Chapter 7 - Out of the Woods

Summary

Rand al'Thor arrives in Emond's Field to find it largely destroyed by a Trolloc attack, carrying his feverish father on a makeshift litter. He seeks help from Wisdom Nynaeve al'Meara, who declares herself unable to cure Tam, and then turns to Mayor Bran al'Vere, who arranges for Tam to be placed in a room at the Winespring Inn. When Nynaeve refuses to come, the Mayor reveals that Moiraine possesses the ability to heal and that she displayed such power the previous night, leading Rand to seek her out. Rand finds Moiraine and her Warder Lan examining a dead Trolloc, confirms Moiraine's identity as an Aes Sedai, and begs her to heal his father, which she agrees to do despite Lan's complaints about Rand's attitude.

Characters

• Rand / Rand al'Thor (sheepherder) — Trudging through the woods at dawn, Rand arrives at the ruined Emond's Field carrying his injured father on a litter. After finding Nynaeve unable to help and Mayor al'Vere arranging for Tam to rest in the inn, Rand seeks out Moiraine. He identifies her as an Aes Sedai and begs her to heal his father, promising to pay any price, which she accepts before they return to the inn together.
• Tam / Tam al'Thor — Unconscious and burning with fever, Tam is carried by his son into the destroyed village. He is transferred to a bed in the Winespring Inn by Mayor al'Vere and Thom Merrilin, where he remains silent and motionless while the Mayor tends to him.
• Master Luhhan / Haral / Luhhan (the blacksmith) — Hurrying to meet Rand and Tam at the edge of the village, the blacksmith helps lift the litter and explains the extent of the Trolloc attack and the survival of the villagers. He expresses confidence that they will rebuild, though his face shows exhaustion, before departing to resume his work.
• Egwene — Running through the smoky village with bandages, Egwene stops to guide Rand and Tam to Nynaeve. She embraces Rand in sympathy after Nynaeve refuses to help his father, then leaves abruptly at Nynaeve's shout to assist the Wisdom with her duties.
• Nynaeve / Wisdom Nynaeve (Wisdom) — Examining Tam's wound, Nynaeve tells Rand that she cannot help him and has other patients to tend to. She rejects the urgency of Rand's pleas. Later, after Bran al'Vere has Thom Merrilin send for her, she refuses to come to the inn, and Egwene is summoned away to her side.
• Bran / Mayor Bran al'Vere (Mayor, Master al'Vere) — Busy with administrative tasks in the inn, Bran al'Vere reacts with alarm upon learning Tam is alive. He personally helps move Tam to a guest room, has the fire lit and Tam washed, and informs Rand that Aes Sedai can heal, suggesting Rand seek Moiraine's help.
• Thom / Thom Merrilin (gleeman, Master Merrilin) — Sitting on the inn's foundation stones, Thom repairs his cloak and helps carry Tam inside. He returns to the room to report that Nynaeve refuses to come, then gently suggests that Rand remember the gleeman's tales of Aes Sedai healing, prompting Rand to seek out Moiraine.
• Moiraine / Moiraine Sedai (Aes Sedai, Mistress) — Sitting on the ground near the Bel Tine fires, Moiraine examines a dead Trolloc's badge with Lan, lamenting the scale of the Dark One's forces. She listens to Rand's desperate request to heal Tam, acknowledges the difficulty of her position, and agrees to come to the inn with him.
• Lan (Warder) — Crouching beside the Trolloc corpse, Lan removes its shoulder badge and notes the number of bands present. He glares at Rand for hurrying Moiraine and expresses skepticism about Rand's worth, though Moiraine silences him with a gentle touch before they follow Rand to the inn.