape and was weak enough to be killed if Sammael survived. He Skims back to Illian, mourning Liah and unable to cry. Lord Gregorin, speaking on behalf of the Council of Nine offers him the crown, saying that Brend had most likley killed Mattin. Rand asks why and is told it is partly because of the grain Rand sent from Tear, that kept the commoners fed. He places the Laurel Crown on Rand's head, proclaiming him as Rand feels swords on the crown prick him.
