Chapter 9 - Leavetakings

Summary

Rand al'Thor prepares to leave Fal Dara alongside Ingtar Shinowa’s party, encountering Loial who has chosen to join them and Hurin, a sniffer capable of tracking violence by scent, who leads the group south after the Horn of Valere was stolen. As the group departs, the Amyrlin Seat dismisses the severity of an assassination attempt on her person and departs for the White Tower, leaving Ingtar to lead the search for the Horn while Rand struggles with his separation from his friends. Simultaneously, in Illian, ship captain Bayle Domon accepts a high-paying commission to sail to Mayene, only to discover the accompanying warrant is for his own arrest for crimes in Cairhien, forcing him to hastily depart his ship, the Spray, with his crew to evade his pursuers.

Characters

• Rand (my Lord Rand) — Rand mounts his stallion Red and joins Ingtar's company, apologizing to Mat and Perrin who ride away without listening. He meets Hurin the sniffer, who confirms the thieves went south, and rides out of Fal Dara with the Gray Owl banner, hoping to avoid his fate.
• Loial (Builder, Kiseran) — Loial arrives on his large horse to join Rand’s party, stating he cannot miss the chance to see history weave itself around ta’veren. He converses with Rand about Ogier life before riding out with the group.
• The Amyrlin Seat (Mother) — The Amyrlin Seat strides through the courtyard, dismissing Lord Agelmar’s pleas for her to stay longer. She speaks to Ingtar and the ta’veren, narrowly avoids being struck by an arrow that kills a man behind her, and then rides out with her own party, leaving the hunt in Ingtar's hands.
• Agelmar / Lord Agelmar (Lord of Fal Dara) — Lord Agelmar accompanies the Amyrlin Seat, pleading for her to remain but ultimately accepting her departure. He orders the search for the arrow shooter and later sends men to escort the Amyrlin as far as the river.
• Ingtar (Lord Ingtar) — Ingtar rides with his Gray Owl banner, receiving the Amyrlin’s charge to find the Horn. He introduces Hurin the sniffer to Rand and follows the trail south after the Horn's theft.
• Hurin (the sniffer) — Hurin, a man with the ability to smell violence and its trail, joins Ingtar’s party. He identifies the scent of Trollocs and Darkfriends and directs the group south toward Almoth Plain.
• Domon / Bayle Domon (Captain Domon) — Bayle Domon meets three men in the Badger inn and accepts a heavy purse to sail to Mayene for a hidden passenger. He later discovers the accompanying warrant is for his own arrest by King Galldrian of Cairhien, and he forces his crew to sail the Spray immediately to escape.
• Nieda / Nieda Sidoro (innkeeper, the proprietress) — Nieda runs the Badger inn and serves Domon ale. She examines the gold he pays for drinks and comments on his dealings with Aes Sedai before he departs in haste.
• Yarin / Yarin Maeldan (second) — Yarin informs Domon that another of his men has been killed and that men have tried to board the Spray. He helps roust the crew and sails the ship out of the breakwater under Domon’s orders.