Chapter 4 - The Tale of a Doll

Summary

Furyk Karede reflects on High Lady Tuon’s disappearance and his duty to find her while receiving an unannounced visit from Seeker Almurat Mor. Mor shares intelligence regarding rumors of a girl claiming to be Tuon in Ebou Dar and reveals that two damane were taken from the palace alongside Mat and Thorn Merrilin. After dismissing the Seeker, Karede rides out of the city with Captain Musenge’s force, which includes Ogier Gardeners and sul’dam with leashed damane, to begin searching for the missing High Lady in the surrounding woods.

Characters

• Furyk Karede / Furyk (Banner-General, Deathwatch Guard) — Sits at his desk reflecting on Tuon’s disappearance and his duty to find her, recalling a doll she gave him years ago as a reminder of her protection. He maintains composure during Mor’s probing questions, dismisses the Seeker, and rides out of Ebou Dar with Musenge’s force to begin searching for the missing High Lady.
• Ajimbura — Kills a rat and displays fierce loyalty while drinking from a silver-rimmed skull cup. He plays a reed flute as cover before leading Karede into the woods to join the hidden search camp.
• Almurat Mor / Mor (Seeker for Truth, Seeker) — Visits Karede unannounced to share intelligence about rumors of a girl claiming to be Tuon in Ebou Dar. He reveals that two damane were taken from the palace alongside Mat and Thorn Merrilin, then warns Karede not to delay action on the information.
• Musenge (Captain) — Rides forward to meet Karede with Hartha, having assembled a hundred Deathwatch Guards, twenty Ogier Gardeners, and sul’dam with leashed damane for the search operation.
• Hartha (First Gardener) — The First Gardener rides grim-faced beside Musenge and voices skepticism about the difficulty of tracking Tuon’s party.
• Melitene (der'sul'dam) — Explains that “exercise” served as the excuse to remove the damane from the city, noting that the former Aes Sedai damane Mylen worships Tuon and is eager to capture her captors.