Chapter 14 - Wolfbrother

Summary

Ingtar Gladion and his remaining forces search the hollow where Rand al’Thor, Loial, and Hurin vanished, but Uno fails to find any tracks, deepening the mystery of their disappearance. Perrin Aybara, struggling with his newfound ability to communicate with wolves, makes mental contact with a pack and learns that they are tracking the Darkfriends and Trollocs southward; he reveals this information to Ingtar, who agrees to pass off Perrin as a new 'sniffer' to the group to maintain morale and secrecy. Mat Cauthon remains distant and skeptical, questioning Perrin's new role before the group prepares to ride south. Verin Sedai rides up to join them, having been sent by Moiraine, and immediately questions Ingtar about Rand's whereabouts and the nature of the new sniffer, riding alongside Ingtar to interrogate him privately as the party continues its journey.

Characters

• Ingtar (Lord Ingtar) — Ingtar demands Uno search the hollow again after the disappearance of Rand and the others, expressing frustration and doubt about Hurin's loyalty. He secretly agrees to Perrin's claim that wolves track the Darkfriends, concocts a story that Perrin is a new sniffer to fool the men, and rides south with Verin Sedai, allowing her to question him privately while keeping Perrin's secret hidden from the rest of the group.
• Perrin (Young Bull) — Perrin uses his wolfbrother ability to contact a pack of wolves, learning their names and confirming they are hunting the Trollocs and Padan Fain southward. He suppresses the wolves' rage and disgust at the slaughtered villagers and tells Ingtar that wolves guided him to the trail, prompting Ingtar to cover for him by claiming Perrin is a sniffer.
• Mat — Mat mutters to himself and argues with Uno about the vanishing of the group, then questions Perrin's health and new 'sniffer' claim with skepticism and bitterness while riding south with the party.
• Uno — Uno searches the hollow with offense at failing to find tracks, then later confirms the first Trolloc tracks to the group, nodding thoughtfully at Ingtar's explanation of Perrin's abilities.
• Verin (Verin Sedai) — Verin rides up to the group, having been sent by Moiraine, and questions Ingtar closely about Rand's disappearance, the Ogier, and the new sniffer, riding alongside Ingtar to interrogate him privately while dismissing the idea that the Horn is related to the vanishing.
• Ragan — Ragan joins Uno and Masema in scanning the rim of the hollow for tracks before the group rides out.
• Masema — Masema participates in the search of the hollow and spits skeptically when Ingtar announces Perrin as the new sniffer.
• Loial — Loial is mentioned by Ingtar as one of the missing Ogier who vanished with Rand and Hurin, though he does not appear on-screen.
• Rand (Rand al'Thor, The Builder) — Rand is discussed by the characters as having vanished without a trace along with Hurin and Loial, but he does not appear on-screen in this chapter.
• Hurin — Hurin is mentioned by Ingtar and Uno as one of the missing men who vanished with Rand and Loial, but he does not appear on-screen.