Chapter 19 - Beneath the Dagger

Summary

Rand and his companions wait on the edge of Kinslayer’s Dagger, where Selene’s persuasive tactics and a fire spotted by Hurin convince Rand to investigate a nearby encampment. Under the cover of night and the protective void, Rand and Loial infiltrate the camp of Padan Fain and his Trolloc followers, stealing the Horn of Valere from its golden chest and fending off Trolloc attackers with sword forms while resisting the pull of saidin. They escape to their camp with the Horn, and despite Selene’s urging to flee south to Cairhien to avoid Fain’s pursuit, Rand resolves to take the Horn to Shienar, securing the tainted dagger within the Horn's chest before preparing to ride away in the darkness.

Characters

• Rand / Lord Rand — Rand spends the night waiting on the mountain, debating his future with Selene before spotting a fire led by Hurin. He ventures into the Darkfriends' camp with Loial, steals the Horn of Valere and the dagger from Shadar Logoth, and fights off pursuing Trollocs using sword forms while maintaining the void. He ultimately decides to ride to Cairhien with Selene to evade the immediate threat, locking the dangerous dagger inside the chest to shield them from its influence.
• Selene — Selene stays with the group, changing into Rand’s shirt and persuading him to seize the Horn rather than wait for Ingtar. She retrieves the chest from Loial’s saddle, identifies the inscription on the Horn, and argues that they must flee south to Cairhien to escape Fain’s wrath, remaining wary of Rand’s resolve to go to Shienar instead.
• Loial — Loial accompanies Rand into the enemy camp, carrying him on his horse to scout by moonlight. He physically carries the heavy golden chest out of the camp while Rand distracts and kills Trollocs, then runs alongside his horse to escape the pursuing horde, expressing confusion at Rand's declaration of madness.
• Hurin (The sniffer) — Hurin leads Rand to the site of the enemy fire and later stands guard at the campsite. He returns from a scouting run to report that the fire has grown and that the enemy is searching but has not yet reached the mountain, confirming the group's temporary safety.
• Fain — Fain wakes in the enemy camp to find the Horn stolen and screams for his Trollocs and Darkfriends to hunt down Rand. He uses his connection to the Dragon to sense Rand's location in the mountains, cackling with madness as he commands his forces to gather and pursue, vowing that the world will pay.