Chapter 33 - The Dark Waits

Summary

Rand and Mat continue their flight toward Caemlyn, relying on the kindness of various farmers including Hyam Kinch and Alpert Mull, who provide rides and scarves despite the danger of harboring strangers. In Market Sheran, they encounter Paitr, a village youth who reveals he is a Darkfriend before fleeing in terror after Rand strikes him. Later, in the stables of The Queen's Man inn, the pair is visited by an elegant woman who attempts to assassinate Mat with a magical dagger, but Mat defeats her with his own cursed blade; the woman warns them that a Myrddraal is coming before they escape into the night. Exhausted and feverish, Rand collapses and is once again picked up by Hyam Kinch as dawn breaks.

Characters

• Rand / Rand al'Thor — Rand travels with Mat, suffering from the aftereffects of his illness and constant paranoia. He interacts with farmers who offer him rides, strikes Paitr in the inn, and hallucinates dark figures in the stable before collapsing from exhaustion and being picked up by Hyam Kinch.
• Mat — Mat accompanies Rand, his eyes still partially blinded by the dagger's curse. He maintains suspicion of locals, thwarts the woman's assassination attempt in the stable using the gold dagger from Shadar Logoth, and helps the ailing Rand escape and find further passage.
• Hyam Kinch (Master Kinch) — A leathery-faced farmer driving a high-wheeled cart, Kinch picks up Rand and Mat multiple times, offering them passage to Caemlyn and displaying a taciturn but generally accepting demeanor toward his mysterious passengers.
• Alpert Mull (old Bain) — A stolid farmer with a square face, Mull offers Rand and Mat a ride in his haywain and gives them two woolen scarves belonging to his sons, though he claims ignorance of what they are running from due to his own family obligations.
• Master Inlow (the innkeeper) — The innkeeper of The Queen's Man, Inlow is a stout, clean man who initially charges high prices for lodging and food. He attempts to kick Rand and Mat out when Rand falls ill, fearing panic among his guests, but Mat threatens him into letting them hide in the stables.
• Paitr — A village youth with thick dark curls and a cocky demeanor, Paitr approaches Rand and Mat in the inn, revealing he is forced to act for his captors. Mat identifies him as a Darkfriend, and Paitr flees the inn in terror after Rand strikes him and warns him to leave them alone.
• she (she, woman) — An elegant woman in a pale green silk dress and gray cloak visits the stables under the guise of checking her horse. She attempts to stab Mat in the chest with a magical dagger but is pinned down by Mat, who holds his own cursed dagger to her throat, and she warns them that a Myrddraal is coming before they escape.