Rand al'Thor
Rand is, of course, the heroic center of the story. This installment is primarily defined for Rand by his travels. He seems to be in constant movement over the course of the narrative with his various purposes taking him from Cairhien to Rhuidean to the Far Madding to Caemlyn to Tear and back again. He’s all the place literally and also figuratively as his travels have him involved with a great many other major characters and doing some Buffy-level slaying of enemies in the service of the big bad of the series: the Dark One.
Elayne Trakand
Rand may be the central hero, but this story is spread over thirteen volumes and even a hero needs a break now and then. Elayne rises to the occasion in this volume to take over some of the weighty burden off being the focus of the story. She is not as proactively engaged as Rand, but her presence is very strong and dominant throughout her narrative thread as she at long last reaches the Royal Palace to stake her claim to power and stand off factions bent on insurrection.
Matrim Cauthon and Tuon
Mat as he is more popularly known is much more limited in his movements than either Rand or Elayne. A broken leg must mend at the royal palace in Altara. Mat’s role in this book is kind of strange considering his portrayal in other volumes. He is almost constantly victimized. That said, this entry stands out as being a major turning point for the character. It is in this book that Mat meets Tuon, Seanchan empress, Daughter of the Nine Moons and the woman whom prophecy has determined he shall one day wed.
Perrin and Faile
A major subplot which began in the previous entry in the series is further developed in this volume and will continue into the next. Perrin’s wife Faile has been kidnapped by Sevanna and imprisoned along with many others in her Shaido camp. Perrin launches his search for her through a wolf dream before commencing his search in the non-dream world. This will transform into obsession by the next book.
Shalon din Togara Morning Tide and Cadsuane Melaidhrin
Shalon belongs to the one of the clans of the Sea Folk where she is a Windfinder. She is notable for playing a rather significant role in this particular volume in the series while being almost non-existent throughout the rest. Her significance is also due primarily to her relationship with Cadsuane, who is most definitely a major character in the series due to being a close advisor to Rand. Shalon unwittingly reveals her secret extra-marital lesbian relationship with Lady Ailil and Cadsuane uses this knowledge to blackmail—one of her favorite tools—them both into getting the information she desires.
