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| - Gawyn is observing the landscape near Dumai's Wells while most of the Younglings have been positioned at the rear. He spies a horse galloping back toward the group and immediately orders battle preparations. He argues with Galina, but she finally gives in about stopping and making preparations. Rand has been kept in a chest barely large enough for him and baked in the hot sun every day. He can tell Alanna is close but doesn't know what that means. When the wagon stops and the chest is taken down Rand expects to be let out to be fed. When the chest stays closed he fears they will leave him in there all night and starts shouting to let him out but all he hears is a laugh. Perrin observes from the top of a ridge and finds a scene from a nightmare. Shaido completely surround a camp of wagons. There is a lot of channeling and some wagons are on fire. There are forty thousand Shaido and several hundred Shaido Wise Ones channeling. The fight appears hopeless but Perrin is determined to try to free Rand anyway. As they begin their charge, Perrin calls out to the wolves to come now. Perrin's only thought during the fight is they have to reach Rand. Bera, Kiruna and the other Aes Sedai join the fight, protecting many of the men. Perrin hears a loud boom, then a gateway opens nearby and black-coated men pour through and join the battle. Perrin believes the fight is almost lost and thinks of Faile. Rand is still doubled up in the chest when first one, then three more of the shields on him are tied off. With guidance from Lews Therin he begins to work on those four shields. He breaks one knot, so now there only five and the shield is thinner. Finally he gets through the fourth knot even though a third Aes Sedai joins the shield. He pushes at the shield to reach saidin and finally succeeds. He blasts apart the three shields. He uses air to explode the chest apart. Nearby Min is on the ground and Rand crawls to her to find she is alright and glad to see him. He feels other channels and sees that Taim and the Asha'man have arrived to rescue him. He begins to shield and knock unconscious the Aes Sedai, beginning with Erian. Gawyn arrives and offers to take Min out. When she refuses, he rallies the Younglings to cut their way out, vowing to see Rand die some time. The Asha'man create a barrier with Rand and Perrin's remaining forces inside. He notices Alanna and the Aes Sedai with her, noting that there are nine. Rand tells Taim to disperse the Shaido, which the Asha'man do with ruthless efficiency until they run away. Bera and Kiruna come over to Rand to take charge but he orders them to kneel with the Tower Aes Sedai because she brought nine instead of six. They all swear fealty to Rand.
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