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Shadow Rising

The Shadow Rising (abbreviated as tSR by fans) is the fourth book in American author Robert Jordan's fantasy series The Wheel of Time. It was published by Tor Books and released on September 15, 1992.

Plot summary
The Shadow Rising consists of 58 chapters and is the only book of The Wheel of Time without a prologue.

At the beginning of the book, all major protagonists are together at the Stone of Tear, where Rand al'Thor had recently, at the end of The Dragon Reborn, shown to the world that he was the Dragon Reborn by wielding Callandor.

Rand declares his intention to go follow the People of the Dragon, the Aiel, into their home, the Aiel Waste. Mat Cauthon, Egwene al'Vere, and Moiraine Damodred resolve to accompany him. Perrin Aybara chooses to return home to the Two Rivers, and Faile Bashere goes with him. Elayne Trakand, Nynaeve al'Meara, and Thom Merrilin decide to go to Tarabon to hunt the Black Ajah. Thus, The Shadow Rising follows three groups of characters in three main plotlines.

Aiel Waste
Rand uses a Portal Stone to transport Mat, Egwene, Moiraine, and the Aiel at the Stone of Tear from Tear to the Aiel Waste, where Taardad and Shaido Aiel are waiting for them. The Aiel Wise Ones have Moiraine, Aviendha, and Rand enter Rhuidean, and allow Mat to go with Rand. All three enter ter'angreal in Rhuidean. When Moiraine comes out, she has some knowledge of the future. Rand comes out with dragon markings on both arms, proving him to be He Who Comes With the Dawn, the Car'a'carn, the Chief of Chiefs of all the Aiel. Mat comes out with full knowledge of the Old Tongue and armed with a spear called an ashandarei and a medallion ter'angreal that protects against saidar.

The Wise Ones assign Aviendha the task of teaching Rand Aiel customs as they travel to Al'cair Dal, the valley called the Golden Bowl where Rhuarc has called all the Aiel together. On the way, they are joined by a group of merchants.

At Al'cair Dal, both Rand al'Thor and Couladin of the Shaido Aiel declares themselves to be He Who Comes With the Dawn. Rand is forced to reveal the secret history of the Aiel in the Age of Legends to prove to the clan chiefs that he did enter Rhuidean and is truly He Who Comes With the Dawn, whereas Couladin is a imposter and did not. An uproar breaks out among the Aiel, and, hoping to avert violence, Rand uses the One Power to bring a rainstorm to the Aiel Waste for the first time since the Breaking of the World.

Having realized the merchants were Forsaken and Darkfriends in disguise, Rand chases after Asmodean, who is after the ter'angreal access keys to the Choedan Kal, the most powerful sa'angreal ever constructed. They battle at Rhuidean, and Rand defeats Asmodean by cutting him off from the Dark One. When Lanfear finds them, Rand explains to her that Asmodean will be forced to teach Rand how to use the One Power because Asmodean will now be suspected as a traitor by the Dark One and the other Forsaken.

When Rand returns to Al'cair Dal, he finds that most of the Aiel, except for the Shaido and a few others, have acknowledged him as the Car'a'carn and joined him.

The Two Rivers
In the Two Rivers, Perrin discovers that the people are caught between Trollocs, led by Padan Fain, and the Children of the Light, who believe Perrin is a Darkfriend. He also finds Verin Mathwin and Alanna Mosvani, both Aes Sedai, in the Two Rivers, as well as Lord Luc. Perrin leads the people of the Two Rivers to war against the Trollocs. Before the final victory, Perrin marries Faile.

Tanchico in Tarabon
In the city of Tanchico in Tarabon, Elayne and Nynaeve encounter Moghedien and the Black Ajah and remove a male a'dam from their possession. Elayne and Nynaeve also meet Bayle Domon and the Seanchan Egeanin.