The Plot of Path of Daggers by Robert Jordan

With each subsequent book in the Wheel of Time series, the central storyline has become more scattered. Paralleling the scattered storyline, the plot of each individual book has also become more scattered. In the 8^th book, Path of Daggers, so many individual plots receive attention that it is difficult to fully understand what the central plot of the story actually is.

In truth, Path of Daggers doesn't have a single plot, but rather Robert Jordan, the author, details three separate plot threads that are occurring at roughly the same time. The first plot thread involves the Elayne Trakand, daughter heir to the throne of Andor. In this portion of the story, she is traveling with Nyneave al'Meara and nearly one hundred other women who can all channel. Having recovered the Bowl of Winds at the end of the previous book, Elayne intends to use the ter'angreal to correct the weather currently being corrupted by the Dark One.

This plan is complicated by the reappearance of the Seanchan, intent on conquering the world and capturing every woman who can channel. After correcting the weather, Elayne is forced to lead this disparate group of women as they retreat from the Seanchan and head to Andor. The plot details her trip until arriving at the palace, with this troublesome posse, where she makes her claim for the throne recently held by her mother.

The second major plot involves Egwene al'Vere and the rebel Aes Sedai. Bereft of her closest friends, she has come to rely on Siuan Sanche and a small group of Aes Sedai who have sworn loyalty to her. Determined to gain true power as Amyrlin, rather than be a puppet, she has manipulated the rebel army and worked with the army's general to gain power. Her story concludes in this novel with her using an obscure piece of Aes Sedai law to gain total control of the Hall, an act likely to have future repercussions.

The third major plot follows the short military campaign of Rand al'Thor, the Dragon Reborn, against the Seanchan. Using his power wielding soldiers, the Ash'a'man, to spearhead the campaign, Rand is able to successfully drive back the invading armies. Driven by ego, he pushes even when his top general advises against it and tries to fight a battle at a 10 to 1 disadvantage. Thinking to use Callandor, a power san'greal, to win the campaign, he loses control of his power and accidentally kills many of his men, including some Ash'a'man.

In addition to these major plotlines, two minor plotlines are expanded on and one significant plotline is surprisingly not furthered. The book does not mention Mat Cauthon and the plight he ended up in at the end of the last book, except in passing. Perrin Aybara continues to look for the Prophet. During the search, two queens join his party, one in secret, but at the moment he finds the Prophet, his wife is captured by Shaido. Finally, Elaida, the current Amyrlin Seat, sets two women to find Black Ajah and near the end of the story, they actually find one.

All of the major and minor plots are wrapped up near the end of the book, though there isn't really a strong finale. The most momentous part of the finale involves a handful of Ash'a'man going rogue and trying to kill Rand. The battle is deadly, but ends in a draw. In fact, the full story ends with well more loose ends than the story started with, given that just about no major plotline got resolved during this book.