Chapter 24 - To Make a Stand

Summary

Melfane examines Elayne and orders a strict week of bed rest following the Black Ajah attack, while Birgitte and Matrim discuss the escaped assassins and an ongoing plot against Mat. In Maradon, Yoeli and Rodel Ituralde visit Lord Torkumen, who dismisses their warnings about Trollocs and refuses aid, prompting Ituralde to accuse him of Darkfriend sympathies and convince Yoeli to swear to the Dragon instead. Perrin enters the wolf dream to train with Hopper and confront Slayer after Morninglight's death, eventually waking to chop wood while reflecting on his leadership and nature before deciding to meet the Whitecloaks at their chosen battlefield.

Characters

Elayne / Trakand (Queen, Your Majesty) — Undergoes a midwife's examination and receives a strict order for one week of bed rest following the Black Ajah attack. She returns her foxhead medallion to Matrim and reflects on the impending Shadow invasion while managing her exhaustion.
Melfane (midwife, Queen's midwife) — Examines Elayne with a wooden tube, insists on absolute bed rest and a strict diet to recover from stress, and permits only a half-hour meeting with Birgitte before withdrawing.
Birgitte / Silverbow (Warder, Captain-General) — Stands guard over Elayne's chambers, questions why the Queen refuses her protection, and confirms that Doilin Mellar escaped with a copy of the foxhead medallion while Shiaine and others vanished.
Matrim / Cauthon — Enters the chamber disguised with a scarf to discuss an assassination plot against him by Darkfriends, receives his foxhead medallion back from Elayne, and raises concerns about the gholam.
Yoeli — Walks through Maradon with Ituralde, reveals he killed countrymen and staged a revolt to seize the city, and initially demands execution before agreeing to swear to the Dragon and help defend the walls.
Rodel / Ituralde (leader of the Domani army) — Visits Lord Torkumen in Maradon, accuses him of Darkfriend sympathies for refusing aid against Trollocs, and successfully convinces Yoeli to fight at Tarmon Gai'don rather than seek death.
Vram / Torkumen (Lord Torkumen, lord of the city) — Dismisses Ituralde's warnings about the coming Shadowspawn, calls him a Dragonsworn traitor, and refuses to provide supplies or assistance, prompting accusations of treason.
Faile — Returns to her tent with Perrin, uses a silver comb he traded for Gaul, and smells worried about the impending battle while maintaining a pleasant demeanor.
Perrin / Aybara (Lord Perrin, Young Bull) — Enters the wolf dream to train with Hopper and confront Slayer after Morninglight's death, wakes to chop wood while reflecting on his complex nature and leadership duties, and decides to meet the Whitecloaks at their chosen battlefield.
Hopper — Guides Perrin through dream training, teaches him to control himself rather than blame the wolves, leads him to Dragonmount where many wolves gather, and ends their session to mourn Morninglight.
Morninglight — A wolf in Oak Dancer's pack who howls in sudden pain and dies in the wolf dream, prompting Perrin to shift locations and hunt Slayer.
Slayer — Appears skinning Morninglight's corpse in the wolf dream, fights Perrin using dream manipulation to create ice and ropes, and escapes after a brief clash that leaves Perrin drenched in seawater.
Gaul — Stays close to Perrin while he chops wood at night, sharpening his spear and maintaining a watchful distance from the tent's gai'shain residents.
Elyas / Dashiva — Approaches Perrin late at night to discuss Noam's fate in the wolf dream, shares how he found a balance between man and wolfbrotherhood, and receives word that Perrin will fight the Whitecloaks tomorrow.
Kenly / Maerin — Stands guard outside Perrin's tent at night and reports the time after midnight before following him out.
Jaim / Dawtry — Guards Perrin's tent alongside Kenly, confirms it is past midnight, and prepares to follow his lord.