Chapter 25 - Cairhien

Summary

Rand al’Thor, accompanied by Loial and Hurin, rides into the city of Cairhien under the escort of Captain Elricain Tavolin, observing the stark contrast between the chaotic, colorful Foregate and the somber, rigid city proper. Upon checking into the Defender of the Dragonwall inn, Rand receives anonymous noble invitations which he burns in a fit of frustration over Cairhien’s political ‘Great Game,’ prompting warnings from Hurin about the dangers of feigning neutrality. After Loial volunteers to stay and read rather than search for stonemasons and Hurin declines the invitation to the Foregate to drink in the common room, Rand retires to the Foregate to seek solace in the crowds. There, he is drawn to a performance by the gleeman Thom Merrilin, who reveals himself alive in Cairhien and asks Rand to bring his harp and flute to The Bunch of Grapes inn later that evening.

Characters

• Rand / Rand al'Thor (my Lord, Lord Rand) — Rand rides into Cairhien, studies the city's layout and social divisions, and checks into an inn where he burns noble invitations to declare he has no part in the Great Game. He retreats to the Foregate and discovers Thom Merrilin performing there, promising to return with his harp and flute.
• Loial (an Ogier of Stedding Shangtai) — Loial accompanies Rand into Cairhien, carrying the Horn of Valere disguised under his blanket. He comments on the state of Cairhien's towers and refuses Rand's offer to explore the Foregate, choosing instead to stay at the inn to read and avoid Ogier from his stedd.
• Hurin (the sniffer) — Hurin explains the origins of Cairhien's refugee population to Rand and warns him against ignoring the city's political etiquette after Rand destroys the invitations. He declines to join Rand in the Foregate, preferring to stay in the common room.
• Elricain Tavolin (officer) — Tavolin leads the fifty soldiers escorting Rand into Cairhien, clearing a path through the crowds and dismounting at the guardhouse to process their arrival with a clerk.
• Asan Sandair (officer) — Sandair, a balding officer, registers Rand's party at the guardhouse, noting their names in a ledger and informing them they must report to the same location the next day.
• Cuale (innkeeper) — Cuale, the innkeeper of the Defender of the Dragonwall, greets Rand with obsequious bows, assigns them rooms including one large enough for Loial, and delivers a tray of sealed invitations from noble houses to Rand in the common room.
• Thom / Thom Merrilin (gleeman) — Thom appears on stage in a Foregate hall, performing a tale about Rogosh Eagle-eye. He recognizes Rand, signals him to meet privately, and confirms he survived the Fade while asking Rand to bring his harp and flute to The Bunch of Grapes.
• Red — Red is the bay stallion ridden by Rand as he enters Cairhien.