Chapter 33 - A Message from the Dark

Summary

Rand, Hurin, and Loial investigate a walled garden behind Lord Barthanes's manor and discover a Waygate guarded by Machin Shin; Rand uses the One Power to close the gate and seal the Black Wind back within. Upon returning to the party, Rand is intercepted by Barthanes, who delivers a message from Padan Fain threatening Rand's loved ones unless he follows Fain to Toman Head. The group retreats to The Great Tree inn, where Verin reveals that Mat is wasting away from the Shadar Logoth dagger's taint and confirms they must pursue Fain through other Waygates near Stedding Tsofu. Despite Ingtar's despair over the lost Horn of Valere, Rand, Mat, Perrin, and Loial resolve to follow Fain to Toman Head immediately, with Verin commanding the preparation of forces for the next morning.

Characters

• Rand / Rand al'Thor (Lord, Builder) — Rand investigates the walled garden with Hurin and Loial, climbs the wall, and opens the Waygate, only to be confronted by Machin Shin. He channels the One Power to close the gate, enduring the physical and mental strain of saidin. He then receives a threatening message from Fain via Barthanes and declares his intention to ride to Toman Head to follow him.
• Hurin (sniffer) — Hurin leads Rand to the walled garden, following the scent trail of the Darkfriends to the Waygate. He climbs over the wall with Rand and expresses awe and fear at the Black Wind, later pleading to leave the dangerous site.
• Loial (Builder, son of Arent son of Halan) — Loial accompanies Rand to the garden, identifies the structure as a Waygate within an old Ogier grove, and helps lift Rand over the wall. He scrambles to replace the Avendesora leaf to help close the gate and later confirms the plan to travel through other Waygates at Stedding Tsofu.
• Mat (my Lord) — Mat acts as a servant to infiltrate the kitchens and locate the dagger's scent, though he fails to find it. He learns of the Waygate and later resolves to go to Toman Head, unaware that Verin has informed Rand that his body is wasting away due to the Shadar Logoth dagger's taint.
• Barthanes (Lord Barthanes) — Barthanes attempts to detain Verin and Rand before their departure, delivering a cryptic message from a Lugarder (Fain) threatening to harm Rand's loved ones. He questions Rand about the artifact he seeks, then allows the group to leave.
• Verin (Aes Sedai, Sedai) — Verin questions Rand and the others about their findings, rejects the idea that Machin Shin could be controlled by Darkfriends, and reveals that Mat is deteriorating from the dagger's taint. She decides they must go to Toman Head, directing the group to prepare for departure at first light via Stedding Tsofu.
• Ingtar (Lord Ingtar) — Ingtar listens to the report of the lost Horn and expresses deep despair and a sense of being lost. He vows to confront Barthanes for truth and reluctantly agrees to prepare his soldiers for the ride to Toman Head despite his skepticism.
• Perrin — Perrin is present in the inn's dining room, reading and observing the group's despair. He agrees to join the pursuit of Fain to Toman Head, joking that he must come to keep Mat out of trouble.
• Tiedra (Mistress Tiedra) — Mistress Tiedra serves the group at The Great Tree inn, charging them heavily but not stinting on the food during their meeting.
• Fain / Padan Fain (Jak o' the Wisps) — Padan Fain is the subject of the message delivered to Rand by Barthanes, threatening to hunt Rand's blood and people if he does not follow him to Toman Head, where he claims to be waiting with the Horn.