A Memory of Light

Lore & Background

The book opens with the armies of the Westlands and the forces of the Shadow assembling for Tarmon Gai'don, the Last Battle, and with the Shadow gaining a new Forsaken in Mazrim Taim, now called M'Hael.

In the prologue the Forsaken Demandred raids Caemlyn with Trollocs to seize the cannons developed by Mat Cauthon, Queen Elayne Trakand and the Illuminator Aludra; Talmanes and the Band of the Red Hand get the cannons out, but the city is lost. Rand al'Thor calls the nations to the Field of Merrilor to persuade them to fight in Tarmon Gai'don. His price, a treaty called the Dragon's Peace that fixes borders and outlaws war, and his plan to shatter the remaining seals on the Dark One's prison cause wide argument, settled when Moiraine Damodred quotes the Prophecies of the Dragon and convinces Egwene to break the seals herself.

The Aiel, moved by Aviendha's visions, demand to be bound by the treaty. Mat returns to Ebou Dar to find Tuon and a city full of assassins, and at the Black Tower the Asha'man loyal to the missing Logain Ablar, led by Androl Genhald with the Aes Sedai Pevara, rescue Logain and defeat Mazrim Taim, who had been forcibly Turning people to the Shadow.