Chapter 27 - What Must Be Done

Summary

Perrin oversees the winnowing of grain from So Habor on a snowy riverbank, maintaining a calm demeanor to keep his uneasy drivers from fleeing. He refuses Seonid's request to remain in the haunted town and later intervenes when Masema tortures a Shaido prisoner with hot coals, severing the man's wrist with his axe and threatening the remaining captives with losing their hands and feet if they do not reveal Faile's location. After retreating into the woods to process his actions, he speaks with Elyas about the nature of violence before learning from Tallanvor that fifteen thousand Seanchan are hunting the Shaido nearby.

Characters

• Perrin / Perrin Aybara — Oversees the winnowing of grain outside So Habor while maintaining a stoic presence to calm his uneasy drivers. Intervenes in Masema's torture of a Shaido prisoner, severs the man's wrist with his axe, and threatens the remaining captives with losing their hands and feet if they do not reveal Faile's location. After walking into the woods to process his actions, learns from Tallanvor that fifteen thousand Seanchan are hunting the Shaido nearby.
• Berelain — Rides up beside Perrin during the winnowing and calmly advises him that he cannot save everyone and must choose who to help, noting So Habor is Lord Cowlin's duty. Pushes through the crowd at the camp to observe the torture scene with a ruler's detached judgment.
• Annoura — Stands nearby during Perrin's conversation with Berelain and delivers a philosophical warning that even ta'veren are merely threads in the Pattern without control over how they are woven. Rides away after her statement, maintaining an unreadable, predatory demeanor.
• Seonid — Demands to stay behind in So Habor but is firmly refused by Perrin before he departs. Kneels at the head of a tortured Shaido prisoner and strains herself to heal his severed wrist, collapsing afterward from the effort.
• Alharra — Stands behind Seonid during the healing of the Shaido prisoner, ready to step forward but waved away by Seonid once the weave is complete.
• Wynter — Stands with Alharra behind Seonid during the prisoner's healing, his face red above his curled mustaches as he observes the scene.
• Masuri — Questions Perrin's decision to heal the tortured Shaido, pointing out that they cannot restore a lost hand. Maintains a calm, direct demeanor while standing near the torture site.
• Kirklin — Stands behind Masuri with a bored expression, appearing completely unbothered by the grim scene of torture and interrogation taking place nearby.
• Edarra — Arrives at camp with Dannil and Sulin to report that five Shaido have been captured for questioning. Calmly explains that bringing a Stone Dog to talk will take days due to their ability to embrace pain.
• Sulin — Reports alongside Edarra that the Maidens captured the prisoners while they were unarmed, noting that Arganda mistrusts them and that Shaido will yield very little information.
• Dannil / Dannil Lewin — Rushes to Perrin's tent to deliver news of the captured Shaido, nervously chewing his mustache and drawing his sword slightly before speaking.
• Arganda / Gerard Arganda — Takes the five Shaido prisoners to the Ghealdanin tents for interrogation and grips his sword hilt tightly while defending Masema's brutal methods as necessary to save his queen.
• Masema — Oversees the torture of a Shaido prisoner with hot coals and argues that Stone Dogs must be hurt to make them talk. Glare at Berelain and stare in disbelief at Perrin's ruthless threat regarding the prisoners' hands and feet.
• Aram — Stands beside Masema pleading for the prisoner, then later reports that all five captives gave uniform answers claiming they never saw Faile. Grimly suggests killing them to prevent escape.
• Hari — A torturer who collects ears on a leather cord and uses tongs to replace hot coals on a stretched Shaido prisoner before Perrin kicks the coals onto him, burning his hand.
• Elyas / Elyas Brinn — Steps out of the woods to sit with a bloodied Perrin and offers counsel on how danger affects men differently, reassuring him that feeling alive in battle does not mean he enjoys violence.
• Neald — Opens a gateway back to camp and later follows tracks through the snow to find Perrin in the woods. Reports that Arganda wanted to wait for Perrin's blood to cool before proceeding.
• Tallanvor — Arrives at Perrin's tent three days later with Balwer, revealing he found fifteen thousand Seanchan (mostly Taraboners) with damane who are actively hunting the Shaido near So Habor.
• Balwer — Enters Perrin's tent accompanied by Tallanvor and dryly explains that their meeting was a fortunate chance, encouraging Perrin to hear Tallanvor's report on the Seanchan forces.