Chapter 33 - A Message from the Dark

Summary

Rand, Hurin, Loial, and Mat locate the hidden walled garden behind Lord Barthanes's manor, discovering a Waygate where Padan Fain has taken the Horn of Valere. When Rand opens the Waygate, he is forced to channel the One Power to repel the Machin Shin, the Black Wind, causing him physical distress and confirming the dark nature of the pursuit. Upon returning to the gathering, Barthanes delivers a message from Fain, who threatens to harm Rand’s friends and family in Emond’s Field unless Rand follows him to Toman Head. Verin Sedai reveals that other Waygates exist in a nearby Ogier stedding and convinces the group to ride there at first light to pursue Fain, despite Ingtar’s despair over the lost Horn and Verin’s revelation that Mat’s injuries from the tainted dagger are deteriorating.

Characters

• Rand / Rand al'Thor (Lord Rand, Builder) — Rand leads Hurin, Loial, and Mat to the walled garden, climbs over the wall, and discovers the Waygate. He channels the One Power to repel the Machin Shin emerging from the gate, an act that sickens him with the taint of saidin. He later receives a threatening message for Fain from Lord Barthanes and resolves to ride to Toman Head despite the dangers.
• Hurin (the sniffer) — Hurin guides Rand to the walled garden by scent and follows them inside. He remains fearful of the Black Wind and questions how they can follow Fain now that the trail is lost in the Ways, eventually urging the group to leave the immediate area.
• Mat (servant) — Mat pretends to be Rand’s servant to enter the manor and later delivers messages between Rand and Verin. He expresses fear of the Ways and concern over the dangerous dagger, but agrees to join the pursuit to Toman Head.
• Ingtar (Lord Ingtar) — Ingtar is separated from the group by noblewomen while the others search for the Horn. He regroups with Verin, learns the Horn has vanished through a Waygate via Rand's report, and expresses deep despair, feeling lost. He remains skeptical but agrees to have his soldiers ready to ride.
• Verin / Verin Sedai — Verin directs the search for the Horn and learns from Rand that Fain used a Waygate guarded by the Black Wind. She dismisses Ingtar's hope of chasing the Horn normally, reveals the existence of a Waygate in Stedding Tsofu, and insists the group ride there at first light. She privately informs Rand that Mat's health is failing due to the dagger's taint.
• Barthanes / Lord Barthanes — Lord Barthanes Damodred intercepts Rand at the exit of his manor, revealing that a Lugard man delivered a message for him. He passes on Fain's threat to hunt Rand's people if Rand does not follow him to Toman Head, questioning what Fain carries and what Rand seeks.
• Perrin — Perrin sits in the inn's private dining room reading a book when Rand and the others return. He observes their distress, agrees to join the ride to Toman Head, and makes a dry comment about keeping Mat out of trouble before departing.
• Red — Red, Rand's stallion, is mounted by Rand in the night as the group prepares to leave. He carries Rand and the others as they ride out of the manor grounds and back toward the city.
• Uno — Uno stays with the Shienaran soldiers outside the inn after the group returns. He takes a quiet word from Ingtar and departs to take the soldiers back to their inn in the Foregate, leaving Hurin and the Aes Sedai to their private meeting.