The Wheel of Time Companion

by Robert Jordan

  Although he always refused to lead men in the Blight, he did lead men in the Aiel War, in which he fought for two years. At the Blood Snow, he led almost five hundred men—Kandori, Saldaeans, some Domani—on the morning of the first day of the battle, and by the end of the third day, half of them were dead or wounded. He had an estate of moderate size in Shienar, granted him when he reached manhood. Lan could read Trolloc runes with fair accuracy and could read and speak the Old Tongue fluently. He was an excellent tracker—he could follow a moonbeam’s path over stone two days later, it was said—and was also expert at hiding his trail.

  Lan was one of the best swordsmen of his Age; he had the right to wear a heron-marked blade, but he would not give up the simple, unmarked blade he wore, though, of course, it was Power-wrought, made during the War of the Shadow. The single-edged, slightly curved blade, it was believed, was an ordinary soldier’s weapon in the War of Power, and became the sword of Malkieri kings.

  Lan also had a number of Warder-bond-given skills: he could go longer without food, water or rest than other men, even hardened fighting men; he healed more quickly; he could sense Myrddraal and Trollocs to some extent—a Warder’s range was as good as or better than that of the Aes Sedai—and he could smell the presence of a Myrddraal a day or two after it was gone. He could sense a Darkfriend who was very far gone in the Shadow, but few were so far gone even among the worst.

  He met Moiraine in Kandor in 979 NE, soon after she was raised Aes Sedai. She attempted to take his sword; he threw her in a pond. She bonded him a short time later, and for more than twenty years they worked side by side. Their relationship was never sexual, though there were occasional tensions of that nature. Many women threw their hearts at Lan’s feet or climbed into Lan’s bed, and Moiraine never felt jealousy until she had a flash at Tifan’s Wells, while thinking that Nynaeve was capturing Lan’s heart and soul and loyalties despite all he could do, a fight she knew he did not want to win even while he was trying to. Lan loved Nynaeve very deeply, and felt that he was the last man in the world she should love. He had his personal war with the Shadow that he could not give up, and all he could give her was a widow’s clothes. He would have liked to stay away from her, to cut the lines between them cleanly; it hurt to be near her and be sure he could never marry her. On the other hand, there was nothing he wanted more than her safety, unless it was her happiness.

  Moiraine arranged for the bond to be passed to Myrelle if anything should happen to her. When she disappeared through the redstone doorway ter’angreal fighting Lanfear, the bond passed and he went to Myrelle. He wanted to die, but Egwene sent him to protect Nynaeve in Ebou Dar, and he saved her life as soon as he arrived. He married Nynaeve in a ceremony performed by the Mistress of the Ships to the Sea Folk in the harbor of Ebou Dar. The ceremony included a pledge that one of them would command in public, that it might be either at different times, but that whoever commanded in public must obey in private.

  Nynaeve knew that Lan had made love with Myrelle, which he did in an attempt to break himself from Nynaeve. Myrelle had other motives—to focus Lan on life again—but so long as the topic was avoided, Nynaeve could ignore it; he was very much aware of the situation.

  He persuaded Nynaeve to take him to the Borderlands so that he could continue his fight against the Shadow; she arranged for people to learn that he was riding for Tarwin’s Gap, and an army joined him. After Nynaeve completed her Aes Sedai test, Myrelle passed the bond to her. Lan fought valiantly in the Last Battle and killed Demandred.

  Lanasiet, Tornay. See Tornay Lanasiet

  Lances, Ingathering of the. A term used by Agelmar to describe the Shienarans coming together to defend their border.

  Lances, Plain of. Flatlands situated in the northern portions of Saldaea and Kandor in the Borderlands.

  Land of the Madmen. A third continent, well south of the Sea of Storms, discovered by the Sea Folk; little was known of it. The landmass experienced continual seismic activity and devastating storms, and icebergs filled the surrounding oceans. The people of this continent lived a primitive and violent life. They never recovered from the Breaking; channelers, male and female, abounded; the men were mad and the women all but, never having organized to resist the destruction wrought by their male counterparts. The remainder of the population lived in small communities that formed mobs to kill strangers who wandered into their territory. The continued existence of the Land of the Madmen could be attributed in part to the fact that many of the male channelers had developed blocks which limited or prevented them from using the One Power.

  Land, Three-fold. The Aiel term for the Aiel Waste. They believed that the Waste was a shaping stone to make them, a testing ground to prove their worth and a punishment for their sin. See also Waste, the

  Landalin. A lieutenant at Heeth Tower. He was roused to take command of the top of the tower after a single flash was received from Rena Tower’s signal light.

  Lanelle. See Ianelle

  Lanfear. One of the Forsaken. She was born Mierin Eronaile and was romantically involved with Lews Therin Telamon for a time. Her strength level was 1(+12). She was also known as Daughter of the Night, and the wolves called her Moonhunter. In the Age of Legends, she was a research scientist, if neither the most accomplished nor the most distinguished, studying new methods of using the One Power. Her search for an alternative led to the Bore. She considered Tel’aran’rhiod her personal property and liked to claim that no one was more skilled there than she—a claim which made it into the history books as truth—but others did exceed her ability. About 5'11" tall, she had large dark eyes and waves of raven-black hair. Slender and very beautiful, she had skin that was creamy pale and smooth. She loved Lews Therin with a possessiveness and jealousy near to madness. She had always hated Ilyena and believed that Ilyena stole Lews Therin from her.

  When she awakened in the Third Age, she transferred that passion to Rand. She posed as Selene, a Cairhienin noblewoman, traveled with him, and attempted to seduce him. When Rand was in the Waste, she posed as Keille Shaogi, a peddler. Posing as Silvie, she attempted to bamboozle Egwene in the World of Dreams. For a time she actually aided Rand, so long as she could do it without danger to herself, at first with the notion that she would bring him to the Shadow, later with the thought that, using the great statue sa’angreal, the two of them could challenge the Dark One, even the Creator. She helped Rand against the other Forsaken insofar as she could without exposing herself; she was playing both sides against the middle. She wanted Rand to win, but if he went down, she had no intention of falling with him. She had no intention of going over to the Light; she wanted power, much more than she could possibly have had on the side of the Light, and she wanted immortality. Her ultimate goal was to defeat the Dark One, leaving her and Rand immortal and ruling the world.

  Once she learned that Rand had bedded Aviendha, she went over the edge; she was ready to torture him, to take him away and make him her devoted slave, or to kill him if she could not break him. Only Moiraine’s intervention saved him. In the fight between the two women, both were transported to the realm of the Eelfinn and Aelfinn. Moridin found Lanfear there; he killed her and her soul was placed in a new body. She was given the name of Cyndane, which was Old Tongue for “Last Chance.” See also Cyndane

  Lanita. A novice or Accepted with a potential strength level of 26(14). Born in 977 NE, she went to the White Tower in 994 NE. After Siuan was deposed, she was taken by the rebels to Salidar. There, she was part of a circle led by Anaiya fighting a bubble of evil.

  Lannis. An ancient scholar from the Blue Ajah who wrote of the Forsaken.

  Lantoine, Stedding. A stedding located in the Spine of the World.

  Lara Ayellin. A Two Rivers girl. When Moiraine mentioned that another woman in Emond’s Field could channel, Egwene thought that it might be Kari Thane or Lara Ayellin.

  Larapelle. The site of one of the many victories of Rashima Kerenmosa, the Soldier Amyrlin.

  Laras. The
chief cook in the White Tower. Siuan gave her the formal title of Mistress of the Kitchens in the White Tower when Siuan toured the kitchens, while Nynaeve, Egwene and Elayne were working there as punishment for their trip to Falme. Laras was a beauty in her youth; at the time of the Aiel War she was plump, but later became more than merely stout, with layers of chins, and a spotless white apron that could have made three novice dresses. She thought of herself as once having been a foolish girl, doing foolish things, and near to getting herself hanged sometimes.

  When Min was posing in the Tower as a foolish young woman under her full name, Elmindreda, Laras took Min under her wing and gave her advice on makeup, flirting and proper behavior. She helped Min free Siuan and Leane, but decided not to go too far, as she had to live there; she said that she would give them an hour, then send food and wine to the guards. She liked Min, but one Amyrlin was the same as another to her; Aes Sedai folderol was too far above her for her to concern herself.

  Laras was protective of Egwene after her capture by Elaida, keeping the kitchen help from playing pranks on her, but otherwise showed her no open favoritism. She did object to all the beatings Egwene was receiving, and tried to persuade Egwene to leave the Tower, offering her help in doing so.

  When Verin returned to the Tower, Laras brewed a sweet tea for Verin to put her poison in.

  In the Last Battle, Laras gave the Horn of Valere to Faile, although it was said to be Two Rivers tabac in the chest.

  Larcheen. A place in the Age of Legends that inspired the saying “as black as midnight in Larcheen.”

  Larelle Tarsi. A Domani Aes Sedai of the Gray Ajah, with a strength level of 14(2). Born in 732 NE, she was beautiful, with copper skin. The girls she lectured were torn between being intimidated by her and wanting to be her. They all thought her the perfect Aes Sedai. She was one of Tamra’s searchers for the infant Dragon Reborn, though neither Moiraine nor Siuan knew this until too late to save her. She was killed in Kandor in 979 NE by Merean Redhill, shortly after Moiraine and Siuan left Canluum.

  Laren. A senior maid at the Tarasin Palace in Ebou Dar, the final servant Mat encountered when he visited the Tarasin Palace for the first time and therefore the oldest. She was a round woman who had a touch of gray at her temples and a stately carriage. She wore a marriage knife with five white stones in the hilt, two set in red, and four red stones, one surrounded by black, meaning that three of her nine children were dead, two sons in duels. She had dark eyebrows and nearly black eyes. Laren knew about Mat and Tylin from the start, rescuing Mat from the Aes Sedai tug-of-war with a summons from the Queen and bringing Mat the basket with oysters before the trip to the Rahad.

  Larie. The damane name of Lemore, a noblewoman from Tanchico. See Lemore

  Larine Ayellin. A Two Rivers girl with channeling ability. She became a novice with the rebel Aes Sedai, having been recruited by Verin and Alanna. She was Dav’s sister and about eighteen years old. Larine was pretty and willowy and wore her hair in a braid. She had a high opinion of herself.

  Larinen, Mirane. See Mirane Larinen

  Larisen, Annoura. See Annoura Larisen

  Larisett, Atuan. See Atuan Larisett

  Larissa Lyndel. An Aes Sedai of the Yellow Ajah in public and the Black Ajah in truth. She was part of the rebel contingent, with a strength level of 28(16). A bony woman whose plainness almost overcame her Aes Sedai agelessness, Larissa was one of those who cornered Nynaeve after she Healed Siuan and Leane. Larissa had not been present when Nynaeve Healed Siuan and Leane, and she definitely wanted her chance at Nynaeve’s knowledge, and her chance at being the one to break Nynaeve’s block.

  Larissa’s name was found on Verin’s list of the Black Ajah.

  Laritha. A woman whom Thom once tried to rescue. She was a rose in bud, and married to a brutish bootmaker in a village Thom visited; her husband shouted at her if his meal wasn’t ready, and switched her if she spoke more than two words to another man. She moaned to Thom that she wished someone would rescue her, but when he offered to take her away, she kicked him in the knee and hit him with a bench. Outraged that Thom thought that she would ever leave her beloved husband, Laritha ran to her husband to tell him of Thom’s offer; Thom had to leave the village quickly, leaving most of his possessions behind. He later learned that Laritha held the purse strings tight and cracked her husband in the head with whatever was at hand when he stopped by the inn for some ale.

  larksbrush. A bush with tiny, faintly blue leaves and gnarled branches.

  Last Battle, the. A wide-ranging war wherein prophecies indicated that the Dragon Reborn would fight the Dark One to save the World. It was also known as Tarmon Gai’don. The battle was fought on two fronts: 1) Thakan’dar and Shayol Ghul, and 2) the lands south of the Great Blight. The Last Battle began when a Trolloc army emerged from a Waygate in Caemlyn, followed quickly by two separate enemy invasions from the Blight through Kandor and Tarwin’s Gap. The Shadowspawn army fought their way north from Caemlyn as the other two invading armies, including Sharans led by Demandred, went generally south, with the purpose of enveloping and crushing the forces of Light. At Thakan’dar, the Shadowspawn armies poured through the mountain passes and fought against defenders from the south and the Aiel Waste, as Rand engaged the Dark One in the Pit of Doom at Shayol Ghul. The forces of Light prevailed on both fronts and the Dark One was contained once again, which marked the beginning of the Fourth Age.

  Last Days. The end of a cycle of the Wheel of Time, when the Dark One came out of captivity and the Last Battle was fought.

  Last Hunt, the. The wolves’ term for the Last Battle.

  Lastriders. A group that left Maradon during the Trolloc attack. They watched the battle from afar and were supposed to get word to other forces in Saldaea for help if the city fell. The group was led by Yoeli’s sister Sigril.

  Latar, Serenia. See Serenia Latar

  LAST BATTLE MAP 1: Some of Mat’s forces—defensive lines of pikemen, archers, and dragons—are massed on Polov Heights as huge armies of Trollocs and Sharans appear in the west. Mat sets up a Seanchan camp at the base of Dashar Knob, while most of his armies under Elayne array themselves along the left bank of the River Mora. Lan’s army goes across Hawal Ford to hit the approaching armies’ right flank and contain them, making them more vulnerable to the dragons. Mat gives the order to the defenders on the Heights to retreat, just as Demandred, leading the enemy, unleashes a devastating barrage of the One Power. As a second large army of Shadowspawn appears in the north, Tam’s armies move upriver near a cluster of ruins to repel them.

  LAST BATTLE MAP 2: The armies of Trollocs and Sharans from the west capture Polov Heights, with Demandred positioning himself on a steep promontory overlooking the River Mora. Many of the dragons have been destroyed or damaged. A large group of Trollocs begins descending the southwestern slope of the Heights, while Mat’s forces and remaining dragons position themselves across Hawal Ford to meet the onslaught. Demandred keeps the Sharans on the Heights. Lan, meanwhile, moves around the western side of the Heights. The Trollocs from the north build raft bridges across the Mora upstream at the Ruins and are attacked by Tam’s troops as they cross the river. Demandred is clearly trying to envelop Mat’s forces on the Shienaran side of the Mora.

  LAST BATTLE MAP 3: Egwene’s combined forces of soldiers and channelers cross the Mora on raft bridges and swing around the bogs to initiate a two-pronged attack. Mat sets fire to the southern slopes of Polov Heights, temporarily halting the descent of the Trollocs to Hawal Ford. By the time the Trollocs are able to recommence their descent, Egwene is in place, sending her cavalry against their rear flanks near the Ford, while the main body of her army attempts to advance up the western slope of the Heights. Mat’s forces hold a defensive line across the River Mora, sustaining attacks by Demandred. Tam’s armies upriver are successful repelling the Trollocs at the river, aided by Lan’s attack on their rear flanks. Mat and Tuon have a fake argument at Dashar Knob, and the Seanchan leave the battlefield, camp
ing in the south at the River Erinin.

  LAST BATTLE MAP 4: Egwene is shaken by Gawyn’s death. The Sharan channelers go head-to-head against Egwene’s struggling channelers at the western slope of the Heights, while many of the Trollocs descend the southwestern slope, sweeping away Egwene’s cavalry, attempting to cross Hawal Ford, and massing on the Arafellin side of the Mora to attack Mat’s defenders. Mat’s forces are hardpressed and continue to be pounded by Demandred and the Shadow’s forces. But the battle is going better upriver at the ruins, where Tam’s and Lan’s armies decisively crush the Trollocs in a pincer action.

  LAST BATTLE MAP 5: Demandred’s troops far upriver manage to dam the River Mora, drying it up and making it easier for the Trollocs to cross the riverbed. Asha’man and Aes Sedai continue to fight against Sharan channelers on the western slope of Polov Heights. Egwene dies, but not before killing all the Sharan channelers. The Dark One’s forces are on the verge of overwhelming the defensive lines on the Shienaran side of the Mora, when Mat and his mobile units charge up the northeastern slope of the Heights, forcing the Sharans and Trollocs to fight on that front rather than descend and crush the defenders at the Mora.

  LAST BATTLE MAP 6: The repaired dragons are back in the fight, and the River Mora is again filled with flowing water. But the fate of the outnumbered forces of the Light looks bleak except for three major events: Lan slays Demandred, disorienting many of the enemy; Olver blows the Horn of Valere, bringing the heroes of the Horn into the fray alongside Mat and his troops; and the Ever Victorious Army of the Seanchan enter the battle. The Seanchan march north, with one half of the army bolstering the defenses along the Mora, while the other half swing around the bogs and position themselves at the base of Polov Heights. Many Sharan soldiers manage to escape after Demandred’s death, but the remaining Trollocs are pushed down the southwestern slope of Polov Heights into a cul-de-sac, many becoming trampled by fellow Shadowspawn in the congestion, or shot with arrows or dragons’ eggs, or torn apart by Seanchan exotic animals. The frenzied remainder throw themselves into the bogs, where they meet their deaths.