Chapter 33 - The Dark Waits

Summary

Rand and Mat continue their flight toward Caemlyn, traveling in Hyam Kinch’s cart and later receiving rides from other farmers, while evading the growing panic about Darkfriends and the False Dragon. After a brief, warm stay at an inn in Market Sheran, Rand collapses with a violent fever, suffering hallucinations of Ba’alzamon and his deceased friends and family in a stable before breaking the fever in the morning. Their rest is interrupted by a pale woman who attempts to stab Mat, only to be thwarted by Mat’s use of the Shadar Logoth dagger, forcing the pair to flee the village immediately upon realizing a Myrddraal is being summoned. After collapsing from exhaustion on the road, they are again picked up by Hyam Kinch, who agrees to drive them toward Caemlyn.

Characters

Rand / Rand al'Thor (youngling) — Rand travels in Hyam Kinch's cart, feeling better but anxious about their pursuers. He later suffers a severe fever in a stable, hallucinating visions of Ba’alzamon, Egwene, Moiraine, and Tam before the fever breaks. He is confronted by a pale woman attempting to kill Mat, flees the village in panic after Mat holds a dark-dagger to the woman's throat, and collapses on the road before being rescued by Kinch again.
Mat — Mat rides in the cart, complaining of light sensitivity and suspicion of everyone they meet. He protects Rand during the fever and confronts the pale woman in the stable, using the ruby-hilted dagger to pin her to the wall and threaten her, forcing their escape. He struggles to support the weakened Rand on the road until Kinch stops for them.
Hyam Kinch (Master Kinch, the farmer) — The leathery-faced farmer drives his high-wheeled cart east along the Caemlyn Road, initially giving Rand and Mat a ride before dropping them. He encounters them again on the road after they have collapsed, offers them another ride to Caemlyn, and comments that he might be off to see the False Dragon himself.
Ba'alzamon (he) — Ba’alzamon appears to Rand in his fever dream within the empty inn, revealing himself as the entity who manipulated Gode to find them. He claims Rand as his own and threatens him with the 'Eye of the World' before the dream ends.
Gode — Gode appears as a withered, burning corpse in Rand's dream, speaking through Ba’alzamon's voice to claim that he found the boys for the Dark One. He crumbles into dust while mocking Rand.
Perrin — Perrin appears briefly in Rand's fever dream, accusing and pleading for help before vanishing.
Nynaeve — Rulan Allwine, the innkeeper, is described as a stout man with a gleaming white apron who is busy managing the crowded common room and kitchen staff.
Min — Min appears in Rand's fever dream, screaming in a Trolloc's clutches.
Thom — Thom appears in Rand's fever dream as a charred rags-clad figure, warning Rand against trusting Aes Sedai.
Lan — Lan appears in Rand's fever dream with a blood-covered face, questioning Rand's worthiness of his sword.
Tam / Tam al'Thor (father) — Tam appears in Rand's fever dream, frowning and shaking his head without speaking, which causes Rand to plead for answers about his identity.
Egwene / Egwene al'Vere — Egwene appears in Rand's fever dream, mournful and accusing him of leaving them to die.
Moiraine / Moiraine Sedai (Aes Sedai) — Moiraine appears in Rand's fever dream with a bloodless face, insisting he must go to Tar Valon or be taken by the Dark One.
Fitch — Fitch appears in Rand's fever dream, wringing his hands over the ashes of his inn.
Bayle Domon / Domon — Bayle Domon appears in Rand's fever dream, cursing him for bringing Fades down on his vessel.
Al'Vere / Bran al'Vere — Mistress al'Vere appears in Rand's fever dream, weeping for her daughter.
she (she, Darkfriend, the woman) — A pale woman in silk and gray cloak enters the stable, attempts to stab Mat with a dark dagger, is pinned by Mat with Shadar Logoth's dagger, threatens that a Myrddraal is coming, and is locked in the tack room before the boys flee.