Towers of Midnight

Abstract

Towers of Midnight is the thirteenth volume of The Wheel of Time and follows a series of characters and events related to the final battle between the Dragon Reborn and the Dark One that will decide the fate of the world. One of the narrative threads follows Aviendha, a young woman training to become a Wise One of the Aiel. The final stage of this training involves a test in which Aviendha must walk between magical glass columns and experience the lives of her ancestors to learn about the origins of the Aiel. Aviendha’s previous experience with objects of power like the columns prompts her to experiment with this one and, as she walks through the pillars once more, she experiences the lives of her descendants, glimpsing the future of the Aiel. These visions focus on the technologies and industrial developments that are unknown in Aviendha’s present timeline, which include glowing orbs, possibly electricity and the construction of a railway. In this reality, the Lightmakers have also developed fire weapons. From this experience, Aviendha concludes that the Seanchan Empire had likely managed to seize control of the magical One Power and have developed new technologies to conquer the world.