The novel starts in the aftermath of the fight that resulted in Rand being proclaimed the Dragon Reborn. There are a lot of those who follow him, including the Shienaran, and those who want him dead, the new leader of the Whitecloaks who is secretly a Darkfriend being one of them.
Rand is having a difficult time adjusting to the thought of the immense responsibility that has been laid upon him, as well as controlling his new power. After the camp falls under a Trolloc attack, Rand decides to leave Moiraine, Perrin and the Shienaran soldiers behind and set off on a journey to Tear alone. After discovering this fact, Moiraine, Lan and Perrin follow his tracks. They soon learn that Rand has left a variety of strange evidence behind, as well as information that the Forsaken are slowly being freed from their long imprisonment with the Dark One.
Back at Tar Valon, Mat has been healed from the influence of the dagger of Shadar Lagoth, and he immediately proves himself a fighter by defeating Elayne’s brothers in a sword fight. With the newfound influence he leaves Tar Valon, reunites with Thom Merrilin and learns about the plot for Elayne’s murder, which leads him on the path to Tear. In the meantime, Elayne, Egwene and Nynaeve are on their way to Tear as well on a mission to hunt a Black Ajah.
Everything escalates in Tear, Rand and Moiraine battle a Forsaken one, and Rand ends up facing the Dark One, Ba’alzamon, again and seemingly destroying him yet again. Unfortunately, they discover that the body Rand killed is the body of the leader of the Forsaken, so the threat of the Dark One is still very much alive.
