Chapter 11 - The Road to Taren Ferry

Description

Racing through the night along the North Road, the group flees toward Taren Ferry with a Draghkar hunting them from above. Despite their horses’ exhaustion, Moiraine uses her power to restore their strength, allowing them to maintain their desperate pace. When the Draghkar’s terrifying cry causes chaos among the horses, Lan warns that the creature must have already reported their location to the Myrddraal. Moiraine conjures a thick fog to hide them from aerial pursuit as they continue their frantic journey, eventually reaching Taren Ferry where they must convince the suspicious ferryman, Master Hightower, to grant them immediate passage across the river in exchange for gold, despite the late hour and dangerous conditions.

Characters

  1. Rand al'Thor - Rides last in line watching for pursuers, struggles to control Cloud during the Draghkar attack, and demonstrates concern for Egwene and Bela's safety throughout the journey.
  2. Bela - Shows remarkable endurance in keeping pace with larger horses after being strengthened by Moiraine.
  3. Mat Cauthon, Matrim - Makes comments about Taren Ferry folk and expresses desire for comfort at the White Boar inn.
  4. Egwene - Rides Bela with excitement and skill throughout the dangerous journey.
  5. Lady Moiraine, Mistress Alys, Moiraine Sedai - Uses the One Power to restore the horses' strength, creates protective fog to hide from the Draghkar, and leads the group toward Taren Ferry.
  6. Lan, Elyas Machera - Leads the group's flight, maintains tactical awareness, and coordinates their approach to Taren Ferry.
  7. Perrin Aybara - Comments about the White Boar inn and follows with the group to Taren Ferry.
  8. Thom Merrilin, Master Merrilin - Rides ahead of Rand, focusing forward rather than watching for pursuers.
  9. Master Hightower - Initially refuses to operate the ferry at night but agrees after Lan bribes him with gold, then goes to wake his haulers.

Takeaways

  1. The party rides hard through the night on horseback, pursued by a terrifying flying creature called a Draghkar that tracks them for the Myrddraal.
  2. Moiraine uses her power to restore energy to their exhausted horses, enabling them to continue their desperate flight.
  3. The group reaches Taren Ferry where Lan bribes the ferryman Master Hightower with gold to cross the river immediately, despite it being nighttime and foggy.
  4. Moiraine creates a thick fog to help hide them from the Draghkar, though this makes their journey more treacherous.
  5. The villagers of Watch Hill, unlike Emond's Field, are shown celebrating Bel Tine undisturbed, highlighting how localized the Trolloc attack was.