Chapter 12 - Across the Taren

Summary

The group crosses the Taren on Master Hightower’s ferry under heavy fog, where Lan and Rand exchange wary observations about the ferryman’s potential treachery and fear of Darkfriends. Once across, Moiraine Sedai creates a swirling fog that destroys the ferry’s landing, effectively severing the route behind them, and explains that the tactic will confuse the pursuing Draghkar. The party rests in a concealed hollow beneath fallen trees, where Moiraine teaches Egwene al’Vere about the One Power and uses a gem to guide Egwene through her first, albeit faint, channeling of saidar.

Characters

• Rand — Rand walks stiffly through the fog and observes the tense interaction between Lan and Master Hightower. He questions Lan about the ferryman's motives and worries about Darkfriends before witnessing the destruction of the ferry. Later, he listens to Moiraine's explanation of the Power with discomfort and watches Egwene's successful channeling with desperate denial.
• Lan (the Warder) — Lan commands the party to dismount and proceeds with caution, forcing the travelers to reveal their weapons to Hightower. He negotiates the crossing, explains the psychology of fear to Rand regarding the ferryman, and pays Hightower upon arrival before the landing is destroyed. He organizes the campsite and prepares tea while remaining unfazed by Moiraine's display of Power.
• Moiraine / Aes Sedai / Moiraine Sedai — Moiraine creates a massive, swirling fog that sucks into a whirlpool, destroying the ferry and its landing to cover the group's escape. She rebukes the party for demanding explanations but promises their safety. She retreats into a hidden hollow with Egwene to teach her about the One Power and guides Egwene through her first touch of saidar using a blue stone.
• Egwene — Egwene marches along without a word, her back straight and her head high. She travels to the hidden hollow with Moiraine, where she is guided to channel saidar for the first time, producing a faint light from a stone that Moiraine confirms was her own doing, much to Egwene's delight.
• Mat — Mat grumbles about the cold and damp while walking through the fog and complains about the ferry incident to Moiraine after they reach the far bank. He listens to the explanation of the Power with apprehension.
• Perrin — Perrin exposes his axe to Hightower and helps load the ferry. He asks to rest later in the chapter and enters the hidden hollow, where he hears Moiraine discuss the dangers of men channeling.
• Thom / Thom Merrilin / Master Merrilin — Thom grumbles about food and wine while walking in the fog. He performs a dagger flourish that amuses Moiraine and Egwene, and later questions Moiraine about extending the fog further to Baerlon. He listens to the lesson on the One Power and pulls Rand back to prevent him from speaking up.
• Hightower / Master Hightower (the ferryman) — Hightower commands the ferry crossing with suspicion and greed, demanding payment and later fleeing in panic when the landing is destroyed by Moiraine's power. He loses his craft and runs away into the mist after receiving the agreed gold.
• Cloud — Cloud is led by Rand through the fog and onto the ferry. He stands with the other horses during the crossing and later has a feedbag placed over his muzzle by Rand before being hobbled.
• Bela — Bela is ridden by Egwene through the fog and onto the ferry. She stands with the other horses during the crossing and is followed by Egwene as the group descends the ramp after the landing is destroyed.
• Lan's stallion — Lan rides his black stallion through the fog and onto the ferry. The horse is later hobbled by Lan in the hollow, and Lan pats its neck, noting that the horses are exhausted but still capable of running.