Chapter 32 - Four Kings in Shadow

Description

Through a tension-filled evening at The Dancing Cartman inn in Four Kings, Rand and Mat perform for a rowdy crowd while dealing with mounting threats from multiple directions. The innkeeper Hake and his thugs clearly plan to rob them, while a mysterious velvet-cloaked merchant named Howal Gode reveals himself as a Darkfriend trying to recruit them for the Dark One. After being trapped in a storeroom, where Gode and his men attempt to break down the door while others guard the barred window, their salvation comes in the form of a fortuitous lightning strike that destroys part of the building. The bolt kills Gode’s men outside the window and allows Rand and Mat to escape into the stormy night, though not before Rand glimpses a figure - either Gode or Hake - shaking his fist at them through the rain.

Characters

  1. Rand al'Thor - Struggles with dwindling resources along the Caemlyn Road, tries to stay inconspicuous while performing in inns, and grapples with escalating danger at The Dancing Cartman.
  2. Mat Cauthon, Matrim - Shows increasing paranoia and suspicion of strangers, defends his ruby dagger when Rand suggests selling it, and struggles with growing distrust.
  3. Saml Hake - Runs The Dancing Cartman inn with cruel efficiency, abuses his serving maids, and plots to rob Rand and Mat.
  4. Jak - Works as one of Hake's bouncers, threatens Rand in the stableyard, and helps maintain order through intimidation.
  5. Strom - Serves as one of Hake's bouncers alongside Jak, maintaining order through force.
  6. Howal Gode - Reveals himself as a Darkfriend pursuing Rand and Mat, attempts to convince them to join the Dark One, and leads an attack on their room.
  7. serving maids - Endure abuse from Hake while serving customers, sharing gossip in the kitchen about Gode's arrival.
  8. cook - Works in the kitchen, feeds Rand and Mat while gossiping with serving maids about recent events.
  9. patrons - Fill the common room drinking and causing trouble, requiring frequent intervention from Jak and Strom.

Takeaways

  1. Rand and Mat are trapped in a dangerous inn called The Dancing Cartman, where the innkeeper Hake and his thugs plan to rob them.
  2. A mysterious merchant named Howal Gode, revealed to be a Darkfriend, attempts to recruit Rand and Mat for the Dark One, claiming they are marked to become Dreadlords.
  3. When cornered in a storeroom, lightning mysteriously strikes the inn, destroying part of the wall and killing Gode's men, allowing Rand and Mat to escape into the stormy night.
  4. A final glimpse of either Gode or Hake shows them shaking their fist at the escaping boys or the sky, suggesting the lightning strike may not have been natural.
  5. Mat is temporarily blinded by the lightning strike, forcing Rand to guide them both as they flee into the rainy darkness.