Thom Merrilin
Chapter 4 - The Gleeman
Thom Merrilin / Thom — aliases: gleeman, Master Gleeman, Master Bard, Courtbard
Thom Merrilin arrives in Emond's Field, introducing himself as an exalted Master Gleeman and former Courtbard. He performs juggling tricks with colored balls and recites a list of epic tales to the villagers, while maintaining a wary respect for the stranger Moiraine.
Chapter 7 - Out of the Woods
Thom / Thom Merrilin — aliases: gleeman
Thom Merrilin sits on the inn's foundation, mending his cloak, before helping Rand carry Tam inside. He reveals that Padan Fain has disappeared and that Nynaeve initially refused to help. He warns Rand about Aes Sedai and accompanies him to find Moiraine.
Chapter 8 - A Place of Safety
Thom / Thom Merrilin — aliases: the gleeman
Thom enters the room briefly, complaining about being unable to smoke, and then leaves the room. He is not mentioned further in the remainder of the chapter.
Chapter 10 - Leavetaking
Thom / Thom Merrilin — aliases: gleeman
Thom appears from the hayloft, declaring he is leaving the village and insists on traveling with the group to Tar Valon to perform. He saddles his horse and joins the party despite Lan's suspicion.
Chapter 11 - The Road to Taren Ferry
Thom — aliases: the gleeman
Thom rides with the group, expressing his wish to sing and eat. He mounts quickly after the Draghker attack and rides through the fog.
Chapter 12 - Across the Taren
Thom / Thom Merrilin — aliases: 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.
Chapter 13 - Choices
Thom / Thom Merrilin — aliases: gleeman
Thom entertains the group with stories and juggling lessons. He explains the Karaethon Cycle and the prophecies concerning the Stone of Tear to Rand. He is recognized by the gatekeeper Avin and enters Baerlon with the group.
Chapter 14 - The Stag and Lion
Thom — aliases: the gleeman
Thom shares a narrow bed with Rand and Lan, practices his flute and grand poses, and later performs in the common room, drawing a muffled shout of approval from below. He remains asleep during Rand's nightmare, snoring loudly through the night.
Chapter 15 - Strangers and Friends
Thom / Thom Merrilin — aliases: the gleeman
Thom performs in the common room, then intercepts Rand and Mat to forbid them from speaking of Ba'alzamon, urging them to keep their dreams secret before rushing back to the inn with them.
Chapter 16 - The Wisdom
Thom — aliases: gleeman
Thom warns Nynaeve about the dangers of the Children of the Light in Baerlon, mocks her stubbornness, and is dismissed from the room along with the boys.
Chapter 17 - Watchers and Hunters
Thom — aliases: gleeman
Thom performs stories and music in the common room, then joins the group in fleeing Baerlon. He argues with Lan about riding with them and identifies the fire at the inn as intentional.
Chapter 18 - The Caemlyn Road
Thom — aliases: gleeman
Thom rides with the group, growingl that the Trollocs are trying to frighten them. He observes the battle and later comments on the strange warcry Mat shouted, noting he might use it in a story before urging the group to move.
Chapter 19 - Shadow’s Waiting
Thom — aliases: the gleeman
Thom watches over the group, mocks the boys for their foolishness, listens to their tale of Mordeth with frowning concern, and prepares for the imminent flight as Lan reports the approaching Trolloc horde.
Chapter 20 - Dust on the Wind
Thom / Thom Merrilin
Thom rides ahead and alerts the others to Trollocs near the river. He rescues Rand and Mat from attackers with his knives and negotiates passage on the Spray by inventing a tale of being a gleeman who found a Dreadlord's treasure, paying with the boys' combined coins.
Chapter 24 - Flight Down the Arinelle
Thom — aliases: the gleeman
Thom monitors the crew's mutinous grumblings and diverts their attention by teaching Rand and Mat gleeman skills like tumbling and juggling. He later catches Rand as he slides down the forestay, warning him about the danger of falling from the mast.
Chapter 26 - Whitebridge
Thom / Thom Merrilin — aliases: the gleeman
Thom arrives in Whitebridge and uses the innkeeper Bartim to discover that they are being hunted by a Myrddraal. He disguises himself to escape the inn, encounters the Fade in the square, and engages it in combat, screaming for Rand and Mat to run to Caemlyn before being consumed by a burst of blue light, leaving the boys to believe he is dead.
Chapter 33 - The Dark Waits
Thom
Thom appears in Rand's fever dream as a charred rags-clad figure, warning Rand against trusting Aes Sedai.
Chapter 34 - The Last Village
Thom
Thom appears only in Rand's nightmare, sitting on the makeshift litter in the Westwood. He juggling brightly colored balls while reciting cryptic warnings about the Dragon and the land, unaware of the Fade approaching behind them.
Chapter 41 - Old Friends and New Threats
Thom — aliases: gleeman
Mentioned by Master Gill as the reason for his help to Rand, and by Rand when he learns of his death.