Chapter 12 - Across the Taren

Summary

The group crosses the Taren River in a fog-covered night, narrowly avoiding detection by a Draghkar as Moiraine conjures a thick mist to hide their trail. Upon reaching the opposite bank, they are paid off by Lan and Moiraine before Moiraine magically destroys the ferry to prevent pursuit. After the ferryman and his helpers flee in terror, the group rests in a concealed hollow beneath a fallen tree, where Moiraine explains the nature of the One Power to Egwene and tests her ability to channel, confirming that Egwene possesses the spark despite its faintness.

Characters

• Rand — Rand walks through the heavy fog to the ferry landing, copying Lan's defensive posture and worrying about the potential betrayal of the ferryman. He questions Lan about the danger of Darkfriends and watches in gloom as Moiraine sinks the ferry, later crawling into the hidden hollow to listen to Moiraine's lesson on the One Power.
• Lan (the Warder) — Lan leads the group off their horses and guides them through the fog to the ferry landing, where he ensures the party displays their weapons to Master Hightower. He negotiates the crossing, pays the ferryman and his helpers, and watches as the ferry is destroyed before leading the group to their resting place in the woods.
• Moiraine / Moiraine Sedai (the Aes Sedai) — Moiraine speaks briefly with Lan before leading the group to the ferry, where she pays the ferryman for the journey and adds a silver mark for each helper. She magically generates a whirlpool to destroy the ferry, then explains to the group why this was necessary to mislead their pursuers. Later, she teaches Egwene about the True Source and guides Egwene through her first touching of the One Power using a blue stone.
• Mat — Mat grumbles through the foggy crossing and questions Moiraine about the sinking of the ferry, unable to understand the necessity of the action. He crowds into the hidden hollow with the others, listening to the conversation about the One Power.
• Perrin — Perrin is exposed by Lan at the landing and presents his axe to the ferryman. He comments on the width of the Taren and later asks to rest before the group finds their hiding spot, where he listens to the explanation of channeling with a look of dread regarding the Red Ajah.
• Thom / Thom Merrilin (the gleeman, Master Merrilin) — Thom distracts the ferryman with a dagger flourish and later complains about the duration of the fog cover. He observes the ferry sinking with concern and is restrained by Rand when he nearly interrupts Moiraine's lesson, showing sympathetic understanding of the situation.
• Egwene — Egwene marches confidently through the fog and reacts with delight to Thom's dagger trick. She sits with Moiraine in the hollow, eagerly listening to the lesson on the One Power and successfully touching the Source through a blue stone, much to her own joy and Rand's quiet jealousy.
• Hightower (the ferryman, Master Hightower) — Master Hightower meets the group at the ferry landing, suspicious and clarifying the payment terms before allowing them to board. He guides the ferry across the river, panics when the vessel is destroyed, and flees into the mist after Lan pays him off, followed by his terrified helpers.
• Bela — Bela is mounted by Egwene and accompanies the group across the river. The horses are not unhobbled to ensure they can flee quickly if necessary.
• Cloud — Cloud is led onto the ferry by Rand and stands on the deck during the crossing. He is later fed by Rand in the hollow.