Thom Merrilin

Chapter 31 - The Woman of Tanchico

Thom / Thom Merrilin — aliases: gleeman, harper

Thom performs a story on a tabletop before retreating to drink heavily, displaying uncharacteristic sorrow and physical weakness. He reveals to Mat that he killed a man in Cairhien and has come to Tar Valon to hide from the Red Ajah, specifically Elaida. Upon Mat's invitation, Thom gathers his belongings, says goodbye to the serving women, and agrees to flee to Caemlyn, appearing sober and alert once outside the inn.

Chapter 32 - The First Ship

Thom / Thom Merrilin — aliases: gleeman

Thom accompanies Mat onto the Gray Gull, where he offers to entertain the crew to avoid sleeping on deck. After the ship is attacked, Thom retrieves a lantern and kills a third assassin with his knife, later covering up the event by claiming they fought off river brigands. He complains about his shrunken leg and Mat's potential snoring as they settle into the captain's cabin.

Chapter 40 - A Hero in the Night

Thom / Thom Merrilin — aliases: gleeman

Thom accompanies Mat to Aringill, commenting on the misery of the refugees and Mat's taunting of Captain Mallia. He identifies Aludra as an Illuminator based on her fireworks. He helps Mat defeat the attackers and questions Aludra about her light source before they saddle up in the stable and ride out.

Chapter 44 - Hunted

Thom

Thom tunes his harp and reacts with rage to Mat opening the fireworks. He fights the assassins, killing the noblewoman with his knife to save Mat, and chides Mat for his lack of caution. After saddling up, he expresses disbelief that the crossbowman is the same man who pursued them earlier, but Mat insists on the identification.

Chapter 45 - Caemlyn

Thom / Thom Merrilin — aliases: the gleeman

Thom rides with Mat to Caemlyn and suggests they eat at The Queen's Blessing inn. Later, he plays stones with Basel Gill in the library and listens to Mat's report about the Palace guards, reacting with concern to Mat's plan to bypass the guards and deliver the letter.

Chapter 47 - To Race the Shadow

Thom — aliases: Thom Grinwell

Plays stones with Gill and confirms the gravity of Mat's warning about Gaebril. He reveals that his passion for Morgase has faded and agrees to join Mat in fleeing to Aringill to protect the girls.

Chapter 49 - A Storm in Tear

Thom

Thom Merrilin plays stones with Mat and later demonstrates how Comar uses sleight of hand to swap weighted dice. He accompanies Mat into the rain to search inns, acts as a distraction by performing stories, and urges a exhausted Mat to sleep before continuing the search at dawn.

Chapter 52 - In Search of a Remedy

Thom — aliases: gleeman

Thom suffers from a severe, hacking cough and wheezing, struggling to walk while Mat forces him to Mother Guenna’s house. He reluctantly drinks the foul tea and salve prescribed to him, protests Mat’s plan to leave him behind to storm the Stone, but is physically prevented from following by the Wise Woman’s strength.