ChapterTrack

Chapter 19 - Beneath the Dagger

Summary

Rand, Selene, Loial, and Hurin camp in Kinslayer’s Dagger, where Selene tempts Rand with visions of glory and the Horn of Valere, leading him to decide to steal the artifact from Padan Fain’s camp. Rand and Loial sneak into the sleeping camp, successfully retrieve the Horn and the tainted dagger from Shadar Logoth, and escape after Rand kills pursuing Trollocs in a trance-like state. Upon returning to camp, Rand confirms the Horn's inscription and decides to head for Cairhien rather than Shienar to avoid Fain and his pursuers, while Fain, realizing the Horn is gone, vows to hunt Rand to the death.

Characters

  • Rand / al'Thor / Lord Rand — Rand struggles with his attraction to Selene and his destiny as the Dragon, eventually deciding to steal the Horn of Valere from Fain’s camp. He sneaks into the camp with Loial, retrieves the Horn and the Shadar Logoth dagger, and fights off pursuing Trollocs before returning to his companions and agreeing to travel to Cairhien.
  • Selene (my Lady) — Selene spends the night tempting Rand with promises of glory and kingship if he finds the Horn. She changes her dress using Rand’s shirt, joins him and Loial to retrieve the Horn from Fain’s camp, and insists they head toward Cairhien to evade Fain’s wrath.
  • Loial — Loial wakes and joins Rand on the night watch, identifying himself as an alantin. He accompanies Rand to Fain’s camp, lifts the heavy chest containing the Horn, and runs back to their campsite while Rand fights the pursuing Trollocs, expressing surprise at Rand’s mental state.
  • Hurin — Hurin wakes Rand to report a distant fire, serves as a scout to verify the enemy's location after the Horn is stolen, and reacts with discomfort to the presence of the tainted dagger.
  • Fain — Fain wakes to discover the Horn of Valere is missing from his camp and screams for his Trollocs and Darkfriends to find Rand. He stands over his fire, realizing a dark connection pulls him toward the mountains and vowing that Rand and the world will pay for the theft.
  • Red — Red, Rand's bay stallion, is saddled by Loial and ridden by Rand during the escape from the mountains after retrieving the Horn of Valere.