Beneath the prophecy that the "Dragon" who could destroy the world has been reincarnated, a powerful Aes Sedai and her warder travel to the ordinary village of Two Rivers – which is about to come under attack by an army of vicious Trollocs.

Moiraine and Lan lead the refugees from the Two Rivers across the countryside, struggling to keep spirits up while staying ahead of the Dark One's army. A group of Whitecloaks provide a threatening obstacle on the road.

Separated from Moiraine and the others, Mat and Rand determine to look for their lost friends. Nynaeve, another survivor of the attack on the Two Rivers, falls in with Lan and and ailing Moiraine. Elsewhere, Egwene and Perrin struggle to stay alive in the wilderness.

The Aes Sedai capture a powerful channeler who claims to be the Dragon Reborn, and Nynaeve learns more about their order and its factions. Egwene and Perrin join their new friends on the road, while Mat and Rand find a fleeting moment of respite at a small farm.

Moiraine and the Aes Sedai party finally reach the White Tower, where Mat and Rand are also drawing close. But when the Whitecloaks stop the Tinkers nomads on the road to the Tower, Perrin and Egwene find themselves at the mercy of the ruthless Eamon Valda.

After the head of the Aes Sedai passes judgment on the False Dragon, Moiraine finds herself under scrutiny by the Amyrlin Seat. While her enemies maneuver against her, Moiraine attempts to conceal the truth about Mat, Rand, Egwane, and Perrin.

The group find themselves in the darkness of the Ways, facing the terrors of their own doubts while also mourning the fact that one of their own has left them. Upon arrival at a friendly city, Moiraine finds a prophetess with an unsettling vision.

As Moiraine and Rand make their way through the Blight to confront the Dark One at the Eye of the World, Lan resolves to go after them – leaving the others behind to try and fortify Fal Dara from the enemy's inevitable assault.