Chapter 41 - Disagreements

Summary

The group camps in a rainy, desolate village on Toman Head after losing Padan Fain’s trail for three days. Ingtar and Verin argue over whether to trust the dungeon prophecy suggesting Fain went to Falme or to continue searching the coast based on Hurin’s sniffing; Ingtar ultimately orders Hurin to swing wide with disguised soldiers to track any trail. Rand, driven by a compulsion to find Fain before he harms Emond's Field, demands to ride to Falme immediately, but his friends urge caution, noting Hurin is their best hope for locating Fain or the tainted dagger. Later, Rand retreats to an upstairs room where he is tormented by a vision of Ba'alzamon, who taunts him with his past as Lews Therin and offers power in exchange for service. Rand rejects the offer, channels the One Power to attack the illusion, and collapses in exhaustion upon waking to find the vision gone but the chair scorched by Ba'alzamon's grip.

Characters

• Rand / Rand al'Thor — Shivering in the rain, Rand asks Verin to lighten the storm but suppresses his urge to channel himself. He argues with Ingtar and his friends, demanding to ride to Falme to save Emond's Field from Fain, though they advise patience. Later, he sleeps fitfully and confronts a vision of Ba'alzamon, channeling the One Power to attack the entity before collapsing and waking to find the chair scorched.
• Ingtar — Haggard and skeptical of Verin's prophecy, Ingtar argues that they must trust their own senses and search the ground for Fain. He dismisses the idea that Fain is in Falme without proof and orders Uno to search the village while directing Hurin to swing wide with disguised soldiers to find a trail.
• Verin / Verin Sedai — Verin insists that Fain is in Falme based on dungeon prophecies and warns of the Seanchan danger. She tells Rand he must make his own choice but warns against going alone. She remains calm amidst the arguing, later noting that the Wheel weaves as it wills.
• Mat — Shivering and gaunt, Mat complains about the weather and argues that Hurin's search is the best way to find the tainted dagger. Perrin questions why Fain brought the Horn to the area, while Mat cautions Rand against rushing to Falme.