Chapter 5 - The Forging of a Hammer

Summary

Perrin wakes in the freezing pre-dawn darkness under a supply cart, counting twenty-two days since Faile's kidnapping and reflecting on his forged anger and a wolf dream warning of an unknown dread and the coming Last Hunt. He is roused by Aram to meet Sebban Balwer and Selande Darengil, who report that Masema has sent riders toward Amadicia, that Altaran merchants have joined his followers, and that Masuri Sedai has been secretly visiting the Prophet with Rovair and possibly Annoura. Perrin instructs Haviar and Nerion to monitor the sisters carefully but warns against direct confrontation. Walking through his camp, he notes the tense silence of his Two Rivers friends and servants, then discusses strategy with Balwer, agreeing to hear his suggestions directly while warning against manipulation. Balwer departs to recruit Lady Medore for an infiltration plan targeting Berelain and the Aes Sedai, leaving Aram to voice his distrust as Perrin mounts Stepper to continue his relentless pursuit of the Shaido.

Characters

• Perrin (Lord, Lord Perrin Goldeneyes, Young Bull) — Wakes in freezing darkness under a supply cart, counting twenty-two days since Faile's kidnapping and reflecting on his forged anger and a wolf dream warning of an unknown dread. He receives reports from Balwer and Selande regarding Masema's movements and Masuri Sedai's secret visits, then agrees to hear Balwer's strategic suggestions directly while warning against manipulation before mounting Stepper to continue the hunt.
• Aram — Waits for Perrin each morning with a hardened demeanor and constant anger, now displaying possessive jealousy toward anyone else interacting with his lord. He leads Stepper to Perrin, expresses distrust of Balwer and Selande's group, and remains close as they discuss camp strategy.
• Sebban Balwer / Balwer — Delivers Selande's intelligence report on Masema's raiders and the covert meetings between Masuri Sedai and the Prophet. He later advises using Selande's companions to infiltrate the Aiel tents, earning Perrin's agreement to hear his suggestions directly without manipulation before departing to recruit Lady Medore.
• Selande Darengil / Selande — Reports intelligence gathered by Haviar regarding Masema's Altaran followers and Masuri Sedai's secret visits to the Prophet. She receives Perrin's praise and instructions to monitor the sisters carefully, then departs after wishing him grace.
• Stepper — Serves as Perrin's dun stallion, eagerly awaiting his master each morning and tossing his head impatiently when they prepare to ride out.
• Dannil Lewin — Asks for orders from Perrin and appears relieved when given none, staring anxiously at the morning gruel due to hunger and thinness.
• Kenly Maerin — Avoids meeting Perrin's gaze as he passes through the Two Rivers camp, his cheeks still pale from a recent attempt at growing a beard.
• Jori Congar — Spits contemptuously as Perrin walks by, prompting Ban Crawe to punch his shoulder in response.
• Ban Crawe — Punches Jori's shoulder for his disrespect toward Perrin but deliberately avoids looking at his lord himself.
• Lamgwin Dorn — Tugs his forelock and bows to Perrin, remaining the only one among the camp's servants and friends to offer a welcome.
• Basel Gill — Folds his blankets with exaggerated care while keeping his head down, avoiding interaction with Perrin.
• Lini Eltring — Straightens from stirring a kettle and raises her wooden spoon defensively as Perrin approaches, maintaining a cold distance.
• Breane Taborwin — Slaps Lamgwin's arm and frowns up at Perrin, her fierce expression reflecting the camp's tense atmosphere.
• Jur Grady — Remains asleep beneath a pine-branch lean-to, snoring through the morning activity as he stays estranged from the rest of the camp.
• Masuri Sedai / Masuri (Sedai) — Reported to have secretly visited Masema's camp multiple times, accompanied by her Warder Rovair and possibly Annoura Sedai.
• Annoura Sedai / Annoura (Sedai) — Suspected by Haviar of accompanying Masuri on her covert visits to the Prophet, though her exact motives remain unclear.
• Rovair — Accompanies Masuri on her secret trips to Masema's camp, matching the description of her Warder.
• Berelain — Resides in a tent near Brytan's houses with her serving women, and Balwer suggests using Selande's companions to approach her for intelligence.
• Medore / Lady Medore (Lady) — Identified as having sufficient rank through her father to approach the First of Mayene, making her a target for Balwer's infiltration plans.
• Edarra — Sent by Rand alongside the other Wise Ones to monitor Masuri and Seonid, ensuring their oaths hold them in check.
• Seonid Sedai / Seonid (Sedai) — Remains with Masuri under the watch of the Wise Ones, bound by her oaths to Rand and restricted from hopping without permission.
• Gaul — Out with the scouts alongside the Maidens, leaving only the gai'shain in the Aiel tents.
• Elyas — Digs up a broken spear shaft from the snow and joins the scouts tracking the Shaido, though he remains absent during this morning's camp activities.
• Leafhunter — Appears as the leader of a wolf pack in Perrin's dream, warning him of the coming Last Hunt and expressing a rare, terror-like dread of an unknown threat before cutting off contact.
• Feather — Identified as clever and in his prime, Leafhunter's mate who shares in the pack's fearful reaction to the unknown scent from Perrin's dream.
• Tall Bear / White Tail / Thunder Mist — Join Leafhunter and Feather in greeting Perrin as Young Bull before fading from his consciousness alongside the rest of the pack.