Chapter 52 - In Search of a Remedy

Summary

Mat Cauthon and a coughing Thom Merrilin seek the aid of Mother Guenna, a Wisdom in Tear, where she forces the gleeman to ingest a foul medicinal tea and salve while revealing that Egwene, Nynaeve, and Elayne have been taken to the Stone of Tear by Aes Sedai acting on behalf of High Lord Samon. Despite Thom's protests and Mat's initial shock at the news, he leaves Thom in Guenna's care and departs with renewed determination to infiltrate the fortress and rescue his friends, feeling his luck turning in his favor as he heads back to his inn.

Characters

• Mat / Mat Cauthon / Matrim Cauthon — Mat supports the sick Thom Merrilin to Mother Guenna's house, where he learns the locations of Egwene, Nynaeve, and Elayne from the Wisdom. After punching a wall in frustration and giving Guenna money for Thom's care, he leaves the gleeman behind and sets out to infiltrate the Stone of Tear to rescue the women.
• Thom — Thom suffers from a severe, wheezing cough and insists he does not need medicine before being forcibly treated by Mother Guenna. He protests vehemently when Mat leaves him behind to pursue his rescue mission, though he is restrained by Guenna's hand.
• Mother Guenna / Guenna (Wisdom) — Mother Guenna, a stout Wisdom, treats Thom's cough with a foul-tasting tea and salve, then reveals that the three women Mat seeks have been taken to the Stone of Tear by Aes Sedai under High Lord Samon's orders. She agrees to keep Thom in her care as Mat leaves for The White Crescent inn.