Chapter 14 - The Stag and Lion

Summary

The party arrives in the crowded city of Baerlon, passing the gatekeeper Avin who warns them of the Children of the Light, before settling into the Stag and Lion inn under aliases provided by Moiraine. After a brief reconnaissance by Lan in the common room, the group enjoys a hot bath together in a private chamber, where the bath attendant Ara inadvertently nearly reveals their pursuers by mentioning Trollocs, prompting Lan to sternly warn the boys against discussing such topics. Following a meal in a private dining room where Lan checks for eavesdroppers and Moiraine reveals that the false Dragon Logain has won a battle in Ghealdan, the group retires for the night; Rand shares a room with Lan and Thom but falls asleep in a haze of lethargy from the bath and hot meal, only to be plunged into a vivid nightmare where he confronts Ba’alzamon, a mysterious figure who claims to have manipulated past heroes and warns of the Dark One's inescapable reach before Rand awakens shaken.

Characters

Moiraine (Mistress Alys) — Moiraine guides the group through Baerlon under the alias Mistress Alys, arranges for baths and a private meal, and proposes they rest in Baerlon for two nights. Lan informs the party that Logain has won a battle in Ghealdan. She later speaks briefly with a messenger girl and responds to Lan's general statement of suspicion about the innkeeper, insisting that Master Fitch is trustworthy despite the need for caution.
Lan (the Warder) — Lan scouts the inn's common room to gather intelligence, finding reports of Logain's victory and Whitecloak agitation, and later checks the dining room door to ensure it is safe from eavesdroppers. He sternly reprimands Mat and the others in the bathhouse for nearly exposing their connection to Trollocs, warning them that the Children of the Light would view such talk as an admission of being Darkfriends.
Rand — Rand takes a hot bath with his friends, feels the weight of their isolation and distrust, and later struggles with a recurring headache and a vivid dream. In the dream, he confronts Ba’alzamon in a surreal stone room, who mocks his fate and claims responsibility for Lews Therin's madness, leaving Rand shaken and suspicious of Moiraine's motives upon waking.
Mat — Mat explores the inn's common room, listens to the noise, and joins the bath, where he nearly gossips about Trollocs to the attendant Ara before being stopped by Lan's glare. He participates in the private meal and eventually heads to bed, dismissing the threat of Trollocs as just a story.
Perrin — Perrin accompanies the group to the baths, noting the facilities are almost as good as the Winespring Inn back home, and nearly contributes to the dangerous conversation about Trollocs before Thom intervenes. He joins the private meal and listens to the reports gathered by Lan, remaining quiet and observant.
Egwene — Egwene stays in the rooms with Moiraine, combs her hair, and warms her hands by the fire before joining the private dining room. She stiffens and turns her back on Rand when he attempts to apologize, maintaining a sullen distance from him during the meal.
Thom (the gleeman) — Thom shares a narrow bed with Rand and Lan, practices his flute and grand poses, and later performs in the common room, drawing a muffled shout of approval from below. He remains asleep during Rand's nightmare, snoring loudly through the night.
Fitch (Master Fitch, the innkeeper) — Master Fitch, the plump and chatty innkeeper of the Stag and Lion, greets the group with warm hospitality, apologizing for the crowding and limited menu due to the winter's hardships. He ensures the group is served a private meal, scurries about with his maids, and bows frequently before leaving them to speak safely.
Ara (the bath attendant) — Ara, a slight, dark-haired attendant, guides the group to the bath chamber and tends to their soaking by bringing buckets of hot water and soap. He curiously probes the group about trouble in their homeland, then mentions rumors of Trollocs in Saldaea, nearly causing a disaster before Lan enters and banishes him from the room.
Avin — Avin is a wizened, half-toothless gatekeeper who recognizes Moiraine's alias and allows the group to enter Baerlon during the closed hours. He warns them about the aggressive Children of the Light and the rumors surrounding the Dragon Reborn.
Ba'alzamon (the man) — Ba'alzamon appears in Rand's dream as a handsome man in dark clothes standing before a fireplace with strange, writhing faces in the stones. He taunts Rand about his fate, claims to have manipulated Lews Therin and Artur Hawkwing, and asserts that the Dark One is not bound, mocking Rand's attempt to wake up by crushing a rat in the dream to prove its reality.