Chapter 3 - Friends and Enemies

Summary

Rand al’Thor attempts to slip out of Fal Dara during the Amyrlin Seat’s visit but finds all gates barred by Lord Agelmar’s orders and feels he is being watched by an unseen presence. He locates Loial in a storeroom and demands to know how to escape the keep, only to be joined by Mat Cauthon and Perrin Aybara; fearing his influence upon them and the danger they pose to him, Rand cruelly drives all three friends away with harsh words. Despairing and cornered, he is found by Egwene al’Vere, who recognizes his panic and convinces him to hide in the women’s apartments instead of fleeing openly. They proceed to the dungeon to visit Padan Fain, who delivers cryptic warnings about the Shadow and his new identity as Mordeth before Egwene leads a reluctant Rand toward the safer sanctuary of the women's quarters to evade potential searchers.

Characters

• Rand / Rand al'Thor — Rand tries to leave Fal Dara but finds the gates sealed, feeling a sense of being watched. He finds Loial, Mat, and Perrin, then angrily drives them away to protect them from his perceived danger. Egwene finds him, and after a visit to the dungeon where Fain warns him, she leads him to hide in the women's apartments.
• Ragan — A guard at the sally gate who knows Rand and wishes he could help him leave, but is bound by the order to bar the gates without a written pass.
• Masema — A suspicious guard at the sally gate who blocks Rand's passage, criticizes his bow, and watches Rand closely as he leaves.
• Loial (Ogier) — Loial watches men play dice in a storeroom and explains that he cannot help Rand escape because Ogier did not build Fal Dara. He tries to explain the nature of ta'veren to the friends, which upsets Mat, and is then angrily dismissed by Rand.
• Mat / Mat Cauthon — Mat finds Rand and Perrin in the storeroom, discussing his dice winnings and the dangers of his tainted dagger. He argues with Rand about Aes Sedai and trust, then leaves with Perrin and Loial after Rand insults him.
• Perrin / Perrin Aybara — Perrin appears with Mat, his eyes now yellow and his demeanor distant. He tries to calm Rand and Mat's argument and nods to leave with them when Rand drives them away.
• Changu — A sullen dungeon guard who mocks Rand and Egwene before opening the heavy iron door to the prisoner cells.
• Nidao — A dungeon guard who sits silently sharpening a dagger and does not speak.
• Fain / Padan Fain / Master Fain (Darkfriend, Mordeth, peddler) — Fain sits in his cell, appearing gaunt and mad, and chants ominous verses to Rand about the Shadow and Mordeth before Egwene leads Rand away.
• Egwene — Egwene finds Rand hiding, scolds him for his stubbornness, and leads him to the dungeon to visit Fain, where she proposes hiding him in the women's apartments to avoid the Amyrlin, arguing that it is the one place no man would enter without a woman's invitation and no one would think to look.