10 chapters from the first Wheel of Time book fans can’t wait to see on TV
By John Fallon
“Chapter 19: Shadow’s Waiting” and “Chapter 20: Dust on the Wind”
After the encounter with the Trollocs, the gang escapes to the shadowy den of ruins known as Shadar Logoth. They ride into the broken city, and Rand is awed by what’s left standing; marble palaces topped with huge domes, bronze fountains, statues and towers. They wander through the biggest buildings they can find and climb dusty fountains with huge basins, finding only dust and rubble.
Shadar Logoth is an eerie, desolate place of horrors. Coming here after the verdant and vibrant Emond’s Field would provide a stark contrast for viewers. Cast members have teased some very impressive sets for the show, and we imagine this is what they’re talking about.
After a strange encounter with a shady treasure hunter named Mordeth, Lan leads the group down the streets and out of the city. Rand looks warily into the shadows and buildings as they pass. As they ride, a tendril of silver-gray fog drifts low across the street ahead of him. The fog is beginning to complete covering the streets. Moiraine tells them it is Mashadar, the evil of Shadar Logoth, which kills you with a mere touch and cannot be destroyed.
What follows is a mad dash through the city, with the gang looking for escape but getting cut off by a wall of fog at every turn. And if that wasn’t enough, they’re being attacked by Trollocs as well. They howl and snarl as they bound forward. Rand manages to escape, but everybody has split up. After some time, Rand meets Mat and they ride out of the gates. Thom Merrilin, a traveling performer who’s been with the group since Emond’s Field, appears from behind, shouting for them to ride faster. The scene ends with the sound of hoof-beats and hunting cries, announcing Trollocs on their trail.
These chapters are a good read, but they’re also important because the mark the point where the story splits off into several different paths, which gives the story a jolt of energy. Hopefully, by this point, we like the characters enough to follow them wherever they go next.