Chapter 44 - Hunted

Summary

Fleeing Illian under a thunderstorm, Perrin, Moiraine, Lan, Loial, and Zarine are pursued by Sammael's Darkhounds; on a mound featuring a carved Ogier face, Moiraine unleashes forbidden ancient fire to annihilate the beasts, revealing that Sammael does not yet know Perrin exists. Meanwhile, Mat and Thom camp in a copse near Caemlyn after Mat inspects the contents of Aludra's fireworks; they are ambushed by a disguised noblewoman and her assassins, but Mat's luck and Thom's intervention result in the deaths of all attackers, with Mat recognizing the fallen crossbowman as the same man who had previously tried to kill him in Tar Valon, prompting Mat to hasten their departure with the letter he carries.

Characters

• Perrin — Perrin dresses and escapes the inn with his companions, fleeing Illian on Stepper. He sets a fresh bowstring while standing beside Moiraine on a mound, then shoots three arrows at the approaching Darkhounds, managing to kill one before Moiraine intervenes with forbidden fire to destroy the pack.
• Moiraine (Aes Sedai) — Moiraine orders her companions to flee Illian immediately, warning them of the Forsaken Sammael. She leads the group to a mound with an Ogier carving, watches the Darkhounds approach, and ultimately uses a forbidden, ancient form of fire to burn the pack to ash, noting the perilous risk she took by using such power.
• Lan (Gaidin) — Lan assists in saddling the horses for the escape and takes charge of holding the horses during the Darkhound attack, drawing his sword but advising Zarine against using her knives. He rides with the group to the mound and suggests they follow Moiraine's chosen ground.
• Loial — Loial rushes down the stairs with his belongings and helps Perrin with his cloak. At the mound, he identifies the stone carving as resembling an Ogier woman, though he notes it is not from a stedding, and then holds the horses alongside Zarine during the attack.
• Zarine (Girl) — Zarine refuses to swear to go another way and follows the group out into the storm. She mounts the bay gelding provided by Lan and holds the horses during the Darkhound attack, asking what the stone face is.
• Stepper — Perrin's dun stallion is saddled for the escape and carries Perrin out of Illian, eventually standing beside the other horses while Perrin fights the Darkhounds.
• Mandarb — Lan's black warhorse follows Moiraine's white mare into the rain, is brought to the mound, and whickers in fear when the Darkhounds appear before being held by Lan.
• Mat — Mat examines the explosive powder inside Aludra's fireworks at a campsite, annoying Thom. He is ambushed by a noblewoman and her men, uses a firework to distract them, and kills one attacker with his quarterstaff before Thom finishes off the others. He recognizes the dead crossbowman as the man who attacked him in Tar Valon.
• 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.