A Memory of Light (Wheel of Time, #14; A Memory of Light, #3)

by Robert Jordan

Rand wept. He huddled in the darkness, the Pattern spinning before him, woven from the threads of the lives of men. So many of those threads ended. So many. He should have been able to protect them. Why couldn’t he? Against his will, the names began to replay in his mind. The names of those who had died for him, starting with only women, but now expanded to each and every person he should have been able to save—but hadn’t. As humankind fought at Merrilor and Shayol Ghul, Rand was forced to watch the deaths. He could not turn away. The Dark One chose then to attack him in force. The pressure came again, striving to crush Rand into nothing. He couldn’t move. Every bit of his essence, his determination and his strength focused on keeping the Dark One from ripping him apart. He could only watch as they died. Rand watched Davram Bashere die in a charge, followed quickly by his wife. Rand cried out at the fall of his friend. He wept for Davram Bashere.