ChapterTrack

Chapter 28 - Footprints in Air

Summary

Nynaeve al'Meara rides alongside Moiraine Sedai and Lan Mandragoran toward the legendary White Bridge, struggling with her newfound ability to channel and her distrust of the Aes Sedai. After crossing the inexplicable structure, the trio enters Whitebridge, which is under curfew by Children of the Light soldiers following a mysterious fire caused by a man channeling the One Power. Moiraine questions the terrified locals, discovering that a boat fled the docks, and learns from Lan that a Myrddraal was recently present in the city. Inside the inn, they narrowly avoid detection by a militiaman and discuss their strategy; Moiraine confirms that Rand and Mat are alive but separated, while she focuses on tracking the boy with his token, though Nynaeve anxiously presses for information about Egwene.

Characters

  • Nynaeve / Wisdom (the Wisdom) — Nynaeve rides with Moiraine and Lan, marveling at the White Bridge and fuming at Moiraine's calm demeanor and insistence on taking her to Tar Valon. She investigates the burned square with Moiraine, gathering reports from the terrified townsfolk, and later demands to know the fate of Egwene during a tense discussion with the Aes Sedai and Lan in the inn.
  • Moiraine / Moiraine Sedai (the Aes Sedai) — Moiraine rides confidently ahead, sensing the location of the boys through their emotional traces and the scent of the Pattern. She soothes the panicked locals in Whitebridge to extract information, confirms to Lan that a Myrddraal was present, and explains her plan to track the boy with his token first before finding the others, deflecting Nynaeve's anger with icy composure.
  • Lan (the Warder) — Lan scouts the path and rides with the group, displaying a grim demeanor upon smelling the lingering presence of a Halfman in Whitebridge. He interrogates a militiaman in the inn with a stern glare, forcing the man to withdraw, and informs Nynaeve and Moiraine about the recent Myrddraal visit and the necessity of their caution.
  • Aldieb — Aldieb is the white mare ridden by Moiraine, which carries her across the White Bridge and into Whitebridge.
  • Mandarb — Mandarb is Lan's stallion, ridden by the Warder as he leads the group across the bridge and through the streets of Whitebridge.