Chapter 30 - Men Dream Here
Summary
Faile patrols the camp at night with Lacile and Selande, gathering intelligence on the Whitecloaks and learning that Galad favors an alliance with the Aes Sedai. She tasks Dannil Lewin with organizing a covert evacuation route for Perrin should the upcoming trial turn violent. In the wolf dream, Perrin trains with Hopper to master his dual nature, learning to walk on water and navigate a mysterious violet dome trapping wolves near Jehannah Road. Hopper guides him into a fear-dream in Caemlyn where Perrin confronts a shadow monster representing Rand al'Thor, realizing through willpower that the illusion is false. The pair then witness a massive black storm forming over Dragonmount, where Perrin climbs to the peak to see Rand's translucent figure consumed by swirling darkness before a brilliant column of light shatters the evil and floods the mountain with sunlight. Wolves howl in triumph as Hopper declares the Last Hunt has begun.
Characters
- Faile — Walks the horselines at night gathering intelligence on the Whitecloaks and tasks Dannil with organizing a covert evacuation route for Perrin should the trial turn violent.
- Lacile — Accompanies Faile, reports that Galad favors an alliance with the Aes Sedai, and notes the Whitecloaks' tendency to lose composure around women.
- Selande — Walks with Faile and Lacile, observes the Whitecloaks' tight-lipped nature, and carries her sword with improved confidence after taking training seriously.
- Dannil Lewin / Dannil — Takes charge of the Two Rivers men in Tarn's absence, confirms arrangements with Grady and Neald to evacuate Perrin from the pavilion if needed, and agrees to Faile's orders despite his reluctance to keep secrets from his lord.
- Perrin Aybara (Young Bull) — Enters the wolf dream to train with Hopper, learns to balance his human and wolf natures, walks on water through focused will, investigates a violet dome trapping wolves, confronts a fear-dream nightmare of Rand al'Thor in Caemlyn, and climbs Dragonmount's peak to witness Rand consumed by darkness before being shattered by a column of light.
- Hopper — Guides Perrin through the wolf dream, teaches him to master his environment and walk on water, leads him into a fear-dream to test his strength, and later watches with him as wolves gather over Dragonmount to declare the Last Hunt has begun.
- Slayer — Mentioned as being trapped inside the violet dome near Jehannah Road alongside other wolves.
- Rand al'Thor / Rand (Dragon Reborn) — Appears in Perrin's fear-dream as a shadow monster chasing a woman, then manifests at the peak of Dragonmount surrounded by a black storm before his darkness is shattered by a brilliant column of light that brings sunlight and triumphant wolf howls.