Chapter 15 - Strangers and Friends

Summary

Rand wakes with a lingering headache and anxiety from his nightmares, encountering Min Farshaw in the stableyard who reveals she can see images of people's futures, including dangerous symbols surrounding Rand and a broken crown for Perrin. Rand spots Padan Fain in the crowd and pursues him, but Fain, terrified of Aes Sedai, warns of Whitecloaks in the city and flees after Rand promises secrecy. Rand reunites with Mat Cauthon, and they confirm they both dreamed of a man killing a rat; Min later confirms she did not see rats in Rand. The boys encounter Children of the Light led by Bornhald al'Sharan, and Mat pranks them with a sling shot, causing Rand to involuntarily channel a surge of power that makes him feel energized and arrogant before the Whitecloaks depart, warning him they will meet again. Thom Merrilin intercepts Rand and Mat, urgently forbidding them from speaking Ba'alzamon's name or revealing their dreams to Moiraine until they can assess the situation, noting the historical danger of the names Ba'alzamon mentioned. The group rushes back to the inn, only to find Perrin waiting outside to inform them that Nynaeve has arrived in Baerlon.

Characters

• Rand / Rand al'Thor — Rand wakes with a headache, encounters Min Farshaw who reveals her Sight, chases Fain through the streets, and channels a surge of One Power during a confrontation with Whitecloaks before being intercepted by Thom.
• Mat — Mat discusses the shared nightmare with Rand, pranks Whitecloaks with a sling shot causing Rand to channel, and helps Rand flee the confrontation before meeting Thom.
• Perrin — Perrin stays in bed due to the nightmare, meets Rand and Mat to discuss the dream, and rushes out to tell them Nynaeve has arrived.
• Thom / Thom Merrilin (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.
• Min — Min, a young woman who can see images of people's futures, speaks with Rand in the stableyard, describing symbols she sees around him and his friends, and warning that they will meet again.
• Fain / Padan Fain / Padan (the peddler) — Fain is spotted by Rand in the crowd, panics about Whitecloaks and Aes Sedai, promises secrecy to Rand, and flees through the streets.
• Bornhald (narrow-faced man, the leader) — Bornhald leads a group of Children of the Light, confronts Rand and Mat, and warns Rand that they will meet again after the Whitecloaks depart.
• Sara (the cook) — Sara argues with Master Fitch over complaints about her cat Cirri and briefy speaks to Rand in the kitchen.
• Master Fitch / Fitch (the innkeeper) — Fitch argues with Sara the cook and tries to stop her from resigning, then leaves the kitchen.
• Cirri (the cat) — Cirri is Sara's cat, the subject of her argument with Fitch regarding complaints about him killing rats in the inn.
• Mutch (the stableman, ostler) — Mutch stands in the stable door, giving Rand a truculent look.
• Town Watch (Watchmen) — The Town Watch arrives on the scene during the Whitecloak confrontation, observing silently before following the Whitecloaks.