Chapter 17 - Watchers and Hunters

Summary

Rand and his companions enjoy a night of dancing and song in Baerlon's Stag and Lion inn, but the revelry is shattered when a Myrddraal confronts Rand in the hallway and forces the group to flee before dawn. At the city gate, they are intercepted by Whitecloaks led by Bornhald al'Sharan, whom Moiraine intimidates into submission using her power, allowing the party to escape while the inn burns behind them.

Characters

• Rand — Rand dances in the common room, attempting to forget his troubles, before being confronted by a Faceless Myrddraal in the hallway. He survives the encounter thanks to Lan's arrival and flees Baerlon at dawn with the rest of the group.
• Mat — Mat dances, guards the cloaks, and later rides with the group. He mentions a man who has been staring, and witnesses the Whitecloaks at the gate, muttering under his breath during the confrontation.
• Perrin — Perrin dances and rides with the group, inquiring of Mat whether he had danced with the Wisdom and Mistress Alys. He rides in the rear during the escape and worries about the safety of his friends.
• Thom (gleeman) — Thom performs stories and music in the common room, then joins the group in fleeing Baerlon. He argues with Lan about riding with them and identifies the fire at the inn as intentional.
• Lan (Warder) — Lan guards the group and leads the escape. He confronts the Watchman and Whitecloaks at the gate, then rides with the party out of the city.
• Moiraine (Aes Sedai, Mistress Alys) — Moiraine dances with Rand, then confronts the Whitecloaks at the gate. She intimidates Bornhald and the Watchman by enlarging her appearance and bending a sword, allowing the group to escape while expressing regret that Master Fitch did not take her warnings seriously regarding the inn.
• Egwene — Egwene dances with Rand and others, then follows Moiraine in fleeing. She witnesses Moiraine's giant form at the gate and expresses fear.
• Nynaeve (Wisdom) — Nynaeve dances in the common room, then leaves with the group. She argues with Moiraine about the burning inn and the safety of the boys, ultimately agreeing to travel with them to Emond's Field.
• Fitch (Master Fitch, innkeeper) — Fitch leads the group to the gate with assurances of secrecy, then departs as the inn burns. Moiraine later notes he will receive gold to rebuild his livelihood.
• Mutch (stableman) — Mutch helps saddle the horses and watches the group leave. He stands with a lamp raised after they depart, implying he will betray their whereabouts.
• Bornhald (Whitecloak) — Bornhald leads five Whitecloaks to block the group at the gate, accusing them of being Darkfriends. He is intimidated by Moiraine's power and forced to retreat as the gate closes.
• Arin (Watchman) — Arin, a watchman, emerges from the guardhouse to help open the city gates as directed by his superior.
• Dare — Arin and Dar, watchmen, emerge from the guardhouse to help open the city gates as directed by their superior.
• Bela — Bela, Egwene's horse, is mounted and ridden during the flight from Baerlon.
• Cloud — Cloud, Rand's horse, is ridden by Rand during the flight from Baerlon.
• Aldieb — Aldieb, Moiraine's horse, is ridden by Moiraine and dances sideways in frustration as she leaves Baerlon.
• Mandarb — Mandarb, Lan's horse, is ridden by Lan to lead the group out of the city gates.