Chapter 20 - Dust on the Wind

Summary

After Moiraine and Lan separate from the group to fight Trollocs and Fades, Rand, Mat, and Egwene attempt to navigate the cursed city of Shadar Logoth, encountering the deadly Mashadar fog and Trolloc pursuers. Rand and Mat reunite after being separated by the chaos, and they are joined by Thom Merrilin, who dispatches attackers with his hidden knives. They flee to the Arinelle River, where Rand falls into the water along with Egwene and Perrin, who eventually swim across to safety. Thom, Rand, and Mat board a boat captained by the suspicious but pragmatic Bayle Domon, who agrees to take them to Whitebridge in exchange for silver coins. While the captain recounts his own encounters with Trollocs in Saldaea, Rand remains anxious about his lost friends, while Thom spins a fabricated tale of treasure to justify their presence to the captain.

Characters

• Rand — Rand leads his companions through the misty ruins of Shadar Logoth, narrowly escaping the deadly Mashadar fog and Trolloc attackers. He reunites with Mat and Thom, and they flee to the river, where he eventually falls into the water alone. He boards Bayle Domon's boat, pays for passage with Moiraine's silver coin, and listens to Thom's lies while worrying about his missing friends.
• Cloud — Rand, mounted on Cloud, speeds through the ruined city, avoiding Trolloc catchpoles and the silvery glow of Mashadar by crouching low. Cloud gallops desperately, keeping Rand ahead of his pursuers and carrying him toward the riverbank before Rand falls into the icy water. Cloud remains near the bank, and Rand later pats his neck while catching his breath.
• Captain Domon / Bayle Domon (captain) — Bayle Domon is the owner and captain of the boat Spray. He is a stocky, round-faced man with long hair and a beard who speaks rapidly and is wary of Trollocs. He negotiates with Rand and Thom for passage to Whitebridge, accepting silver coins, and recounts past Trolloc attacks in Saldaea to his passengers.