16 The Wisdom

Rand wakes late at the Stag and Lion, aching and unsettled by lingering nightmares. In the kitchen he hears of many dead rats found with broken backs, which chills him. Finding Perrin still abed, Rand discovers Perrin also suffered a terrifying dream of Ba’alzamon; they fear telling Moiraine.

Outside, Rand meets Min, who claims to see pieces of the Pattern. She describes ominous images around the whole group—sparks against a great shadow—and troubling visions around Rand, foretelling future entanglements and that they will meet again. Unnerved, Rand wanders Baerlon and unexpectedly finds Padan Fain, ragged and frantic. Fain, terrified of the Aes Sedai, makes Rand promise not to reveal him and then flees.

Rand runs into Mat, who admits to the same nightmare. Mat plays a prank that splashes mud on three Children of the Light. The Whitecloaks confront Rand; he feels a strange feverish surge of energy and answers them boldly until the Town Watch’s arrival ends the standoff. When the sensation vanishes, Rand is shaken by his own recklessness.

They find Thom, confide the shared dream, and are warned never to speak Ba’alzamon’s name aloud. Thom explains the dangerous names mentioned in the dream and calls the Eye of the World a Borderlands legend. He advises they tell no one, especially Moiraine, for now. Hurrying back to warn Perrin, they learn he has told no one.

Perrin reveals that Nynaeve has arrived in Baerlon after forcing the ferryman to row her across the Taren. She is with Moiraine, and tempers are high. Fearing unwanted attention yet knowing a confrontation is inevitable, the boys steel themselves and head inside.