29 Memories of Saldaea

In his wagon near Eianrod, Hadnan Kadere broods over a cryptic message—“You are not alone among strangers. A way has been chosen”—and recalls Lanfear’s brutal instructions and the scars she left. He worries the note signals another Darkfriend or even another of the Chosen moving to use him, placing him in deadly crosscurrents.

Isendre slips into the wagon, swathed in black. She reports that Jasin Natael only plays music and deflects questions, while her attempts to approach Rand al’Thor have been thwarted by the Maidens. She reveals they shaved her head and scourged her with nettles—Adelin, Enaila, and Jolien enforcing harsh punishment—and threatened worse.

Pressed by Hadnan to bed Rand, Isendre breaks, confessing she cannot endure more and finally discloses that Aviendha has been sharing Rand’s bed since Rhuidean and may marry him. Kadere recognizes the Maidens have broken Isendre’s will, ending her usefulness and risking confession that could expose him.

As Isendre turns to leave, Kadere garrotes her with a kerchief, methodically holding fast until she dies. He retrieves a butchering knife to dispose of the body and contemplates recruiting another woman—perhaps an Aiel Darkfriend—to pry information from Natael or to slip past Aviendha’s presence. Humming a childhood lullaby taught by his sister Teodora, Kadere recommits to his covert schemes within Rand’s camp.