The Dragon Reborn/Prologue

==Summary==
:
Pedron Niall is holding audience with Jaret Byar. He is looking at a drawing of a gray-eyed youth with reddish hair; the newly proclaimed Dragon Reborn. Byar confirms that he is a false Dragon. He says that thousands in Tarabon and Arad Doman have declared for the Dragon and there is fighting in both nations and the Almoth Plain in between. He reports that Geofram Bornhald and a thousand of the Children were killed by Aes Sedai aided by Darkfriends calling themselves Seanchan. Niall believes that this proves the Three Oaths - to speak no word that is not true, to make no weapon for one man to kill another, to use the One Power as a weapon only against Darkfriends or Shadowspawn - are a lie. Niall tells Byar to bring Dain Bornhald news of his father's death. Before he leaves, Byar insists that a particular Darkfriend, Perrin Aybara from the Two Rivers, is to blame for it all.
Niall wonders about the other two false Dragons in Tear and Saldaea, and the reports of Aiel being seen as far west as Kandor and Ghealdan. The Atha'an Miere are also searching for something rather than engaging in their usual trade, and Illian has again called the Great Hunt of the Horn. Taken together, there are too many portents to be ignored; the Last Battle is surely coming soon. He still insists that all of the declared Dragons must be false, however.
Jaichim Carridin enters the room, and reports that Darkfriends who seized Falme had gathered to support the false Dragon with Aes Sedai support. Niall scoffs at this because Geofram Bornhald had fought those people and Jaichim had previously named Bornhald a Darkfriend. Are Darkfriends fighting each other now, then? Carridin is unmoved and dismisses the rumors about Seanchan from across the Aryth Ocean. Niall presses Carridin and holds him to account on his failure to carry out his orders to seize Almoth Plain and raise the dead nation of Almoth for the Children. The plan was to hold Almoth and Amadicia, sandwiching Tarabon and forcing the nation to submit to the Children's will.
Niall threatens to give Carridin over to the High Inquisitor for questioning over his failure, but relents and commands him to make sure that the false Dragon is not killed and to kill any Aes Sedai who oppose the false Dragon. Carridin says supporting a false Dragon is treason and blasphemy, but Niall says it is only what must be done. Niall implies that a big threat like a strong false Dragon will lead many to unite behind a strong hand like the Children of the Light. Niall says that if anything happens to the false Dragon or Niall, Carridin will be dead within a month. When the Inquisitor leaves, Niall contemplates his grand plan to use the false Dragon to strengthen support for the Children until eventually he will unite the forces of the Light behind him to fight and win Tarmon Gai'don. History will tell the tale of how Pedron Niall led the forces of the Light against the Dark One and won.
Ordeith emerges from a secret passage in the wall. Niall is angry that Ordeith came unsummoned and was eavesdropping; Niall had shown him the passage so that he could come secretly when summoned. Niall had taken him in because he had information about Toman Head that Niall did not receive elsewhere. Ordeith looks at a drawing of the "false" Dragon, and tells Niall that it is Rand al'Thor, a Darkfriend from the Two Rivers. He also tells Niall of Rand's friends Matrim Cauthon and Perrin Aybara, and that the Two Rivers is a nest of Darkfriends. Niall wonders whether he ought to make plans for the Two Rivers when the snow clears.
:
Carridin strides down the halls of the Fortress with a grimace on his face that makes other men avoid him. He enters his rooms, looking for his servant, Sharbon, but is deeply shaken to see a Myrddraal instead. The Fade reminds him of his real priorities, telling him that he had orders from the Great Lord of the Dark to find and kill Rand al'Thor above all else. Carridin is confused, as he was under the impression that the Great Lord wanted to use Rand al'Thor, not kill al'Thor. The Fade dismisses his questioning and then threatens to kill one of his blood each month until al'Thor is dead. If he runs out of relatives, he will be taken to Shayol Ghul to die a slow and excrutiating death. After the Fade leaves, Sharbon finally enters, and Carridin orders him to fetch him pen and paper for the orders he must write. Carridin is debating which orders he must obey.
==Characters==
*Pedron Niall
*Jaret Byar
*Jaichim Carridin
*Padan Fain - as Ordeith
*Shaidar Haran - as the Fade
*Sharbon
===Referenced===
*Rand al'Thor
*Perrin Aybara
*Geofram Bornhald
*Dain Bornhald
*Eamon Valda
*Mazrim Taim - as the false Dragon in Saldaea
*Lews Therin
*Artur Hawkwing
==Groups==
*Children of the Light
*Questioners
===Referenced===
*Seanchan
*Aiel
*Ogier
*Aes Sedai
*Sea Folk
*Darkfriends
==Places==
*Amadicia
*Fortress of the Light
===Referenced===
*Falme
*Two Rivers
*Almoth
*Tarabon
*Kandor
*Ghealdan
*Saldaea
*Tear
*Arad Doman
*Toman Head
*Tar Valon
*Cairhien
*Illian
*Murandy
*Aiel Waste
*Amador
*Aryth Ocean
*Blight
*Andor
*Shayol Ghul
==Events==
===Referenced===
*Battle of Falme
*War of the Shadow
*Breaking of the World
==Items==
=== Referenced===
*Horn of Valere
==Concepts==
*Tarmon Gai'don
*The Shadow
*The Light
*Darkfriends
===One Power===
*False Dragons
*Damane - as Aes Sedai