Chapter 40

Perrin sits among fresh graves of his family at the Aybara farm, numb and focused on hunting Trollocs. In his rough forest camp of Two Rivers men, Faile arrives from Emond’s Field with news that refugees have crowded into the village to defend it, that Verin and Alanna hide their identities, and that Loial and Bain and Chiad are there. Lord Luc also arrives, exuding cold arrogance and advising the hunters to return to the village or turn on the Whitecloaks.

Perrin rebuffs Luc, insisting they continue hunting Trollocs to protect isolated farms. Gaul returns with news of about thirty Trollocs and a Fade moving north through the Waterwood, likely to camp before striking. Despite Luc declining to help, Perrin organizes an ambush, placing his men in a shallow arc while Faile holds the horses.

Silence falls in the forest, then Perrin smells Trollocs from behind. The Shadowspawn crash into the camp from the rear. Perrin kills two but is skewered by a Trolloc arrow. A Myrddraal taunts him about Faile and presses him hard until Ihvon, Alanna’s Warder, arrives and near-decapitates the Fade. Ihvon estimates roughly a hundred Trollocs total, now leaderless and less likely to press a costly fight.

Perrin rallies survivors. Faile brings back the horses and some men; the Aiel are largely unhurt. Counting faces, Perrin realizes twenty-seven are dead. He orders the wounded mounted, and under Ihvon’s guidance they withdraw, everyone carrying bows to present a hard target. The Trollocs shadow them at first, then fade away without their Fade to drive them.

They clear the Waterwood into pastures with silent farmhouses. Ihvon urges finding shelter, water, and bandages. As they trudge on, exhausted and grieving, they hear distant, merry music ahead, suggesting safety or at least people, and they move toward it.