The Great Hunt of the Horn

Lore & Background

The hunt ignites when Padan Fain, an agent of the Shadow, infiltrates Tar Valon and absconds with the Horn from within the White Tower. While Black Ajah sympathizers may have aided his escape, it is Fain who transports the relic to Falme, where he is captured by Seanchan forces who seize the Horn directly upon his arrival. This betrayal draws a coalition of heroes across the continent; rather than crossing the Aiel Waste at this time, they travel via Sea Folk ships to reach the occupied city of Falme and strike at the heart of the Seanchan occupation. The saga underscores the clash between the Empire’s rigid slavery hierarchy (the damane) and the chaotic freedom of the Westlands, proving that salvation can arise from unexpected quarters.

In Their Own Story

The wind howled through Falme’s stone corridors, carrying the scent of salt and ozone as chaos erupted around Mat Cauthon. Clutching the Horn he had risked his life to reclaim from the Seanchan, the young man felt its weight heavier than any gold. As damane wove threads of destructive power overhead and Shadowspawn forces closed in, a strange calm settled over him. With a trembling hand, Mat raised the artifact to his lips and blew. The blast was not merely sound but a thunderclap that tore through the sky, summoning ghosts of glory and steel—Artur Hawkwing among them—to stand once more against the darkness.

Reader's Guide

The quest begins in Tar Valon when Padan Fain steals the Horn and flees toward Seanchan territory. Rand al'Thor, Mat Cauthon, Perrin Aybara, Egwene al'Vere, Loial, and Ingtar Shinowa form a ragtag party to pursue him across the continent. Their journey takes them through the Aiel Waste, where they face the harsh desert and the enigmatic Aiel people, before crossing the Aryth Ocean in a desperate naval escape from Seanchan forces.

Upon arriving in Seanchan, the group is separated. Mat is captured by the Empire, while Rand and his companions infiltrate the city of Falme to rescue him and retrieve the Horn. The climax occurs during the Battle of Falme, where Rand confronts the Seanchan high command and Mat, having survived torture, manages to blow the Horn. This act summons legendary warriors like Artur Hawkwing, who turn the tide of battle against the overwhelming Seanchan army.

The event concludes with the group escaping Seanchan on a stolen ship, leaving the Horn in Rand's possession but knowing that their enemies have now learned of its existence. The Great Hunt marks the first true victory for the Dragon Reborn and solidifies his bond with his companions before the shadow deepens.

Did You Know?

• The Heroes summoned by the Horn are not ghosts; they are real people pulled from their time in the Pattern, retaining their full strength and memories.
• Mat Cauthon is the only one of the main characters who can blow the Horn without dying or suffering immediate physical collapse due to his unique connection to the artifact's history.
• The Seanchan view the Horn as a tool for conquest, believing its power belongs to the Empress, while the Westlanders see it as a sacred relic of the Light.
• Artur Hawkwing, one of the most famous Heroes summoned, was an emperor who nearly united the world before his empire fractured.

Publication History and Structure

Robert Jordan's fantasy epic, The Great Hunt, stands as the second installment in the monumental Wheel of Time series, originally published by Tor Books on November 15, 1990. Structurally, the novel comprises a prologue followed by fifty distinct chapters that weave together complex narrative threads. A unique publishing event occurred in 2004 when the text was re-released as two separate volumes titled The Hunt Begins and New Threads in the Pattern, offering readers an alternative way to experience this pivotal story. This division reflects the book's dual focus: one half following the male protagonists on a dangerous quest, while the other tracks the female characters toward the White Tower. Despite these structural variations over time, the core narrative remains a definitive chapter in Jordan's world-building, establishing key plot points and character arcs that would define the remainder of the saga.

The Quest for the Horn

The central driving force of the novel is a desperate race to recover the legendary Horn of Valere. Following its theft by the Darkfriend Padan Fain from the fortress at Fal Dara, Rand al'Thor, Mat Cauthon, and Perrin Aybara join forces with Shienaran soldiers led by Lord Ingtar Shinowa. Their pursuit is complicated by supernatural elements, including Hurin's uncanny ability to smell past violence and Perrin's telepathic bond with wolves that track the enemy's Trollocs. The journey takes a surreal turn when Rand accidentally activates a portal stone, transporting him and the Ogier Loial to a distorted alternate world where they encounter the mysterious Selene. After navigating this strange realm and retrieving the stolen artifacts from Fain's camp, the group travels to Cairhien. However, their progress is constantly thwarted by Machin Shin and further thefts, culminating in a frantic chase toward the port city of Falme on Toman Head.

The White Tower and Seanchan Intrigue

Parallel to the male characters' hunt, Egwene al'Vere, Nynaeve al'Meara, and Elayne Trakand journey to Tar Valon to learn the ways of the Aes Sedai. In the capital, they form a close bond with Elayne's friend Min Farshaw, while Nynaeve successfully passes her test to become an Accepted. Their training is abruptly interrupted when Liandrin Guirale lures them through the Ways to Toman Head, where they are betrayed and captured by the invading Seanchan army. Egwene is enslaved with a controlling collar known as an a'dam, while Min is held hostage. Nynaeve and Elayne manage to escape their captors and launch a daring rescue mission within the occupied city of Falme. This subplot introduces the formidable threat of the Seanchan and their exotic beasts, setting the stage for a massive confrontation that intersects directly with the main quest.

The Battle of Falme

The novel culminates in a chaotic three-way battle at Falme involving Rand's party, the invading Seanchan forces, and the zealous Children of the Light. After retrieving the Horn from High Lord Turak, who was granted it by Padan Fain, Mat Cauthon blows the instrument to summon dead heroes of old, including Artur Hawkwing. This act turns the tide as the resurrected warriors ride out under the banner of the Dragon Reborn. During the conflict, a spectral duel ensues between Rand and Ba'alzamon above the city; Rand sacrifices himself by accepting a wound from the Dark One's staff to deliver a fatal counter-strike. In the aftermath, Lord Ingtar redeems his secret allegiance as a Darkfriend by dying in battle, while Selene reveals her true identity as the Forsaken Lanfear before vanishing. The surviving army pledges their loyalty to Rand, solidifying his role as the Dragon Reborn.

Gallery