Chapter 7 - The Way Out of the Mountains

Summary

Perrin, Moiraine, Loial, and Lan descend from the Mountains of Mist into the foothills of Ghealdan, leaving winter behind for spring. Lan scouts ahead using subtle signs, while Moiraine subtly asserts her authority over the group, culminating in her effortlessly catching large trout while Perrin and Loial struggle, reinforcing her dominance. As they move into populated lands where wolves avoid them, the group senses the unseen escort of wolves following them but remains isolated from human settlements until they finally arrive at the village of Jarra.

Characters

• Perrin — Rides with the group down the mountains, feeling the presence of wolves he keeps suppressed. He attempts to fish for trout but is outperformed by Moiraine, who subtly compels him and Loial to take over her chores, a control he resists internally while accepting practically.
• Moiraine (Aes Sedai) — Rides ahead or lingers at the back, using Lan's tracking and her own presence to direct the group. She demonstrates her superior skill by catching large trout effortlessly and uses her gaze and subtle suggestions to ensure Perrin and Loial perform her chores without overt resistance.
• Loial (Ogier) — Rides his large horse through the changing terrain, fishing alongside Perrin but also failing to match Moiraine's catch. He accepts Moiraine's dominance as inevitable and joins Perrin in cleaning the fish and performing other duties.
• Lan (Warder) — Scouts the path on Mandarb, leaving signs for the group to follow and avoiding detection by his stealthy approach. He refuses to deliver a package to a Green sister named Myrelle, warns Perrin against losing the habit of obedience, and disappears back to Moiraine in the fading light.
• Mandarb — Lan's black warhorse, used for scouting the path ahead of the rest of the group.
• Aldieb — Moiraine's white mare, which she rides and which Perrin tends to each night by unsaddling and rubbing her down.