Chapter 28 - A New Thread in the Pattern

Summary

While riding through Kinslayer’s Dagger, Ingtar’s party encounters Urien, a Red Shield of the Reyn Aiel, who claims to be searching for He Who Comes With the Dawn. Verin interrogates Urien about his people’s sacred site, Rhuidean, but he refuses to reveal secrets, claiming only that only Wise Ones and clan chiefs may visit it before departing into the rocks after drawing the Aes Sedai symbol on the ground. The encounter leaves Verin disturbed by the implications of the prophecy and the Aiel's role in the Pattern, prompting her to urge the group to ride harder as they approach Cairhien.

Characters

• Ingtar / Lord Ingtar — Ingtar presses Perrin repeatedly for details about the 'Shadowkiller' and the wolves' reports. He dismounts to greet Urien, questioning the Aiel about signs of Darkfriends before losing interest and ordering his men to dismount and remove armor as they near Cairhien.
• Perrin — Perrin shares the wolves' reports of the Shadowkiller with Ingtar and struggles to suppress the wolves' thoughts in his mind. He observes the Aiel Urien closely, gripping his axe when the Aiel becomes tense, and notes the symbol Urien draws on the ground.
• Mat — Mat rides with the group, juggling balls and looking pale. He comments that Urien looks like Rand and wonders aloud if Rand is an Aiel, while also muttering coarsely when he sees the Aes Sedai symbol drawn on the ground.
• Uno — Uno scouts ahead and reports spotting an Aielman in the rocks. He rides with the group, expressing disgust at having been seen and later calling Urien a 'crazy bloody Aiel' after the encounter.
• Masema — Masema drops his lance and gallops toward the stranger until ordered to halt. He remains on horseback with the others, glaring at Urien, and later growls that they should have left the Aiel for the ravens.
• Verin (Wise One, Aes Sedai) — Verin examines Mat frequently and observes Urien with sharp concentration. She interrogates the Aiel about Rhuidean, dismissing his attempt to treat her as a Wise One by revealing her identity as Aes Sedai. She erases the symbol he draws and urges the party to ride hard, troubled by the prophecy's connection to the Pattern.
• Urien (Aiel, Red Shield) — Urien, a Red Shield of the Reyn Aiel sept of the Two Spires, stops the party to announce he is searching for He Who Comes With the Dawn. He refuses to speak of Rhuidean beyond its location in Jenn lands, claims ignorance of Trollocs, and departs into the rocks after drawing the Aes Sedai symbol on the ground and mocking the idea of being slain by them.