Vael'Thorin is an original Forsaken from the Age of Legends, an ancient male channeler who swore allegiance to the Dark One and was imprisoned for thousands of years. Brilliant, ruthless, and terrifyingly composed, he has returned to a world he barely recognizes. As a master of the One Power and a strategist with centuries of forbidden knowledge, he sees the White Tower as a fragile institution ripe for manipulation. When he encounters a male Aes Sedai standing against the Shadow, he discovers an adversary who may threaten his carefully constructed plans. He intends to win, regardless of the cost.