Contents
Chapter 21
Overview
In Tremonsien, Rand’s party encounters Captain Caldevwin, who probes their identities and reveals a colossal Age of Legends statue being excavated for King Galldrian. Political suspicion tightens under Daes Dae'mar. Overnight, Selene slips away, leaving a note, and Rand, Loial, and Hurin are compelled to ride for Cairhien with a fifty-man escort.
Summary
Rand, Loial, Hurin, and Selene reach The Nine Rings in Tremonsien. Rand notes Cairhienin soldiers led by Captain Aldrin Caldevwin. Over supper, Rand plays the flute to deflect attention while they hide the Horn’s chest under a blanket. Caldevwin questions Rand politely but probing, noting Rand’s heron-marked blade.
Conversation turns to a vast crystal sphere and fragments nearby; Caldevwin says it is part of a gigantic statue from the Age of Legends that King Galldrian has ordered moved to Cairhien. The officer’s scrutiny makes Rand wary. A lamp mishap interrupts as Selene, aloof and cool, feigns illness and demands a private room.
In their quarters, Hurin explains Daes Dae'mar—the Cairhienin Game of Houses—framing Caldevwin’s suspicion as political maneuvering. Rand worries about entanglement and the soldiers Caldevwin intends to send with them.
By morning Selene has vanished, leaving a note saying she dislikes Caldevwin and will await Rand in Cairhien. Outside, Caldevwin presents an “escort” of fifty men under Elricain Tavolin. After a terse exchange about Selene’s disappearance, the party departs toward Cairhien under the soldiers’ watch.
Who Appears
- Rand al'ThorLeader of the group; plays the flute to deflect notice; questions Caldevwin; worries about Daes Dae'mar; accepts escort to Cairhien.
- SeleneAloof companion; disdains attention; leaves a note and vanishes overnight, saying she dislikes Caldevwin and will await Rand in Cairhien.
- Aldrin CaldevwinCairhienin captain overseeing statue excavation; politely interrogates Rand; arranges a fifty-man escort; suspicious and politically wary.
- LoialOgier companion; helps hide the Horn’s chest; comments on the Age of Legends statue and the Game of Houses.
- HurinSniffer; explains Daes Dae'mar to Rand; helps manage baggage; notes the inn was watched.
- Maglin MadwenInnkeeper of The Nine Rings; hosts the party; offers advice; manages a small fire scare in the common room.
- Elricain TavolinYounger Cairhienin officer assigned to command the escort taking Rand’s party to Cairhien.
- CatrineServing girl who drops a lamp, briefly starting a fire that is quickly smothered.