Trolloc armies close in on the group from both sides, leaving them with no choice but to abandon the Caemlyn Road and head north through the hills. They do battle with a Trolloc army, and escape toward the abandoned city of Shadar Logoth.
Not even two weeks out of Emond’s Field, and Egwene has already forgotten to be grateful that everyone is still fed and alive. She complains about having to eat cheese, then turns to whining about wanting a hot cup of tea. Lan snaps at her and lets her know that the only fire they’ll have on the road will be coming from the charred remains of her corpse if the Trollocs catch up with them.
A hunting horn sounds from the West, and they get moving again. Lan scouts behind and finds at least three Fades coming their way, each commanding an army of 100 Trollocs. Before long, horns sound from the East as well. They’re being pincered from both sides! Since the Taren River lies to the South, the only option remaining is to head north. It’s slow going across the hilly terrain, and soon they crest a hill to find themselves staring at a long line of Trollocs, led by a Fade. Lan tells everyone to stay close and charges the Fade.
The first proper battle of the book has begun! This is where we first see the trademark battle cries in Wheel of Time. During my first read of this book, I was coming straight from having devoured books in the Redwall series, so the battle cries didn’t seem all that strange to me. Your mileage may vary. Lan bellows about the Seven Towers. Rand takes up the cry of “Manetheren! Manetheren!” And Mat? Mat starts yelling a battle cry in a dead language that we have never heard him speak. Setting aside everything that Min said at the Stag and Lion, this is our first glimpse of how there is a lot more to Mat than being a happy-go-lucky prankster.
Lan grapples with the Fade, Moiraine roasts Trollocs with fire weaves, and Rand flails away with his sword. Things are looking bleak, outnumbered as they are, when suddenly the Trollocs all fall screaming to the ground, clawing at their faces. Lan has decapitated the Fade, which apparently decimates the Trollocs under its command as well. Turns out killing the general is a hell of a morale-breaker.
There is no time to celebrate victory. Pressing on, they are soon set upon by three Fades, each with their own Trolloc army. So Moiraine grabs her angreal, channels earth — making the ground ripple beneath their feet — and fire — creating a vast, impenetrable wall of fire.
Moiraine creates a false trail for the army to follow, and they press on. Egwene asks Mat about what he yelled during the battle, and Moiraine translates it, identifying it as an ancient battle cry of Manetheren. She seems pleased that the old blood runs so strongly in their veins — or Mat’s, at least.
At last they arrive at the ruins of a vast city, many times larger than Baerlon. But it is obviously abandoned, and vegetation has overtaken it. Moiraine is not happy about ending up here, but Lan points out that this is a place where even shadowspawn will not tread. Always a good sign when the monsters chasing you would rather not go into the place you’re about to sleep, eh? Welcome to Shadar Logoth.