ChapterTrack

Chapter 43 - Shadowbrothers

Summary

Perrin Aybara, Lan Mandragoran, Loial, and Zarine Bashere investigate the aftermath of a Gray Man attack at the Easing the Badger inn in Illian, eventually discovering footprints of a Darkhound that lead them to realize they are being hunted by Shadow creatures. After Lan resolves to pursue Moiraine to report the discovery, Perrin sleeps and enters Tel'aran'rhiod, where he communicates with the wolf Hopper about the nature of reality and the impending Last Hunt, only to wake with Zarine sitting by his bed questioning his identity. Moiraine then bursts into the room to deliver urgent news that one of the Forsaken is ruling Illian.

Characters

  • Perrin (blacksmith, farmboy) — Perrin helps identify the Gray Men by scent and tracks a Darkhound outside the inn, learning of the creature's terrifying capabilities. He sleeps and enters Tel'aran'rhiod to speak with Hopper about the Shadowbrothers and the Last Hunt, waking to find Zarine watching him before Moiraine interrupts with urgent news.
  • Lan (Warder, stone-face) — Lan deduces the presence of a Darkhound by examining stone footprints in the street and prepares to leave immediately to find Moiraine, ordering the group to sleep while providing only grim, incomplete answers to their inquiries.
  • Loial (Ogier, stone-face) — Loial joins the search for the attacker, noting that Ogier see better than most, and expresses unease about the situation and his own dreams. He retreats to his room after seeing Lan prepare to depart.
  • Zarine / Faile (girl, Hunter of the Horn) — Zarine listens to the group's discovery of the Darkhound and initially challenges Lan's severity. She stays with Perrin in their room, questioning his identity and ta'veren status, before watching him wake from his dream.
  • Moiraine (Aes Sedai) — Moiraine appears in Perrin's doorway, pale and grim, confirming that his wolf dreams are accurate and declaring that one of the Forsaken is ruling in Illian.
  • Hopper (wolf, Heartfang, Moonhunter) — Hopper appears in Perrin's dream atop a stone spire, communicating warnings about the Last Hunt and Shadowbrothers. He knocks Perrin off the spire with a final command to flee the Shadowbrothers.
  • Bili — Bili returns to the common room to hoist the bodies of the dead Gray Men and sweeps the sawdust from the floor.