Chapter 3 - News from the Plain

Summary

In the valley camp, Perrin witnesses Moiraine’s cold reaction to the earthquake caused by Rand’s loss of control and attempts to convince Min to leave for her safety, though she refuses based on her philosophy of acceptance. Min discusses her vision of Leya’s death with Moiraine, who reveals that the Tuatha’an woman has been Healed but reports that five thousand Whitecloaks are on the Almoth Plain, avoiding direct conflict with the Dragonsworn while mysterious killings of tall, light-eyed men suggest the presence of the Soulless. As night falls, Moiraine and Lan reinforce the camp's security, with Lan preparing to patrol and Uno managing the guards, while Perrin retreats to his hut, haunted by dreams and the weight of his destiny.

Characters

• Perrin / Perrin Aybara — Perrin observes Moiraine’s indifference to Rand’s accidental earthquake and attempts to convince Min to leave the dangerous camp by offering her silver for passage, but she refuses based on a parable about fate he shares with her. He listens to Moiraine’s report on the Whitecloaks and the Soulless, then accepts the third watch from Uno before retiring to his hut, where shivering dreams haunt him.
• Min — Min cooks stew at the camp fires, bruised from the earthquake, and rejects Perrin’s suggestion to flee, sharing a story about love and regret. She discusses her vision of Leya’s bloody death with Moiraine, who dismisses it as possibly not yet come, and questions the effectiveness of wards against the Soulless before staring down Lan’s disapproval.
• Moiraine (Aes Sedai) — Moiraine calmly surveys the damage from Rand’s earthquake and Heals Leya’s scalp wound, displaying detached composure toward death. She dismisses Rand's excuse of an accident with a flat remark before retreating to her hut. Informing the group that five thousand Whitecloaks are on the Almoth Plain and that tall, light-eyed men are being killed by unseen threats, she asserts that her wards hide them from such dangers. Lan clarifies the nature of the threat, noting the Dark One has killers who are hard to notice, and Moiraine orders increased vigilance.
• Lan (Warder, Gaidin) — Lan appears from the twilight with Moiraine, his cloak shifting with shadows, and joins the group at the fire with Uno and Loial. He confirms the presence of the Soulless, offers to patrol the camp perimeter, and quickly eats three dishes of stew before hurrying after Moiraine.
• Uno — Uno directs the rebuilding of a collapsed hut and censors his swearing in front of Moiraine. He asserts that his scouts missed nothing suspicious and is tasked with managing the camp’s guard rotations and ensuring heightened alertness against the Soulless.
• Loial (Ogier) — Loial helps the Shienarans rebuild a collapsed hut with his strength, then joins the group at the fire to hear the news about the Whitecloaks, suggesting that the Dragon can now move freely while blinking uncertainly at Moiraine.