Chapter 47 - More Tales of the Wheel

Summary

In the dining hall of Fal Dara, Lord Agelmar recounts the tragic history of the fallen kingdom of Malkier and Lan Mandragoran's lineage as the Uncrowned King to Egwene and Nynaeve. Moiraine Sedai joins the group and reveals that Padan Fain has been hunting the ta'veren for three years under the command of the Dark One, detailing how Fain was corrupted and compelled to track them through the Ways and into the Blight. Despite Lord Agelmar's pleas to leave the farmboys behind for their safety, Moiraine insists that Rand, Mat, and Perrin are essential to the final battle at the Eye of the World due to their Manetheren blood, and the group prepares to depart for the Blight at dawn.

Characters

• Rand — Rand paces restlessly in the dining hall, counting the table's length and listening to Lord Agelmar's story with unease. He questions Moiraine about Padan Fain's motives and is revealed to be ta'veren with Manetheren blood, destined to fight in the Eye of the World.
• Mat — Mat slouches nervously, occasionally touching the Shadar Logoth dagger, and mutters impatiently about the delay in Moiraine's meeting with Fain. He listens to Agelmar's history and the revelations about Fain's long pursuit.
• Perrin — Perrin stares unblinkingly at crumbs on the table, his yellow eyes distant. He recalls Fain's strange lingering in the Two Rivers and listens to the confirmation that Fain was compelled to hunt them for years.
• Loial (Ogier) — Loial examines the walls of the dining hall, tracing stone joins and muttering in Ogier. He confirms the beauty of Manetheren and listens intently to the discussion of Lan Mandragoran's history.
• Moiraine / Moiraine Sedai (Aes Sedai) — Moiraine returns from her private audience with Fain, washing her hands vigorously to rid herself of the contamination of his soul. She reveals the full extent of Fain's corruption and his three-year hunt, and firmly insists that the ta'veren must accompany them to the Eye of the World.
• Lan / Lan Mandragoran (Dai Shan, Warder) — Lan stands silently at Moiraine's heels as she returns from the cells. He is the subject of Lord Agelmar's story regarding the fall of Malkier and his own destiny as the Uncrowned King, though he denies his titles.
• Nynaeve (Wisdom) — Nynaeve listens to Agelmar's story with wide eyes and a pale face, shocked by the revelation of Lan's kingship. She avoids looking at Lan.
• Egwene — Egwene engages Agelmar in conversation about Lan's title, giggling at his stories before the mood shifts. She comforts Nynaeve and quotes a proverb about finding the Light in the Shadow, expressing hope for Fain's redemption before learning of his crimes.
• Agelmar (Lord Agelmar, Lord of Fal Dara) — Agelmar recounts the history of Malkier and Lan's lineage to the group, praising Lan as the Uncrowned King. He offers to keep the boys in Fal Dara for their safety but is overruled by Moiraine, eventually accepting their necessity for the battle.