Chapter 16 - The Wisdom

Summary

In the Stag and Lion inn, Min Farshaw intercepts Rand to warn him that Nynaeve al'Meara has arrived and is connected to their dangerous fate through the 'sparks' of the One Power, but Rand dismisses her and joins his friends to find Moiraine Sedai in a tense meeting with the Wisdom. Moiraine and Nynaeve argue over the safety of the boys, with Moiraine asserting her ability to protect them from the Dark One while Nynaeve insists they return to Emond's Field, where the villagers have split over whether to rescue or retrieve them. After the others withdraw, Moiraine questions Nynaeve about the boys' origins, and upon rejoining Rand, Nynaeve attempts to reassure him about his parentage while remaining determined to take him home, though she agrees to pause her plans to take a bath.

Characters

• Min — Min seizes Rand's arm to warn him that Nynaeve has arrived and is connected to their destiny through the sparks of the One Power, causing her alarm to increase with the Wisdom's presence before Rand dismisses her to attend the meeting.
• Moiraine / Mistress Alys / Moiraine Sedai (Aes Sedai) — Moiraine confronts Nynaeve in the inn room, arguing that the boys are safer with her due to her power to protect them from the Dark One and their minions, and privately questions the Wisdom about whether the boys were born outside the Two Rivers.
• Nynaeve / Wisdom Nynaeve (Wisdom) — Nynaeve tracks Moiraine to Baerlon and demands the boys return to Emond's Field, arguing against the Aes Sedai's authority; she later speaks with Rand to reassure him about his parentage and denies having revealed his origins to Moiraine.
• Rand / Rand al'Thor — Rand ignores Min's warning to join the meeting, insists to Nynaeve that they cannot return home due to the hunting Trollocs, and later confronts the Wisdom about his origin, receiving reassurance that Tam is his father.
• Mat — Rand remains behind while Moiraine and Nynaeve speak privately. Later, after the meeting concludes, Rand learns from Nynaeve that his father, Tam, is afraid of his tricks with outlanders.
• Perrin — Perrin hesitantly leads the group to the meeting room and asks Nynaeve about Master Luhhan's reaction to his departure, before waiting outside while Moiraine speaks with the Wisdom.
• Egwene / Egwene al'Vere — Egwene hides her unbraided hair under her cloak hood during the meeting, defends her decision to leave with Moiraine by mentioning she left a note, and is dismissed from the room to allow the women to speak privately.
• Lan (Warder) — Lan offers Nynaeve wine, takes up guard across the hallway while Moiraine questions her inside, and silently signals for the boys to leave the room.
• Thom (gleeman) — Thom warns Nynaeve about the dangers of the Children of the Light in Baerlon, mocks her stubbornness, and is dismissed from the room along with the boys.