Contents
Chapter 30
Overview
In Cairhien, Rand becomes entangled in Daes Dae'mar as invitations from King Galldrian and Lord Barthanes raise lethal stakes. The Defender of the Dragonwall burns; Hurin is injured and the chest with the Horn and dagger is stolen. Rand saves the Dragon banner. Ingtar, Mat, and Perrin arrive moments too late.
Summary
Rand, chafing under Cairhien’s intrigue, argues with Hurin over excessive deference and burns most noble invitations to avoid entanglement. The innkeeper delivers two new summons: personal invitations from King Galldrian and Lord Barthanes. Hurin warns that accepting or rejecting either could provoke deadly reprisals in Daes Dae'mar; Rand decides to be seen holding both, unbroken, to stall for time.
Seeking news, Rand and Loial visit the gatehouse. A clerk blandly denies any arrivals, even as Rand glimpses Captain Caldevwin, confirming official evasions. Frustrated by the Game’s lies and his own burdens, Rand longs for simplicity and resolves to hand the dagger to Mat and the Horn to Ingtar without touching saidin.
Smoke rises near their inn. Fearing Darkfriends, Rand and Loial race to The Defender of the Dragonwall, now aflame. Inside, they find Hurin unconscious with a head wound and the hidden chest gone. Loial hauls Hurin while Rand, torn, risks the fire to retrieve his saddlebags and the Dragon banner from his own room as the ceiling collapses.
They escape into the street; a local Reader can only ease Hurin’s pain. As Rand reels from the loss, Ingtar arrives with Mat and Perrin. Realizing they have come too late to prevent the theft, Rand sits in the street and laughs bitterly.
Who Appears
- Rand al'ThorProtagonist; resists Cairhien’s Great Game, stalls royal invitations, braves a burning inn to save the Dragon banner, reels after the Horn’s theft.
- LoialOgier companion; counsels Rand on Daes Dae'mar, carries the injured Hurin out of the fire, sacrifices his books.
- HurinSniffer; increasingly deferential, ambushed at the inn, left unconscious with a head wound as the chest is stolen.
- IngtarShienaran lord; arrives in Cairhien just after the inn fire and the theft of the chest.
- Mat CauthonFriend; arrives with Ingtar, visibly weakened but alert, moments after the disaster.
- Perrin AybaraFriend; arrives with Ingtar, his yellow eyes drawing notice amid the firelit chaos.
- CualeInnkeeper of The Defender of the Dragonwall; manages a frantic bucket line and salvage as his inn burns.
- Unnamed clerk at the gatehouseGuardhouse functionary; lies about arrivals and feigns ignorance, emblematic of Cairhienin intrigue.
- Captain CaldevwinCairhienin officer; glimpsed avoiding Rand, suggesting official knowledge withheld.
- King Galldrian RiatinCairhien’s king; sends a personal invitation, escalating Rand’s peril within Daes Dae'mar.
- Lord Barthanes DamodredHigh Seat of House Damodred; sends a personal invitation, a rival pole in the city’s lethal politics.
- Unnamed ReaderLocal healer; can only make Hurin comfortable, fearing internal head injury.