Chapter 9 - Leavetakings
Summary
As Rand al'Thor prepares to depart Fal Dara with Ingtar Gladion's party to find the Horn of Valere, he attempts to apologize to Mat and Perrin, who remain distant, while Lan Mandragoran imparts a final, cryptic lesson on 'Sheathing the Sword.' The group gathers in the courtyard where the Amyrlin Seat bids farewell to Lord Agelmar and charges Ingtar with his mission before departing for the White Tower. During the chaos of their departure, an arrow strikes a man on the walls, and the party sets out, tracking the Trollocs' scent with the help of a new guide named Hurin who smells a trail leading south. Meanwhile, in Illian, ship captain Bayle Domon receives a lucrative offer and a sealed warrant from Cairhien to capture a 'Darkfriend' in Mayene, prompting him to flee his vessel Spray immediately to avoid the danger associated with the bounty.
Characters
- Rand (sheepherder, Lord Rand) — Rand ties his saddlebags and mounts his horse, attempting to apologize to Mat and Perrin who ride past without stopping. He listens to Lan's instruction on 'Sheathing the Sword' and later speaks with the sniffer Hurin, who identifies a dark trail leading south, prompting Rand to ride after Ingtar.
- Loial (Builder) — Loial arrives on horseback to join the quest, carrying books in his saddlebags. He explains his desire to see history weave itself and converses with Rand about Ogier habits before the group departs.
- Lan (Warder) — Lan approaches Rand to teach him the lesson of 'Sheathing the Sword,' telling him to remember the moment he must allow the sword to be sheathed in his own body. He later vanishes as the Amyrlin's Warder and rides out ahead of the main group.
- Amyrlin Seat (Mother) — The Amyrlin arrives in the courtyard, dismissing Lord Agelmar's pleas for her to stay. She formally charges Ingtar to find the Horn of Valere and departs with her guard, having been grazed by an arrow that was meant for her.
- Lord Agelmar (Lord of Fal Dara) — Lord Agelmar pleads with the Amyrlin to stay longer and offers his oathmen as escort, but she refuses. He is visibly ashamed when blood stains her sleeve, though she reassures him before he bows in farewell.
- Ingtar (Lord Ingtar, Lord Ingtar of House Shinowa) — Ingtar prepares to ride with the Gray Owl banner, kisses his sword blade after swearing to find the Horn, and introduces Hurin to the group. He directs Hurin to follow the scent of the Trollocs southward.
- Hurin (sniffer) — Hurin, a townsman hired as a 'sniffer,' joins the group and demonstrates his ability to smell violence and follow trails. He identifies a strong, foul scent of Trollocs and something worse leading south, away from the Blight.
- Domon / Bayle Domon (Captain) — Bayle Domon meets with three men wearing coats with silver, scarlet, and gold embroidery at an inn in Illian, accepting a heavy purse and a sealed warrant from King Galldrian to capture a 'Darkfriend' in Mayene. Fearing for his life due to the warrant and previous attacks on his crew, he orders his ship Spray to sail west immediately.
- Nieda Sidoro (Nieda, proprietress) — Nieda watches Domon at the inn, accepts a gold mark from him, and comments on his appearance and the coins, remaining unaware of the danger he faces.
- Yarin / Yarin Maeldan (second) — Yarin enters Domon's cabin to report that the crew is aboard and has taken the ship out to sea. He expresses concern about recent attacks on their men and the persistence of dockwatchers trying to board the ship.